We’ll be celebrating National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) all next week through the 21st. Will you?
Our industry may prioritize safety every day, but the 2023 NWZAW goal is to spread the mission to every person working and driving on our roadways. The theme, “You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us.” invites drivers to prioritize safety more than speed around work zones. Together, we believe we can drastically lower the number of work zone incidents each year.
According to the NWZAW website, “struck-by injuries are a leading cause of death, and since 1992 the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry.” In 2020 alone, 857 people were killed in 774 fatal work zone crashes, as reported on workzonesafety.org. The majority of these numbers are actually from drivers and their passengers, with 117 workers dying in work zones.
We believe that one work zone death is one too many, which is why we must educate both individuals working on the job sites and all motorists driving by.
- Employers, check out this helpful guide created by OSHA.
- Workers, be a safety advocate when you work each and every shift by following the safety protocols that are set in place.
- To help all Ohioans and passers-by, let’s unite as an industry. Together we can spread the word about the importance of slowing down and staying focused while navigating around work zones. As of now, distracted driving is at an all-time high. Hopefully, the combination of the new distracted driving law and our efforts coming from NWZAW will make a difference.
What exactly will this National Work Zone Awareness Week bring this year?
Work Zone Safety Training Day
Monday, April 17th
What better way to start a safety-focused week than with a safety training day? All organizations are encouraged to take time out of the typical workday to take part in safety demonstrations and discuss company policies and prevention strategies. If you are a business leader, check out these helpful resources.
National Kickoff Event
Tuesday, April 18th
The 2023 NWZAW kickoff event will be hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) at the new I-70 westbound bridge over the Missouri River near Rocheport, 10-11 a.m. CT. Ohioans, you can take part in the kickoff via livestream. Be on the lookout for a livestream link on the MoDOT webpage.
Go Orange Day
Wednesday, April 19th
Proudly show your support for the families and victims who lost their lives in work zone incidents by wearing orange.
Social Media Storm
Thursday, April 20th
Let’s spread the word with a bigger online audience. Be sure to use hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety across all your socials from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Not sure where to start? Check out the Social Media Playbook for inspiration and intriguing images.
Moment of Silence
Friday, April 21st
Like last NWZAW, our community will gather together to remember the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident.
To learn more about the history of National Work Zone Awareness Week, visit their website here. You can also contact them directly here.
