WHEREAS:

Highway workers perform some of the most valuable and dangerous work our society demands — building our streets and highways and making them safe; and

WHEREAS:

State Highway workers and heavy equipment operators suffer disabling injuries each year. Hundreds are injured and many highway workers die, including Indiana Department of Transportation worker Randy Shipley, Minnesota Department of Transportation worker John Skarsda, Dane County Wisconsin employee Duane Marsden, and Ohio Department of Transportation Equipment Operator Gerald Slusher. AFSCME members and other public employees working on the highways suffer a much higher death on the job rate than any other job category; and

WHEREAS:

Heavy equipment operators working on our nation's highways are highly skilled employees doing hazardous work; and

WHEREAS:

Highway workers are exposed to thousands of toxic and cancer causing chemicals, dangerous equipment, speeding traffic, and extremes of heat, cold and noise;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Transportation Trades Department urge OSHA to put a special emphasis on protecting highway and road workers and enforcing regulations applicable to such workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Transportation Trades Department work with state and federal governments to see that federal safe vehicle and equipment standards apply to all vehicles and heavy equipment whether operated in intrastate or interstate commerce, and whether operated by private or public employers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Transportation Trades Department urge that special measures be taken on the local and national level to slow traffic travelling through work zones.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Transportation Trades Department work to see that highway workers and heavy equipment operators be recognized and compensated adequately for the important and highly skilled work that they do and the dangers that they face.