APE June 2020 | Page 12

ASPHALT ANSWERS Proper protective gear makes all the difference in a safe work zone more and more of people will be getting back to normal routines and we must plan for more vehicles using the interstates, highways, roads, and parking lots we call our “work zones”. According to www.workzonesafety. org in 2017 there were 720 fatal crashes resulting in 809 fatalities in which 132 were work zone workers. Persistent and consistent review of your safety plan, along with self and team accountability will make all the difference in maintaining an accident free work zone. Below are some tips to review in order to help keep safety front and center during these distracted and challenging times. Safety First – Create a culture within your company that places the upmost priority on safety. In order to develop a sustainable safety culture, that culture must start from top leadership and extend down to the least experienced worker. Every employee needs to understand that safety must be the first focus of their job. Safety responsibility is not the responsibility of the Safety Director, but of each employee doing the work. Safe employees are your best employees! Start Each Workday with a Safety Huddle - In addition to ensuring that employees have the proper training required it is also a good idea to have a quick safety meeting before the workday begins. In addition to this add a random huddle at varying times of day to address changes in scope of work, inclement weather, address a near miss or any topic that is relevant or important at the time. Since conditions can change greatly from day to day in the work zone; workers should be briefed on the work activity scheduled each day and notified of all potential hazards. This is also a good time to ensure that all workers have and are wearing the proper PPE required for the work being done that day. For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com [12] 1.800.210.5923