Publications / CSCE/CRC 2025 - Montreal, Canada

Examining Safety Behaviors of Highway Construction Workers

Steven Stennett and Daniel Tran
Abstract:

Highway construction remains one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S., with safety incidents frequently attributed to behavioral and procedural failures. To enhance compliance, safety incentive and disincentive programs have been implemented across state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), yet their effectiveness varies based on workers' perceptions of fairness, attainability, and relevance. This study examines which elements of these programs highway construction workers find most effective and develops a behavioral safety framework grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Analysis of safety programs across 50 state DOTs reveals that 32 state DOTs have safety incentive programs, with states like Arizona achieving a 20% reduction in work zone incidents through contractor bonuses, while Missouri's telematics-based enforcement led to a 99.5% decrease in speeding violations. Interviews with six DOT safety managers indicate mixed program effectiveness, with some states transitioning from punitive measures to education-focused models. The framework developed in this study consists of five stages: need identification, worker engagement, program assessment, strategic deployment, and continuous evaluation. Key findings emphasize the importance of financial incentives, real-time monitoring technologies, and continuous training in improving compliance and reducing incidents. This study offers DOTs an adaptable, data-driven framework to foster proactive safety behaviors and achieve sustainable safety improvements in highway construction.

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