Curtailing Construction’s Fatal Four – Eliminating Injuries from Electricity

Power_Lines_2The “Fatal Four” of construction are falls, electrocutions, workers being caught in or between objects, and worker being struck by objects. In the United States, these hazards consistently account for over 50% of construction worker deaths annually. This translates into the deaths of over 899 workers on a yearly basis. In our four part blog post series, we will examine each hazard and highlight the steps companies are taking to not only ensure compliance with workplace legislation but create a proactive, performance-driven culture to transform their organization.

Electrocutions are the Enemy

“Electrocution” means to kill with electricity and is the result of a human being exposed to lethal amounts of electrical energy. Electrocutions kill 74 construction workers every year.

Electrocutions are the worst form of workplace electrical hazards. The group of hazards can be identified by the acronym “BE SAFE” and include:

B-Burns: The most common shock related injury

E-Electrocution:Read more...

Curtailing Construction’s Fatal Four – What you need to know about falls from height

Construction Safety gear

The “Fatal Four” of construction are falls, electrocutions, workers being caught in or between objects, and worker being struck by objects. In the United States, these hazards consistently account for over 50% of construction worker deaths annually. This translates into the deaths of over 899 workers on a yearly basis. In our four part blog post series, we will examine each hazard and highlight the steps companies are taking to not only ensure compliance with workplace legislation but create a proactive, performance-driven culture to transform their organization.

Falls Are the Deadliest of All

Of the Fatal Four, falls are the most deadly, accounting for 36% of all construction-related deaths in the United States. In 2014, falls from heights killed 39 people in Britain, making falls responsible for three out of every ten worker fatalities. In Canada, over 42,000 people are injured from falls every year, accounting for 17% of workplace-related … Read more...