Work Zone Crashes on the Rise

Construction workers face dangers on the job every day. Whether they work on building sites or perform road construction, they can get injured or even killed in an accident. In fact, work zones are becoming increasingly dangerous for construction workers, as road work becomes more common during the summer months and drivers fail to slow down for the “cone zone.”   Work zones on highways and other roads are typically visible though a combination of orange traffic cones, barriers, and signage announcing that construction is in process.

Contractors in South Carolina must follow a combination of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety regulations and South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) highway project rules. Even with appropriate rules and regulations, construction work remains a dangerous job. When workers are on the road doing construction work, they are oftentimes just a few feet away from traffic traveling upwards of 80 miles per hour. As such, appropriate safety measures and training are critical to ensure that lives are protected.

Sadly,  in the past two years, there has been a huge uptick in near misses and fatal accidents happening in work zones across  South Carolina.

Recent survey results from South Carolina highway contractors reflected that more than three-quarters of contractors reported at least one crash in a work zone that they were covering in the past year. Sixty-two percent of them have experienced five or more crashes in the past year.

This data, which was collected from 21 different companies, points to distracted and impaired driving as the main cause of many of these crashes, leaving workers seriously or even fatally injured. With this in mind,  members of the public are encouraged to slow down, obey the road signs, and be aware of their surroundings when in a work zone.

The hope is that drivers and contractors will work together to help prevent accidents. As summer continues and fall arrives, road construction will continue in South Carolina and safety must remain paramount. A few easy tips include slowing down and paying attention. Drivers should get a feel for what’s going on and what workers are asking them to do. Do drivers need to come to a complete stop? Is it necessary to switch lanes? It is important that drivers be aware of what they’re doing and allow themselves ample time to react to changed conditions.  Put simply, when you see a construction zone ahead, don’t be in a hurry.

A trade association made up of contractors and construction-related firms that perform work in North Carolina and South Carolina is pushing for legislation to promote safer work zones for construction crews.   Additionally, South Carolina’s governor – in an effort to promote safety on the state’s roadways – recently signed into law a measure requiring everyone in the state who gets their driver’s license to complete a work zone safety course.

Contact Us Today

Many workers face dangers in the workplace. Construction workers face high risks of crashes when working in road construction zones.   Sadly, distracted driving and the failure to obey the rules of the road are often the cause of workers being injured or even killed.

A Columbia workplace accidents lawyer from Simmons Law Firm can help you understand your legal options after suffering a workplace accident. We’ll help you deal with all the challenges you will face and get you back on the road to recovery quickly. To schedule a consultation, call (803) 779-4600 or fill out the online form.

Source:

wltx.com/article/traffic/south-carolina-work-zones-safer-driving-habits/101-d14ab421-13e1-4308-846b-c00e4af0c462