Accidents involving vehicles or mobile equipment (excavators, dumpers, etc.) on building sites kill more than a dozen workers a year and injure hundreds more. To help make sure that your workers and outsiders can move around your job sites safely, and keep your insurance premiums down, experts recommend using this checklist.
For a free, comprehensive review of site practices, see Heavy Equipment Safety Guidelines.
Keep pedestrians and vehicles apart:
- Have separate entry and exit gateways for pedestrians and vehicles.
- Provide safe pedestrian walkways that take a direct route where possible.
- Make sure drivers with access to public roads can see both ways.
- Don’t block walkways or vehicle routes.
- Install barriers between roads and walkways.
Minimize vehicle movements:
- Provide offsite parking.
- Control entry to the site.
- Have storage areas so that delivery vehicles don’t have to cross the site.
Control people on site:
- Recruit drivers and equipment operators carefully.
- Make sure that drivers, operators, and those who direct traffic are trained.
- Manage the activities of visiting drivers.
Maximize visibility:
- Provide mirrors, CCTV cameras, or reversing alarms.
- Designate signalers to control maneuvers by drivers or equipment operators.
- Install lighting for use after sunset or in bad weather.
- Make sure that all pedestrians on the site wear high-visibility clothing.
Provide safety signage and instructions:
- Ensure that all drivers and workers know and understand the routes and traffic rules on the site.
- Use standard traffic signs where appropriate.
- Provide safety instructions to all visitors in advance.
For a comprehensive — and free — review of vehicle and mobile equipment safety practices on your job sites, see Safety on Construction Job Sites, or talk to an agent. We’re here to help at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I separate pedestrian routes from vehicle routes on a tight site?
Use clear, marked walkways, temporary barriers, and designated crossing points to keep pedestrians and vehicles apart even when space is limited.
Who should be responsible for vehicle movement supervision?
Designate trained signalers or traffic marshals to control vehicle maneuvers and ensure they coordinate with equipment operators and drivers.
What personal protective equipment helps reduce vehicle-related injuries?
High-visibility clothing and appropriate footwear help make pedestrians more visible and reduce the risk of slips and trips near vehicles.
How often should site vehicle routes and rules be reviewed?
Review routes and traffic rules whenever site layout or activity changes and conduct periodic refresher trainings for workers and visitors.