Occupational Injuries in Work Zones

The following statistics were found at Workzonesafety.org under occupational injuries in work zones. 

Fatal occupational injuries at road construction sites:

          total     highest state    

2007   106          Texas 16

2008   101          Texas 13

2009   116          TX 11 FL 11

2010   106          Illinois 12

2011   119          Texas 13

Maryland - 0 over the same 5 year span

Fatal occupational injuries at road construction sites by select characteristics:

          wage and salary  self-employed

2007            105                    0

2008              98                    3

2009            111                    5

2010            101                    5

2011            112                    7

             women     men

2007          3           103

2008          3             98

2009          7           109

2010          0           106

2011          7           112

             white     black     hispanic

2007        71           14            17

2008        68           10            23

2009        78            7             27

2010        76           14            15

2011        74           12            31

Worst month for fatalities: June

Worst day of the week: Tuesday

This page includes data and information on fatal occupational injuries at road construction sites. For all fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in work zones, visit the Work Zone Fatalities page and choose your year.

Fleece Lined Bomber Jacket The fleece lined bomber jacket features a durable, waterproof shell with a fleece liner and fleece lined hood. In addition to the high visibility color material, the jacket also utilizes black material in the areas which most commonly get dirty - helping the jacket maintain a bright and clean appearance. The fleece lined hood is both removable and can also be hidden. Other features of the jacket include: 2" wide 3M Scotchlite reflective material, right chest wallet pocket, left chest radio pocket, zipper slash side pockets and drawstring hood. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA Class 3 compliant.

Neither Funny nor Ironic: Construction Worker Killed While Putting up Safety Signs

It's all too common these days, and the media does the issue no justice to make light of it by attaching a funny or ironic headline. A 27-year-old highway construction worker was killed when police say he was trying to put up road safety signs for an expansion of a Texas highway.

No mention was made as to whether he was wearing the proper hi-visibility attire, including hi-vis vest, high visibility apparel or garments, reflectors or any other hi visibility gear - which usually means that he was. otherwise, they'd be having a field day with that fact also. As of yet, the only good news seems to be that there was no error of his own - just a fatal accident.

The accident happened around 8:30 in the morning in Conroe, Texas on Saturday, October 27th, off of the I-45 feeder road near State Highway 105. Police say a Williams Brothers construction truck was pulling an 18-foot trailer loaded with highway safety signs. The truck was stopped in the left lane just south of the exit ramp from I-45. A highway road worker, Joel Vega, was putting temporary caution signs along the roadside for drivers before their work began. But Kimberly Vick, 39, traveling southbound on the feeder, also on the left lane, struck the trailer, flipping it.

Investigators believe Vega was between the truck and trailer when the accident happened. Unfortunately, Vega was pronounced dead on the scene by police. They're now trying to figure out if the driver was able to see the caution arrows on top of the truck.

As of yet, no cause of the accident has been determined. Vick was transported to Conroe Regional Medical Center. It is “too early to tell” if charges will be filed against Vick, Conroe Police Sgt. Joe Smart said, and the case is under investigation. No citations have been issued in the wreck.

OSHA has opened an investigation with Williams Brothers, which on its website counts TxDOT as its principal client, OSHA spokesman Juan Rodriguez said Monday. The investigation is ongoing.

Officials with Williams Brothers were unavailable for comment.

Brilliant Series Breakaway Class 2 Vest

The Brilliant Series breakaway vests, from ML Kishigo, offer both increased visibility and protection from entanglement. In addition to the 5-point breakaway design, high visibility background material and the 2" wide reflective tape, the vest also utilizes Brilliant Trim reflective edging which considerably improves the vest's low light visibility. The reflective piping improves recognition of the wearer by distinguishing their silhouette from the other stationary objects around them in a work zone. The vest is constructed of a durable and breathable, Ultra-Cool 100% polyester mesh. Vest features include: zipper closure; mic tabs on chest; inside 2-tier, 4-division pencil pocket; flapped radio pocket; and inside left patch pocket.

ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant.

Hi Visibility Safety Vests

I see safety vests everywhere, partly because they're used everywhere, but partly because I write about safety vests and I'm always on the lookout to where they're being used. The ironic thing about safety vests is, when used properly, and worn regularly, they save lives. but there's no evidence or statistics or reports that speak to, "there would have been an accident had this person not worn a safety vest." The sad thing is, people do still get hurt, and people still do die because the don't wear their safety vests. And accidents do happen that cannot be controlled. Others in the safety industry who also notice who and where hi visibility vests are being used can help by adding to the discussion. One such person is Dave Weber who writes Safety Awakenings. The following is an excerpt from a blog article he wrote entitled 6 New Uses For High Visibility Vests.

Those bright yellow and orange high visibility vests aren’t just for roadway construction crews any more. I’m seeing them worn all over the place in business and industry these days. Employers have discovered that in certain high hazard work areas, it’s a good idea to have employees wear high visibility vests to provide an extra measure of protection.
Below is a listing of six situations that I feel require the wearing of high visibility vests:

• All new production employees should be required to wear safety vests. I successfully implemented such a policy at two different companies. We required new employees to wear the safety vests during the first 30 calendar days that they worked for the company. Management did not have to enforce this policy, because the experienced employees came to believe in the policy so strongly that they enforced the rule themselves!
• Certain handicapped or disabled production employees should be required to wear safety vests. At one company I worked for we had some factory employees who were deaf. The area where they worked was extremely dangerous. If an imminent danger were to occur, the deaf workers could not hear the warning shout, the alarm, or the horn. We required the deaf employees to wear high visibility vests. The other workers would watch out for the vest wearing deaf workers and give them an extra wide berth when working near them.

You can read the rest of the article here.

HiVis Ladies Softshell Jacket

This ANSI Class 2 high visibility soft shell jacket is from Utility Pro designed and sized specifically for ladies - to ensure both comfort and safety. The jacket features a durable, 320 gram fleece bonded polymide shell with fleece lining. The shell fabric is infused with DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector. The fabric protector helps to resist and repel water grease and mud. The jacket design includes black accents to offer an attractive look. Other features include: hidden collar hood, zippered outside pockets, zipper front closure. Available in high visibility Lime; in sizes S-2XL. ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 Class 2 compliant.
Read the entire article here.

Surveying and Publications

Surveying has often been called the 2nd oldest trade in the world, and dates back to the Egyptians in 3000 BC. Here are a couple of the major trade publications:

Professional Surveyor Magazine This publication has been around for over 30 years, and has a 30,000 subscription base. It serves the measurement and positioning community, including surveying and engineering companies; photogrammetry and aerial service firms; federal, state and municipal government; military organizations; GIS Service companies; educational institutions; utility companies; construction and mining businesses; dealers and distributors and/or developers of software, engineering and/or surveying equipment and supplies; transportation organizations (eg. D.O.T.) and others allied to the field. See the Business Publication Circulation Statement.

The American Surveyor  The American Surveyor provides readers with the latest news and developments affecting land surveyors and the measurement & positioning technologies. categories covered include events and education, business, equipment, hardware, GPS, Photogrammetry, GIS, maps, cartography and LiDAR.

Professional Surveyors Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

Three great HiVis Products for End of Summer

Charger Safety Glasses

The Charger safety glasses, from Bobster, feature anti-fog, polycarbonate lenses and a clean wrap around design. The durable, high-gloss, black nylon frame fits securely and comfortably, even on smaller faces. The Charger safety glasses come with a microfiber pouch for easy cleaning and storage when not being worn. ANSI Z87.1 approved.

Black Series Windbreaker

The Black Series Windbreaker by ML Kishigo is activewear inspired high-vis apparel. The windbreaker is a lightweight and flexible design, that utilizes durable, black ripstop material in high wear areas along the sides and under the arms. It also features waist cinches hidden in the front pockets - keeping a clean look. Other features of the windbreaker include: adjustable cuffs, shoulder blade vents, two outside lower pockets with zippers, left chest vertical pocket with waterproof zipper and 2' wide VizLite reflective material. Available in high visibility Lime or Orange; M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant.

Professional Surveyor's Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

HiVis Supply is proud to offer high visibility products for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing, plant assembly, mining, surveying, forestry, power generator construction, shipyard construction, warehouse and facility maintenance, utilities department, sewer maintenance, electrical line construction, wind energy construction, ethanol and oil refinery and many others.

Flagging for Road and Bridge Construction

Per the Florida Department of Tranportation (FDOT) regulations on road and bridge construction, contractors must provide trained flaggers "...to direct traffic where one-way operation in a single lane is in effect and in other situations as required. The Worksite Traffic Supervisor or others as approved by the Department will provide training for flaggers."

Flaggers are often the first line of defense for roadside and highway crews (see poster). Basic skills include:

• The Right Signals for stopping, alerting and allowing traffic to proceed
• The Right Gear Class II or Class III high visibility vests, shirts and foul-weather gear
• The Right Sign Spacing stopping sight distances
• The Right Setup
• The Right Practices
• stand on shoulder in clear view
• always face traffic
• use clear hand signal
• stay alert
• always stand up
• use authorized communication devices
• The Right Training Per jurisdiction

Flaggers must be trained per the MUTCD Section 6E (Flagger Control), and Design Standards Index 600 (Flagging Operations and Night Time Flagging) and (General Information for Traffic Control through Work Zones). The field demonstration shall be a dexterity test using hand-signaling devices (STOP/SLOW paddle and flag) during flagging type operations and placement of traffic control devices.

Instructors may use training videos, handouts, computer based training, or other methods to ensure that the flagger has demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in flagging operations (per FDOT). No formal submittal of this course to the MOTC for review is required. No time requirement is set for the training, but the instructor will be required to keep a record of persons they have successfully trained and the date they were trained.

Go here to order your Know Flagging poster.

Go here to order paddles.

Go to the Workzonesafety.org website for more information including their brochures and fact sheets.

Class 2 and Class 3 Vests

Black Series Heavy Duty Class 2 Vests are made of Ultra Cool™ polyester mesh and are ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 Compliant. Class II safety vests are designed for workers who need greater visibility in poor weather conditions, and who are exposed to roadways with traffic that exceeds 25 miles per hour.

Class II vests are ideal for railway workers, school crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and law enforcement personnel directing traffic.

According to ANSI standards, class II vests must have 775 square in. of background material, and 201 square in. of reflective material.

Class 2 vests:

• are designed for moderate risk
• school crossings, parking lots, traffic direction
• less stringent requirements
• smaller than Class 3 vests  

Class III vests are designed to provide the highest level of visibility in extreme weather situations and around traffic going more than 50 mph. They are required to have 1,240 inches of fluorescent background fabric and 310 inches of reflective material. That much fabric is going to make one heck of big vest. That’s why the typical garment that meets the minimum Class 3 requirement is actually a short sleeve shirt with reflective tape. The difference? About 465 square inches of fluorescent material and about 109 inches of reflective tape.

Class 3 vests: 

• visibility in bad weather such as hurricanes or blizzards
• worn by emergency personnel and traffic teams working on freeways and highways
• larger than class 2 vests 

ANSI Class 3 DOT Vest

The ANSI Class 3 DOT vest, from Vinatronics, is a breathable solid polyester with combined performance 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material. The vest is built to be durable and includes nylon webbed, reinforced snaps. Other features include: cell phone pocket; pencil pocket; two lower oversized kangaroo pockets; snap front closure; and a mic tab. Available in high visibility Orange or Yellow; sizes Small through 5XL. Made in the USA. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant.

What type of hi visibility vest do you need?

HiVis Supply has a created a new High Visibility Workwear search guide to help you find the right vest. Get started, and let us help you find the vest that meets all your job requirements.

There are many considerations when searching for the right hivis vest. Depending on your job site, or if you’re on the roadway, you may be required to wear a certain high-vis vest style including ANSI class 2 vests, ANSI class 3 vests - even non-ANSI vests. Let us show you the difference between each style, and which environment requires which high-vis vest.

Most safety vests are available in orange or lime vests for high visibility. These are the brightest and perform the best. There are also many brands of safety vests. You can stick with one brand for all of your safety vests needs, or pick different brands for different vest types. HiVisSupply has many brands to choose from including 3A Safety, Cornerstone, Ergodyne, Flagstaff, ML Kishigo, Safety Gear USA, Utility Pro Wear and Vinatronics.

Some jobs require special vest designs. The most common vest designs are flame-resistant FR, surveyor and emergency responder. See our safety vest guide to see if there is a design that works best for your specific job. The closure type is another consideration for your safety vests. Velcro closures make removing vests quicker, while zipper closure keep your pockets more secure.

It may seem like your safety vest options are endless. With HiVis Supply, your perfect vest is just a call or click away!

ANSI Class 3 X-Back Microfiber T-Shirt

This ANSI Class 3 X-back t-shirt, from ML Kishigo, features Ultra-Cool microfiber polyester material for comfort and performance. The shirt's X-back design also provides enhanced visibility by allowing oncoming motorist to differentiate which direction you are facing. Other features include 2" wide silver reflective stripes and a left chest pocket. The microfiber polyester material wicks away moisture - helping to keep you both dry and cool. Available in high visibility Lime; M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant.

Intense Heat Plays a Part in Roadside Safety

Asphalt and concrete are tough materials to deal with, let along in the intense heat and overbearing sun. In the heat of the summer, roadside safety becomes more than just remaining visible to motor traffic - it's also about staying cool.

The season requires workers to consider two additional factors, sun and heat. The primary place to keep covered from the sun is the head and neck. For this HiVisSupply offers a variety of hats and neck shades. In the scorching heat even the layering of a high-vis vest atop a regular t-shirt can be oppressive. That’s why we recommend our moisture wicking microfiber t-shirts which keep you in compliance and considerably cooler. ML Kishigo, makes products that have you covered for any weather and any season.
In the video above, blog they briefly show the best products for optimizing comfort in the summer heat.

The HiVis shorts, from Vinatronics, are designed for both comfort and visibility. They are made from an all-season, breathable polyester with 2" 3M Scotchlite silver reflective material. Other features include: drawstring waist adjustment and two waist pocket openings. Combine these ANSI Class E shorts with an ANSI Class 2 vest for and ANSI Class 3 compliant ensemble. Available in high visibility Lime or Orange. Made in the USA. ANSI/ISEA Class E compliant.

Work Zone Fatality Reduction Strategies

Recently, the FHWA released a webinar and associated recordings regarding the reduction in work zone fatalities. During this webinar, three States that have experienced reductions in work zone fatalities over the past several years shared their efforts in work zone planning, management, and outreach. Presenters from CA, NC and FL provided examples of how it takes a combination of strategies to make work zones safer and offered suggestions based on their experiences that may help other agencies enhance work zone safety. A recording of the webinar, transcript, and the presentations are now available.

In 2010, there were 576 fatalities in U.S. work zones. We all basically understand that work zones can be hazardous places. People die each and year in work zones. 576 is not just number, but it is a representation of lives lost in work zones. According to data from our Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the 576 fatalities that we experienced in 2010 were a 13.6% decrease from the prior year, when there were 667 fatalities. This continues the trend of decreasing work zone fatalities that has been occurring since 2002: a 10-year downward trend from when fatalities peaked at 1,186 in 2002.
This is the lowest number of work zone fatalities in 30 years – since 1982 – when there were 489 work zone fatalities. This is all very good news; the number of fatalities is certainly moving in the right direction, and there are more lives saved each year. However, there are still 576 lives lost, and we need to continue to work to reduce that loss of life.

ABove shows a pictorial representation of the number of fatalities over the last 15 years or so. You can see it increased for a little while, but since 2002 we've been on a downward trend, with an even greater decrease since 2006. This slide shows a different representation of the same data to show the trend line.

Check out the webinar and other related items here.

The Brilliant Series vests from ML Kishigo provide maximum visibility. In addition to the high visibility background material and the 2" wide VizLite reflective tape with contrasting color, the vest also utilizes Brilliant Trim reflective edging which considerably improves the vest's low light visibility. The reflective piping improves recognition of the wearer by distinguishing their silhouette from the other stationary objects around them. The vest is constructed of a durable and breathable 100% polyester mesh. Vest features include: zipper closure, mic tabs on chest, 2-tier pencil pocket, flapped radio pocket, inside patch pockets, outside cargo pockets with adjustable flaps, and reinforced webbing for added strength. Available in both high visibility Lime or Orange. Sizes M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant.

ISEA: High-Vis Public Safety Vests Meet FHWA Requirements for Work Zones

High-visibility protective garments are required for right-of-way workers, flaggers, and adult crossing guards in a document called the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is the basis for federal and state highway regulations. These garments must be compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107, the American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear.

Public safety workers such as law enforcement, firefighters, and other emergency responders have the option of wearing high-visibility vests specifically designed for their use and compliant with the ANSI/ISEA 207, American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests.

A revision to the MUTCD published in December 2009 mandates that public safety vests be labeled as compliant with the 2006 version of the standard, or a subsequent revision. ANSI approved the revision to the standard in 2011, and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) requested an interpretation from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that garments meeting the new standard would be acceptable, pointing out that the requirements of the two standards for daytime and nighttime visibility are essentially the same.

FHWA has agreed, and issued an official interpretation stating that the ANSI/ISEA 207-2011 standard is equivalent to the 2006 version, and that garments labeled as meeting the 2011 standard would be in compliance with the MUTCD requirements.

This article is a re-print from Feb 07, 2012 - Occupational Health and Safety.

PSV Pro 300 Series Police Vest with Blue Trim

The PSV Pro 300 Series Police vest features a durable mesh material with color coded fabric trim for proper public service department identification; along with a high visibility 2" silver reflective material with contrasting background color. Five point breakaway design; as well as snap up flaps to allow greater accessibility to toolbelts and gear. Each vest includes two chest mic tabs. The vest folds into a convenient pouch for storage. The vest also offers 4-season adjustability to accomodate bulky coats.
Be sure to visit HiVis Supply for all of your hi vis safety vest needs including hi visibility vest for flaggers, hi-vis for incident command and emergency responders.

The Brilliant Series from ML Kishigo

The Brilliant Series line of high-viz workwear is the premium line for ML Kishigo, and the safety enhancements they provide far outweigh the premium you’ll pay over standard hi-viz. For example, the Brilliant Series Economy Vest is up to 60% brighter than its standard counterpart when viewed at a distance. When comparing their suggested retail prices, that equates to only 3 pennies for every percent of increased visibility. They calculated the remarkable affect by analyzing a 1080i HD video frame at the distance of approximately 30 to 60 feet. By zooming in and mapping out the identical area/proportions for both vests (Brilliant Class 2 vs Standard) they measured the individual visual footprint of each. This is based exclusively upon luminosity of the cars headlights hitting the reflective material.

Thoroughly measuring the gray levels pixel by pixel, then taking the average across the entire area of each image, you can see that the Brilliant series has up to 60% more of a visible footprint at night.
When comparing the histogram graphs (left side shows level of black, right shows level of white, with every level of gray in between), across the charts there are much higher numbers of pixels for each level of gray all the way up to white, and a significantly lower levels of black pixels with the Brilliant Series than with the standard.
Go to HiVis Supply for the very best from ML Kishigo, and the very best for your workers. They can’t afford not to wear the best and the brightest.

Hi-Vis Apparel Really High Up

John Makely / msnbc.com

The above photo shows a One World Trade Center electrician, Victor Rosario, taking his lunch break while overlooking the 9/11 Memorial from the 35th floor.

One World Trade Center, the monolith being built to replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks, claimed the title of New York City's tallest skyscraper on Monday, as workers erected steel columns that made its unfinished skeleton a little over 1,250 feet high, just enough to peek over the roof of the observation deck on the Empire State Building.

"This project is much more than steel and concrete. It is a symbol of success for the nation," said David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority, the agency that owns the World Trade Center.
The milestone is only a preliminary one. Workers are still adding floors to the building once called the Freedom Tower. It isn't expected to reach its full height for at least another year, at which point it is likely to be declared the tallest building in the U.S., and third tallest in the world.

Excluding its antenna, the Empire State Building's total height to 1,250 feet. That was still high enough to make the skyscraper the world's tallest from 1931 until 1972.

One World Trade Center would still be smaller than the Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower, which tops out at 1,451 feet (not including its antennas).

As for the world's tallest building, the undisputed champion is the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which opened in 2010 and reaches 2,717 feet, Not counting about 5 feet of aircraft lights and other equipment perched on top, of course.

HiVis Supply salutes the men and women who have worked tirelessly to rebuild New York City's One World Trade Center, along with the hopes and dreams of the people who lived through - and lost - loved ones in the tragedy that was 9/11.

Economy Series Class 3 T-Shirt

These ANSI Class 3 economy series t-shirts, from ML Kishigo, feature Ultra-Cool microfiber polyester material with 2" wide silver reflective stripes and (1) left breast pocket. The microfiber polyester material wicks away moisture - helping to keep you both dry and cool. Available in both high visibility Lime or Orange; M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 3 compliant.

National Work Zone Awareness Week Begins

Here's a great article by Accuform Signs' Ashley Price, Merchandising Manager and blogger at Notable Regulations. You can email her with any questions regarding this or past blog posts.

Imagine showing up to work every day and being faced with the constant danger of speeding, distracted motorists whizzing by only mere feet from you while also being surrounded by a bustle of heavy equipment, materials and machinery. This is “the office” for workers building and improving our American roadways.

This week (April 23-27) is the 13^th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week. Started in 1999, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in coordination with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), sponsor the week-long event that strives to spread awareness of the myriad of dangers in highway work zones. Many states are also now hosting their own Work Zone Awareness events.

This year’s national kick-off event will be hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation on Route 141 where a relocation project is underway near St. Louis to upgrade the three-lane road to a six-lane freeway. Missouri was chosen because of their level of commitment to work zone awareness. The theme chosen for this year’s awareness week is “Don’t Barrel Through Work Zones! Drive Smart to Arrive Alive”.

In 2010, there were 576 work zone fatalities that resulted from 514 fatal motor vehicle crashes, with 80% being the vehicle operators and passengers and 20% workers, pedestrians and cyclists. On the up-side, those numbers are down and have been decreasing steadily over the years. Work zone fatalities are actually decreasing at a faster rate than overall highway fatalities - proof of the national and state-level commitment to safer roads and programs like the National Work Zone Awareness Week. Let's give our support to continuing to reduce fatalities and injuries on our nation's roadways. Consider participating in awareness week at your place of business and even in your home.

So, as you drive through any of the thousands of work zones across our country today, remember to slow down - for you, for your family, for workers, for the families who could lose a parent, a child, a sibling, a friend. As we here at Accuform Signs say, "Safety is a Family Value".
For more information about the National Work Zone Awareness Week and for more resources visit:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm
• American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA): http://www.atssa.com/NewsPR/NationalWorkZoneAwarenessWeek.aspx

For information on national regulations and policies governing work zone safety, visit: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/policy.htm
Work Zone Fatalities Charts Source: National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and US DOT Federal Highway Administration

Class 2 T-Shirt with Flat Stitch Panels

This ANSI Class 2 t-shirt, from ML Kishigo, takes comfort and contrast to a new level. The flat-stitched contrast panels improve daytime visibility and significantly improves comfort and coolness over standard layered contrasting panels. The shirt is constructed from microfiber polyester material that wicks away moisture - keeping you dry and cool. The shirts also feature 2" silver reflective material and left chest pocket. Available in both high visibility Lime and Orange. Sizes M-5XL. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant.

HiVisSupply is proud to offer high visibility apparel for a variety of job duties like roadside construction, manufacturing, plant assembly, mining, surveying, forestry, power generator construction, shipyard construction, warehouse and facility maintenance, utilities department, sewer maintenance, electrical line construction, wind energy construction, ethanol and oil refinery and many others. HiVis Supply offers great savings and product selection for helping you maintain a safe and OSHA/ANSI compliant work environment. If you're looking for discounted safety equipment or identification products on sale, visit our web specials page or sign up for our email promotions.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is a huge topic right now, and has surpassed drunk driving as the number one topic of conversation about driving and the road. It does not discriminate; old or young, male or female, distracted driving affects us all.

But what exactly is distracted driving? Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses, not only to drivers, but also to roadside construction crews, emergency personnel, law enforcement officers, surveyors and more. 

On this page, you'll find facts and statistics that are powerfully persuasive. If you don't already think distracted driving is a safety problem, please take a moment to learn more. And, as with everything on Distraction.gov, please share these facts with others. Together, we can help save lives.

Key Facts and Statistics

• In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction, and an estimated 448,000 were injured. (NHTSA)
• 16% of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA)
• 20% of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA)
• In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009. (CTIA)
• Teen drivers are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported. In 2009, 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted. (NHTSA)
• 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. (Pew)
• Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Monash University)
• Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. (VTTI)Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI)
• Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI)
• Using a cell phone while driving - whether it's hand-held or hands-free delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (University of Utah)
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon)

Black Series Class 2 T-Shirt

The Black Series t-shirt from ML Kishigo is constructed from microfiber polyester material which wicks away moisture, keeping you dry and cool. The shirt also utilizes a 2" silver, breathable reflective tape that significantly reduces "hot spots" and provides greater flexibility over solid tapes. The black sides provide contrast and add a sporty look. Available in both high visibility Lime and Orange. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 Compliant.

Struck-by Accidents in Construction/Vehicle Back-Over

 The US Department of Labor (DOL) has produced a series of prevention videos regarding safety in industry and on the jobsite. To see the series, go here.

In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die every year while on the job. Being struck by vehicles, heavy equipment, and other objects is the top cause of injuries and the second cause of death for construction workers, killing more than 150 workers in 2009. But these injuries and deaths can be prevented. 

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You'll see that taking the right protective steps saves lives. 

All scenes are based on true stories. A surveyor was spray painting the ground to outline the area for a new building pad. At the same time, the driver of a wheel tractor scraper was moving forward to get the ground ready for pad construction. There was no spotter at the site, and there was no internal traffic control plan in place. Before backing up to go over the ground again, the driver checked his rearview and side mirrors. He didn't see anyone in his mirrors, so he  up. The driver's back-up alarm didn't work, so the surveyor did not hear the scraper coming towards her. As the driver backed up, he ran over the surveyor. She died from the injuries.

Let's look at the events leading up to this tragic incident, and see how it could have been prevented. When a vehicle on a construction site has an obstructed view to the rear OSHA's standard requires employers to provide that vehicle with a working back-up alarm, or a spotter on site to tell the driver when it is safe to back up. Now let's see what happens when protective measures are in place. Although there is now a working back-up alarm, it is barely audible over the background noise, so as an added safety measure there is also a spotter on site wearing a reflective vest. There is also an internal traffic control plan in place. This plan helps protect workers because it tells the drivers of moving vehicles and equipment the safest way to move around the work site. So this time, before backing up, the scraper's driver waits for the spotter's signal so he knows the area is clear to enter. Now as the driver reverses, the back-up alarm can be heard and no workers are near the scraper.

This example shows the importance of employers following OSHA's vehicle safety standards for construction sites to ensure that workers are provided with a safe workplace.

These types of construction worker deaths are preventable.

The protection measures shown here save workers' lives. Please follow OSHA's safety standards at worksites: it could be the difference between life and death. If you would like more information, contact OSHA at www.osha.gov or 1-800-321-OSHA.

To view the video or get the transcript, go here.

Professional Surveyors Vest

The Professional Surveyors vest, from ML Kishigo, is designed to exceed the demanding needs of a highly functional surveyors vest. It is constructed with a solid polyester front /Ultra-Cool mesh back; and features a 2" 3M Scotchlite reflective material laminated to 3" contrasting color – increasing daytime visibility. Other features of the vest include: left and right mic holders; zipper front closure; two lapel grommets; reinforced webbing at high stress points; and a plush neck liner for comfort. The pockets of this surveyors vest include: left chest 2-tier pocket with dual function flap that can be held open by Velcro; large right gusseted pocket; outside lower pockets with flaps; left and right stake pockets; left and right elastic spray can pockets; lower inside left and right full length zipper pockets with load bearing straps; and a hidden back pouch with left and right zipper access. Available in high visibility Lime and Orange; sizes M-5XL. Choose from both ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 compliant and ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 3 compliant vests.

HiVis Supply is a reseller of high visibility apparel including hivis vests, ANSI Class 2 and ANSI Class 3 for a variety of job duties like construction, shipyard construction, and warehouse and facility maintenance.