What Are the Fatal Four Construction Hazards?
OSHA uses the term "Fatal Four" to describe the four leading causes of death on construction sites. These four hazard categories account for a significant portion of all construction fatalities in the United States each year. According to OSHA's construction industry data, eliminating the Fatal Four would save more than 600 workers' lives annually. The four categories are:
- Falls from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, or elevated platforms
- Struck-by incidents involving falling objects, vehicles, or equipment
- Electrocutions from contact with overhead power lines, exposed wiring, or energized equipment
- Caught-in or caught-between accidents where a worker is caught in machinery, between equipment, or in a collapsing trench
Each of these hazards is preventable. When a worker is injured or killed because a contractor, site owner, or employer failed to take proper precautions, legal accountability becomes a real and important conversation.
Why Do Falls Cause So Many Construction Deaths?
Falls are consistently the number one cause of fatal construction injuries. A worker does not need to fall from a great height to suffer a life-altering injury. Falls from scaffolding, ladders, and unprotected floor openings cause serious harm at even modest elevations.
New York has specific protections for construction workers under Labor Law 240 and 241, sometimes called the Scaffold Law. These statutes impose strict liability on property owners and general contractors when a gravity-related accident occurs and proper safety equipment or precautions were not in place.
What Is a Struck-By Accident and Who Is Liable?
A struck-by accident happens when a worker is hit by a moving object. This includes being struck by a vehicle in a work zone, hit by a falling tool or material from above, or impacted by swinging crane loads.
Liability in these situations often extends beyond a worker's direct employer. A Nassau County construction injury lawyer can help determine whether a third party such as a general contractor, equipment operator, or property owner shares responsibility for the incident.
How Do Electrocution Accidents Happen on Job Sites?
Electrocutions typically occur when workers come into contact with unguarded power lines, improperly grounded equipment, or faulty electrical systems. These accidents can happen even when workers are following instructions. Electricians, ironworkers, and laborers working near energized sources face elevated risk. When safety protocols are ignored or equipment is poorly maintained, the results can be fatal.
What Are Caught-In and Caught-Between Accidents?
These accidents involve a worker being pulled into machinery, pinned between equipment and a solid surface, or buried in a trench collapse. They are among the most severe types of on-site injuries. Common examples include:
- Workers pulled into unguarded conveyor belts or augers
- Workers pinned between a vehicle and a wall
- Trench or excavation collapses that bury a worker
Employers and site supervisors are required to follow OSHA standards to prevent these situations. When those standards are ignored, injured workers and their families have legal options.
Do the Fatal Four Apply to Workers' Compensation Claims?
Yes. Any of these injury types can form the basis of a workers' compensation claim. However, construction workers in New York may also have additional legal options that go beyond workers' comp.
New York Labor Law provides protections that allow injured workers to pursue claims against parties other than their direct employer. This is especially relevant in Fatal Four cases where multiple contractors or site owners are involved. A Nassau County construction injury lawyer can evaluate the facts of the case and identify all available claims, not just the workers' comp route.
What Should I Do After a Fatal Four Injury?
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Seek medical attention right away, even if the injury seems manageable in the moment. Document everything you can, including photographs, witness names, and the conditions at the site.
Then speak with an attorney. Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. has represented construction workers across New York and understands the full range of legal protections available to injured workers. If you or a family member was hurt in a Fatal Four incident, contact a Nassau County construction injury lawyer to understand your rights and what steps to take next.
