Managing Work Zone Safety during Road Maintenance and Construction Activities: Challenges and Opportunities
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 28, Issue 1
Abstract
In the US, hundreds of people lose their lives each year, and many more are injured, in street and highway maintenance and construction work zones. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates the use of temporary traffic control to address overall safety performance in roadway construction and maintenance projects. However, statistics reveal the need to further identify and investigate the main contributing factors to occupational incidents within work zones. This study reviewed work zone fatal incident investigation reports carried out by the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. The review categorized the reports based on incident nature into internal-source incidents and vehicle intrusion incidents. Accordingly, this study sheds light on the safety of construction workers within road work zones. Specifically, the study focused on temporary traffic control plans and internal traffic control plans (ITCPs). This study highlights the critical contribution of ITCPs to internal-source incidents. Currently, there is no requirement to create and implement an ITCP. As a result, a justification for OSHA’s use of the general-duty clause is suggested to enforce the utilization of ITCPs in roadway work zones. In addition, recommendations to improve overall FACE investigation efficiency and temporary traffic control layout are suggested. This study will aid construction firms and public agencies in improving the overall safety of roadway work zones to reduce occupational fatal and nonfatal injuries.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
References
Ahmed, A., H. A. Mohammed, J. Gambatese, and D. Hurwitz. 2021. “Effects of flashing blue lights mounted on paving equipment on vehicle speed behavior in work zones.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 147 (9): 04021101. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002133.
Al-Bayati, A. J., A. Albert, and G. Ford. 2019. “Construction safety culture and climate: Satisfying the necessity for an industry framework.” Pract. Period. Struct. Des. Constr. 24 (4): 04019028. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000452.
Al-Bayati, A. J., G. A. Bilal, B. Esmaeili, A. Karakhan, and D. York. 2021a. “Evaluating OSHA’s fatality and catastrophe investigation summaries: Arc flash focus.” Saf. Sci. 140 (Aug): 105287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105287.
Al-Bayati, A. J., N. Salem, O. Abudayyeh, and J. Newquist. 2021b. “Legitimacy of the general duty clause citations: Court cases review.” J. Leg. Aff. Dispute Resolut. Eng. Constr. 13 (2): 04521008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LA.1943-4170.0000469.
Al-Bayati, A. J., and D. York. 2018. “Fatal injuries among Hispanic workers in the US construction industry: Findings from FACE investigation reports.” J. Saf. Res. 67 (Dec): 117–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2018.09.007.
Al-Shabbani, Z., R. Sturgill, and G. B. Dadi. 2018. “Developing a pre-task safety briefing tool for Kentucky maintenance personnel.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2672 (12): 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118792327.
Arico, M. C. 2009. A biomechanical analysis and evaluation of highly mobile longitudinal work zone barriers. Davis, CA: Univ. of California.
ARTBA (American Road & Transportation Builders Association). 2016. “Guidance: Developing internal traffic control plan (ITCPs) for work zones.” Accessed June 11, 2021. https://www.workzonesafety.org/files/documents/training/courses_programs/rsa_program/RSP_Guidance_Documents_Download/RSP_ITCP_Guidance_Download.pdf.
Awolusi, I., and E. D. Marks. 2019. “Active work zone safety: Preventing accidents using intrusion sensing technologies.” Front. Built Environ. 5 (Mar): 21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00021.
Bai, Y., Y. Yang, and Y. Li. 2015. “Determining the effective location of a portable changeable message sign on reducing the risk of truck-related crashes in work zones.” Accid. Anal. Prev. 83 (Oct): 197–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2015.07.024.
Bengtsson, M. 2016. “How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis.” Nurs. Plus Open 2 (Jan): 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npls.2016.01.001.
BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). 2019. “Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.” Accessed June 23, 2022. https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cftb0331.htm.
CDC (Centers for Disease and Control). 2016. “Highway work zone safety fast facts.” Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/highwayworkzones/default.html.
Chan, K., J. Louis, and A. Albert. 2020. “Incorporating worker awareness in the generation of hazard proximity warnings.” Sensors 20 (3): 806. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20030806.
CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training. 2015. “Temporary workers in the construction industry. CPWR quarterly data report.” Accessed July 27, 2022. https://www.cpwr.com/research/data-center/the-construction-chart-book/chart-book-6th-edition-employment-and-income-temporary-workers-in-construction-and-other-industries/.
Dong, X. S., J. A. Largay, S. D. Choi, X. Wang, C. T. Cain, and N. Romano. 2017. “Fatal falls and PFAS use in the construction industry: Findings from the NIOSH FACE reports.” Accid. Anal. Prev. 102 (May): 136–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2017.02.028.
Esmaeili, B., M. R. Hallowell, and B. Rajagopalan. 2015. “Attribute-based safety risk assessment. I: Analysis at the fundamental level.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 141 (8): 04015021. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000980.
FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System). 2019. “Work zone fatal crashes and fatalities.” Accessed May 15, 2022. https://workzonesafety.org/work-zone-data/work-zone-traffic-crash-trends-and-statistics/.
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration). 2009a. The manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways (MUTCD). 2009 ed. Washington, DC: FHWA.
Finch, D. J., P. Kompfner, C. R. Lockwood, and G. Maycock. 1994. Speed, speed limits and accidents. Crowthorne, UK: Transport Research Laboratory.
Finley, M. D. 2013. “Field evaluation of automated flagger assistance devices in work zones on two-lane roads.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2337 (1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3141/2337-01.
Flick, U., S. Kvale, and M. V. Angrosino. 2007. The safe qualitative research kit. London: SAGE.
Holt, E. A., J. M. Benham, and B. F. Bigelow. 2015. “Emerging technology in the construction industry: Perceptions from construction industry professionals.” In Proc., ASEE Annual Conf. & Exposition. Washington, DC: American Society for Engineering Education.
Ishak, S., Y. Qi, and P. Rayaprolu. 2012. “Safety evaluation of joint and conventional lane merge configurations for freeway work zones.” Traffic Inj. Prev. 13 (2): 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2011.644606.
Jo, B.-W., Y.-S. Lee, J.-H. Kim, D.-K. Kim, and P.-H. Choi. 2017. “Proximity warning and excavator control system for prevention of collision accidents.” Sustainability 9 (8): 1488. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081488.
Kang, Y., S. Siddiqui, S. J. Suk, S. Chi, and C. Kim. 2017. “Trends of fall accidents in the U.S. construction industry.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (8): 04017043. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001332.
Krippendorff, K. 2004. Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Li, Y., and Y. Bai. 2009. “Effectiveness of temporary traffic control measures in highway work zones.” Saf. Sci. 47 (3): 453–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2008.06.006.
Li, Y., Y. Hu, B. Xia, M. Skitmore, and H. Li. 2018. “Proactive behavior-based system for controlling safety risks in urban highway construction megaprojects.” Autom. Constr. 95 (Nov): 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.07.021.
Mason, M. 2010. “Sample size and saturation in PhD studies using qualitive interviews.” Forum: Qual. Soc. Res. 11 (3): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-11.3.1428.
Mishra, S., M. M. Golias, and D. Thapa. 2021. Work zone alert systems.. Nashville, TN: Tennessee DOT.
Mohan, S., and W. C. Zech. 2005. “Characteristics of worker accidents on NYSDOT construction projects.” J. Saf. Res. 36 (4): 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2005.06.012.
Nnaji, C., J. Gambatese, H. W. Lee, and F. Zhang. 2020. “Improving construction work zone safety using technology: A systematic review of applicable technologies.” J. Traffic Transp. Eng. (Eng. Ed.) 7 (1): 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtte.2019.11.001.
Nnaji, C., H. W. Lee, A. Karakhan, and J. Gambatese. 2018. “Developing a decision-making framework to select safety technologies for highway construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 144 (4): 04018016. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001466.
Novosel, C. 2014. “Evaluation of advanced safety perimeter systems for Kansas temporary work zones.” Doctoral dissertation, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Kansas.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). 2021. “Safety and Health Regulations for Construction.” Accessed June 14, 2021. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.6.
Park, J., X. Yang, Y. K. Cho, and J. Seo. 2017. “Improving dynamic proximity sensing and processing for smart work-zone safety.” Autom. Constr. 84 (Jun): 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.08.025.
Pegula, S., and J. Janocha. 2013. “Death on the Job: Fatal work injuries in 2011.” Accessed April 14, 2022. https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-2/pdf/death-on-the-job-fatal-work-injuries-in-2011.pdf.
Polit, D. F., and C. T. Beck. 2006. Essentials of nursing research methods, appraisal, and utilization. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Qi, Y., R. Srinivasan, H. Teng, and R. F. Baker. 2005. “Frequency of work zone accidents on construction projects.” Accessed April 14, 2022. https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/trans-r-and-d-repository/C-01-61.pdf.
Ravani, B., J. Wong, P. Fyhrie, and R. Bosler. 2011. Scientific evaluation of the ArmorGuard mobile barrier system.. Sacramento, CA: California DOT.
Sanni, S. 2019. “Evaluation of work zone intrusion alarm systems.” Master’s thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, California State Univ. Sacramento.
Soole, D. W., B. C. Watson, and J. J. Fleiter. 2013. “Effects of average speed enforcement on speed compliance and crashes: A review of the literature.” Accid. Anal. Prev. 54 (Mar): 46–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.01.018.
Sorock, G. S., T. A. Ranney, and M. R. Lehto. 1996. “Motor vehicle crashes in roadway construction workzones: An analysis using narrative text from insurance claims.” Accid. Anal. Prev. 28 (1): 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-4575(95)00055-0.
Ullman, G. L., and V. Iragavarapu. 2014. “Analysis of expected crash reduction benefits and costs of truck-mounted attenuator use in work zones.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2458 (1): 74–77. https://doi.org/10.3141/2458-09.
Wong, J. M., M. C. Arico, and B. Ravani. 2011. “Factors influencing injury severity to highway workers in work zone intrusion accidents.” Traffic Inj. Prev. 12 (1): 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2010.525569.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 28 • Issue 1 • February 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 16, 2022
Accepted: Oct 4, 2022
Published online: Dec 1, 2022
Published in print: Feb 1, 2023
Discussion open until: May 1, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Building management
- Business management
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Construction sites
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure construction
- Maintenance and operation
- Occupational safety
- Practice and Profession
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Safety
- Streets
- Traffic accidents
- Traffic engineering
- Traffic management
- Traffic safety
- Transportation engineering
- Urban and regional development
- Urban areas
- Work zones
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.