Workers struck by vehicles or moving equipment is one of the most common causes of work related injuries and fatalities. The presence of numerous heavy powered equipment and fast moving vehicles does not help and even makes this one of the most common accidents in the construction industry. In fact, it has been reported that one in four “struck by” deaths involves a construction worker.
Here are some guidelines from one of OSHA’s quick cards on how to avoid “struck by” incidents.
Work zones need traffic controls identified by signs, cones, barrels and barriers.
Drivers, employees on foot, and pedestrians must be able to see and understand the proper routes. Construction project managers determine traffic control plans within construction/demolition worksites.
• Traffic control devices, signals, and message boards instruct drivers to follow paths away from where work is being done.
• Approved traffic control devices, including cones, barrels, barricades, and delineator posts are also used inside work zones.
Work Zone Protections: Various concrete, water, sand, collapsible barriers, crash cushions, and truck-mounted attenuators can help limit motorist intrusions into construction work zones.
Flagging: Flaggers should wear high visibility clothing with a fluorescent background and made of retroreflective material. This makes employees visible for at least 1,000 feet in any direction. Check the label or packaging to ensure that the garments are performance class 2 or 3. Drivers should be warned with signs that there will be flaggers ahead. Flaggers should use STOP/SLOW paddles, paddles with lights, or flags (only in emergencies).
Lighting: Flagger stations should be illuminated. Lighting for employees on foot and for equipment operators should be at least 5 foot-candles or greater. Where available lighting is not sufficient, flares or chemical lighting should be used. Glare should be controlled or eliminated.
Training: Flaggers must be trained / certified and use authorized signaling methods.
Driving: Seat belts and rollover protection should be used on equipment and vehicles as the manufacturer recommends.
For more information please visit www.osha.gov.
This is a big pet peeve for me. I see all the time, when there are traffic problems when either there is no one watching, or there are many controllers at a scene, but they are talking and standing around and not guiding and controlling traffic. This is especially true in Police accidents when officers are just standing around as pedestrians and traffic are trying to get by safely.
As safety professionals, we all know that the 29 CFR 1926 contains all the safety information regarding flaggers. Another resource that is not as well known is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provided by the US Department of Transportation. A current electronic file is free from the DOT website.