Best Practices
To Enhance Safety during Construction Work
Dress Appropriately
- Never wear loose clothing. Loose jackets, shirts, and pants can catch in moving parts.
- Always wear work boots that have steel toes and nonskid soles. Make sure the soles stay free of tack.
- Always wear safety glasses when there is any possibility of damaging your eyes.
- Always wear gloves to protect hands when climbing on equipment.
- Always use ear protection whenever jackhammers or other loud noises are present.
Follow Common Sense Safety Precautions
- Operators should perform daily safety checks that include a walk around to identify potential hazards.
- Never put yourself between a hauling truck backing into the hopper and the paver.
- Keep a safe distance away from dump trucks while the bed is in motion and when the paver hopper wings are in operation.
- Remember that fast moving traffic is only a step away when collecting weigh tickets from the driver's side.
- Use steps and handholds, if they are available, anytime you are climbing onto a truck.
- Avoid climbing onto truck running boards unless you absolutely have to.
- Let the driver know you're climbing onto the truck bed before doing it.
- Keep talking to a minimum so as not to distract the driver.
- Be aware of changes in conditions that can affect safety hazards. There are fewer safety risks with one way traffic, for example, than two way traffic.
- Park vehicles not currently in use out of the way of the traffic.
- Always stay hydrated. Heat exhaustion can set in quickly, so drink water regularly when you are on a road or paving job.
Use Appropriate Safety Equipment
- Always wear fluorescent vests, t-shirts, and bright colored caps while engaged in operations on or near a highway open to traffic. Properly adjust vests to minimize snagging.
- Wear protective helmets in areas where falling objects could cause injury to the head or where exposed electrical conductors could contact the head.
- Always wear the complete seat belt assembly inside any type of vehicle.
- Always wear ANSI approved safety glasses to avoid eye injuries. Approved glasses that have passed specific tests for durability and strength are marked on the frame, lens, or both.
