WORK ZONE SAFETY

Brian Crain Compliance Officer Marlton Area Office USDOL / OSHA Region 2

Construction Worker Killed By Roller

A freak accident involving a roller claimed the life of a construction worker in Broward County. Florida Highway Patrol officials said the roller "collided" with the worker.

Construction worker crushed by wall

A construction worker died after a pre-cast concrete wall fell on him in Fort Bend County, Texas on Tuesday. The 28-year-old was down in a 25-foot ditch when the wall fell on him.

Paramedic Injured

Paramedic Injured

While traversing the center barrier, the paramedic fell 50 ft. from a Delaware bridge to the ground below.

Every single day on average, 13 working men and women are killed on the job in America

4,609 workers died on the job in 2011 1,075 in Roadway Incidents

"With every one of these fatalities, the lives of a worker's family members were shattered and forever changed.

We can't forget that fact.“

Hilda Solis, Former Secretary of Labor

What's most important: These deaths and injuries are preventable - preventable by basic safety precautions!

Protecting workers from traffic hazards with warning signs and devices.

Providing a safety harness and line to prevent workers from falling off a roof

Shoring a trench to make sure it doesn't collapse

Guarding a machine so a worker doesn't suffer an amputation.

OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

Mission Statement

Safety Programs

1926.20(b)(1) It shall be the responsibility of the employer to initiate and maintain such programs as may be necessary to comply with this part.

1926.20(b)(2) Such programs shall provide for frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers.

1926.21(b)(2) The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.

With the approach of warm weather there will be significant increase in work being conducted on and around our state’s roadways. All non-emergent work, including that which occurs outside the normal confines of the highway, requires some sort of Temporary Traffic Control or TTC.

Often this control may consist of a simple single orange & black diamond shaped sign warning the public of “Utility Work Ahead”.

The below listed link provides access to the Manual: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm

MUTCD

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Part VI(6) provides standardized guidance for the set up of Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Zones.

The Manual is the minimum standard that must be followed for temporary traffic control / work zone setup and is applicable on all roadways.

It is important to remember that TTC in work zones is implemented for the safety of the highway workers, motorists and law enforcement.

MUTCD

– Shalls: Standard - statement of required, mandatory, or specifically prohibitive practice. Text appears in bold type. Sometimes modified by Options.

– Shoulds: Guidance - a statement of recommended, but not mandatory, practice in typical situations. Sometimes modified by Options.

– Mays: Option - a statement of permissive condition and carries no requirement or recommendation. Sometimes contain allowable modifications to a Standard or Guidance statement..

MUTCD

Many companies will contract for the services of law enforcement to enhance the safety of their respective work areas. However, the presence of a police officer in these work zones does not relieve the contractor of his safety responsibility.

A proper TTC set up is stand alone. There are NO

provisions stipulating the mandated use of police in the MUTCD. However, many municipalities have adopted local ordinances requiring police presence within their jurisdictions.

Flagging operations require an extra amount of safety as the flagger is dismounted and exposed to the oncoming traffic. It can not be assumed that the motorist will see and/or obey the flagger.

Lane Closure on 2 lane Roadway Flagging Operation

Standard: Flagger stations shall be located such that approaching road users will have sufficient distance to stop at an intended stopping point. Except in EMERGENCY situations, flagger stations shall be preceded by an advance warning sign or signs. The use of hand movements alone without a paddle, flag, or AFAD to control road users shall be prohibited except for law enforcement personnel or emergency responders at incident scenes

Lane Closure on 2 lane Roadway Flagging Operation

Flaggers shall wear the appropriate attire (high visibility vest and hat/hard hat) and shall be equipped with the proper STOP/SLOW paddle. Flagging will be conducted with a flag ONLY in an emergent situation. NOTE: Improper planning (i.e., no STOP/SLOW paddle available) IS NOT a valid criteria for determining an emergent situation

Flagging Operation

Washington State February 22, 2000 11:59 AM

A 42-year-old male maintenance technician, who was performing the duties of a traffic control flagger, died when he was struck by a car at a highway work zone.

Washington FACE Program/SHARP

WORKERS WERE CONDUCTING A SIGN INSTALLATION ON THE SHOULDER OF A HEAVILY TRAVELLED RURAL TWO LANE ROAD

DUE TO SITE CONDITIONS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WORK WOULKD HAVE TO BE DONE WHILE OCCUPYING THE ROADWAY

WORK WAS BEING CONDUCTED BY A 5 PERSON CREW – THREE INSTALLERS & TWO FLAGGERS

ALL WORK VEHICLES WERE EQUIPED WITH ROTATING AMBER WARNING LIGHTS

A FLAGGING TTC SETUP WAS INSTALLED WITH PROPER WARNING SIGNS, TAPERS & CONES

WORKERS/FLAGGERS WORE WHITE RAINSUITS,HIGH VIZ VESTS, GLOVES AND HARD HATS

FLAGGERS COMMUNICATED BY SITE AND TWO WAY RADIO

COMPANY MAINTAINED AND ACTIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM INCLUDING FLAGGER TRAINING/CERTIFICATION

At approximately 11:50 AM that morning, the lead flagger and the victim talked on the radio discussing how aggressive the traffic had become entering and leaving the work zone.

At 11:59 AM, the victim was struck and killed by a motor vehicle traveling through work zone at 50 - 60 MPH . The driver was a 73-year-old female, reportedly driving a “new-used” car that she was not completely familiar with. She was reportedly having trouble trying to deal with the cruise control feature of her car as she approached the work zone. The driver was charged with vehicular homicide.

Washington FACE Program Recommendations

•Use an alternative project plan and design options to perform road and highway work so flaggers are not used for traffic control

•Employers should identify appropriate escape routes for flaggers and other workers in the event that a vehicle does not follow intended traffic controls

•Employers should use positive protective barriers to shield workers from intruding vehicles

•Employers should regularly train and supervise all workers regarding specific hazards associated with work zones

•Consider the use of law enforcement vehicles and personnel to help alert vehicle traffic to highway work zones

Washington FACE Program Recommendations

ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESSWAY August 10, 1987 1:00pm

ACE WORKERS WERE CONDUCTING A GRADING OPERATION FILL DIRT DUMPED AT THE EDGE OF THE SHOULDER AND BERM AND GRADED TO REDUCE AN APPROX. 6 INCH DROP OFF WORK WAS BEING CONDUCTED BY A SINGLE AXLE DUMP TRUCK, A GRADER AND SEVERAL ACE HIGHWAY AUTHORITY LABORERS ALL WORKERS WORE BRIGHT ORANGE T-SHIRTS

ACE IS A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH

THE WORK ZONE WAS APPROX. 1 ½ MILE LONG

SAFETY COMPRIZED OF A SINGLE CONE W/ 75 FOOT SPACING LINE ALONG THE SHOULDER LINE OF THE ROADWAY

CONES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OFF OF TRAVELLED LANE

A SINGLE SIGN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WZ WARNED “WORKERS AHEAD”

What Can WE ALL Do?

Meet at the beginning of the detail to discuss the days goal

Discuss how the goal is going to be met Is the proper equipment available? Frequently drive-through and inspect the site STOP the process if it is unsafe

LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

What Can LEADERS Do?

Bang the Drum! Never stop talking SAFETY!

Invest in SKILLS – Training is the cornerstone

Set baseline standards and regularly check to ensure they are being met

Hold managers Accountable

Reward SAFE Practices

LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

OSHA Area Offices

Hasbrouck Heights *Serving Bergen, Passiac

500 Route 17 South, 2nd Floor Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 (201) 288-1700 (201) 288-7315 (FAX)

Parsippany *Serving Essex, Hudson,

Morris, and Sussex

299 Cherry Hill Road Suite 103 Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 263-1003 (973) 299-7161(FAX)

Avenel *Serving Hunterdon, Warren, Middlesex,

Somerset, Union, Warren, and Staten Island

1030 St. Georges Ave. Plaza 35, Suite 205 Avenel, NJ 07001 (732) 750-3270 (732) 750-4737 (FAX)

Marlton * Serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape

May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem

701 Route 73 South Building 2, Suite 120 Marlton, NJ 08053 (856) 596-5200 (856) 596-5201 (FAX)

Hotline (800) 321-OSHA 24 hours -7days