HIGHWAY WORK ZONE SAFETY
Resources
Publications
Work Zone Safety
Behind the Wheel at Work – Vol 7 No 1, April 2022
Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Backing Construction Vehicles and Equipment at Roadway Construction Worksites
NIOSH Publication No. 2014-125 (June 2014)
Preventing Injuries When Working With Ride-On Roller/Compactors
NIOSH Publication No. 2005-101 (November 2004)
En Espanol
Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Prevention Strategies for Employers
NIOSH Publication No. 2004-136 (March 2004)
En Espanol
Preventing Injuries When Working with Hydraulic Excavators and Backhoe Loaders
NIOSH Publication No. 2004-107 (November 2003)
En Espanol
Building Safer Highway Work Zones: Measures to Prevent Worker Injuries from Vehicles and Equipment
NIOSH Publication No. 2001-128 (April 2001)
Evaluation of Devices to Prevent Construction Equipment Backing Incidents
SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition (Oct. 26-28, 2004; Chicago, IL). Paper 2004-01-2725; :10 pp
Evaluations of Systems to Monitor Blind Areas Behind Trucks Used in Road Construction and Maintenance: Phase 1
Report of Investigation 9660
NIOSH Publication No. 2003-113 (February 2003)
Devices to Monitor Blind Spots Near Large Haulage Equipment
Technology News 484, (January 2001)
Test Results of Collision Warning Systems on Off-Highway Dump Trucks: Phase 2
Report of Investigation 9654
NIOSH Publication No. 2001-100 (November 2000)
Test Results of Collision Warning Systems for Surface Mining Dump Trucks
Report of Investigation 9652
NIOSH Publication No. 98-1998 (May 2000)
Recommendations for Evaluating & Implementing Proximity Warning Systems on Surface Mining Equipment
NIOSH Publication No. 2007-146 (June 2007)
Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane Research Laboratory, studied technology and methods that could reduce accidents involving surface mining equipment that collides with other vehicles or workers, or drives over an unseen road edge.
Development and testing of a tag-based backup warning system for construction equipment
SAE Technical Paper Series 2007-01-4233 2007 Oct; 1-9
Evaluation of a radar-based proximity warning system for off-highway dump trucks
Accident Analysis & Prevention: January 2006 / 38(1):92-98
Application of Radio-frequency Identification Systems to Collision Avoidance in Metal/Nonmetal Mines
IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications: Jan/Feb 2001 / 37(1):112-116
Using CPWR’s Small Study Program to Explore Emerging and Persistent Health and Safety Hazards and Innovative Solutions in the Construction Industry
Posted on October 12, 2021 by Chris Cain, CIH; Patricia Quinn; Richard Rinehart, ScD; Pete Stafford; and Eileen Betit
50 Years of NIOSH Construction Safety and Health Research
Posted on August 16, 2021 by Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP; Douglas Trout, MD, MHS; J’ette Novakovich, PhD, MS; and CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH
Envisioning the Future of Construction: Challenges and Opportunities for Occupational Safety and Health
Posted on February 2, 2021 by Melissa Edmondson, MS, CIH, CPH, and Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP
Preventing Struck-by Injuries in Construction
Posted on October 1, 2020 by Christina Socias-Morales, DrPH; Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP; CAPT Alan Echt, DrPH, CIH; CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH; Scott Breloff, PhD
Wearable Technologies for Improved Safety and Health on Construction Sites
Posted on November 18, 2019 by Scott Earnest, PhD, PE, CSP; CAPT Alan Echt, DrPH, CIH; CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH, John Snawder, Ph.D., DABT, Rick Rinehart, ScD.
Construction Equipment Visibility
Posted on April 4, 2011 by David E. Fosbroke, MSF
One of the initial emphasis areas for the FACE fatality investigation program was highway work zone safety. Fatal incidents involving highway work zones have been investigated by NIOSH and State investigators. These links provide a list of those cases which in turn links to the full-text reports.
Final Report – Blind Area Study for Large Mining Equipment (2006) [PDF – 6.89 MB]
This document, delivered to NIOSH from John Steele, consists of blind area diagrams for 5 pieces of large off-road mining equipment developed under contract 200-2005-M-12695.
Construction Vehicle and Equipment Blind Area Diagrams, 2 (2004) [PDF – 9.52 MB]
This document, delivered to NIOSH from Caterpillar Inc., consists of the blind area diagrams developed under contract 200-2002-00563. Within the report are blind area diagrams for 14 construction vehicles and equipment.
Construction Vehicle and Equipment Blind Area Diagrams (2003) [PDF – 8.93 MB]
This document, delivered to NIOSH from Caterpillar Inc., consists of the blind area diagrams developed under contract 200-2002-00563. Within the report are blind area diagrams for 24 various construction vehicles and equipment.
NIOSH
Preventing Worker Deaths from Trench Cave-ins
NIOSH Publication No. 2011- 208 (September 2011)
En Espanol
Preventing Injuries and Deaths From Skid-Steer Loaders
NIOSH Publication No. 2011-128 (December 2010)
En Espanol
Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Mobile Crane Tipover, Boom Collapse, and Uncontrolled Hoisted Loads
NIOSH Publication No. 2006-142 (September 2006)
En Espanol
Recommendations for Protecting Outdoor Workers from West Nile Virus Exposure
NIOSH Publication No. 2005-155 (September 2005)
Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts
NIOSH Publication No. 2001-109 (June 2001)
Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Traffic-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes
NIOSH Publication No. 98-142 (July 1998)
En Espanol
Preventing Deaths and Injuries from Excavation Cave-ins
NIOSH Publication No. 85-110 (July 1985)
Additional publications are listed on the following work zone related topic pages:
FHWA
FHWA Worker Visibility Regulation – Effective Date: November 24, 2008
The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse held a webinar on the new regulation.
FHWA Final Rule Work Zone Safety and Mobility -Effective Date: October 12, 2007
Frequently Asked Questions for the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule
Other Highway Work Zone Safety Resources
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities
Data on fatal and nonfatal injuries at work from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the annual Survey of Occupational Injury and Illness, and other Department of Labor programs:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Comprehensive U.S. transportation statistics for all modes of transportation.
Federal Highway Administration
Information on the U.S. highway infrastructure, safety initiatives, regulations, environmental stewardship, and congestion mitigation.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Information on regulatory and voluntary programs for reducing injuries, fatalities, and crashes associated with large trucks and buses.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Federal regulations for operation and set-up of temporary traffic control zones, including highway work zones and emergency situations.
National Highway Institute
The National Highway Institute (NHI) is a training arm of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). NHI provides leadership and resources for the development and delivery of training and education programs to improve the quality of our Nation’s highway system and its inter modal connections.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Provides information on vehicle testing and standards, occupant restraints, impaired and drowsy driving, and national crash statistics.
National Transportation Safety Board
Independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation – railroad, highway, marine and pipeline. Investigations and reports include motor vehicle collisions within work zones.
OSHA Directorate of Construction
OSHA Safety and Health Topic page covering the Construction Industry
- OSHA Preventing Backovers
OSHA Safety and Health Topic page covering backover prevention - OSHA Signs, Signals, and Barricades
OSHA Safety and Health Topic page covering Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades
OSHA/NIOSH Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners
Alliance page describes the Alliance’s goals and activities.
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
For more than 50 years, the U.S. DOT Volpe Center has been advancing transportation innovation for the public good. As the National Transportation Systems Center, our mission is to help the transportation community navigate its most challenging problems.
- Visibility in Elevated Wide Vehicles – how a few simple measurements can identify trucks with superior visibility.
- Blind Area Calculator: The VIEW (Visibility in Elevated Wide Vehicles) application is a website which aims to create a crowd-sourced database that documents the blind zones of different cars and trucks. Our goal is to raise awareness about blind zones among consumers, from individuals buying a passenger car for themselves to fleet managers looking to buy safer trucks for a whole city. Please contact alexander.epstein@dot.gov if you have any questions.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Provides research results and educational materials to promote traffic safety. This site also has a useful work zone photo library.
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
ARTBA holds annual meetings and conferences, maintains standing committees and professional development sections that work on issues to promote improvements in work zone safety.
American Society of Safety Professionals
Offers basic resources for safety professionals on work zone safety.
Associated General Contractors
AGG holds annual meetings and conferences, maintains standing committees and professional development sections that work on issues to promote improvements in work zone safety.
Construction Safety Council
The Construction Safety Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of safety and health interests in the field of construction throughout the world.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Vehicle crash test results and a wide variety of educational materials on traffic safety. Offers useful state-by-state comparisons of traffic safety laws.
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFA)
National Asphalt Pavement Association
NAPA holds annual meetings and conferences, maintains standing committees and professional development sections that work on issues to promote improvements in work zone safety.
National Safety Council
In conjunction with ARTBA offers Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Awards. Offers general work zone safety information for safety professionals.
National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse
Provides information for government, industry, and the public to promote the safe and effective operation of highway work zones.
Transportation Research Board
Provides information from the arm of the National Research Council that engages government, industry, and academia in promoting research, policy studies, and information-sharing addressing all aspects and modes of transportation. Offers publications for a fee including, Illumination Guidelines for Nighttime Highway Work, Highway Maintenance Safety, Support, and Service.