1. Missouri State Highway Patrol
Work Zone Safety
Missouri State Highway Patrol

2. Introduction
Workers in construction, utilities, or public works jobs on both highways or city streets are at risk of fatal or serious debilitating injuries due to:
Congested areas with exposure to high traffic volumes and speeds
Work is routinely near both moving construction vehicles and passing motor vehicle traffic
Inclement weather

3. Sleepy or impaired drivers Impatient, reckless drivers
Workers in the roadway are at risk of injury from a variety of general traffic hazards:
Drunk drivers
Sleepy or impaired drivers
Impatient, reckless drivers
Drivers using cell phones; other inattentive drivers

4. Do These Risks Sound Familiar?

5. Safe Driving The Privilege of Driving
‘Probability’ refers to the likelihood of something happening – “It won’t happen to me.”
‘Possibility’ refers to the capability of taking place – “It could happen to me.”

6. The Chances… In 2015, nine people were killed in work zone crashes
Between 2010 and 2015, 4,130 people were injured in Missouri work zones
Since 2000, 16 MoDOT employees have been killed in the line of duty.

7. Top Contributing Circumstances Of Work Zone Traffic Crashes In Missouri:
Inattention
Emotional Distraction
Cell Phones
Eating
Talking
Attending to other occupants (ex. Small children)
Reading

8. Close Calls…

9. Contributing Circumstances (Following Too Close)

10. Contributing Circumstances (continued)
Speeding –
Exceeding the legal limit
Speed is a factor in one-third of all fatal crashes.
Crash Severity increases
Effectiveness of safe devices decreases

11. Speeding (continued)
Drivers who travel at higher speeds have less time to identify and react to what is happening around them.
It takes them longer to stop.

12. Inattention & Speed

13. Contributing Circumstances (continued)
Speed too fast for conditions
Snow
Ice
Rain
Fog
Curves
Gravel Roads

14. Too Fast For Conditions

15. Worker Fatalities in the U.S.
844 WORKER DEATHS occurred in roadway work zones from (over 100/year avg.)
91% of these were related to motor vehicle traffic or construction equipment, or both
Dump trucks were responsible for 41% of the “worker on foot” related deaths (52% of these involved dump trucks backing up)

16. Victim (under sheet) who was backed over by the Dump Truck

18. Blind Spots or Areas
Example: this mapping diagram shows the blind areas around a Ford F-800 dump truck.
8 ft. in front and 16 ft. in rear are the most hazardous areas.
The driver side door area is the only zone within 8 feet of the dump truck that is safely visible.

21. How Can I Improve My Odds?
High-visibility Apparel:
All workers should wear high visibility apparel
The use of colors such as yellow-green for the worker apparel may help to differentiate the worker from the orange colored work vehicles, signs, drums, etc.

22. Can you see the worker clearly?

23. Improving The Odds… Stay behind protective barriers where possible
Do not linger or cross into areas around moving equipment if you have no reason to be there
Use extra precautions and additional safety apparel at night and during poor weather conditions

24. Improving The Odds…
Communicate with an operator (verbally and/or by eye contact) before entering any area near heavy equipment or large trucks.
Be alert for construction vehicles and equipment as well as general traffic
Check surroundings often for hazards

25. Improving The Odds… Know the plan for traffic flow
Keep a safe distance from traffic
Communicate with other workers, especially when there are changes in procedures, locations, or traffic flow pattern

26. Sgt. Scott White Public Information and Education Officer
Troop F, Jefferson City
Missouri State Highway Patrol
(573) (office)
@MSHPTrooperF (Twitter)