Work Zone Safety
Tech Guide
Introduction
The second highest cause of injury and death in the construction industry is being struck by an
object, such as mechanized equipment or a motor vehicle. Since highway operations, such as
paving, can be done throughout the year in the Southeastern U. S., struck by incidents are often
the leading causes of fatalities in the region. One in four of the struck by deaths usually involves
a construction worker.
You must be aware of the safe work practices that need to be implemented to protect yourself and
your coworkers from potential hazardous conditions associated with mechanized equipment and
highway work zones.
Mechanized Equipment and Work Zones
A. Mechanized Equipment
With motor vehicles and mechanized equipment, there are three essential areas that need to be
addressed, such as, maintenance, operation of the vehicles, and work zones.
1. Maintenance
In maintenance operations of equipment, the hazards include employees being pinned by parts or
the vehicle itself and the possibility of being struck by a tire. Prior to beginning any work on
vehicle, you have to ensure it is secured by controlling access to the controls and ensuring there is
no potential for the vehicle to roll. To prevent being pinned by any part of the vehicle, you must
ensure that all hydraulic parts are blocked to prevent the equipment from falling. Mechanics
performing tire work also must be familiar with hazards of standing in trajectory of the tires. To
protect the mechanic, you need to provide a rack, wall, and/or safety restraint and a long chuck.
All mechanics must be familiar with safety procedures for handling the tires, especially multi
piece and single piece rims.
2. Operation of the Vehicles
All equipment operators must be trained in the use of the equipment. OSHA recommends a
training system that includes formal lectures, practical demonstrations, and evaluation of the
operator’s ability to use the equipment. Before each shift, equipment operators must perform a
vehicle inspection to ensure the equipment is in a safe condition.
Most equipment (except before 9/1/72, if you are on uneven terrain it is a best practice to have it
to prevent a fatality or severe injury) that is designed to be operated in the sitting position must be
equipped with seatbelt and a roll over protective structure to protect the operator. The additional
systems necessary are lights, brakes (parking, service, and emergency), and adequately marked
controls.
Blind areas on equipment can be dangerous. If there
is a vehicle with an obstruction to the rear, it is
necessary to have a spotter or back up alarm. Some
of the equipment, such as an excavator or crane may
have a swing radius. The swing radius of the
equipment must be barricaded to prevent people
from accessing the area. When working near
mechanized equipment, it is important to maintain
communication with the operator. Personnel must be
clear of lifting and dumping devices.
Other important operating rules to remember about mechanized equipment include the following
items: 1. Lower or block all components when not in use and put the controls in neutral, 2. All
operators need to know and not exceed the load capacity of the equipment, 3. Provide for safe
access (grade) to site and the cab of the equipment (no jumping), and 4. Keep a safe distance from
power lines (10 feet or more depending on voltage).
B. Work Zone Safety
Work zones can be very dangerous due to moving traffic and the operation of mechanized
equipment in a limited amount of space. All employees with assigned responsibilities must
receive adequate training, such as, flaggers and personnel that establish and maintain the work
zones.
If working in tight areas adjacent to mechanized equipment, you should exercise appropriate
precautions. Workers should wear high visibility clothing and remain in contact with operator of
the equipment. Never step into blind spots or the swing radius.
In order to protect workers in highway work zones, you
must implement the temporary traffic control procedures as
discussed in chapter 6 of the manual of uniform traffic
control devices. All personnel should also be provided with
high visibility clothing appropriate for the tasks and
conditions. For access to the manual of uniform traffic
control devices on the internet go to
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov for further information.
When signs or barricades will not provide adequate protection for employees, flaggers must be
provided. In almost all states, a flagger will have to be certified to do work in a particular state.
Resources
Work Zone-Best Practices, http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/practices/best/bestpractices.htm
NIOSH, Building Safer HWZ, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/2001128.htm
29 CFR 1926, Subpart O, Motor Vehicles and Mechanized Equipment, OSHA Standard
Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov