Health and Safety in Temporary Work Zone Road Construction Project in Saudi Arabia: Risks and Solutions.

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Transportation Safety
• Risk Management

Background:

• Road construction and maintenance zones present inherent dangers, increasing the likelihood of accidents involving road users and site workers.
• While numerous studies exist globally, research on road work zone safety specific to Saudi Arabia remains limited.
• This study addresses the gap by focusing on developing improved safety practices for road work zones within the Saudi Arabian context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, analyze, and propose control measures for key risk factors in Saudi Arabian road work zones.
• To enhance the safety of road users and construction workers in temporary work zones.
• To contribute practical insights for improving road safety policies and practices in the region.

Main Methods:

• A survey-based approach was employed to gather data.
• Perceptions of risk factors and potential safety countermeasures were collected from both general road users and civil engineering experts.
• Data analysis focused on identifying common themes and significant differences between the two groups.

Main Results:

• A majority of participants acknowledged that road work zones elevate the probability of crash occurrences.
• Driver behavior was identified as the most significant risk factor contributing to work zone crashes by both surveyed groups.
• Both road users and experts concurred that imposing strict penalties on contractors and consultants for safety violations would improve work zone safety.

Conclusions:

• Decision-makers in Saudi Arabia must prioritize the implementation and enhancement of robust road safety practices for work zones.
• Addressing driver behavior and enforcing contractor accountability are critical steps toward mitigating risks.
• The findings provide a foundation for evidence-based interventions to reduce work zone accidents.