Preventing Deaths in Work Zones Requires a Change in Thinking

by Bradley Sant, senior vice president of safety and education, ARTBA

Miguel Luna, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Maynor Yassir Suazo-Sandoval, Jose Mynor Lopez, and Carlos Hernandez. These are the names of the six construction workers killed March 26 while repairing pavement on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when it was struck by an errant container ship. They were husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, leaving behind family and friends who will grieve for years.

Although their deaths made headlines around the world, they were not alone. On March 29, a worker was struck while repairing potholes in West Virginia. On March 25, three workers in Oklahoma were struck. One died instantly, and two others were seriously injured. In February, a worker was struck and killed in Alaska. Also in February, a worker, then later the same day a state trooper in Georgia, were killed on a road construction site. Similarly, workers have been struck and killed in Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas so far in 2024.

The loss for these families is devastating. We all feel it too, since they are a part of our roadbuilding community.

Every April, the industry commemorates National Work Zone Awareness Week and the National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents. Both are aimed at bringing attention to the need to better protect the lives of workers and all roadway users when navigating construction zones. While these are important events, true progress can only be made by changing our safety culture to place more value on human life and dedicating more resources to protecting it.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced it will create a new rule that, among other things, would promote expanded use of positive protective devices to separate workers from motorized traffic. If approved, roadway owners and contractors would be required to use concrete, metal, or other heavy duty protective devices to protect workers in situations where they are exposed to oncoming traffic with no other way to get out—such as tunnels and bridges. Currently there is no requirement or incentive to do so. And in some cases, workers are only shielded by cones. This action by FHWA would undoubtedly save lives.

Another answer lies in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which requires state departments of transportation (DOT) to place greater emphasis on protecting “vulnerable road users.” States must describe how these people will be better shielded from harm in their strategic safety plans. While DOTs are looking carefully at how to protect the disabled, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users, many have forgotten to include some of the most vulnerable users—our roadway workers.

Unlike pedestrians, bicyclists, and other passing roadway users, these men and women spend eight hours or more building and repairing our nation’s roads. Given their prolonged exposure to traffic hazards, our workers are perhaps the group in greatest need of improved protection, as evidenced by the numerous deaths so far this year.

We have the tools and resources to fix this problem. The IIJA provided states with funds to enhance work zone safety measures and gave them clear authority and direction to do so. Our collective goal should be to tirelessly work to develop a national culture that demands greater respect and responsibility for protecting life on our roadways. Together, we must never cease our efforts to eliminate the preventable deaths of fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers who were simply working to provide a life for their families and a better transportation network for all of us.