Welcome to Nationwide Work Zone Consciousness Week, which takes place from April 21-25, 2025, with partnerships between state departments of transportation, nationwide highway security organizations, authorities businesses, personal firms, and people. The target is to encourage drivers to make use of further warning in work zones, however it’s also a possibility for development professionals to establish dangers and provide you with security methods. Let’s spend a while the actual dangers in right this moment’s work zones, and the best way to mitigate them.
The Risks on the Street
In keeping with the Nationwide Work Zone Security Data Clearinghouse, a venture of the American Street and Transportation Builders Assn., there have been 821 whole deadly crashes in 2022, which is the latest yr knowledge was collected. That’s far too many lives.
A part of the problem right here is drivers on the highway are sometimes distracted—one thing we now have been speaking about right here on the weblog and on the podcast The Peggy Smedley Present. We have to take steps to scale back distracted driving normally. NAHB (Nationwide Assn. of Residence Builders) acknowledges the challenges of distracted driving and has created assets and tips for its members to assist encourage protected driving practices to, from, and across the jobsite. There’s a lot work to be finished on this space, however for right this moment’s weblog let’s flip our consideration to security methods for staff in work zones.
Methods for Security
Builders and contractors are taking steps to make sure higher security in work zones. Let’s contemplate the instance of Skanska. The venture growth and development firm has taken a number of steps to enhance security in work zones.
For instance, on the State Route 57/60 interchange enchancment, the workforce performed every day security conferences, steady SMS coaching for environmental well being and security groups, and specialised gasoline tester coaching. Enhanced lighting, clear signage, and proactive roadway upkeep additional guarantee safety for crews and commuters. The consequence was a formidable 135,467 work hours with zero lost-time accidents and 0 OSHA violations as of July 2024.
As one other case, the State Route 71/91 interchange reconstruction is designed to ease congestion and enhance security throughout Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties, and offered advanced engineering challenges corresponding to putting in giant piles and working heavy equipment in various situations. To handle these dangers, Skanska carried out site-specific security measures, together with specifically engineered bridge designs and adjustable obstacles to keep up protected visitors circulation.
In fact, these are just some examples. Whereas there are definitely steps development firms can take to enhance security on the jobsite, it’s the accountability of the driving force to decelerate, listen, and make work zones a safer place for everybody. Are you doing something for Nationwide Work Zone Consciousness Week? What concepts do it’s a must to make our work zones a bit bit safer?
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