KRISTI RONYAK
FEATURE
SECURE YOUR WORK ZONES :
Prioritizing Safety to Prevent Construction Fatalities in 2025
KRISTI RONYAK
R oad construction projects are among the most hazardous endeavors in the construction industry . Workers often operate in proximity to moving vehicles , heavy machinery and distracted drivers . According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), “ struck-by ” incidents — where workers are hit by vehicles — are a leading cause of fatalities on construction sites . “ The safety of our workforce is the top priority at Michigan Paving and Materials , Stoneco , and Cadillac Asphalt ,” said Rick Becker , president . “ At our companies , we have implemented an employee-drive safety culture called ‘ See , Stop , Do ’ which encourages our teams and crews to speak up if they see any potential hazards within their workspace . We also regularly host toolbox talks and safety stand downs , during which daily safety goals and project initiatives are discussed . Still , no matter how much we as a company focus on safety , we still need the public to do their part to make sure our employees go home safe to their families at the end of the workday . We need everyone on the roads to slow down when entering work zones , keep your eyes on the road , and avoid being distracted by cell phone use while driving . We all have a part to play in keeping construction workers and motorists safe during daily activities . Even though our mission is to have zero workplace fatalities , we are grateful to partner with Construction Angels , who has provided assistance to our CRH family of companies during the tragic loss of loved ones due to a work zone intrusion .” The Construction Angels charity found that well more than half of the donations to families in 2024 went to roadway and
underground fatalities . Most of the road construction fatalities we helped this past year were from vehicles striking our workers . There were a few hit-and-runs ( speeding cars that were driving through and into our work zones ), distracted drivers and workers that were setting up MOT ( Maintenance of Traffic Plans ) on day and night jobs . So how many construction workers were killed in 2024 by vehicles on a road construction project ? Data from the Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA ) indicates that in 2021 , there were 108 highway worker fatalities at road construction sites . Additionally , between 2013 and 2022 , fatal worker injuries at road construction sites from all causes ranged from 94 to 143 per year . Given these historical trends , it ’ s reasonable to anticipate that the 2024 data , once released , will reflect similar figures . There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023 , a 3.7-percent decrease from 5,486 in 2022 , the U . S . Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ) National Census of Fatal Occupational injuries reported on Dec . 19 , 2024 . They also reported in 2023 , there were 1,075 fatalities in the construction industry , marking the highest number since 2011 . Of these , 240 deaths were attributed to transportation incidents , which include workers being struck by vehicles . Transportation incidents were the most frequent type of fatal event , accounting for 36.8 percent ( 1,942 ) of all occupational fatalities in 2023 . Transportation incidents were the highest cause of fatalities for both Black or African American ( 261 ) and Hispanic or Latino ( 390 ) workers in 2023 . The private industry sector with the highest number of Black or African Ameri-
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