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WorkSafeBC Urges Drivers to Slow Down in Construction Zones
Richmond, B.C., September 2, 2010 — On September 25th, 2009, traffic controller Jennifer Beauregard was managing traffic flow through a construction zone in Delta. Jennifer was 23 years old and working in close proximity to heavy construction equipment and vehicle traffic.
But at 6:50 a.m., she was struck by an SUV with such dreadful impact that she was propelled 5 meters in the air and more than 30 meters down the road. She suffered brain damage, facial injuries, a shattered pelvis, and many other injuries. Initial reports indicated she wasn’t expected to live.
Jennifer Beauregard is one of more than 70 traffic control persons in BC who have been injured in the past five years, many of them seriously. Three of them have been killed in that time.
“Flag persons are extremely vulnerable,” said Al Johnson, Regional Director of Construction for WorkSafeBC. “All they have to protect them are their reflective clothing and a sign to manage traffic flow — and all too often they are the victims of driver inattention or impatience. Drivers need to slow down and pay close attention to flag persons and speed limits in construction zones so that there are no more fatalities and serious injuries such as what happened to Jennifer Beauregard.”
“Workplace injuries and fatalities are preventable. That is the real tragedy of Jennifer Beauregard’s suffering and why safety is a priority for my Ministry,” said Labour Minister Murray Coell. “I urge every driver to respect British Columbia’s road workers by slowing down and paying particular attention in construction zones.”
“Because we are in the midst of British Columbia’s busiest construction season ever, there are more flag persons on our roadways helping to guide traffic through construction zones,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond. “I urge motorists to exercise caution behind the wheel when in construction zones, and to please slow down and pay attention to ensure these men and women can do their jobs safely.”
For more information on the Slow Down campaign, please visit www.worksafebc.com.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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For more information, contact: |
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| Scott McCloy
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Linda O’Connor Dave Crebo |