How to reduce risk in construction zones

Posted 2024-08-01

Of all the dangers in a work zone, there is one that causes over half of worker deaths in construction sites.

Just how many deaths are we talking about? About 1 per week in the U.S. for this particular hazard.

It’s not ladders, trips and falls, or electrocution…

Workers on foot struck by moving vehicles is the #1 cause of worker fatalities in construction zones. Now, that can be any moving vehicle; from within the work zone or from the public traffic moving by.

Workers (especially flaggers) are in a HIGH RISK situation...but there are ways to fight back.

Here are three things crews can do to reduce the risks of struck-by-vehicle hazards - including dump trucks and distracted drivers on TikTok.



#1. Improve worker visibility

If your crew can’t be seen, the struck-by risk is HIGH.


  • Everyone should be wearing ANSI Class 2 or 3 hi-viz garments (vests, sweatshirts, coats, rain gear, etc.). *Check the tag for the classification

  • Night work should be illuminated.

  • Think about sight lines of oncoming traffic; are you hidden behind curves, hills, trees, or equipment?

Make it easy for everyone to be seen!



#2. Use proper traffic control

Creating (and maintaining!) a barrier that separates the work space from the designated traffic space is critical. Make sure it is done right!


  • Traffic control equipment (signs, cones, barricades, etc.) should clearly AID drivers; Alert, Inform, Direct. Just follow the MUTCD specs and you’ll be fine.

  • The work zone should not be crammed. Make room for the work and for equipment to move around.

  • Use an empty buffer space between crews and oncoming traffic to protect yourself from those drivers with late reactions.

Traffic control equipment, properly applied, is highly effective at keeping you safe.



#3. Use a Job Safety Analysis (JSAs)

Documentation and planning go a long way to confront risk before the task starts.


  • Plan out the steps of each task.

  • Predict the risk posed in each step.

  • Suggest controls to reduce the risk (starting with engineering controls first!).

Honestly, JSAs are super boring. But they are one of the best risk-reduction exercises we have.



Now before you go, think about this…

From 2020 through 2022, there were 319 workers killed in road construction sites in the US. 165 of them were on foot and killed by a moving vehicle. Statistically, that’s one worker every week.

Road construction sites are dangerous.


But remember that you can take control and reduce the risk for your crews.

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