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Roadway Safety: Instructor Manual PDF Version
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This document is one in a program produced under an OSHA grant by a consortium of the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund N.A, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the American Road and Transportation Builders Assn, and the National Asphalt Pavement Assn. All of the documents from this set that are on eLCOSH can be found by clicking on Job Site, Heavy construction, and scrolling to the Street & highway heading. Or to download a complete version of the computerized program, go to http://wzsafety.tamu.edu.

What Causes Falls in Road Work?

Most of the work in heavy and highway construction — which excludes bridges and tunnel work — is done on or near the ground. This means that the most falls results from slips or trips on the same level. Falls on walking and working surfaces involve:
  • tripping over materials or debris,
  • falling on hills or embankments,
  • stepping in holes or walking on irregular ground,
  • stumbling while carrying loads that block vision, and
  • slips or trips in muddy, wet, or icy conditions.
There are some falls from elevations in road work. The most common include:
  • falls from riding in or on moving equipment,
  • falls while mounting or dismounting vehicles and equipment,
  • falls from bridges,
  • falls from formwork, and
  • falls into excavations.
Fig. FH-1A
Fig. FH-1A. Most falls in road construction result from slips or trips on the same level.

Fig. FH-1B.
Fig. FH-1B. In road work, there are some falls from elevations. Even falls from a few feet can kill. OSHA requires fall protection for work at 6 feet above any surface.

Notes:

Ask trainees: What percentage of injuries in highway work are due to falls? (Falls are the second leading cause of serious injuries in highway construction. Almost 17% of all lost workday injuries in highway construction are due to falls. About half of these falls were to lower levels and about half were falls on the same level.)

Can you get killed from even a short fall?

What are the most common tripping hazards?

Missing the last step when climbing off a vehicle is a big problem.

Many workers fall when crawling onto a truck to check the water level.

Note: OSHA requires fall protection above 6 feet. OSHA also requires fall protection below 6 feet if workers can fall into or onto dangerous equipment.

How Do We Prevent Falls on Same Level?

There are many simple methods for preventing falls on the same level in road construction. Try to do as many as possible. Just a few of them include:
  • If possible, avoid walking on muddy, wet, or icy surfaces.
  • Use footwear with ankle support and soles that grip.
  • Don't carry heavy loads, use hauling equipment
  • Practice good housekeeping, remove tools and materials.
  • Fill in or mark hidden holes in ground.
  • Clear walking/working surfaces of tripping hazards.
  • Include walking routes in site safety plan.
One of the best things we can all do to protect ourselves from all types of falls is to maintain good physical strength and conditioning. No matter what shape we're in, we can improve it.

How Do We Avoid Falls From Elevations?

There are also many methods for preventing falls from elevations. Some of these methods include:
  • a 100% fall protection program,
  • pre-plan work for personal fall arrest,
  • erect guardrails around large excavations,
  • seatbelts or restraints for riding in cars,
  • modular erection to avoid work at heights on forms,
  • using 3-point contact on ladders.
Fig. FH-2.
Fig. FH-2. There are simple methods for preventing falls on the same level.

Fig. FH-3
Fig. FH-3. There are many methods for preventing falls from elevations.

Notes:

How can we improve good housekeeping on this site?

These are OSHA-required fall protection methods. Ask trainees if they can think of smaller ways to prevent falls every day. For example, to eliminate the hazard of falling from a water truck while trying to see how much water is left, you can place a sight glass (mirrored device) on top of it. That way, workers can stay on the ground and still see how much water is left.

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This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its use or misuse.

©2002 Laborers Health & Safety Fund of North America,Washington, DC All rights reserved. This material was produced under grant number 46C1-HT21 from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor to a consortium of the Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. No statement made in this booklet should be construed to convey an impression that any member of the consortium, its affiliates, or employees have assumed any part of the employer's exclusive legal responsibility for providing a "safe and healthful workplace" as mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Produced for the consortium by FOF Communications.