Corvallis, OR – Sufficient lighting, portable signs and visible police presence are among several contributing factors that help improve worker safety on highway paving projects, according to a study from Oregon State University.

Washington – The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health has scheduled a public meeting on March 31 and April 1 to discuss a proposed revision to OSHA’s crane operator qualification requirement.

Washington – A new NIOSH document outlines best practices for minimizing the risk of crystalline silica exposure during asphalt pavement milling.

More than 500 people were killed in roadway work zones in 2013. Although safety has improved during the past decade, experts say more needs to be done.

Juneau, AK – In response to the death of a 23-year-old construction worker in a trenching incident in Anchorage, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development is highlighting the importance of training workers on safe trench work and excavations.

Fairfax, VA – OSHA’s forthcoming crane operator qualifications rule will be different from a draft previously issued, an agency official recently told stakeholders.

Mississauga, Ontario – A new series of videos from the Ontario Road Builders’ Association relies on humor to promote safety in construction work zones.

Washington — The National Cooperative Highway Research Program has released a guidebook that “provides practitioners who develop phasing and staging plans for temporary traffic control through work zones with guidance to evaluate the safety impacts of their plan decisions.”

Silver Spring, MD — A total of 532 construction workers were killed at road construction sites from 2011 through 2016 – more than twice the combined total for all other industries combined – according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Columbia, MO — Distracted drivers are 29 times more likely to be involved in a highway work zone collision or near collision, according to a recent study from the University of Missouri.

Washington — National Work Zone Awareness Week is set for April 26-30, with a national kickoff event – hosted by the Michigan Department of Transportation – planned for 11 a.m. Eastern on April 27.

Little Rock, AR — The Arkansas Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Police and other state organizations, has launched a campaign aimed at reducing incidents and fatalities in work zones.

Lincoln, NE — In an effort to help keep road construction workers and drivers safe, researchers at the University of Nebraska have developed prototype hardware that spans gaps between protective roadway barriers.

Washington — Vehicle-mounted electronic signs indicating that tow truck drivers and first responders are roadside may have significant outcomes for worker safety.

Olympia, WA — A new law in Washington state allows the use of speed safety cameras in highway work zones in an effort to protect roadway workers.

Washington — Use of temporary, portable rumble strips is more effective than warning signs at reducing distracted driving in work zones, according to a recent National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report.

Watertown, SD — A new video from NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association explores traffic control concepts intended to protect workers in roadway work zones.

Columbia, MO — Amid one of the most ambitious road construction efforts in state history, the University of Missouri has established a center aimed at preventing fatalities and serious injuries in work zones.

When selecting an extension cord for use with a power tool or high-powered machine, cord length is not the only thing that should be considered. Improper use of extension cords can easily cause appliances to overheat and can lead to fire.

The use of farm irrigation systems brings with it an increased risk of electrocution. Safe Electricity, a public awareness campaign created by the Urbana, IL-based Energy Education Council, urges workers to know and follow proper safety precautions to avoid electrical injuries when operating and handling watering systems.

Although it is a commonplace activity on many worksites, charging a lead-acid battery can be an extremely hazardous task. NIOSH identifies a number of associated hazards: the hydrogen gas formed while the battery is charging, the poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid present in the battery fluid, the possibility of short circuits causing burns or explosions, and the risk of electric shock.

Jump-starting, testing or inspecting a vehicle battery without taking proper safety precautions could lead to a serious eye injury, warns Chicago-based Prevent Blindness America.

Between 1992 and 2005 at least 154 workers were killed by electrocution when a metal ladder came into contact with overhead power wires, according to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Inattention to electrical hazards can lead to burns, shocks and electrocution. It is important to always be mindful of any potential electrical risks, both on and off the job.

Improperly using electrical equipment can create very serious hazards for workers. Special safety features built into equipment often are rendered ineffective when equipment is manipulated or misused.

Although injuries from electrical hazards represent a fraction of total on-the-job injuries, they are more likely to result in death than injuries from other causes, according to the Arlington, VA-based Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Electricity can present many dangers for workers, including arc flash hazards. An arc flash occurs when high-amperage currents travel, or “arc,” through the air.

Electrical extension cords are used in many office buildings and worksites, and should be treated with caution. The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation reminds workers that correct use of extension cords is an important component of on-the-job electrical safety.

Understanding electrical safety on the job is critical. But can you separate electrical safety myths from facts?