Danger in the Highway Work Area

This article focuses on dangers associated within the work zone and not so much the traffic around the worker. It shows that the greatest danger for highway workers is dump truck accidents. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is mentioned as an investigative agency for such accidents. The article reveals that more attention is needed for the equipment movements within the work area. Traffic control plans need to be developed and followed to minimize the need for backing up and other hazardous movements, and/or to make them as safe as possible. The article mentions a few safety devices (sounding unit, automatic brake lockup) that were used in a labor study to allow better communication with drivers of backing trucks for quick stopping. Another device is a sleeve placed over a standard traffic cone to call attention to overhead power lines.