A warmer climate means that roadwork season is now in full force, meaning the creation of more work zone are being created on our highways, interstates, and even streets. It is also the season when more motorists drive further distances to the beach, mountains, and other destinations for vacation.
Have a Plan
A transportation plan must accompany each road construction project to the Finishing Company in London. The plan should include a temporary traffic control strategy to ensure safety for workers by transporting traffic within or around work areas. Also, it would help if you had a traffic control strategy inside the work zone which regulates the movement of construction vehicles and employees.
Properly Control Traffic
The work zone must comprise an advanced warning zone with warning signs informing motorists of the upcoming changes to road conditions. There should be a transition that includes traffic control devices for closure of lanes. Traffic pattern shifts in buffer areas, the work area, and a terminus area that allows traffic to return to normal.
Create Separate Work Areas
Construction work zones on roads are generally busy zones where multiple work activities co-occur. To prevent accidents, use cones, barrels, and barriers to mark particular areas of the work zone, including areas for storage of materials, locations where heavy equipment is employed, areas for parking vehicles, and areas safe that workers can be able to move around.
Wear Proper Safety Equipment
Everyone should wear appropriate safety equipment within the working area. Personal protective equipment includes steel-toed shoes, hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and hearing protection, depending on the volume of noise.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Whatever your job obligations are within the work environment, it is essential to be aware of the activities in the area. Do not walk behind vehicles that are moving or within the range of the heavy equipment.
If you can, try to avoid traffic while in the working zone, or keep a spotter nearby whenever you turn your back.
Avoid Blind Spots
Heavy equipment and vehicles move around constantly within the work area, including compactors, dump trucks, excavators, pavement planers, rollers, and pavers. Operators must ensure they have all the necessary mirrors and other visual aids functioning correctly, including backup alarms and lights.
Remember that the driver only has a narrow view if you’re on foot and working close to these machines during operation. Make sure you are in communication with your driver. The best rule of thumb to remember is that if you don’t be able to see them, they likely aren’t seeing you.
Have a Competent Person on Hand
A competent worker must be on site when work is taking place. According to OSHA, a qualified employee is “capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective action measures to eliminate them.”
A qualified person must determine the appropriate category of PPE worn by workers and authorize the proper types of traffic control equipment.
Start Every Day with a Safety Meeting
Additionally, to ensure that the employees at the work site have the appropriate instruction. It’s recommended to schedule an initial safety meeting before when work gets underway. Since the working conditions can vary throughout the day. The work area, employees should be briefed about the work daily schedule and informed of any potential dangers.
Have a Site Specific Safety Program
Each road-related construction job is unique, and every work zone comes with different risks and challenges; therefore, implementing an appropriate safety program designed specifically for the specific site could help prevent accidents.
The safety plan for the site must include identifying all risks and plans to eliminate. Minimize them, a schedule to inspect regularly every piece of equipment and all materials. A plan for the provision of initial aid as well as emergency medical assistance in the event of an accident and safety-related scheduling for all employees’ training.
Stay Hydrated
Road construction workers are at risk of overexertion and heat-related ailments. Asphalt absorbs 95 percent of sunlight’s rays. The temperature of asphalt can easily reach 30 degrees F or higher than the ambient temperature of the air.
Workers must consume plenty of water or drinks that contain electrolytes, such as coconut water or sports drinks. Workers must also stay away from the sun and heat whenever possible, especially on hot days, to avoid dehydration, heatstroke, and heat exhaustion.
