Work Zone Safety Awareness Month

TAPCO offers traffic control and other warning devices to enhance work zone safety.

Although National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week has come and gone for 2011, it is imperative to maintain the push for safer driving in an attempt to reduce work zone crashes, injuries and deaths. This year’s “Safe Driving, Safer Work Zones, For Everyone” theme addresses the challenges that work zones present to both workers and highway users.

The recently passed recognition week reminds us of the responsibility we have in work zones and that work zone safety is in fact everyone’s business. The spring and summer construction season is beginning, and with it comes heightened awareness from state and federal transportation programs.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has made available an excellent source of best practices for work zones. The publication is available at: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/practices/best/documents/bpguidebook.pdf

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration there were 667 fatalities and 767 people injured in 1278 work zone collisions in 2009, which represents the third highest number of fatalities and the largest number of injuries and work zone collisions in a decade. The most common causes of accidents are due to driving too fast, following too close and driver inattention. Some of the most common distractions include using a cell phone, texting, reading maps, and using PDAs or navigation systems, etc.

In ideal driving conditions, drivers should stay attentive, but narrowed lanes, construction workers and highway signs leave no margin for error. TAPCO offers a multitude of state-of-the-art devices for construction zones. They are designed to provide the highest visibility to warn drivers well in advance so they have more time to react and navigate safely through the work area, thereby creating safer zones for workers and vehicle occupants alike.

TAPCO offers traffic cones in a variety of colors, sheeted for daytime and nighttime use, and unsheeted for daytime traffic control and a variety of other uses. Their all-vinyl construction ensures flexible, yet rugged durability in all types of weather.

GuardianWear vests are ANSI / ISEA 107-2004 Class 2, Level 2 safety vests that offer high quality, durability, comfort & excellent visibility from 2 inch wide silver reflective bands. Each has one lower front outer pocket and one inner pocket with Velcro closure, ideal for cell phones. Their breathable 100% polyester-mesh fabric features contrasting Lycra piped armholes, pocket, neckline & bottom. Velcro front closure allows for easy closure and removal.

The Rebounder surface-mount delineator features a polycarbonate base, polyethylene tube and unique elastic hinge design, offering extreme durability after being struck continuously. If needed, the tubing can be easily replaced on the job site, saving both time and money. The base may be affixed to the road surface with butyl pad or epoxy. Various sizes are available.

TAPCO's BlinkerSign® Solar LED Signs are a high-tech, low-maintenance safety solution. Their incredibly bright, flashing Day-Viz™ LEDs are highly visible, day and night, in any type of weather. They greatly increase conspicuity and draw more attention to the sign’s message. They are ideal for temporary traffic control because they can be installed in minutes on permanent or temporary posts or mounts. TAPCO can integrate LEDs into standard traffic and work zone signs as well as custom signs.

The standard models will flash 24 hours a day, but optional hardware can be added to program the flash for predetermined hours of operation, or for remote activation as needed.

For more details on these and other products, contact TAPCO to explain how we can make your work zones safer! We can be reached at 800-236-0112 and at www.tapconet.com