work zone safety in construction

Protecting workers on road and highway construction sites

Presented by:The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.

Road Construction Work Zone Safety

WCG

Copyright © 2014 The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.

Safety in Road Construction Work Zones


What this presentation covers

Road construction hazards

Roadway worker fatalities

Traffic control measures

Construction vehicle blind spots

How to protect roadway workers

Resources


Introduction

Workers in construction, utilities, or public works jobs on both highways or city streets are at risk of fatal or serious

debilitating injuries.

The work is in congested areas with exposure to high traffic volumes and speeds, as well as under conditions of low lighting, low visibility, and inclement weather.

The work is routinely near both moving construction vehicles and passing motor vehicle traffic.


Are roadway workers exposed or at risk?

Workers in temporary traffic control work zones are exposed to risk of injury from construction vehicles and

motorized equipment:

Operating in and Operating in and around the active around the active work zone(s) work zone(s)

Operating in traffic Operating in traffic control or secondary control or secondary areas that support areas that support the work zone the work zone (temporary batch (temporary batch plants)plants)

Entering and leaving Entering and leaving

the work zone the work zone


This attenuator truck was rear ended at 63 mph by an inattentive driver, despite workers’ attempts to get the driver’s attention. Two workers were hurt and the driver received minor injuries. The driver pled guilty to reckless endangerment of a road-way worker. 0

How are roadway workers at risk?

Workers in the roadway are at risk of injury from a variety of general traffic vehicles entering the work zone:

• Drunk drivers

• Sleepy or impaired drivers

• Impatient, reckless drivers

• Drivers using cell phones; other inattentive drivers

• Law enforcement and emergency vehicles

• Disabled vehicles pulling in and parking

• Lost drivers looking for directions

Courtesy of Washington State Dept. of Transportation


How are workers on foot at risk?

Flaggers and other workers on foot are exposed to the risk of being struck if they are not visible to

motorists or equipment operators.

Workers on foot refers to any pedestrian worker on the ground in the work zone

Driver’s view passing by a

work zone under overcast/rainy conditions...

Do you see the flagger?


Source: NIOSH/CDC. “Deaths Caused by Vehicles and Heavy Equipment on Construction Sites”,

Other trades33%

Truck drivers9%

Construction laborers

42%

Operating engineers

9%

Supervisors7%

Distribution of Work Zone Fatalities by Occupation


Collision between Vehicles

10%

Noncollision Highway Incidents

9%

Nonhighway Transportation

Incident8%

Highway Transportation

Incident23%

Caught in Equipment or

Object5%

Struck by Object7%

Struck by Falling Object

4%Contact with Objects and

Equipment14%

Fall to Lower Level3%Harmful

Substances or Environment

5%

Contact with Current

(Electrocution)4%

All Others8%

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Events Leading to Worker Fatalities


Picture showing roadway work space Picture showing roadway work space in close proximity to motoring trafficin close proximity to motoring traffic



Barrels offset too far onto the lane



Worker shifting the offset drums insideWorker shifting the offset drums inside.



Pedestrian in the work zone? Pedestrian Pedestrian in the work zone? Pedestrian crossing locations should be provided where crossing locations should be provided where

necessary.necessary.



Equipment operator parked the equipment in central left Equipment operator parked the equipment in central left turn lane, went to adjacent work space and now has turn lane, went to adjacent work space and now has

come back to move it.come back to move it.

This is not an expected situation by drivers in the work This is not an expected situation by drivers in the work zone zone



Improper separation between working Improper separation between working equipment and motoring traffic laneequipment and motoring traffic lane



Worker should not be Worker should not be hanging on construction hanging on construction

vehicle. Note the vehicle. Note the improper clothing.improper clothing.

Worker should not be Worker should not be talking on his cell phone talking on his cell phone

near the roadwaynear the roadway



Worker between excavator, loader, and Worker between excavator, loader, and moving trafficmoving traffic



Excavator too close to through lane Excavator too close to through lane



Workers working under operating crane; vehicle Workers working under operating crane; vehicle parked inside work space; and workers without parked inside work space; and workers without

hard hats and safety vestshard hats and safety vests



A worker with a jack hammer close to through A worker with a jack hammer close to through lane – Chipping hazard to moving traffic lane – Chipping hazard to moving traffic



How are equipment operators at risk?

Workers who operate construction vehicles or motorized equipment risk injury due to rollovers,

collisions, being caught between or struck by operating equipment.

Overturned compactor on loose soil


Turning radius for trucks should be designed Turning radius for trucks should be designed properlyproperly

How are equipment operators at risk?


Abilities– Communicate– Move and maneuver– Control signaling

devices

– Understand Temporary Traffic Control practices

– Recognize dangerous situations, warn workers, drivers and pedestrians

– Personal protective equipment

Flagger Qualifications


Flagger Personal Protective Equipment


Using cell phone in middle of the lane

(distraction)

Improper Personal Protective Equipment

No shirts (and other PPE)

No steel toed shoes


Flagger Hand Signals

Stop/Slow Paddle– Stop command– Proceed command– Alert/Slow command


Flagger is not using hard hat

Improper Flagging Techniques

Flagger is sitting while working

Flagger is not flagging, is not using hard hat and is facing back to traffic


Automated Flagger Assistance Devices


One Lane – Two Way Traffic Control

Flaggers


Traffic Control Component Distance

• Buffer Space• Tapers• Advance Warning


Traffic Control Component Distance


Traffic Control Component Devices

• Proper response time

• Design

• Placement, Operation

• Maintenance


10 WORKER DEATHS occurred in New Jersey and 16 WORKER DEATHS occurred in New York roadway work zones in 2012

A total of 609 WORKER DEATHS occurred across the country

91% of these were related to motor vehicle traffic, construction equipment, or both

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2012 ARF, NHTSA

How bad is the problem of road construction workers fatalities in the

United States?


From 2003 to 2010, 962 workers were killed at road construction sites

Nearly half of these deaths resulted from a vehicle or mobile equipment striking the worker

Analysis shows workers died when they were working at or passing through the road construction site

Worker Fatalities in Roadway Work Zones

Emergency vehicles at accident scene


• Dump trucks were responsible for 41% of the “worker on foot” related deaths

• 52% of these involved dump trucks backing up!

Worker Fatalities in Roadway Work Zones

Victim (under sheet) who was backed over by the Dump Truck


No rigid barriers to separate workers

from passing traffic

Hazard to On-Foot Worker: Type of Barrier


Truck may be traveling at a high speed

Worker is in traffic lane

Worker Hazard: Too Close to Traffic Lane


Workers in close proximity to equipment

Worker Hazard: Too Close to Equipment


Working too close to equipment against a rigid barrier (possible pinch point)

Hazards to On-Foot Workers


NJ and NY Roadway Worker Fatalities

17 workers were killed in traffic control work zones between 2012 and 2013

• 10 deaths involved construction equipment

• 15 were workers on foot

- 8 killed by dump trucks (6 were backed over)

- 7 deaths resulted from motorist traffic entering the work zone

- 2 were ejected from equipment and crushed (not wearing seat belts)


Traffic Control Around the Work Zone

Flaggers and other workers assigned traffic control

responsibilities work very close to motor vehicles and

are at risk of getting struck or run over by them.

Flaggers:

Trained in traffic control techniques

Valid Traffic Control Flagger card (or card from a state with reciprocal flagger training)


A Traffic Control Plan helps move motorist traffic safely through or around roadway work zones to protect the public and workers.

•Use of traffic control devices, standard signage, and buffer and transition zones.

•When flaggers will be used on a job lasting more than one day, there must be a current site-specific traffic control plan that is kept on site.

Traffic Control Around the Work Zone

Example template from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Site-specific TemporaryTraffic Control Plans


• Temporary Traffic Control zone, construction vehicles and equipment moving inside create a risk to workers on foot requiring additional protection planning and policies to minimize backing-up maneuvers in the “activity area”

• Temporary Traffic Control “Activity Area” is section of highway where the work activity takes place. It is made of work, traffic, and buffer spaces.

• “Work space” is that portion of road closed and set aside for equipment, workers, and material.

• Work spaces are usually delineated from the traffic space, to exclude vehicles and pedestrians, by channelizing devices or temporary barriers and signs.

Temporary Traffic Control Plan

Temporary Traffic Control PlansPaving Model Plan – Traffic Adjacent

Example:


Temporary Traffic Control Plan

•Restrict personnel access points into work areas and designate “no backing zones” and “pedestrian-free zones”

•Design flow paths for equipment and vehicle traffic to minimize backing maneuvers and buffer spaces to protect pedestrian workers from traffic vehicles and/or work zone equipment

•Establish procedures for entering and exiting work zone

•Train all employees on the plan and its precautionary measures


Hazardous Work Environment (Poor Visibility)

Hard to see a worker in the

shadow of a truck

Lack of high visibility

apparel/vest


Working at Night

• Visibility is greatly reduced at night.

• Your risk of getting injured or killed increases in the dark.

• Drivers may be more tired, sleepy, and less attentive.

Hazards and Risks:

• Poor visibility

• Glare off lights

• Adverse weather conditions

• Tired drivers

• Inattentive workers


Working at Night

• Being aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES

• Wearing High Visibility Apparel• Arranging good work area lighting• Setting up proper traffic controls• Knowing the traffic flow plan/pattern

Protect yourself when you must work at night by:


Working Around Vehicles/Heavy Equipment

A blind spot (or blind area) is the area around a vehicle or piece of construction equipment that is not visible to the operator, either by direct line-of-sight or indirectly

by use of internal and external mirrors.

This compact wheeled loader, with its bucket raised, is approaching the work site and no one is watching.


Blind Spots or Areas

Example: this mapping diagram shows the blind areas around a Ford F-800 dump truck.

8 ft in front and 16 ft in rear are the most hazardous areas.

The driver side door area is the only zone within 8 feet of the dump truck that is safely visible.


Blind Areas: Struck-By or Run OverDRIVER’S and OPERATORS

What happens when you can’t see around you?

HAZARDS:● Running over or striking pedestrians

● Smashing site materials and tools

● Striking other equipment or vehicles

● Rollover on steep slopes ● Contact with utilities Figure in white shows where the worker

was standing when he was run over. The driver did not see the victim.

“Roadway Construction Worker Dies From Crushing Injuries When Backed

Over by a Dump Truck”


Broken windows

Hazards of Heavy Equipment: Impaired Vision


Vehicle Blind Spots

Construction equipment is typically large and has an enclosed cab, which can make the blind areas around this equipment very large and hard to see.

The bigger the equipment the larger the blind spots or hazardous areas for pedestrians and ground workers.

The problem is that pedestrian or ground workers Often need to be near moving equipment and vehicles

to perform their work.

Operator’s view from inside a motor grader cab


Vehicle Blind Spots

Driver's field of view inside of a tanker truck. Can you see the workers in front of

and directly to the right of bug shield? (circle)

Truck drivers and equipment operators sit high above the ground and cannot see pedestrian workers

crossing close to front of them.

Obstructions in a driver’s LINE of SIGHT might be:

• Cab arrangements

• Mirrors

• Door and window post

• Stacks and air cleaners

• Bug shield or other ornamentations

•Box, tank, and other equipment configurations


Vehicle Blind SpotsTools/Attachments on vehicles can create greater

blind spots, reduce visibility, or swings that increases the risk to workers being struck or pinned.

Watch out for heavy equipment moving with raised buckets

Be ready for possible sudden movements of booms or changes in direction of equipment operationKnow equipment swing radius

(how far can it reach, move or rotate)


Don’t cross directly in front of or immediately behind large heavy equipment or trucks where the operator sits higher in the vehicle.

Communicate with an operator (verbally and/or by eye contact) before entering any area near heavy equipment or large trucks.

Stand near parked equipment or trucks, in front or operator side so if equipment comes into use, the operator can see you and you can see them.

How can you protect yourself when working near heavy equipment?

Vehicle Blind Spots

Courtesy of Construction Safety Association of Ontario


Operating Dump Trucks in Reverse

Before backing a dump truck the driver must determine that no one is currently in the backing zone and it is reasonable to expect that no employee will enter the backing zone while operating the dump truck in reverse.If employees are in the backing zone or it is reasonable to expect that an employee will enter the backing zone, you must make sure the truck is backed up only when:

- An observer signals that it is safe to back; or

- An operable mechanical device that provides the driver a full view behind the dump truck is used, such as a video camera.

Backing Zone(Distances in feet)

The backing zone is defined by the shaded area. The driver cannot see anything in the blind spot, either directly or by using mirrors.

Because of the significant number of deaths caused by backing

dump trucks, Washington adopted this rule directed at their

operation.


Operating Dump Trucks in ReverseIf employees are in the backing zone or it is reasonable to expect that employees will enter the backing zone behind a dump truck, then ensure that:

AND

An observer who signals when it is SAFE to back up or stop

OR

the vehicle has an operable device installed which provides the

driver a FULL VIEW of the area behind the dump truck

The vehicle has an operable automatic reverse signal alarm which is audible above surrounding noise level; and is audible at least 15 feet from rear of the vehicle

Courtesy of Construction Safety Association of Ontario


Operating Dump Trucks in Reverse

Exemption to RuleWorkers are considered protected when they are on the opposite

side of a fixed barrier such as a jersey barrier or a six-inch concrete curb or heavy equipment like a paving machine.

The left photo show a camera mounted on

the rear of the vehicle - the monitor is mounted in the cab

of the truck.

An “operable mechanical device” provides the driver with a full view behind the dump truck can be a video

camera.


How Do You Protect Workers in Roadway Work Zones?

A comprehensive Site-specificSafety Program (APP)

A Temporary Traffic Control Plan in place for the project site

Conducted crew meetings and trained all workers on work zone safety; discussing potential hazards, equipment blind spots, movement precautions in the activity area

Employers must have...



Workers must:(1) Wear high-visibility safety apparel (vest & head gear)

(2) Be alert for construction vehicles, equipment and general traffic

(3) Check surroundings for hazard

(4) Know plan for traffic flow

(5) Keep a safe distance from traffic

(6) Communicate with other workers, especially when there are changes in procedures, locations, or traffic flow pattern


Pedestrians and Workers

Keep in eye contact with operators when working near moving equipment

Remember equipment blind spots and limited visual areas

Equipment/Vehicle Operators

Keep windows and mirrors clean

Watch for workers on foot; know where they are

Remember equipment blind spots and limited visual areas

Can you see the parked vehicles through this window?



Stay behind protective barriers where possible

Do not linger or cross into areas around moving equipment if you have no reason to be there

Use extra precautions and additional safety apparel at night and during poor weather conditions



Rolled over equipment

Equipment Rollovers


Equipment Rollovers


Truck/equipment in potential contact with overhead power lines, which may result in electrocution

Overhead Power Lines


Parked car too close to heavy equipment in operation

Incident involving parked car and loader

Parking Hazards


More Information and Resources

DOSH – Noise in Road Construction: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Online/Courses/default.asp?P_ID=105

Federal Highway Administration – work zone mobility & safety program: FHWA Work Zone

OSHA – Compactor Rollover Hazard - Compactor Rollover Hazard

NIOSH – Highway Work Zone Safety: NIOSH Topic: Highway Work Zone Safety | CDC/NIOSH


http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Online/Courses/default.asp?P_ID=105

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/index.asp

http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib092908.html

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/highwayworkzones/

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