Balfour Beatty is adding a new danger to construction’s most notorious safety list. The U.K.-based contractor, whose U.S. operations are headquartered in Dallas, has identified traffic hazards as a fifth fatal risk alongside OSHA’s established “Fatal Four” causes of construction fatalities: falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in/between accidents, and electrocutions.

Announced in advance of Construction Safety Week, the company’s move aims to highlight the escalating dangers faced by workers in active road and highway work zones, where speeding and inattentive drivers pose deadly risks.

“The statistics are staggering, construction workers in roadway work zones face life-threatening dangers every day from the driving public,” said Richard Ryan, Balfour Beatty U.S. senior vice president of safety and sustainability, in the company’s release. “This is about protecting our people, the public and fundamentally changing how our communities approach work zones and understanding that safety is a two-way street that requires awareness and responsibility from both workers and motorists.”

Expanding the safety conversation

The firm pointed to alarming national data as a reason for its initiative. In 2022, 891 people were killed in work zones, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. Of those fatalities, 136 were workers or pedestrians, meaning the overwhelming majority of deaths involved motorists themselves.

Adding to the concern, a 2024 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and HCSS revealed that two-thirds of highway contractors experienced a vehicle crash into one of their work zones last year. One-third of respondents said they had five or more crashes on their sites.

“Despite longstanding awareness of struck-by hazards under OSHA guidelines, moving vehicles in work zones continue to represent a uniquely persistent and growing risk,” Ryan noted. OSHA’s broad struck-by category technically includes incidents where a worker is hit or run over by a vehicle, but Balfour Beatty said the specific risk posed by live traffic warrants focused attention and solutions.

A multi-pronged approach

To address the hazard, Balfour Beatty has implemented several measures across its highway projects aimed at reducing the risk of collisions:

• Alert systems: Digital alerts notify drivers approaching work zones through GPS apps and connected vehicle technology.
• Enhanced visibility: Specialized strobe lighting on construction equipment and high-visibility wearables for workers improve visibility in low light and inclement weather.
• Driver education partnerships: Collaborations with the Carolinas Associated General Contractors and state lawmakers in North and South Carolina are integrating work zone safety education into driver training and licensing programs.
• Risk mapping: The company is evaluating how drivers and pedestrians interact with work zones to develop tailored safety protocols for different scenarios.

Despite such efforts, the AGC survey showed that most contractors believe current penalties for reckless driving in work zones are insufficient to deter dangerous behavior.

Seeking stronger protections

Industry groups are pushing for legislative changes to address this gap. The American Traffic Safety Services Association and the National Asphalt Pavement Association announced on April 17 they would lead a coalition to prioritize work zone safety in the next federal highway bill.

Balfour Beatty leaders echoed the need for public involvement to make work zones safer.

“We need the public’s help in this mission and our message is simple: Slow down, make room and help us save lives,” said Eric Stenman, Balfour Beatty U.S. president and CEO. “These three simple actions by every driver can prevent tragedy and help everyone return home safely at the end of the day.”

The company’s campaign adds momentum to ongoing industry calls for stronger protections, better enforcement, and cultural shifts in how drivers view and navigate construction zones.

As Balfour Beatty’s initiative gains attention during Safety Week, the firm said it hopes to spark broader conversations across the industry and communities about shared responsibility for work zone safety.

Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction Dive.