Other Roadway Work Zone Hazards

Roadway work zones include many additional hazards. For example, work in busy roadways often creates significant traffic backups. To avoid such backups, project managers sometimes shift the roadwork to lower-traffic times of the day, such as during the night. Illumination is critical to nighttime work, but presents some hazards of its own. Overly illuminated roadway work zones can induce driver error as drivers in passing vehicles become confused or are temporarily blinded by the lighting. Under-illumination can leave workers vulnerable because they cannot easily be seen by roadway users or equipment operators. In addition, workers cannot perform their own jobs as safely as possible if lighting is not adequate.

Another hazard often present in roadway work zones is exposure to excessive amounts of silica dust. When road crews use heavy equipment to demolish, abrade, or fracture silica-containing materials, such as concrete, workers can inhale the resulting dust. Breathing silica-laden dust can cause irreversible damage to the lungs.

Noise is a significant hazard in roadway work zones. The noise of passing traffic combines with the noise of active vehicles and equipment in the work zone. The damage to hearing that results from exposure to high levels of noise is cumulative and can cause permanent hearing loss that neither hearing aids nor surgery can correct.

To learn more about Roadway Work Zones visit our Worker Safety in Roadway Work Zones Online Training web page.