Presentations at the 2002 Roadway Work Zone Safety Conference & Exhibition

December 3-7, 2002
Orlando, Florida

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Opening Session

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association and the Texas Transportation Institute launch the 2002 Roadway Work Zone Conference and "set the agenda" for roadway work zone safety. National leaders in transportation construction discuss the importance and future of roadway work zone safety, highlighting the importance of safety in the 2003 federal surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

  • Bradley Sant, American Road & Transportation Builders Association
  • Ken Morefield, Florida Department of Transportation
  • Dennis Christensen, Texas Transportation Institute

Developing Model Specifications

A dialog, including participants from construction companies, as well as labor, federal, and state agencies, about what hazard controls are amenable to being covered in road construction contracts and to begin developing sample contract language for control of these hazards. In the first part of this two-part special session, participants established an overview of key issues pertaining to building worker safety into road construction contracts. In the second part, they discussed ways to address these issues in construction contracts.

Trends in PPE

Explore the latest trends in the use of PPE for protection of workers against safety hazards on road construction sites. The panel will provide insights into new products designed to help you make your job safer and healthier for you and those around you.

New Work Zone Technologies for the 'Smart Zone'

Manufacturers and researchers talk about the newest and most successful products and practices in traffic control technology. See how the latest technologies can make your work zone safer while improving traffic flow.

  • James Crowley, Energy Absorption / Quixote Transportation Safety
  • Rod Klashinsky, International Road Dynamics
    Deployment and Evaluation of ITS Technology in Work Zones [Presentation | Paper]
  • Mike Spellman, Quixote Transportation Safety
  • Marianna Rizzo, U.S. Federal Highway Administration

Learn How to Do a 'Safety Orientation for New Hires'

Developed by an industry labor-management partnership, the Roadway Safety Program is a one hour "new hire" or quick refresher course, providing an overview of common hazards in highway road construction and simple prevention measures. It is divided into 12 easy to follow modules, covering a range of topics from "Run-overs and Back-overs" to Night Work.

  • To request a free copy of this program, contact ARTBA's Scott Pearce at (202) 289-4434 or spearce@artba.org

Preventing Falls from Equipment and Bridges

Falls from elevations and equipment continue to top the list of causes for injuries and fatalities in the transportation construction industry. This workshop takes a practical approach to reviewing the best practices, technology, and equipment that you can use to reduce the risk of falls for you and your colleagues.

  • Camille Villannova, Occupational Health & Safety Administration
  • Paul A. Satti, Construction Safety Council
    Preventing Falls

Avoiding Contact with Buried and Overhead Utilities

Gain informative insight into safely working around overhead and buried utilities near roadway construction work zones - including conditions of work, risks, and solutions to the problems they pose.

Bridging Language & Cultural Differences in the Workplace

Recent statistics show that over one-fourth of the roadway construction work force is comprised of Hispanic workers, many of whom speak limited English. This workshop reviews recent trends for the high number of injuries and fatalities among Hispanic workers, and discusses ways to overcome those challenges.

  • Lee Ramirez, Texas Engineering Extension Service
  • Bradley M. Sant, American Road & Transportation Builders Association
    Bridging Cultural Differences

Internal Traffic Control Plans

Did you know that over half the "struck-by" fatalities in roadway construction work come from construction vehicles operating inside the work area? Learn how to devise and execute an effective internal traffic control plan for the promotion of safety and mobility during your construction operations.

  • Jerry Graham, Graham Consulting
  • Stephanie Pratt, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)

Hearing Protection & Conservation

An examination of an important health hazard in roadway construction for workers and the public; and how exposure can be reduced or eliminated through the use of equipment, technology, and training.

Barrier and Beyond: Positive Protection for Workers

This panel discussion looks at all sides of a growing effort to increase the use of barrier and other forms of "positive protection" devices to separate and protect workers from the motoring public.

  • Jim Keaton, Barrier Systems, Inc.
  • Dan Rathbone, Transportation Safety Consultant / Urban Transportation Monitor
  • Steve Hubbard, Rea Construction
  • Camille Villanova, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
  • Walter Jones, Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America

Health Issues - Sprains, Strains, and Silica

Ergonomic hazards are the leading cause of injury among transportation construction workers. The ever-present mineral silica continues to cause health concerns in the transportation construction industry because of the well-recognized diseases caused by overexposure. This workshop provides a forum for participants to listen to recognized national leaders on these topics as they share practical, low-cost solutions to solve many of these health hazard exposures.

  • Ken Hoffner, New Jersey Laborers' Health & Safety Fund
  • Scott Schneider, Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America
    Ergonomics and Highway Construction
  • Pam Susi, Center to Protect Workers' Rights

Safe Deployment of Traffic Control Devices

Setting up traffic control devices, designed to make work zones safer for workers and motorists, can be extremely hazardous for the workers placing those devices. This workshop is designed to share innovative techniques to protect workers as they implement the traffic control plan.

  • Robert Brownlee, American Traffic Safety Services Association

Safe Practices in Night Work

Examine the unique set of safety and health challenges associated with night construction. From traffic control to impaired drivers, learn how to make this increasingly common practice safer for motorists and workers.

  • Tom Flaherty, Reflexite Americas
  • James Bryden, Highway Safety Engineer
  • Stephanie Pratt, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)
    Safe Practices in Night Work

General Session - Regulation in Roadway Construction

A special general session where federal government leaders explain their plans to promote work zone safety through new programs and regulations.

  • John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
  • George Ostensen, Associate Administrator for Safety, U.S. Federal Highway Administration

Insurance & Liability - Claim Prevention

This session highlights the positive impact of implementing a proper claim prevention program in the workplace; and use real-life case studies to demonstrate how such measures can reduce large losses.

  • John Tatum, CNA Commercial Insurance
  • Murray Haas, CNA Commercial Insurance

Insurance & Liability - Claim Mitigation

This session lays out several options and actions that can be taken to mitigate a claim once an accident has occurred.

  • John Tatum, CNA Commercial Insurance
  • Robin Johnson, CNA Commercial Insurance

Accommodating Law Enforcement

Florida law enforcement officers have gone 'under cover' dressed as road construction workers to catch speeders in work zones. This workshop explains this innovative and successful program. Plus, learn other ways to assist law enforcement officers in helping you, the contractor or the worker, make you work zone safer.

Automated Work Zone Law Enforcement

High-tech work zone enforcement is here! See how radar, cameras, and signs are being used to enforce speeding laws in work zones; and find out about the barriers that must be overcome to make high-tech enforcement a reality for you.

  • Joe Walker, International Safety Equipment Association
  • Rich Kosina
  • Kimberly Henderson, ACS

Closing Session - Taking the Message Home

Conference partners summarize the most important messages of the conference.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the organizations whose materials appear on this site (and were presented at the 2002 Work Zone Conference and Exhibition) have used their best-faith efforts to ensure that the content is current and accurate. Nevertheless, ARTBA and the presenters make no warranties - expressed or implied - as to the accuracy of this information and are not liable for illnesses, injuries or damages that may arise from actions taken as a result of these materials. Use of these materials constitutes a waiver of all liabilities against the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the presenters and their affiliates and subsidiaries.

Last verified: 5/18/2007

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