Roadway Work Zone Safety:

Keeping Workers and Motorists Safe Is as Important as the Job Itself

Roadway work zones receive a lot of attention these days from a variety of sources. Motorists have long seen these zones as obstacles to their busy days, and these drivers are sometimes barely aware that workers and heavy equipment are only a few feet away as they zoom through. Needless to say, this can make things nerve-racking for road construction workers.

They have good reason to be anxious. According to St. Paul Travelers Insurance, “accidents involving motor vehicles traveling through work zones combined with accidents involving contractor vehicles and equipment are the greatest risk faced by construction workers.” Small wonder more states are doubling and, in some cases, tripling fines to motorists who speed through construction zones.

In Michigan, a motorist who injures or kills a worker while driving in a construction zone can be prosecuted in criminal court and, if found guilty, sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and nailed with a very hefty fine. The statute that makes this possible is commonly referred to as “Andy’s Law.”

Bothersome Statistics

Ensuring safety in highway work zones is not an easy task. “Work zones present a unique challenge as we are charged with protecting two separate and distinct groups of people: road workers and the motoring public,” says Joe Forgue, Safety Director for Ajax. “Sometimes they can be at odds with each other.”

More than 40,000 Americans die in auto accidents every year. Of these fatalities, about three percent occur in work zones — that’s about 1,100 deaths each year. Another 40,000 people are seriously injured; 10,000 to 14,000 of these accidents involve construction workers. These statistics are evidence of a serious problem for the public and an even more serious problem for those of us in the road construction industry. “The fatality rate for road construction workers is six times that of all other American industries combined,” notes Forgue. “That concerns us a great deal.”

This data clearly illustrates why work zone safety must be assured for motorists and for highway construction workers. The task isn’t made any easier by the fact that some frustrated motorists occasionally transfer their anger over a construction-related traffic jam to the workers themselves.

Maintaining Safety

In most cases, work zones that are part of Ajax’s public highway improvements fall under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Transportation. MDOT has a strong desire to make sure the motoring public, which is ultimately their boss, is not excessively inconvenienced by confusing, unsafe work zones.

But this mandate can sometimes work at cross-purposes with worker safety. Finding a harmonious balance between these two, sometimes conflicting issues is a challenge Ajax takes very seriously. To meet it, the company works continuously with MDOT and other project owners to establish and maintain safe roadwork conditions.

As part of this process, Ajax conducts numerous job progress meetings with MDOT personnel, as well as with local officials, residents, and business owners near the jobsite. “The idea is that communication is the first step in preventing problems,” says Forgue. “If motorists know what’s coming and how long this condition will exist, we find less anxiety in the communities we serve and fewer negative events with motorists as we go about our business of making these roads better.”

A Typical Solution

Ajax relies on two primary sources for guidance in establishing safe work zones: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (published by the American Traffic Safety Services Association and the U.S. Department of Transportation) and MDOT’s own specifications. These sources offer very specific guidelines on how to set up work zones properly using what are called “typicals.”

Typicals outline and diagram work zones for just about every situation. These very clear parameters describe how to close an intersection or roadway, how to close a lane, or how to create a traffic shift. Working with these two resources, Ajax strives to establish work zones that are safe for its workers and, just as important, the motoring public.

Crucial Roles

All of Ajax’s project managers, along with most of its jobsite foremen, have been certified by the American Traffic Safety Services Association as Traffic Control Supervisors (TCS). The duties of a TCS include interpreting traffic control plans and specifications, coordinating temporary traffic control requirements, and supervising traffic control personnel. “We have a specially trained employee whose sole job is to ensure the proper setup and safety of every project where we are the prime contractor,” says Forgue. “By monitoring and quickly correcting problems, we are able to maintain safe and effective work zones throughout our projects.”

On the front line of this safety assurance program are the work zone traffic regulators, commonly referred to as “flaggers.” These individuals play a crucial role in maintaining the safety of motorists and road construction workers. Ajax recognizes this position as one of the most important on the site. Without them, motorists are less aware of closures, detours, and other critical safety information. Each traffic regulator is trained in all aspects of construction traffic control. They have the unique responsibility of protecting their fellow workers, motorists, and, most important, themselves.

Ajax’s safety goal is twofold, according to Forgue. “The primary objective is to send our workers home to their families at the end of the day, maybe a little dirty, a little tired, but none the worse for wear. Secondly, we want to see the taillights of each and every motorist as they safely travel through all our construction zones.”