Busier roads put roadside workers at greater risk in Metro Vancouver
Increased traffic on roads due to summer travel and the province’s reopening creates an increased risk for roadside workers in Metro Vancouver.
“Roadside work is a dangerous job,” says Louise Yako, program director for Road Safety at Work and spokesperson for the 11th annual province-wide Cone Zone awareness campaign. “With regional travel restrictions lifted and more activity on roads, we all need to do our part when driving to make sure roadside workers make it home to their family at the end of their shift without injury.”
Between 2011 and 2020, 12 roadside workers were killed and 207 were injured resulting in time loss in BC. Last year, 23 workers were injured because of being hit by a motor vehicle.
“One of the greatest risks to a roadside worker in Metro Vancouver is a motor vehicle being driven through their workplace,” says Yako. “Dangerous behaviour like speeding and distracted driving puts workers at risk – and drivers too.”
Roadside worksites involve hundreds of activities, not just road construction, she points out. “Anyone who works alongside or on roads in close proximity to traffic is considered a roadside worker.” This includes municipal workers, landscapers, flag people, tow truck drivers, road maintenance crews, telecommunications and utility workers, and emergency and enforcement personnel. “And each one of them is someone’s parent, friend, neighbour, and work colleague,” Yako says.
The awareness campaign encourages people to practise safe driving behaviour in Cone Zones, which are work areas set up to alert drivers that roadside workers are on site. Cone Zones help protect workers and drivers from injury or death and often use distinctive orange cones – but not always. “Some areas can’t set up cones due to operational needs,” Yako explains. In those cases, reflective triangles and signage are used if possible.
So what should drivers do when approaching a Cone Zone?
“Slow down and leave your phone alone,” says Yako. “Pay attention to temporary road signs, traffic cones, and directions given by traffic control persons.”
Tickets for driving infractions in Cone Zones can be costly:
- Using an electronic device while driving ($368)
- Speeding ($196 and up)
- Disobeying a flag person ($196)
- Disobeying a traffic control device ($121)
The province’s “Slow Down, Move Over” law spells out legal responsibilities for drivers when vehicles with red, blue, or amber flashing lights – tow trucks, fire, police, ambulance – are present. The law requires drivers to slow to 70 km/h if the posted speed limit is greater than 80 km/h. If the posted speed is less than 80 km/h, drivers need to slow to 40 km/h. Drivers should always be prepared move over and increase the space between their vehicle and the work zone, if it’s safe to do so.
Roadside worker safety is a shared responsibility. Employers are required by law to ensure the health and safety of their workers and contractors along BC’s roads and highways, including providing job specific training, equipment, supervision and resources. Workers can increase their safety by following safe work procedures (including work zone set up and take down) and reporting unsafe work conditions to their supervisor.
The Cone Zone campaign runs through the end of August, supported by the Work Zone Safety Alliance. For more information and resources visit www.ConeZoneBC.com.
Quick Facts
- The construction and transportation sectors have the greatest percentage of roadside incidents in BC according to WorkSafeBC statistics for 2011-2020.
- Construction trades account for 51% of all roadside injury claims, with traffic control persons (flaggers) accounting for almost three-quarters (70%) of them.
- Transport workers (e.g., truck drivers, bus drivers, tow operators) have the second highest number of claims, accounting for 23% of all claims.
- Service jobs (such as police, fire, and security guards) account for 5%; garbage and public works account for 7%; and landscapers account for 5%.
About the Work Zone Safety Alliance
The Cone Zone campaign is a joint provincial initiative supported by organizations committed to improving the safety of roadside workers. They are Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., Automotive Retailers Association, BCAA, BC Construction Safety Alliance, BC Flagging Association, BC Hydro, BC Landscape and Nursery Association, BC Municipal Safety Association, BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, BC Road Safe, CoreCode Safety and Compliance, Government of BC, IBEW Local 258, Insurance Corporation of BC, K&K Consulting, Justice Institute of British Columbia, LiUNA Local 1611, Mainroad Group, Metro Traffic Management, RCMP, Road Safety at Work, SafetyDriven, TELUS, The Universal Group, Vancouver Island Construction Association,and WorkSafeBC.
About Road Safety at Work
Road Safety at Work is a WorkSafeBC-funded initiative managed by the Justice Institute of British Columbia aimed at eliminating work-related motor vehicle crashes, deaths, and injuries in BC. Road Safety at Work offers free online resources and courses — as well as workshops, webinars, and consulting services — to help organizations plan, implement, and monitor effective road safety programs.
Media contact:
Gord Woodward, Communications manager
Road Safety at Work
250-734-3652
gwoodward@roadsafetyatwork.ca