Topics of Interest
Topics of Interest
Worker Safety and Welfare
Bureau of Labor Statistics injury and fatality statistics from 2014 – 2023 show that in recent years fatal worker injuries at road construction sites has decreased. Other BLS data shows that on average, between 2021 and 2023, more than half of road worker fatalities were due to workers on foot being struck by vehicles on the job site. With so many people, factors, and situations interacting on a job site, many that are completely outside the control of individual workers, it is extremely important that road workers are extra aware, careful, and properly protected by safety policies, procedures, devices, and personal protective equipment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) operates to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics pages provide regulatory and enforcement information, hazard identification and controls as well as best practices and other resources to assist employers, workers and safety and health professionals ensure safer workplaces.
Explore these other resources.
Maintaining constant awareness of the many potential hazards on the jobsite is difficult even when you are refreshed and focused. Awareness can be nearly impossible to maintain if you are drowsy or distracted. Working while extremely tired and sleepy can be as dangerous as working while intoxicated. As more work is being done at night or during extended weekend shifts, the potential for worker fatigue increases. Fatigue can accumulate over time and continue to desensitize your workers to risks.
Distractions can also keep you from maintaining risk awareness on the job. Your cell phone or smart device is one of the biggest distracters. While most agencies prohibit use of personal devices while working, more and more equipment and work tasks rely on workers utilizing these devices for job duties. Use of such devices reduces work accuracy and increases reaction times. In fact, someone using one of these devices can actually experience “risk blindness,” where hazards that are normally very visible are not even noticed.
Resources
This white paper presents available information and guidance on maintaining worker situational awareness with a focus on fatigue and electronic device use.
The following are examples of some policies regarding the use of electronic devices on the job.
- Ohio Department of Transportation Policy on Electronic Device Use on the Jobsite (Section XIX)
- Old Castle Materials Electronic Device Policy
- Texas Department of Transportation Policy on Electronic Device Use
- Utah Department of Transportation Policy on Electronic Device Use (Section 7.4)
Situational Awareness: ALERT & ALIVE Initiative
The program ALERT & ALIVE program was developed to combat the risks of worker fatigue and distraction due to electronic devices. The premise is that, unlike video games, where players can be virtually reborn after being killed, there are no do-overs if an accident occurs at a real-world jobsite.
The following links allow access to tip cards, posters, training videos, and the campaign logos to initiate a campaign.
Fatigue Risks and Mitigation Strategies:
Distraction Risks and Mitigation Strategies:
Logos:
Situational Awareness Training Videos
These videos illustrate how fatigue and distraction affect safety on the jobsite, as well as educate the viewer on ways to mitigate those effects.
Scheduling transportation construction at night can reduce the impact of restricted travel lanes during rush hour and normal daytime business operations. However, night work has its own set of hazards that must be factored into any work plan. These resources provide information on the unique hazards of night work and how to minimize the work zone risks to motorists and workers. [photo]
Resources
The course Night Work in Work Zones is available for free from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Work Zone Consortium.
- Night Work Toolbox Pamphlet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
- Night Work Flagging Toolbox Pamphlet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
- Night Work High Visibility Toolbox Pamphlet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
- Night Work Risks Toolbox Pamphlet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
- Night Work Temporary Lighting Toolbox Pamphlet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
- Night Work Trainee Booklet [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese]
(these docs are listed in the Toolboxes page under Night Work https://workzonesafety.org/training-resources/toolboxes/ )
For more resources on working at night, type “working at night” in the search box.
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is any type of specialized gear or clothing that protects a person from potential jobsite hazards. Items classified as PPE include safety glasses, gloves, a dust mask, and a hard hat. This protection is used as the last line of defense when risks cannot be reduced enough through elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls to provide a safe working environment.
Providing, maintaining, and using PPE is a joint responsibility between workers and management.
Resources
MUTCD Section 6 https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/part6.pdf
NIOSH Directory of Personal Protective Equipment https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ppe/default.html
Just-in-time Video on Retroreflectivty
For more resources on personal protective equipment, type “PPE” in the search box. For information on specific types of PPE visit the Toolboxes page https://workzonesafety.org/training-resources/toolboxes/ or type the name of a specific type of PPE such as “hard hat” into the search box.
Mental health is an important component of overall well-being and is equally important as physical health for all workers. Mental health concerns can adversely affect your social interactions, job performance, and productivity.
If left unaddressed, personal or job-related stress, traumatic events, substance use disorders, and depression can lead to absenteeism, unsafe working conditions, injury, or suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat for 24/7, free, and confidential support. You are not alone, and together we can save lives. Here are some additional resources available:
Work Zone Clearinghouse Resources
Mental Health Intervention Discussion 2024 National Work Zone Management Conference
The challenges of stigma surrounding mental health and substance abuse issues, and the importance of creating a culture where it’s okay to ask for help. The session included a question and answer portion where they addressed topics such as opioid use in the industry and how to start conversations about mental health in the workplace.
Mental Resiliency 2022 Virtual National Work Zone Management Conference
Presents strategies to build resilience to the stresses of working in transportation construction and how to remove barriers and improve access to care.
The Safety Zone Podcast (Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3). A three-part series on mental health and suicide intervention in the transportation construction industry.
American Road & Transportation Builders Association Resources
Workplace Guidelines to Prevent Opioid and Substance Abuse for the Construction Trades
Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention White Paper for HR Professionals & Employment Lawyers
We Have a Problem…Help! Video Slide presentation.
Addressing the Needs of Workers Post Incident. Slide Presentation.
Mental Health Resource Library. All One Health.
OSHA Resources
Workplace Mental Health Fact Sheet. (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) Provides an overview of workplace mental health, and addresses stress, trauma, substance use disorder, and suicide risk.
Support One Another Toolkit. (English ZIP) (Spanish ZIP). Provides a video, PowerPoint, and poster with tips on creating a workplace culture that supports mental health.
Working Together Poster. Provides a brief overview of steps employers and workers can take to address stress and mental health in the workplace.
Supporting Your Co-Workers Poster. Provides concrete tips that people can use to support their co-workers, offering suggestions on how to be respectful when broaching stress and mental health topics, how to listen compassionately, how to determine if more assistance is needed, and how to follow up on concerns.
Helping Your Co-Workers and Yourself Poster. Offers general tips on ways employers and co-workers can help each other address stress and mental health.
Five Things to Know About Suicide Prevention Poster. (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) and Video. Provides tips for recognizing suicide risk. See also Five Things to Know About Suicide Prevention in Construction Poster. (English PDF) (Spanish PDF).
Role of Employers in Preventing Suicides. (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) Provides tips for employers for supporting workplace mental health.
Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) Resources
Mental Health in the Construction Industry