Life PSA: It's Workzone Safety Awareness Week - Page 3

**Lzen** · 04-08-2014, 10:53 AM

It's that time of year once again. Construction season is starting up and therefore you will be seeing more constructions zone. Remember that the highway workers would like to go home to their families, too.

Quote:

Three Close Calls

By Peter Wiehe

In my 29-year KDOT career in the Kansas City Metro area, I have had many close calls but three stay in my mind. In telling these stories, I will try to give you an idea of what things that we have to look out for each day and every day we work on the road to make it safe for the traveling public.
The first incident was when I was an Equipment Operator at the Lamar shop - we were cleaning drains on northbound I-35 at Southwest Boulevard on the inside barrier wall and we had the left lane closed. We pulled the grate off the first drain and I crawled into clean the drain. I was in the drain about 30 seconds when I heard tires screeching and my coworkers yelling get down.
As I looked up out of the drain, all I could see was my coworkers running and climbing over the barrier wall, and then I could hear a car hit the arrow board. The next thing that happened was the scary part. The car went right over the top of the drain that I was in. I still remember what the underneath side of that car looks like, and that happened 26 years ago. I am glad my coworkers were looking out for me - otherwise I probably wouldn’t be here today.
The second incident was on K-32 at Turner Diagonal. We were doing bridge deck repair and we had an overnight lane closer set up in the left lane. The first day we hammered out the holes and formed them up. The second day we were pouring concrete. I was finishing the right edge of the hole when I heard the crew yelling and turned around to see a tractor trailer coming right at me knocking down the cones that were right in line with me.
I had no place to go but into the concrete that I was finishing. The area supervisor pulled me out and called KHP to chase the truck down. They found the truck about a mile away and the area supervisor went to identify the truck. The driver of the truck didn’t think he had done anything wrong, but the Trooper gave him a verbal warning.
The third incident was during a snow storm, the visibility was about an eighth of a mile. I received a call from KHP at 1:30 a.m., they needed traffic control on southbound I-435 at Kansas Avenue. A trash truck had rolled over and they needed I-435 closed at Kansas Avenue. All my crews were plowing snow, so I got help from a mechanic in our shop, a motorist assist, and the Kansas City, Kansas, police department.
We closed all three lanes using my pickup in the number one lane, the motorist assist in the number two lane, and the KCK police in the number three lane. This is the best we could do with what we had, and everything was set up and working fine for about an hour. The motorist assist came over to talk to me, and was standing outside of my pick up for a couple of minutes. When I looked in the mirror, I could see a set of head lights headed right for my pick up, all I could say is we are going to get hit.
The motorist assist turned around and started running away. The car missed my pick-up by two inches and hit the motorist assist pick-up and broke the parking pin and sent the pick-up about 300 yards down the road. The driver of the car said later to the Trooper that he wasn’t drunk that he only had one pitcher of beer. It was hard for all of us out there not to lose our cool, we were all very fortunate that no one got hurt.
So I am asking that you pay attention to the road work signs, look out for workers, and other drivers on the road. Please don’t use your cell phones while you are driving and don’t drink and drive. We want you to get where you are going safe, and we want to go home at the end of the day as well.

Peter Wiehe is the Highway Supervisor at the KDOT Bonner Springs office

http://ksdotblog.blogspot.com/2014/0...l#comment-form

Link to original thread:
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=243595

listopencil · 04-08-2014, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Jesus Christ ! Is that real ?

Yup. It helps the pawgs.

**Rausch** · 04-08-2014, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

better than sitting around behind a cube all day scratching your balls and ass and taken a sniff now and then.

Not really...

Pablo · 04-08-2014, 08:21 PM

srvy, go back to posting once every other month.

**srvy** · 04-08-2014, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

srvy, go back to posting once every other month.

Quantity does not mean quality.

Case in point yours.

Pablo · 04-08-2014, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Quantity does not mean quality.

Case in point yours.

You supply neither. And it's better that way.

**srvy** · 04-08-2014, 09:09 PM

OK Pablum whatever you say.

**Lzen** · 04-09-2014, 07:12 AM

Wednesday's blog:

Quote:

Work Zone Safety: A Costly Mistake

By Carman Ange
Just the night before, I had packed Curtis’ cooler with bottles of Gatorade because you need lots of fluids when working on the highway in the heat. And we talked about him going fishing soon with his brother who had just gotten back from Afghanistan.
The next morning, imagine saying good bye to your son, not realizing that will be the last thing said. Imagine not being able to see your loved one, until funeral arrangements are made, and their body is prepped for viewing. Imagine the crew members that were there that day and had to go back work.
Imagine on August 5, 2012, that was your son that went to work and didn’t get to come home. My family’s world was changed forever that day when we were notified that my son Curtis was struck by a car and killed while working in a Kansas work zone. Curtis was only 22 with his entire life ahead of him.
As a mother, you ask yourself - what could I have done to protect him? Why did I let him leave the house? Did I tell him that I loved him? Why couldn't it have been me instead of him?I can't get past that horrific day. I’m constantly reliving that day over and over again in my mind. You can't sleep, you have nightmares of him in the casket because that’s the last time you seen him. The pain is so unbearable, you just hope it doesn’t happen to someone else. I strongly believe the law needs to be changed, because some people don’t care if it just says fines double in the work zone.
Work zone safety involves all road users, including roadway workers, emergency responders, law enforcement, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. Remember as a driver “we” make the life-saving decision. Once “we” get behind that wheel, “we” are the ones ultimately responsible. The decisions “we” make not only affect us, but also affect the ones around us. Can “we” make a difference? Yes.
Obey the posted speed and warning signs, don’t drive while under the influence, stay alert and pay attention, avoid distractions, prepare for sudden changes in traffic, expect delays and take an alternate route if available. By doing these things, you improve safety and reduce accidents - an accident possibly to you, your loved one, or other motorists who could be injured or killed.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 7 through April 11. I ask everyone for a moment of silence for the loved ones that lost their lives. Please give thanks to the emergency responders, law enforcement, motorist assists, highway construction crews, and many others who I might of have missed, they work in these dangerous conditions. Why? They’re there to “protect us.”
Don’t let this tragedy happen to your family, your loved ones, friends, and co-workers.

Carman Ange’s son, Curtis Harlan, was killed in a highway work zone

**Lzen** · 04-09-2014, 07:30 AM

Demonpenz · 04-09-2014, 08:18 AM

I glanced up a bit from reading chiefsplanet from my IPAD and I am on I-35 and I will keep this short, be careful there are dangerous people out there.

Radar Chief · 04-09-2014, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

#2... Thistle ain't what I pull

**Lzen** · 04-09-2014, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

I glanced up a bit from reading chiefsplanet from my IPAD and I am on I-35 and I will keep this short, be careful there are dangerous people out there.

I realize you are probably joking but that's what is wrong with people these days. Not only have I been out on the highways working in traffic, I also have witnessed the devastation of an inattentive driver nearly killing my cousin's daughter last May. That was due to an inattentive drive, it is believed. IMO, she was probably texting.
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...n%27s+daughter
So yes, I take this stuff seriously. Too bad some people don't.

**Lzen** · 03-25-2015, 10:15 AM

http://ksdotblog.blogspot.com/2015/0...-be-loved.html

You will always be loved

By Shirley McDonald
Before you turn on the ignition of your vehicle, take a moment and a deep breath. Focus. Clear your mind and think safety for yourself and others. Engage your seat belt, forget the cell phone.
Before entering a work zone, pay attention to the alerts that are given well before entry into the zone. Think about those whose lives depend upon you. We have all heard these admonitions, unfortunately many do not really listen to the message. Save a life, it may be your own.

In memory of Scott McDonald

killed in a work zone June 1, 2005:

A fraction of a second, a different decision, more awareness, and response ability and you might still be here with your family and friends. A horrific work zone accident on highway 75 took you away from us 10 years ago and our memories, dreams and plans with you and for you all changed.
Now you are immortalized, frozen in time while we go on living. You are missed every second of every day. Your loss created a hole that cannot be filled. A piece of each of us left behind died with you. Thankfully, you gave so much to us during your life that we can hold on to who you were and who you were becoming, but we will never know who you would have become.
Your enthusiasm for life, your constant dreaming that life would always get better, knowing that effort and direction in life could get you where you wanted to be are sorely missed. Your commitment to caring for and about others is a precious memory. Each holiday, birthday, anniversary, special shared event becomes a time of sadness and memory of you and your lack of presence in our lives today. We have had to learn to get beyond constant grief and focus on today and what we can do to honor your name.
As we have said goodbye to other relatives and friends our grief for your loss has swelled again and threatened to overtake us, but that grief has also proven to us that life goes on and that even with grief there can be joy as we commit to other relationships taking the risk to lose again knowing the benefits of being connected. .

No one knows what happens when we die. But my mother's belief is that heaven exists and that you are there at peace and with those you have loved who have gone before you. I believe that you can see those of us left behind and serve as our angel. You will always be loved.
Shirley McDonald is the mother of KDOT employee Scotty McDonald, who was killed in a work zone crash in 2005. nefits of being connected.

**Lzen** · 03-27-2015, 08:52 AM

In 2014, 7 people were killed and 397 were injured in work zone accidents in Kansas. I'm pretty sure that all or most of those were motorists and not workers.

**Lzen** · 03-27-2015, 08:57 AM

**Donger** · 03-27-2015, 09:04 AM

It would probably help the number of injuries if there weren't eight guys "supervising" the one guy who is actually working.

04-08-2014, 08:21 PM	#33
Pablo Ultrabanned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northland Casino cash: $539356	srvy, go back to posting once every other month.
Posts: 42,012

04-08-2014, 09:09 PM	#36
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $191250	OK Pablum whatever you say.
Posts: 25,113

04-09-2014, 07:30 AM	#38
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $1150692	__________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 41,848

04-09-2014, 08:18 AM	#39
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $1826136	I glanced up a bit from reading chiefsplanet from my IPAD and I am on I-35 and I will keep this short, be careful there are dangerous people out there. __________________
Posts: 54,560

03-25-2015, 10:15 AM	#42
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $1150692	http://ksdotblog.blogspot.com/2015/0...-be-loved.html You will always be loved By Shirley McDonald Before you turn on the ignition of your vehicle, take a moment and a deep breath. Focus. Clear your mind and think safety for yourself and others. Engage your seat belt, forget the cell phone. Before entering a work zone, pay attention to the alerts that are given well before entry into the zone. Think about those whose lives depend upon you. We have all heard these admonitions, unfortunately many do not really listen to the message. Save a life, it may be your own. *In memory of Scott McDonald* *killed in a work zone June 1, 2005:* A fraction of a second, a different decision, more awareness, and response ability and you might still be here with your family and friends. A horrific work zone accident on highway 75 took you away from us 10 years ago and our memories, dreams and plans with you and for you all changed. Now you are immortalized, frozen in time while we go on living. You are missed every second of every day. Your loss created a hole that cannot be filled. A piece of each of us left behind died with you. Thankfully, you gave so much to us during your life that we can hold on to who you were and who you were becoming, but we will never know who you would have become. Your enthusiasm for life, your constant dreaming that life would always get better, knowing that effort and direction in life could get you where you wanted to be are sorely missed. Your commitment to caring for and about others is a precious memory. Each holiday, birthday, anniversary, special shared event becomes a time of sadness and memory of you and your lack of presence in our lives today. We have had to learn to get beyond constant grief and focus on today and what we can do to honor your name. As we have said goodbye to other relatives and friends our grief for your loss has swelled again and threatened to overtake us, but that grief has also proven to us that life goes on and that even with grief there can be joy as we commit to other relationships taking the risk to lose again knowing the benefits of being connected. . No one knows what happens when we die. But my mother's belief is that heaven exists and that you are there at peace and with those you have loved who have gone before you. I believe that you can see those of us left behind and serve as our angel. You will always be loved. Shirley McDonald is the mother of KDOT employee Scotty McDonald, who was killed in a work zone crash in 2005. nefits of being connected. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 41,848

03-27-2015, 08:52 AM	#43
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $1150692	In 2014, 7 people were killed and 397 were injured in work zone accidents in Kansas. I'm pretty sure that all or most of those were motorists and not workers. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 41,848

03-27-2015, 08:57 AM	#44
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $1150692	Remember folks, slow down and pay attention in construction zones __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 41,848

03-27-2015, 09:04 AM	#45
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8969900 VARSITY	It would probably help the number of injuries if there weren't eight guys "supervising" the one guy who is actually working. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 185,868