Highway construction workers participated in a friendly competition Tuesday designed to underscore doing the job correctly and safely. | Yutaka Seki/PxHere
Highway construction workers participated in a friendly competition Tuesday designed to underscore doing the job correctly and safely. | Yutaka Seki/PxHere
When it comes to construction, the adage contractors try to follow says measure twice and cut once. In other words, get the board length right the first time.
That practice also applies to highway and dock construction and such, and The Equipment Operators’ Safety Training Conference, or Roadeo, is stressing that message when the conference returns after a COVID-19 hiatus. So the group sponsored a friendly competition Tuesday that was intended to showcase contractors’ skills.
“Millimeters of an inch can make all the difference," Robin Barfield, safety risk director of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), said in a WNCN report Tuesday. “We compare that today with what we see with fiber optic cable that could be buried, sewer lines, water lines (and more). So just a millimeter could make a big difference and cost of millions of dollars if we’re not careful.”
The NCDOT is responsible for building, repairing and operating highways, bridges and other modes of transportation, including ferries. They want to make sure contractors know that specifications count when it comes to transportation projects.
A friendly competition was held among North Carolina construction workers. The Equipment Operators’ Safety Training Conference, aka Roadeo, is being held for the first time in three years.
Tuesday's contest saw about 100 operators competing in seven skill events. They came from highway divisions from across the state. The event was intended to promote skill advancement for employees who operate heavy machinery, but it also raised safety awareness for employees working in and around construction zones.
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