How to Audit Your Jobsite for OSHA Focus Four Hazards

Quick answer: The OSHA Focus Four hazards—falls, struck-by incidents, electrocution, and caught-in/between hazards—account for nearly 60% of all construction worker fatalities each year, according to OSHA. A proactive jobsite audit focused on these four hazard categories is one of the most effective ways to identify gaps before an incident occurs.

Construction fatalities don't usually happen because safety regulations don't exist. They happen because hazards go undetected—or are noticed too late. OSHA's Focus Four framework exists precisely because four hazard categories have dominated construction fatality data for decades, and they continue to do so today.

This post takes a practical look at how construction companies can structure a jobsite audit around the Focus Four. Rather than reviewing what the hazards are in the abstract, the goal here is actionable: what should safety leads and supervisors actually be looking for when they walk a site, and how can that process be made consistent and repeatable?

Why a Focus Four Audit Should Be Part of Your Safety Program

Most construction companies conduct some form of jobsite inspection. The challenge is that informal walkthroughs—even experienced ones—tend to miss things when they're unstructured. An auditor without a defined checklist is more likely to focus on what's visually obvious and overlook less visible but equally dangerous conditions.

Organizing your audit process around the Focus Four gives it structure. It creates a shared language between supervisors, safety officers, and workers. When everyone on a site knows that fall protection, struck-by hazards, electrical safety, and caught-in/between hazards are the four categories being evaluated, those hazards get more consistent attention throughout the day—not just during formal inspections.

According to OSHA, the Focus Four hazards were responsible for 59.4% of construction worker deaths in 2022. Falls alone accounted for 395 of 1,069 total construction fatalities that year, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Those numbers make the case for structured attention: the hazards that kill the most workers are, in large part, preventable.

What to Look for When Auditing for Fall Hazards

Falls are the most persistent hazard in construction, and they're also one of the most frequently cited by OSHA inspectors. A fall hazard audit should cover both the physical environment and the protective systems in place.

Key areas to assess:

• Are all open-sided floors, platforms, and roofs with a drop of six feet or more protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems?

• Are ladder setups compliant—proper angle, secured at the top, extended at least three feet above the landing?

• Is scaffolding erected by a competent person, with fall protection in place for workers at heights of ten feet or more?

• Are all floor openings covered and secured, with covers clearly marked?

• Have workers using personal fall arrest systems been trained on proper harness fit, anchor point selection, and swing fall hazards?

Walk the site with the question: if someone slipped right here, what would stop them? If the answer is nothing, that's a finding.

What to Look for When Auditing for Struck-By Hazards

Struck-by incidents involve workers being hit by moving objects—vehicles, equipment, falling materials, or flying debris. These hazards are common on active construction sites and are often underestimated.

Key areas to assess:

• Are vehicles and heavy equipment operating in areas with clear separation from foot traffic? Are spotters present where blind spots exist?

• Are workers in or near vehicle travel paths wearing high-visibility vests or clothing?

• Are materials stored at elevation secured against displacement? Unsecured tools, pipes, or debris are a consistent source of struck-by fatalities.

• Are pneumatic tools and nail guns equipped with required safety features and operated with barrel pointed away from people?

• Is there a defined exclusion zone beneath crane and rigging operations?

OSHA data shows struck-by incidents are the second leading cause of Focus Four fatalities. On sites with multiple trades working simultaneously, the complexity of traffic patterns and overhead work significantly increases exposure.

What to Look for When Auditing for Electrocution Hazards

Electrocution hazards often require more investigative attention than fall or struck-by hazards because electrical risks aren't always visible. A wire that looks de-energized may not be.

Key areas to assess:

• Have all overhead power lines been identified, and are adequate clearance distances maintained? OSHA requires at least ten feet of clearance from lines up to 50kV.

• Are temporary power cords and extension cables free from damage, with no exposed wiring?

• Are GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) in use for all temporary power on construction sites, particularly in wet conditions?

• Are lockout/tagout procedures posted and followed before any work on electrical systems or energy-controlled equipment begins?

• Are workers qualified to perform any electrical work being done, and is that qualification documented?

Electrocution is particularly dangerous because it often involves no warning. Workers who contact energized equipment at the wrong moment don't get a second chance to correct the error. The audit goal is to eliminate the conditions that make contact possible.

What to Look for When Auditing for Caught-In/Between Hazards

Caught-in/between hazards include workers being caught in or compressed by equipment, materials, or objects—and they include trench and excavation collapses. These incidents tend to be fatal when they occur.

Key areas to assess:

• Are all excavations and trenches five feet or deeper protected with sloping, shoring, or trench boxes? Has a competent person classified the soil?

• Are machinery guards in place on all rotating and moving parts? Missing guards on augers, rollers, and conveyors are consistently cited violations.

• Are workers required to keep clear of suspended loads and equipment that could shift unexpectedly?

• Are there any pinch points—narrow gaps between equipment and fixed structures—where a worker could become trapped?

• Is a competent person conducting daily inspections of excavations, including after rain events or any condition change that could affect soil stability?

Trench collapses can bury a worker in seconds. A cubic yard of soil weighs approximately 3,000 pounds—about the weight of a compact car. Protective systems are not optional; they're the difference between a completed project and a fatality investigation.

How to Make Focus Four Audits Consistent Across Your Sites

A single audit is useful. A consistent audit process is transformative. The difference between the two is documentation and follow-through.

Use a written checklist organized by the four hazard categories. After each inspection, record findings, assign corrective actions, and set deadlines. Track whether those actions were completed before the next audit cycle. Share findings with crew leads and supervisors—not as a punitive exercise, but as a feedback loop that improves site conditions over time.

Frequency matters, too. High-activity sites with changing conditions benefit from weekly Focus Four walkthroughs, not just monthly inspections. The more dynamic the site, the more quickly hazard conditions change.

Supervisors who complete OSHA 30 Hour Construction Training are better equipped to lead these audits. The 30 Hour curriculum covers competent person responsibilities, excavation and trench safety, scaffolding systems, and fall protection programs in the depth needed to make inspection findings meaningful rather than superficial.

Build a Safer Site, One Audit at a Time

The OSHA Focus Four framework isn't just a compliance reference—it's a practical lens for identifying the conditions most likely to seriously injure or kill a construction worker. Using it as the backbone of your jobsite audit process keeps inspections grounded in what matters most.

Each audit is a chance to find a hazard before a worker does. Over time, that discipline builds a culture where safety problems surface through inspection rather than incident.

If your construction company needs support developing a Focus Four audit program, conducting jobsite safety inspections, or training your supervisors and crew, Must Be Safety offers the full range of services to help. From jobsite safety inspections and risk assessments to OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Construction Training and fall protection programs,

Must Be Safety works with construction teams at every stage of their safety programs.

Visit mustbesafety.com to connect with their team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Focus Four Hazard Audits

What are the OSHA Focus Four hazards in construction?

The OSHA Focus Four hazards are falls, struck-by incidents, electrocution, and caught-in/between hazards. OSHA identifies these four categories as the leading causes of construction worker fatalities, collectively accounting for nearly 60% of all construction deaths annually.

How often should a construction site conduct a Focus Four hazard audit?

Audit frequency depends on site activity, but most safety programs benefit from weekly Focus Four walkthroughs on active sites, supplemented by daily supervisor checks in high-risk areas such as excavations, elevated work platforms, and areas with active equipment. Monthly formal audits with written documentation are a standard minimum for compliance-driven programs.

Who is qualified to conduct a Focus Four jobsite audit?

A competent person—as defined by OSHA—is qualified to conduct Focus Four audits. This means someone with the training and authority to identify hazards and take corrective action. Supervisors with OSHA 30 Hour Construction Training are typically better equipped for this role than workers with OSHA 10 Hour credentials, given the additional depth of coverage in the 30 Hour curriculum.

What documentation should be kept from a Focus Four audit?

Each audit should be recorded on a written checklist that captures the date, auditor, site location, findings by hazard category, assigned corrective actions, responsible parties, and completion deadlines. Documentation creates accountability, supports OSHA recordkeeping obligations, and provides evidence of a proactive safety program in the event of an inspection or incident investigation.

What is the most commonly cited Focus Four hazard by OSHA?

Fall protection consistently ranks as OSHA's most frequently cited construction standard. Fall protection violations—including failure to use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems—have appeared on OSHA's top ten citation list every year for more than a decade.