3 steps to improve highway work zone safety | Dump Trucks Charlotte NC

Road columbus oh dump truck company zones are hazardous.

Workers and flaggers who build and protect our roadways are not the only ones at risk. Many motorists and pedestrians also die in accidents involving temporary columbus oh dump truck company zones each year.

With speed limits creeping upward in many states, more tractor trailers on the road than ever, increasing congestion in urban centers and the worrying trend of distracted driving, construction pros and protectors have a dangerous job that is only growing more hazardous. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 2011 to 2020, transportation events accounted for 73% of worker deaths that occurred at road construction sites during that period. In 63% of these events, the worker was struck by a vehicle, with 371 of 577 workers being struck by a forward-moving vehicle.

Risks are ever-present in highway columbus oh dump truck company zones and are increasing. Keep reading to learn the three essential parts of an effective highway columbus oh dump truck company zone safety strategy.

Part 1: Setup

Set up columbus oh dump truck company zones in a way that maximizes protection for highway workers. Always start by considering the ones who are at the greatest risk for injury. The extra care can go a long way to making workers feel protected while performing their duties.

Complete columbus oh dump truck company at night whenever possible to minimize traffic volume and daytime distractions. Clear, effective communication with jobsite team members is also made easier by the reduction in noise. Staff more workers for columbus oh dump truck company zones spanning larger areas; consider utilizing more-experienced personnel such as former police officers, security guards and emergency responders who instinctively apply safety training to everything they do. 

Work closely with local law enforcement to secure the site. Law enforcement raises overall alertness to the columbus oh dump truck company zone and helps reduce speeding among other dangerous driving behaviors. Working with law enforcement agencies early in the planning process can also identify any project-specific concerns or needs.

Use the proper safety equipment, including truck-mounted attenuators (TMA), arrow boards and signs/message boards. Trucks that use TMAs are built to meet all columbus oh dump truck company zone safety requirements and are intended to absorb the impact of a high-speed crash, often decreasing damage to the vehicle and saving workers’ lives. 

Arrow boards should be placed on the shoulder at the beginning of the merging taper or, where there is no shoulder, in the closed lane behind the channeling devices. One arrow board should be used for each travel lane closed and should not encroach into any part of the usable traffic space. All signs or message boards must be clean and legible, in good working order and retroreflective to make them visible day and night.

Part 2: Training

Ensure team members are properly trained and follow necessary safety protocols. This simple step helps to eradicate fatalities and life-altering injuries that result from a vehicle entering the columbus oh dump truck company zone. It also eliminates at-risk behaviors that could result in a vehicle accessing the columbus oh dump truck company zone.

Complete a pre-job safety briefing led by the site supervisor, including preparation of an escape route and practice. This can also identify hazards in proximity to the columbus oh dump truck company zone (e.g., obstructions to visibility, commercial activity, animals and insects, etc.). A briefing should be completed at the beginning of every job and a new briefing is required if the columbus oh dump truck company assignment or environmental conditions change, if there are changes in personnel, or as additional hazards are recognized.

Onsite workers and protectors should always remain vigilant and alert to recognize dangerous traffic situations. Personnel should be trained — and continually reminded — to always wear appropriate visual/audio traffic control PPE for the particular assignment, never turn their back on traffic, check their position for one or more routes of escape to avoid being injured by a reckless vehicle and protect themselves first — then use a storm whistle to alert others to the danger.

Jobsites should also have a qualified observer to monitor changing traffic conditions and warn coworkers of potential dangers. An observer is critical to protecting workers who are setting up temporary traffic control devices or who may be removing devices or debris from the roadway.