Measures to Prevent Worker Injuries From Vehicles and Equipment
Workers who must perform tasks in close proximity to traffic and using heavy machinery face obvious dangers, such as speeding, distracted or impaired drivers and loud traffic noise that may mask the approach of work vehicles.
To better understand the injury risks to which highway work zone employees are exposed, 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.