Is Your Highway Job Site Safe?
Monday May 28, 2012
Nearly seven in 10 contractors reported vehicle crashes in construction work zones during the past year, reinforcing the need for increased safety measures. According to the results from a recent highway work zone study by the Associated General Contractors of America, those wrecks are more likely to kill road workers than those in the cars or trucks, according to an article on Better Roads.com.
“Any time your job site is just a few feet away from fast moving traffic, things can get a little too exciting,” said Tom Brown, chairman of the association’s national highway and transportation division. “Since construction workers don’t get the option of wearing seatbelts, they are more likely to be killed in a work zone crash than motorists are.”
Construction workers are basically at the mercy of motorists. The figure in this article is such a high number, it's frightening. With this in mind, it’s absolutely critical for construction companies to do everything in their power to make the work zone as safe as possible. If there is any way to improve safety, do it. Figure out how to lay out your work site in the safest way possible.
Seventy-five percent of those surveyed favor stricter laws, steeper fines and harsher penalties for driving violations in work zones, while 66 percent of contractors think that increased safety training for workers can mitigate the problem. According to Brown, though, simply being more careful while driving through the work zone is the best way to cut down on accidents.
“When motorists see construction signs and orange barrels, they need to take the foot off the gas, put the phone down and keep their eyes on the road,” Brown said in the article.
Source: Better Roads, April 2012
