Structural tensile stress The primary way an earthquake impacts structures is through ground shaking. Inertial forces are created in the structure by the fast acceleration of the earth beneath the building. This might cause harm if they become too large or if the building is not built to handle them. Ground shaking can also cause objects such as rocks, bricks, and dust to fly up into the air. These falling objects can be dangerous to people because they can hit them on the head or neck. Other ways in which earthquakes impact structures include: Falling objects such as bricks, glass, and wood that are located outside of buildings can cause injuries to people who happen to walk through them. An example would be if a window breaks during an earthquake and brick falls onto a person's head. Tiles that are used in flooring can be damaged by heavy equipment moving around warehouses during recovery efforts after an earthquake. If you work in an industry related to construction, like engineering or law enforcement, you need to know how earthquakes may affect your job. You will be able to feel the ground moving under your feet and objects being thrown about during an earthquake. Strong vibrations will spread through the ground as far as 10 miles from the epicenter. These vibrations can damage buildings, but only if the intensity is high enough. After a major earthquake, further damaging vibrations may occur as blocks move underground.