If you work in a construction work zone in or around Cincinnati, OH, you know how dangerous your job is. When you put on your hard hat each day, you put your life on the line to improve our communities’ infrastructure.
Work zones are dangerous for all workers involved, but this is by no means a new problem. Many attempts have been made to protect workers specifically in transportation construction work zones throughout the years. Maybe you have seen the signs reading “Slow Down: My Mommy/Daddy Works Here” in a child’s handwriting. These were meant to remind motorists that the men and women working on the side of the road are not just men and women but mothers and fathers with families who are depending on them. The signs are meant to encourage motorists to slow down to a safer speed and thus save lives.
Do they work? Perhaps they achieve their goal for some but not for all.
ODOT’s Transportation Worker Safety Campaign
In the summer of 2015, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) again made an attempt to protect workers. They implemented a social media campaign to raise awareness about the dangers construction workers face on the roads. The state of Ohio has a “Move Over” law that requires motorists to move over and slow down for vehicles with flashing lights, which includes highway work crews, that are on the side of the road.
Serious injuries may put an employee’s working future at risk. Younger employees have a lot of time before retirement, so an injury can affect those workers far into the future. The amount of time left in a young worker’s expected career means the stakes of addressing a 
While workplace injuries can happen in any employment area, there are a few jobs that tend to have higher injury statistics than others. These high statistics are due to the nature of the job, usually they arise from positions in which employees often perform physical work or work with dangerous equipment. Some of the most high-risk positions include factory workers, nurses, and construction workers.