Caught-in or -between hazards led to 72 construction worker deaths in 2016. By identifying these hazards, and understanding how they happen, we can take steps to protect ourselves.

According to OSHA, Caught-In or -Between Hazards are defined as injuries resulting from a person being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects, or between parts of an object.

Types of Situations and What to Be Aware Of

Cave-Ins / Collapses

• Trenches or excavation sites with
  inadequate wall bracing or benching /
  sloping.
• Walls collapsing during demolition.
• Scaffolding collapse.

Pinned Between / Crushed

• Machinery that is not Locked Out /
  Tagged Out.
• Rigging failures resulting in dropped
  loads.
• Moving equipment that can pin
  objects against a wall or other
  equipment.

Entrapped / Caught In

• Machinery that has unguarded moving
  parts.
• Machinery that is not Locked Out /
  Tagged Out.

How to protect yourself:

• Always be aware of situations where you can become
  trapped or crushed by an object.
• Use machinery that is properly guarded.
• Use Lockout / Tagout and then verify the machine is in
  zero energy state.
• Barricade open areas where you can become trapped or
  crushed.
• Use proper guarding in open excavations and trenches.
• Install adequate bracing, or rigging, to ensure that items
  do not fall or move unexpectedly.
• Always make eye contact with equipment operators, and
  never walking behind, or in a swing radius of, machinery.

What is Your Employer’s Responsibility?

•  Provide guards on power tools and other equipment with moving parts.
• Support or secure (make safe) equipment having parts that workers could be
  caught between.
• Ensure equipment is prevented from tipping or rolling over and has ROPS in
  place with seatbelts in use.
• Prevent workers from being in pinch point areas of equipment.
• Provide protection for workers during trenching and excavation work.
• Prevent workers from being crushed by dropped or collapsing materials
  during construction and demolition work or high winds.
• Designate a competent person to ensure safe work practices are practiced.
• Provide proper training for workers, including how to recognize and avoid
  hazards on-site.

For more information and training on how to prevent the Focus Four Hazards, please visit: https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction/focus_four/index.html