Authored by Ed Davidson with Long Foundation Drilling Co. and originally published on LinkedIn
Yep...
There ya have it folks...
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are more than 50,000 “struck by falling object” recordable injuries every year in the United States. There are nearly 116 injuries caused by falling objects every day or one injury caused by a dropped object every 10 minutes.
These statistics are driven by actual reported incidents, which makes one wonder how many falling objects incidents are actually going unreported and not reflected in this data. While construction operations involve a lot of overhead work, there is always the possibility of tools, equipment, work material, and other objects falling or being dropped from an elevated position.
A falling or dropped object is defined as an object such as a tool, PPE, or piece of equipment that has fallen to a lower level from a previously higher position.
There are two types of dropped objects:
Static Dropped Objects - objects that fall from a static position under their own weight due to dislodgement or wear and tear from factors such as corrosion, vibration or due to construction failures. (Application of external force does not need to occur i.e a hammer falling through a rotted piece of wood)
Dynamic Dropped Objects - Objects that fall due to extreme force applied externally to a system that the dropped object is a part of, such as accidental collision. (i.e. tools being knocked off a scaffold due to shifting or kicking of said tool).
Injuries related to falling or dropped objects most commonly occur while:
working on scaffolds
working on ladders
working on work platforms
utilizing a manlift/scissor lift
power industrial trucks are in operation
cranes are in operation (working under a suspended load)
walking or accessing a worksite through a gangway
working under or near a storage rack
OSHA has determined that struck-by hazards are one of the four main safety hazards (OSHA’s Fatal Four), that account for a majority of all worker deaths each year on the job site.
