OSHA is partnering with construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations in a safety stand-down hour at construction sites around Georgia during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week, which ends tomorrow.

Workers voluntarily are stopping work at construction sites from 7 to 8 a.m. EDT to conduct work zone safety training focused on the prevention of distracted driving, such as texting while driving, and worker injuries from traffic objects and vehicles. Objects and vehicles striking workers are the leading cause of construction-related deaths. Approximately 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment such as trucks or cranes.

The stand-down was organized by the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes representation by OSHA, the Associated General Contractors of America Georgia Branch, 3M Visibility & Insulations Solutions, Georgia's Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division, the Georgia Highways Contractors Association, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Lamar Signs, the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia, Georgia Power, Pike Electric and the National Safety Council – Georgia Chapter.

"The members of this alliance have demonstrated initiative and leadership organizing this safety stand-down industry-wide throughout Georgia to emphasize the importance of work zone safety. The stand-down will heighten construction workers' awareness of and ability to identify and eliminate work-related hazards," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator for the Southeast.

An informational flyer and toolbox, in English and Spanish, are available on the Associated General Contractors of America Inc. Georgia Branch website.