Tag Archives: road construction worker safety

General Safety Issues

Top 7 Road Construction Work Zone Safety Tips

Top 7 Road Construction Work Zone Safety Tips

Whether you are traveling or constructing roads or houses – safety if the main focus point. We all agree on the statement that it is very important to have self-protection to be safe from any type of mishap respectively. There should be valid rules for the person who personally belongs to the construction field. It is very important to save them from any type of serious mishap respectively. As we all know very well that the field of construction is really needed to provide the complete safety precautions to their employees in the field so they can efficiently provide the best services in a better way.

There are multiple options available in selecting the asphalt paving company if you need to maintain the best surface of the road. While paving the road there are different types of challenges which a professional company has to face. These challenges are as follows:

  • Providing the best security solutions to the other people which provide them the safest way to pass through the under-construction area
  • Place the signboards on the different sections of the road to notify people regarding the work in process notice
  • Employees should wear the safety helmet and jacket to be easily recognized in the field
  • Employees should spread the safety precautions to the vehicles and the pedestrians to avoid any type of serious injury
  • It is compulsory to provide the alternative road to the people while the respective road is under-construction
  • Work should be completed efficiently within a specified time of period

These things are very important to provide the common people the best safety precautions. Here we will discuss some important but useful tips for the asphalt pavers while completing the project respectively.

  • Make a strong strategy

It is very much important to make a strong strategy while starting the paving process to build a strong road for the people. The suggested plan should be normal traffic control which will not disturb the people to reach their places. You should apply the best strategy to control the traffic in a way that people can easily pass through it. While operating the heavy machinery on the site you should have to maintain the area in such a way that will not disturb the normal traffic on the road.

  • Make a proper plan for traffic control

It is compulsory to have the better plan to control the traffic area of the respective place. You can place the warning signs on the relevant places to update people about the construction process so they can also use the strategy for the respective place.

  • Use cones to mark the area

As we all know very well that road construction areas really need to have care and precautions for the other traffic. This is why the best thing would be the road traffic cones on the respective area of the road which will directly indicate the traffic to use the diversions for the other safe route.

  • Wear safety equipment

It is also very much important to wear the safety equipment on the construction site to identify yourself as a worker of the specific place. It will also notify the traffic to reduce the speed limit due to work in progress. It is very much important to wear the sharp colors equipment to notify people from a far distance.

  • Use Helmet

The helmet is the most important equipment in this whole process to be safe from any type of serious injury. Usually, the helmet saves the person from any type of hard thing to get hit on the head. Head injury is the most crucial injury and could cause the death of the worker on the spot.

  • Start your day with the new goals

When you will start the new day with updated goals you will definitely get the best result out of it. Driveway paving contractors will discuss the fresh updates with their whole crew and they also remind them to complete the task within a specified time period. It will also identify them about the things which they have to complete within a whole day.

  • Make a site safety program

It is very important to provide the best safety to the people around you. You have to make a strategy to keep the other people safe from any type of mishap during the work in process. While making the construction program for the road, it is important to have the best ideas on how to keep other people safe from any type of disturbance. There should be valid spaces for the traffic which can easily be moved without any disturbance.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety

PREVENTING AUTO ACCIDENTS IN WORK ZONES – KEEP YOUR WORKERS SAFE! (GUEST POST)

Road workers brave many of the most unsafe working conditions around, including inclement weather, dangerous heavy equipment, work performed from heights, and potential electrical hazards. On top of these already risky conditions, motor vehicle traffic speeds by the work site constantly, threatening the unwary worker with serious injury or death.

Motor vehicle collisions with road workers are an all-too-common occurrence.  According to a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor study, 962 workers were killed at road construction sites from 2003 through 2010. Of these deaths, nearly half (442) occurred when a worker was struck by a vehicle or moving equipment. The study found that workers are equally as likely to be struck by highway traffic as they are mobile construction equipment.

To reduce the risk of injury and death, road workers and construction managers can implement a few simple procedures:

Increase Visibility

When it comes to keeping workers safe from highway traffic, visibility is key.  The Bureau of Labor study found that of the 92 people killed while flagging or performing traffic control duties, only 20 were wearing reflective or high-visibility clothing at the time.

Every precaution should be taken to ensure that workers are visible to oncoming traffic. High-visibility clothing should be worn by every person, but especially those conducting traffic. Yellow or green reflective clothing is preferable to orange, as different colors keep workers from blending in with orange construction signs.

Slow Traffic Down

According to several studies around the country, one of the most effective ways to slow down traffic before entering a construction zone is to plant a stationary police vehicle ahead of where road work begins. One Virginia study showed that the presence of a police vehicle slowed traffic by an average of 12 to 14 miles per hour.

In addition to a police presence, traffic can be slowed by using funneling or lane reduction techniques. Single lanes of traffic tend to move much slower than two or three lanes of traffic. In addition, cars are less likely to try and pass slower vehicles when there is only a single lane. This can prevent an aggressive motorist from swerving into a construction zone while trying to pass.

Use Traffic Barriers

Cones, barrels, and other lane separation techniques keep motorists at a safe distance from workers. Barriers also provide a cushion of safety from inattentive or distracted drivers. A driver who does hit a barrier will hopefully be jolted into awareness before driving into and injuring road workers.

Train Workers on Safety Awareness

Every worker should be trained on the best way to minimize their vulnerability while working next to traffic. A worker’s situational awareness is vital for avoiding both highway traffic and heavy construction equipment moving around the site. Thirteen per cent of all deaths in the Bureau of Labor study were caused by workers simply passing through the construction site. Teaching workers the proper techniques for entering, exiting, and passing through a site can significantly decrease the number of injuries and deaths reported every year

Analyze the Activity Area

Trained safety professionals should review a changing worksite on a regular basis to look for potential hazards. These professionals should try and minimize the zones where heavy equipment will need to back up, and should look for ways to implement any engineering, administrative, or personal protection measures that are needed to improve safety.

No matter what precautions workers take, injuries can still happen, especially with inattentive, distracted, or impaired drivers on the road. By taking the proper precautions, however, road workers can minimize their risk of injury and increase their odds of returning home safely. 

These road worker safety tips are provided by the South Florida personal injury firm of Gordon & Doner. Our firm is dedicated to holding negligent and irresponsible drivers accountable for the injuries caused to road workers in construction zones.

Our thanks to Jason Swilley for these great tips.  Again, April 7-11 was National Work Zone Awareness Week, and we can’t remind drivers too many times to slow down and watch for those who build our roads and keep them safe! pb