What is a Struck-By Hazard?
Introduction
"Struck-by" hazards cause accidents in construction where a worker is hit or struck by an object or equipment. These kind of accidents are produced by an object alone that forcibly impacts an employee.
Struck-By Accidents
Struck-by accidents are a significant concern in the construction industry due to the potential for serious injuries or fatalities. Examples of hazardous objects or equipment that can cause struck-by accidents include falling tools, moving vehicles, collapsing materials, or swinging equipment.
Below are the four hazard categories that result in struck-by accidents:
- Flying Objects: Example - a tool flies through the air and hits you.
- Falling Objects: Example - a bucket falls and hits you.
- Swinging Objects: Example - a hoisted pallet swinging through the air hits you.
- Moving (ground-level) Objects: Example - a moving object such as a vehicle hits you.
To determine if an event was a struck-by accident, ask yourself: Was it the impact of the object alone that caused the injury?
If the answer is "yes," then the event is considered as a struck-by accident. On the other hand, when the injury is created more as a result of being caught, pinned, or crushed in or between objects, the accident may be considered as a different kind of accident.
It is important to point out that in construction, struck-by hazards can resemble accidents in which workers are caught in equipment or materials or when they are caught between two objects or structures. Look at the list of accident types below to get a better idea of the variety of accidents that may occur.
Accident Types
An accident isn't just an event that you can lump into one big category. In reality, there are many different types of accidents. Let's take a look at a partial list.
- Struck-by: A person is forcefully struck by a hazardous object. The force of contact is provided by the object.
- Struck-against: A person forcefully strikes an object. The person provides the hazardous force or energy.
- Contact-by: Contact by a substance or material that, by its very nature, is harmful and causes injury.
- Contact-with: A person comes in contact with a harmful substance or material. The person initiates the contact.
- Caught-on: A person or part of his/her clothing or equipment is caught on an object that is either moving or stationary. This may cause the person to lose his/her balance and fall, be pulled into a machine, or suffer some other harm.
- Caught-in: A person is trapped, or otherwise caught in an opening or enclosure.
- Caught-between: A person is crushed, pinched, caught between a moving and a stationary object, or between two moving objects.
- Fall-to-surface: A person slips or trips and falls to a walking-working surface.
- Fall-to-below: A person slipsa or trips and falls to a level below the walking-working surface.
- Overexertion: A person over-extends causing strains while performing work.
- Bodily reaction: Caused solely from stress imposed by free movement of the body or assumption of a strained or unnatural body position.
- Overexposure: Over a period of time, a person is exposed to harmful energy (noise, heat), lack of energy (cold), or substances (toxic chemicals/atmospheres).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. A struck-by accident occurs when _____.
You forgot to answer the question!