Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

C M Y K A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 15 Everyone plays a part in protecting road workers By Jessie Weir, WORKSAFELY® Education Programs Coordinator A s fall approaches and the weath- er changes, the construction in- dustry doubles down to finish projects before the snow flies. Further, with school back in, there are even more hazards present on the road and near construction zones. Motorists need to take extra caution, to help keep everyone safe. Our industry regularly sees incidents of unsafe and distracted driving that pose major risks to road workers. Distracted driving leads to speeding, failure to notice road signage and driving through lane closures. Those signs and lane closures are there for your safety and ours. Lydia Suderman, flag-person for Meseyton Construction Ltd., says what she sees the most is motorists on their phones, with their heads down not paying attention to the road. "Slow down, pay attention and put down your phones," Suderman states. "I want to go home at the end of the day, too." While some drivers see road construction as an inconvenience, others recognize that such zones are people's workplaces and should be treated with as much respect as other workplaces. The Manitoba Heavy Construction Association's message is simple: everyone has the right to a safe workplace. Trevor Shwaluk, Safety Advisor for MHCA's WORKSAFELY® program, is one of the lead instructors for WORKSAFELY®'s Flagperson certification and has heard numerous accounts of near misses from road workers. "These workers are your friends, family members and children, and they deserve to go home safe at the end of the day," Shwaluk stresses. The 2022 SAFE Roads campaign's theme is Speeding Will Get You Here Faster. Illustrated with photos of, for example, a hospital ward, the campaign highlights the many consequences of speeding around construction workers, whose workplace is on and near our roadways. Incidents occur when drivers are not focused on the road. Jeff Love, Safety Manager of Tri-Core Projects Ltd., notes incidents also occur when drivers lose patience and attempt to pass others in a construction zone. "Drivers need to understand that the maximum speed limit in construction zones can be applied when no workers are present," Love adds. "It doesn't hurt to slow down even more when passing our workers in those zones. You're still going to end up at the next red light." What only saves you 30 seconds, could cost a life. As the 2022 construction season wraps up, we will continue to do our part by ensuring traffic is safely and efficiently flowing through our construction zones. In return, we encourage drivers do their part by driving safely and respectfully. It's not just a construction zone, it's a workplace. Lydia Suderman 204-488-7070 www.mdsteele.mb.ca l Construction Management l General Contracting l Bridge Jacking l Project Management l Design Build MARINE CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR UNDERWATER SURVEYS SALVAGE AND RECOVERY REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLES DIVE INSPECTIONS Dominion Divers has a new look but we've been taking care of Manitoba's underwater infrastructure for over 50 years. Toll-Free: 1.800.599.4933 14 Penner Road Navin, MB, Canada R5T 0H5 Tel: 204.237.8639 www.DominionDivers.ca Construction and repair work goes on underwater and not just on land. MH_xx_Sep-24-22_CO_01.indd 15 2022-09-21 3:39 PM

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