Construction sites are engines of progress, transforming skylines and building communities across Ohio. But this progress comes at a high price for the workers who build our future. Behind the scaffolding and heavy machinery lies a landscape of inherent risk. Every year, hundreds of workers are seriously injured, and many lose their lives in preventable incidents.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the four leading causes of death on construction sites. Known as the "Fatal Four," these incidents are so frequent and devastating that they are in a category of their own. Understanding these dangers is the first step for workers and their families to protect their rights and secure their futures after a tragedy. This guide breaks down the four most common types of fatal construction accidents and explains the legal options available to victims in Ohio.

What are Ohio's "Fatal Four" in Construction Accidents?

The Fatal Four are not just categories on a federal report—they represent real-life events that shatter families. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these four types of incidents account for a staggering two-thirds of all fatalities in the private construction industry. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save hundreds of lives nationwide each year.

While these are national statistics, the hazards are present on every job site, from major commercial projects in Columbus to residential builds in Cleveland. For Ohio workers, these dangers are a daily reality. Employers have a legal and moral obligation to follow safety standards that mitigate these specific risks. When they fail, the consequences are catastrophic, and injured workers or their surviving family members have the right to seek justice.

1. Falls: The Leading Cause in Fatal Four Construction Accidents

By a wide margin, falls are the single most deadly event on any construction site. They account for approximately 40% of all construction worker deaths, making fall protection a top priority for workplace safety. These incidents are not just slips from a high-rise; they can happen from scaffolding, roofs, ladders, or even through unprotected holes in flooring.

The Pervasive Danger of Heights

A fall from as little as six feet can cause life-altering injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding. The potential for a fatality increases dramatically with height. Common scenarios that lead to fall-related injuries and deaths include:

• Unstable or Unsecured Scaffolding: Scaffolds that are improperly assembled, lack guardrails, or are placed on uneven ground can easily collapse or lead to a worker falling.
• Inadequate Ladder Safety: Using the wrong type of ladder for a task, placing it on an unstable surface, or overreaching can lead to a sudden and violent fall.
• Unprotected Edges and Openings: Failing to install guardrails around the perimeter of upper floors, elevator shafts, or skylights leaves workers exposed to deadly fall hazards.
• Lack of Proper Safety Equipment: Employers are required to provide personal fall arrest systems, such as harnesses and lanyards, but they are useless if workers are not trained to use them or if the equipment is defective.

When You Need a Construction Accident Attorney After a Fall

After a fall, a workers' compensation claim may cover medical bills and a portion of lost wages. However, these benefits often fall short of covering the full extent of a family's losses, especially in cases of permanent disability or death. Furthermore, workers' compensation does not provide any compensation for pain and suffering.

A construction accident attorney can investigate the incident to determine if the negligence of a third party—such as a general contractor, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer—contributed to the fall. If a separate company was responsible for site safety or provided faulty equipment, a personal injury lawsuit could be filed to recover damages that workers' compensation will not cover.

2. Struck-By Object Incidents: A Common Construction Accident

The second category of the Fatal Four is being struck by an object. This accounts for roughly 10% of construction fatalities and happens when a worker is forcibly hit by an item. On a dynamic construction site with materials, tools, and heavy equipment in constant motion, the potential for a struck-by incident is everywhere.

Falling, Flying, and Rolling Dangers

Struck-by accidents can be broken down into several types:

• Falling Objects: Tools, construction materials, or debris dropped from a height can gain enough velocity to be lethal to anyone below. This is why hard hats are standard personal protective equipment.
• Flying Objects: An object can become a dangerous projectile when it is thrown from a tool, a piece of machinery breaks, or there is an explosion.
• Swinging Objects: Cranes and other hoisting equipment moving heavy loads pose a significant threat if the load shifts, becomes unsecured, or the operator cannot see a worker in the swing path.
• Rolling Objects: Vehicles, equipment, or unsecured pipes and cylinders can roll over or pin workers who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Preventing these incidents requires meticulous site management, including securing tools, using debris nets, establishing clear danger zones around operating equipment, and ensuring all workers have proper training and protective gear.

3. Electrocutions: The Silent Threat

Electrocution is a swift and silent killer on construction sites, responsible for over 5% of all fatalities. The danger is often invisible, and a single mistake can have irreversible consequences. Both high-voltage and low-voltage currents can cause a fatal electric shock or lead to secondary injuries from a fall after the shock.

The Hidden Risk of Electrical Currents

Workers face electrocution risks from numerous sources, including:

• Contact with Overhead Power Lines: Cranes, ladders, and scaffolding that touch or even come close to energized power lines can create a path for electricity to travel through a worker's body.
• Exposed or Damaged Wiring: Temporary lighting, power tools with frayed cords, and unfinished electrical systems can expose workers to live currents.
• Improper Grounding: When a tool or electrical system is not properly grounded, the electricity can travel through a person instead of safely to the ground.
• Energized Equipment: Contact with any metal part of machinery or equipment that has become unintentionally energized due to an electrical fault.

Employers are required by OSHA to implement strict safety procedures, such as maintaining a safe distance from power lines and using lockout/tagout protocols to ensure equipment is de-energized before maintenance.

Why an Ohio Construction Accident Lawyer is Essential for Electrocution Claims

Electrocution cases are highly technical. Proving that an employer or another party was negligent requires a deep understanding of electrical systems and safety regulations. A skilled Ohio construction accident lawyer will work with engineers and industry experts to reconstruct the event, identify the failure point, and hold the responsible parties accountable. This could be the property owner who failed to identify live wires, a utility company, or the manufacturer of a defective tool.

4. Caught-In/Between Accidents: A Crushing Reality

The final category of the Fatal Four is caught-in/between accidents, which cause about 10% of construction deaths. These are horrific incidents where a worker is crushed, squeezed, caught, or compressed between two or more objects or parts of an object.

Trapped by Machinery and Structures

These accidents often involve heavy equipment, collapsing materials, or rotating parts. Some of the most common examples include:

• Trench Collapses: Excavations and trenches can collapse without warning if they are not properly shored or sloped, burying workers under tons of soil. This is one of the most well-known and dangerous caught-in/between hazards.
• Heavy Equipment Accidents: Workers can be caught between a piece of heavy equipment like a bulldozer and a stationary object like a wall. They can also be pulled into the moving parts of machinery, such as belts, gears, or rollers.
• Collapsing Structures: During demolition or construction, walls, floors, or other structural elements can collapse, trapping workers beneath the debris.

OSHA has specific, rigorous standards for trenching safety and machine guarding. A failure to follow these rules is a direct act of negligence.

Your Rights After a Construction Accident in Ohio

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a construction accident, it is important to understand your legal rights. The path forward can be complex, often involving more than one type of legal claim.

Workers' Compensation vs. Personal Injury Lawsuits

In Ohio, most employees injured on the job are entitled to workers' compensation benefits. This is a no-fault system, meaning you do not have to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits for medical treatment and lost wages. However, workers' compensation does not cover all of your losses. It provides no compensation for pain, suffering, or emotional distress.

A personal injury lawsuit may be an option if someone other than your direct employer or a co-worker was responsible for your injuries. This is known as a third-party liability claim. On a construction site, there are often many third parties, including:

• The general contractor
• Other subcontractors
• Engineers or architects
• Equipment manufacturers
• The property owner

A successful personal injury lawsuit can provide compensation for damages not available through workers' compensation, including the full value of lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium for family members.

Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, is One Phone Call Away

The aftermath of a serious construction accident is a challenging time. You should not have to face powerful insurance companies and corporate legal teams alone. At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured workers and their families. We understand the laws that are supposed to protect you and know how to build a strong case to secure the compensation you deserve.

Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case. We will listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you determine the best path forward. Let us handle the legal burdens so you can focus on what matters most—your recovery.