Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

A2−3: "Design for Safety" Partnership

DESCRIPTION:

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director formed a cross−functional task force consisting of design, construction, and maintenance. This one−time effort was intended to identify 20 or so safety related items for opportunities to develop worker safety practices for designers to consider when designing projects. An example of an item is the design of project access for maintenance workers from off the Right−of−Way (ROW). Some practical considerations were to purchase additional ROW, or to round slopes to provide easier access.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

The Caltrans Director wanted to look at cross−functional safety improvements. This effort is currently going through revitalization and the information developed as best practices are being incorporated into the Caltrans Project Engineer Academy curriculum.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Caltrans now has maintenance forces come into the Project Engineer Academy to discuss designing for worker safety. Designers have at their disposal a number of best practices to consider in design.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

Reconstruction of freeways.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

California

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Joy Pinne, Construction, Caltrans
Phone: (916) 654−5627
E−mail: joy_pinne@dot.ca.gov