What Are the “Fatal Four?”

The term “fatal four” refers to the four most common causes of workplace fatalities. They include falls, object strikes, electrocution, and individuals being pinned between objects.

According to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these four types of accident are responsible for more than half of the workplace fatalities that occur in the United States each year.

When an individual dies in a workplace accident, his or her death must be recorded and reported to OSHA within eight hours. His or her loved ones could be entitled to seek compensation for their losses through a wrongful death claim. This is not the same as filing a workers' compensation claim. If you have lost a loved one in a workplace accident, talk with an experienced workplace accident lawyer about the differences between wrongful death claims and other types of workplace accident claims.

Your risk of being injured in any of the accidents listed above can be greatly reduced by taking a few precautionary steps. These steps include following all safety instructions from your machinery's manufacturers as well as the proper protocol for your job as issued by OSHA. If you are ever unsure about how to safely operate a piece of machinery or complete a job task, ask your supervisor for clarification.

Although you can greatly reduce your chance of being injured in a workplace accident by taking safety precautions, you can never completely eliminate your chance of being injured at work. If you are injured in one of the accidents listed above or another type of accident, seek medical care for your injury as soon as possible. If a colleague is injured, call 911 immediately and stay with him or her until the ambulance arrives unless it is not safe for you to do so. Document all that you can about the accident – your colleague will need this evidence if he or she decides to pursue a workplace accident claim later.

The right to file a wrongful death claim after a workplace fatality is generally limited to the victim's close family. This includes his or her spouse and children. In some cases, an individual's parents may also seek compensation through a wrongful death claim. Expenses that can be covered through a wrongful death settlement may include:

• Funeral bills;
• Medical expenses if applicable;
• Lost wages;
• Lost projected inheritance;
• Lost companionship and guidance; and
• Lost non-tangible household contributions, such as housework.

If you have been injured at work, get medical attention right away. Then, seek out a skilled San Jose workplace accident attorney to discuss the possibility of filing a workplace accident claim for monetary compensation. For more information about this process, contact Corsiglia, McMahon, & Allard, L.L.P. today to schedule your free consultation with our firm. Our firm proudly serves clients throughout the Bay Area, San Mateo County, Alameda County, San Benito County, Monterey County, and Santa Clara County. Do not wait to begin working on your claim with us.

• Commonly Used Statistics
• Fatality Inspection Data