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It’s one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.

When you hear that sentence, do you think of highway construction crews? If not, you may be in for a surprise.

More than 20,000 highway workers are injured annually, and, tragically, more than 100 are killed, according to Maine highway worker safety statistics.  That’s why it’s important for drivers to be careful and drive slowly in highway and street construction zones, watching out for workers along the roadsides.

The first week in April of every year is National Work Zone Awareness Week. This year focuses on workers in highway construction sites. The theme is “Signs for Change,” intended to draw attention to the work zone signs that every driver should heed.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance have teamed up to stress this awareness, along with promoting concern for other highway worker health issues.

“There were 1,100 work zone fatalities last year – that is a tragedy,” said Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. “I am hopeful that campaigns like this will help reduce those numbers.” He said the effort needs the support of “everyone who gets behind the wheel on a daily basis.”

Acute trauma is the leading cause of highway workers’ deaths, and that often occurs when a worker is hit by a car. Half the injuries suffered by highway crew members, however, are a result of being hit by a truck or a piece of construction equipment right on the site. OSHA stresses that highway construction workers should wear reflective, easy-to-spot vests.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSHA), part of the Centers for Disease Control, has issued a report saying drivers should be alert for warning signs and slow down in road construction zones.

“As we enter the busy spring construction season,” said Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D., M.P.H., the director of the CDC, “NIOSH’s new document offers practical and comprehensive advice for reducing workers’ risk of injury.”

The safety campaign kicked off April 3 on a site near Alexandria, Virginia.

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