This is a four part series on the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. These four hazards, known as the Focus Four account for 8 to 9 out of every 10 fatalities in construction. Today we’ll talk about the fourth leading fatality: caught between hazards.

Caught between hazards can be generalized into four categories: working in unprotected excavations, being involved in a structure collapse, and being caught within a pinch point or having a load fall on a worker.

Workers caught in an excavation collapse is the leading cause of caught between hazards. When working in an excavation narrower than 15 feet and deeper than 5 feet, trencher protection is mandatory. Trench protection may be sloping or benching the trench walls, or shielding the worker with shoring, or a trench box. It is vital for workers to never work outside of the protection afforded by these protective systems.
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This is a four part series on the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. These four hazards, known as the Focus Four account for 8 to 9 out of every 10 fatalities in construction. Today we’ll talk about the leading fatality: falls.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and one of the leading causes of death in general industry. Several hundred construction workers every year die from falls. Most of these falls are from elevated heights and most of those are from scaffolds and ladders. Falls from roofs, account for another significant cause of falls from elevated Heights. (more…)

When installing a roof there are many safety guidelines that should be followed by all workers involved. Installing a new roof on a house or building is a dangerous task, but with proper safety equipment and following proper safety procedures can lessen the chances of accidents.
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Scaffolds can be some of the most complex, time-consuming, and ultimately dangerous tools to use on the job. Proper setup and use of scaffolds can be some of the most technical challenges for the worker since there are multitude of regulations, manufacturer’s and/or engineer’s requirements, and common sense that have to be utilized when erecting, altering, using, and dismantling scaffolds. This article will address some sectional/ frame scaffold issues.
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Ladder accidents frequently happen when the ladder is not set properly. OSHA safety regulations, contractor safety programs, and ladder manufacturers alike do not require fall protection systems for portable ladders. This is primarily due to the fact that while ladder use is certainly involved in many accidents, it’s simply proper usage of the ladders that will provide a safe working environment. Unfortunately, “proper usage” involves a level, stable surface to set the ladder on, or structure to set the ladder against – with a proper place to tie off the ladder, etc. In the real world, this is rarely the case, and rather than set the ladder improperly, consider using ladder accessories for your situation. Here are some of my favorites.
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Some common misuses of straight, extension and stepladders is not climbing or working on these ladders correctly. OSHA safety regulations, contractor safety programs, and ladder manufacturers alike do not require fall protection systems for portable ladders. This is primarily due to the fact that while ladder use is certainly involved in many accidents, it’s simply proper usage of the ladders that will provide a safe working environment.
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