This week, August 10-16, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is leading Safe and Sound Week. According to the National Safety Council, this focus is meant to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces.
Participating in this week and ensuring that your company has implemented successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness.
In light of Safe and Sound Week, we have shared tips for those working in road construction work zones:
Be Prepared
It’s important to always have a safety plan before starting a project. There should be some sort of transportation management plan in place in order to maintain control of surrounding traffic and work zone traffic of heavy equipment, construction vehicles, and workers.
Have Traffic Under Control
This seems obvious but is incredibly important, for if surrounding traffic is not controlled, the consequences can be fatal. Any forms of traffic control devices must comply with the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as well as any state agency requirements. There should be a sufficient amount of warning signs, both surrounding the job site and in an advanced warning area, alerting drivers of changes to the flow of traffic ahead. Work ending zones should also be clearly defined.
Wear Safety Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must meet the standards of the American National Standards Insitute (ANSI). Clothing that protects workers physically and increases their visibility on the job site is incredibly important. This is especially so for those working in construction zones at night or in poorly lit areas.
Be Mindful of Surroundings
It’s an important practice to always face oncoming traffic while performing any construction duties on a job site. If you need to turn your back in order to complete a task, designate someone on your team to keep an eye out for anything unexpected.
Hold Safety Meetings
It can be helpful to schedule daily or weekly safety meetings, especially as we navigate through this unprecedented time with COVID-19. Regularly update your team on your safety protocols when it comes to general safety, as well as social distancing and sanitary guidelines. You can use this time to ensure everyone is on the same page and that the proper PPE is worn.
Stay Hydrated
As we know, August is the hottest month of the year. We’ve mentioned this in a previous blog and can’t stress this enough – please make sure your team stays hydrated throughout the day. If you’re out on the job site and feel symptoms of dizziness, rapid heart rate, confusion, or light-headedness, you may be dehydrated. This is common for those who work outdoors in excessive heat and could become a medical emergency.
For more tips on health and safety on the job site, visit our recent blog.
At G3 Quality, we are industry leaders who are always embracing change and excellence. We are an elite team of engineers and professionals who provide world-class quality management, pavement engineering, materials design, construction inspection, and testing on infrastructure projects throughout California and the western United States.
To learn more about how G3 Quality can contribute knowledge, expertise, consulting, and professional services to your project, contact us.