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OSHA Alliance Waves Safety Through the Construction Zone

April 23, 2012
Roadway construction zones can be a particularly dangerous place to work, with hazards including construction vehicle backovers or runovers and more. In an effort to better protect these construction workers, OSHA announced that it has renewed its alliance with the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners.

The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners comprise a group of construction industry associations committed to protecting the health, safety and rights of workers and understanding the responsibilities of employers. The partners represent more than 1.2 million members and workers nationwide.

"Most fatalities that occur in road construction work zones involve a worker being struck by a piece of construction equipment or other vehicle," said OSHA Administrator Dr. David Michaels. "This renewed alliance with the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners will help reach workers and employers with critical education and information to reduce preventable injuries and deaths."

The Alliance will work to raise awareness of OSHA's enforcement initiatives and develop and share information to help recognize and prevent roadway construction hazards. In particular, the Alliance will focus on preventing worker injuries and deaths from construction vehicle runovers and backovers and creating increased outreach to non- or limited-English-speaking workers.

During the 2-year agreement, the Alliance will develop fact sheets for paramedics, police officers, truck drivers and other work zone visitors on appropriate PPE and high-visibility apparel and how to enter/exit a work zone during the day and at night. Additional fact sheets will be developed for less knowledgeable contractors to detail which traffic control requirements apply, with a particular focus on short-term/temporary work zones.

OSHA's Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals and Barricades Safety and Health Topics page offers additional information on roadway work zone hazards and how to protect workers from these hazards.

For more information about this alliance, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/roadway/roadway.html.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

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