Improving our roadways while keeping construction workers safe isn’t always easy, but it’s of utmost importance. Specific safety measures must be taken to protect heavy equipment operators and those who are working on foot.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers a few recommendations to help improve work zone safety. Here’s how you can prevent work zone accidents before it’s too late:
Instruction
All workers need to know where to direct drivers during work hours. Instruct drivers to follow paths away from work zones with traffic control devices, signals, and message boards.
Protection Inside the Work Zone
Direct equipment operators and other vehicle drivers with approved traffic control devices, including cones, barrels, barricades, and delineator posts. These traffic control devices should be fluorescent orange to comply with MUTCD requirements.
Protection Outside the Work Zone
Various types of traffic barriers can help prevent motorists from driving into restricted construction work zones. Heavy-duty concrete barricades are better for long-term use, while collapsible barriers or those filled with water or sand are ideal for temporary situations.
Flagging
Flaggers should wear high-visibility clothing with a fluorescent background made of retro-reflective material, which 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. Warn drivers that there will be flaggers ahead with clear, bold signage. Flaggers should use STOP/SLOW paddles, paddles with lights, or flags.
Lighting
Illuminate flagger stations at all times. Lighting for employees on foot and for equipment operators should be at least 5 foot-candles or greater. If available lighting is not sufficient, then use flares or chemical lighting. Finally, control or eliminate any type of glare.
Training
Before placing them in work zones, flaggers must be trained and certified. All flaggers must use authorized signaling methods for consistency and understanding between crew members and drivers.
Seat Belts
Use seat belts and rollover protection on equipment and vehicles according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Clicking a seat belt only takes a matter of seconds, but it can save a precious life!
Seton offers a large variety of work zone safety equipment including traffic cones, traffic paddles and barriers. We’re here to help improve the flow of traffic and keep your workforce safe. Turn to our safety experts for all of your construction site and work zone safety needs.
Source: osha.gov
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