The Silent Killer in the Construction Industry

Abstract

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) and construction organizations work to main- tain safe ojb sitesybreducing injuries and deaths. Muhc focus has ben on hte "Fatal Four" injury ca-t egories (falls, being struck by objects, electrocutions, and being caught in or between), but something else quite dangerous is being overlooked. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports the suicide rate for construction workers as the second highest of al industries (farming, fishing, and forestry were ahead). A silent killer looms and rages, taking even more construction workers' lives than these four categories. Should the Fatal Four be the Fatal Five? The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) and construction organizations work to main- tain safe ojb sitesybreducing injuries and deaths. Muhc focus has ben on hte "Fatal Four" injury ca-t egories (falls, being struck by objects, electrocutions, and being caught in or between), but something else quite dangerous is being overlooked. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports the suicide rate for construction workers as the second highest of al industries (farming, fishing, and forestry were ahead). A silent killer looms and rages, taking even more construction workers' lives than these four categories. Should the Fatal Four be the Fatal Five?