OSHA, Partners Begin Georgia Work Zone Stand-Down
This week, sites around the state will focus on struck-by hazards.
OSHA is joining construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia, and local government organizations to sponsor a one-hour safety stand-down at construction sites around Georgia during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week, April 15-19. The federal agency's news release said workers will voluntarily stop work at construction sites 7-8 a.m. EDT for work zone safety training "focused on the prevention of distracted driving, such as texting while driving, and worker injuries from traffic objects and vehicles." About 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment, such as trucks or cranes, and will be a focus during the training.
The stand-down is being organized by the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes representatives from OSHA, the Georgia Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America, 3M Visibility & Insulations Solutions, Georgia's Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division, the Georgia Highways Contractors Association, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Lamar Signs, the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, Georgia Power, Pike Electric, the National Safety Council's Georgia Chapter, Ansco & Associates, and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
"Alliance members have demonstrated initiative and leadership organizing this industry-wide safety stand-down throughout Georgia to emphasize the importance of work zone safety. The stand-down will heighten construction workers' awareness of and ability to identify and help employers eliminate work-related hazards," said Teresa Harrison, OSHA's acting regional administrator for the Southeast.
An informational flier and toolbox in English and Spanish are available on the Associated General Contractors of America Inc. Georgia Branch website. For more information, contact Christi Griffin in OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301, Bill Fulcher in the Atlanta-East Area Office at 770-493-6644, or Robert Vazzi in the Savannah Area Office at 912-652-4393.