In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted 250 deaths from transportation incidents within the construction industry. Construction sites are hazardous, and moving vehicles and heavy machinery add considerably to the dangerous working conditions. Poor planning can lead to congested locations run by poorly trained workers, and without adequate breaks, tired operators are likely to be involved in more accidents, both on site and on the road. By providing adequate safety training to operators, ensuring drivers are well rested, and using more autonomous vehicles to carry out monotonous or hazardous tasks, the risk of serious accidents and injuries can be reduced.

Avoiding Driver Fatigue And Distraction

Due to their size and weight, construction vehicles are always potentially hazardous on a construction site, but they are even more dangerous when operated by tired or distracted workers. A vehicle collision on site is 50% more likely to cause serious injury or even death if it is fatigue-related because an operator’s reaction time is seriously diminished. As well as causing a construction accident on site, tired workers are also more likely to be involved in collisions with other users on the road. Although professional help is available for injured parties, by ensuring better safety training and conditions for construction workers, these accidents could be avoided in the first place. Safety measures should include limiting workers’ hours and ensuring they take adequate breaks throughout the day.

Safely Moving Heavy Equipment

Accidents and injuries caused by heavy moving equipment on site are common. Workers may be struck by vehicles moving too fast, or crushed when a bulldozer or poorly balanced excavator overturns or rolls over on uneven ground. As well as presenting a hazard when in use on site, bulldozers can cause injury and fatalities when they are being loaded and unloaded from flatbed trucks. As they are being moved, workers risk being crushed by overturning vehicles or trapped between the equipment and trailer. These accidents can be avoided by parking trucks on flat, solid ground, and ensuring the use of a sufficiently large and long trailer ramp. With a spotter to guide the operator and alert other workers nearby to potential hazards, the risk of an accident occurring is further reduced.

Introducing Self-Driving Vehicles

With developments in AI and robotics, an increasing number of construction companies are introducing autonomous equipment and vehicles to their sites. These machines can improve safety and productivity on site by performing repetitive, laborious, and often dangerous tasks, allowing skilled workers to focus on other more complex and specialized jobs. In addition, the vehicles can be fitted with cameras and remote sensing instruments, allowing them to identify people and obstacles on site and move away from them to avoid a potential collision.

Although essential on a commercial building site, construction vehicles and heavy moving equipment can be hazardous. Ensuring adequate safety training for operators, limiting working hours, and even using driverless vehicles, can all help to reduce the number of accidents involving construction vehicles.