Construction Law
Highway Construction Safety Tips Part 2
Transportation construction projects offer contractors lucrative opportunities to procure government contracts. However, there is significant risk with this reward. Highway construction poses many imminent dangers to construction professionals. In this four-part series, Central FL contractor lawyers are discussing safety tips for highway construction projects.
In the first part, we covered many important statistics regarding work-related highway construction injuries and fatalities. In this section, we will discuss how to maintain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance while working on a highway project. Remember, for any of your construction legal needs, consult an experienced Central FL construction lawyer.
OSHA’s “Fatal Four” on Highway Projects
Regardless of whether you are a contractor working on a transportation, residential, or commercial construction project, you should always be mindful of OHSA’s “Fatal Four.” These four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry include: fall, electrical, struck-by, or caught-in/between hazards.
Highway construction features many dangers related to these four causes of fatality including:
- Working at great heights
- Working in congested areas
- Low visibility conditions for both motorists and the workers onsite
- Adverse weather conditions
- Motorists traveling at high speeds near the work zone
- Vehicles and construction equipment entering and exiting the premises
- Temporary workspace that shifts during the project
OSHA’s Requirements for Highway Safety
If you are looking for guidance on OSHA regulations regarding signs, barricades, and flagging procedures, review OSHA’s standards and guidance policies, training materials, and additional resources. For more information on highway work-related safety, you can review the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)” where it is referenced in 1926 Subpart G.
Here are a few regulations related to this material:
- 1926.200: This section focuses on accident prevention signs and tags that are required to be posted at set distances in relation to the work zone.
- 1926.201: This section sets forth the regulations regarding signaling by flaggers and construction professionals that are monitoring the work zone.
- 1926.202: This section establishes the laws regarding barricades and other devices utilized for safety measures to protect a highway work zone.
Although these documents are a great introduction to safety and health regulations related to highway work-related projects, when you consult a construction attorney, they can ensure your workplace is hazard-free and OSHA compliant.
For more information on highway construction safety, please read sections three and four.
If you would like to speak with a Central FL construction lawyer, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.