April 17-21, 2023

 
 

CAWP Contractors are busy improving Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges.  When you encounter our work zones, please keep the safety of highway workers in mind.  Our industry actively supports the National Work Zone Awareness Week and participates in outreach efforts to educate the traveling public about dangers of driving through work zones.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is a national public awareness campaign that spreads the message that we are all responsible for work zone safety.

This year’s NWZAW is April 17-21, 2023 and the theme is “You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us.”

DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NWZAW POSTER

NWZAW SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

SPOTLIGHTS

In honor of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), CAWP is spotlighting key safety professionals in the highway construction industry in western Pennsylvania.

Dave Maloney

Dave Maloney

VP of Safety
Fay, S&B USA Construction

Joshua Hatcher

Joshua Hatcher

Safety Compliance Director
Donegal Construction Corporation

Chris Abbs

Safety & Training Manager
B&K Enterprises

Steve Durbin

Corporate Safety Manager
Northeast Paving, a division of Eurovia Atlantic Coast

Larry Chilenski

Director of Safety
Swank Construction Company

VIEW CAWP's Professional spotlights

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Everyone plays a role in work zone safety. NWZAW highlights the deadly dangers of inattention at highway work areas. Make plans now for the weeklong commemoration including:

  • Work Zone Safety Training Day – April 17
  • National Kickoff Event – April 18
  • Go Orange Day – April 19
  • Social Media Storm – April 20
  • Moment of Silence – April 21

WORK ZONE RESOURCES

NWZAW HISTORY

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an event that takes place across the United States, with partnerships between state departments of transportation (DOT), national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies, and individuals.

How did this work zone safety awareness campaign get started?

In 1997, a group of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) staff members, located in southwestern Virginia, wanted to dedicate a week to raise awareness about work zone safety among all district employees before construction projects picked up during the warmer months. Following the successful promotion of this first event, VDOT brought the idea of raising awareness to other DOTs, and in 1999 the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) began its statewide public awareness campaign, “Slow for the Cone Zone.”

However, it was 1998 when VDOT first presented the idea to create a national campaign to ATSSA officials. In December of 1999, ATSSA approached the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to launch the first official NWZAW. They developed an agreement between the organizations, that outlined goals for NWZAW efforts:

  • Initiate efforts to raise awareness of the need for more caution when driving through work zones to decrease fatalities and injuries;
  • Establish and promote a uniform set of safety tips;
  • The value of training and importance of best practices in regard to work zone safety would be promoted among individuals in the private sector, industry, and roadway workers;
  • Reach out to both roadway workers and contractors to communicate possible effects of motorists’ behavior in response to traffic delays, and advise on what steps might possibly be taken to lessen negative behavior; and
  • Outreach efforts would be made to work with entities involved with work zone safety and to form partnerships.

The first official NWZAW kick-off event was held in 2000 in Springfield, Virginia. The site where the kick-off event is held now alternates each year from being hosted in the Washington, D.C., area to different locations across the United States. State transportation departments can submit applications to host the event on those alternate years. 

nwzaw.org