Worker Safety
The leading cause of highway construction worker injuries and fatalities is contact with construction vehicles, objects, and equipment. These injuries and deaths are preventable through a number of good practices.
As our highway infrastructure ages, many transportation agencies are focusing on rebuilding and improving existing roadways. This means more roadwork is being performed on roadways that are open to traffic. At the same time, traffic continues to grow and create more congestion, particularly in urban areas. To avoid major queues during peak travel periods, urban areas are seeing more night work. The combination of more work done alongside increasingly heavier traffic and greater use of night work can result in increased safety considerations for highway workers. However, there are regulations and available resources on good practices that can help workers perform their jobs safely.
Worker Visibility
- MUTCD Part 6 Section 6D.03 - Requires the use of high-visibility safety apparel by workers who are working within the rights-of-way of Federal-aid highways.
- High Visibility Standard - Provides a guide for the design, performance specifications, and use of high-visibility and reflective apparel including vests, jackets, bib/jumpsuit coveralls, trousers and harnesses.
- High-Visibility Safety Apparel in Highway Work Zones Brochure (PDF 1.6MB)
Temporary Traffic Control
Temporary traffic control involves measures necessary to safely and efficiently guide road users such as drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and individuals with disabilities through areas affected by work zones, incidents, or other disruptions. These plans ensure continuity of traffic flow and safety, and may include auxiliary provisions not easily incorporated into standard project plans, which can be added as Special Provisions. The level of detail in a temporary traffic control plan varies depending on the complexity of the situation, ranging from comprehensive documentation to references to standard drawings or manuals.
- Safely Implementing Rolling Roadblocks for Short-term Highway Construction, Maintenance, and Utility Work Zones (HTML, PDF 648KB) - This Fact Sheet summarizes best practices related to rolling roadblocks for short-term road work activities requiring a short-term full closure of the roadway.
Training
- Work Zone Safety Grants - Training and guidelines to assist with improving highway work zone safety.
- Flagger Training and Certification Requirements - Information on flagger training and certification requirements by state.
