Work Zone Safety

According to The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearing-house during 2012 there were 39 work zone fatalities in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana combined. Employees being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment lead to numerous work zone fatalities or injuries each year. Work zones need traffic controls identified by signs, cones, barrels and barriers to remain safe.

It’s important that drivers, employees on foot, and pedestrians be able to see and understand the proper routes. Project managers for construction determine the traffic control plans within construction and demolition job sites.

Example Traffic Control Plans:

  • Traffic control devises, signals, and message boards to instruct drivers to follow paths away from where work is being done
  • Approved traffic control devises such as cones, barricades, barrels, and posts inside work zones
  • Work Zone protections include various concrete, water, sand, collapsible barriers, crash cushions, and truck mounted attention boards can help limit motorists intrusions into construction work zones.
  • Flaggers should wear high visibility clothing with a fluorescent background and made of retro reflective material. This makes employees visible for at least 1,000 feet in any direction. Check the label or packaging to ensure that the garments are performance class 2 or 3. Drivers should be warned with signs that there will be flaggers ahead. Flaggers should use STOP/SLOW paddles, paddles with lights, or flags (only in emergencies).
  • Flagger stations should be illuminated. Lighting for employees on foot and for equipment operators should be at least 5 foot-candles or greater. Where available lighting is not sufficient, flares or chemical lighting should be used. Glare should be controlled or eliminated.
  • Seat belts and rollover protection should be used on equipment and vehicles as the manufacturer recommends.

Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not supercede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations.