The Importance of Road Signs and High Visibility Clothing For Road Construction Workers

Workers in road crews and on road constructionnecessary to use ample road signs to inform
sites have to possess incredible situationalthem of how their route has changed.
awareness. Hazards that are present forEssentially, industrial equipment supplies and road
construction workers on active roadways can besigns should convey advanced warning, improved
particularly deadly. Oncoming traffic, constructionvisibility, and control over a situation. Warnings will
vehicle traffic, elevated work, and poor visibilityenable motorists to anticipate slower traffic,
from environmental conditions all combine tostopped vehicles, flag men or temporary stops,
create the need for specialized industrial productsand changes in the flow of traffic. Road signs
and industrial equipment supplies in order tohave to be highly visible at all times of the day
ensure the safety of road crews.and night, so reflective materials, flags, and road
To promote better awareness, fosterstands have to be used. Most construction sites
communication, and protect workers, there are ado not have the benefit of being located at a
number of industrial products. We will take acontrolled intersection. Transportation road signs
moment to examine the importance of highhave to offer that control through stop signs,
visibility industrial equipment supplies, transportationreduced speed limits, alternating merges, and any
road signs, and caution signs for communicatingother provision for controlling the flow of vehicles.
hazards.Road signs are the best way to accomplish these
High Visibility Clothinggoals by communicating needed information to
OSHA is steadily moving towards mandating highmotorists.
visibility clothing and safety vests as aCaution Signs
requirement for all road crews and job sites thatCommunication is necessary on the job for the
operate near traffic or have low-light workingworkers themselves in addition to motorists. Even
conditions. The reason for this is clear if we takein a warehouse, vehicle traffic mixes with
a look at the numbers.workers on foot. Every worker should be aware
A worker wearing brightly colored clothing can beof which areas on the job are open to vehicle
seen from about 250 feet away at night fromtraffic only, foot traffic only, or if both may be
the headlights of a vehicle. When that vehicle isallowed in the same area, especially if there are
traveling at highway speeds, it needs 1200 feet intemporary condition changes. Industrial products
order to stop. Clearly, workers at night withoutdesigned to foster communication between
the proper high visibility industrial products are inworkers will also improve the safety culture with
danger.any work crew.
Industrial equipment supplies for road constructionForklift drivers should have caution signs up to
workers have to include high visibility clothing andremind them to sound their horn when coming
safety vests. The reflective material in thesearound a corner or through a door. Construction
industrial products can return the light from avehicle traffic lanes should be painted for the
vehicle up to nearly a quarter mile, allowingbenefit of both drivers and workers on foot. Any
enough reaction time and stopping distance for auneven surface, speed bump, or obstruction
motorist on a highway to avoid an accident.should be highlighted with caution signs and other
High visibility industrial equipment supplies will alsoindustrial products. Any change in the work place,
protect workers against accidents caused byno matter how temporary, needs to be
construction vehicles on the job site. Constructionaccompanied by warning signs.
crews have to work with the sameThe best way to incorporate these products into
environmental conditions, such as low light andan effective method for communicating hazards is
dust clouds, that will obstruct a motorist's view.to look at a work site from the perspective of an
Having workers wear clothing that has aoutsider. Regular workers know where the
contrasting color and reflective strips will alsohazards are, even if they are not apparent.
reduce the hazard from construction vehicles.However, caution signs and road transportation
Transportation Road Signssigns should be written as if someone has never
Communication on a job site is also vital inset foot on a construction site before. Coupled
ensuring a safe working site. Motorists andwith high visibility industrial equipment supplies,
workers alike have to be aware of what is goingconstruction crews will have a comprehensive
on and how the construction site impacts thesafety culture in place to address hazards and
normal flow of traffic. Most people drive on theprevent accidents.
same roads that they take every day, so it is