Working outside in the winter exposes employees to a number of hazards, including the risk of weather-related conditions such as frostbite. Cold weather can affect the body's senses, altering the ability to see, smell and feel, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Workers who are exposed to extreme cold may be at risk of cold stress. Hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot and chilblain are all examples of illnesses that can be caused by extremely cold or wet weather whenever temperatures drop.

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.

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.

Columbia, MO — Using a self-driving truck to follow a manned vehicle during “moving work zone” operations could help prevent roadway worker injuries, results of a recent study show.

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.

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.

Exposure to electricity resulted in 156 deaths and 1,730 cases involving days away from work in the United States in 2012, according to the 2015 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”

When thinking about where electrical hazards are commonly found, your first thought likely isn’t your office. However, the Georgia Institute of Technology states that electrical equipment used in offices can be hazardous and result in serious injuries if not properly maintained.

OSHA recommends workers follow eight “rules to live by” regarding downed electrical lines.

Workers using aerial lifts can be injured or killed if they don’t know how to operate them safely.

Heads up, workers: Power lines can be serious and potentially fatal hazards when proper safety precautions are not followed.

On-the-job electrical hazards are more common than people may realize.

Portable generators can be found in many workplaces. Among the risks users face, according to OSHA, are shocks and electrocution from improper use of power or unintentionally energizing other electrical systems, and fires from improperly refueling the generator or not storing fuel correctly.

Struggling to figure out how to remove or minimize human error in the workplace? The simple answer is to adopt a three-step technological approach of “monitor, inspect and manage” to create an ecosystem of safety-focused operations that remove the human element’s risk.