Protecting Your Road Workers With Construction Signs

No matter what area you’re in, you’ll always find some sort of construction going on. You may be the one responsible over the construction process. Whether it involves building new infrastructure or simply improving certain structures or rebuilding them, the implementation of security precautions is a must.

Road workers and drivers alike are exposed to the hazards of roadway work zones. Many drivers just drive through complex signs and barricades. That’s where quality roll-up traffic signs and construction signs come in. Putting these signs in place is crucial for avoiding accidents and keeping everyone safe.

Understanding the Danger Zones

It may not be the first thing you’ll spot landing on a news segment on a regular basis, but the high number of construction worker fatalities in the United States is real. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), “Fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones averaged 778 from 1994 through 1999, 1060 from 2000 through 2006, and 669 from 2007 through 2012” (CDC).

Most fatalities currently occur as a result of serious motor vehicle crashes, and more often than not, the casualties aren’t just road workers; they’re namely drivers and their passengers. The more you take measures to alert drivers of the construction zone(s), the better the outcome.

Preventive Measures

Whenever you’re embarking on a new construction project, you should start out by utilizing these strategies:

• Reroute traffic to one side of a multi-lane road and provide an alternative route for drivers to take. When necessary, you can just opt for completely closing the road.
• Even if you use shielding barriers to protect your workers, it’s not enough. Your workers’ apparel should be extra visible.
• Use a traffic control plan that includes:
• Flashing lights.
• Law enforcement to direct traffic.
• The appointment of managers to follow the flow of equipment and monitor safety.
• Make sure to have an efficient line of communication running between everyone responsible for construction tasks.
• Have supervisors present to ascertain protective measures are taken (including the use of construction signs).
• Hold regular project meetings as an extra reinforcement measure.

Get on the Road to Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration actually requires the use of traffic control signs along with barricades and traffic control devices. At Dornbos Sing and Safety, Inc., you’ll find a wide array of such control signs. The following are some of our quality roll-up and construction signs:

• “Be Prepared To Stop” sign (available in two types of reflective material)
• Temporary Stop Sign (for emergency and construction purposes)
• “Left Lane Closed Ahead” sign (for visibility at night or overcast weather)
• Pavement Width Transition- Left sign (available in two types of reflective material)
• “Road Work Ahead” sign

Protecting your workers’ safety is not only key to safeguarding their wellbeing and that of the public, but also for protecting your own. Turn to Dornbos to convert your plan of action into reality.

Contact us today for more information about our varied selection of construction safety tools that will make your construction site a security haven for everyone.

Source: “Highway Work Zone Safety.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 17 Nov. 2014. < https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/highwayworkzones>