A California construction site contains many hazards, and when you work in the construction industry, your chance of sustaining a work-related injury or fatality is high. Most construction deaths and many construction-related injuries result from the same four hazards and circumstances. So, recognizing what they are may help you lower your risks to some degree.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, safety advocates have dubbed the four primary dangers in construction the Focus Four Hazards. The Focus Four Hazards are as follows.
1. Falls
Falls are the leading cause of death in construction. This includes falls from heights as well as falls from the same level. You may be able to mitigate your fall risk to some extent by always using personal fall arrest systems and following other safety protocols. Falls from heights are especially commonplace in your industry, causing about 40% of modern construction deaths.
2. Struck-by incidents
Struck-by incidents are another frequent cause of construction injuries and fatalities. This includes objects or vehicles striking workers and injuring or killing them.
3. Caught-between incidents
Many construction workers suffer injuries when they find themselves caught in between two objects or areas. Trench and scaffold collapses are examples of the types of events that may lead to caught-between injuries and fatalities.
4. Electrocutions
Your risk of experiencing electrocution or suffering an electrical injury is high in your line of work. Your chance of experiencing work-related electrocution is especially high if you work as a power line installer.
Research shows that construction’s Focus Four Hazards contribute to 60% of all construction deaths.