Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse Hosts First Educational Webinar
(Washington, D.C.)—More than 600 safety professionals, public officials, and transportation design and construction executives June 26 turned to a trusted Internet resource to learn first-hand the key requirements and real world impacts of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) new rule on “Temporary Traffic Control” (Subpart K). The educational session was the first “webinar” hosted by the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is the world’s largest online resource (www.workzonesafety.org) on road construction zone safety-related issues.
FHWA Work Zone Safety Team Leader Chung Eng provided an hour-long overview and answered questions. The rule requires state transportation officials to develop specific contract language to highlight and emphasize the use of, and appropriate payment for, uniformed law enforcement officers, positive separation between workers and motorized traffic, and installation and maintenance of temporary traffic control devices during construction, utility, and maintenance operations.
The video and presentation are available through the Clearinghouse’s on-demand video service for those who could not participate during the live session at www.workzonesafety.org. Eng and other FHWA safety specialists agreed to address questions and comments on this topic on the Work Zone Wizard blog, located on the Clearinghouse site.
The webinar is just one of the many recent Clearinghouse improvements. A redesigned website providing easier navigation for users, expanded databases of information, and multi-media elements such a video and audio library and online training capabilities have all been added to the Clearinghouse’s offering of free services. As a result, usage of the Clearinghouse has increased significantly. The number of user sessions in the first quarter of 2008 was up 70 percent compared to the same time in 2007.
The Clearinghouse is owned by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) and supported through a contract from FHWA. ARTBA-TDF’s partner, the Texas Transportation Institute, manages the facility’s day-to-day operations.
Information provided by the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, award # DTFH61-06-H-00015, does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, (FHWA) or the American Road & Transportation Builders Association-Transportation Development Foundation. References to specific products and services do not imply endorsement by the Clearinghouse or FHWA.
For further information contact Brad Sant or Lisa McCluskey, 202-289-4434.
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Posted: 7/2/2008
Categories: Training | Work Zone Traffic Control | News Releases
