WILMINGTON, Mass., June 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As government
transportation agencies throughout North
America act to rebuild many aging highways, much of that
roadwork must be performed during hours with heavy amounts of
traffic. The U.S. Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the
Transportation Safety Board of Canada are reminding roadway construction and
maintenance companies of the need for heightened safety awareness
to prevent needless injuries or fatalities.
UniFirst (www.unifirst.com), a provider of work uniforms and
safety apparel to companies throughout the U.S. and Canada, has compiled a list of 10 important
safety considerations that roadway workers should keep in mind.
Chuck Stanec, Specialty Apparel
Product Manager at UniFirst, says: "A Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) report shows that there were 609 fatalities in
work zones in 2012. With a stronger focus on worksite safety,
particularly as it applies to high visibility workwear, there's no
reason that number cannot be significantly reduced or potentially
eliminated."
- Don't trust accessories alone, such as high visibility vests,
to provide worker protection. Enhanced or high visibility shirts,
pants, jackets or coveralls may be needed for workers to be better
identified by drivers of moving vehicles (particularly in hot
climates where roadwork is generally done during nighttime hours to
minimize the risk of heat exhaustion).
- Follow the regulations and guidelines that affect your business
as they apply to high visibility safety apparel. Adhere to the high
visibility apparel compliance standards, such as ANSI/ISEA
107-2010, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD),
and CSA Z96.1.
- Ensure your high visibility apparel works as it was designed to
do. Keep it clean and well maintained.
- Conduct training programs to instruct workers on how to
properly use and maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Incorporate the use of temporary traffic barriers at your
worksite to provide workers with added physical protection from
moving vehicles.
- Use flaggers or police officers to help control the movement of
passing vehicles and prominently post speed zones.
- Designate a trained workplace safety expert to conduct regular
hazard assessments and adjust safety measures accordingly.
- Hold supervisors accountable for the daily documentation of any
potential safety hazards and have them demonstrate the steps they
took to eliminate them.
- Select the best high visibility color for the work environment.
If the work area, for example, contains many orange colored
vehicles and signs, the use of yellow-green work apparel may help
to differentiate workers from their surroundings.
- Don't have the time or resources to effectively manage and
maintain a safety work apparel program for your employees? Then
renting (versus purchasing) ANSI-rated high visibility and other
garments from a reputable uniform service provider, like UniFirst,
may be your best option. Such suppliers provide all required work
apparel, regular pick up and deliveries, hygienic laundering, and
quality inspections, while also managing program administration and
maintaining inventories.
About UniFirst
UniFirst (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in the supply and
servicing of uniforms, workwear, and protective clothing, outfits
more than 1.5 million workers each business day. The company's most
popular brands include UniWeave®, SofTwill®, UniWear®, and Armorex
FR®. UniFirst also offers Facility Service programs including floor
mats, mops, and restroom products. For more information, contact
UniFirst at 800-455-7654 or visit www.unifirst.com.
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SOURCE UniFirst