The Focus Four (Fatal Four) Hazards

OSHA's "Focus Four" are the four hazards responsible for the majority of construction deaths. Know them cold.

1. Falls — the #1 killer

Falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds, and floor/wall openings cause more construction deaths than anything else. Fall protection is the single most important safeguard.

2. Struck-By

Being hit by vehicles, falling or flying objects, or swinging loads. Watch for backing equipment, secure tools/materials at height, and never stand under a load.

3. Caught-In / Between

Caught in or crushed by collapsing material (trench cave-ins), machinery, or between equipment and a fixed object. Trenching and unguarded machinery are major culprits.

4. Electrocution

Contact with power lines, energized circuits, or faulty equipment. Maintain distance from overhead lines and never assume a circuit is dead.

These four get the most attention because eliminating them prevents the most deaths.

Going Deeper (Intermediate)

OSHA's Focus Four (Fatal Four) cause the majority of construction deaths. Memorize them and their lead control:

1. Falls (~⅓ of deaths) → guardrails / PFAS / nets at 6 ft.
2. Struck-by → hi-vis, spotters, secure loads, traffic control.
3. Caught-in/between → trench protection, machine guarding, barricade swing zones.
4. Electrocution → LOTO, GFCI, maintain clearances, treat all lines as live. Together they're the focus of OSHA's outreach because eliminating them eliminates most fatalities.

Advanced / Pro-Level

Each has a signature "didn't-see-it-coming" failure mode:

• Falls: unprotected edges, holes/skylights, and ladders/scaffolds — plus the tied-off-but-no-clearance trap.
• Struck-by: vehicle backovers and nail-gun contact-trip double-fires.
• Caught-in: trench collapse (the deadliest) and unguarded rotating parts.
• Electrocution: overhead power lines (maintain 10 ft clearance up to 50kV, more above) and damaged cords/missing GFCI. A solid JHA for any task explicitly asks: which of the Focus Four is in play here, and what's my control?

Practice Challenge

A scissor-lift crew works near a 13 kV overhead line. Which Focus Four hazard dominates, and what's the minimum clearance? (Answer: electrocution — maintain at least 10 ft clearance from lines up to 50 kV (de-energize or use a spotter/insulated barriers if you can't).)

In Practice

Before any task, do a 10-second scan for the Focus Four: Am I exposed to a fall? Could something strike me? Am I in a caught-in zone? Is there live electricity? That habit prevents most fatalities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not scanning for the Focus Four before a task
• Assuming 'it won't happen to me'
• Fixing on one hazard while ignoring the others

Takeaway: Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution — the Focus Four cause most construction deaths. Plan every task to avoid them.

⚠️ Educational overview — this is not official OSHA certification. Get OSHA 10/30 training from an OSHA-authorized trainer, and always follow your employer's safety program and current OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926 for construction).