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Tips for Construction Work Zone Safety

Construction work zone safety is very important. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has very few standard guidelines in place that can protect highway construction workers from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle accidents. As a result, every year, hundreds of workers working at construction work zones around the country are killed when they are struck by motorists speeding through a work zone. Other construction workers may be killed when they are electrocuted or run over by construction vehicles, like tractors or fork trucks. These deaths are entirely preventable, but in the absence of federal guidelines, have been left unchecked.

Now, a group of engineers has proposed a series of steps designed to prevent work zone accidents. The American Society of Safety Engineers has designed steps that both motorists as well as construction workers at a work zone must follow in order to prevent accidents. These steps include best practices in highway work zones, and steps to prevent motor vehicle accidents in highway work zones. The American Society of Safety Engineers earlier this year unveiled its safety standard for highway construction work zones. The standards went into effect in February this year.

According to statistics by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, there were 5,001 workplace deaths in the US. Out of these 2,053 were related to transportation accidents. 1,149 of these deaths occurred in highway construction work zones. Out of these deaths, 322 involved motor vehicle accidents.

According to the American Society of Safety Engineers, federal agencies have not done enough to establish standards for construction work zone safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has few standards, and the Federal Highway Administration, although it does focus on motorist and construction worker safety in work zones, is also saddled with additional responsibilities relating to smooth movement of traffic on highways.

California car accident lawyers have the following tips for motorists to prevent the kind of work zone accidents that kill so many motorists and construction workers every year.

Construction contractors and transportation agencies must make motorists aware of construction work ahead by using electronic warning signs as well as orange colored signs. Motorists who see these must understand that there is a work zone ahead, and must adjust their driving accordingly.

Construction work zones have a set speed limit that will be posted as you near the entrance of the zone. Make sure that you drop speeds before you enter the zone.

Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Avoid slowing down to a complete stop to look at the highway construction that’s going on.

Avoid all kinds of distractions while driving. Minimize cell phone and radio distractions, as well as distractions from passengers. Concentrate all your attention on driving.

A construction zone may be less crowded, but could be even more dangerous at night. Pay special attention to the work zones when you travel through these in the dark.

Watch out for lane diversions and detours.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of construction accidents. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

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The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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