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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O09jY3VwYXRpb25hbCBzYWZldHkmcXVvdDsiIG9yaWdpbmFsX3ZhbHVlPSImcXVvdDtPY2N1cGF0aW9uYWwgc2FmZXR5JnF1b3Q7IiAvPjwvZmlsdGVycz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>AI Applications for Developing Contractors Prequalification Criteria and Safety Matrix for NCDOT</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784615</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Different state DOTs have attempted to use safety leading indicators for heavy construction projects. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has contractors’ prequalification guidelines and a formal process for constructability review meetings. However, the safety component is not much considered, which may result in disruption of construction activities due to potential site safety violations. The current prequalification process for contractors requires multiple changes to improve the contractors’ selection process and secure a safe job site. Prequalification process may be revised to incorporate a safety scoring system that considers the contractors history, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations, availability of in-house safety plans and safety audits, availability of competent persons and OSHA trainers, and formal safety training attended by the contractor’s company personnel. Similarly, NCDOT formal CR meeting needs to incorporate a safety matrix to be revised by project stakeholders during the meeting. The safety matrix should tie different site activities – listed in NCDOT standard bid template – with the respective OSHA big four construction hazard. Performance-based contractor prequalification allows NCDOT personnel to evaluate contractors past performance on similar work to ensure high-quality work in future projects. Occupational safety and health criteria are somehow included in such prequalification to limit construction site accidents and violations. However, current matrix/safety prequalification criteria have significant shortfalls. In this proposed research (implementation plan), the project research team will focus on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications to decide on the attributes relevant to job site safety and the most important parameters to be used in contractors’ prequalification procedures. The research tasks will use the developed criteria through the current project phase, collect information from NCDOT, other state DOTs, and OSHA to train a machine learning model to be developed specifically to evaluate the correlation between different attributes and possible “future” performance of the contractor. Attributes include – but not limited to – contractor’s size, budget, safety practices, previous experience, employee turnover, OSHA records, and experience modification rating. Predictive analytics will provide NCDOT personnel with proper algorithm to assess/predict possible contractor’s performance. The outcomes of this research will result in seamless flow of construction site activities, reduced accidents, and avoiding arbitration and litigation. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:09:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784615</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR 782 Improving Worker Safety in Work Zones with Effective Proximity Sensing Technology</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719302</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project will synthesize SWZ technologies and analyze their benefits and challenges —specifically focusing on intrusion alert and motorist alert systems—based on their use by other highway agencies and the construction industry. These findings will then be tailored to fit the needs of the South Carolina Department of Transportation's (SCDOT’s) internal and contract workforce. To meet the research goals, the team will focus on three key objectives: (1) Investigate various intrusion alert technologies to identify those best suited for highway worker safety, motorist alert systems effective in work zones, and solutions that can reduce unsafe driving behaviors in South Carolina. (2) Assess at least three intrusion alert and three motorist alert technologies for suitability to the SCDOT, evaluating their capabilities, feasibility, and providing cost estimates for initial implementation and life cycle comparisons against current practices.
(3) Evaluate compliance by workers in using these technologies and assess motorist response and behavioral changes prompted by driver-facing alert devices.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:57:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719302</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Innovations to Enhance Employee Safety in the Field</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2681235</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The nation’s aging transportation infrastructure is increasing the need for maintenance and reconstruction activities conducted under traffic. While work zones are essential to address these needs, changing traffic patterns, narrowed lane widths, and the presence of workers and work vehicles create safety challenges for all road users traveling through work zones, including motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Continued traffic growth further complicates work zone operations and often pushes agencies to schedule work at night, adding additional risk factors and operational constraints.

In response, agencies are deploying a range of innovations intended to reduce worker exposure and improve safety outcomes. These include technologies that remove employees from hazardous situations (e.g., unmanned aerial systems, automated truck-mounted attenuators, positive protective systems, dynamic signing, and remote monitoring), improved engineering controls (e.g., enhanced advance warning systems, intrusion alerts, and in-vehicle notifications), and administrative approaches (e.g., speed management, move-over laws, and targeted law enforcement support). Agencies are also adopting advancements in personal protective equipment and using virtual and augmented reality for immersive safety training that allows workers to practice procedures in controlled environments. Documenting and sharing these practices can support broader adoption of safety-enhancing innovations across the highway community.

OBJECTIVE: This scan will identify and document proven innovations that highway transportation agencies are using to improve the safety of field personnel. Agencies to be examined may include state departments of transportation (DOTs), counties, municipalities, and toll agencies that have implemented effective safety innovations.

The scan will compile lessons learned and effective practices from participating agencies to inform a practical “toolbox” of resources that other agencies can adapt to their needs. The scan will also identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities to improve current approaches and technologies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:01:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2681235</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Administration of Highway and Transportation Agencies. State DOT Employee Safety and Serious Injury and Fatality Data Standardization</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666775</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Occupational serious injuries and fatalities (SIF) are a significant risk to state department of transportation (DOT) workforces. Data associated with these events are inconsistently tracked, manually analyzed, exclusively housed inside state DOTs, and often inform lagging indicators rather than leading indicators. This issue has become important for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the North American Association of Transportation Safety and Health Officials (NAATSHO) and has resulted in initiatives to bring together a cross-section of transportation stakeholders to address workforce safety. However, the unique nature of state DOT field operations, including disaster and emergency responses, adds to the difficulty of data tracking and standardization. 

NCHRP Synthesis 637: Tracking Safety Leading Indicators to Improve DOT Employee Safety Performance (2025) details the current data sharing gaps among state DOTs in relevant metrics for data-driven decisions on safety initiatives and resources. Workforce safety data standardization could overcome these gaps, and state DOTs would gain the ability to benchmark with other state DOTs to collaborate on successful employee safety and health programs, identify areas of greatest return on investment, or gain predictive insights into actions to take at worksites to prevent SIF. Research is needed to standardize SIF data to yield these benefits in future research projects. To accomplish this, a framework is needed to document and share SIF data and best practices across state DOTs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a consensus framework for standardizing state DOT workforce safety and SIF data, validated through pilot programs with state DOTs, that enables future national benchmarking. Optimally, this framework would align workforce safety data with other relevant state DOT data standardization efforts.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:28:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666775</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Administration of Highway and Transportation Agencies. Understanding and Developing a Behavior-Based Safety Program for State DOT Employees</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666774</link>
      <description><![CDATA[BACKGROUND: Despite significant investments in employee safety policies, training, compliance programs, and safety management systems, state departments of transportation (DOTs) continue to experience incidents with employees that result in injuries, lost time, limited work capability, property damage, and operational disruption. Workplace safety is a mutual priority for the North American Association of Transportation Safety & Health Officials (NAATSHO) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). While incident reviews can help identify employee decision-making and behavior as contributing factors, employee actions are shaped by the conditions in which work occurs, including supervision, workload, fatigue, resource availability, peer norms, communication, production pressure, environmental conditions, and work design. 

State DOTs have a responsibility to provide workplaces free from recognized hazards while operating in complex, dynamic, and often high-risk environments. A more complete understanding is needed of how organizational systems, leadership practices, and real-world working conditions influence employee safety behavior and decision-making. Research is also needed to identify practical interventions that support safer choices without relying solely on training, communication, compliance, or disciplinary approaches. 

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to develop: (1) A guide that identifies proven and noteworthy approaches, practices, and interventions that promote employee safety behavior and decision-making, including accountability at all levels. (2) A strategic plan to fill gaps in the state of knowledge regarding DOT programs, practices, and interventions that promote employee safety behavior and decision-making.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:11:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2666774</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Transit Safety for Riders and Workers Through Strategic Collaboration with Law Enforcement



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636139</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Public transit agencies across the United States face growing public safety and security challenges affecting both riders and frontline workers. Reported incidents involving assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, and other safety-related events have increased over the past decade, contributing to workforce shortages, declining employee morale, and reduced rider confidence. Public safety concerns are also influencing ridership behavior, with some riders shifting to alternative travel modes because of perceived or actual safety risks. These trends threaten the reliability, financial sustainability, and broader societal benefits of public transportation.

To address these challenges, transit agencies use a range of public safety approaches, including partnerships with local law enforcement, contracted security services, transit police departments, and hybrid or community-based safety models. These approaches vary considerably in structure, governance, roles, operational practices, and public acceptance. Barriers such as unclear roles and responsibilities, inconsistent coordination, limited data sharing, and misalignment between transit agency and law enforcement objectives can hinder effective collaboration. At the same time, transit agencies are increasingly expected to balance enforcement with customer service, accessibility, and community trust.

The TCRP has conducted research on public safety and security, including measuring and managing fare evasion (2022), homelessness on transit systems (2024), and mitigation strategies for deterring transit assaults (2025). In addition, TCRP syntheses have documented current practices on customer perceptions of safety and security (2025) and impacts of drug use (2025), as well as ongoing research examining delivery models for law enforcement on public transit. Research is needed to better understand which collaboration strategies between transit agencies, law enforcement, and related stakeholders are most effective under varying operating environments and community contexts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a toolkit with step-by-step guidance, decision frameworks, and templates to help public transportation agencies collaborate with law enforcement agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:39:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636139</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Operationalizing Smartwatch Technology to Measure and Mitigate Heat Stress Among Maritime Transportation Workers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2620601</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Workers in the maritime transportation industry are being exposed to high-heat and high-humidity conditions, exacerbating their risk of developing heat-related illnesses. They include port and harbor operations, marine cargo handling, navigational services to shipping, and other support activities for water transportation. Heat-related illnesses range in severity from muscle cramps and spasms; to heat exhaustion, which if left untreated, can progress to a more serious condition; to heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Smartwatches have the potential to function as a means for detecting when a heat-related illness is imminent and/or progressing, leading to an opportunity for the risk to be mitigated through intervention. In a current MarTREC project that is nearing completion, the potential for smartwatch heat stress management has been explored by addressing the following research questions: (1) What are key indicators that can be used to quantify heat stress? (2) Can a smartwatch be used to measure heat stress in outdoor working environments? (3) Is it possible to communicate the onset of heat-related illnesses by incorporating a complete closed feedback loop? This project has made considerable progress in examining these questions, which began with conduct of a comprehensive literature review to identify the state-of-the-practice and where research gaps currently exist. These results then informed the development of a conceptual design with the goal of field-testing the application in a small-scale pilot study. The pilot study demonstrated promising results for the developed technology and its application to be feasibly utilized in an operational environment. The project aims to take this next step, namely to operationalize the technology and application in a maritime setting and to evaluate its effectiveness. More specifically, the goal of the research project is to implement the application for maritime use such that the technology can alert workers and their supervisors in real time about the onset of heat stress, provide immediate intervention, and contribute to the development of company-wide heat mitigation policy. Ultimately, the proposed project will determine the practicality of deploying smartwatch-based heat stress monitoring systems in this challenging environment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:36:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2620601</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effectiveness of Wearable Safety Lights for Nighttime Workers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593919</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Technologies for wearable safety lights, such as lighted safety vests, have evolved in recent years, allowing for use in construction to improve worker visibility. The aim of this project is to evaluate wearable safety lights for use to enhance the safety of road workers. The researchers will test the brightness of wearable safety lights as well as various types of lighting through several potential uses such as construction, road maintenance and patrol. The researchers will provide Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and road maintenance agencies with safety-enhancement recommendations for workers, aiming to increase worker visibility and reduce the number of crashes involving workers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:52:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593919</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Guide for Airports to Mitigate Outdoor Worker Exposure to Extreme Temperature Conditions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588331</link>
      <description><![CDATA[BACKGROUND 

 

U.S. airports have outdoor workers who are exposed to extreme heat and cold, which may contribute to substantial health hazards and productivity losses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require measures to protect outdoor workers but do not provide specific mitigation strategies that airports can implement. The types of operations and the built environment of an airport may impact workers’ exposure to extreme temperatures.

Research is needed to provide airports with guidance for protecting outdoor workers’ health and safety while maintaining operations in extreme temperatures. A resulting guidance document would help airports mitigate exposure to extreme temperatures and minimize risk to outdoor workers. 

 

OBJECTIVE

 

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for airport practitioners to protect outdoor workers’ health and safety while maintaining operations in extreme temperatures. 

 

The guide should include, at a minimum:

Identification of contributing factors: definition and analysis of heat and cold amplifiers at airports, extending beyond weather conditions
Applicable case studies for proposed solutions
Best practices tailored to the specific tasks, functions, and locations of airport workers impacted by temperature extremes
Innovative strategies for mitigating exposures faced by outdoor workers
Solutions applicable to varying factors of U.S. climatic regions
Resources, standards, and regulations for consideration
Continuous improvement frameworks
RESEARCH PLAN 

 

The ACRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and subaward time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective. The work proposed must be divided into tasks and proposers must describe the work proposed in detail.

 

The research plan shall comprise the appropriate interim deliverables for ACRP review and approval, including:

A literature review
A data collection plan to identify a list of tools, technologies, and methods
A draft list of the varying climatic factors affecting outdoor workers across the United States
A draft list of 8–10 potential case studies, including attributes and examples from other industries
An interim report that provides a description and analysis of each research task completed to date, including sample templates/frameworks, an annotated outline of the guide, potential problem statement(s) based on research gaps, and an updated amplified research plan (if needed)
Note: For each problem statement approved by the panel, the research team will use the ACRP problem statement process (https://trb.org/ACRP/problemstatements.aspx) to submit the problem statement on behalf of the project panel. The development and submission of problem statements should occur as soon as possible, taking into account the ACRP problem statement annual submission deadline of early April. 

 

Note: The interim report should be of sufficient detail and clarity to allow the panel to confirm successful accomplishment of the technical aspects of the research plan performed to date.

 

The research plan shall include the following checkpoints with the ACRP panel: 

A kickoff web meeting to be held within 1 month of the Notice to Proceed
A face-to-face interim deliverable review meeting and web-enabled teleconferences tied to the panel review and ACRP approval of other interim deliverables, as deemed appropriate
Final deliverables shall include: 

A guide
A technical memo titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see Important item IV)
A Key Findings form (see Important item V)
A Conduct of Research Report documenting the entire research effort, results, and analysis (see Important item VI)
Note: Following receipt of the draft final deliverables, there should be 3 months for ACRP review and comments and for the research team’s preparation of the final deliverables. For budgeting purposes, proposers should assume the ACRP will provide access to web-enabled teleconference services. The ACRP will pay panel members’ travel costs for the face-to-face interim meeting. Proposers should assume that the meeting will be held in Washington, DC.
 ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:23:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2588331</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Supporting Workforce Mental Health and Work Zone Safety

</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558376</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) have long prioritized minimizing disruption to the traveling public during transportation projects, often resulting in accelerated schedules and work zones positioned adjacent to live traffic. While traffic operations in the work zones continue, workers have experienced the consequences of working in these work zones. These consequences may include long working hours, high-pressure deadlines, staffing challenges, adverse environmental conditions, and exposure to dangerous work environments that may compound and affect workers' mental health.

While mental health efforts—such as awareness initiatives, training programs, employee assistance programs, and other resources—are helpful, they remain insufficient without practical tools and strategies to support workforce mental health on the job site. Mental health impacts are rarely considered in project design, scheduling, delivery, or maintenance processes. Incorporating mental health considerations into all project phases—from planning to delivery—could not only enhance workers’ safety and satisfaction but also help state DOTs and their construction partners attract and retain talent by fostering safer work environments. To support long-term improvements, research is needed to develop strategies and decision-making tools that balance transportation workforce well-being with public mobility, tight deadlines, and cost constraints.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide that includes strategies and decision-making tools that state DOTs and their partners can use to integrate mental health considerations into project phases while balancing mobility, deadlines, and cost constraints.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 12:53:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558376</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Accurate Collection and Reporting of Worker Presence in Work Zones </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2548660</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Accurately knowing and sharing the location of highway construction workers within a large work zone offers several benefits. First, it can enhance worker safety by informing motorists of the presence of workers on foot, thereby increasing their alertness and reducing the risk of crashes. Worker presence information is an important feature of the work zone data exchange feeds that DOTs are increasingly sharing with the public, including commercial motor vehicle drivers. Second, in the event of a crash, knowing the location of a worker also allows faster response time for incident management. Third, tracking worker locations helps improve efficiency and project management, as the information can help optimize resource allocation and streamline workflow coordination through better personnel and task tracking.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:34:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2548660</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effective Interventions that Enhance the Health and Safety of Transit Workers




</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2458790</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Absenteeism, workers’ compensation claims, disability claims, and healthcare expenses cost transit agencies millions of dollars each year. These financial impacts highlight the need for interventions that could lead to cost savings, directly benefiting the bottom line of agencies. Workload and time pressure, shift work and fatigue, workplace violence and aggression, poor ergonomics, reduced opportunities to eat healthily, and traffic congestion are key contributors to declining health among transit workers. These stressors lead to mental and physical health concerns, behavioral issues, and heightened fatigue. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including implementing countermeasure tactics such as clear policies and procedures, improving the work environment, offering additional resources and support, optimizing ergonomics, managing traffic congestion, and conducting regular psychosocial risk assessments to mitigate these risks.

According to an article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (2024), exposure to work‐related psychosocial hazards is projected to become a major occupational health and safety threat. Factors such as organizational culture, interpersonal relationships at work, and working conditions such as shift work can have adverse effects on the mental and physical well-being of operators. TCRP Research Report 217: Improving the Health and Safety of Transit Workers with Corresponding Impacts on the Bottom Line (2020) identified the potential exposures relevant to the transit industry. APTA Transit Workforce Shortage Report (2023) identified that operator assaults have a major impact on workers mental health. TCRP Research Report 245: Mental Health, Wellness, and Resilience for Transit Systems (2024) found transit frontline employees experience mental health and well-being impacts due to job stressors. There remains a gap in understanding the specific risk factors and effective mitigation strategies that can be implemented to enhance the health and safety of transit workers. 

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study is to determine effective interventions that help improve the health and safety of transit workers. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:35:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2458790</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Intersection Between Health Care Costs and Long Work Hours in the Transport Sector</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2434301</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), investigations conducted between 2013 and 2019 revealed that fatigue was a probable cause, contributing factor, or finding in 12% of accidents across all modes of transportation. Even preceding this finding, rail safety has focused on fatigue and long work hours for decades due to concerns that fatigued workers may be more prone to accidents, injuries, near misses, and rule violations as expressed by labor, management, and government regulators. However, rail safety has improved steadily and a direct relationship between hours worked and the current state of commuter rail safety performance remains to be convincingly demonstrated. Moreover, the impetus to make changes in the existing operating rules and practices is also strongly influenced by operational realities and financial considerations. Consequently, demonstrating a link between operator fatigue, safety performance, and financial considerations would be beneficial in driving decision-making in commuter rail operations. The present study is designed to explore the possibility of a relationship between hours worked and the cost of worker compensation claims.

The health effects of long work hours have been well documented. For example, Yusaku (2023) found that Japanese workers engaged in overtime had a significantly higher rate of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which is a severe life-threatening disease with high mortality. Le et al. (2022) also concluded that working more than 60 hours per week leads to higher stress, burnout, and poorer health. Similarly, data from a longitudinal study in the UK found that working 55 hours/week or more was significantly related to more depressive symptoms among women while working weekends related to more depressive symptoms for both genders. Obesity is also related to long work hours (Solovieva et al., 2013).

Research over the past 40 years has slowly but steadily consistently documented an association between long work hours and occupational injury rates. Finally, Dembe (2005), in perhaps the best study of this topic, using the data from 10,793 Americans participating in a longitudinal survey evaluating workers' work schedules and occurrence of occupational injury estimated that the relative risk of long working hours per day was associated with a 61% higher injury hazard rate compared to jobs without overtime. Moreover, working at least 12 hours per day was associated with a 37% increased hazard rate, and working at least 60 hours per week was associated with a 23% increased hazard rate. The authors concluded that a strong dose-response effect was found such that the injury rate rose in direct relation to the number of hours worked per day.

The National Safety Council estimates that the number of lost days in the transportation industry over the past ten years has risen from $12.15 million dollars to over $15 million dollars. (NSC, 2023) The number of persons who have lost more than 31 days due to workplace injury has also increased similarly. These are conservative estimates that do not reflect the full cost of damage to equipment, loss of function, and other costs. There is no data available that shows the relationship between long work hours and the costs of occupational injuries in the transportation industry. The present study seeks to fill this gap by investigating the data from a major metropolitan area transit agency.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 28 Sep 2024 07:53:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2434301</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title> Deploying Smart Watch Technology to Measure and Mitigate Heat Stress Among Maritime Transportation Workers </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2406735</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Workers in the maritime transportation industry are often exposed to high-heat and high-humidity conditions, exacerbating their risk of developing heat-related illnesses. These illnesses range in severity from muscle cramps and spasms; to heat exhaustion; to heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified a variety of maritime transportation industries as heat-related “high risk”. If early warning indicators of heat stress can be identified, then the possibility of a worker developing a heat-related illness can be mitigated. Smartwatches have the potential to function as a means for detecting when a heat-related illness is imminent and/or progressing. This study was undertaken to research the following questions: 1) What are the key indicators that can be used to quantify heat stress? 2) Can a smartwatch be used to measure heat stress among maritime transportation workers? 3) Can heat stress predictive models be used to prevent the development of heat-related illnesses by incorporating a complete closed feedback loop? Collectively, this exploration aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how heat stress can be better monitored and managed in occupational settings, laying the groundwork for developing practical applications that achieve timely and cost-effective heat stress detection and mitigation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:18:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2406735</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 56-10. Practices to Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) for State DOT Employees



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2384700</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite advancements in occupational (employee) safety, serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) remain a persistent challenge for state DOTs. There is a broad range of SIFs safety strategies implemented by state DOTs. Gaining a better understanding of these strategies provides state DOTs with a resource for their employee safety programs and overall safety culture. Knowledge sharing of implemented strategies is an effective approach to support the goal of zero SIFs.

The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices regarding efforts to reduce SIFs for state DOT employees.

Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to): (1) Data analysis of contributing factors from SIFs; (2) Methods used to collect SIFs information; (3) Written practices specifically focused on SIFs reduction; (4) Practices for assessing, managing, and mitigating fatigue and distraction of employees; (5) Employee engagement and awareness of training programs to reduce SIFs; (6) What is the definition in individual states of SIFs, (matrix); (7) Do states identify high-risk work activities/tasks; and
(8) Technologies used to reduce SIFs, equipment and human factors.

Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.

Information Sources (Partial): (1) Dadi, G.B., Sturgill, R.E., and Ramadan, B. (2023). NCHRP Synthesis 608: Practices to Motivate Safe Behaviors with Highway Construction and Maintenance Crews. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27176 (2)
OSHA (2022). “Severe Injury Report: A Seven Year Lookback.” OSHA, US Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/severe-injury-report-2015to2021.pdf. Accessed January 26th, 2024. (3) ISN (2023). “Serious Injury and Fatality Insights: A Cross-Industry Analysis of Data and Best Practices.” ISN Software Corporation. https://www.isnetworld.com/en/newsroom/publications/1868. Accessed January 26th, 2024. (4) Spencer, C. (2023). “Issues & Policy: The Power to Prevent Serious Injuries and Fatalities.” Edison Electric Institute, https://www.eei.org/en/issues-and-policy/power-to-prevent-sif, Accessed January 26th, 2024.

TRB Staff (consultant): Sandra Q. Larson, Phone: 515-971-6329, Email: slarson@nas.edu. 

Meeting Dates: First Panel Meeting: February 27, 2025; Teleconference with Consultant: June 5, 2025, from 2-3 pm eastern; Second Panel Meeting: December 2, 2025, Washington D.C. 

Topic Panel: Robin M Barfield, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Timothy M Carey, Iowa Department of Transportation, Tammi A Clark, Kansas Department of Transportation, Michael Paulmarie, California Department of Transportation, Melissa I Rodriguez, New York State Department of Transportation, Wilfred Hernandez, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2024 20:13:43 GMT</pubDate>
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