Injury Hazards in Road and Bridge

Construction

International Bridge Conference

Pittsburgh, PA
June 8, 2010
 Injury
InjuryHazards
HazardsininRoad
Roadand
and Bridge
Bridge Construction
Construction

 Background
 Road and Bridge Construction Facts
 Citations, Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses, Fatal
Injuries
 Safely Working Around Trucks and Equipment
 Blind Areas, Proximity Warning, Internal Traffic
Control
 Road and Bridge Construction Hazards
 Separating Workers from Traffic, Safe Entry and Exit
NIOSH Role in the U.S. Occupational Safety and
Health Framework
Research and
Regulation/Enforcement
Prevention Recommendations

Department of Labor Department of

(DOL) Health and Human Services
(HHS)

Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention
Mine Safety Occupational (CDC)
and Health Safety and Health
Administration Administration
(MSHA) (OSHA) National Institute for
Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH)
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health
 The federal agency responsible for
conducting research and making
recommendations for the prevention of
work-related injury and illness.
 NIOSH Construction Program

National Extramural
Intramural
Construction Investigator
Research
Center Initiated Grants

CPWR

Center for Construction Research and Training

 NIOSH Construction
Program Review
 Performed by a National Academies Committee
 Focused on work done over last 10 years
 Provided recommendations for
improving the program

 Received score of 5/5 for RELEVANCE

 Received score of 4/5 for IMPACT

Report available at:

http://www.cdc.niosh/nas/
Evaluating Roadway Work
Zone Interventions
A Research Project Conducted by the
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
Site Visit
Pilot Site
Experimental
Site
 Roadway Work Zone Intervention Evaluations

Morgantown, WV Pittsburgh, PA Spokane, WA

Worker Exposure Measurement HASARD Proximity Warning Devices

Blind Area Determination Work Zone Analysis System Detection Zones

State Transportation Departments

Internal Traffic Control Plans

Site Access / Partnering

Construction Companies
Case Definition

Engineering Consultants
HSRB/OMB/Photo Release

Labor Unions
Research Staff Safety

Construction Trade Associations

Equipment Manufacturers
FHWA, OSHA
Work Zone
Safety and Health
Partners
Acknowledgements (continued)

 James E. Bryden
 Steve Hubbard
 Michael Grey
 Michael Paylor
 Marv Sahlo
The findings and conclusions in this presentation have
not been formally disseminated by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be
construed to represent any agency determination or
policy.
The mention of any company name or product does not
constitute endorsement by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.

The photographic display of any product, label, or logo

does not constitute endorsement by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
ROAD & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
FACTS
 U.S. Infrastructure (2008)
 Road System Miles  Bridges
 Urban ~1.1 trillion  Urban 153,407
 Rural ~ 3.0 trillion  Rural 447,989

 Total ~ 4 trillion  Total 601,396

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Statistics Highway Profile

 U.S. Infrastructure Condition (2008)
 Roads  Bridges
 65% paved  75% good repair
 12% deficient

 13% obsolete

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Statistics Highway Profile

Government Highway System Expenditures

37%
61%
2%

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Statistics Highway Profile

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA)
 More than 12,600 projects obligated
 More than 10,000 projects under construction
 More than 2,200 projects completed
 Total obligated funds for 50 states and the District
of Columbia: $26.6 billion

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation ARRA Website, June 1, 2010

Source: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/workzones.htm
D
a
t
a
S
u
m
m
a
r
y
 Top 5 OSHA Citations
10/08-09/09
Bridge, Tunnel, and Elevated Highway and Street
Highway Construction Construction
Fall Protection (50) Hazard Communication (60)
Cranes (43) Excavation (60)
General (34) Respiratory (45)
Lead (26) Protective Systems (36)
Working /Over Near Water (23) Signs and Tags (28)
 INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN
ROAD & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
 (2.4)
(2.0)

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

 Heavy & Civil Engineering Construction
Injuries in 2008
DAFW due to
Transportation
1,230
DAFW
21,900

Total Cases 40,700

Close Calls
???????????????
(1.5)
(1.8)

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

 Injuries and Illnesses by Occupation in
Highway Street and Bridge Construction (n=5,690)

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

 Highway Street and Bridge Construction
Days Away From Work Injuries and Illnesses by Event
2003-2008 (n=42,790)
Contact with Objects or
Slips, Trips, or Falls
equipment 35% Overexertion
20%
15%

Exposure to
Harmful Substances
Transportation or Environments 5%
Incidents 12%
 FATAL INJURIES IN
ROAD & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
 Fatal Injuries in the United States in 2008

Occupational 5,214
Fatalities

Construction
Fatalities
1,016
Highway, Street,
and Bridge
Fatalities
119
Worker Struck by
Vehicle in
Highway, Street, 43
and Bridge
Worker Deaths in Roadway Construction

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. This research was

conducted with restricted access to Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) data (excluding New York City). The views expressed here
do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.
Worker Deaths in Highway, Street, and Bridge
Construction

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

 Highway Street and Bridge Construction
Fatalities by Event 2003-2008 (n=833)
Transportation Accidents
Contact with Objects or
70%
equipment 18%

Exposure to Harmful
Substances or
Environments 4%

Slips, Trips, or
Falls 4%
Worker Deaths in Highway, Street, and Bridge
Construction

37%
23%
10%
6%

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

Worker Deaths in Highway, Street, and Bridge
Construction

58%

22%

13%

Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries www.bls.gov/iif

SAFELY WORKING AROUND
TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation States
Participating in the Program
Laborer Run Over by Dump Truck at Roadway
Resurfacing Operation in Virginia

Two-lane County Road Intersection with

Four-lane State Highway
Source: NIOSH FACE-98-19
 Flagger

Truck Roller

Victim

Trees
Victim’s
Work Area

Paving
Machine
View from the Street
 View from Inside the Cab
Stickers
Bug Shield

Fan Mirror

Air Cleaner and Door

Post
 Blind Area
Dump Truck
WWW.CDC.GOV/
NIOSH/TOPICS/
HIGHWAYWORKZ
ONES
Efficacy of Site Safety?
Driver Died When Mixer Truck
Overturned

Source: Oklahoma Case Report: 00-OK-073

Internal Traffic Control Plans
 ITCP Key Principles
Key Principles of an ITCP are:
 Limit access points to the work
zone
 Reduce the need to back up
equipment
 Coordinate truck and equipment
movements
 Establish worker-free zones
 Inform workers of the ITCP
 ITCP Recommendations
Integrate Inform Implement

• Company • Irregular • Parking

• State personnel • Take Timeout
employees • Truck drivers • Revise
• Trucking • Sub-contractors • Re-
company communicate
• Sub-contractors
 MPH Feet in Feet in
1.0 2.5
10 MPH is faster Second Seconds
than you think!!!
10 15 37
A Dump Truck 20 29 74
Backing at 10 MPH 30 44 110
Covers 14.7 Feet 40 59 147
In 1 Second!!!!!!!! 50 74 184
60 88 220
70 103 257
80 118 294
Worker Dies After Being Backed Over
By a Rear End Dump Truck

Source Minnesota Face Program (MN9207)

Concrete Paving Operation Layout
Turn-around

Truck Line
 Truck Queue Repositioning

Turn-around

New Last
Truck Truck Truck Line

X
 Proximity Warning Systems

Preco Preview
 Proximity Warning Systems

Hindsight
20/20
 Proximity Warning Systems
Intec Camera
Detection Zones

Generator
 PWS Recommendations

Sonar Radar Camera

• Flush mount • Good range • View of blind

• Short range • Operates when area
• Nuisance dirty/wet • No alarm
alarms • Nuisance • Requires daily
• Dirt/water alarms maintenance
ROAD & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
HAZARDS
Efficacy of Channelizing Devices?
SEPARATING WORKERS FROM
TRAFFIC
 Subpart K: Temporary Traffic
Control Devices Rule
 Effective date: December 4, 2008
 Purpose: to decrease the likelihood of highway
work zone fatalities and injuries to workers and
road users
Subpart K: Temporary Traffic
Control Devices Rule
 Safety in work zone policy
 Positive protection
 Exposure control measures
 Other traffic control measures
 Uniformed law enforcement
 Safe entry/exit for vehicles and
equipment
 Payment of traffic control
 Quality guidelines
Traffic Control Devices: Good
Positive Guidance for the
Motorist
SAFE ENTRY & EXIT
Agencies should also address safe
means for work vehicles and
equipment to enter and exit
traffic lanes and for delivery of
construction materials to the
work space based on individual
project characteristics and factors
The Typical Interstate Project

Source: Steve Hubbard

Source: Steve Hubbard
What is the most common method of
entering and exiting work zones in the
United States?
Trucks Entering Traffic
 Past Deployments
 Trucks Entering / Exiting
 Slow Speed Advisory
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Trucks Exiting Traffic
Truck Activated Caution Message
Trucks Entering Traffic
Signs Activated by Trucks

Wireless sensor location along haul road

Safe entry and exit from the work space

 Innovation - Design/Build Ramp

 Limit entry into high-speed traffic stream
 Utilize overpass and local street traffic control
signals

Source: Steve Hubbard

Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Source: Steve Hubbard
Safe entry and exit from the work space
 Controlled access
points
 Entering and
exiting vehicles
same direction as
traffic
 Signage – Truck,
VMS, Static
 Work scheduling
Roadway Safety Safety + v9.0
DTFH61-06-G-00007

4 New Topics
• Temporary Traffic Control
• Expanded Night Work Module
• Expanded Runovers and
Backovers Module

• Disaster Response
 ANSI Standards
Development

 ANSI A10 Standard for  Equipment

Roadway Construction Operator Safety
 Topics Include:  Health Hazards
 Traffic Control  Night Work
 Flagger Safety  Personal
 Runover/Backover Protective
Prevention Equipment
Thank you!
Contact Information:

David E. Fosbroke
NIOSH
Division of Safety Research
Morgantown, WV
(304) 285-6010
[email protected]

Jennifer E. Lincoln
NIOSH
Division of Safety Research
Morgantown, WV
(304) 285-6010
[email protected]