Report: Caught-in/between Fatalities Rising In Construction

For construction workers, safety awareness remains a priority every day. This group of workers faces hazards that most people in the sit-at-your-desk working world can only imagine.

Construction worker injuries and deaths are often attributed to what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA ) has dubbed the “Fatal Four.” Ranked in order, they are: falls; struck by object; electrocution; and caught-in/caught-between. Falls continue to account for the most construction-related deaths.

Recently, the Center for Construction and Training (CPWR) reported that the fourth category – caught-in/between – has seen an increase in construction deaths. Such incidents may include collapsing structures or equipment, excavation or trenching cave-ins, landslides or caught by running equipment or machinery.

According to the CPWR, construction fatalities from caught-in/between incidents increased 33 percent during the five-year period from 2011 to 2015. The number tops the 26 percent increase in all construction accidents during the same period.

<h4>Highlights from the report</h4>

The report noted that 275 construction workers died in caught-in/between incidents during that period; the most fatalities in this category than any other industry. Highlights from the report include:
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<li>Nearly 69 percent of the deaths were caused by being crushed or caught in a collapse of materials.</li>
</li>
<li>Roughly 93 percent of the non-fatal injuries were caused by equipment or other objects.</li>

<li>Caught-in/between construction deaths increased 33 percent in 2015 with 68 fatalities compared with 2011 when 51 worker deaths were reported.</li>

<li>Ironworkers, excavating or loading machine operators had the highest rate of caught-in/between fatalities.</li>

<li>Older construction workers had a higher risk of dying.</li>

<li>After the construction industry, manufacturing (244), agriculture (197) and waste management (72) had the next highest number of fatalities from caught-in/between incidents from 2011 to 2015.</li>
</ul>
The CPRW’s report concluded that caught-in/between incidents are preventable, and that companies must focus on consistent and improved training, engineering controls, safety matters and stressing the importance of personal protective equipment.