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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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>SPR-4630: Implementation Exploration of Autonomous Vehicles: Impacts of Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) on INDOT Work Zone Safety, Mobility, and Crews’ Perception/Behavior/Productivity</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1869557</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Utilization of Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) is believed to protect crews and drivers from crashes caused by reckless and distracted drivers. This study will develop a tailored ATMA plan based on observations from existing TMA operations, 
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) crews’ perception of ATMA and characteristics of ATMA’s operation environment in Indiana. The project will evaluate the ATMA in field tests and provide recommendations for implementation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2021 16:26:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1869557</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 53-02. Practices to Motivate Safe Behaviors with Highway Construction and Maintenance Crews</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1853025</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway construction and maintenance is a uniquely hazardous industry. In 2019, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) incident data reported the recordable injury rate was 21% higher for highway construction and maintenance than general construction. Safety programs and policies have been created to seek improvement in safety performance. A common strategy to improve safety outcomes is the use of incentives and disincentives to motivate workers to perform safe behaviors. OSHA states that “incentive programs can be an important tool to promote workplace safety and health.” Examples of such incentive programs include rewarding workers for reporting near-misses or hazards and encourage the use of safety committees. Conversely, disincentive strategies can be used to discourage unsafe behaviors such as disciplinary actions for unsafe behaviors. Most safety incentive programs are either injury/illness/incident-based or behavior-based incentive programs. The former received some restrictions and clarification from OSHA stating that injury/illness/incident-based are allowable assuming there are no ramifications for reporting incidents. A recent study found that safety incentive programs have been effective at reducing experience modification ratings; lost-time workday incidents; and days away, job restrictions, or transfers. The same study also found that workers have a positive perception of safety incentive programs and believe they do improve safety outcomes.

The private construction sector has deployed incentive and disincentive programs with regularity. However, state departments of transportation (DOTs) have unique limitations on their ability to financially incentivize safe actions or use corrective actions to disincentivize unsafe actions. While difficult, some DOTs have found unique approaches to institute incentives, such as monetary awards, certificates, work crew awards, lunches, and more.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practice regarding safety incentive and disincentive programs for DOT highway construction and maintenance crews, related motivational techniques, and written policies or training to implement these programs. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2021 20:04:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1853025</guid>
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      <title>Efficient and Safe Removal &amp; Debris Disposal of Ash Trees Killed by Emerald Ash Borer </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1749089</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the past several years the full affects of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) have been felt across the entire state.  Rather than only a few trees dying along a roadway per year, the infestation of EAB has caused many Ash trees to die in only a couple of years.  This greatly increases the amount of work that must be done in a short time.  The EAB feeds on the soft tissues just beneath the bark of the Ash.  The feeding cuts off the circulatory system of the tree causing the tree to die.  As a result, the tree dies very quickly and becomes brittle.  Due to the structure of the dead Ash tree, it is difficult to determine how the tree will fall when cut.  Another danger is falling dead limbs.  Because the trees are very brittle, limbs will break and separate from the tree rather than bend when the tree is being removed resulting in falling hazards.  Unlike a living tree, when a dead Ash tree is cut and hits the ground it shatters and debris from the tree flies in all directions.  The flying debris cannot only cause damage to equipment, but also injuries to workers.  Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has thousands of dead Ash trees along its rights-of-way that must be removed.
The goal of this research is to develop a solution for efficient and safe dead Ash tree removal and handling of generated debris.  The results of this research will increase safety for the motoring public by allowing ODOT to more quickly remove the hazards from the roadway. It should also increase the safety and an efficiency for the tree removal crew. Increasing efficiency may also save the department money.  
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2020 15:18:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1749089</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Specialized Safety Training and Tracking for KYTC Construction and Maintenance Personnel</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1736829</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In the scope of occupational safety and health, training is an important tool for informing employees of workplace hazards and increasing their awareness of safety controls to remove and/or minimize associated risks. According to OSHA-recommended practices for safety and health programs, specialized training is necessary for workers and supervisors when the workplace presents unique hazards. Minimal attention has been given to specialized training programs for the highway construction and maintenance sector. There is also a notable lack of training resources highway construction and maintenance crews can use in their work scope. This indicates an urgent need for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to develop a specialized training program for highway construction and maintenance employees that is specific to their work scope and addresses safety issues that beyond those covered in the OSHA 10-hour course. Identifying needs and development of the program will be done in cooperation with the crews. The final product will be a specialized safety training program with recommendations for implementation, evaluation, and tracking.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:47:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1736829</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4406: Frontline Employee Training Using Virtual Reality Simulation of Field Conditions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1664491</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will develop virtual reality (VR)-based training modules with realistic scenarios for rehabilitation and maintenance decision-making. Technical staff can thoroughly practice and sharpen their skills without being concerned about typical hazards that real world training may incur.  Software with a VR headset that will provide a training platform for INDOT crews to be exposed to various pavement operation scenarios and learn about how to make an informed decisions regarding potential follow-up actions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:40:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1664491</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assess the Effectiveness of Type 2 and Type 3 Safety Vest for Day and Night Use</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1642186</link>
      <description><![CDATA[At the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the safety of highway workers is priority one. For this reason, ODOT has invested in type 2 and 3 safety vests, halo lights and reflectors on the back of our dump trucks. While these items separately are known to improve safety, there is concern that together they may not be as effective. Included among the concerns is blending between these safety features making it difficult for motorists to distinguish between people and equipment. Research is needed to ensure that ODOT is deploying the most effective safety measures for our personnel during both day and night operations.   
The overall goal of this project is to determine the effectiveness of each piece of safety equipment, collectively and individually, and determine if there are better methods for ensuring the safety of highway workers safe during both night and daytime operations. Objectives of this project include:
(1) Determine how to improve the visibility of highway workers when wearing safety vests behind dump trucks with reflectors
(2) Consider alternatives for vests or reflectors when using both in close proximity to each other
(3) Provide a safer environment for motoring public when driving in work zones
(4) Provide a matrix of alternative solutions
(5) Develop a draft standard operations (SOP) that will document improvement to ODOT's current process This will include both day and night operations.
                       ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Aug 2019 07:25:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1642186</guid>
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