CONSTRUCTION FLAGGER STRUCK AND KILLED IN TWO-LANE HIGHWAY WORK ZONE
On a clear, cold, Monday, January 20, 2014, a 36-year-old
married flagger entered a two-lane highway with his back toward oncoming
traffic and was struck by a 2010 red Toyota Corolla, driven by a 53 year-old
motorist. The seven-man crew had finished
setting up a construction zone on a two-lane highway to repair damaged
guardrails along the westbound side of the roadway. The crew had placed alert signs in each
direction of travel in preparation to stop all traffic prior to completely
closing the westbound lane and had just dropped off the victim, who was
designated as the flagger for the eastbound traffic.
Traffic flow was to be coordinated with flaggers by two-way
radios. Witnesses stated that the victim walked out into the eastbound lane
with his back to oncoming traffic while facing the other flagger and the lane
of traffic he stepped into had not yet been stopped. The victim was struck from
behind by a passenger vehicle traveling approximately 55 mph.
Police interviews with the driver stated that his vision was
obscured due to the glare of the sun through his windshield and he did not see
the victim.
The employer of the dead worker is a highway construction
contractor specializing in the installation and maintenance of highway signs,
guard rails, and cable barrier systems. The company was established in 1962 and
has 40 employees.
Recommendation No. 1: Flaggers should never enter the
roadway before traffic has been stopped and never turn their backs towards
oncoming traffic.
Recommendation No. 2: Operators of motor vehicles should
always adhere to roadway warning signage by slowing down and paying close
attention while in a work zone area.
Recommendation No. 3: Employers should train employees
quarterly to keep flagging safety policies and procedures fresh in their minds
while working in highway situations.
Recommendation No. 4: Companies should set up traffic
control in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices.
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS KILLED
OR INJURED BY A PREVENTABLE WORKPLACE HAZARD, THIS IS NO ACCIDENT. IT MEANS THE EMPLOYER FAILED TO PROTECT
WORKERS FROM DANGERS THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY, ILLNESS OR, NEEDLESS DEATH