Work Zone Safety: Protecting Workers and Drivers on America's Highways

Tony Liberatore Jr., Business Manager of LIUNA Local 860, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss work zone safety, the challenges faced by construction workers and the efforts to protect workers and drivers on America's highways.

Liberatore Jr. highlighted alarming statistics from a recent Associated General Contractors of America survey, revealing that 60 percent of highway construction firms reported at least one vehicular crash in their work zones in 2024. He emphasized the increased dangers during night shifts, claiming that eight out of 10 drivers operate a vehicle while impaired after midnight. Laborers' Local 860 has implemented various safety measures to address these risks, including negotiating higher pay rates for night shift workers and collaborating with state officials to increase fines and penalties for work zone violations.

Local 860 has also launched extensive public awareness campaigns, including billboards and digital messaging, to promote caution in work zones. Liberatore Jr. stressed the importance of collective efforts involving lawmakers, law enforcement and the public to protect workers and motorists. He noted that while worker fatalities have decreased, motorists continue to endanger themselves by disregarding safety measures in construction areas.

Despite the increased risks, Liberatore Jr. discussed what Local 860 has done to make the work safer for night shift workers. He explained that construction work, including road maintenance, is integral to the trade, and workers understand the inherent dangers. Even while workers understand the risks, Laborers 860 focuses on comprehensive safety training and protective measures to mitigate risks, including using concrete barriers and enhanced visibility equipment.

To learn more about work zone safety initiatives and the efforts of LIUNA Local 860, listen to the full episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast.