Caught-In/Between and Struck-By Hazards
Do you know what to look for?
It is imperative to look out for caught-in/between and struck-by hazards. Caught-in/between and struck-by are two of OSHA's four main safety hazards, known as the "Focus Four", which account for the majority of construction worker deaths each year. These types of incidents continue to cause a multitude of fatalities and serious injuries annually. A “struck-by” injury is caused by forcible contact or impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment. A “caught-in/between” hazard is when a worker is compressed between or gets caught in equipment or objects. It also includes when a worker is killed by getting caught, struck, or crushed by materials, equipment, or a collapsing structure. The main difference between struck-by accidents and caught-in/between accidents is a result of crushing injuries and not the initial impact as they are with struck-by accidents.
To help identify what risks workers are exposed to, workers should conduct a job site hazard identification and assessment before the beginning of the day, or prior to starting a job task.
Common struck-by hazards and preventive steps consist of:
Flying Objects
- Inspect tools prior to use, such as saws and lathes to ensure that protective guards are in good condition.
- Wear the appropriate PPE. Safety glasses shall be worn when there is an exposure to flying objects, fragments, and particles. Secondary protective devices, such as face shields are required in conjunction with primary protective devices during severe exposure to impact hazards.
Falling Objects
- Store heavy objects close to the floor when possible.
- Secure and neatly store loose materials, especially those in overhead locations.
- Secure all loads and lift them evenly.
- When overhead work is being performed, barricade the area below or use a safety monitor.
- Use debris nets, catch platforms, or canopies to catch or deflect falling objects.
- Use tool lanyards when working overhead.
- Use tag lines to maneuver suspended loads.
Swinging/Slipping Objects
- Do not work under loads as they are being lifted.
- Keep a safe distance from suspended loads.
- Do not exceed lighting capacity of cranes and hoist.
- Barricade the radius of crane radius or heavy equipment with swinging buckets.
Rolling Objects
- Always check equipment before use for damages and make sure they are in safe operating condition. Back up alarms and strobe lights should always be inspected.
- Always walk behind moving equipment if possible. There are several blind spots when operating equipment.
- Never obstruct vision by overloading moving equipment.
- When large equipment is being operated, always make eye contact with the operator before approaching.
Common caught-in/between hazards and preventative steps consist of:
Caught in machinery and power tools
- Never put yourself between a moving vehicle and an immovable object, such as a wall. This is seen often for aerial lift operators.
- If you’re not the one operating a piece of equipment, stay away from it.
- Ensure that a power tool’s safety guards are not missing or intentionally removed.
- Never wear loose clothing or anything that could hang down and get caught in moving parts and pull you in.
- Keep hair short, cover long facial hair with a net, use clips or elastic bands to keep hair away from moving parts.
Improperly protected trenches and excavations
- Never enter an unprotected trench or excavation 5 feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place. Some trenches under 5 feet deep may also need such a system.
- Make sure the trench or excavation is protected either by sloping, shoring, benching or trench shield systems.
- Inspections need to be conducted prior to entry by a competent person to identify the soil classification.
When finding a preventive step to reduce or eliminate these kinds of hazards follow the hierarchy of controls. The hierarchy of controls are elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE.
For additional information, you can reach out to our safety team using the contact information below, or contacting us at
www.IowaCSSI.com.
Reminder:
Summer is now over, and fall is here. With harvest underway, drivers should pay extra attention to the roads. During the next couple of months, our rural roads and highways will have farm machinery and trailer trucks as the farmers move from field to field. To help reduce transportation incidents, talk to your employees about safe driving during harvest months.
Have a great month and as always, WORKSAFE! - Michael Messer, Safety Consultant
