October 26, 2011

U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration identifies leading causes of construction deaths

DAVENPORT, IOWA

Deadly falls. Lethal electrocutions. Being crushed or caught between objects or being struck by moving machinery or objects.

These four types of accidents are the leading causes of death in the construction industry, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), a division of the United States Department of Labor.

In response, OSHA now requires a module on the four hazards to be used in 10- and 30-hour construction outreach courses. MANCOMM, an American safety and compliance publisher, has released two related publications: Construction and Focus 4: Instructor Guide and Student Handbook, to help address the top four construction industry hazards.

“Lowering the accident and injury rates for the four main jobsite hazards through enhanced training would do much to reduce accident statistics throughout the construction industry,” said Benjamin Mangan, President of MANCOMM.

Construction Focus 4 is divided into the four sections of fall hazards, caught-in or between hazards, struck-by hazards and electrocution hazards.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, 751 members of the construction industry died from work-related injuries and falls, that is 35 per cent of all construction fatalities, or about 260 deaths.

Mangan said the publications will provide the construction industry with the knowledge to foster safer work practices.

“More importantly, they will help to prevent tragic accidents and deaths on jobsites nationwide.”

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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