The Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration (OSHA) commonly refers to the most abundant construction accidents as “the fatal four.”  Studies have proven year in and year out that fall related accidents, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught between two objects account for the highest rate of injury and death when it comes to construction accidents. 

• Fall related accidents:
  • A fall accident accounts for approximately one in three (1 in 3) construction accident fatalities according to the studies done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In New York, the number was even higher as nearly 40% of work related accidents occured from a fall in 2022 according to the NYC Department of Buildings. 
• Struck by an object:
  • Being hit by debris, material, or construction equipment accountant for nearly one in ten (1 in 10) construction accident injuries.  This can happen when objects fall, are dropped, improperly secured, collapse or shift causing extensive damage.  Accidents can also occur from construction equipment, construction vehicles, and heavy machinery if not properly operated.
• Electrocution:
  • Depending on the circumstances, a lethal amount of electricity can range anywhere between 100-250 volts, with the low end resulting in uncontrolled muscle spasms, to the high end resulting in cardiac arrest. On construction sites, electricity is used in abudance especially when buildings are being wired in the final developemental stages. To reduce the chance of being electrocuted, it is advised to keep power lines off the job site until they are absolsutely necessary.
• Caught between two objects:
  • Being crushed or caught between two objects can happen at any time and when you least expect it.  Machines can grab a hold of clothing or body parts, you could be trapped in a collapsed structure, pinned between two or more objects, or find yourself in a dire situation if you are not vigilant at all times.