While there are many projects that do not get the advantage of that winter “breather,” spring remains the traditional marker as the start of another busy construction season across Ohio. Crews are mobilizing, equipment gets shipped out and the orange barrels are once again blossoming, much to the chagrin of the traveling public. It is also the time of year when our industry pauses to recognize several national safety initiatives, including National Work Zone Awareness Week and Construction Safety Week.
These observances are important. They help elevate awareness and reinforce a message that cannot be repeated often enough. But for those of us in the highway construction industry, safety is not something we focus on for a week or a season – it is a responsibility we carry every single day.
I know that responsibility is a hallmark of this Association’s membership. It is reflected in the way our contractors plan their work, train their employees and invest in safer jobsite practices. It is also reflected in our longstanding partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation and others to continually improve work zone design, communication and execution.
Just as importantly, safety extends beyond the work to include the traffic side of the barrels. The conditions we create must protect not only our workforce, but also the motorists who travel through our work zones. That shared space – often separated by mere feet – demands constant attention, discipline and respect from everyone involved.
This year, there is an opportunity to reinforce that shared responsibility through public policy. Ohio House Bill 82, currently under consideration in the legislature, seeks to strengthen protections for roadway workers by increasing penalties for unsafe driving in construction zones along with other protections. Currently, the bill is a work in progress and will no doubt incorporate changes as it moves through the Legislature. As noted by OCA Chair Bill Luttmer (see the Chair’s profile in this edition), the legislation is intended to bring greater attention and urgency to worker safety in Ohio.
Efforts like HB 82 are an important step forward. They recognize what our industry experiences every day – that speeding, distracted driving and failure to follow traffic-control measures continue to put lives at risk. Stronger enforcement and meaningful consequences can help influence behavior where it matters most.
At the same time, we know that lasting progress will not come from legislation alone. It will come from continued collaboration across our industry – contractors, ODOT, law enforcement and the public – combined with a sustained commitment to increased safety awareness through training, innovation and accountability.
Safety is not a new conversation for our industry. It has been a priority for decades and it will remain one moving forward. But each construction season gives us an opportunity to recommit – to our employees, to our partners and to the traveling public.
Because at the end of the day, the goal is simple: Every worker goes home safely, and every driver gets to where they are going without incident.
That is a standard worth reinforcing – this spring and every day thereafter.