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  • In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die

  • every year while on the job.

  • Being struck by vehicles, heavy equipment, and other

  • objects is the top cause of injuries and the second

  • cause of death for construction workers,

  • killing more than 150 workers in 2009.

  • One of the most deadly construction hazards is

  • being struck by cranes and crane parts.

  • But these injuries and deaths can be prevented.

  • The video you are about to see shows how quickly

  • struck-by accidents at construction sites can

  • lead to worker deaths.

  • The video will also show what employers must do

  • so that the work can be done more safely.

  • Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace

  • and required protective equipment.

  • You'll see that taking the right protective steps saves lives.

  • Please be advised.

  • The scenes you are about to see deal with deaths at

  • construction sites and might be disturbing

  • for some people.

  • All scenes are based on true stories.

  • A driver was delivering a load of steel beams

  • to a job site.

  • After positioning his flatbed truck as directed,

  • he stood near the hydraulic crane that was offloading

  • the truck to watch the operation.

  • The company operating the crane had secured the area

  • using vehicles and two strategically placed

  • workers to keep out unauthorized personnel.

  • However, no barricades were in place to stop workers

  • from coming within the crane's swing radius.

  • The driver was allowed to stay in the secured area

  • because he was a friend and knew the operator.

  • Before the unloading began, the driver moved

  • closer to the crane, now within range of

  • the crane's swing radius and out of the line

  • of sight of the crane operator.

  • Suddenly, the crane operator began moving the crane,

  • positioning it for the offloading operation.

  • Within seconds, the truck driver was crushed between

  • the crane's counterweight and the right rear outrigger.

  • He died later that day from serious injuries to his

  • chest and internal organs.

  • Let's look at the events leading up to this tragic

  • incident, and see how it could have been prevented.

  • This worksite did not have the necessary controls

  • in place to protect workers.

  • The radius of the crane's superstructure was not

  • barricaded and the flatbed driver was allowed to remain

  • in what was supposed to be a secured area.

  • Let's look again at the work area.

  • Now a temporary barricadeincluding three-inch

  • caution tapeis in place to prevent workers

  • from coming too close to the swing radius of the crane.

  • In addition to the barriers, employers should make

  • sure crane and/or superstructure movement occurs

  • only when an "all clear" signal is given

  • to the operator.

  • Now, as the crane begins to move, no worker

  • is within the swing radius and no contact occurs.

  • This example shows the importance of employers following

  • OSHA standards to ensure that workers are

  • provided with a safe workplace.

  • These types of construction deaths are preventable.

  • The protection measures shown here save workers' lives.

  • Use these protections on the job:

  • it could be the difference between life and death.

  • If you would like more information,

  • contact OSHA at www.osha.gov

  • or 1-800-321-OSHA

  • that's 1-800-321-6742

In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die

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