Mitigating and Preventing MoDOT Safety-Related Incidents through Root-Cause Elimination and Utilization of Leading Safety Indicators

This report thoroughly investigates and analyzes the diverse factors influencing incident occurrence in work zone environments, aiming to identify areas where proactive planning can enhance incident mitigation. Drawing from an extensive review of existing literature on work zone safety, 37 factors affecting both public and occupational safety were identified. Two surveys were then conducted among MoDOT employees and contractors to assess the relative criticality of these factors on worker safety within work zones. Survey results highlight driver-related factors, such as the driver's level of attention and unsafe driving, as the most critical to worker safety in work zones. Additionally, MoDOT employees and contractors evaluated MoDOT’s performance on the studied factors. While MoDOT's performance received substantial ratings overall, contractors consistently rated it lower than MoDOT employees, indicating a divergence in perspectives between stakeholder groups. Notably, both groups identified the presence of law enforcement as a critical area requiring further improvement in Missouri work zones. Furthermore, MoDOT employees rated field compliance with safety policies and the overall safety culture in their workplaces. Variations in policy compliance were observed, with certain policies, such as those related to backing movements, requiring attention to improve adherence—a crucial aspect for occupational safety in work zone environments. Additionally, while MoDOT employees demonstrated strong knowledge of policies and safety procedures provided by MoDOT, they expressed lower satisfaction with the timely investigation of safety incidents and the effectiveness of subsequent improvements. This comprehensive analysis provides a benchmark for MoDOT and other stakeholders to address identified deficiencies and enhance work zone safety practices effectively.

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Report number: cmr 24-012
Published: August 2024

Project number: TR202212

Authors: Bahaa Chammout and Islam El-adaway

Performing organization: Missouri Center for Transportation Innovation