I was on my way home from Physical Therapy this morning and went through a section of highway under construction. One lane was closed and had barrels separating the lanes. There, almpost outside the barrels, was a surveyor with his back turned to traffic taking a shot. SOMEBODY needs to teach these folks that road work is DANGEROUS. NEVER turn your back to traffic. Those barrels won't even slow down a two ton vehicle. I don't know who the surveyor was or I would call the company and remind them that the safety of their employees is their responsibility. Rant off now.
Andy
Very dangerous indeed. I have heard of several instances in the past several months of surveyors being injured in similar situations.
One of our rodmen was nearly injured on a project last summer while taking a shot at the edge of a road. He even had a man standing behind him watching his back. The vehicle veered toward them and the side-view mirror hit his hand. Scary.
We have a safety meeting every Monday morning (office managers and crew chiefs) and a big safety/misc. matters (everyone) meeting on the first Monday of every month. We have a list of safety issues that are read and discussed at each and every meeting. The hope is that by hearing the same things over and over again that it will become second nature.
I almost got hit by Bob Villa in a gated community during the off season on a road with less than 10 vehicles per day.
I remember my first day surveying ever, I was 22 years old and knew nothing. I was on the side of a 4-lane highway taking edge of pavement shots on the rod. A mesh safety vest was my only piece of safety equipment. I remember one tractor trailer coming within a couple feet of my location. He was probably traveling over 75mph. And that was before the time of cell phones!!!
Needless to say, I've learned a little bit since then, and no longer work for that company. My guys are pretty safety conscious. No serious accidents thus far, knock on wood.
-V
I had a similar incident several years ago. I was standing at the edge of the shoulder on an interstate highway (next to the grass) and car was coming down the shoulder toward me at full speed with the driver playing with his radio. He got close enough that I could see the surprise on his face right before he jerked the car back into the driving lane.
Hey Andy,
About a year ago, I was travelng on the by-pass around Albany (GA) at 7:45AM (morning traffic), posted speed limit of 65mph, and saw a 2-man crew on the side of the road.
I-man was set-up maybe 3' from the edge of pavement... Rodmanw as maybe 10'-12' from edge of pavement
No signs... no cones... no vests... no flashers (on truck)... nada...
Did I mention it was foggy????
No signs on truck either or I would have definitely called!
David
Workplace safety>spledeus
You probably deserved it... Was he in a vehicle or did he take a swing at you?
I've been hit by truck mirrors twice and survived both times. The mirrors, not so much...
