Hundreds of Industry Executives Attend 2009 "Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety Conference"

Working to reduce roadway accidents, injuries and fatalities—especially in construction zones—more than 250 transportation professionals from the U.S. and Puerto Rico attended the "Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety Conference," held March 10-12 in Orlando, Fla. The event was hosted by the ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF)-managed National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and collocated with the "World of Asphalt" show.

Looking Forward

The conference featured a forward-looking policy session with officials from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and standard developers for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) discussing new and soon-to-be-released work zone safety standards and operational regulations.

It also featured a presentation from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on roadway hazards research and safety improvement recommendations as well as sessions on night work in construction zones, run-over and back-over accidents.

Armed with Information

Joseph Toole, FHWA associate administrator for safety, discussed the agency’s work zone safety work plan. Don Elisberg, NAPA; Walter Jones, Laborers’; Emmett Russell, Operating Engineers; Rod Wolford of FOF Communications and members of the Roadway Safety Training Consortia presented the latest version of the acclaimed "Roadway Safety Training Program."

"Safe roadway work zones require well-informed professionals with a keen awareness of the latest policies and safe work practices. The conference helped arm workers, managers and government officials with the latest information to improve their own operations and make work zones safer for motorists and workers alike," said Brad Sant, ARTBA-TDF executive director of safety training.

In addition to hosting the conference, the ARTBA Foundation organized a "traffic management and work zone safety pavilion" in the World of Asphalt exhibit hall, where leading industry firms displayed innovative personal protective equipment, traffic control devices and latest training resources. World of Asphalt saw a record number of exhibitors this year, over 400, a 10 percent increase from the 2007 event.

Materials and reports presented at the conference are available via the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse at www.workzonesafety.org.

Posted: 5/5/2009

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