Respect the Zone: A Commitment to Work Zone Safety
It only takes a second. One glance at a phone, one moment of distraction, one wrong move—and a life can be lost in a work zone. Every year, road workers risk their lives to maintain and improve the infrastructure that keeps our communities running. And while we’ve made progress—work zone fatalities dropped 7% between 2021 and 2022—even one death is too many.
That’s why National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) has been raising awareness for nearly 30 years, reminding all road users to “Respect the zone so we all get home. ”The 2025 commemoration, scheduled for April 21 to 25, will emphasize the critical importance of work zone safety through events such as a National Kickoff Event, “Go Orange Day,” and a powerful Moment of Silence honoring lives lost in work zone incidents.
Work zones create complex and potentially hazardous conditions, such as altered traffic patterns, reduced lanes, closed sidewalks, and active construction equipment. Safely navigating these areas is crucial for municipal employees, first responders, and school transportation professionals—not only for their own safety but also for the well-being of their coworkers, residents, and the road workers who depend on them to drive responsibly.
Shared Responsibility, Collective Action
CIRMA is committed to helping its members reinforce a culture of safety. Through expert-led training and cutting-edge resources, CIRMA Risk Management provides compliance guidance and practical strategies to promote safe driving.
CIRMA members are encouraged to access the following resources:
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets & Highways
- CIRMA Chronicles: Chronicle #18 – Work Zone Safety for Law Enforcement (available on CIRMA’s e-Learning platform)
- Hot Zone Series for Fire Services: Traffic Control Program Safety Topic
- Roll Call Topics: Work Zone Safety for Law Enforcement* and Work Zone Safety
- Tail Gate Topics: Tail Gate Topics II – 80+ Topics for Improving Workplace Safety and Traffic Control
Public entity leaders like you understand the importance of leading by example, supporting one another, and preventing unnecessary tragedies. Have you ensured that your entity takes full advantage of CIRMA’s valuable and exclusive member safety resources?
Visit CIRMA.org to access robust training options that feature awareness and statistics of vehicle accidents and provide best practices for safe driving operations. Contact your CIRMA Risk Management professional to get started today and set up an e-learning account. CIRMA e-learning is complimentary for CIRMA members and their employees.
Contact your CIRMA Risk Management representative today to get started. Because when we respect the zone, we all get home.
The home office has become a coveted commodity. Unfortunately, not all homes offer dedicated office spaces. Because of this, kitchen counters, dining tables, living rooms, or bedroom spaces are doubling as home offices.
CIRMA’s latest whitepaper, Creating a Home Work Environment That Works for You, identifies best practices for employees working from home who face the dilemma of creating a workstation that allows them to be productive and incorporate proper ergonomics. In this whitepaper, we share achievable and straightforward guidance to help you maximize comfort and reduce risks while working from home.
Adopting healthy behaviors outlined in this helpful resource and knowing what to look for when choosing the right space for you can improve your overall well-being and maximize productivity while working remotely.
Creating a home workspace does not require extraordinary upgrades to your home or even purchasing fancy office equipment. Setting up a workspace with basic ergonomic strategies in mind is beneficial in many ways, including promoting productivity and focus and helping to avoid discomfort and social isolation.
Helpful Resources for CIRMA Members:
Take me to the full whitepaper
Download CIRMA’s latest Workplace Safety Works Ergonomics poster
Sprains and Strains; A Preventable Workplace Exposure
Sprain and strain injuries are the most common and costly workplace injuries. Employees can injure their knee, shoulder, wrist, or back while performing everyday work-related tasks.
So what are Sprains?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament (tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint). In a sprain, one or more ligaments are stretched or torn.
What are Strains?
A strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone). In a strain, a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn.
The Causes of Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Employees exposed to causative risk factors are more likely to develop a sprain or strain injury.
CIRMA members have reported approximately 11,500 claims over the past five years. While sprain and strain injuries can be frequent and significant to your public entity, the personal costs to the injured employees can be higher. Many are often left in chronic pain or permanently disabled.
The good news is that there are many easy-to-implement and practical steps that municipal and school leaders can take to protect employees. CIRMA members have reduced the number of sprain and strain injuries to employees by 16% over the past five years through resources that educate on avoiding these types of injuries.
Education is key to mitigating risk—download CIRMA’s new workplace safety posters to help raise awareness about injury prevention.
Access CIRMA’s online portal for more important employee training and education tools and resources on relevant seasonal topics.