From March to June 2021, GBCA is supporting OSHA’s Construction Focus Four Hazards Training campaign. This campaign provides training resources to help stop the top causes of fatalities on construction job sites.

Construction’s “Fatal Four”

Out of 5250 worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2018, 20% were in construction. One in five worker deaths last year were in construction.

The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by struck-by, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” hazards were responsible for well over half (59%) of the construction worker deaths in 2018, according to BLS reports.

  • Falls — 338 out of 1008 total deaths in construction in CY 2018 (34%)
  • Struck by Object – 112 (11%)
  • Electrocutions – 86 (9%)
  • Caught-in/between* – 55 (6%)

*This category includes construction workers killed when caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects, and struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material.

Moral of the Story: Eliminating these Four Hazards would save 591 workers’ lives each year.

GBCA will be featuring toolbox talks in support of OSHA’s Construction Focus Four Training each week in our newsletter and social media platforms.

  • March: Electrocutions
  • April: Struck-By Object Hazards
  • May: Falls
  • June: Caught-In/-Between Hazards

 

National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

OSHA announced that the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction will be held May 3-7, 2021. During that week, OSHA encourages construction employers and other stakeholders to hold stand-down events that promote awareness and training to address one of the industry’s most serious dangers.

During the month of May, GBCA will feature toolbox talks about falls hazards, and OSHA’s Fall Prevention Stand-Down webpage offers a wide range of compliance resources.

Use #StandDown4Safety to promote your event on social media. Employers will also be able to download a Certificate of Participation following their Stand-Down.