The fatal four are the four types of accidents that lead to the most fatal injuries in the construction industry. Construction has a well-known reputation for leading to the highest total number of fatal accidents every year, so it is important for workers to understand how these accidents tend to happen.
By a large margin, falls are the most dangerous accidents that can happen on a job site. They account for 36.5% of fatalities. Examples include workers falling from ladders, falling off roofs or falling into unprotected holes or trenches. The remainder of the final four are introduced below.
Struck by accidents
Next, accounting for 10.1% of fatal accidents, are situations when a worker is struck by something that is swinging or falling. An example could be materials falling from an upper level on a construction project and hitting a worker on the ground.
Electrocutions
Electrical work is always dangerous, and it accounts for about 8.6% of fatal accidents. Poor maintenance of power tools and extension cords is sometimes to blame, and miscommunication can also be an issue, such as when a worker believes that a power line is not active, but it actually is.
Caught-between accidents
Finally, there are situations where workers are caught between two surfaces, such as a worker who is pinned between a vehicle and a stationary object. This category also includes situations where workers are caught in machinery, such as a conveyor belt. These incidents lead to roughly 2.5% of fatalities.
Seeking financial compensation
Have you lost a loved one due to a construction accident? If so, it is important for you and your family to know if you may be entitled to compensation for lost future earnings, medical bills, funeral and burial costs, and much more.
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