Work Zone Safety: Best Practices Training Course

Have you ever felt unsafe driving among fast-moving or unpredictable traffic? Those risks are even greater when you’re not behind the wheel. Think of how vulnerable you are when working in the middle of the road with traffic speeding around and past you. Construction alone can be dangerous, but when you add moving vehicles to the mix, things can get dicey.

In spite of what’s going on with traffic, you need to pay attention to the moving equipment within the work zone and the uneven ground under you. Add to that the various risks associated with being out in the elements in all kinds of weather, not to mention having to work at night when it’s harder to see and when visibility is lower for oncoming motorists.

Thankfully, The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and The Department of Transportation have regulations that help protect road construction and maintenance crews. For instance, those in charge are required to develop plans for how they’ll reroute traffic and communicate to motorists not only where to go but also what to expect and when to slow down or use caution. There are also rules for keeping you safe within the work zone, including specifications on how to outfit flaggers. ( 1926 Subpart G - Signs, Signals, and Barricades | Occupational Safety and Health Administration and MUTCD 11th Edition - Part 6) And that’s not all. OSHA has compiled a series of best practices based on hazards that can occur in a variety of work zone situations.

In this course, you’ll learn about the general set-up required for a safe work zone and the specific steps you can take to improve your safety in relation to a variety of possible work zone hazards. Regardless of your role in a work zone, if you want to take charge of your safety, this course is for you!

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.