Focus on Prevention: The Top Four Construction Hazards

Focus on Prevention: The Top Four Construction Hazards

State Building and Construction Trades CouncilFunded by Federal OSHA (2008)

OSHA Grant Number

This material was produced under grant number SH16592-07-60-F6 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Credits ─ Sources of Information

Center for Construction Research & Training (CPWR) Laborers International Union of North America U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Cal/OSHA Federal OSHA Occupational Health Branch, California Dept. of Public

Health The Construction Institute Associated General Contractors

Topics

The Construction Workforce Nationwide Fall Hazards Struck-by Hazards Electrical Hazards Caught-in/between Hazards

The Construction Workforce Nationwide

Three Times the Deaths

Nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites in this country.

In 2003, construction workers were 7%

of the workforce and 21% of the workplace deaths.

Immigrant Deaths on the Job

Between 1996-2000 the number of foreign-born workers increased by 22%.

The number of fatalities among these workers increased by 43%.

Latinos Were 23% of All Construction Workers in 2005

Latinos as a percentage of construction occupations, 2003-05

Latino Construction Deaths

Of the 1,226 construction deaths in 2005, 321 (26%) were among Latino workers.

Non-English Speaking Workers

An estimated 4.5 million of California’s 17 million workers do not speak English.

Cal/OSHA has only 30 field inspectors able to speak a language other than English.

California vs. Nationwide Construction Fatalities by Hazard

Other

46.1%

Struck-by Fatalities

11% Caught-in Fatalities

5%

Fatalities from Falls

30%

Electrical Fatalities

7.8%

Other

37.5%

Struck-by Fatalities

9.7%Caught-in Fatalities

7.7%

Fatalities from Falls

34.9%Electrical Fatalities

10.1%

United States 20061226 Total Fatalities

California 2005 102 Total Fatalities

What Are the 4 Leading Causes of Death in Construction?

Falls Struck-by hazards Electrical hazards Caught-in/between hazards

Focus Four OSHA Citations

85% of all citations and 90% of dollars in OSHA construction fines are related to the Focus Four hazards.

79% of all construction fatalities are related to the Focus Four hazards.

Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard List in Construction

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors

Drywall and Insulation Contractors Finish Carpentry Contractors

Fall Hazards

Session Objectives

By the end of the sessionstudents will learn:

1) The four main causes of fall fatalities.2) How to prevent falls.3) How to use a personal fall protection

system.4) How to use ladders safely.

What Occupations Have the Highest Death Rates From Falls?

Roofers Construction Laborers Painters Carpenters Ironworkers

Falls Are Number One

Falls are the leading cause of construction fatalities.

Falls accounted for 34% of construction deaths nationwide in 2006.

Have you, or anyone you know, had a fall on the job? What happened?

Ironworker Dies After Falling Off Beam (California Case Study)

Break into small groups.

Take 5-10 minutes to read the case study and discuss the question.

Report your answer back to the class.

What Should Have Been Done to Prevent This Accident?

Investigators said employers should:

Require everyone working at heights to wear fall protection equipment.

Make sure openings are properly covered or otherwise protected.

If possible, provide alternate means of access to the work, such as an aerial lift (zoom boom).

What Are The Main Causes of Fall Fatalities?

Unprotected sides and edges, roof and wall openings, and floor holes

Improper scaffold construction

Improper use of portable ladders

Falls from girders and structural steel

Unguarded protruding steel rebars

Fatal Falls in Construction by Type

Causes of death from falls in construction, 1992-2005

How Can Workers Be Protected From Falling Off an Edge?

Protecting Workers From Falling Off an Edge

When workers are on a surface with an unprotected side or edge greater than 7.5 feet above the lower level, Cal/OSHA says employers must provide:

A guardrail system,

A safety net, or

A fall arrest system such as a lifeline and harness.

Can You Catch Yourself If You Fall?

No!

The average person’s reaction time is half a second. In that time you fall 4 feet.

Gravity pulls you down and your speed quickly increases.

A person who weighs 200 pounds and falls 6 feet will hit the ground with almost 10,000 pounds of force.

Catching yourself during a fall only happens in the movies.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Unsafe Covers

Covers over openings must be properly marked, positively affixed, and capable of supporting twice the intended load.

Markings used should be understandable by all employees, including those who may not speak or read English.

Working on Scaffolds

Scaffold deaths account for 9% of construction deaths.

About 1 in 5 of the fatal falls in construction are from scaffolds.

Cal/OSHA Scaffold Requirements

Must be designed by a “qualified” person.

A “competent” person must inspect a scaffold before each shift and after anything happens that could affect the structure.

More Scaffold Safety Requirements

Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from energized power lines.

Must be able to support their own weight and at least 4 times the intended load.

Must have toeboards and guardrails.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Improper Scaffold Construction

No guardrails on sides or ends of scaffold.

No safe access to scaffold platforms. Platforms are not fully planked from

side to side.Missing toeboards.

Steel Erectors

35 ironworkers die each year during steel erection.

Fall arrest systems for steel erectors are

difficult to set up.

Cal/OSHA’s Steel Erection Standard

All steel erection employees (except connectors) working on an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet high must use fall protection.

Connectors must use fall

protection when working two stories or 30 feet above a lower level.

Then … and Now

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Not Wearing Fall Protection on Roof Truss

Man on truss is not using fall protection.

Cal/OSHA requires fall protection when employees are walking or working on top plates, joists, rafters, trusses, beams, or similar structural members over 15 feet above the grade or floor level below.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Protruding Rebar Hazards

Guard all protruding ends of steel rebar with rebar caps or wooden troughs, or

Bend rebar so exposed ends are no longer upright.

When working above

exposed rebar, fall protection/ prevention is your best defense against impalement.

What’s the Best Way to Prevent Falls?

Methods of Fall Protection

What is the difference between fall protection and fall arrest?

Fall Protection vs. Fall Arrest

Fall protection keeps workers, tools, or materials from falling off, onto, or through working levels. Examples are guardrails and hole covers.

Fall arrest catches workers, tools, or materials after they have fallen, before they strike a lower level.Examples are safety net systems and personal fall protection systems.

Guardrail Systems

Safety Nets

Personal Fall Protection Systems (PFP)

Employer must fit and train each worker about PFPs.

A “competent” person must train workers about types of fall hazards, how to protect yourself, and limitations of PFPs.

What Are The Components of a Personal Fall Protection System?

Body harness

Lanyard and connectors

D-ring

Anchorage point

Training for Fall Arrest Systems

Required training should include:

An explanation of the company’s fall protection policies and systems

Selection and proper use of Fall Arrest Systems and related equipment.

Why Don’t Workers Like To Wear Personal Fall Protection Equipment?

Ladder Accidents

Each year, about 50 construction workers are killed by falls from ladders.

Most deaths happen from 10 feet or lower.

Twice as many falls occur when stepping down ladders than when going up ladders.

The main cause of falls from straight and extension ladders is the ladder sliding off its base.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Unsafe Ladder Use

Don’t work on the top steps or rungs of ladders.

Position portable ladders so the side rails extend at least 3 feet above the landing.

Secure side rails at the top to a rigid support and use a grab device when 3-foot extension is not possible.

Make sure that the weight on the ladder will not

cause it to slip off its support.

How Do You Use a Ladder Safely?

Make sure the ladder is on a firm level surface.

Always face the ladder when going up or down.

Maintain three-point contact at all times.

Don’t carry anything in your hands.

Secure the ladder at top and bottom.

Never over-reach to get at something off to one side.

View DVD: Don’t Fall for It

Fall Prevention Summary

Cal/OSHA requires fall protection on a surface with an unprotected side or edge greater than 7.5 feet above a lower level.

Fall prevention: keeps workers from falling (guardrails and hole covers

Fall arrest: catches workers after they have fallen (personal fall arrest systems and safety nets)

Fall Prevention Summary (cont’d)

Floor openings must be covered, labeled, and covers should support twice the load.

Scaffolds must be designed by a “qualified” person and inspected before each shift by a “competent” person.

Set ladders at 4:1 height-to-base ratio, and climb using 3-point contact.

Fall Prevention: Tips and Feedback

Class Brainstorm What tips do you have

to help prevent falls on the job?

What is your employer already doing to help prevent falls?

What else do you think should be done?

Struck-by Hazards

Session Objectives

By the end of the sessionstudents will learn:

1) The three main causes of struck-by fatalities.

2) How to prevent struck-by fatalities.3) How to use powder-actuated tools safely.

Struck-by Hazards Are Number Two

The second leading cause of construction fatalities is being struck by an object.

Approximately 75% of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment.

One in four “struck-by-vehicle” deaths involve construction workers, more than any other occupation.

What Are The Main Causes of Struck-by Deaths?

Vehicle and Roadway Hazards

Falling Objects Flying Objects

Have you, or anyone you know, had an accident from a struck-by hazard on the job? What happened?

Construction Laborer Run Over by Front-End Loader (California Case Study)

Break into small groups.

Take 5-10 minutes to read the case study and discuss the question.

Report your answer back to the class.

What Should Have Been Done to Prevent This Accident?

Investigators said employers should make sure:

Workers keep out of the immediate area where heavy equipment is operating.

When visual contact is lost with workers on foot, the equipment operator stops the equipment until contact is re-established.

Equipment has a working back-up alarm.

There is a written code of safe practices for all hazards.

Workers are adequately trained.

What Are the Leading Causes of Highway Worker Fatalities?

For highway workers on foot, the leading cause of fatalities is being struck by construction equipment.

For highway equipment operators, the most common cause of fatalities is equipment rollover.

What Precautions Should You Take Around Moving Vehicles or Equipment?

Stay clear of vehicles, and know the traffic control plan.

Communicate with operators by radio and/or eye contact.

Stay out of "blind spots."

Wear a reflective or high-visibility vest.

Don’t stand under loads.

What Should the Employer Do?

Have a traffic control plan.

Set up barricades and warning signs.

Assign spotters and/or flaggers.

Equip vehicles with rear vision cameras and radar systems to detect workers.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Out of Driver’s Line of Sight

This worker is in the driver’s blind spot. There is no spotter. Worker is not wearing an orange or red vest.

One in four "struck by vehicle" deaths involve construction workers, more than any other occupation.

How Can You Be Struck by Falling Objects?

Working under cranes or scaffolds

Rigging failure Loose or shifting

materials Lack of overhead

protection. How can you be

protected from falling objects?

Protection Against Falling Objects

Wear a hard hat. Secure all loads, tools,

and materials. Use toeboards. Use debris nets, catch

platforms, or canopies. Never walk or work

below moving objects overhead, like concrete buckets.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Falling Object Hazards in the Picture

Scaffold is constructed improperly.

Workers could get struck by objects falling off the scaffolding because there is no toeboard.

No hardhats or safety glasses.

What Are “Flying Object” Hazards?

Tools can create particles when chipping, grinding, sawing, brushing, or hammering.

Particles from some tools move at amazing speed and can hit with the force of a bullet, like those from pneumatic and powder-actuated tools.

How can you be protected from flying objects?

Protection From Flying Objects

Wear eye protection.

Inspect tools before use.

Make sure you are properly trained before using a power tool.

Powder-Actuated Tools

What do you think happened here?

How Should You Use Powder-Actuated Nail Guns Safely?

Get training – it’s required!

Always wear safety glasses and hearing protection.

Never disable safety devices such as sequential triggers, guards, or bumpers.

Never point the tool at a person, and point it away from you when nailing. Always assume it’s loaded.

Always disconnect the tool before clearing jams or doing tool maintenance.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Improper Use of Nail Gun

The carpenter is firing a nail toward himself.

He has no protective equipment like a hardhat and safety glasses.

He doesn’t seem to be using hearing protection.

Struck-by Hazards Summary

Use caution around vehicles and equipment, maintain eye contact with operators, and wear high-visibility gear. Backing vehicles should use spotters.

Don’t stand under loads.

Wear a hard hat and use toeboards to deflect falling objects.

Wear eye protection and inspect tools before use to avoid flying objects.

Don’t use powder-actuated tools unless you are trained and certified for each tool you use.

Struck-by Hazards: Tips and Feedback

Class Brainstorm What tips do you have

to help prevent struck-by accidents on the job?

What is your employer already doing to help prevent struck-by accidents?

What else do you think should be done?

Electrical Hazards

Session Objectives

By the end of the sessionstudents will learn:

1) The five main causes of electrocutions.2) How to prevent injury and death from

electrical hazards.3) What to do if a co-worker gets shocked.

What Are The Main Causes of Electrocutions? Contact with Overhead Power

Lines Contact with Live Circuits Poorly Maintained Power

Cords Improper Use of Power Tools

Have you, or anyone you know, been injured by an electrical hazard on a construction site? What happened?

Electrical Hazards Can Be Killers

In California, about 8% of construction fatalities are from electrocutions.

Nationwide, electrical hazards cause 12% of deaths on the job for younger workers.

Workers can even be killed by ordinary household current.

Laborer Electrocuted By Energized Crane (California Case Study)

Break into small groups.

Take 5-10 minutes to read the case study and discuss the question.

Report your answer back to the class.

What Should Have Been Done to Prevent This Accident?

Investigators said employers should:

Give workers information on what hazards to look for and how to avoid them.

Have strict safety procedures when working with a crane near high voltage power lines.

Contact the local electric power company and have the power turned off when working within a certain distance of high voltage power lines.

Death from Electrical Hazards

Causes of electrocution deaths among non-electrical construction workers, 2003-05

Effects of Electricity

Estimated Effects of AC Currents (U.S. Standard 60 Hz)

1 milliamp (mA)

Barely perceptible

16 mA Maximum current an average man can grasp and “let go”

20 – 30 mA Paralysis of respiratory muscles

100 mA Ventricular fibrillation threshold

2 Amps Cardiac standstill and internal organ damage

15/20/30 Amps

Common U.S. household breakers

PATH: Harm is related to the path by which current passes through the body.

Working Around Power Lines

Overhead power lines carry extremely high voltage.

Electrocution, burns, and falls from elevations are concerns for workers.

Contact with power lines can also cause explosions and fire.

What Equipment Might Contact Power Lines?

Crane Ladder Scaffold Backhoe Scissors lift Raised dump truck bed

Power Line Facts

Overhead lines are typically not insulated.

Equipment operators are normally safe when equipment accidentally touches a power line if they stay inside their equipment.

Workers on the ground who come in contact with power lines are 8 times more likely to be killed than workers inside equipment or vehicles.

How Can You Work Around Overhead Power Lines Safely?

Locate overhead lines before starting the job.

Keep equipment at least10 feet away.

Assume that lines are energized.

De-energize and ground lines when working nearby.

Use wood or fiberglass ladders near power lines.

Contact with Live Circuits

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Missing Ground Prong

Extension cord has a missing grounding prong.

If the power supply is not grounded or the path to ground has been broken, live current may travel through a worker's body causing electrical burns or death.

What Does This Do?

Ground-fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

Protects you from shock

Detects difference in current between the hot and neutral wires (including a ground fault)

If a ground fault is detected, the GFCI shuts off electricity in 1/40th of a second

Use GFCIs on all 120-volt, single-phase, 15-and 20-ampere receptacles.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Improper Cord Use

These cords are improperly wired directly to the electrical circuit.

Not protected by a GFCI.

Two-wire cords are not grounded and not rated for hard or extra-hard service.

What’s Does This Tell Us?

How Can You Use Power Tools Safely?

Power Tool Tips

Keep cords away from water, heat, oil, and sharp edges.

Disconnect tools when not in use, before servicing, and when changing accessories such as blades, etc.

Use double-insulated tools. Stop using any power tool that is wet,

overheating, smoking, starting to smell, or if you feel a tingle or shock.

What Should You Do If Someone Gets Shocked?

Call 911. Do not touch the worker in

contact with electric current. You could get shocked too.

Turn off the power or use nonconductive material (like a wooden stick) to remove him/her from the power source.

Start CPR or other first aid.

Electrical Hazards Summary

Contact with power lines causes the most electrocutions. Stay at least 10 feet away.

Use GFCIs for protection.

Make sure power is off when servicing or repairing tools and equipment.

Inspect all electrical tools before use. Do not touch a worker in contact with electric

current. Use nonconductive material like a wooden stick to move him/her.

Electrical Hazards: Tips and Feedback

Class Brainstorm What tips do you have to

help prevent electrical accidents on the job?

What is your employer doing to help prevent electrical accidents?

What else do you think should be done?

Caught-in/between Hazards

Session Objectives

By the end of the sessionstudents will learn:

1) The three main causes of caught-in/between fatalities.

2) How to prevent caught-in/between deaths.3) How to prevent equipment roll-overs.

What Are The Main Causes of Caught-in/between Deaths?

Being crushed by collapsing materials, such as in a trench or excavation.

Being caught in, or between, machinery or equipment.

Equipment rollover.

5% of All Construction Fatalities

Caught-in/between deaths represent about 5% of construction fatalities.

Have you, or anyone you know, been injured working in a trench? What happened?

Plumber Dies When Trench Collapses (California Case Study)

Break into small groups.

Take 5-10 minutes to read the case study and discuss the question.

Report your answer back to the class.

What Should Have Been Done to Prevent This Accident?

Investigators said employers should make sure:

• Workers don’t enter trenches deeper than 5’ without shoring, benching, or sloping.

• Backhoe operators place excavated soil (spoil) from trenches at least 2’ from the edge of the trench.

• Workers get safety training before they are assigned hazardous work.

Why Are Trenches Dangerous?

Most deaths from cave-ins occur in trenches 5 to 15 ft. deep.

Cave-ins happen suddenly with no warning.

Other risks: falls, electrocution, being struck by falling objects (or equipment), and bad air.

Bad air can make it hard to breathe, help cause a fire, or poison you.

Think You Can Run?

If a trench collapses, why not just run out of the way?Soil falls too fast.

Guess how fast it falls from a height of:2 feet? 4 feet? 6 feet?Click your choice.

From Two Feet …

It takes only 0.35 seconds for soil to fall two feet.

Human reaction time is about 0.50 seconds.

There’s no time to escape.

Go Back Continue

From Four Feet …

It takes only 0.50 seconds for soil to fall four feet.

Human reaction time is about 0.50 seconds.

There’s no time to escape.

Go Back Continue

From Six Feet …

It takes only 0.61 seconds for soil to fall six feet.

Human reaction time is about 0.50 seconds.

In this example, it would take a worker another 0.11 seconds to reach the ladder after reacting. There’s no time to escape.

Go Back Continue

How Much Does Soil Weigh?

OK, the trench has collapsed. A little bit of soil can’t weigh that much, right? Maybe you could dig out?

Wrong! Assume you’re buried three feet deep. A cubic yard of soil is pressing on you. How much do you think a cubic yard weighs?

Up to Two Tons!

A cubic yard of wet excavated clay weighs 3078 lbs.

A cubic yard of wet sand and gravel weighs 3375 lbs.

A cubic yard of sandstone weighs 3915 lbs. That’s almost two tons!

Weight of a Truck

Two tons is almost the weight of a small pickup truck.

Try to breathe or move with this weight on your arms, chest, and face.

You can’t!

What Causes Trench Deaths?

No protective system (like shoring) is in place.

Trenches and excavations are not properly or regularly inspected.

Excessive weight, such as machinery and spoil, is close to the edge of the excavation.

No safe means is available to get in and out of the trench.

What Must an Employer Do to Make a Trench Safe?

Cal/OSHA says your employer must train workers about trench hazards and how to protect themselves.

Employer must name a “competent” person before a trench is dug.

What Should You Do Before You Work In a Trench?

Make sure the contractor has marked all utilities before digging.

Make sure the competent person say it’s OK to work in.

Make sure equipment, like water pumps and ventilators, are in good condition.

Make sure there is a ladder within 25’ so you can get in and out.

If bad air is expected, make sure there is a rescue plan.

How Can Cave-Ins Be Prevented?

Trenches 5 feet or deeper require support, unless they are in solid rock.

Excavations 5 feet or deeper require a permit from

Cal/OSHA if workers will be entering them.

The type of trench protection depends on the type of soil, and only a competent person can classify soil.

What Are The Four Basic Ways To Support A Trench?

Sloping Benching Shoring Shielding

Sloping

Soil angled to increase stability

Benching

Steps in trench wall

Shoring

A support system made of posts, wales, struts, and sheeting. Hydraulic shoring systems are also available.

Shielding

A protective frame or box is used as a trench shield system.

Entering and Leaving a Trench

There must be a stairway, ladder, or ramp in excavations 4’ or more deep.

It must be within 25’ of the workers.

Ladder should extend 3’ above the top of the trench.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Unsafe Trench

There is no shoring. We can’t see if there is a way to safely enter

or leave the trench. Backhoe should not be on top of the trench—

this is an example of an unsafe “spoil pile.”

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Trenching Box Is Too Low

The trench box should extend 18 inches above the top of the trench so equipment and soil don’t fall back into the trench.

Ladders should be placed so that no worker is more than 25’ from an exit.

The backhoe is too close to the edge of the trench. Its weight might cause a cave-in.

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Hazardous Trench

This trench has:inadequate slopingno shoringno trench shield

Excavation Rescue

Excavation rescue must be done carefully because rescue operations might:– cause additional cave-ins– create more soil pressure

on buried victim– injure the victim more

severely.

What Are Some Other Caught-in/between Hazards?

Caught-in machinery or mechanical equipment

Pinned between equipment and a solid object (wall or equipment)

Equipment service and maintenance

Rollovers

What Are Examples of Mechanical or Moving Equipment?

Saws Presses Conveyors Bending, rolling, or shaping machines Powered hand tools Forklifts

How Can Workers Be Protected From Moving Parts or Equipment?

Machine Guards

What Other Precautions Should You Take When Servicing or Repairing Equipment?

Lockout/blockout

Cal/OSHA says that employers should:

• Set up a written lockout/ blockout program to make sure equipment is disconnected and locked before it is repaired.

• Train you to use the program.

Rollovers

Have you, or anyone you know, experienced a vehicle or equipment rollover?

What happened?

What Can You Do to Prevent Rollovers?

Don’t work parallel to steep grades, embankments, or unstable soil.

Use equipment with a ROPS, and fasten the seatbelt.

If rolling over, don’t jump out if the vehicle has a ROPS and seatbelt.

You have a better chance to ride it out with a ROPS and your seat belt fastened.

What Happened Here?

Caught-in/between Hazards Summary

Trench protection is required for 5 ft. deep or more Methods of trench protection – sloping, benching,

shoring, shielding Trench inspections must be conducted by a competent

person Only those who are trained and equipped should

perform trench rescues Use lockout/blockout procedures when servicing or

repairing machines Use heavy equipment that has a ROPS and fasten the

seatbelt.

Caught-in/between Hazards: Tips and Feedback

Class Brainstorm What tips do you have to help

prevent accidents from being caught-in/ between moving equipment on the job?

What is your employer already doing to prevent these accidents?

What else do you think should be done?

You’ve Come A Long Way! But We Still Have a Ways to Go…