The Focus Four, which used to be known as the Fatal Four, are some of the major hazards that construction workers face. OSHA focuses on teaching workers how to identify these hazards and avoid them, seeking to cut back on fatal accidents or those leading to severe injury.
In general, the Focus Four are: Falls, caught-between, struck-by and electrocution.
All falls are significant
Falls are listed first because they lead to the most fatal accidents in the construction industry. Some of these are significant falls from height, such as when a worker falls off of a scaffold or a ladder. But even a slip-and-fall accident can lead to serious head injuries on a construction site.
Using heavy machinery
Many caught-between or “caught-in” accidents involve heavy machinery. A worker may be entangled in a conveyor belt, for instance, or caught between two pieces of moving machinery.
Vehicles and falling materials
Struck-by incidents can happen in a few different ways, one of which is simply when someone is struck by a vehicle on the construction site. But there are also hazards with materials or tools falling from above if they are not tethered and secured properly.
Live electrical lines
Electrocution issues are often a problem when working around live electrical lines or with certain types of power equipment. Miscommunication could be the culprit, such as when a worker believes that a line has not been connected yet and is not live, when it is actually carrying a significant voltage.
Workers who have been injured in any of these ways may deserve significant workers’ comp benefits, and they need to know what legal steps to take.