Construction's Fatal Four

In the construction industry, OSHA states that there are 4 main causes of worker deaths per year. These "fatal four" are comprised of falls, struck by object and caught-in / between and electrocution. OSHA estimates that eliminating the Fatal Four would save 410 workers lives in America per year. Currently OSHA found that 85% of all citations are related to these four construction hazards.

According to OSHA, falls from heights are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, while falls on the same level are one of the leading causes of injuries. The SafetySkills Fall Protection course fulfills some of the requirements of a training program as outlined in 29 CFR 1926.503. The fulfilled requirements include: nature of fall hazards in the work area, the use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, and safety net systems. This can be used to supplement company specific training and provide employees with a general knowledge of fall protection systems and fall hazards that exist in the workplace.

Caught in or between fatalities caused 3% of the deaths in construction for 2011. Struck by Fatalities make up 10% of the total deaths in construction. These hazards are often created when working around heavy equipment. Some common examples of Caught-in and caught-between injuries include: trench or excavation collapse, hand or foot caught in rotating equipment like augurs, rollers or wheels, unguarded moving parts in machinery, turned over vehicles, accidents during equipment or machinery maintenance, and accidents involving rigging used to lift or pull heavy materials. Upon completion of the SafetySkills Struck By/Caught Between online safety training course, the Learner will have displayed the ability to recognize common stuck by/caught between hazards associated with work in the construction industry and their recommended safe work practices. This course provides an overview of 29 CFR 1926.20.

OSHA states that about 5 workers are electrocuted every week and electrocution courses 12% of worker deaths each year. It takes very little electricity to cause harm. The primary causes of electrocution are contact with overhead power lines, contact with live circuits in panels, poorly maintain cords and tools and lightning strikes. The SafetySkills Electrical Safety online safety training course covers topics related to basic electric safety as outlined in 1926.403, 1926.404, 1926.416, and 1926.417. This course focuses on the construction industry and is not intended for qualified workers, who according to OSHA’s definition is a person knowledgeable in the construction and operation of the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment involved.