In the frigid grip of a December morning, chaos ensued on McNabb Street as a ruptured water main transformed the bustling thoroughfare into an icy hazard.
Responding promptly to the emergency, PUC crews braved the bone-chilling weather to address the extensive damage, swiftly, closing the street to ensure public safety.
Despite the clearly marked road closure signs and strategically placed pylons, the gravity of the situation escalated when a member of the public, neglecting safety precautions, ventured onto the restricted street. In a heart-stopping moment, a PUC crew member narrowly escaped disaster.
“The driver failed to clear their windshield properly and could only see out a tiny portion of their windshield,” says Janis Gartshore, Manager of Safety, PUC Services. “As a result, the driver didn’t see the road closed sign or the numerous safety pylons on the street and came within inches of running over our employee.”
Regardless of whether a team is working to maintain the roads or emergency services are responding to a call on the busy streets, individuals who work alongside traffic are at risk from distracted or reckless drivers. That’s why PUC Services Inc, The City of Sault Ste. Marie, Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association, Sault Ste. Marie Police Services, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services, and Sault Ste. Marie Paramedic Services have come together to launch a safety campaign to help keep their employees and fellow residents safe while at work.
Working Together to Keep Our Neighbours Safe
While it can be easy to forget that real people who live in our communities are the ones working on the roads, the consequences of carelessness are high. Drivers who are distracted or who are not obeying the signs can put others at serious risk. Unfortunately, there are too many stories of close calls.
“This spring, we had a school bus drive into the back of one of our member's backhoes,” says Scott Booth, Executive Director, Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association. “Just a couple of minutes earlier, workers were shovelling asphalt out of the backhoe, and if they were still there, they would have been run over. The crews were at that location for a couple of weeks, so it wasn’t a new construction site.”
Series of Videos to Help Raise Awareness
This group of local organizations takes the health and safety of those who work on the roads very seriously.
“Working alongside traffic is a dangerous job. If drivers are not paying attention, they could seriously injury or worse, kill those working on the road,” says Janis Gartshore, Manager of Safety, PUC Services. “By releasing the personal videos, we hope people will see road workers for what they are, human beings who have families to go home to at the end of each day.”
Residents can expect to see videos highlighting the importance of paying attention while driving close to construction signs, pylons, and workers on the road.
Dan Swystun, Health and Safety Training Coordinator for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, sees the campaign as an important part of keeping the community safe. “The City of Sault Ste. Marie takes great pride in delivering the many essential services offered to its residents. Often, these services require our workers to perform their duties on busy streets, laneways, and sidewalks, where vehicles can pose a significant risk to our worker’s safety,” he says. “By participating in this campaign, we aim to bring awareness to the community to slow down and exercise caution when driving in and around our work zones. At the heart of this initiative is the belief that every individual has the right to work in an environment that prioritizes safety and ensures everyone returns to their families at the end of the day.”
Pay Attention, Drive Carefully, and Keep Road Workers Safe
The video campaign will serve as a reminder throughout the year to pay attention around road construction zones.
“Please pay attention to road signs, safety cones, and workers in construction zones. It only takes a split second for something tragic to occur. The most important thing is to SLOW DOWN! Together, we can build a safer community,” says Janis.
For more information about road safety, visit Puc Services Inc. online or call (705) 759-6522.