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612 Work Zone Traffic Safety
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612 Work Zone Traffic Safety

Work Zone Best Practices

Employers

Employers should conduct crew meetings and train all workers on work zone safety. They should discuss important safety topics including: potential hazards, equipment blind spots, and movement precautions in the activity area.

Workers preparing a road to have cement laid down on the road.
The Work Zone is inherently dangerous.

Employers should also have the following to protect workers in a work zone:

  • a comprehensive site-specific safety program; and
  • a Temporary Traffic Control Plan (TTCP) in place for the project site.

Workers

Workers should do the following in and around the work zone:

  • Wear high-visibility safety apparel (vest and head gear).
  • Be alert for construction vehicles, equipment, and general traffic.
  • Check surroundings often for hazards.
  • Know the plan for traffic flow.
  • Keep a safe distance from traffic.
  • Communicate with other workers, especially when there are changes in procedures, locations, or traffic flow pattern.
  • Stay behind the protective barriers.
  • If you do not have a reason for being there, do not linger or cross into areas around moving equipment.
  • Use extra precautions and additional safety apparel at night and during poor weather conditions.
  • Reduce spacing between channelizing devices (discussed in Module 3) at night to compensate for reduced driver visibility.
  • Ensure the light levels of arrow panels are set at nighttime levels; daytime settings used at night produce blinding light.
  • Increase the size of traffic control devices, reflective material, and lettering to improve driver recognition at night.
  • Keep operators who are working near moving equipment in eye contact.
  • Remember equipment blind spots and limited visual areas.

Equipment/Vehicle Operators

  • Keep windows and mirrors clean.
  • Watch for workers on foot and know where they are located.
  • Remember equipment blind spots and limited visual areas.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-4. What should be done to improve driver recognition of directions when traveling through a work zone at night?

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