ESSENTIAL 29: Struck-by and Caught-Between

Key Takeaways:

– Identifying common struck-by and caught-between hazards
– Recognizing higher risk environments
– Discovering techniques and methods to reduce overall risks
– Evaluating unsafe behaviors that increase risk

Course Description

This course is meant to help you identify and correct unsafe work practices, in addition to creating and enforcing safe work practices so everyone can avoid struck-by and caught-between injuries and incidents.

A struck‐by incident is when the impact alone creates an injury (e.g. a worker is hit and injured by a tool or equipment). Often, struck-by incidents are related to improper material handling and unsafe practices around heavy equipment, tools, and machinery. These incidents can result in blindness, concussions, permanent brain damage, and other serious injuries.

A caught‐in or ‐between incident is when an injury is a result of the crushing force between two objects. This includes getting caught or crushed in operating equipment, between a moving and stationary object, or between two or more moving objects. Annually, caught-in injuries result in serious and often fatal crushing injuries and hundreds of amputations each year. In total, these hazards account for:
– Approximately 100 deaths each year
– 5% of all construction fatalities
– More than 2 amputations EVERY work day
– Over 550 amputations each year
– Thousands of disabling injuries

Don’t let yourself become one of these statistics!

These incidents can happen in every type of job but are most common, and most deadly, in construction and road work, oil and gas work, any work involving material handling, machines, and heavy equipment.

The prevention of struck-by and caught-between related hazards and injuries is a primary focus of OHS/OSHA inspectors. By taking this course, you can help your organization protect workers and keep them safe on the job.