Key Takeaways
- Understanding Hazards: Recognize the common caught-in and caught-between hazards in your work environment, including machinery-related, trenching, and material handling hazards.
- Implementing Safety Measures: Ensure proper training, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular maintenance of equipment, and adherence to safety protocols to protect workers.
- Utilizing Digital Solutions: Leverage FAT FINGER’s digital workflows and safety checklists to streamline safety processes and ensure consistent compliance with safety standards.
- Proactive Hazard Identification: Use tools like Take 5 Safety and Job Hazard Analysis to proactively identify and address potential hazards before beginning tasks.
- Continuous Improvement: Employ Near Miss Reporting and Incident Reporting to document and analyze incidents, leading to ongoing improvements in safety practices.
The 3 Most Common Types of Caught-in and Caught Between Hazards
Workplace safety is a critical concern for employers and employees alike. Among the various hazards that workers face, caught-in and caught-between hazards are particularly dangerous. These types of hazards can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities. Understanding the most common types of caught-in and caught-between hazards is essential for implementing effective safety measures.
In this article, we will explore the three most common types of these hazards, provide relevant examples, and discuss how digital workflows like FAT FINGER can help mitigate these risks.
Request a demo of FAT FINGER to see how it can enhance your workplace safety.
What Are Caught-In and Caught-Between Hazards?
Caught-in and caught-between hazards occur when a worker is caught, crushed, or pinched between two or more objects. These hazards are prevalent in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. The consequences of such incidents can be severe, ranging from minor injuries to fatalities.
1. Machinery-Related Hazards
Machinery-related hazards are among the most common types of caught-in and caught-between hazards. These occur when workers operate or work near heavy machinery and equipment.
Take the example below from OSHA’s caught-in-or-between training material. The employee, clearly unaware of the proper SOPs for truck repair, gets crushed between the truck frame and dump box.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), machinery-related incidents account for a significant portion of workplace injuries and fatalities. For instance, in 2019, machinery-related incidents resulted in 761 fatalities in the United States.
Examples of Machinery-Related Hazards
- Getting caught in moving parts of machinery, such as gears, belts, and pulleys.
- Being crushed by heavy equipment, such as forklifts or cranes.
- Getting trapped between a machine and a stationary object.
OSHA cites the lack of proper employee training as one of the reasons why caught in and caught between hazards happen. They have a lot of training material on this topic, which you can customize to your purposes. You can, for instance, build your own digital SOPs and upload them to FAT FINGER to make it more accessible to your teams.
Learn How to Build Digital SOPs in this guide
How FAT FINGER Can Help
FAT FINGER offers powerful safety checklists that can help prevent machinery-related hazards. The Take 5 Safety checklist encourages workers to take five minutes to assess potential hazards before starting work. This proactive approach can identify machinery-related risks and implement necessary controls.
2. Trenching and Excavation Hazards
Trenching and excavation work pose significant caught-in and caught-between hazards. Workers can be trapped or buried by collapsing soil or materials.
Examples of Trenching and Excavation Hazards
- Soil collapse or cave-ins during trenching operations.
- Being struck by falling materials or equipment.
- Getting trapped between the trench wall and heavy machinery.
Statistics from OSHA reveal that trenching and excavation incidents are particularly deadly. In 2018, trench collapses resulted in 21 fatalities in the construction industry alone.
How FAT FINGER Can Help
FAT FINGER’s Job Hazard Analysis checklist is an invaluable tool for trenching and excavation work. This checklist helps identify potential hazards and implement control measures to ensure worker safety. Additionally, the Risk Assessment checklist can evaluate the likelihood and severity of trenching hazards, allowing for better risk management.
3. Material Handling Hazards
Material handling involves the movement, storage, and control of materials and products. This process can expose workers to caught-in and caught-between hazards.
Examples of Material Handling Hazards
- Getting caught between moving materials and stationary objects.
- Being crushed by falling or shifting materials.
- Getting trapped between a forklift and a pallet or wall.
Material handling incidents are common in industries such as warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), material handling incidents accounted for 15% of all workplace injuries in 2020.
How Can You Protect Against Caught-In or Between Hazards?
Protecting against caught-in or between hazards requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some effective strategies:
- Training and Education: Ensure that all employees are trained on the risks associated with caught-in or between hazards and the proper safety protocols to follow.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Provide appropriate PPE, such as gloves, helmets, and safety goggles, to protect workers from potential hazards.
- Regular Equipment Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of machinery and equipment to ensure they are in good working condition.
- Implement Safety Protocols: Establish and enforce safety protocols, such as lockout/tagout procedures, to prevent accidental machine start-ups.
- Use of Safety Checklists: Utilize safety checklists to identify and mitigate potential hazards before starting any task.
How FAT FINGER Can Help
FAT FINGER’s Near Miss Reporting checklist allows workers to report near-miss incidents related to material handling. By identifying and addressing near misses, employers can prevent future incidents. The Incident Reporting in the Workplace checklist ensures that all material handling incidents are documented and investigated, leading to improved safety practices.
How Can Digital Workflows Improve Workplace Safety?
Digital workflows like FAT FINGER offer a comprehensive solution to managing workplace safety. By digitizing safety checklists and processes, employers can ensure that safety protocols are consistently followed. Here are six powerful safety checklists offered by FAT FINGER:
- Take 5 Safety: Encourages workers to take five minutes to assess potential hazards before starting work.
- Near Miss Reporting: Allows workers to report near-miss incidents, helping to prevent future accidents.
- Job Hazard Analysis: Identifies potential hazards and implements control measures to ensure worker safety.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluates the likelihood and severity of hazards, allowing for better risk management.
- Incident Reporting in the Workplace: Ensures that all incidents are documented and investigated, leading to improved safety practices.
- Journey Report: Tracks and documents the safety of workers during transportation and travel.
Conclusion
Caught-in and caught-between hazards are prevalent in various industries and pose significant risks to workers. Understanding the most common types of these hazards—machinery-related, trenching and excavation, and material handling—is crucial for implementing effective safety measures. Digital workflows like FAT FINGER offer powerful safety checklists that can help mitigate these risks and ensure a safer workplace. Create a safety workflow for free on FAT FINGER or request a demo to see how it can enhance your workplace safety.
FAQs For Caught in And Caught Between Hazards
Q: What are caught-in and caught-between hazards?
Caught-in and caught-between hazards occur when workers are trapped, crushed, or pinched between objects, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. These hazards are common in construction and industrial settings.
Q: What are the common types of these hazards?
The three most common types are:
- Machinery-related hazards: Occur when body parts are caught in machinery or equipment.
- Trenching and excavation hazards: Happen when walls of trenches collapse, burying workers.
- Material handling hazards: Involve being caught between materials or equipment during lifting and moving operations.
Q: How can digital workflows like FAT FINGER help mitigate these hazards?
FAT FINGER helps by providing digital safety checklists, job hazard analysis (JHA), and risk assessment tools. These tools guide workers through safety protocols, ensuring consistent adherence to safety standards and helping to identify and mitigate risks before they lead to incidents.
Q: What safety checklists does FAT FINGER offer to mitigate caught in and caught between hazards?
FAT FINGER offers a variety of checklists, including:
- Take 5 Safety: A quick safety check before starting any task.
- Near Miss Reporting: Documenting and analyzing near-miss incidents to prevent future occurrences.
- Job Hazard Analysis: Identifying and mitigating potential hazards associated with specific tasks.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluating risks and determining appropriate safety measures.
- Incident Reporting: Documenting accidents and incidents for investigation and improvement.
- Journey Report: Monitoring and reporting on the safety of journeys, especially in hazardous conditions.
Q: How can I implement FAT FINGER in my workplace?
To implement FAT FINGER, you can schedule a demo. This demo will showcase how you can customize our digital workflows and safety checklists to enhance safety practices in your specific work environment.