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.

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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.

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