Work Zone Safety: What Workers Need To Know About Using The Right Equipment
Bridge construction, concrete pouring, highway removal, and road building are just a few of the tasks that workers involved in construction sites must perform daily. Simple tasks like these can be done safely, but before you can be excited about their completion, they need to comply with standards and regulations concerning the industry and know what to look for when using work zone equipment.
Work Zone Risks
Work zones are dangerous places. They are places where workers, motorists, and pedestrians all share the road. Thus, accidents are common.
Drivers must yield the right-of-way to workers. They must obey all traffic rules and laws and must never drive while distracted or impaired. In addition, workers that drive must obey the speed limit and must be alert and watch for other workers.
Workers must obey traffic laws. They must have proper reflective gear, lights, and reflectors. They must not drive while distracted or impaired and must not drive while fatigued. In addition, they must be qualified to operate machinery and other equipment on the job site.
Work Zone Equipment
Work zone safety is everyone's concern — whether you're a general contractor working on a highway project, a subcontractor working on a highway project, a construction worker, a motorist, or a pedestrian.
Construction workers have a responsibility to protect themselves and those around them. The people who work on construction sites are exposed to the dangers of the work, the weather, traffic, heavy equipment, and workers from other trades.
The types of equipment used on the job also have specific safety standards. PPE must be able to withstand the worker's actions, the loads and forces involved, and the environment.
Training Workers to Use Work Zone Equipment
Safety is everyone's responsibility. But accidents are the responsibility of the worker.
Any worker in a work zone should be trained to use the right equipment. Anyone who works in a work zone should know how to use a work zone vehicle, including how to operate it and inspect it. Work zone vehicle operators who fail to use appropriate equipment or who operate it recklessly are as much to blame for any accident that occurs as is any other driver. Whether a driver is operating a work zone vehicle or driving his or her own vehicle in a work zone, work zone speed limits apply.
In addition, workers should be trained in work safety and know how to use the appropriate PPE (personal protection equipment). PPE means wearing: hardhats, safety glasses, hearing protectors, gloves, steel-toed shoes, and coveralls, among other things.
Use the right equipment, wear the right safety gear. Contact a work zone equipment service to get the help you need with your projects.