For construction workers, it’s important to be aware of the Fatal Four. These are the four issues that cause the most fatal accidents every year. They include falls, struck-by accidents, caught-between accidents and electrocutions.
While falls are the most common issue, struck-by accidents can also have devastating results. Let’s take a look at a few ways these can happen so that workers know what risks to avoid.
Items dropped from above
One potential issue is when a worker at an elevated position—such as on a roof—drops something that strikes a worker below. If it’s a heavy item, like a power tool or a bag of shingles, the unaware worker below could suffer severe injuries. This is why it’s so important to use leashes and tethers, and to make sure that all tools and materials are properly secured and stored.
Accidents with vehicles
On many construction sites, there’s constant movement of vehicles. These could include dump trucks that are taking soil and gravel away from the site or pickup trucks carrying new workers who are arriving on the job site. These accidents could lead to severe injuries, similar to pedestrian accidents.
Struck by heavy equipment
Many workers are also around heavy equipment. This can be very dangerous, especially if there’s a lack of communication between multiple workers. If one worker gets too close to a crane or an excavator while it’s turning, for instance, they could be struck by the arm that is attached to the vehicle.
Even when workers survive, being struck by an item or a vehicle could leave them with severe injuries. They need to know what options they have to seek workers’ comp benefits.
