When it comes to workplace injuries and workers’ comp claims, construction site accidents make up the largest portion of high-dollar claims. The second most significant of these incidents is in the “Struck-by or Against” category. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, construction workers face twice the risk of nonfatal struck-by injuries compared to workers in all other industries combined, and they experience more fatal struck-by incidents than any other profession. This article will examine the ways employers and employees can work together to raise awareness and prevent struck-by injuries.
What is Struck-By?
The definition of a struck-by hazard is an incident where the impact alone creates an injury. Struck-by injuries happen when a worker is harmed through forceful contact or impact with an object or equipment. These types of incidents are especially common in construction, where materials, power tools, and machinery are constantly in motion: whether flying, falling, swinging, or rolling.
How Many Categories of Struck-By Hazards are There?
There are four common struck-by hazards in construction:
- Struck-by flying objects
- Struck-by falling objects
- Struck-by swinging objects
- Struck-by rolling objects
Read on to find out more about them and how to avoid these dangerous construction industry hazards.
What are Common Causes of Struck-By Accidents at Worksites?
According to OSHA, approximately 75% of struck-by fatalities involve trucks, cranes, and other heavy equipment. The following are further examples of struck-by hazards on job sites.
- Vehicles & Heavy Equipment: construction trucks, cranes, and forklifts can strike workers if proper precautions are not taken.
- Falling Objects: debris, tools, or materials dropped from heights can cause serious injuries.
- Flying & Swinging Objects: swinging loads from cranes, materials rolling down slopes, or objects thrown by machinery can strike workers. Flying debris or objects from machinery can also pose a risk.
- Other Construction Hazards: rolling objects, collapses, equipment malfunctions, poor visibility, and swinging doors.
What is the OSHA Standard for Struck-By Hazards?
While there is no single, specific OSHA standard for struck-by accidents, OSHA addresses struck-by hazards across several standards, mostly within the context of preventing construction site accidents. According to OSHA, employers must protect workers from struck-by hazards by adhering to the following standards:
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- OSHA Standard 1926.303(c)(9) – All employees using abrasive wheels shall be protected by eye protection equipment.
- OSHA Standard 1926.1424(a)(2)(i) – The employer must train each employee assigned to work on or near the equipment in how to recognize struck-by and pinch/crush hazard areas.
- OSHA Standard 1926.502(j)(1) – Toe boards, when used as falling object protection, shall be added along the edge of the overhead walking/working surface for a distance sufficient to protect employees below.
- OSHA Standard 1926.250(a)(1) – All materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling or collapse.
Avoiding Struck-By Accidents on the Jobsite
Fortunately, many struck-by accidents are preventable with proactive safety measures. By prioritizing some fairly simple precautions, companies can create a safer work environment and help protect their teams from avoidable injuries. ICW Group’s online training program, Safety OnDemand(R) — free to all policyholders — has quite a few training resources to help, including this Construction Struck-by Fact Sheet, our Struck-By Object Intervention Assessment, a Spanish language Safety Talk: Struck-By Caught Between, and this Struck-By Prevention for Forklift Operators course.
In addition, employers can significantly reduce risk by taking the following steps:
- Wear the Right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
A key line of defense against struck-by hazards is proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Hard hats protect against falling tools or materials, while safety goggles and face shields guard against flying particles during tasks like grinding, cutting, or drilling.
It’s a good idea for employers to make PPE usage mandatory and ensure it’s appropriate for the job being performed. It’s not just about having the equipment—it’s about making sure it’s worn consistently and correctly.
- Boost Worker Visibility
Many of the worst struck-by accidents involve construction vehicles or heavy equipment. One simple but highly effective solution is to increase worker visibility. High-visibility vests, shirts, and jackets help operators spot workers more easily, especially in low-light conditions or high-traffic zones.
In areas where traffic or mobile equipment is present, reflective clothing is essential. Flaggers and spotters should wear high-visibility gear at all times to reduce the chance of being hit by vehicles.
Check out ICW Group’s Flagger Safety on Construction Sites Meeting Kit for more on this topic.
- Secure Tools and Equipment
Tools and materials that aren’t properly secured can easily become projectiles. A wrench left on a scaffold or a loose strap on a crane can quickly turn into a serious hazard.
Use tool lanyards when working at height, install guardrails and toe boards where appropriate, and store materials properly to prevent shifting or tipping. Equipment like cranes and hoists should be inspected to ensure loads are stable and balanced before lifting.
This Housekeeping on Construction Sites Stats & Facts resource from ICW Group has more on this.
- Inspect Equipment Regularly
Defective or poorly maintained tools can fail at the worst moments, often causing struck-by injuries. A cracked hammerhead, a malfunctioning nail gun, or a weakened hoist cable can lead to catastrophic results.
That’s why regular inspection and maintenance routines are crucial. Workers should be trained to inspect their tools before each use, and supervisors should establish a schedule for checking larger machinery and equipment.
- Limit Access to Hazard Zones
Struck-by accidents often occur when workers are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The solution is to keep them out of those places altogether as much as possible.
Use signage, barriers, cones, and flaggers to restrict access to areas with active heavy equipment, crane lifts, or overhead work. Mark off the swing radius of machinery being used and enforce exclusion zones during high-risk activities.
Creating clear boundaries on the jobsite keeps everyone more aware of their surroundings and significantly reduces the chance of accidental contact.
- Train Workers to Recognize Hazards
Even the best equipment and procedures won’t be effective without informed, alert workers. Regular training sessions with the help of tools like this Struck-by Meeting Kit will help crews recognize struck-by hazards in real time — from the dangers of standing under suspended loads to the risks of walking behind a backing-up loader.
Toolbox talks, real-world scenario drills, and refresher courses help keep safety top of mind. Everyone on site should understand not only the rules but also the reasons behind them.
Struck-by hazards are a serious threat in construction, but they’re also largely preventable. With the right combination of PPE, equipment maintenance, training, and jobsite controls, employers can drastically reduce the risks and create a culture of safety that protects every worker.
Taking the time to implement these measures isn’t just about compliance. It’s about saving lives.
