EHS ConceptsThe Ways of Safety

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Beyond the Focus Four

A foreman's fix guide to the four hazards that kill the most construction workers: falls, struck-by, caught-in or -between, and electrocution.

By Ryan L. Rinehart, Retired Navy Veteran, 19+ years in EHS. Free PDF, no email needed.

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The list, with where to start on each

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) 2024, released Feb. 19, 2026: news release and Table A-9 (fatal injuries by event or exposure and private industry sector). Private-sector construction (NAICS 23) only; government construction workers are not included in these sector figures. OSHA's Focus Four are hazard groups, not BLS categories. The mapping of BLS event codes to the four hazards is an EHS Concepts approximation and is explained under each hazard. Citation count: federal OSHA FY 2025 final data (Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025), OSHA Top 10 list as reported by Safety+Health, Apr. 29, 2026. * Rows marked with an asterisk are EHS Concepts calculations from the published figures.

  1. Falls

    • 389 construction deaths from falls, slips, and trips in 2024
    • ~38% of all private construction deaths*
    • 6 ft construction fall protection trigger (10 ft on scaffolds)

    Start here: Put a roof anchor kit and a harness for every roofer on the truck as standard stock. Rule: no one goes above 6 feet until the foreman has seen the anchor.

    Rules and guidance: 1926.501, .502, .503 [CON] · 1926.451 scaffolds [CON] · 1926.1053, .1060 ladders [CON]

  2. Struck-by

    • 79 construction deaths, struck by falling, flying, or swinging objects*
    • 67 construction pedestrians struck by vehicles
    • 30 of those were in road work zones

    Start here: Mark a no-walk zone around every machine that swings or backs, and make the spotter role a named job on the pre-task plan, not a task for whoever is free.

    Rules and guidance: 1926.100 [CON] · 1926.201 flaggers [CON] · 1926.600, .601, .602 equipment and vehicles [CON] · 1926.1424 swing radius [CON]

  3. Caught-in or -between

    • 37 construction deaths from collapse or engulfment
    • 13 of those in a trench or excavation
    • 5 ft trench depth that requires a protective system

    Start here: Rule: the box is in the hole before anyone else is. Put it on the pre-task plan with the competent person's name.

    Rules and guidance: 1926.651, .652 excavations [CON] · 1926.600(a)(3) blocking [CON] · 1926.300(b) guarding [CON] · 1926.1424 [CON]

  4. Electrocution

    • 52 construction deaths from exposure to electricity in 2024
    • ~5% of all private construction deaths*
    • 20 ft crane and boom planning distance from power lines up to 350 kV

    Start here: Walk the site with the crew on day one and point at every overhead line. Put flags on the ground below them and a GFCI on every cord.

    Rules and guidance: 1926.404(b)(1) GFCI [CON] · 1926.416, .417 [CON] · 1926.1408 power lines and cranes [CON]

The full PDF adds, for each item, why it really happens, the rules in plain words, controls in hierarchy order, a 30-minute self-audit, who owns it and a toolbox talk starter.

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Sources, as cited in the guide
  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2024 (news release USDL-26-0230, Feb. 19, 2026). https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm
  2. BLS CFOI 2024, Table A-9: fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure and major private industry sector. https://www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables/fatal-occupational-injuries-table-a-9-2024.htm
  3. BLS CFOI 2024, Table A-1: fatal occupational injuries by industry and event or exposure (roofing contractors row). https://www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables/fatal-occupational-injuries-table-a-1-2024.htm
  4. OSHA, Construction Focus Four Training (outreach lesson plans and definitions). https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/construction/focus-four
  5. OSHA, Construction Focus Four: Caught-In or -Between Hazards, Instructor Guide (PDF). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/caught_iorb_ig.pdf
  6. OSHA, Construction Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards, Instructor Guide (PDF). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/struckby_ig.pdf
  7. Safety+Health, “OSHA reveals final 'Top 10' data for FY 2025” (Apr. 29, 2026). https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/osha-reveals-final-top-10-data-for-fy-2025/
  8. OSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards. https://www.osha.gov/top10citedstandards
  9. 29 CFR 1926.20 and 1926.21, general safety and health provisions; safety training, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-C
  10. 29 CFR 1926.32, definitions (competent person), eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.32
  11. 29 CFR 1904.39, reporting fatalities and severe injuries, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1904.39
  12. OSH Act Section 11(c), anti-retaliation. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/section_11
  13. 29 CFR 1926.501, 1926.502, 1926.503, fall protection (Subpart M), eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-M
  14. 29 CFR 1926.451 and 1926.454, scaffolds, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-L
  15. 29 CFR 1926.1053 and 1926.1060, ladders, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-X
  16. 29 CFR 1926.100, head protection, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.100
  17. 29 CFR 1926.201, signaling (flaggers, MUTCD Part 6), eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.201
  18. 29 CFR 1926.600, 1926.601, 1926.602, equipment, motor vehicles, earthmoving equipment, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-O
  19. 29 CFR 1926.1424, work area control (cranes, swing radius), eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.1424
  20. 29 CFR 1926.651 and 1926.652, excavations, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-P
  21. 29 CFR 1926.300, tools general (guarding), eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.300
  22. 29 CFR 1926.404, 1926.416, 1926.417, electrical, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/part-1926/subpart-K
  23. 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety (up to 350 kV), equipment operations, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.1408
  24. OSHA, Trenching and Excavation Safety topic page. https://www.osha.gov/trenching-excavation
  25. OSHA, Fall Protection topic page and Stop Falls campaign. https://www.osha.gov/stop-falls
  26. OSHA, On-Site Consultation Program. https://www.osha.gov/consultation

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