Road construction work zones are dangerous places for workers. Because these work zones are near moving vehicles, it is crucial for project managers and construction companies to ensure that everything is set up in a way that will keep the workers safe.
There are several things that need to be done in order to help boost the safety of the work zone. Traffic signs must be displayed and flaggers must be used when appropriate. Any devices that are used to control traffic must meet the standards set in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
When setting up signage and other safety warnings for motorists who are approaching the work zone, these warnings must give the motorist appropriate time to react to the warnings. This can be tricky, but it is necessary to ensure that the workers in the work zone remain safe while they work.
Appropriate safety gear and temporary barriers can also help to keep workers safe. The safety gear can make it easier for motorists to see the workers. Temporary barriers can help to keep vehicles away from the area in which the workers are working.
When proper safety protocol isn’t followed during road construction projects, workers can be injured or killed. Each year, more than 40,000 people suffer from injuries caused by an accident in a work zone. One injury occurs every nine minutes and one fatality occurs every eight hours in a work zone.
If you are one of the workers injured this year or if your loved one is one of the workers killed, you might choose to seek compensation. Learning the process and your options in Miami can help you decide what to do.
Source: Construction Safety Council, “Work Zone Hazards,” accessed Feb. 29, 2016
