BUILDING SAFER HIGHWAY WORK ZONES: MEASURES TO PREVENT WORKER INJURIES FROM VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

Highway and street construction workers are at risk of fatal and serious nonfatal injury when working in the vicinity of passing motorists, construction vehicles, and equipment. Each year, more than 100 workers are killed and over 20,000 are injured in the highway and street construction industry. Vehicles and equipment operating in and around the work zone are involved in over half of the worker fatalities in this industry. To better understand these injury risks, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reviewed the current literature on highway safety, analyzed data on worker fatalities in the highway and street construction industry, and held a workshop with individuals from government, labor industry, academia, and state departments of transportation. During the workshop, participants were asked to discuss measures that could be taken by employers, manufacturers, and government and research agencies that would reduce or eliminate these hazards. This document draws on the collective knowledge, experience, and expertise of numerous individuals and organizations who are intimately involved with highway construction.