Construction's 'Fatal Fours'

The construction industry is inherently more dangerous than many other industries. Construction workers are often required to use heavy machinery and tools, as well as climb and work on elevated platforms. Unfortunately, this has placed them at the top of the list when it comes fatalities, with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) listing the top four causes of job-related deaths among construction workers.

So, what are the "Fatal Fours" of the construction industry? According to OSHA, it consists of falls, struck by object, electrocutions, and caught-in/between. To put the problem into perspective, the Fatal Fours were responsible for more than half of all job-related fatalities in the construction industry during the calendar year of 2013. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that eliminating the Fatal Four could save approximately 478 lives each year.

It's unlikely that the Fatal Fours will be completely eliminated -- not anytime soon, at least -- but there are steps employers in the construction industry can take to reduce this number. For starters, employers must provide their workers with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We've talked about PPE before on our blog, but it's worth mentioning again that employers are required to purchase it for their workers.

In an effort to reduce the number of work-related injuries involving construction's fatal fours, OSHA has also created a outreach training program. You can click on the link previously mentioned to learn more about this program.

"The Construction Focus Four Training consists of lesson plans on each of the Focus Four Hazards. Each lesson plan was developed based on specific learning objectives. Trainers must use these learning objectives when planning the training, and follow the participatory training model when conducting the training," wrote OSHA on its Fatal Four training webpage.

Do you think the Fatal Fours are a serious problem among construction workers?