Highway Work Zone Safety Audit Guidelines Development and Training

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Highway Work Zone Safety Audit Guidelines Development and Training

- Updating, July 2008

Illinois Institute of Technology logo

Prepared By:

Jonathan Shi, PI
Dept. of Civil & Architectural Engineering
Illinois Institute of Technology
3201 S. Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: (312) 567-3630
Fax: (312) 567-3519
Email: shi@iit.edu

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Other Key Staff

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Progress, to June 2008

  1. Submitted three reports: Literature Review Report, Dan Ryan Reconstruction Case Study Report, and Work Zone Safety Audit Questionnaire Survey Report.
  2. Sponsored and observed an RSA case study on an I-55 highway work zone
  3. Work zone safety audit guidelines developmentGOOGLE-Earth based tool for assisting work zone safety audit
  4. Preparation of training materials at Utah-LTAP
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1. Three submitted reports

  • Literature Review (100 pages)
  • Dan Ryan Reconstruction Case Study (30 pages)
  • Work Zone Safety Audit Questionnaire Survey Report (40 pages)
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1a. Literature Review

  • Chapter 1 - Introduction to the scope and objectives of the literature review, and review methodology.
  • Chapter 2 - Review on the Rule on work zone safety and mobility, guideline for the rule implementation, and states’ compliance.
  • Chapter 3 - Review on work zone guidelines, manuals, and best practices in use by state transportation agencies.
  • Chapter 4 - Summary of RSA methodologies and practices with an emphasis on construction stage application.
  • Chapter 5 - Focus on relevant documents on construction worker safety.
  • Chapter 6 - Review on existing training programs including work zone and construction worker safety.
  • Chapter 7 – Summary of the report. 

Pictures of a work zone and a freeway

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1b. Dan Ryan Case Study Report

  • Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • Chapter 2 - Background of The Dan Ryan Expressway
  • Chapter 3 - Work Zone Safety manuals, Guidelines, and programs
  • Chapter 4 - Major Parties and their Responsibilities
  • Chapter 5 - Worker Safety 
    Chapter 6 - Dan Ryan Mobility Impact analysis
  • Chapter 7 - Conclusions and Recommendations  

  



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1c. Key Survey Findings

  • Leading causes of work zone safety problems:
    • inadequate work zone setup (40%), inadequate pre-construction planning (36%),
    • deficient work zone speed enforcement (35%), and inadequate or inefficient temporary traffic controls (34%).
  • Effective measures for improving work zone safety:
    • periodic work zone safety review or inspection (74%),
    • public outreach and education (64%), and
    • innovative contracting methods (56%).
  • Audit team members:
    • State transportation agencies (89%), FHWA (76%), highway contractors (75%),
    • Law enforcement personnel (62%), Local government agencies (55%).
  • Funding sources for work zone safety audits:
    • FHWA (44%), State transportation agencies (26%), and Project budget (14%).
  • Suitable projects for safety audits:
    • Major (95%) , Minor (82%), Minimal (71%)
  • 80% respondents recommended to consider worker safety inside the construction area.
    • review of construction workers’ safety training records and safety inspection records.
    • 60%respondents favor the contractor to submit worker injury data to the project owner.
  • Adequate safety training for all project personnel.
  • Computer-based tools can assist the audit team.
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2. WZ Safety Audit Case Study

  • A joint effort btw IDOT & FHWAPicture of a work zone
  • WZ selected in April 2007
  • Audit team formed in May with 4 RSA auditors: 2 from IDOT, 1 from FHWA, and 1 from IST.
  • 5 observers, 2 from FHWA (Dr. Oliver & Umbs), 3 from IIT.
  • Project plans were mailed to the auditors and observers 2 weeks prior to the audit.
  • The audit took place during July 30 and 31, 2007.
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2a. Observations of the Case Study

  • The general RSA concept and process can be adopted to work zone safety audit; and
  • Modifications are needed to address the unique nature of construction work zone safety concerns:
    • constant and fast changing conditions,
    • many temporary elements, and
    • active participants/stakeholders.
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3. Audit Guidelines Development

  • Formulate the five-module framework to organize the entire work zone safety audit guidelines
  • Develop a pilot module: Module 4 - Guidelines for conducting work zone safety audits at the construction stage
  • Invite external experts to review the draft guidelines
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3a. The Structure of the Guide

  • Module 1 - Fundamental principles of work zone safety audits
  • Module 2 - Guidelines for auditing work zone impacts assessment
  • Module 3 - Guidelines for auditing work zone transportation management plans (TMP)
  • Module 4 - Guidelines for conducting work zone safety audits at the construction stage, and
  • Module 5 - Guidelines for auditing work zone performance assessment at the post-onstruction
    stage.
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3b. Draft guidelines for Module 4

  • Background. Describes unique characteristics of a WZSA, WZSA vs. RSA, and WZSA vs. a work zone review.
  • The Audit Process. Outlines the eight-step audit process, responsibilities and outcomes expected from each step.
  • Pre-Audit Review. The audit team reviews project background information, plans, and work zone management strategies.
  • Audit Meetings. The major parties prepare formal presentations to the audit team.
  • Audit Inspections. The audit team conducts drive-through inspections of the work zone.
  • Audit Analyses. The audit conducts detailed work zone risk analysis.
  • Audit Recommendations. The audit team summarizes its findings.
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3c. External review of the draft

  • Eight external experts were invited to review
    the draft module.
  • Six returned their detailed comments.
  • All comments were carefully considered to revise the first draft. A response report was
    submitted.
  • A second draft of the module was also submitted.
SLIDE 14Screenshot of Google Earth

4. Google-Earth WZ Tool

  • Three major components are integrated into Google Earth:
    • Road Information Database
    • Detailed Crash Database
    • QuickZone
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4a. Study Trans Network

Scrrenshot of a Google Earth close-up

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4b. Analyze Crash History

Screenshot of Google Earth showing crash locations.

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4c. Assess WZ Impacts

Screenshot of an Excel chart showing temporary distribution of out-bound demand

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5. Activity at Utah-LTAP

  • Utah DOT uses an evaluation procedure involving public input, safety & accidents, travel delay, effect on businesses, etc. to determine the amount of incentive the contractor gets.
  • Utah-LTAP
    • is researching the use of contractor incentives/des-incentives associated with work zones;
    • sets up a process to collect work zone crash data;
    • tapes various work zones to prepare materials for training and workshops.
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Work Plan

  • Area 2: Work Zone Safety Audit Guidelines Development
    • Start other four modules
    • Continue on the GOOGLE tool development
  • Area 3: Training Materials Development and Training Plan
    • Developing training materials with detailed guideline materials
    • The existing RSA trainers will be our first tier targeted trainees
  • Plan WZSA Case Studies based on the developed guidelines
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Questions?

Contact: shi@iit.edu

Last modified: 7/24/2008

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