submitted by Carin A. O’Donnell, Esq., Stark & Stark
The primary cause of fatalities and serious injury on a job site can be narrowed down to twelve hazardous conditions.
The Ironworkers union refers to these as the “Deadly Dozen Hazards” and has committed to a long-term educational campaign to help workers spot and correct hazards before they become deadly.
The “Deadly Dozen” and their contributing factors
- Falls through unprotected/inadequate floor opening covers
- Falls through unprotected/inadequate floor opening covers
- Plywood/temporary floor weight requirements
- Wind displacement
- Improper use of fall arrest equipment
- Inadequate use of hazard access zone and the cone and bar system
2. Collapse of unsecured open web steel joists
- Lack of sufficient guying and bracing
- Lack of clear regulatory responsibility
- Other trades on the job site prematurely removing column support guys to install formwork
- Accelerated pour schedules and “fast track” formwork
3. Lack of fall protection and inadequate use of fall arrest equipment
- Lack of training
- Unprotected side or edge; and more than 15 ft above lower level
4. Falls during installation of floor and roof decking from high elevations
- False sense of security
- Confusion regarding fall protection requirements for connectors
- Installation of floors and roof
- Reinforcing steel
- Inadequate use of positioning device and fall arrest equipment
5. Material handling injuries during steel erection and reinforcing steel activities
- Failure to adequately secure the joist ends
- Inadequately secured landing bundles
- Open web steel joists not adequately secured prior to landing deck bundles, bridging bundles, or other construction materials
6. Column collapse due to anchor bolt failure and/or insufficient concrete strength
- Use of (4) anchor bolts minimum
- No notification of concrete strength prior to steel erection (75% level)
- Environmental and site conditions
- Inadequate inspections
7. Structural collapse of unsupported reinforcing steel columns, walls, and decks
- Inadequate braces
- Unstable trenches
- Imbalanced loads
8. Injuries from falling objects, tools, and materials.
- Inadequate use of tool tethers
- Entanglement from tool lanyards
- Simultaneous construction activities below drop hazard work environments
9. “Caught between” injuries during hoisting and rigging operations
- Aerial lift equipment
- Poorly planned staging areas
- Inadequate bracing
- Collapse
- Clothing or tool catches
10. Impalement
- Unprotected rebar dowels
- Reliance on mushroom caps
- Improper wooden trough installment or safety precautions
- Awareness of other impalement dangers
11. Electrical hazards and injuries from high-voltage power lines
- Crane assembly
- Rigging operations
- Activities near electrical wires
12. Heat illness and toxic exposure to chemicals and airborne contaminants
- High heat
- Lack of water/rehydration
- Long-term exposure to airborne contaminants
- Welding fumes
Unfortunately, the Deadly Dozen are the cause of most injuries and deaths on job sites.
If you or someone in your family has been catastrophically injured at a construction site, you may be eligible for compensation.