| The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | | | | monthly, though individual sites may vary. Analysis |
| has provided over 10 billion dollars to the | | | | of the data provides for insight into trends of |
| Department of Transportation. This money will | | | | performance as well as providing information |
| now be distributed among the states' budgets | | | | pertinent to risk management for future |
| with the ultimate goal of improving our nation's | | | | endeavors. |
| transportation. | | | | Safety of Construction Workers |
| The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has | | | | Over 600 million dollars of this money is targeted |
| announced that it will provide a portion of the | | | | at increasing safety for drivers and members of |
| Recovery Act with the ultimate goal being to | | | | construction crews working on or around |
| "invest in transportation, environmental protection, | | | | highways. The number of injuries sustained on the |
| and other infrastructure that will provide longer | | | | job for construction workers is on the rise. The |
| term economic benefits." This effectively gives | | | | number of fatalities and serious debilitating injuries |
| regional and local governments the capital to finish | | | | within the construction worker field is staggering |
| projects that may have stalled due to lack of | | | | comparatively speaking. According to the latest |
| funds, provides the governments with the | | | | data released by the Federal Bureau of Labor |
| capacity to accelerate current projects, as well as | | | | Statistics, construction site accidents accounted |
| the leeway to plan future projects independent | | | | for the highest number of fatal occupational |
| from financial concerns. | | | | injuries, that is, deadly accident while on a |
| The budgeted program activities have several | | | | construction work site. In 2007, 1,204 fatalities |
| focus areas: some of the obligations include | | | | were reported. The safety funding is absolutely |
| transportation enhancement, new construction, | | | | paramount in improving the knowledge and |
| bridge replacement and safety/traffic | | | | understanding of construction workers in order to |
| management. Additionally, the improvements | | | | prevent injury or death. |
| scheduled for both new construction and | | | | Many victims of a construction accident injury find |
| reconstruction of old roadways focus on the 4 | | | | themselves either unable to find work befitting |
| Rs: Resurfacing, Restoration, Rehabilitation, and | | | | their skill set or faced with insurmountable debt as |
| Relocation. | | | | well as intimidating amounts of paperwork, |
| The FHWA Division Offices will assess risks, | | | | insurance claims, and a fair amount of heartache. |
| vulnerabilities, and institute a risk management | | | | Workers who have been injured on the job |
| plans as a precaution, in addition to their dispersion | | | | should consider contacting an experienced |
| of capital to local and regional governemtns. The | | | | construction accident lawyer in the interest of |
| FHWA has also pledged to maintain a close watch | | | | protecting their financial and legal rights. Developing |
| that all the funding goes to the organizations and | | | | a lawsuit soon after suffering an injury is |
| projects to which it was intended; site visits and | | | | advisable, as there may be the possibility of being |
| analysis of data, as well as periodic program | | | | awarded monetary compensation for physical and |
| reviews will be required in a national oversight | | | | mental suffering, lost wages, or permanent |
| stategy designed to prevent fraud, waste, and | | | | disability. |
| abuse. Reviews and data reporting will take place | | | | |