A Construction Worker Died Today. . . Preventing the Five Greatest Construction Killers

Swinging, suspended or collapsing loads contribute a large portion of the remaining share. Both Subpart G - Signs, Signals and Barricades - and Subpart O - Motorized Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment and Marine Operations - contain clear language regarding clearances for workers to avoid this type of incident. Subpart N, Cranes and Derricks, has provisions to keep workers away from the moving parts of cranes and their loads. Subpart Q, Concrete and Masonry Construction, spells it out for us that no worker shall be permitted under a live load.

Workers struck by equipment and objects still are part of the top killers, even after the standards tell us we “shall” have audible warning systems, and we “shall” remain clear of moving equipment and overhead loads.

TRENCHING AND EXCAVATION

The fourth of the top five construction killers - excavations - is covered in OSHA's Subpart P; one of the most under-utilized standards in the industry. Sure, the big companies are aware of the requirements and will most times budget for trench and excavation protection from the planning stages, but there still are those who take the chance that it will never happen to them.

Many trench collapse or cave-in deaths involve smaller construction companies, performing a short duration operation, where proper trench protection isn't seen as a necessity. Protection like that just isn't part of the bid process. When the market is so competitive, there's just no room for “extras.”

Trenching and excavation deaths keep occurring, although OSHA is quite clear on when, where and how to protect the worker.

TRANSPORTATION

The fifth, but by no means last, of the top killers of construction workers is transportation-related accidents. We often don't think of transportation as being part of construction, per se, but nevertheless, nothing can happen without it. Material delivery and transporting equipment, supplies and workers are everyday activities.

A roadway is not a closed work zone, yet we travel the roadways frequently during the course of a typical day. The long hours worked in construction activities, combined with the ever-increasing distracted driver, place transportation-related deaths among the top of these rankings.

Transportation deaths in construction are on the rise. If we don't get out ahead of them, they quickly will become our No. 1 killer.

Every company needs to have a safe driver policy, including drivers' license checks, insurance background checks, cell phone usage policy and seat belt policy, as a start. Those with commercial driving enterprises need to follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration policies on driver qualifications, and ensure their drivers are qualified to operate the vehicles assigned to them. They also need to follow restrictions on the number of hours driver are allowed behind the wheel at any one time.

OSHA standards now are 40 years old. Most of today's work force never has known a time when their work wasn't governed by the agency. OSHA standards are the minimum requirements for safety in construction. So why are we not following even the bare minimum and allowing people to die on our jobsites?

There almost seems to be a perception that OSHA standards are voluntary - they are not. With the availability of immediate news flashes whenever tragedy strikes, we hear about these deaths almost as soon as they happen. And yet some contractors and workers still believe their workers and jobsites are immune to the hazards.

We can provide our work force with a safe working environment. Adhering to the regulations found in 29 CFR 1926 is a good start. Training our workers in safe work practices is the next step. Making the information available to them, and encouraging them to follow the rules, will result in a more productive workplace. When shortcuts are taken, there is a price to pay, whether through death, injury or something less dramatic, such as having to re-do the job.

Production, quality and safety are a three-legged stool. Take one away, and the stool will collapse. Joseph Strauss understood this concept.

The success of the Golden Gate Bridge construction is a great example of how putting protective measures into place saves lives. It is that kind of forward thinking and planning for safety that will enable the change in those death numbers and allow the construction industry to be a leader in safety in one of the most hazardous occupations in the country.

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Julie Carter, CSP, CHST, works with Traylor Bros. Inc. as safety manager assigned to the Hurricane Risk Reduction Project in the New Orleans, La., area. She is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, sits on the National Safety Council's Board of Delegates and is vice chair for NSC's Construction Division.