On the Move Quarterly Newsletter
Spring (April) Quarter 2003, Volume 16, Number 2
Table
of Contents
Annual Asphalt &
Concrete Conferences Pave the Way for 2003 Construction Season
by Doyt Y. Bolling, P.E., Director, Utah Technology Transfer Center
The 28th Annual Utah Asphalt Conference and the 45th Concrete Conference
held during March attracted a total of 325 attendees representing local and
state agencies, consultants, materials suppliers, equipment manufacturers,
and contractors. Good news regarding funding from both Federal and State
programs launched the 28th Annual Asphalt Conference. Mr. John Njord,
Executive Director of UDOT, advised that state legislative action continued
to support the highway program with only a minor push back of a few projects.
Mr. David Gibbs, Utah Division Administrator for FHWA, announced that Congress
had authorized full Federal funding for FY-2003 and that there was good support
for increasing the funding levels in the next transportation bill.
An informative perspective from a trucker’s viewpoint entitled, “Where the
Rubber Meets the Road” was presented by Mr. Larry W. Miller of L.W. Miller
Transportation, and Mr. Dick Tolotti of Jack's Tire & Oil. Mr. Miller
stated that poor roads cost truckers greatly in terms of increased fuel consumption,
vehicle repair, tire wear, operator fatigue, and delays in delivery schedules.
He challenged participants to continue their efforts to build good roads
since these transportation costs are passed on to the consumer.
Mr. Jeff Richmond, Roadtec, Inc., highlighted the efforts and innovations
that equipment manufacturers are making with regard to hot mix asphalt-paving
operations to improve quality and production, and be environmentally friendly.
He cited how hot plants were being enclosed to fit in suburban communities,
how quality control procedures are being incorporated in plant operations,
and the improved quality resulting from the use of material transfer devices.
Breakout sessions focusing on back-to-basics topics were provided addressing
Materials, Design, Construction, and Maintenance. The Materials Session
covered the basics and proper use of asphalt emulsions, polymer modified asphalts,
surface recycling, costs and benefits of using Superpave mixes, the why’s
of using lime in asphalt mixes, and foamed asphalt. The Design Session
focused on pavement design of local roads, design and use of thin asphalt
overlays and alternative surface treatments (NovaChips), design and construction
of in-place recycled pavements, and rehabilitating concrete pavements with
hot mix asphalt.
The Construction Session focused on construction techniques and QC/QA procedures
that result in quality asphalt pavements. The topics of equipment operator
skills and qualifications, hot mix plant operations and quality control, contractor
QC/QA procedures, laydown operations, and the fundamentals of good compaction
and proper joint construction were well covered.
The Maintenance Session covered preventative maintenance and pavement preservation
treatments. In this session special emphasis was placed on proper and
effective crack sealing methods, cold patching and repairing utility cuts
effectively. In addition, the pavement preservation treatments of chip
seals, scrub seals, fog seals and rejuvenators, and slurry seals were addressed
with respect to use, performance, and proper construction techniques.
The 45th Annual Concrete Conference, held at Utah State University, attracted
a hundred participants representing consultants, materials suppliers, UDOT,
and contractors. This conference focused on the significant role concrete
plays in society with regard to buildings, highways, dams, and waterways.
Presentations addressing the positive benefits that the use of concrete has
on the environment, the proper construction and protection of concrete flatwork,
the use of white-topping to address problem pavement situations, and use of
seismic methods to analysis concrete performance highlighted the conference.
The Utah Chapter of the American Concrete Institute was also recognized for
its Concrete Finisher and Technician Certification programs.
The proceedings of both the 28th Utah Asphalt Conference and the 45th Concrete
Conference have been documented and can be obtained in CD format by contacting
the Utah T² Center at 1-800-822-8878 or 435-797-2931. A minimal charge
of $2.00 each plus shipping and handling is required.
Legislative & Regulatory
Update
Rural Road Safety
The conference agreement retains language pertaining to rural road safety,
requiring the Government Accounting Office (GAO) to review federal funding
of rural road safety improvements and to determine whether some interstate
design characteristics could improve rural road safety. The report is
to be submitted one year from the date of enactment of this Act. Excerpt
from 108th Congress Report 108-10.
LTAP Funding Update
With passage of the latest Federal appropriations bill, the funding level
for the LTAP program (funds that are used by the FHWA and passed through Utah
Department of Transportation to fund the Utah T²/LTAP Center) has remained
the same as for the prior year. This is good news for a program that
has proved cost-effective, and efficient in helping local agencies stretch
their own limited budgets in our tight economy.
Hats Off! To
Jon Ruiz, Outgoing Public Works Director for Ogden City
We are sad to see Jon Ruiz leave his post as the Public Works Director with
Ogden City, but wanted to express our deepest appreciation to Mr. Ruiz for
his longtime service as a member of the Utah Technology Transfer Center Advisory
Board. His guidance, direction, and encouragement have made a significant
impact on our ability to provide timely and appropriate service to local Utah
agencies!
TRB E-Newsletter
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) E-Newsletter provides a new mechanism
to help facilitate the exchange of research results and other information
among transportation professionals. It regularly covers transportation
research developments in the United States and abroad.
To tap into this resource go on-line to the TRB Web site [www4.trb.org/trb/HomePage.nsf/web/e-newsletter].
You can browse by mode, function or type and search by phrase or keyword.
You can also subscribe to the E-Newsletter by sending an e-mail note to
[rhouston@nas.edu] with "TRB E-Newsletter"
in the message's subject field. Confirmation of your subscription to
the "transresearchnews" listserv will be sent within 5 business days.
Subscriptions are free.
Supervisor, Are You
Listening? A Key to Good Communication
We spend half our waking hours listening to people--face to face, on the
telephone, radio, or television. But most of us have trouble concentrating
on what others say. How can we learn to "listen louder?"
Make Eye Contact
The best way to show you're listening is to look the speaker in the eye.
Sit up straight or lean forward slightly. Offer neutral comments, such
as "I see."
Don't Be a Script Writer
Planning what you're going to say while the other person is talking can
cost you important information. First hear the speaker out. Give
this person a chance to elaborate or correct a mistake. Then say what
you have to say. Try not to make up your mind about the situation until
the speaker is finished.
Use Your Mind's "Spare Time"
Most people speak about 200 words per minute. The mind, however, processes
words twice that fast. During its "spare time," the mind can easily
wander and daydream. Daydreaming is the biggest barrier to active listening.
To stay tuned in, notice when you're taking a mental vacation. Bring
your self back to the subject at hand. You could try asking yourself
these questions:
- What's in this for me?
- What can I learn from this or pass on to my team?
- What does this person want from me?
Go Easy With Advice
It's your job to coach people as a supervisor. But it's usually better
to hear a person out before jumping in to solve the problem. After venting
his or her feelings about the problem, the worker may come up with the solution
without your help.
Listen for Feelings
People express feelings with more than words. Watch to see if the
speaker stresses certain words or talks loudly. Loud talk could indicate
anger. Talking softly could mean the person is nervous. A high
pitch may signal distress. Fast talking often signals anxiety.
If you notice a strong emotion, it may be helpful to mention it. "You
sound upset, Joe," you could say. Or "It sounds like you were embarrassed
when he criticized you in front of the others, Frank." Your employee
can then agree or disagree with your observation and clarify the feeling.
If You Can't Listen Right Now
Suppose an employee wants to talk, but you have to meet the boss in five
minutes. Politely explain that you wish you could talk now, but you
have another obligation. Suggest a better time and make a note of it.
Be sure to keep the appointment.
Conclusion
Improving your listening skills will not only improve your ability to be
an effective supervisor, but also allow you to improve the overall tone of
understanding in the workplace.
Taken from Putting Safety to Work, Copyright 1990, Parlay International.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
National Work Zone
Awareness Week (April 6-12)
A Chance to Focus on Preventing Fatalities & Injuries in Work Zone
With the beginning of another season of highway construction fast approaching,
transportation agencies and others across the country are planning events
in April to observe National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 6-12). Since
the program’s inception in 1999, a week has been set aside each year in April
to focus on the growing number of fatalities and injuries that occur each
year in roadway work zones. In 2001, the latest year for which statistics
on work zone injuries and fatalities are available, over 1,000 people were
reported killed in work-zone-related crashes, four (4) of these were on Utah’s
highways. Surprisingly, the majority of those killed in work zones were
motorists – not the workers.
Fact Sheet 2003
- Over the last 5 years the number of persons killed in motor vehicle
crashes in work zones has gone from 693 in 1997 to a high of 1,079 in 2001
(for an average of 888 fatalities per year).
- In 2001, 1,079 fatalities resulted from motor vehicle crashes in work
zones of which 249 resulted from large truck crashes.
- On average from 1997 to 2001, 15% of the fatalities resulting from
crashes in work zones were non-motorists (pedestrians and bicyclists).
- Over 40,000 people per year are injured as a result of motor vehicle
crashes in work zones.
- An estimated 5,000 people were injured in large truck crashes in work
zones in 2001.
- In 2001, over half of all fatal work zone crashes occurred during
the day, while about two-thirds of fatal large truck work zone crashes occurred
during the day.
- In 2001, more than two times as many fatal work zone crashes occurred
on weekdays compared to weekends.
- In 2001, fatal work zone crashes, regardless of whether a large truck
was involved or not, occurred most often in the summer and the fall months.
- In 2001, the number of fatal work zone crashes occurring on rural
interstates was nearly 30 % greater than the number of fatal crashes occurring
on urban interstates (159 compared to 124).
- In 2001, for fatal large truck crashes, the percentage of work zone
crashes occurring on urban interstates is twice as high compared to all fatal
truck crashes (20% vs. 10%).
- In 2001, the majority of fatal work zone crashes for all vehicles
and large trucks occurred on roads with speed limits of 55 miles per hour
or greater (57% and 70%, respectively).
Most people do not realize motorists are at the highest risk in work zones.
Awareness events across the country help get this message out to the motoring
public. The goal of these events is to save lives on our nation’s roadways.
What Our Partners Are
Doing: More Training Opportunities for YOU!!!
Our thanks to these important partners for sharing this information and
working with us in our efforts to serve the local agencies of Utah.
Utah League of Cities & Towns
If you desire more information on League activities, or to register for
a League sponsored event, please call the Utah League of Cities & Towns
directly at (801) 328-1601 or 1-800-852-8528 or go to their Web site [www.ulct.org].
Mid-Year Conference
April 9-11, 2003 (St. George)
Details and registration information for this event are available at the
League Web site. (See
the hotel list on this page.)
City Streets & County
Roads School
April 23-25, 2003 (St. George)
More details on the program for this year's Road School is available at
the League's Web site. The Utah Local Government Trust Truck "Roadeo"
will also be held in conjunction with this event. You won't want to
miss it! (See the hotel
list on this page.)
Utah Association of Counties
For more information on UAC activities, or to register for a UAC sponsored
event, please call them directly at (801) 265-1331 or go to their Web
site [uacnet.pegasus.ultraservers.net].
UAC Management Conference
April 16-18, 2003 (College of Eastern Utah, Price)
The theme for this year's Management Conference is "Back to Basics at the
University of UAC." Registration forms, hotel accommodations, and program
details are available at the UAC Web site. Don't delay, register today!
APWA, Utah Chapter
For more information on APWA activities please visit their Web site [www.apwautah.org]. Please note that
monthly luncheons have been replaced with quarterly meetings. The quarterly
meetings will last about 3 hours, and will include breakout sessions.
The location of each meeting will vary to accomodate more of the APWA's diverse
membership.
Golf Tournament/Quarterly
Luncheon
May 21 (West Ridge Golf Course, West Valley City)
Golf Tournament (shotgun format) beginning at 8:00 am to be followed by
the Spring quarterly luncheon, speakers and breakout sessions that afternoon.
Awards Banquet
May 22 (Gathering Place, Gardner Village, West Jordan)
ITE, Utah Chapter
For information on ITE activities, please call Jason Davis with UDOT Program
Development at (801) 965-4190 or by e-mail at [jasondavis@utah.gov]. Please
note that the monthly luncheons are held the third Tuesday of each month starting
at 12 noon at Shanghai Gardens (7200 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah)
unless otherwise indicated.
Monthly Luncheon
April 15, 2003
Topic to be determined.
ITE Regional Meeting
May 16-17, 2003 (Jackson, Wyoming)
Call or e-mail for registration details.
Monthly Luncheon
June 17, 2003
Topic to be determined.
Utah Local Governments Insurance Trust
For information on these and other Trust activities, please call Craig Bott
at 1-800-748-4440. You can also e-mail Craig at [cbott@ulgt.org]. Also, check out their
Web site at [www.ulgt.org].
Regional training dates allow the Trust to coordinate their overall provision
of services around the state. If you have training needs, please contact
the Trust and they can help you set up what you need during the assigned dates
for your region.
Utah Risk Management Mutual Association
For information or to register for these and other URMMA training activities,
please call Joanne Glantz at (801) 225-6692 ext. 18. You can also check
out their Web site at [www.urmma.org].
HR/Personnel Review
April 3 (Farmington) 9 am-12 noon
April 3 (Orem) 1:30-4:30 pm
Camille Johnson will present this required workshop. Cost is $15/person
for members, $30/person for non-members.
NSC Defensive Driver Training
April 9 (Layton) 9 am-1 pm
The cost for this recommended workshop is $10/person for members, $20/person
for non-members.
How to Communicate in Court
April 16-18 (Layton) 9 am-12 noon
This one-day recommended workshop will be repeated all three days.
Cost is $10/person for members, $20/person for non-members.
Vehicle Safety Roundtable
May 6 (West Valley City) 9-11 am
Police Officer Physical Fitness Coordinator Training
May 15 (West Valley City Fitness Center) 9 am-4 pm
The cost for this recommended training is $150/person for members, $200/person
for non-members.
Risk Management Leadership Workshops
June 9 (Cedar City) 1-4 pm
June 10 (Cedar City) 9 am-4 pm
June 12 (Daniel's Summit) 9 am-4 pm
June 13 (Daniel's Summit) 9 am-12 noon
This recommended workshop covers personnel, negotiate or litigate and police
liability. For members, the cost is $75/person for full-day workshops
and $30/person for half-day sessions. For non-members, the cost is $100/person
for full-day workshops and $50/person for half-day sessions.
Blue Stakes of Utah
Blue Stakes of Utah is now training interested parties in the Remote Access
Ticket Entry (RTE) Program. RTE will allow members and contractors to
directly enter requests into their system and manage them through their Web
site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This new feature should make the
locate request process much more convenient and accurate. For more information
and to sign up if you are interested in using this new technology, please
send an e-mail to [RTE@BlueStakes.org].
You can also get additional information and download the users manual at their
Web site [www.bluestakes.org].
Hotel List for Mid-Year
& Road School
- Ramada Inn, 1440 East St. George Blvd, (435) 628-2828, Rate : $60/night
- Fairfield Inn, 1660 South Main, (435) 673-6066, Rate: $59/night
- Hampton Inn, 53 North River Road, (435) 652-1200, Rate: $72/night
- Crystal Inn, 1250 South Hilton Drive, (800) 662-2525, Rate: $65/night
- Holiday Inn, 850 South Bluff, (435) 628-4235, Rate: $65-75/night
- Best Western Abbey Inn, 1129 South Bluff, (435) 652-1234, Rate: $79/night
FYI: For Your Information
Product Demonstration Showcase: Adjustable Manhole Covers (April 29, 2003
in Logan, Utah)
Municipal road departments from "sea to shining sea" have been waiting for
this. Finally American ingenuity produces an adjustable manhole cover!
Imagine the labor saving potential of this long awaited technology, not to
mention the public relations element.
This event is cosponsored by the Utah T²/LTAP Center, the City of Logan
Public Works Water/Waste team, and the University of Florida LTAP Program.
The manufacturer, Precision Cover Systems, Inc., will play an active role
in this showcase as well.
Participants will learn how this product was developed and subsequently
approved for use by the city's management team. You will experience
how simply they install; how they adjust to match exact grade and crown;
and, how they adjust to match heights of future overlays.
All FHWA and AASHTO specification aspects plus actual City of Logan cost
benefit information will be shared.
Participants will visit in-use sites to evaluate various grade installation
applications and will observe a complete, real-time, start-to-finish field
installation. Don't let your decision-making team miss this showcase!
Registration is $29/person for this one-day showcase. This fee includes
all handouts, site visit transportation and lunch. Continuing Education
Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are available for this
showcase.
The showcase begins at 9 am and adjourns at 4 pm. Overnight accommodation
has been arranged at the Best Western-Weston (800-532-5055) for $60/night
plus tax and the Comfort Inn (435-752-9141) for $54/night plus tax.
Additional information on these accommodations and all location maps will
be provided upon registration.
If you have any questions or would like to register by phone, please call
Keri Shoemaker at 1-800-822-8878 or (435) 797-2931. You can also print
a faxable registration form from the Product Demonstration Showcase Web site
[www.PDShowcase.org].
PO and credit card payment is welcome; checks should be made payable to
the University of Florida (their FEID number is 596002052).
Calendar of Events:
April-June 2003
April
7-8 Gravel Roads Workshop (Beaver)
9-11 Utah League
of Cities & Towns Mid-Year Conference (St. George)
10-11 Gravel Roads Workshop (Brigham City)
16-17 Utah Association
of Counties Management Conference (Price)
22 Sign Mangement/MUTCD Workshop
(St. George)
23-25 Utah
League of Cities & Towns Road School (St. George)
28 ATSSA TCT Training (St. George)
29-30 ATSSA TCS Training (St. George)
29-30 Adjustable
Manhole Covers Showcase (Logan)
May
16-17 ITE Regional
Meeting (Jackson, Wyoming)
18-24 Utah Public Works Week
21 APWA Utah Chapter Golf Tournament
& Quarterly Luncheon
22 APWA Utha Chapter Awards Banquet
June
22-25 8th International Conference on Low Volume
Roads (Reno, Nevada)
Utah T²/LTAP
Center to Offer Variety of Workshops at Road School
The experienced staff of the Utah T²/LTAP Center will again be
participating as instructors for Road School.
Stuart Thompson, Field Engineer for the Center, will conduct a series of
Flagger Certification sessions. These workshops will cover the material
offered in our regular ATSSA Flagger course. All Road School registrants
are invited to attend, but those seeking certification can pay an additional
$25/person fee and receive the manuals and opportunity to certify as part
of the session. This will be particularly helpful to local agency staff
who would like to certify in advance of the road construction/maintenance
season.
Dee Hadfield, Field Projects Manager, will be presenting several sessions
on Heavy Equipment Operation, a workshop meant as an introduction to the Center's
popular hands-on workshop.
Focus on Engineering:
Foamed Asphalt Incorporated in In-Place Recycling
The foamed asphalt process is not new. It was first introduced as
a central plant mixing process and was used in Montana and Colorado in the
mid 1980’s. The in-place recycling process has been performed outside
of the United States actively for about 10 years. The engineering, design,
testing and equipment are well proven.
This process recycles a highly deteriorated pavement section along with
some of the base into one homogenous section. Figure 1 (below) shows
the existing condition of a project constructed in September 2000.
Figure 2 (below) shows the recycler pushing the tanker of hot asphalt oil,
and pulling the water truck. The addition of both the asphalt and water
is computer controlled and matched to the travel speed of the machine.
As the recycler pulverizes the road, the hot asphalt is foamed by the addition
of a small (2-3% to the volume of asphalt) amount of water. The foamed
asphalt attaches to the fines in the recycled materials and becomes the mortar
that binds the materials together.
After foaming, the material is handled similarly to any other moist granular
base material. It is then shaped and compacted to form the new road
base.
Once final compaction is complete one can drive on the road, and need only
wait for the moisture to come out to apply a wearing surface. A slurry
seal, chip seal, or asphalt wearing course can be used as the surface course.
Figure 3 (below) shows the finished foam surface on the left and an asphalt
wearing course applied to the right half of the road.
Once complete, the road looks like any other new road. The project
(shown below) covered 1.8 miles of 24' wide road, and was completed from beginning
to end in 6 days.
The cost was one half the cost of conventional reconstruction, and had the
benefit of not having to close the road to traffic that would have been necessary
with reconstruction. Typical production rates range from 50-80,000
sq. ft./day.
It's Time for Flagger
Certification
ATSSA Flagger Certification Training is available from the Utah T²/LTAP
Center on-demand at your location. Local agencies needing Flagger Certification
Training may contact the Utah T² Center to schedule an on-site workshop.
The training costs $40/person and includes Part 6 of the MUTCD, ATSSA Flagger
Handbook, and Utah T² and APWA’s Traffic Control Manual for Utah roads
(a $25 value). Don’t forget those seasonal and temporary workers.
Call us at 1-800- 822-8878.
MUTCD: It's the
Law for Local Utah Agencies Too
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) defines the standards
used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices
on all public streets and highways. MUTCD users represent are more
than the highway community. Major users include the insurance industry,
law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, private industry, and construction
and engineering firms.
With this national standard in place, the Utah State Legislature, during
their 1987 general session, established the MUTCD as the statewide standard
as well. Section 41-6-21 of the Utah State Code states: "(1)
The Department of Transportation shall place and maintain traffic-control
devices in conformance with its manual and specifications upon all state highways
as it finds necessary to indicate and to carry out the provisions of this
chapter or to regulate, warn or guide traffic. (2) A local authority
may not place or maintain any traffic-control device upon any highway under
the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation except by the latter's
permission."
The Legislature continued their regulation of signs in Section 41-6-22 of
the Utah State Code: "Local authorities, in their respective jurisdictions,
shall place and maintain official traffic-control devices upon highways under
their jurisdiction as they find necessary to indicate and to carry out the
provisions of this chapter or local traffic ordinances, or to regulate, warn,
or guide traffic. All traffic control devices erected under this section
shall conform to and be maintained in conformance with the [Utah] Department
of Transportation manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic
control devices."
With the safety of the public in mind, the Utah Department of Transportation
has adopted the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as their "manual
and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices."
This means that, by State law, local agencies are required to adhere to the
guidelines set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
So, be sure and check the MUTCD before placing any traffic control devices
in your roadways!
Free "Peer-to-Peer
for Traffic Control Devices" (P2P TCD) Program Available to Assist Local Agencies
in MUTCD Implementation
by Al Alonzi, Team Leader, Affiliates Program FHWA Office of Professional
Development
FHWA has initiated a new service designed to assist public agencies in effectively
applying traffic control devices and the MUTCD. The "Peer-to-Peer for
Traffic Control Devices" (P2P TCD) is designed as a no-cost program to:
- Provide short-term assistance in matters related to traffic control
devices;
- Address specific technical issues in the MUTCD;
- Spark dialogue and foster an "esprit de corps" among professionals
in the transportation community; and
- Contribute to a better transportation system - optimized traffic performance
and improved safety.
The P2P TCD program is designed to provide an easy-to-use way for practitioners
to receive assistance from other practitioners.
How does it work? Local, county, regional, or state transportation
agencies request assistance by e-mail [P2P@fhwa.dot.gov]
or calling a toll-free number (1-888-700-PEER). The program coordinator
matches transportation professionals who are experienced and knowledgeable
in the relevant technical area. The peer, in turn, will contact the
agency to work out the details of the assistance to be provided within the
program framework. The peer's assistance is short-term and will address specific,
technical issues.
The P2P TCD program is easy to use; send an e-mail to [P2P@fhwa.dot.gov] or call toll-free at
1-888-700-PEER (7337). For the opportunity to participate in the program
on a less formal basis, visit the Discussion Area on the MUTCD Web site at
[http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov].
You can contact Al Alonzi, by e-mail [al.alonzi@fhwa.dot.gov], phone (703-235-0552)
or fax (703-235-0593).
OSHA & the MUTCD
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised the
construction industry safety standards to require that traffic control signs,
signals, barricades or devices protecting workers conform to Part VI of the
Millennium Edition of the FHWA MUTCD (Millennium Edition), instead of the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) D6.1-1971, Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (1971 MUTCD).
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of December 11, 2002.
The following excerpts outline some activities by OSHA in 2001 as they
relate to work zone safety.
Trenching violations and a lack of protection for flaggers are two of the
top violations targeted in a three-state highway work zone emphasis program
that resulted in $885,000 total penalties during the 2001 fiscal year, according
to OSHA.
Of the 349 highway work zone safety inspections done in Illinois, Wisconsin,
and Ohio in FY 2001, 252 resulted in citations, said the assistant area director
for OSHA’s Chicago North area office, John Maronic.
Most Common Violations
The top five violations issued under the emphasis program in FY 2001 were:
- Unsafe trenches;
- Inadequate use of signs to warn motorists entering the work zones;
- Lack of reflective clothing worn by flaggers; and
- Not providing flaggers with red flags or paddles for directing traffic.
Other common violations included workers not wearing hard hats, missing
ladders for access to trenches, and a lack of proper barricades to separate
traffic from the work zone.
The majority of the violations were abated during the inspections, often
by erecting signs or barriers that were available on-site.
Focus on New Technology:
UDOT’s New Products Evaluation Panel
A Resource to Local Agencies for New Technology Evaluation
The Research Division of UDOT is responsible for sorting through the hundreds
of products that are solicited each year. To accomplish this task,
the Research Division has set up the New Products Evaluation Panel (NPEP)
to review each product. Several criteria are used to evaluate each
product.
If the product meets a UDOT standard specification it is placed on the Accepted
Products List (APL). This list gives a quick method of determining a
product that meets a UDOT standard.
If no UDOT standard exists for a submitted product and the product meets
a National or in-house test generally accepted by UDOT, the product is placed
on the Performance Data Products Listing (PDPL). This list provides
a quick method of referencing products that meet a test such as ASTM or AASHTO.
Both APL and PDPL lists are available on-line at [www.udot.utah.gov/res/research/WebDesign/prodlistings.htm].
The NPEP gives field evaluations to products that improve the UDOT standard
or are experimental to UDOT. Successful field evaluations help modify
currents standards or lead to new standards.
One well-known example of a field evaluation is the temporary pavement marking
tab used for chip seals. This product is now used nationwide in chip
seal projects.
Some other products that have been evaluated include paints, sign sheeting,
barrier delineators, epoxies, sealers, and plowable markers. Products
represent the majority of field evaluations; however, UDOT has also evaluated
new methods like urethane slab-jacking or recycled asphalt pavement (RAP).
These lists are a particularly valuable resource for local agencies.
Interested local agencies can find out more about a product from these lists
and have more information to utilize when they are solicited by a new product
manufacturer or salesperson.
If you have any questions, please call Robert Stewart in UDOT's Research
Division at (801) 965-4333 or go on-line to [www.udot.utah.gov/res].
Raising the Bar for Safety
excerpt from a presentation to the National Local Technical Assistance
Program Association Annual Meeting (January 2003) by A. George Ostensen, Associate
Administrator for Safety, FHWA
Mr. A. George Ostensen, Associate Administrator for Safety with the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) gave the keynote address at the recent
National LTAP Association meeting in Washington, DC. With the topic
of "raising the bar on safety" he shared his perspective on the safety situation
on our nation's roads and highways. He also shared some interesting
statistics about roads in the U.S.
Of the 3.9 million miles of roads in America, 3.1 million miles (78%) are
rural roads. Of that amount, 661,000 miles (22%) are rural roads owned
by States. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of all travel in the U.S. is in
rural areas; with 61% of fatalities occurring in those areas.
Some of the strategies being undertaken by FHWA to address safety include
focusing on:
- Implementing strategic safety programs
- Enhancing occupant protection measures
- Designing roads to prevent roadway departure or to mitigate the consequences
of roadway departure
- Improve intersection design, operation and enforcement
- Providing a systematic approach to community safety (for safety pedestrian
accommodation)
LTAP Centers nationwide were commended for their response to local concerns
regarding transportation safety through training and technical assistance.
T²/LTAP Centers are working closely with FHWA to distribute safety
publications and products; identifying local safety needs; maintain and enhance
communication through the existing FHWA-LTAP Safety Coordination Group; and
preparing publications, presentations, train-the-trainer courses, and other
courses.
There are still several challenges facing the LTAP program and the T²/LTAP
Centers in each state. We have high expectations, but are striving to
live up to those expectations by deepening our safety capabilities inside
and outside LTAP Centers, expanding awareness at the local level , marshalling
support for a state-based, data-driven comprehensive approach to improve safety,
and working with customers to measure our success.
We encourage local agency personnel to contact us with any concerns they
have about roadway safety. We are ready to help local agencies to improve
the safety of their roads through training, technology transfer and technical
assistance!
Comments should be directed to the editor.