What injuries comprise the construction industry’s Fatal Four?

When you work construction, your various job sites unfortunately contain numerous hazards and conditions that put you at risk for serious injury and even death.

Construct Connect reports that per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 64.7% of annual deaths in the construction industry result from the following four types of injuries:

  1. Falls account for 38.7% of the deaths
  2. Struck by object accidents account for 9.4% of the deaths
  3. Electrocution accidents account for 8.3% of the deaths
  4. Caught-in or caught-between accidents account for 7.3% of the deaths
  5. Falls

Given the roofs, scaffolding and tall ladders on which you must perform many of your tasks, it is not surprising that you face more risk of injury or death from a fall than from the other three types of Fatal Four accidents combined.

  1. Struck by objects

You likewise face risk of serious injury or death if one of the vehicles, tools or pieces of heavy equipment that abound on construction sites strikes you.

  1. Electrocutions

Just because you do not work as an electrician does not mean that you face no risk of electrocution. Your construction sites contain a number of electrical tools and equipment, any of which could electrocute you if you come into contact with one of their live wires.

  1. Caught-ins and caught-betweens

Finally, the heavy equipment and machinery around which you work provides numerous opportunities for you to become trapped within their parts. Even if you do not die from this type of injury, you could sustain serious injury that could result in the necessity for doctors to amputate one or more of your limbs.

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