Being struck by an object is one of the most common accidents that cause death, especially in the construction industry. A struck-by accident (SB) occurs when a person is forcefully struck by an object, wherein the force of contact is provided by the object. Workers are most often struck by heavy equipment and moving vehicles, falling or flying objects, and concrete or masonry walls being constructed, causing severe physical trauma that usually leads to death.
On the other hand, caught-between (CBT) accidents occur when a person is crushed, pinched, or caught between a moving object and a stationary object, or between two moving objects. These accidents can result to injuries like bruises, cuts, and scalping to mangled and amputated body parts, and even death.
Both of these accidents can be avoided if safety practices are implemented.
- Establish a route to allow employees and pedestrian to pass to and from places of employment without passing under, over, behind, or between equipment and vehicles at a certain distance. Check with your state regulations for the specific distance required. Workers shall not be allowed to pass through areas where there is a danger of being struck by or getting caught between moving vehicles.
- Inspect all vehicles before and after every shift to see if everything is in good working condition, especially the brakes, rear lights, and rear view mirrors.
- Don’t forget to lock out and tag out before clearing a jam, repairing, or servicing a machine or vehicle. Vehicles, powered doors, and forklifts can pose a crush hazard unless they’ve been blocked or tagged out. Never place your body under or between powered equipment unless it is de-energized. Immediately report and replace equipment that isn’t working properly.
- If the equipment doesn’t have a reverse signal alarm loud enough to be heard against the surrounding noise level, designate an employee to signal when it’s safe to back up when the operator has an obstructed view to the rear. Never operate if there is not enough illumination.
- Check for pinch points in moving machineries. Avoid wearing loose clothes or jewelry that can get caught. Never reach into a machine or under the machine and tool guards while it is still moving or parts of it are still moving. Immediately report missing or broken barriers.
- Be careful when lifting objects whether manually or using tools or cranes. An accident can be as simple as getting your fingers and toes crushed or as deadly as being struck by a heavy object falling on you.
- Wearing the proper personal protective equipment is very critical to surviving SB and CBT accidents, but you can also avoid them by being alert and staying focused on your tasks.
On a side note, the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2008 shows that the rate of fatal injuries for US workers has gone down compared to year 2007. However, the report also notes the economy as one factor that caused the fatality decrease. There were less people working in 2008 than in 2007, particularly in the construction industry which historically accounts for the most worker fatalities. Apparently, the decline may not be significantly attributed to safer work practices. Employers and workers will need to exert more effort in keeping their workplaces safe to continually lessen the rate of work-related deaths.
