Across the United States, statistics show that highway work zones rank among the most hazardous for workplace injuries and fatalities. Especially dangerous are the transitional periods before and after the work zone is established, when placement or removal of traffic control devices can cause driver confusion or distraction.
To find ways to make workers safer in work zones, the Oregon Department of Transportation launched a multi-phase research project. In the first phase, the agency investigated other states’ practices for setting up and removing temporary work zones. Future phases will explore which aspects of work zone transitions are most hazardous and identify potential recommendations to improve worker safety.
Read the final report: Best Practices for Work Zone Safety During Traffic Control Placement, Removal, and Modification – Phase I, December 2022
Image source: Indiana Department of Transportation