PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Nationally, in 1998, a total of 772 highway workers died, and many others were injured while performing construction, maintenance or utility operations. Ten of these fatalities occurred in the state of New Jersey.

State, county and municipal public works agencies nationwide are currently faced with an increasing need for employee training. Unfortunately, the cost of employee training has increased, while at the same time, training budgets have decreased. As a result, roadway construction sites do not always have proper signing, and so motorists often get confused, putting highway workers at high risk for injury. To address this situation, New Jersey employers are looking for alternative approaches to provide necessary employee training, while remaining within their budgetary means.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Work Zone Safety for Roadway Maintenance Operations project was developed by the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety in 2000, to reduce roadway worksite injuries and fatalities through development of Project objectives are to:

• Develop an easy to use, computer-based education training system for roadway work zone safety training

• Assure that 25 percent of New Jersey public works departments have at least one employee successfully complete the training program during 2000

• Create a computer-based "chat room" in which trainees can discuss problems and issues

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The New Jersey Department of Highway Traffic Safety contracted with Rutgers University to develop a computer-based Roadway Work Zone Safety Training Program. To obtain input for program development and evaluation, a series of meetings were held with representatives from Rutgers, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the County and Municipal Engineers Association. The completed program included the following components:

• A multimedia-based work zone safety training course that can be used either through the internet or on CD-ROM

• An online evaluation and testing system

• A database information management system, including the participant test records, course dates, times and testing information, question response analysis, student transcript and course evaluations

The Roadway Work Zone Safety Training Program provides students with an advanced multimedia-based training curriculum that can be completed at an individual's own pace. The program includes video, animation, text and audio, and is fully interactive. Included are intelligent templates that represent different work zone scenarios. Students choose a safety scenario with specific settings, such as roadway conditions, speed limit, and weather, and then demonstrate how to position equipment such as signs, channeling devices, and flags. After completion, the computer will evaluate the student's work by highlighting errors. The program also makes recommendations to help a student successfully complete the course. When fully prepared, the student can access the on- line evaluation system to take an individualized test. The student can even repeat the course until he/she passes. All test results are automatically entered into a database. Once the student has passed the course, the system will generate a certificate of completion.

RESULTS
As of March 2001, the Roadway Work Zone Safety Training Program will be available by internet and CD-ROM to public works departments throughout the country. By the end of 2001, 25 percent of New Jersey's public works departments will have at least one employee who is trained and certified. As a result of this important training program, roadway workers are better informed about travel delineation, and proper and complete signing, making New Jersey work zones considerably safer.

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

WINTER 2001