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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
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SAFETY BULLETIN / April - June 2006 |
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WILL MORE ORANGE CONES BRING MORE ROADWAY DEATHS? |
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Anticipating the
affect of the pending boom in Indiana highway
construction. - by Gary Gagliardi, Safety Specialist
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I’ll admit I did not
give this article a catchy or cute title. I even
used the word “deaths” instead of “fatalities”.
We are at a time when there is a need for direct
and honest information to both the public and
the construction sector. With the funds for
massive Indiana highway development fairly
secured, Indiana is looking at an increase in
highway and road work that will have a major
impact throughout the state. We are truly
fortunate to have this opportunity before us.
However, with this opportunity there are
consequences. As the funding is increased and
the number of highway projects are increased, we
are faced with the possibility of an equal
increase in the number of highway work related
accidents and deaths.
Contrary to some beliefs, it is not just the
highway construction workers that face death and
serious injury at road construction sites.
Surprisingly, an estimated 90% of
construction-zone deaths involve motorists
rather than construction workers. Motorists
killed each year in construction zones represent
about 2% of all fatal accidents in the nation.
In 2004, 1,068 people — drivers and construction
workers — died in highway work zones, notes Brad
Sant, vice president for safety at the American
Road & Transportation Builders Assn.
Being faced with an increase in highway
construction, are we accepting the fact that as
the increase goes up, accidents and deaths will
go up proportionally. Will our only course of
action consist of telling people to slow down in
work zones?
There is good news. We are fortunate in Indiana
that we have an active organization that is
already addressing these issues and working to
take the actions needed. The Indiana
Constructors Inc. Safety Council is working so
that we can see a downward trend in highway work
zone accidents even as there is a significant
increase in projects. Indiana Constructors Inc.
is headed by George Sheraw, and its members
consist mostly of highway and bridge
construction companies. The safety council is a
dynamic combination of company owners and
representatives, the Indiana Department of
Transportation, the Indiana Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, and the Indiana
Highway Patrol.
Many means are available to provide safer work
zones in highway construction. All options are
being explored in our efforts to keep the public
and the workers safe, and will involve both the
construction companies and motorists. There are
actions that can affect change and reduce the
rate of work zone accidents. In California,
between 1999 and 2004, as construction-zone
deaths shot up 43% nationwide, California’s rate
dropped 35%.
As I said in the beginning the increase in
highway and road work will have a major impact
throughout the state. It will be regrettable if
that impact is due to the loss of a father,
mother, son or daughter that died at a work
zone.
Over the next several months, ideas will be
formulated, and plans will be implemented. Many
actions will need to take place to get where we
want to be. My belief is that Indiana will be
successful. Safety Resources as a member of the
Indiana Constructors Inc. Safety Council is
committed to this effort. |
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