On the eve of Road Safety Week and amid recent confirmation of an 8.2 per cent annual increase in the national road toll, Roads Australia has published the nation’s first Road Worker Safety Industry Guideline.
The guideline, formally launched at today’s Roads Australia Transforming Transport Summit in Melbourne, seeks to protect the transport industry’s frontline workers and contribute to safer roads for all drivers.
Led by the Roads Australia Road Worker Safety Working Group, the collective launching the guideline includes the Australian Flexible Pavement Association, Altus Traffic, CPB Contractors, Transurban, Institute of Public Works Engineers, National Transport Research Organisation, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Roadmarking Industry Association of Australia, Service Stream and Warp Group.
“The road transport sector has come together to challenge the current standard of practice and support and prioritise a vision zero future for the road worker industry,” Roads Australia CEO Ehssan Veiszadeh says.
“Industry has seen an unacceptable rise in the number of incidents, serious injuries and fatalities impacting road workers, signalling a need to continually improve the safety of road workers as well as the public travelling through work zones.
“Austroads data published in 2022 found that, over a 10-year period, an average of 18 fatal worksite crashes and 245 serious injury crashes were recorded annually. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as many crashes and near misses in work zones are significantly underreported.
“Industry is committed to showing leadership on this critical issue, and as a result nine leading organisations who work to build, operate and maintain our roads have come together to raise the bar on road worker safety in Australia. We know more of our members and partners are looking to step up and encourage them to sign on and show their support by signing up to our Safer Workzone Commitment.”
The guideline comes after the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) recently surveyed 1,100 industry participants about their safety experiences on Australian roads, with the top five incidents witnessed including speeding by the public, disobeying warning/control signs, verbal and physical abuse, dangerous manoeuvres by the public and heavy braking when approaching traffic control.
With Road Safety Week starting next week, all Australian drivers have the opportunity to make a pledge to drive so others survive.
“With the release of this guideline, we call on all drivers to consider the impact they can make on improving their behaviour, as the industry looks to partner with all levels of government to make our roads safer,” Veiszadeh says.
“Roads Australia and our members are active participants in work at the national, state and territory level to reduce road trauma including the National Road Safety Action Plan 2023- 25.”
Altus chief commercial officer James Pennings says industry can and should lead the development of higher standards for road worker safety, while interim CEO of the Australian Flexible Pavement Association, Tony Aloisio, says leadership is needed in the space.
“Austroads commends Roads Australia on the release of their Road Worker Safety Industry Guideline, a valuable resource for enhancing safety across the road construction industry. Industry adoption of the guideline and use of Austroads’ Guide to Temporary Traffic Management will help save lives,” Austroads chief executive Geoff Allan says.
“Additionally, we encourage companies to submit their innovative products for assessment by AITDSA, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. I am looking forward to the ongoing partnership with Roads Australia and industry to ensuring the safety and well-being of our road workers.”