The Fatal Four are the top four reasons for deadly construction accidents. They’ve been named this because they show up as the main causes of these severe accidents year in and year out. Additionally, in part because of the size of the industry itself, construction tends to have the most fatal accidents out of any industry every year. The Fatal Four are the top reasons why.
However, it is important to note that the same incidents can lead to non-fatal injuries that can still change the course of someone’s life. A worker who suffers a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury, for instance, may need significant medical treatment and miss time away from work. So the Fatal Four are important to identify for all workers in the construction industry.
The top four causes of accidents
Although construction accidents can have many different causes and are sometimes the result of multiple factors, these are the top four reasons:
- Falls: This includes falls on the same level, such as a slip and fall accident, or falls from heights, such as a fall from a ladder or a roof.
- Caught-between: These incidents happen when workers are caught between equipment or vehicles, such as when a worker becomes entangled in heavy equipment.
- Struck-by: In some cases, workers are struck by vehicles. But these incidents can also happen when items are dropped from above and strike workers below.
- Electrocutions: Workers often have to install electrical lines or work around hazards like overhead powerlines. Electrocutions could also come from faulty equipment or machinery.
When workers do suffer serious injuries on the job, it’s imperative that they understand all the legal options at their disposal.
