TOP HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION

SITES
Though construction site rules and regulations seek to minimize risks,
human error and machine failure still present hazards. The following
are some of the most common risks on a construction site.

1. FALLING

OSHA cites that falls account for the greatest number of fatalities in
the construction industry each year. These falls may occur due to
unstable work surfaces, the misuse or failure to use fall protection
equipment and human error. Though falls can happen in a variety of
situations, many occur when workers are using ladders.

Ladder falls account for approximately 24,882 injuries and 36 fatalities

yearly in the construction industry. Falls from construction ladders may
occur when:

 The wrong type of ladder is used for a task

 Workers are improperly trained on ladder safety
 A ladder is structurally damaged, including broken or missing
rungs, steps or cleats, split or bent side rails and missing or
damaged safety devices
 A ladder is used beyond its maximum intended load
 A metallic ladder is used for electrical work or near power lines
 Rung contaminants cause ladder slips that lead to a loss of
balance

Following OSHA standards, manufacturer guidelines and performing

regular inspections can help prevent ladder falls. In the flow of the
workday, mistakes or fatigue may lead to improper usage and an
increased risk of injury.
2. SLIPPING & TRIPPING

Construction sites can sometimes become a maze of equipment,

debris, dirt and more. Navigating around a busy site — even when
using caution — can cause workers to slip and trip.

According to OSHA, a slip occurs when a construction worker loses

their balance after a loss of friction or traction between the worker’s
foot and the work surface. Trips are slightly different, as they occur
when a construction worker’s foot or lower leg hits an object, which
causes them to lose their balance.

There are a variety of substances and items that may cause a slip or
trip on a construction site, including:

 Water
 Mud
 Grease
 Oil
 Dust
  Powders
 Plastic wrapping
 Sloped walking surfaces
 Gravel
 Plant debris
 Hoses
 Cables
 Wires
 Cords
 Clutter or debris
 Gaps in a walking surface

OSHA reports that many slips and trips occur in stairways. This can
happen under the following circumstances:

 Stairway treads are filled with dangerous objects, debris or

materials.
 A stairway is slippery and is not cleaned quickly.
 A stairway’s treads do not cover the entire step and landing.
 A stairway with four or more risers that extends higher than 30
inches does not have handrails.

Slips and trips often cause minor injuries such as strains,

sprains, contusions, bruises, abrasions, lacerations
and fractures. Common injury sites for a slip or trip injury include a
worker’s foot, ankle, knee, back, hip, shoulder, wrist, elbow or head.

Construction workers may be trained on how to avoid slips and trips

and comply with OSHA standards, but this does not completely
remove the risk. If a worker is tired or distracted, or if the weather
conditions obstruct their vision, the risk of a slip or trip may be
increased.

3. AIRBORNE & MATERIAL EXPOSURE

Construction workers face several respiratory hazards and may
interact with toxic materials. Some of these dangerous materials
include:

 Lead: Construction workers may absorb lead when

inhaling lead-contaminated dust, fumes or mist. Lead may be
present in roofs, cornices, tank linings, paint or electrical
conduits. Though lead paint has been banned from residential
use, it is still used to prevent rust and corrosion on bridges,
railways, ships, lighthouses and other steel structures. Workers
who take part in demolition, renovation, installation or other
activities where lead is present may be at risk for lead exposure.
Repeated lead exposure may cause irreversible organ and
system damage.
 Asbestos: Asbestos may enter the body when a construction
worker ingests contaminated airborne particles. Very few modern
products contain asbestos, but workers renovating older
structures may be at risk for exposure. Workers may encounter
asbestos in spray-on fireproofing, floor tiles, pipe installation, fire-
resistant drywall, drywall joint compounds acoustical products
roofing felts and shingles, cement pipes and ceiling tiles. Without
proper protection, asbestos particles can embed themselves in
 the respiratory or digestive tissues and cause emphysema, lung
cancer, mesothelioma and gastrointestinal cancer.
 Chromium: Hexavalent chromium may be ingested through
contaminated dust, mists or fumes as well as direct eye or skin
contact. Construction workers may encounter this substance if
welding with stainless steel, using certain dyes, paints, inks and
plastics or working with certain paints, primers and surface
coatings. Chromium can cause respiratory irritation, kidney
damage, skin irritation, perforated eardrums, teeth damage,
asthma, respiratory cancer and eye irritation and damage.
 Cadmium: Cadmium exposure may occur when workers
breathe contaminated dust, fumes or mists or absorb it through
skin contact. Construction workers who are welding or painting
may encounter cadmium. Exposure to cadmium may cause
cancer as well as issues in the cardiovascular, renal,
gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive or respiratory
systems.

Materials like silica dust and chemical products may present additional
hazards on the job. To a degree, correct personal protective
equipment and training can help shield workers from these hazards.

4. STRUCK-BY INCIDENTS

“Struck-by” accidents occur when a worker is hit by a vehicle, falling

object or flying object. According to OSHA, one in four struck-by
vehicle deaths involves a construction worker. 75% of these
fatalities involve heavy equipment like trucks or cranes.

Construction struck-by incidents that involve vehicles or machinery

may occur when:

 A worker is pinned between construction vehicles and walls

 A worker is struck by a swinging backhoe
 A worker is crushed beneath an overturned vehicle
 A worker is struck by trucks or cars on the job site
Other struck-by incidents may occur with falling or flying objects.
Workers may be at risk for a falling object incident when working
beneath cranes, scaffolds or anywhere where overhead work is being
performed. Flying object risks occur when workers are using power
tools or completing activities that could cause an object to become
airborne.

Protective gear, proper protocol and training can help mitigate the risk
of a construction struck-by incident, but the hazard is impossible to
avoid completely.

5. EXCESSIVE NOISE

Much of the equipment used on a construction site generates high

levels of noise. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause
irreversible hearing loss in construction workers. This hearing loss
could occur instantly from a single powerful explosion. But it most
likely occurs over time with repeated exposure to moderate noise.

OSHA cites that regular, eight-hour exposure to noise levels over 85

decibels can cause hearing damage over time. Louder noises that
reach 100 decibels may cause hearing loss with just one hour of
exposure each day. The following are common pieces of construction
equipment and their sound levels for reference:

 Framing saw: 82 decibels

 Backhoe: 85 decibels
 Belt sander: 90 decibels
 Forklift: 93 decibels
 Nail gun: 97 decibels
 Concrete saw or electric grinder: 98 decibels
 Bulldozer: 100 decibels
 Jackhammer: 102 decibels
 Grader or scraper: 107 decibels
 Chain saw: 110 decibels
Hearing protection can help preserve hearing when worn correctly and
at all times when these noises are present. Even with protection, there
is ample opportunity for exposure to detrimental noise levels on a
construction site.

6. VIBRATION-RELATED INJURY

Operating heavy construction equipment for long periods may expose

construction workers to high levels of vibration. Depending on the
equipment they use and the terrain they drive over, varying levels of
vibration can be transmitted through the equipment’s frame and cab.
These vibrations are known as whole-body vibration.

These vibrations can be uncomfortable for equipment operators and

can also cause detrimental health issues such as:

 Irritation in the lumbar spine and connected nervous system

 Lower back pain
 Internal organ disorders
 Speech modulation
 Altered body movements
 Musculoskeletal injuries to the arms, shoulders and neck

7. SCAFFOLD-RELATED INJURY

Scaffolding allows nearly 2.3 million construction workers to complete

work at tall heights. Though a valuable tool for many construction
projects, scaffolds present several safety hazards.

Some of the common risks that lead to injury include:

 Falls from a height due to a lack of fall protection

 Scaffold collapse due to structural instability or overloading
 Tools, work materials or debris falling from the scaffold and
hitting a worker
  Electrocution due to the proximity of the scaffold to overhead
power lines
 Scaffold planking or supports giving way

OSHA has many standards for scaffold use to help protect workers.
These standards dictate how a scaffold should be constructed, who is
eligible to build and dismantle scaffolds and the types of safety
features that should be utilized. In addition, OSHA recommends
capacity requirements to avoid overloading structures. For all
construction jobs, the scaffold used should be able to support its
weight without failure, with at least four times the maximum weight
intended to be used on it.

Adhering to these standards can help keep workers safe, but human
error and sudden severe weather can cause unforeseen accidents
and injuries.

8. ELECTRICAL INCIDENTS
Construction projects that involve electricity present numerous shock
and electrocution hazards. Electrical hazards occur under several
common circumstances:

 Worker contact with power lines: Projects that occur close to

overhead or buried power lines may endanger workers. These
lines carry extremely high voltages of electricity, which can
cause electrocution, burns and falls when touched. Equipment
that makes contact with power lines can also cause hazards
 Lack of ground-fault protection: Using electrical equipment on
a construction site exposes the equipment to wear and tear. This
deterioration can break down equipment’s insulation, cause short
circuits and expose dangerous wires. Without ground-fault
protection, worn equipment could channel ground-fault currents
through a worker’s body. This presents an electrical burn,
explosion and fire risk.
 Missing or discontinuous path to the ground: If the power
supply to a piece of electrical equipment isn’t grounded or the
path is broken, fault current could travel through a worker’s body
and cause electrical burns. Even if equipment is safely
grounded, it can become hazardous under extreme conditions or
with rough treatment.
 Equipment not used as intended: Using equipment outside the
manufacturer’s recommendations can both damage equipment
and cause worker injury. Using equipment outdoors that is
labeled for indoor use is one example. Another example is
placing multi-receptacle boxes that are designed to be mounted
on the floor and fitting them with a power cord.
 Improper use of extension and flexible cords: Using
extension and flexible cords outside of what is recommended
can increase a worker’s chance of contacting electrical current.
This may include using cords that aren’t a three-wire type, using
cords that aren’t designed for hard usage or using modified
 cords.
9. BURNS

In some cases, minor burns can be treated on a job site with a simple
first aid kit. More severe burns can cause painful and debilitating
injuries with long-lasting effects. Many construction burns come from
electrical incidents like those detailed above.

Other burn sources may include:

 Arc or flash burns where welding occurs

 Thermal contact burns from touching extremely hot objects
 Chemical burns from direct contact with hazardous chemicals

In addition to common burn symptoms like blistering, swelling, pain

and peeling, severe construction burns may lead to internal damage
and involuntary muscle contraction.

10. MATERIAL HANDLING

Handling and storing materials on a construction site can become a

hazard if done improperly. This includes both manual handling and
mechanical handling with equipment.

Manual material handling may cause injuries in the following

situations:

 Workers cannot properly grasp a load or lift it

 Workers cannot see around or over the load they are carrying
 Workers cannot safely handle a load
 Workers complete repetitive motions without proper form and
posture

Injuries from improper manual handling may include various strains

and sprains.
Mechanical material handling may cause injuries in the following
situations:

 Equipment is overloaded
 Equipment is loaded off-center and tips over
 Loads are not positioned in the lowest spot when traveling
 Equipment is not handled according to manufacturer
recommendations

Injuries from mechanical material handling could include fractures and

bruises from being hit by materials or more serious struck-by injuries.

Another common material handling risk occurs when material is stored

in a way that may cause it to fall or collapse. Falling materials could
inflict cuts and bruises on construction workers.