806 Focus Four - Fall Hazards

Statistics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) more than half of all work-related falls nationally are due to falls in construction. Over half of all fatal construction falls occur in small construction companies with fewer than 10 employees.

The leading causes of private sector worker deaths in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These "Fatal Four" were responsible for about 60% of all construction worker deaths in 2017, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 582 workers' lives in America every year.

According to The Construction Chart Book (CPWR), most fatalities and nonfatal injuries due to falls are occur in three construction occupations: power-line installers, roofers, and ironworkers. Most fatalities from falls are caused by fall off roofs, ladders, and scaffolds.

Many fall hazards could be prevented by designing the hazards out. For more information and ideas, be sure to bookmark the Prevention Through Design website.

Practice Identifying Hazards

Try to identify the hazards present in each of the pictures below. Then click on the links below to open the examples. Click on each picture to see if you correctly identified the hazards.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.