Work Zone Intrusions

Ask any utility construction workers if the public respects work zone boundaries and the answer will be a resounding “no.” At Electric Conduit Construction (ECC) we have seen drivers crash into jersey walls, open trenches, and equipment. Flagmen and workers scatter, work is disrupted and we hope no one gets hurt.

According to the National Safety Council in 2023, 898 people were killed and 40,170 people were injured in work zone crashes. Work zone crashes are defined as taking place within the boundaries of a work zone or on an approach to or exit from a work zone due to activities, behaviors, or controls related to traffic moving through the boundaries of a work zone.

Of the 898 fatalities:

• 568 were in construction zones.
• 267 were in work zones of unknown type.
• 53 were in maintenance zones.
• 10 were in a utility zone.

Drivers can exhibit frustration because of their inconvenience and delay. There is little regard for the workers. Work zone intrusions have increased as more drivers are distracted by cell phones, and navigation. The question now is what to do about it.

Traffic control plans are important and must be set up properly. But they do not guarantee safety to workers. In addition to traffic control plans, jersey walls can be placed to add additional protection. We have had drivers break through jersey walls.

If the job is short and jersey wall placement is not feasible then the work vehicle or an idle excavator can be placed between traffic and the work zone to deter drivers. Extending the work zone is another option. Adding distance and using a double row of barriers will increase the buffer zone and may cause a driver to stop before the actual work zone is violated.

While driver safety training, stiffer fines and public service announcements may be beyond our control, they certainly would help. The public needs to understand that the pipelines delivering gas and water, and the electrical and fibers that feed their digital world are not placed by magic. Every utility is placed by a human hand and that means that there will be inconvenience when this work is being performed.