Construction Fatality Digest - UT · The “General Safety and Health Provisions” was the top violated standard in the fourth quarter and experi-enced the greatest jump in positions

Crushed/Run-over of operators led all fatal events in the fatal construction case files reported to CIRPC for the fourth

quarter of 2012. There were 35 cases received in the fourth quarter of 2012 (October to December) and Crushed/

Run-over of operators accounted for 14.3% (5 cases) of all the case files. This is more than twice the percentage in

2011 for Crushed/Run-over operators (5.5% or 17 cases) of the fatal events during that year. All types of Crushed/Run

-overs (operator, non-operator, maintenance, and vehicle.) accounted for 31.4% (11 cases) in the fourth quarter case

reports. For 2011 Crushed/Run-overs were 17.7% (55 cases) of the total.

Rounding out the leading fatality causes for the quarter are “Fall from Roof” with 11.4% (4 cases) followed by “Crush/

Run-over of Non-Operator” with 11.4% (4 cases), “Struck by Falling Object” with 11.4% (4 cases), and “Fall from/with

Ladder” with 8.6% (3 cases).

“Struck by Falling Object” experienced the largest increase in percent of cases from the third to fourth quarter with an

increase of 7.4% (4.0% to 11.4%) from the previous quarter. It should be noted, roof falls percentage dropped (17.5%

to 11.4%), but all fall type fatalities still accounted for one-third of all the fatality categories.

Given the limited number of observations, the quarterly variations may be of limited significance.

Crushed/Run-over of Operators Leads All Fatal Events

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

2012: Year in

Review 2-3

Regional Review 4

Cited Violations 4

Trends in

Fatalities

5

The Worker Safety

and Health App

5

Summary of

Events

6

C O N S T R U C T I O N

I N D U S T R Y R E S E A R C H

A N D P O L I C Y C E N T E R

Construction Fatality Digest

Q U A R T E R L Y R E P O R T O C T O B E R — D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2

Topics of Interest:

Fatality Case File

Statistics

Case File Regional

Report

Top Standards

Violated

Summary of Fatal

Events

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

Top Fatal Construction Events by Percent Distribution(October - December 2012 and 2011)

October - December 2012 2011

P A G E 2

“Roof falls led all

fatal events in both

2011 and again in

2012…”

2012: The Year in Review

There were 226 cases files reported to CIRPC for the calendar year. As in 2011, roof falls led

all fatal events in 2012 with 17.7% of the total fatal events.

Rounding out the top events for 2012 are “Crush/Run-Over of Operator” with 8.4%, “Crush/

Run-Over of Non-Operator with 8.0%, “Electrocution by Equipment Contacting Wire” at

6.6%, and “Fall from/with Ladder with 6.2% of the total fatal events.

When comparing the top three fatal events from 2011 (“Fall from Roofs”, “Electrocution from

Equipment Installation/Tool Use”, and “Fall from/with Structure”) with 2012 events, one can

see some fairly large changes for these events. In 2012 “Electrocution from Equipment Instal-

lation/Tool Use fell from 7.7% in 2011 to 3.5% in 2012. Likewise, “Fall from/with Structure”

fell from 7.4% in 2011 to 4.0% in 2012. Ranking 2nd in 2012, “Crush/Run-Over of Operator”

rose from 5.5% (2011) to 8.4% (2012). “Crushed/Run-Over of Non-Operator”, which ranked

3rd in 2012, rose from 5.2% (2011) to 8.0%(2012). They ranked 5th and 7th, respectively, on

the 2011 list.

Falls again topped the list of grouped total events with more than one-third (36.7%) of all the

fatal events in 2012. Crush/run-overs (17.7%) and electrocutions (13.3%)rounded out the top

three of all fatal events.

0.0%

4.0%

8.0%

12.0%

16.0%

20.0%

Fatal Construction Events by Percent Distribution (2012 and 2011)

2012 2011

2012: The Year in Review - Continued

P A G E 3 O C T O B E R — D E C E M B E R

Grouped Events 2011 2012

All Falls 42.9% 36.7%

All Crush/Run-Overs 23.9% 17.7%

All Electrocutions 13.2% 13.3%

Grouped Fatal Construction Events Comparison

It is important to note the case reports summarized in this year end total do not constitute the universe of cases.

Despite these limitations we believe the picture given in these reports is a representative, if not statistically significant,

sample of the construction fatality universe.

0.0%

4.0%

8.0%

12.0%

16.0%

20.0%

Fatal Construction Events by Percent Distribution (2012 and 2011)Continued from Previous Chart

2012 2011

P A G E 4

The “General

Safety and Health

Provisions” was

the top violated

standard in the

fourth quarter .

Regional Map

Top Construction Standard Violations

Regional Breakdown A total of 35 case reports were re-

ceived from the regions in the fourth

quarter of 2012. Of these 35 reports,

a little more than 42% came from re-

gion 5 (15 reports), 7 came from re-

gion 4, and 5 from region 6.

Of the 15 from region 5, 10 were re-

ceived from the State Plan Michigan

Offices, followed by Fairview Heights

with 3 cases.

The 7 from region 4 were spread out

within the region with Jackson leading

with 3 cases.

The 35 cases reported to CIRPC included 76 violations of OSHA standards. Of the 35, 10 reported no viola-

tions. With the 10 cases without violations removed, the average number of violations per case with citations

issued was 3.04. This compares to an average of 3.25 for the previous quarter. This is the third quarter in a

row that the average dropped (first quarter of 2012 was 3.53).

When comparing the quarterly violations with OSHA’s Top 10 standards violated in FY2011 (per

www.osha.gov), there are similarities and differences. Three of the most frequently violated OSHA standards

can be found on the quarterly report list (Fall Protection, Electrical Systems Design, and Ladders).

The “General Safety and Health Provisions” was the top violated standard in the fourth quarter and experi-

enced the greatest jump in positions from the previous quarter (from 8th to 1st). Fall Protection ranked no

lower than third during the three previous quarters of 2012.

Region # of Cases Percent Region # of Cases Percent

1 1 2.9% 1 6 1.9%

2 0 0.0% 2 11 3.5%

3 0 0.0% 3 46 14.8%

4 7 20.0% 4 96 31.0%

5 15 42.9% 5 22 7.1%

6 5 14.3% 6 103 33.2%

7 4 11.4% 7 14 4.5%

8 3 8.6% 8 10 3.2%

9 0 0.0% 9 2 0.6%

10 0 0.0% 10 0 0.0%

Total 35 100.0% 310 100.0%

Case Files by Region

Oct to Dec 2012 2011

Rank Std # Description # of Occurrences

1 1926.20 General Safety and Health Provisions 11

2 1926.600 Vehicles, Mechanized Equip., & Marine Operations 8

3 1926.501 Fall Protection 7

4 5a1 General Duty Clause 6

T5 1904.39 Fatality and Multiple Hospitalization Reporting 4

T5 1926.21 Safety Training and Education 4

T7 1926.405 Wiring Methods, Components, and Equipment 3

T7 1926.503 Fall Protection Training 3

T9 1926.1053 Ladders 2

T9 1926.1060 Ladder Training 2

Top Standard Violations Reported During Oct. to Dec. 2012

Trends in Fatalities: Breakdown of 1995-2011 Fatal Falls


Since the early 1990’s, CIRPC has undertaken

an annual analysis of fatal construction events1.

Each of the years the fall events accounted for

between 33% and 44% of all fatal events. The

chart to the right uses the annual report data

from 1995 to 2011 to breakdown the fall

events by type,

It may be no surprise that “Roof” falls led all

the other causes with 31%, followed by falls

from “Structure” with 23%, “Ladder” falls at

12%, and “Scaffold” at 10% of the total fall

events.

The Construction Industry Research and Policy Center (CIRPC) and its partner, the Department of Industrial and Systems Engi-

neering (ISE) at The University of Tennessee, recently won the $15,000 Grand Prize awarded by OSHA in The Worker Safety

and Health App Challenge. This national challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and OSHA, encouraged

developers to create applications focused on raising awareness and educating workers on common workplace hazards and their

rights to a safe workplace. This challenge targeted young workers ages 13-24 because they comprise one of the most vulnerable

worker groups.

CIRPC advocates for construction safety in its role as an OSHA contractor and saw this challenge as an opportunity to further its

safety mission and reach a broader audience with more general information.

Keeping the young target audience in mind, our team created a website featuring a light-hearted interactive game. In the game,

users evaluate the relative probabilities of interesting events (e.g. dating a supermodel vs. being struck by lightning). After this hu-

morous introduction to probability, the user hopefully understands that probabilities are influenced by many factors. Our goal is to

communicate that the chances of a workplace accident can be reduced by knowing safety regulations and following common safety

practices. The site also provides additional information on the rights of young workers through links to numerous web resources.

A companion Facebook page was created to help spread the word that...

The Worker Safety and Health App Challenge

1 CIRPC’s An Analysis of Fatal Events in the Construction Industry uses the data collected in IMIS from the fatal construction event case files. The

report categorizes and ranks the fatality causes, project types, end uses, etc. Reports from 1991 to 2010 can be found on the CIRPC website:

www.bus.utk.edu/cirpc.

Our site can be found at: http://ilab.engr.utk.edu/cirpc/index.html Like us on Facebook and help us spread the word that Work-

ing Safely Is No Accident: http://www.facebook.com/WorkingSafelyIsNoAccident

Ladder12%

Roof31%

Vehicle2%

Scaffold10%

Bucket/Lift6%

Structure23%

Platform6%

Opening7%

Other3%

Fatal Falls by Cause for 1995-2011

http://ilab.engr.utk.edu/cirpc/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/WorkingSafelyIsNoAccident

Summary of Fatal Events


CATEGORY: STRUCK BY, RUN OVER, CRUSHED BY OPERATING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT/VEHICLE

OSHA Inspection Number: 313322224

A 57 year old construction laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by an excavator. The victim was engaged in stream

restoration and rock replacement. The victim moved too close to an excavator that was moving rock and was struck by it.

The employer was cited for lack of an accident prevention plan, lack of barricades, and 5 additional violations not directly re-

lated to the event.


A construction laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a dump truck. The victim had crossed the highway to re-

trieve a 70 MPH sign and while carrying the sign back, he walked behind a backing dump truck. No citations were issued.


A 37 year old construction laborer was fatally injured when he was crushed by an aerial lift. The victim was painting a steel

beam, when he raised the lift and caught himself between it and the beam. The employer was cited for lack of training for the

lift and not using it according to manufacturer specifications.


A 35 year old construction laborer was fatally injured when he was struck and run-over by a backhoe. The victim was enter-

ing/exiting the cab of the excavator when the backhoe moved and he was caught between the step grate and the left tire. The

employer was cited for lack of an accident prevention plan, not maintaining equipment, and using damaged equipment.


A 46 year old truck driver was fatally injured while transporting a load of steel pipes. The victim was traveling down a steep

hill, when he suddenly slammed on the brakes. The straps on the load broke and the pipes shifted forward, crushing the

truck’s cab and the victim. No citations were issued.


An equipment operator was fatally crushed when the compactor he was operating overturned. The victim was compacting a

new shoulder of a road-widening project, when he either drove too closely to the edge or the soil gave way, causing the com-

pactor to flip over. The employer was cited for not furnishing a work site free from hazards and lack of hazard recognition

training.


A truck driver was fatally injured when the dump bed failed, collapsed and crushed him. The victim was dumping a load of top

soil, when the dump bed failed and collapsed onto the cab, crushing the victim. The employer was not cited.


A 42 year old construction laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a motor vehicle. The victim stepped out of his

truck to measure rumble strips, when he was struck by a vehicle that had lost control. No citations were issued.


A 22 year old laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a motor vehicle. The victim was using a Georgia Buggy to

spray curing agent on the road repair, when he accidentally backed his buggy into a lane of traffic and was struck. The em-

ployer was cited for lack of an accident prevention program and lack of hazard recognition training.


A 39 year old operations manager was fatally injured when he was struck by a motor vehicle. The victim was pushing equip-

ment across the street, when he was struck. The employer was cited for not reporting the fatal event within 8 hours.

Summary of Fatal Events (Continued)

P A G E 7


A 38 year old laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a motor vehicle. The victim and co-workers were on the side

of the road, working on an arrow board, when a vehicle struck him. No citations were issued.

CATEGORY: ROOF FALLS


A 22 year old Hispanic roofer was fatally injured when he fell through a skylight. The victim was walking backwards and pull-

ing roofing membrane for a flat commercial re-roof job, when he fell 20 feet through a skylight. The employer was cited for

lack of fall protection.


A 31 year old roofer was fatally injured when he fell from a roof. The victim was attempting to repair a leak on a 16/12 pitch

home, when the ladder (on the shingled roof) he was on slid down the roof, causing him to fall 25 feet to the ground below.

The employer was cited for lack of fall protection, splicing ladders together, no accident prevention plan, and not reporting

the fatal event within 8 hours.


An owner/roofer was fatally injured when he fell through a roof opening. The victim was replacing a metal roof on a commer-

cial building, when he stepped into a hole and fell 25 feet. The employer was not cited because he was the victim.


A 34 year old sheet metal worker was fatally injured when he fell through a skylight. The victim was removing and replacing

skylights on a maintenance shop, when he lost his balance and fell through a skylight. The employer was cited for lack of fall

protection.

CATEGORY: LADDER FALLS


A Hispanic roofer was fatally injured when he fell from a ladder. The roofer was climbing the ladder to shingle a new house

when he fell 24 feet from the ladder. The employer was cited for lack of ladder training, not having the ladder extended 3

feet above the landing, and 2 violations not directly related to the event.


A 55 year old painter was fatally injured when he fell from a ladder. The victim was applying touch-up paint to the exterior

wall of a condominium, when he fell from the ladder striking his head on the ground. The employer was cited for failure to

train in ladder usage.


A 63 year old Hispanic laborer was fatally injured when he fell from a ladder. The victim was climbing a job-made ladder when

a rung came off in his hand, causing him to lose his balance and fall 13 feet. The employer was cited for not having a compe-

tent person inspection.

CATEGORY: OTHER FALLS


A 54 year old operating engineer was fatally crushed between two barges. The victim had just finished connecting the bow

line and was walking to the rear to connect the stern line, when he fell from the deck and was crushed between two barges.

The employer was cited for not having safe passage around a deck load on a boat.


A 59 year old welder was fatally injured when he fell from a scaffold. The victim was welding inside a new tank, when he fell

55 feet to the bottom of the tank. The employer was cited for lack of inspection of fall protection equipment and improper

anchorage (couldn't support minimum weight amount).




A 50 year old tile layer was fatally injured when the stairs he was standing on collapsed. The victim was pre-positioning his

equipment to start laying floor on the third level of an apartment, when he fell with the stairs. No citations were issued, be-

cause the victim was the owner of the company.


A 30 year old laborer was fatally injured from a fall from a tower. The victim was installing a new ladder on the tower, when

he fell 1000 feet. The employer was cited for lack of fall protection, hoist not inspected/maintained per manual, damaged

slings, and 5 additional violations not directly related to the event.


A supervisor was fatally injured when he fell from a platform. The victim lost his balance and fell into the guard rails of the

platform, the rails gave way and the victim fell 18 feet. No citations were issued.

CATEGORY: ELECTROCUTIONS


A construction laborer was fatally electrocuted while changing a filter in an attic of a law office. The victim sat down on the

duct work to change the filter, when the duct work made contact with a metal gas line that had been energized by a 120 volt

line. The employer was cited for lack of electrical training and not having a hazard communication plan.


A 60 year old construction laborer was fatally electrocuted in a crawl space of a single family home. The victim was perform-

ing demolition of old water pipes (under the home) and made contact with old power lines. The employer was cited for lack

of an accident prevention plan and not locking out the power source.


A 32 year old roofer was fatally electrocuted when he made contact with an over-head power line. The victim was installing

an 18 foot section of trim on a new metal roof, when part of the trim made contact with the power line. The employer was

cited for not having an accident prevention plan, working too close to a power line, and 2 additional violations not related to

the event.


A 46 year old construction laborer was fatally electrocuted. The victim was moving security monitoring equipment and power

lines in a grocery store, when he made contact with an energized line. The employer was cited for exposure to electrical haz-

ards, lack of a competent person inspection, no lock-out tag-out usage, and not reporting the fatality within 8 hours.

CATEGORY: OTHER FATALITY CAUSES


A 45 year old construction laborer was fatally asphyxiated while in a manhole. The victim was measuring the manhole depth

when he was overcome by toxic vapors and fell to the bottom. The employer was cited for no accident prevention plan, no

atmosphere testing, and lack of fall protection.


A 50 year old construction laborer was fatally injured when he fell from a wooden structure. The victim was part of a crew

using a crane to set trusses, when the trusses fell knocking the victim from the structure. The employer was cited for lack of

fall protection, no fall protection training, not furnishing a work site free from hazards, and 5 additional violations not directly

related to the event.


A crane operator was fatally injured when the crane he was operating toppled over. The victim was

lifting a concrete wall which overloaded the crane, causing it to collapse and crash onto the operator.

The employer was cited for operating equipment in excess of rated capacities.


P A G E 9


A 30 year old electrician was fatally injured when a steel column fell on him. The victim was passing conduit up to other elec-

tricians on the school addition, when ironworkers above him were setting a steel beam. As the beam was set, it started to tip

and then fell, striking the victim. The ironworker's employer was cited for not furnishing a work site free from hazards, lack of

a competent person inspection, and failure to secure engineering approval prior to replacing or repairing anchor rods.


A 65 year old laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a falling pipe. The victim was vacuuming water out of an exca-

vation at a refinery, when a pipe unthreaded and fell, striking the victim in the head. The employer was not cited for any viola-

tions.


A carpenter was fatally injured when he fell with his aerial lift. The victim was performing form work when a pipe piling struck

his lift, causing it to overturn. The employer was cited for failure to furnish a work site free from hazards, an incomplete safe-

ty program, and lack of hazard recognition training.


A 47 year old laborer was fatally injured when he was struck by a pipe wrench. The victim was attempting to remove an end

cap from a boring machine pipe, when the pipe spun causing the wrench to strike the victim. The employer was cited for not

furnishing a work site free from hazards and not having a person trained in first aid on site.


A construction laborer was fatally injured when a load of roof trusses fell onto him. The victim was unloading two stacks of

roof trusses when he cut the banding tape on one stack and the trusses fell. The employer was cited for failure to train in

hazard recognition.

Construction Industry Research and Policy Center

The University of Tennessee

Stokely Management Center, Room 202

916 Volunteer Boulevard

Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-4422

E-mail: [email protected]

We maintain, for OSHA, a comprehensive collection of construction fa-

tality case files. The efforts of OSHA area offices in submitting fatality

case files are crucial to expanding our database and research capabilities.

Thanks to all for your submissions (For reference, you may send fatality

case files to the address on the right).

We encourage all area offices to continue and/or expand their submis-

sions so that the database is as representative as possible of the geo-

graphic, ethnic, and workplace events.

We welcome any suggestions and comments (they can be directed to

John Wagner, [email protected]) as we work together to reduce fatal

construction events. Visit our new redesigned

website!

bus.utk.edu/cirpc

Documents

Construction Fatality Digest - UT · The “General Safety and Health Provisions” was the top violated standard in the fourth quarter and experi-enced the greatest jump in positions