Construction Focus Four: Recognizing Hazards and Preventing Workplace Injuries and Fatalities

Every day, construction professionals face hazards that have the potential to change lives in an instant. Falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in or -between hazards, and electrocution continue to represent some of the most significant causes of serious injuries and fatalities across the construction industry.

Preventing these incidents requires more than regulatory compliance. It demands proactive hazard recognition, effective risk controls, strong field-level leadership, and a commitment to identifying and addressing dangerous conditions before an incident occurs.

Join the ASSP Three Rivers Chapter for an interactive technical session featuring Kristine Lynn and Emil Szotko from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as they explore the Construction Focus Four hazards and practical strategies for preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.

Drawing on decades of combined OSHA experience, including construction inspections, fatality investigations, compliance assistance, and enforcement activities, our presenters will share valuable perspectives on how these hazards develop, why serious incidents continue to occur, and what organizations can do to strengthen their prevention efforts.

Participants will examine common construction hazards, explore relevant OSHA requirements under 29 CFR 1926, and discuss practical approaches to improving hazard recognition, implementing effective controls, and strengthening safe work practices.

Whether you are a safety professional, construction manager, contractor, supervisor, engineer, or organizational leader, this session will provide actionable insights to help protect workers, strengthen construction safety programs, and prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

Objectives:

1. Identify the four OSHA Construction Focus Four hazard categories—Falls, Caught-In or -Between, Struck-By, and Electrocution—and recognize common workplace conditions and activities associated with each.
2. Analyze how hazardous conditions, unsafe work practices, and inadequate risk controls contribute to serious injuries and fatalities in construction environments.
3. Describe applicable OSHA construction safety requirements under 29 CFR 1926 and explain their relevance to controlling Focus Four hazards.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of engineering controls, administrative measures, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment in reducing exposure to construction hazards.
5. Apply proactive hazard recognition and prevention strategies to practical construction scenarios to strengthen field-level decision-making and reduce the potential for serious injuries and fatalities.

Presenters:

Kristine Lynn

Compliance Assistance Specialist – Chicagoland Area
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Kristine Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Public Health–Industrial Hygiene from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

With more than 16 years of experience at OSHA, Kristine has developed extensive expertise in occupational safety and health compliance, workplace hazard recognition, and incident investigations.

During her tenure as a Compliance Safety and Health Specialist/Industrial Hygienist, she conducted complex safety and health inspections involving workplace fatalities, explosions, amputations, and Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements.

In her current role as a Chicagoland Compliance Assistance Specialist, Kristine focuses on fostering alliances and partnerships with industry stakeholders, promoting safety and health awareness, and providing technical assistance and educational resources to employers, workers, and professional organizations.

Her experience brings a valuable perspective on the intersection of regulatory compliance, industry collaboration, and proactive workplace injury prevention.

Emil Szotko

Regional Construction Coordinator – Chicago Region
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Emil Szotko brings 19 years of OSHA experience, with extensive specialization in construction hazard recognition and the prevention of serious injuries and fatalities.

Throughout his career as a Compliance Officer, Emil conducted more than 1,500 inspections addressing critical construction safety concerns, including fall protection, electrical hazards, trenching, and excavation operations.

He has worked closely with contractors to identify and abate hazardous conditions at construction sites and has participated in numerous fatality and serious accident investigations.

Since 2022, Emil has served as the Regional Construction Coordinator for OSHA’s Chicago Region, reviewing and assisting with high-impact cases involving the Construction Focus Four hazards under 29 CFR 1926 and 29 CFR 1910.

His extensive field experience, regulatory knowledge, and practical understanding of construction operations offer participants valuable insights into identifying hazards, correcting dangerous conditions, and implementing effective prevention strategies.

Agenda:

11:30 am                               Lunch & Networking

11:55 am                               Chapter Announcements & Introductions

~Noon to ~1:00 pm           Presentation

Meeting Sponsor:

Not a current member apply here and select Three Rivers as your primary chapter, see you soon!