Write a toolbox talk on Topics for working on a road construction site

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# What do employers need to do to maintain materials and equipment used for protective systems? (cont.) ## What other excavation hazards do employers need to address? (cont.) support or shield systems to prevent cave-ins, water removal to control the water level, or the use of a safety harness and lifeline. If an employer uses water removal equipment to control or prevent water accumulation, the equipment and operations must be monitored by a competent person to ensure proper use. If excavation work interrupts the natural drainage of surface water, the OSHA standards also require the use of diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable means to prevent surface water from entering the excavation and to provide adequate drainage of the adjacent area. In addition, a competent person must inspect excavations subject to runoffs from heavy rains, and excavations subject to such runoffs are subject to the requirements described previously in this paragraph. ## How can employers protect workers from hazardous atmospheres inside excavations? Atmospheric testing is required before workers enter an excavation greater than 4 feet (1.22 meters) in depth where an oxygen deficiency or a hazardous atmosphere is present or could reasonably be expected, such as in excavations in landfill areas or excavations in areas where hazardous substances are stored nearby. If there are any hazardous conditions present, the employer must ensure that adequate precautions are taken to prevent employee exposure to those conditions. Such precautions include providing workers with proper respiratory protection or ventilation. In addition, when controls are used to reduce the level of atmospheric contaminants to acceptable levels, testing must be conducted as often as necessary to ensure that the atmosphere remains safe. If hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop in an excavation, the employer must ensure the ready availability of emergency rescue equipment, …

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# VEHICLES & HEAVY EQUIPMENT (cont.) ## NAMES OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING (cont.) # VEHICLES & HEAVY EQUIPMENT-CASE STUDY # Construction Inspector Killed by Backing Dump Truck A 36-year-old construction inspector for the county died when an asphalt dump truck backed over him. The truck was bringing hot asphalt to a new road being constructed in a housing project. The inspector was wearing an orange reflective vest and hardhat at the time of the incident. The dump truck had a back-up alarm that was functioning properly. The truck traveled approximately 770 feet in reverse before backing over the inspector. The inspector had his back to the vehicle at the time. The truck driver stated he was traveling approximately 5 to 10 miles per hour when the incident occurred, and that he never saw the inspector. Emergency medical personnel responded within seven minutes and pronounced the inspector dead at the scene. April 12, 2000 What should have been done to prevent this accident?

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# How is traffic control managed? (cont.) ## What kind of safety devices are used in traffic control layouts? (cont.) Temporary crash cushions absorb the energy of a collision, have the advantage of being easily restored, and can be used in temporary situations where quick setup and removal the work zone is needed. ## What type of personal protection equipment is recommended? The personal protection equipment must be adequate for the job. Road workers should generally wear a hard hat with retro-reflective striping, CSA-certified protective footwear, and a highly visible vest or clothing. In general, you should wear high-visibility clothing that complies with the CSA Standard Z96-22 High-Visibility Safety Apparel. Consult the CSA Standard or check with your provincial legislation for specific requirements. What are general tips when working on or near roads? - Do not work on the edge or outside of the work zone. - Do not unload or load a vehicle from the side with active traffic. - Work facing oncoming traffic. - Appoint, as necessary, a traffic control person who meets the training requirements established by the regulatory body. - If a traffic control person is deemed necessary, place a sign in advance of the person to indicate their presence. In an emergency situation, placement of signs may not be possible. Ensure the traffic control person is clearly visible. - As a driver of a work vehicle, avoid backing up. If backing up is required, reverse slowly. Use a signaller to increase safety. - Use vehicles and mobile equipment equipped with warning devices when backing up. - Control the release of dust that may reduce visibility by periodically spraying the area with water. - Wear appropriate personal protection equipment, and make sure that the equipment is maintained in good order. - Make sure that the work vehicles are highly visible, and clean. Consider marking the sides and rear of the vehicle with retro-reflective tape. - Place lighting eq…

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# FLAGGER HAZARDS TRAFFIC CONTR Date Posted: 05/15/2024 Flagging traffic is both a critical and a potentially hazardous part of providing a safe work zone for workers, the general public, and motorists. According to an OSHA Fact Sheet, "transportation incidents and workers struck by vehicles are responsible for the highest number of fatal work injuries," according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. WAC [redacted identifier], defines a flagger as "a person who provides temporary traffic control." Flaggers are only able to be used when other reasonable means of traffic control will not adequately control traffic in the work zone. The flagger's primary responsibilities are to protect workers' lives, guide traffic safely past the work zone, and protect themselves. Flaggers are at particular risk of injury or death due to the hazardous nature of their work. The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) states that flagger hazards include aggressive drivers and motorists driving at high speeds. ## WHAT SORT OF TRAINING DOES A FLAGGER NEED? Flaggers should be trained by persons with the qualifications and experience to instruct the employee effectively in the fundamentals of flagging and directing vehicular traffic. Qualifications for flaggers include communicating specific instructions, maneuvering quickly to avoid danger, controlling signaling devices to provide clear guidance, understanding and applying safe traffic practices, recognizing dangerous situations, and warning others. In the State of Washington, flaggers must be certified and have (in their possession) a valid Washington State traffic control flagger card. A qualified person should administer this training and include safe work practices and traffic control procedures from WA State requirements and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). ## PRIMARY HAZARDS High-Speed Traffic: When cars are traveling at high speeds, it takes a significant amount of time to bring the…

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# What do employers need to do to maintain materials and equipment used for protective systems? (cont.) ## When must employers conduct site inspections? (cont.) conditions. Inspections must be done prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections are also required after natural events, such as rainstorms, or other hazard-increasing occurrences, such as blasting work. If an inspector finds any unsafe conditions during an inspection, the employer must clear workers from the hazardous area until the necessary safety precautions have been taken. ## Conclusion When employers share the details of their safety and health programs with workers, they should emphasize the critical role workers play in keeping the jobsite safe. Employers also need to emphasize specific practices that will help reduce the risk of on-the-job injuries at excavation sites. Such practices can include the following: ■Know where underground utilities are located before digging. ■ Keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials at least 2 feet (0.61 meters) from trench edges. ■Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges. - Identify any equipment or activities that could affect trench stability. - Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases when workers are more than 4 feet deep. ■Inspect trenches at the start of each shift. ■Inspect trenches following a rainstorm or other water intrusion. ■Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench. ■■Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials. ■ Ensure that personnel wear high-visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic. Employers should consider establishing and maintaining safety and health management systems that provide systematic Trenching and Excavation Safety 13

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# FLAGGER HAZARDS (cont.) ## LOCATION AND PLACEMENT OF FLAGGERS (cont.) Locate the flagger station far enough in front of the work zone to give motorists time to recognize construction activity, slow down, and stop. When choosing flagger station location, consider road speed, visibility, and other road conditions. Advanced warning signs must be spaced and sized according to the road conditions and speed. Place stations out of the way of moving construction vehicles to avoid backing accidents. Locate stations where vehicles accidentally running through the area can have access to an escape route. At night, light the flagger station. the When a driver violates the flagger's warnings and trespasses flagging stations, the flagger must warn the workers ahead of him. A warning signal should be established for the work area crew in an emergency. ## GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR FLAGGERS • Pay attention to the surrounding conditions and be ready for conditions to change. • Adequate warning must be given to the motorists so they have time to interpret the warning and respond appropriately. • Drivers and pedestrians should be guided clearly throughout the work zone. • Use barriers whenever there is a need for positive protection. • Periodically inspect the devices. Repair or replace any damaged or missing devices. All devices should be clean. • To stop traffic, stand safely on the shoulder of the road, away from moving traffic. • Always ensure that the flagger and the paddle are visible to the drivers of all stopped vehicles. • Do not wave the paddle around; it creates a confusing message. • Do not use verbal or hand signals that conflict with the message on the paddle. • Never stand in the path of oncoming traffic. • At night, flagger stations should be well-illuminated. • A flagger should never turn their back to traffic. Note: Hours of darkness are considered a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise. ## REFERENCES WAC [redacted identifie…

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# Trenching and excavation safety (cont.) ## General trenching and excavation rules (cont.) • Test for atmospheric hazards, such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases when greater than four feet deep. • Inspect trenches at the start of each shift and following a rainstorm or other water intrusion. • Do not work underneath suspended or raised loads and materials. • Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench. • Ensure personnel wear high-visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic or mobile earth-moving equipment. ## Protective systems There are different types of protective systems – sloping, shoring and shielding. <table><tr><th>Type of protective system</th><th></th><th>Illustration of system</th></tr><tr><td>Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.</td><td>20 MAX</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shoring requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins.</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a protective system can be complex because many factors must be considered: soil classification; depth of cut; water content of soil; changes caused by weather or climate; surcharge loads (spoil, other materials to be used in the trench); and other operations in the vicinity.</td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> ## More information To learn more about excavation safety, view the standards at osha.gov. Revised March 2025

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# HEAVY EQUIPMENT (cont.) ## SPOTTERS Worker visibility and visual and verbal communication are essential to keeping workers safe around moving construction equipment. Blind spots can be a significant hazard for workers on the ground where the operator is unable to see them. A spotter, using effective means of communication or hand signals, can help communicate between the operator, workers on the ground, and any pedestrians entering the work zone. Spotters must wear high-visibility clothing, stand clear of equipment, and always be visible to the equipment operator. ## GENERAL SAFETY WHEN OPERATING OR WORKING AROUND HEAVY EQUIPMENT • Develop a work zone traffic control plan. Indicate travel routes through the site to eliminate (as much as possible) the need for backing equipment or vehicles. • When vehicles or heavy equipment must operate in reverse, ensure they are equipped with an audible backup alarm. • Inspect equipment before operation to ensure all lights and audible alarms work correctly. • Set up the equipment in the work zone so that construction equipment and workers have adequate space to perform the planned tasks. • Use 3-point mounting and dismounting technique off heavy equipment - NEVER JUMP OFF HEAVY EQUIPMENT. • - Establish a "danger zone," the working area where contact could result in personal injury or damage during operations. • Wear high-visibility clothing when working around heavy mobile equipment. • Use predefined and understood hand signals or two-way radios to control movement within the work zone. • Maintain a clear line of sight between the operator and workers. • Use a spotter when heavy equipment is in motion. This requires communication between the operator and workers to maintain safe movement. • Workers - should keep a safe distance from all sides of the heavy equipment while it is in use. • Be aware of the swing radius on specific equipment and, if possible, cordon off the area with barriers or caution tape. • A…

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# Trench and Excavation Safety Trench collapses, or cave-ins, are the leading hazard in excavation work. Safe trenching helps prevent falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. ## Trench Safety Measures Trenches 5 feet or deeper require a protective system unless dug in stable rock. For trenches less than 5 feet, a competent person must decide if protection is needed. Trenches 20 feet or deeper must have a protective system designed or approved by a registered professional engineer, as required by OSHA 1926.652(b) and (c). ## Competent Person Before workers enter a trench, a competent person must inspect it daily and after any condition changes to ensure safety. This person is trained to identify hazards, determine soil types, select protective systems, and has the authority to correct issues immediately. ## Access and Egress • Keep heavy equipment and spoils at least 2 feet from trench edges - Locate underground utilities before digging • Test for atmospheric hazards in trenches over 4 feet deep • Inspect trenches daily, at the start of each shift, after storms, and after conditions change • Never work under suspended loads - Wear high visibility clothing when near traffic # Protective Systems • Benching: a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by cutting the sides of an excavation into horizontal steps. Benching is not allowed in Type C soil. • Sloping: involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from excavation. • Shoring: requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins. • Shielding: protects workers by using trench boxes or supports to prevent cave-ins. Designing these systems can be complex, as factors like soil type, trench depth, moisture, weather, nearby loads, and site activity must all be considered. OSHA standards require that employers provide workplaces free of recognized hazards. The employer must compl…

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# SAFETY WALKAROUND CHECKLIST VEHICLES & HEAVY EQUIPMENT (cont.) ## TRAFFIC CONTROL NOTES - When working near vehicular traffic, warning signs, flags, traffic control devices, and/or barriers are in place. At night, warning lights are used. [8604] - Flaggers are used wherever barricades and warning signs cannot control the moving traffic. [1599(a)] - Flaggers wear bright orange or yellow-green warning garments. In rainy weather, they wear bright orange or yellow-green raingear. [1541(d), 1590(a)(5), 1598(c), and 1599(d)] - Flaggers are trained by a qualified person before assignment. [1599(f) and (g)] - Workers exposed to vehicular traffic wear reflectorized warning garments during hours of darkness. The garments are visible at a minimum of 1000 feet. [1598(d)] - Placement of warning signs is in accordance with California State Department of Transportation regulations. - The system of traffic control is in accordance with the Manual of Traffic Controls for Construction and Maintenance Work Zones 1996, published by the California State Department of Transportation. [1598(a) and (b)] ## PRIVATE ROADWAYS AND OFF-HIGHWAY CONDITIONS - Single-lane private roads with two-way traffic have turnouts or a system to prevent vehicles or heavy equipment from meeting on the road. [1590(a)(1)] - Private roads are maintained free from holes and ruts that may affect the safe operation of vehicles and equipment. Emergency access ramps are provided to restrain and control runaway vehicles. [1590(a)(3)] - Dust levels are minimized to ensure adequate visibility for drivers. Vehicle and equipment operators use adequate respiratory protection in dusty operations. [1590(b)] - On private roads with two-way traffic, vehicles and equipment travel on the right side as much as possible. Signs clearly indicating variations are posted. [1590(a)(2)] - Where practical, separate haulage roads are provided and are wide enough for safe passage. [1590(a)(2)] - When push tractors are wo…

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# HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING FOR HEAVY & HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION (cont.) ## Workers Must Be Seen ## Fatalities Total 305 985 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "The most common 15 event associated with fatal occupational injuries incurred at a road construction site was worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment. Of the [redacted street address] construction sites during the 2003-07period, 305 were due to a worker being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment." The BLS 70 article further reports that more workers are struck and killed by construction 177 equipment (38 percent) than by cars, vans and tractor-trailers (33 percent). As such, work zone "runovers" and "backovers" are clearly the greatest hazard to roadway construction workers and, by far, the leading cause of death. 23 The use of high visibility clothing is one important strategy in reducing the number of "struck-by" deaths on road construction sites. 73 Dump Truck Pickup Truck Semi Truck Car Roller/Paver Grader/Planer/ Van Backhoe Scraper # HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING FOR HEAVY & HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ## Standards and Regulations Several agencies of the federal U.S. government have specific standards and guidance with regards to the wearing of high vis- ibility clothing, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Highway Admin- istration. These agencies most commonly reference an industry consensus standard issued by the International Safety Equipment Associa- tion (ISEA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This is known as the ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard or "American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear." ## ANSI/ISEA 107 This standard provides performance criteria for the materials to be used in high visibility PPE, specifies minimum areas and, where appropri- ate, recommends placement of the materials. Performance requirements focus on the color and brightness of garments and headwear relative to the work e…