Struck-by's second leading cause of construction fatalities

On July 27, 2004 a chainsaw operator and an excavator operator were teamed up to clear trees. The excavator was used to push down and clear trees, while the chainsaw operator cut the root balls. At some point, the bucket of the track-mounted excavator struck the chainsaw operator, though it was at least 15 minutes before the excavator operator noticed that he had disappeared from view. When he swung the bucket arm away to get a better view of the worksite, he saw the victim on the ground. He immediately ran to the employer who called 911, but when emergency workers arrived they pronounced the chainsaw operator dead at the scene.

Being struck by an object, including moving vehicles, booms, and other worksite hazards is the second-leading cause of death on a construction worksite, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Of all struck-by fatalities in all industries, construction has the highest amount of cases, accounting for one in four fatalities. A full 75% of these involve heavy machinery.

OSHA has identified three main hazards that lead to struck-by fatalities on the construction worksite:

Vehicles – Vehicle safety practices are key to keeping any worksite safe, whether it is traveling vehicles like dump trucks and graders, or swinging vehicles such as backhoes and cranes. OSHA recommends a number of simple procedures to cut down the risk of accident including setting parking brakes and using chock blocks on inclines when vehicles are parked; lowering scraper blades, buckets, and dump bodies when not in use; and making sure that all personnel are clear when swinging booms, dumping loads, etc.

Falling/flying objects – Objects that fall from above or debris launched through the air from power tool use cause many hazards on the worksite. Ensure that all items used at heights are secured including tools and materials, and post warning signs and debris nets to protect workers on the ground. Employees should not be working under cranes and hoists. And of course, hard hats and other protective gear should be worn at all times.

Constructing masonry walls – Building masonry walls involves many hazards that can injure workers without a moment’s notice. This is due in large part to the heavy loads and the heavy equipment needed to move those loads. Jack slippage, lifting equipment losing their loads, wall collapse, unstable equipment footings, even recoiling mesh can cause major crushing injuries and death. Special care needs to be taken during these activities to ensure that safety precautions are taken at every step to protect the lives and health of workers.

A complete overview of this topic can be found on the OSHA website (www.osha.gov).

If you have been injured on a construction site, and were told that it was “an accident,” you may be left to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses on your own. Workers’ Compensation may cover some of your costs, but your long-term care could be in jeopardy. Don’t let someone else’s negligence cost you for the rest of your life. Let  a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury attorney help you get the financial stability you need. With over 30 years of litigation experience in construction cases, we can make sure that you do not have to settle for less. Contact us for a free case review, or click the link on this page.

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