Work Zone Safety Awareness Week (WZSW): Lets Go Orange WZSAW 2024

As spring arrives, and warmer temperatures allow for more active construction projects and work zones, the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) renews its commitment to promoting safety on our roadways - for our employees, contractors, and for the traveling public. National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week provides a week-long annual reminder to raise awareness and increase our efforts to educate the public about the importance of slowing down, paying attention, and moving over for workers to foster safer roadways for all. This week, we have embarked on a journey to promote safer behaviors within work zones for motorists, Georgia DOT employees and contractors, and to honor those lives lost over the years due to tragic circumstances that have occurred within work zones.

The 2024 theme for Work Zone Safety Awareness Week - "Work Zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever." - serves as a powerful reminder that safety is a collective responsibility, regardless of whether you're behind the wheel or laboring beside the roadway. It's crucial to recognize that the risks extend beyond the workers themselves; most casualties in work zone incidents are motorists or passengers.

GO ORANGE WEDNESDAY

"Go Orange Wednesday" is about making a bold visual statement for safety. This Wednesday, we're showcasing our support in vibrant orange to shine a spotlight on the crucial issue of work zone safety. Wednesday of National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week has become the traditional day to show solidarity and make a real difference by raising awareness for those who face danger on construction sites every day.

Why Wednesday? Wednesday is the midpoint, a day where we pause and recharge. By wearing orange on this day, we're injecting energy and awareness into the workweek, rallying together to keep our construction crews safe. It's a powerful reminder to stay alert and proactive in ensuring their well-being.

Orange is a color our crews know well - it's a color of caution and visibility. Whether it's on vests or traffic cones, orange stands out in construction zones, alerting both workers and motorists to potential risks and the need to obey traffic signs, reduce speed and give room to workers to work in a safer environment. By wearing orange, we're not only embracing this symbol and color but also amplifying its message: safety is non-negotiable. It's a simple gesture that speaks volumes about our commitment to those who build our infrastructure to provide a safer and less congested drive for all of us. Join us and GO ORANGE on WEDNESDAY!

DRIVE ALERT, ARIVE ALIVE!

Work Zone Safety Awareness Week Press Release: Georgia DOT focuses attention on the safety of transportation construction and maintenance workers

​Would you like to join us in raising awareness for Work Zone Safety? It's never too late! Show your support this Thursday, April 17, across all social media platforms. Keep an eye out for our hashtags #WZSW #WorkZoneSafety during our "Social Media Storm."

On Friday, April 18, we urge you to take a moment and "Observe Silence" in remembrance of the employees, contractors, and others lost in work zones and other on-the-job incidents.