The association says movable barriers are effective in creating “positive separation” between vehicle traffic and workers, but that FHWA hasn’t been clear in its guidance to states that the barriers are eligible for purchase with federal-aid funds even on federal-aid projects.
“This lack of guidance has essentially blocked the potential use of this innovative, life-saving product class on federal-aid highway projects across the nation,” ARTBA says.
“There is no greater responsibility for those of us involved in the provision of transportation infrastructure than to do all that is possible to ensure the safety and well-being of the construction workers, motorists, truck drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who interact with our project work sites,” ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane said in a recent letter to FHWA Administrator Greg Nadeau.
He further asked Nadeau to “remedy this situation expeditiously with clear written guidance to FHWA personnel and the state DOTs.”
“Using illustrations, photos and plain English explanations, the fact sheets were designed to help contractors and workers understand the basic concepts of fall prevention and protection,” says Brad Sant, ARTBA senior vice president of safety and education. “Our goal is to provide information in a way that any worker will understand, knowing what is needed to work safely in a variety of conditions.”
ARTBA coordinated with industry experts to create the fact sheets and used funding via a cooperative agreement with FHWA.
The fact sheets are available here at the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse website. Topics include:
- Fall Protection for Bridge Contractors in 4 Main Steps
- Employee Fall Protection Training Record
- Sample Fall Protection Plan for Bridge Work
- Fall Protection Systems for Bridge Work
- Horizontal Lifelines in Bridge Construction, Inspection, and Maintenance
- Selecting Lanyards and Connectors for Personal Fall Arrest Systems in Bridge Work
- OSHA Fall Protection Standards Bridge Contractors Must Know
- Sample Fall Rescue Plan for Bridge Work
- Guide to Selecting Fall Protection Systems for Bridge Work
- Advantages of Self Retracting Lifelines for Bridge Work
- Preventing Suspension Trauma
- Preventing Swing Falls in Bridge Work
- Suspension Trauma Medical Emergency Wallet Card
