Construction Law

Highway Construction Safety Tips Part 4 featured image

Highway Construction Safety Tips Part 4

Society is dependent on utilizing roadways, highways, and bridges. Without this infrastructure in working order, our quality of life and the nation’s economy would be impacted tremendously. In this four-part article, Florida contractor lawyers are discussing many important safety tips for site supervisors of highway construction projects. When you are working in a congested area with limited light and a plethora of potential hazards, you and your crew need to be prepared.

In parts one, two, and three, we covered many critical topics including the dangers present in the work zone, maintaining safety compliance, and high-level planning before you take on the project. In this section, we will discuss a few more tips to make certain that your workforce is safe on the job.

Keeping Your Workforce Safe

With many potential risks, site supervisors need to combat these issues with the right safety measures. Here are some examples of how this can be accomplished:

  • Dealing With Low Visibility: As a lot of highway construction is performed during the lighter traffic patterns at night, visibility in and around the work zone needs to be enhanced. For starters, portable LED lights, reflective tape, and fluorescent PPE gear are all excellent ways to improve visibility.  
  • Avoiding Motorists: To reduce the chances of a struck-by incident occurring on your jobsite, flaggers should be distanced away from the work zone and signaling motorists to drive with caution. Electric signs, barriers, and other technology can be utilized to signal motorists to reduce their speed in heavy traffic situations.    
  • Avoiding Backing Vehicles: Spotters need to be designated to monitor any potential dangers within the work zone. When equipment or vehicles are being loaded, unloaded, or are backing up, the spotter should be using hand gestures and signals to communicate with other workers.    
  • Combating Tight Spaces: Site managers need to be mindful of the exact amount of space within their work area and the speed and frequency of traffic in their proximity. This can help determine what types of equipment and vehicles you will utilize for your project.  
  • Monitoring Hazards: Any hazards onsite (like utility lines) need to be identified and clearly marked. Remember, electrocutions are one of the four leading causes of fatality in the construction industry.

Final Things to Consider

It’s important that supervisors monitor the gear their workers are wearing. This reflective clothing should include everything from fluorescent armbands to hard hats and vests. From communication to training courses to being observant of your surroundings, site managers need to lead the safety efforts in their workplace and promote responsibility to their workforce to ensure that any imminent dangers are mitigated on a highway construction project.    

If you would like to speak with a Florida contractor 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.