06 common contributing factors for workplace injuries 02062024

Vol.25 | No.06 | Week of 02-10-25 CRUSHED BY & STRUCK BY INJURIES

Date:

It’s bad luck to
walk under a
ladder because
it’s bad to be
struck by a falling
bucket or tool.
Don’t tempt fate.
!

Job Name:

Supervisor Signature:

Think about how often you’ve taken a chance and put yourself at risk. Have you
worked within the swing radius of a crane? Have you been a spotter for heavy
equipment and placed yourself between the equipment and a wall? Have you
ever darted across the path of a dump truck without making sure the driver sees
you and waves you across? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions,
you can consider yourself lucky that you’re here to tell the story. Many risktakers aren’t so lucky. You’ve been trained to recognize and avoid these hazards.
Remember your training: stay out of danger zones.

Stay protected in trenches. Never enter an unprotected trench. You may convince
yourself that going in there for a few minutes is okay, but a cave-in could happen
in just seconds. Your decision to take that risk could be the last one you ever
make. Make sure you can identify the signs of a safe and an unsafe trench (hint,
the safe one has a trench protection system). Unless a competent person assures
you that the trench walls are stable or properly supported, don’t go into the
trench.

Work safely around heavy equipment. Keep your distance when you’re working
around moving equipment. Never pass in front of a machine until you have
made eye contact with the operator and he gives you permission to pass. Don’t
walk behind moving equipment where the operator can’t see you. Don’t stand
between a fixed object (such as a wall or a post) and any equipment; the operator
could move the unit or the load and crush you. Get out of the way when you hear
a back-up alarm. Wear high-visibility clothing so operators can see you, especially
in the evening and during the night.

Always be aware of your environment so you don’t set yourself up for a crushedby or struck-by injury. So far, weíve been talking about how to avoid being killed.
But it’s important to prevent crushed-by and struck-by injuries when you’re
working with smaller equipment, too. Keep your head up when you walk around
the jobsite. Don’t use your phone or look at it while you walk. Keep your hands
out of the point of operation of power tools and small equipment. Stack building
materials in stable, secure piles so that they won’t fall over on you. Wear your
hard hat to protect your head and brain from falling and flying objects. Don’t
work under scaffolding or platforms that are in use. At home, make sure that your
furniture, shelving, and TV are secured to the wall so they don’t tip over and hurt
or crush your kids, your legs, or your toes.

Vol.25 | No.06 | Week of 02-10-25

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