Traffic control workers and others who work outdoors, especially in the summer, are faced with a number of hazards. Last week, we talked about how to manage one of those hazards - heat stress. Let's now talk about the risks posed by vehicles and the motorists who drive them. Here's a rundown of safe and unsafe practices.

The Employers' Role

Employers who put their workers in harm's way owe a duty to do all they can to manage the risks. This is particularly true of traffic controllers. Employers should provide:

• Protective barriers;
• Alarm systems to alert workers of a work zone intrusion; and
• Speed bumps on roadways in highway construction work zones.

It's also advisable for employers to work with local law enforcement when the work is performed on highways, busy roads and other public places. Ask the police to post signs and assign officers and police vehicles to the work zone.

The Do's

Of course, traffic control workers must take steps to protect themselves. Such steps would include:

• Wearing high visibility clothing, including a reflective vest;
• Never hitching a ride on heavy equipment;
• Wearing a hardhat, sunscreen and long-sleeved shirt and pants;
• Identifying an escape route in case of emergencies;
• Communicating constantly with other flaggers;
• Reporting erratic driving;
• Using proper hand and flag signals;
• Not reacting to angry motorists; and
• Above all, staying alert at all times.

The Don'ts

Flaggers should not:

• Rely on vehicle backup alarms to keep them safe;
• Position themselves where they can be struck by moving equipment;
• Turn their back to traffic;
• Listen to music or use earphones that drown out ambient noise;
• Read the paper or a book;
• Leave their post without a replacement; and
• Perform their duties without proper training.

Conclusion

I would be remiss to end this article without mentioning the other group of persons who have a responsibility to keep flaggers safe: You and I. Let's all of us remember that when driving in a work zone area, we need to be mindful of the vulnerability of flaggers. Let's all make an effort to pay attention, drive slowly, refrain from tailgating and be patient. Come to think of it, that's also a pretty good set of rules for driving outside work zones!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Hundreds of Lives Lost Traveling to Company Picnic

July 24, 1915

By Catherine Jones

It was a Saturday morning and thousands had gathered on the pier astride the Chicago River to board the vessels chartered to ferry them across Lake Michigan. They were employees of Western Electric and they and their families were heading to Michigan City, IN, for the company's annual picnic.

The steady drizzle didn't dampen the crowd's festive mood. As the families crowded on deck, picnic baskets under their arms, they waved to their co-workers and friends on shore who were still waiting to board. Shortly after 7 a.m., the ship, the SS Eastland, had reached her passenger capacity of approximately 2,500, and the gangplank was brought in.

In anticipation of the voyage, passengers moved from the starboard deck to the ballroom and kicked up their heels when the orchestra began to play. They joked when the Eastland began listing to port. An officer ordered passengers to move starboard. But few heeded the call. It was only when the piano slid across the promenade deck that the joking ceased and the passengers realized that there was something seriously wrong.

In fact, the SS Eastland had a history of listing and required continuous and careful adjustment of the ballast tanks. However, recent modifications had rendered the vessel dangerously top-heavy and unstable. For almost an hour, the crew had been attempting to maintain the vessel on an even keel. Despite those efforts, at 7:28 a.m., with 2,572 persons on board, the SS Eastland slowly turned over on her side and capsized. She was still moored and was in just 20 feet of water. And because the incident had occurred so early in the voyage, there hadn't been time to distribute life jackets.

In all, 844 persons died in the disaster - 472 women, 290 children and 82 men. 22 entire families were lost. The funerals lasted for weeks.

Most of these "Days in History" accounts end with a description of the new safety regulations that were enacted as a result of the tragedy. But the Eastland disaster didn't spawn any new laws or rules. And, in a cruel twist of irony, it was the prior enactment of new regulation that some reports say actually caused this tragedy. As a result of the Titanic disaster, new federal rules had been implemented requiring ships to keep enough lifeboats to accommodate all passengers. The SS Eastland was in compliance with the new rules. But the extra 10-12 tons that the additional lifeboats added to her already top-heavy structure were enough to cause Eastland to tip. And not one of these new lifeboats were launched.

MEMBER REPLY

Black Widow	Brown Recluse

Know Your Spiders

In response to your recent article on knowing your insects, I live in Florida and two additional insect species possess significant hazards to employees who work outside. The insect is the spider. We find the black widow spider and brown recluse spider here and they can have radical consequences on the human body if they happen to bite you. Identifying these spiders is key in avoidance. When bitten individuals also need to know what the wound looks like and to get medical attention.

The recluse, of course, is just that - a recluse. They hide in places that are rarely disturbed. With that said, we are a mobile society and spiders are easily transported in boxed up belonging that move when families or individuals move from area to area. It is very conceivable that the brown recluse can be found almost anywhere.

Glen Randall

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