Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize current practices and procedures on the prevention of backing fatalities in highway work zones. First, general work zone safety hazards are reviewed, particularly blind areas are identified. Second, engineering controls currently in use are examined and exp...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2014-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2046043016300971 |
| _version_ | 1797709249157005312 |
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| author | Wei Fan Sooyoung Choe Fernanda Leite |
| author_facet | Wei Fan Sooyoung Choe Fernanda Leite |
| author_sort | Wei Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this paper is to synthesize current practices and procedures on the prevention of backing fatalities in highway work zones. First, general work zone safety hazards are reviewed, particularly blind areas are identified. Second, engineering controls currently in use are examined and explained to help understand what steps can be taken to prevent future backing fatalities. Third, administrative controls (including signalers, drivers, and workers-on-foot training) are also discussed. Fourth, existing technology controls are reviewed for use in aiding equipment operators in identifying when pedestrian personnel are in dangerous areas around their equipment (i.e., back-up camera, radar). Fifth, recommendations are made based on the comprehensive review of the backover fatality prevention techniques in construction work zones and the conducted testing results of several commercially available systems. Recommendations on engineering and technology controls are discussed, with detailed information such as improving internal traffic control plans, and integrating technology with traffic control plans. Information and drawings are provided to illustrate how to design work zones, and the internal traffic flow diagrams are created using the integrated technology available, and site specific characteristics. The drawings represent examples of using different types of technology, in different scenarios using the proper legend, as well as using the proper general and technology notes to help explain the traffic control plan, ensuring that full comprehension is made. Recommendations on administrative controls are also given such as how to conduct safety meetings, electing safety officers, how to set regulations and guidelines for workers, and how to handle training. Training should be used as a backover fatality prevention method for pedestrian workers, flaggers, spotters, and equipment operators. Finally, a summary and discussion of future research directions are also given. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:34:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f40737ba2d14b71b8aac97ea42ee946 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-0430 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:34:45Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f40737ba2d14b71b8aac97ea42ee9462023-09-03T01:22:13ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology2046-04302014-12-013431133710.1260/2046-0430.3.4.311Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and RecommendationsWei Fan0Sooyoung Choe1Fernanda Leite2Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, EPIC Building, Room 3261, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223Center for Transportation Research, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1616 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, ECJ 5.302, 301 E Dean Keeton St. Stop C1752, Austin, TX 78712The purpose of this paper is to synthesize current practices and procedures on the prevention of backing fatalities in highway work zones. First, general work zone safety hazards are reviewed, particularly blind areas are identified. Second, engineering controls currently in use are examined and explained to help understand what steps can be taken to prevent future backing fatalities. Third, administrative controls (including signalers, drivers, and workers-on-foot training) are also discussed. Fourth, existing technology controls are reviewed for use in aiding equipment operators in identifying when pedestrian personnel are in dangerous areas around their equipment (i.e., back-up camera, radar). Fifth, recommendations are made based on the comprehensive review of the backover fatality prevention techniques in construction work zones and the conducted testing results of several commercially available systems. Recommendations on engineering and technology controls are discussed, with detailed information such as improving internal traffic control plans, and integrating technology with traffic control plans. Information and drawings are provided to illustrate how to design work zones, and the internal traffic flow diagrams are created using the integrated technology available, and site specific characteristics. The drawings represent examples of using different types of technology, in different scenarios using the proper legend, as well as using the proper general and technology notes to help explain the traffic control plan, ensuring that full comprehension is made. Recommendations on administrative controls are also given such as how to conduct safety meetings, electing safety officers, how to set regulations and guidelines for workers, and how to handle training. Training should be used as a backover fatality prevention method for pedestrian workers, flaggers, spotters, and equipment operators. Finally, a summary and discussion of future research directions are also given.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2046043016300971 |
| spellingShingle | Wei Fan Sooyoung Choe Fernanda Leite Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology |
| title | Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations |
| title_full | Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations |
| title_short | Prevention of Backover Fatalities in Highway Work Zones: A Synthesis of Current Practices and Recommendations |
| title_sort | prevention of backover fatalities in highway work zones a synthesis of current practices and recommendations |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2046043016300971 |
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