Work Zone Safety Challenges and Successes

Presented by
Priscilla Tobias P.E.
State Safety Engineer
Division of Highways
Illinois Department of Transportation

Work Zone Fatalities

2001	2002	2003	2004
36 Fatalities	31 Fatalities	42 Fatalities	38 Fatalities
1 worker	1 worker	5 workers	2 workers
15 rear-end	4 ped.'s	13 rear-end	5 ped.'s

Every District, all types of roadways and construction projects

The Task Group consisted of representatives of the labor trades, contractor organizations, and various state and federal transportation, enforcement, and safety related agencies.

Over forty recommendations from the Group.

Many have been implemented and some are ongoing.

3 Major Issues

Voluntary Compliance
Physical Worker Protection
Habitual Violator

Voluntary Compliance - General Motorist Awareness

$1 Million for Prime Time PSA's
Increased Public Information Campaigns
Drivers Education CD

Girl sitting at a microphone Workzone construction ad: Father and son. 'Me and my Daddy. Daddy was killed in aconstruction zone, Now, I'm alone. Please slow down Driver Education Work Zone Awareness Program ad

IDOT Has Revised

Policy
Specifications
Standards

Different Focus with worker safety in mind

Voluntary Compliance

Enhanced Motorist Communication
- Improve Traffic Control Standards
- Uniform and Consistent Work Zones

Sign: Hit a worker $10,000 fine, 14 yrs jail Sign: work zone, speed limit 55 begins, $375 fine minimum Sign: work zone, speed limit 45 begins, $375 fine minimum Sign: End work zone speed limit

People in a meeting

Expanded Cooperation Among Agencies
- Increase Law Enforcement Coordination in Projects

Enhanced Motorist Communication

Real Time Information

Speed Indicator Signs

Speed Indicator Sign

Changeable Message Boards

Portable CMS
Permanent CMS
Active warnings
Time Delay Information

Changeable Message Board

Proposed Legislative Changes

Clarify and Strengthen Existing Laws
Increase Penalties
Photo Enforcement

Photo Enforcement

Photo enforcement equipment

Ticket from photo enforcement equipment. The system will provide a clear picture of the driver and front and rear license plate and then a few days later the driver will receive a ticket in the mail.

Physical Worker Protection

Focus: Minimize Exposure to Workers

Work zone

Better Flagger Protection and Visibility

Remote Flagger Device

remote flagger device

High Visibility Vests
- Daytime: ANSI Class 2
- Nighttime: ANSI Class 3
- All workers
Nighttime Illumination

High Visibility Vest Night Construction

Example of ANSI Class 3 garment and lighted flagger station.

Example of why all employees should wear vest. Worker on right side of barricades has a vest on. There is a worker on the left side of the barricade beside the other worker without a vest.

Habitual Violator

Problem Driver
Drunk
Suspended
Aggressive

More Information

Events

View all Upcoming HfL Events

PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

This page last modified on 08/10/09