Blog Article

You have probably heard the phrase “Safety First!” at some point in your life. Whether your mom said it as she strapped elbow, knee and wrist pads on you before roller blading, or your older sister as she gave you a helmet before you hopped on your bike. If you’ve heard this phrase or not, it’s likely you’ve had to consider safety in some activity that you’ve done. In the construction industry,   is just as important, if not more. As a construction worker, your safety not only depends on the precautions and actions you take, but also on what those around you are doing as well.

As road construction has come to a peak in Michigan this summer, it’s essential that we remember the importance of safety while we are on the roads. According to Michigan Paving and Materials’ Extra Mile Magazine Summer 2018 edition, there were 712 passengers and 113 pedestrians and bicyclists killed in roadway- or transportation-related crashes. These numbers do not include the number of work-zone-related injuries or fatalities that happened to construction workers while on the job. The Office of Highway Safety Planning reported 15 fatal work-zone crashes and an estimated 1,972 work-zone crash injuries in 2018 alone. The highest number of these reported  -related crashes occurred when were are lane closures. By paying attention to other drivers in work zones, keeping distractions like cell phones away, and obeying road crew signs, YOU can help prevent more work–zone accidents from occurring.

At Michigan Paving and Materials, they live and breathe “safety first.” Their Safety Vision is to have a safety culture that clearly values people. They’ve even created safety core values that employees strive to embody every day, inside and outside of the workplace. These values are:

• Zero fatalities – Fatalities are unacceptable. Our solemn commitment to our employees is to prevent any and all fatalities.
• Zero incidents – We expect our employees to work every day without an incident. This includes a focus on common high frequency and minor accidents.
• Employee-driven safety culture – To achieve a sustainable, zero-incident workplace, our employees must own the safety program. In reality, they must hold each other accountable for safety 100 percent of the time with unwavering leadership support.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an informational campaign created by the Federal Highway Administration that

happens every April, and each year there is a new focus statement. To give you an example, 2019’s focus was, “Drive like you work here,” and 2018’s was, “Work Zone Safety: Everybody’s responsibility.” Although NWZAW is only celebrated and promoted

one week out of the year, following safe practices and staying alert in work zones is a year-round job. It’s vital that the idea of safety is always present, not only while working in work zones, but while driving through them as well.

Michigan Paving said it best: “Every safe decision we make is an investment in spending more quality time with our loved ones.” Safety is everyone’s responsibility and should be practiced in all aspects of your everyday life. Although road construction may seem like an inconvenience to you, it is extremely important to keep our state’s infrastructure maintained to allow fo

r safer and more efficient travel. Strong infrastructure boosts our economy by promoting travel and reducing car maintenance costs from driving on bad roads. The people who work in these work-zones are at a disadvantage when you’re in your vehicle. Their safety, as well as those in your car and around you on the road, is in your hands. Remember the saying your mom used to exclaim while strapping on those elbow pads? It’s still just as prevalent today, especially when those roller skates you used to get around with are now cars and trucks . YOU can help reduce the amount of work-zone-related fatalities and injuries each year by simply remembering – “Safety first!“

For more information on Michigan Paving and Material’s construction services click here.