Focus Four Hazards
The Focus Four are the leading causes of death in construction: falls, electrocution, struck-by, and caught-in/between. This module helps you recognize each hazard and the basic controls that keep workers alive.
Falls
Falls are the number one cause of construction fatalities, so preventing them is a top priority. In construction, fall protection is generally required at 6 feet or more above a lower level, using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. Common fall hazards include unprotected edges, floor holes, improper ladder use, and unguarded scaffolds. Covering holes, installing guardrails, and using and inspecting fall arrest equipment are key ways to stay safe.
Electrocution
Electrocution happens when the body becomes part of an electrical circuit, and it is often fatal. Major causes include contact with overhead or buried power lines, damaged tools and cords, and working on energized equipment. Protective measures include maintaining safe clearances from power lines, using ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), never removing the grounding prong from a plug, and following lockout/tagout to de-energize equipment before work. Only qualified workers should perform electrical work.
Struck-By
Struck-by injuries occur when a worker is hit by a moving, flying, falling, or swinging object. Examples include being hit by a vehicle, struck by a swinging crane load, or injured by flying debris from a saw or nail gun. Controls include wearing high-visibility clothing, staying out of the swing radius and blind spots of equipment, securing loads and tools, and using barricades to separate workers from traffic. Never position yourself between a fixed object and moving equipment.
Caught-In/Between
Caught-in/between hazards involve being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects, or buried. Trench cave-ins are a deadly example, along with unguarded machinery that can catch clothing or limbs, and equipment that can pin a worker. Controls include protective systems in trenches (sloping, shoring, or shielding), machine guarding, lockout/tagout during maintenance, and staying clear of pinch points. A trench can bury a worker in seconds, so no one should enter an unprotected excavation.