Finding adequate labor in a dwindling workforce is still an issue for many industries. The construction industry is especially taxed with this dilemma, translating into delays in projects and an increased interest in timesaving, productivity-boosting technology for supporting work and filling in some of the gaps. One of the most important methods of combatting the economic hurdle of a restricted labor pool is investing in worker safety and education, ensuring that workers are not only staying safe on job sites but feeling competent enough to thrive in the field. To assist with this, the following article will cover the “Big 4” safety hazards affecting construction, best practices to avoid them, and important elements for employers to ensure accident prevention.  

While these strategies of risk mitigation are meant for all construction workers, no matter the level of experience, employees new to the industry need to remember that they should never take on a role that they are not certified or adequately prepared for. In the construction industry, having (and fully understanding) the appropriate training to complete a given task could mean the difference between life and death. Encountering hazards on a construction site could easily end in a fatality. The highest fatality numbers in construction are connected with the following 4 hazardous scenarios: falls, electrocutions, caught-in/between, and struck by objects.  

Falls– 

Work being done at a height (even at as little as 4 feet) can be dangerous. The reason that falls are the leading fatalities in the construction industry is that there is a great diversity in the type of work being conducted and the experience levels of employees. This makes it difficult to monitor and address all the possible sources of fall hazards.  

For employees to avoid falls, they must own their safety and know the work they will be assigned. They should not be afraid to ask questions or say “no” to unsafe work when they observe it. All of this entails the prerequisite of having training appropriate to the work they will be performing so that unsafe conditions can be recognized.  

In construction, any work that has the possibility of an employee falling from a height of at least 4 feet (work including ladders, scaffolds, scissor lifts, cranes, etc.) requires the introduction of fall protection. Fall protection must be designed by a “competent person” (i.e., someone trained in dealing with this specific hazard) and introduced by the employer. Then, workers who will potentially come in contact with this hazard need to know how to use this protection (e.g., safety nets, harnesses, equipment guards) before beginning work. Employers should have a system in place to ensure that workers are adequately prepared to understand the tools they will be using and the work they will be doing. An inspection should also be conducted before the work begins to make sure every protection is in place and in working condition to meet the present and potential hazards. 

Electrocutions– 

Electrocutions can happen when equipment is defective (e.g., exposed electrical parts, damaged tools) or installed improperly (e.g., not grounded, overloaded circuits, inadequate wiring) and when work in dangerous environments (wet job site, power lines overhead, etc.) is carried out in an unsafe way (e.g., inadequate PPE). The following are mentalities that workers should have to avoid incidents involving electrical hazards: 

• Assume all overhead wires are active and energized. 

• Avoid touching downed power lines. 

• Watch for standing water when operating electrical equipment. 

• Always use necessary safety equipment.  

As for employers ensuring the safety of their crews when construction work includes electrical hazards, there has been much development of the best practices for this area. Creating a comprehensive system to address all known electrical hazards is the first step. Next is educating workers on the causes of electrical accidents (power line contact, missing ground fault protector, etc.) and the methods for safe work (employing barriers/guards to isolate electrical parts, replacing defective covers, etc.). Workers must be outfitted with and understand how to use proper insulating equipment and PPE (nonconductive safety shoes, “Class B” hard hats, insulated tools) when it is part of their job to be in the proximity of or directly handle wires that could potentially have a live electrical charge. Finally, inspecting that the safety program is being carried out correctly (that all electrical equipment is listed and labeled, that live parts are de-energized before work commences, and that employees have been fitted for and issued their PPE) is an important part of keeping construction workers safe. 

Caught-in/between– 

Caught-in/between incidents often occur in trenching projects. A protective system designed by a competent person (someone who can understand soil classification and water content, the different types of systems, and changes from weather or surrounding operations) is the first line of defense for employees against the hazards involved in excavations. Protective systems are only not necessary when the excavation site will be less than 5 feet deep and there is no potential for a cave-in or when the rock is entirely stable. Employers must make sure that a competent person is assigned to conduct inspections of the excavation sites, surrounding areas, and protective systems before work starts every day and as needed (e.g., after storms, high winds, etc.).  

Construction workers should never enter an excavation site deeper than 5 feet when a protective system is not in place, when an inspection has not been conducted prior to work commencing, or if the surrounding rock is not stable. Stopping work when unsafe conditions arise is an action that should never be reprimanded. There is no construction job worth a life.  

Struck by objects– 

“Struck-by” hazards are common in construction as there are so many ways to get hit on a construction site. Elevated work surfaces or suspended loads mean that employees are exposed to the danger of falling objects. The presence of heavy equipment or working on a site near vehicle traffic means there is potential for workers to be not seen and struck. Flying objects can be created by tasks involving pressurization, power tools, and grinding, pulling, prying, pushing, or striking materials.  

The main practice to prevent struck-by hazards is vigilance. Workers need to be aware of the activities going on around them, wear appropriate PPE (vests to promote visibility, safety glasses/face shields to protect from flying objects, hardhats and steel toe boots to lessen the damage of falling items), and adhere to the safety practices necessary for the different areas of a construction site that they must work in or travel through. If there are not clearly designated areas on a given construction site, or workers are not aware of the reasonable practices, these general principles should still be followed: 

• Practice good housekeeping and store materials where they will not easily become hazards to those in the vicinity. 

• Do not work below suspended loads while they are in motion.  

• If working on a construction site near active vehicle traffic, stay behind the barricades.  

Again, employers have the responsibility of making sure employees know how to use their assigned tools and safety measures. Enforcing frequent inspections of equipment (e.g., rigging) and safety controls (e.g., barricades) is essential. Vigilance of safety programs is just as important at the company level as it is for individuals.   

Employers and workers must both prioritize safety as a necessary part of operations. Whether a construction worker is new to this kind of work or has years of experience, accidents can happen. Lessening the probability of encountering hazards requires a firm commitment to understanding and utilizing safety protocols and equipment and can mean the difference between life and death.  

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The SafetyStratus Research Advisory Group (RAG) brings together thought leaders from the global environmental, health, and safety community to promote best practices and provide key insights in the profession and the industries they serve. The Research Advisory Group also advocates, where practical, the intersection of and advances with the use of technology, such as the SafetyStratus enterprise EHS software platform. Group membership consists of representatives from across varied disciplines and market sectors as well as select members of the SafetyStratus team.
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