MOT Safety Protocols & Incident Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a vehicle strikes a work zone barrier, what is the FIRST action a worker should take?
- Begin documenting the incident with photos
- Move to a safe location away from traffic (Correct answer)
- Call the project supervisor immediately
- Check on the driver of the striking vehicle
Correct answer: Move to a safe location away from traffic
Self-preservation is the first priority — workers must move to a safe location before taking any other action.
Question 2: Which agency must typically be notified when a fatality occurs within a highway work zone?
- Only the project owner
- OSHA and the state transportation department (Correct answer)
- The contractor's insurance company only
- The nearest city fire department
Correct answer: OSHA and the state transportation department
OSHA requires notification within 8 hours of a work-related fatality, and the state DOT must also be informed per contractual requirements.
Question 3: A 'near-miss' incident in a work zone is best described as:
- An accident that caused minor property damage only
- An unplanned event that could have resulted in injury but did not (Correct answer)
- A traffic backup exceeding 1 mile caused by the work zone
- A driver who passed through without slowing down
Correct answer: An unplanned event that could have resulted in injury but did not
A near-miss is an unplanned event with the potential to cause injury or damage that, by chance, did not result in harm.
Question 4: What is the purpose of an Incident Command System (ICS) in work zone emergencies?
- To assign blame for the incident
- To provide a standardized management structure for emergency response (Correct answer)
- To speed up traffic flow past the incident scene
- To document financial losses from the incident
Correct answer: To provide a standardized management structure for emergency response
ICS provides a scalable, standardized organizational structure that improves coordination among all responders at an incident scene.
Question 5: Which PPE is considered mandatory for all workers in a roadway work zone per MUTCD and OSHA standards?
- Steel-toed boots and leather gloves
- ANSI/ISEA Class 2 or higher high-visibility vest (Correct answer)
- Hard hat and safety glasses at all times
- Reflective tape on standard work clothing
Correct answer: ANSI/ISEA Class 2 or higher high-visibility vest
ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 (or higher) high-visibility apparel is required for all workers exposed to traffic in roadway work zones.
Question 6: In a work zone, a secondary incident refers to:
- The second shift of workers arriving on site
- A crash that occurs within the traffic backup caused by an initial incident (Correct answer)
- Any incident reported after the end of a work shift
- Equipment damage caused by weather conditions
Correct answer: A crash that occurs within the traffic backup caused by an initial incident
Secondary incidents occur in the queue or backup resulting from an original incident and are often more severe than the primary crash.
Question 7: When setting up temporary traffic control at an unplanned incident site, work should begin from which direction?
- Downstream (in the direction of traffic flow)
- The nearest intersection regardless of direction
- Upstream (against the direction of traffic flow) (Correct answer)
- The center of the incident and work outward
Correct answer: Upstream (against the direction of traffic flow)
Upstream setup protects workers by warning approaching traffic before they reach the incident scene, using advance warning signs first.
MOT Safety Protocols & Incident Management 2
When a vehicle strikes a work zone barrier, what is the FIRST action a worker should take?