Study Notes on the Focus Four Hazards in Construction Industry

Introduction to the Focus Four in Construction Industry

  • Context: In construction, certain types of hazards account for the majority of accidents and fatalities. The goal is to focus training and resources on these key risk areas.

The Focus Four Hazards

  • Definition: The Focus Four refers to the four most hazardous types of accidents in the construction industry.

  • Components:

    • Electrical Hazards

    • Description: Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of accidents and fatalities in construction.

    • Statistics: Account for 11% of fatalities.

    • Primary Causes:

      • Contact with overhead power lines.
      • Use of cranes and backhoes near electrical sources.
      • Issues with aluminum and wood ladders posing grounding risks.
      • Poorly maintained cords and tools, often draped on the ground, may become frayed or wet leading to electrocution.
      • Risk of lightning strikes, particularly related to cranes acting as lightning rods.
      • Ground-up lightning occurrences where 80% of strikes originate from the ground-based objects.

    • Caught In/Between Hazards

    • Description: These involve accidents where workers are caught between machinery or structures.

    • Statistics: Account for 10% of fatalities.

    • Primary Causes:

      • Falling objects due to rigging failures, particularly in crane operations.
      • Equipment tip-overs.
      • Poor maintenance practices (e.g., hydraulic line maintenance while the bed of a truck is elevated).
      • Lack of proper protective measures when accessing equipment.

    • Fall Hazards

    • Description: Falls represent a significant risk due to unprotected edges, openings, or improper equipment use.

    • Statistics: Account for 34% of fatalities.

    • Primary Causes:

      • Unprotected edges and holes, including elevator shafts or open stairwells.
      • Poorly constructed walking and working surfaces.
      • Improper use of access equipment such as ladders with multiple persons.
      • Slips, trips, and housekeeping issues.

    • Struck By Hazards

    • Description: These hazards occur when workers are struck by equipment or objects.

    • Statistics: Account for 26% of fatalities.

    • Primary Causes:

      • Falling objects, especially when rigging is improperly conducted.
      • Backing incidents with construction machinery.
      • Limited visibility for operators.
      • Unguarded moving parts in machinery that can catch clothing or limbs.

Importance of Focusing on the Focus Four

  • Injury Data: Analysis indicates that 79% of all accidents on construction sites are due to the Focus Four hazards.
  • Financial Implications: Consequently, where resources are limited for training expenditures, investing in safety training related to the Focus Four is deemed most effective.
  • Fatalities and Legalities: These hazards account for 85% of all citations and 90% of financial penalties within the industry due to safety violations.

Key Safety Systems and Practices

  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): A safety procedure to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off during maintenance and servicing.
  • Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS): Designed to protect operators from the risk of rollover incidents.
  • Use of Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS): Essential for preventing falls from heights during operations.
  • Properly Engineered Protection: Strategies to ensure overhead protection during building construction, such as using nets and safe equipment access.

Case Studies and Anecdotes

  • Anecdote about Overhead Protection: Relates to a hotel construction in Alexandria where a beam fell due to inadequate overhead protection.
  • Poor Equipment Maintenance Incident: Citing experiences involving hydraulic lines on dump trucks without proper blocking practices during maintenance.

Quiz and Participation

  • Questions about the Focus Four: Engages students in recalling specific hazards, reinforcing the key learning points. Students are encouraged to name the Focus Four hazards discussed during the session.
  • Assignment Reminder: Students will have a written assignment that involves conducting an activity hazard analysis. This involves breaking an activity down into steps and identifying the potential hazards involved, along with mitigation strategies.

Closing Remarks

  • Encouragement for Questions: Teacher invites any questions and clarifies the importance of discussing the Focus Four in subsequent classes.