A Guide to Preventing Work Zone Intrusions: Best Practices for Mitigating, Controlling and Minimizing the Effects of Work Zone Intrusions

Vehicle intrusion incidents occur when a vehicle enters the work area. Work zone intrusions are a
significant cause of worker deaths and injuries in the roadway and transportation construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, 60 industry workers are killed annually from being struck by vehicles and equipment in roadway construction zones. While intrusions may be due to driver recklessness, inattention, distraction, or impairment, they may also result from improper temporary traffic control. Controls should not rely on the motorists’ assessment of a situation and may need to go beyond the plans and specifications outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This guidance document provides a set of coordinated transportation management strategies and describes how they might be used to manage the work zone during roadway construction projects. Transportation management strategies for a work zone include temporary traffic control measures and devices, safe work practices, training, planning and coordination, and worker protection.

Members of the OSHA Roadway Work Zone Alliance prepared this work zone prevention intrusion guide. It is based on work initiated by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Safety Forum. It is intended to be used as a template for industry organizations to build their own document with company- or organization-specific information and images. Organizations should consider state and local agency policies to ensure their version aligns with these recommendations.