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Understanding National Work Zone Awareness Week

On Behalf of | Apr 7, 2019 | Workplace Safety |

Spring is here and along with the daffodils and budding trees, Minnesota residents can look forward to road construction. While drivers may consider road construction a pain, residents may also understand that it is necessary to keep the roads and communities safe and in good repair. At Lindberg Law, P.C., we are certain you have a deeper appreciation for work zone safety if construction is your job.

In 2017, 132 construction workers were killed in traffic accidents at road construction sites, in addition to hundreds more who were drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, reports the Federal Highway Administration. This is why the week of April 8 through 22 is designated National Work Zone Awareness Week. Whether you work in road construction or are a driver or pedestrian, you face numerous hazards where road construction is present. Speed is a particularly dangerous factor near road construction. In 2017, about 29 percent of work zone fatalities involved a speeding driver. However, speed is not the only dangerous factor. The following hazards can also endanger construction workers, drivers and others:

  • Sudden stops that drivers do not anticipate
  • Distracted drivers
  • Drivers who fail to heed warnings or road crew instructions
  • Large construction vehicles entering and exiting construction zones

Fatal accidents in work zones have increased in recent years. When drivers are aware of the risks and conscientious of how to drive in work zones, they may increase their safety, as well as the safety of others. As our page on worksite accidents explains, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation or compensation from a negligent driver if you are injured while working in a construction zone.

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