Worker safety issues in night‐time highway construction

Purpose The research presented in this paper aims to investigate highway construction/maintenance professionals' perceptions of the effects of night‐time construction conditions on worker visibility and of issues associated with safety vests in night‐time activities. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to Illinois Department of Transportation operations personnel, resident engineers, contractors, and construction/maintenance professionals involved in night‐time construction in the Departments of Transportation of states other than Illinois. Findings It was found that most accidents in night‐time construction work areas are caused by the condition of the vehicle operator, that accidents are caused by through‐traffic and construction equipment operating inside the work area, and that the poor visibility of the workers plays an important role in accidents. Research limitations/implications A national survey (rather than mostly Illinois personnel) would certainly increase the sample size and therefore allow researchers to validate the findings of this study and to conduct extensive statistical analyses. Practical implications Night‐time construction/maintenance operations on highways may be hazardous for both drivers and construction personnel because of poor visibility at night. It is recommended that the design of safety vests adhere to existing standards issued by the American National Standards Institute and the International Safety Equipment Association. It is particularly important to ensure adequate performance in wet weather conditions. Originality/value If safety vests are perceived by workers to be effective, the frequency and severity of night‐time accidents can be reduced and labor productivity can be enhanced.