Caught In/Struck By Hazards

“Caught in or between” and “struck by” hazards are two of OSHA’s Focus Four.  These types of incidents continue to cause many 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 or between injury may be similar to struck by injuries, but caught in or between injuries can be determined if the injury was created more as a result of a crushing injury between two objects.

Struck by hazards are categorized by:  flying object, falling object, swinging object or rolling object.  Caught in or between hazards are categorized by:  cave-ins, being pulled into or caught in machinery and equipment or being compressed or crushed between rolling, sliding or shifting objects.

How to protect yourself from struck by hazards:

• Ensuring all hand tools are maintained in good condition.
• All tools equipped with guards shall have guards in place.
• Only trained and authorized employees are allowed to operate powder-actuated tools.
• Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes.
• All materials stacked materials shall be secured to prevent sliding, falling or collapsing.  Secure all materials and tools when working at elevated heights.
• Toe boards shall be erected along the edge of overhead walking/working surfaces and scaffolds.
• Proper head, eye, face and hand protection shall be worn.

How to protect yourself from caught in or between hazards:

• Use machinery that is properly guarded.
• Use methods to ensure that machinery is sufficiently supported, secured or otherwise made safe.
• Protect yourself from being pinned between equipment, materials or other objects.
• Protect yourself on excavation sites.
• Never walk under suspended loads.
• Always make contact with equipment operators before walking in front of, behind or around equipment.
• Motorized equipment shall be equipped with an operating back up alarm.

Always look out for these types of hazards on the jobsite and don’t put yourself in a situation where you could become injured.