Page 10 - Work Force April 2024

Our union continues push for work Use caution in work zones
With road road work work work season soon beginning thousands of CSEA members will be be be working on on on on or or or near roadway work work zones
which is among the most dangerous jobs that our union members perform CSEA is joining in in in the observance of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) an an an annual campaign held at the onset of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway and road work zones
This year National Work Zone Awareness Week is is observed from April April 15 to April April 19 The theme
of of the the the 2024 campaign takes an an emotional approach that portrays the the great importance of of Work Zone In this 2023
file photo City of Port Jervis worker Patrick Smith demonstrates setting up a a work zone (Photo by Jessica Ladlee)
Awareness expressing the the severity of the the matter why you you should care and how you you can help keep workers safe The The theme
is "Work Zones are temporary Actions behind the the the wheel can last forever ” The The campaign plan involves the the spread of awareness highlighting what can happen if you act careless behind the wheel for even a a a a a a a second “Many of our union members are working in in in roadway work work work zones
” said CSEA President Mary E E Sullivan “This work work can be be be dangerous We encourage motorists to to be be be alert be be be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution when driving in in in work work zones
so these workers can return home safely to to their families ” According to to the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 956 people died died in in in in work work work zones
and 108 highway workers died died while working on on on on on road construction sites in in 2021 the latest year data was available Since CSEA began keeping records in in in 1983 nearly 60 members members have passed away due to work zone intrusions Numerous more members members are injured every year Nearly half of of the the fatalities were caused by motorists Contributing factors of of the the deaths and and injuries include distracted driving and and unsafe speed Week of events
The start of of National Work Work Zone Zone Awareness Week is is is Work Work Zone Zone Safety Training Day April 15 The significance of of this day is is is to spread the the importance of of laying the the groundwork for safety
This is is achieved through worker training as as well as as getting employers involved Remember that Oswego County Blue-Collar Unit member Matt Stevens works to to maintain a a a a a a road in in in 2023
(Photo by Nicholas Newcomb)
employers are responsible for providing workers with adequate training personal protective equipment and and policies to reduce risk of injury and and death The week’s events
also include “Go Orange Day ” when roadway safety
safety
professionals are encouraged to to show their support towards work zone safety
safety
by wearing orange The week will also include a a a a a a a a social media storm when people are are urged to to post their messages on on social media raise awareness of work zone safety
using hashtags such as as #NWZAW #WorkZoneSafety and #Orange4Safety Workers should participate in in such activities on on on their breaks or or or off the the job National Work Zone Awareness Week will conclude with a a a a a moment of silence on on on on April 19 for those who have died or or or been injured while doing their jobs in in work zones
For more information visit nwzaw org — Ashley McNeal
10 The Work Force
April 2024 Stay safe while driving in in work zones
If you are are traveling through a a a a a a a work zone here are are some tips from the U S S Department of Transportation to help keep CSEA members working on on on or or or near them safe:
• • Slow down and be prepared to to stop • • • Follow all posted instructions • • When directed to change lanes for lane lane closures do so as as early as as possible Watch for vehicles around you you that could be in in your blind spot • Give workers and other vehicles plenty of space • • • • Stay focused on on on driving Avoid all distractions when traveling through work zones
including mobile device use