When we think about workplace safety, it is easy to focus on minor injuries cuts, bruises, strains or sprains. But MIOSHA fatality reports remind us that some workplace hazards can have much more serious consequences. Four categories that repeatedly appear in Michigan workplace fatalities are electrical shock, caught-in or between, falls from elevation, and struck-by incidents.
These hazards can often be prevented when workers recognize danger before the incident occurs.
Electrical Shock: Treat Electricity with Respect
Electrical shock can happen when a worker contacts energized equipment, wiring, or electrical components. Even experienced workers can be injured or killed when electrical hazards are overlooked.
Before beginning electrical work, identify the source of energy and determine whether it can be de-energized. Follow proper lockout/tagout procedures, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and maintain safe distances from energized components. Never assume that equipment is safe simply because a switch is off. Verify that energy has been controlled before beginning work.
Caught-In or Between: Stay Out of the Danger Zone
Workers can be crushed, pinned or trapped between machinery, vehicles, materials, or moving components. Never place yourself between moving equipment and a fixed object. Keep machine guards in place, use proper lockout/tagout procedures before servicing equipment, and make sure raised equipment is properly supported before working underneath it.
A simple question can prevent a tragedy, “If this equipment moves unexpectedly, where could I get trapped?”
Falls From Elevation: Plan Before You Climb
A fall doesn't have to be from a great height to be fatal. Ladders, roofs, platforms, scaffolds, and elevated work areas all present serious risks.
Before working at elevation, determine how the fall hazard will be eliminated or controlled. Use appropriate guardrails, fall-arrest systems, and other required protection. Inspect ladders and equipment before use, and never take shortcuts because a task will “only take a minute.”
Struck-By: Stay Visible and Stay Clear
Moving vehicles, equipment, falling objects, and swinging materials can cause devastating injuries. Workers should stay out of equipment blind spots, avoid standing beneath suspended loads, and use designated pedestrian areas whenever possible.
Operators and ground workers should communicate clearly before equipment moves. When visibility is limited, use a qualified spotter and established signals.
Safety Starts Before the Incident
The best time to prevent a workplace fatality is before the work begins. Stop, look at the task, identify what can shock, crush, trap, strike, or cause a fall, and put controls in place.
Take the extra minute, follow the procedure, and speak up. Safety isn't a shortcut. It's how everyone gets home.
ASE Connect
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