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With the arrival of another construction season, we must renew our commitment to safety on the job. Each year scores of Laborers are injured because safety measures were either ignored or improperly followed.

Always remember to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job. When there is movement overhead you need to wear a hard hat. Work boots, safety glasses, and vests are typically required and, depending on noise levels, hearing protection may be necessary. Fall protection is required whenever working at heights of 6 feet or greater (10 feet on scaffolds) and be sure to use respiratory protection when working around toxic dust or chemicals. Other hazards include electrical, slips, trips, and musculoskeletal injuries.

Laborers employed in highway work zones face hazards that include motor vehicles speeding by at 55 to 75 miles-per-hour, just inches from their work space. But let’s not forget that workers are at equal risk for being struck by construction vehicles and equipment in the work zone. This is particularly applicable to Laborers because so much of our work is on foot. Be aware of “blind-spots” behind construction vehicles and always wear high-visibility apparel. Take precautions when working around excavators and backhoe loaders and be knowledgeable of the necessary measures needed to avoid excavation hazards and cave-ins. Remember, the same rules apply for maintenance and utility work zones.

 
 

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Don't Barrel Trhough Work Zones

Highway workers routinely work in proximity to construction vehicles and motor vehicle traffic. Workers on foot are exposed to the risk of being struck by traffic or construction equipment if they are not visible to motorists or equipment operators. Workers who operate construction vehicles or equipment risk injury due to overturn, collision, or being caught in running equipment. Highway workers, regardless of their assigned task, work in conditions of low lighting, low visibility, and inclement weather, and may work in congested areas with exposure to high traffic volume and speeds.

The most effective method to combat work zone related hazards is through administrative and engineering controls such as training, personal protective equipment, speed reduction, barriers, and lighting. Workers on highway and street construction work zones should receive training specific to the hazards of being struck by motorists as well as moving construction vehicles and equipment. High-visibility apparel should be provided to all workers in work zones and workers should be familiar with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

The Federal Highway Administration’s MUTCD, provides for uniform design and setup of highway work zones. The primary focus is the interaction between the road user and the work zone. The MUTCD contains specifications for signage, pavement and curb markings, traffic signals, and marking of school zones, bicycle facilities, and highway-rail crossings. Most importantly to a work zone, it specifies temporary traffic control measures for numerous scenarios involving lane closures, lane shifts, detours, shoulder work, median crossovers, mobile operations, and blasting. A copy of the MUTCD can be downloaded from www.fhwa.dot.gov/. You can also contact the New England Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund to request a copy of their Highway Work Zone Safety Checklist at info@nelhsf.com or by phone or mail.

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