FATAL FOUR
According to OSHA, the leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, struck-by-object, electrocutions and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than 64% of the construction deaths in 2015.
The leading cause of construction workplace deaths in 2015 was from falls and each year more than 100,000 injuries and deaths are attributable to work-related falls. Falls are a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries, in construction as proper fall protection is not always equipped at sites. Employers must protect their workers and take the following steps to ensure their safety.
- Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor, and runway, as well as around dangerous machines and equipment
- Include safety harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rail if required on the job site
- Select and provide required personal protective equipment to workers and train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand
A general contractor ignored its own requirements for safety training of a subcontractor workforce. As a result, Fernando Canales never received training in how to properly use his fall protection equipment. Fernando fell two stories and hit the ground because the equipment was hooked up improperly. Fernando was left paralyzed. When the general contractor refused to tender their insurance limits, Clay Miller tried the case to a Dallas County jury in October 2017, and obtained a verdict of $26,500,000, including $15,000,000 of punitive damages.
The second leading cause was struck-by-object which includes objects that are falling (suspended load coming loose), flying (thrown tools or debris), swinging (load swaying) or rolling (vehicle or heavy equipment in motion). In these scenarios, workers are often caught off guard and do not have enough time to react and move out of the way. To help ensure worker safety you can practice these prevention tactics.
- Wear safety glasses, goggles or a face shield when using power tools and ensure protective guards are in good condition
- Secure tools and materials using toe boards, screens, and debris nets
- Avoid areas where work is being performed above and always wear a hard hat at all times while on the construction site
- Never position yourself under a suspended load, always verify that the heavy equipment operator sees you, and steer clear of vehicles and heavy equipment in use
The third leading cause of construction workplace deaths in 2015 was electrocution. In fact, electrical hazards cause more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries in the workplace each year. Electricity is a serious workplace hazard, and sadly many of these injuries and fatalities could be easily avoided by taking the following precautions.
- Provide safety training and the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for your employees
- Reinforce the importance of always wearing PPE even if employees think it slows them down, or they are experienced so are not at risk
- For Arc Flash protection in particular use PPE that has an arc rating equal to or greater than the calculated incident energy
The fourth leading cause of construction workplace deaths in 2015 was caught-in-between. These are accidents where a worker’s body part is caught, crushed or squeezed between two or more objects and happen as a result of collapsing materials; body parts pulled into unguarded machinery and equipment rollovers. So how can you prevent these caught-in-between accidents?
- Be familiar with equipment to know where the pinch, sheer, wrap and crush points are located, as well as pull-in areas
- Shut down equipment before doing repairs or inspections and chock the wheels on equipment that could move or roll
- Keep your focus on what you are doing and watch for people carrying objects that block their view
- Encourage employees to wear close-fitting clothing, leave their jewelry off while at work, and pull back long hair into a bun to prevent being caught in moving machinery
Our attorneys have won several multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of construction accident victims and their families. Our record of proven results is one of the many reasons individuals choose our firm to handle their cases.
If you were seriously injured or a loved one died in a construction accident caused by a negligent contractor or subcontractor or OSHA safety violations, we encourage you to call our offices in Dallas today at 214.987.0005 or toll free at 888.987.0005 to schedule a free consultation.
