Safety Stand-Down organized for Georgia road workers

The Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia, local government organizations and employers are partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to sponsor one-hour events to train road workers on the dangers of distracted drivers, flying debris and other objects during National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week, April 3 to 7.

The Safety Stand-Down events encourage employers to voluntarily stop work for one hour at Georgia construction sites on a designated day to review best safety practices and discuss the hazards of objects and vehicles striking workers, the leading cause of roadside-related construction deaths. The events will take place from 7 to 8 a.m. on the day chosen.

"Our alliance partners have come together to honor the working mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons who died because a driver risked a text message, a phone call or other distraction," says Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA's regional administrator for the Southeast. "The Safety Stand-Down events allow employers to identify hazards and how employees can avoid them. It also reminds the construction industry and the public at-large of the importance of safety in these work zones."

The Stand-Down is being organized by the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes OSHA; the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc.; 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material; Georgia Department of Transportation; Federal Highway Administration's Georgia Division; Georgia Highway Contractors Association; Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc.; Georgia Tech Research Institute; Lamar Advertising; Georgia Power; Pike Corporation; Ansco & Associates LLC; Construction Education Foundation of Georgia; National Safety Council, Georgia Chapter; Comcast; Local Government Risk Management Services; and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

An informational flier and toolbox in English and Spanish is available from the Associated General Contractors of Georgia in Atlanta. For more information, contact Christi Griffin in OSHA's Atlanta-West area office at 678-903-7301; Bill Fulcher in the Atlanta-East area office at 770-493-6644; or Margo Westmoreland in the Savannah area office at 912-652-4393.