June is National Safety Month, a campaign sponsored by the National Safety Council to help raise awareness of occupational safety. Each week during June, Dawood Engineering will be taking a closer look into each of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) Fatal Four.
OSHA has identified the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. These causes of death make up the Fatal Four—falls, struck-by objects, electrocutions, and caught-in/between incidents. The Fatal Four account for 31.5% of all workplace fatalities and 57% of fatalities in the construction industry.
Know the Risks
Over half of all workplace fatalities in the construction industry can be contributed to the Fatal Four. We can break this figure down further to show the impact:
- Falls account for approximately 36% of construction workplace fatalities.
- Struck-by objects account for about 10% of construction workplace fatalities.
- Electrocutions account for around 9% of construction workplace fatalities.
- Caught-in/between incidents account for approximately 2% of all construction fatalities.
Keys to Keep You Safe
Workplaces are safer when companies promote a positive safety culture. Managers and supervisors who are present and engaged with company operations will allow employees to observe the effectiveness of their company’s policies and procedures. Direct observation also provides an opportunity to assess these programs and identify any improvements.
Education and training are paramount to employee safety. Provide workers with adequate training to help them identify hazardous situations and understand what equipment is necessary for proper use.