ASSE Targets No. 1 Cause of On-the-job Deaths

May 24, 2001
The west coast members of the American Society of Safety Engineers are\r\nlaunching an information blitz this week to combat the No.1 cause of on-the-job deaths -- roadway crashes.

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Roadway crashes are the No. 1 cause of on-the-job deaths in the United States. To combat this, especially with this Memorial Day Weekend marking the beginning of the summer travel season, west coast members of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) are launching an information blitz this week on Interstate 5 (I-5) from the Canadian boarder to the Mexico boarder, providing the public with safe driving information.

On Friday, May 25, from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., ASSE members will be distributing posters and brochures at the Northbound I-5 Baldock Rest Area located one mile south of the Willamette River.

At more than 20 rest and truck stops throughout Oregon, Washington and California, ASSE has set up posters and arranged for the distribution of free brochures aimed at educating drivers about driving safely around work zones, trucks, buses, RV''s and other cars.

"Roadway crashes continue to be the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities in this country. We wanted to reeducate the public on important safety information so we can at least help prevent needless accidents and injuries," said Barbara Aguon, incoming ASSE Columbia-Willamette Chapter president and Portland Parks & Recreation safety manager. "Roadway crashes account for one-fourth of the fatal work injury total. With Memorial Day ahead of us to educate as much of the motoring public as possible and what better way to do it than at rest and truck stops on the interstate."

The free ASSE brochure provides information on how to safety drive around work zones; tips on sharing the road safely with commercial vehicles; and important vehicle passenger safety information such as how to select a booster seat for children passengers.

"Getting the word out is important to us, especially at the highway rest and truck stops, because the majority of fatal work zone crashes (71 percent) of all vehicles occur on roads with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or greater," said Aguon. "Roads are much more congested these days and with the summer construction on the roadways take that extra step and be cautious and mindful of the rules of the road. If not, you could become yet another statistic."

Each year, on-the-job traffic crashes cause 3,000 deaths, 332,000 injuries and cost employers more than $43 billion, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figures, ranging from about $22,000 per rash and $110,000 per injury.

"At the same time ASSE continues to urge occupational safety and health professionals to include traffic safety programs within their organization and guidelines for both on- and off-the-job traffic and motor vehicle operations and conditions," said Brian Clarke, CSP, ASSE Region I vice president and Hoffman Construction Co. safety director. "Everyone should make sure they are paying attention while driving and to be mindful of all roadway hazards."

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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