 |
| Paul Thomas |
Work zone safety wasn’t
something that I thought much about before working here, but now I know it’s
importance. Unfortunately, I had several close calls while working on the
highways and I am going tell you about an incident that happened when I first
started with KDOT.
That day’s plan was to repair
the driving lane that was breaking up on the interstate at an overpass where
the concrete and the asphalt met. A crew went out and set up traffic control
around the construction location with the crew working in the driving lane. For
the most part, traffic was going along nicely, minus a few drivers ignoring the
fact that the speed limit had been reduced, which is not uncommon.
On a work zone set-up like we
were in, there are not flaggers, so you don’t have those other individuals
watching your back. You must rely on your senses and everyone else in the work
zone to keep an eye out for each other. There is nothing more eerie than having
your back to the traffic in a work zone and feeling the wind off the larger
vehicles that come passing through as you are trying to complete your task.
On this particular day,
everyone was working and all was going well when we all heard the “sound” – the
sound of a traffic cone getting hit by a vehicle. Anyone who has worked in a
work zone for any length of time would know that sound as soon as they heard
it. So when this sound was heard, it triggered a highway worker to immediately
yell for everyone to get out of the way and take cover.
As I was running to safety, I
turned to look, only to see a driver had failed to slow down for whatever
reason, and due to other traffic was forced to crash through the cones headed
for the work zone we were working in. Luckily, no one was hurt because the
driver did finally make it back into the directed lane.
But had it not been for that
“sound” and the watchful eyes of other employees, things could have had a
totally different outcome. This was just one of many close calls that happen out
there every day. Most of the time, no one hears about these incidents because
fortunately, no one is hurt. But there are times when something serious has
happened either to a highway worker, the driver or both.
Hopefully, National Work Zone Awareness
Week helps bring to light the kinds of things that can happen in work zones so
that everyone is aware of the possible dangers out there on the roads. It is my
hope that after stories are shared this week, there is an appreciation for work
zone safety, and it becomes important to everyone. In the end, it’s all about
saving lives.
Thanks for sharing this experience with us. It only takes one distracted driver to ruin a day for a maintenance crew. Being reminded that this can happen will help keep everyone on their toes and alert when working near moving traffic.
ReplyDeleteI think about how easily Paul's story could have resulted in a tragic outcome. Drivers need to stay focused, especially in work zones. Our only protection when vehicles are driving in the work zone, are the cones that delineate the work area. These cones can sometimes become projectiles as drivers lose focus and crash into them. Fortunately, in Paul's story the driver regained control and moved back into their lane and struck cones didn't hit workers.
ReplyDeletePaul: You described this so vividly, you put us all there, in your shoes. I think this will help motorists understand that their actions affect others' lives. Thank you for telling your story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to share your experience. You're absolutely correct, awareness plays a major factor in everyone's safety. Awareness on both parties involved. Drivers need to be aware of work zones and when speed limits decrease, lanes are closed, etc. Our workers need to be aware of all the potential dangerous hazards that exists and always watch for all users of the road. Thankfully no one was hurt in this incident. With continued awareness we can make the roads safer.
ReplyDeletePaul, thanks for sharing your experience in the work zone. I agree with you, I too hope that after many stories shared this week, people have an increased understanding and appreciation for work zone safety! Drivers need to SLOW DOWN in work zones and put themselves in the shoes of highway workers, lives depend on drivers paying attention and driving alert.
ReplyDeleteBetter the cone getting hit than you, Paul. Your story is powerful. I hadn't thought about that "sound" being a warning for work zone workers. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience. It is amazing how some sounds just puts us back to those moments like it just happened and the emotions just come flowing back. Your story sure brought those thoughts back for me from my past experiences. Hope is that people take it to heart that Safety is lived not just talked about.
ReplyDelete