Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Practice Test

Minimizing pedestrian back-over accidents on construction sites is best achieved through layout planning that reduces or eliminates the need for vehicles to back up. This proactive approach involves designing the site in such a way that vehicle paths are clear, and potential conflicts with pedestrians are minimized. By strategically positioning work areas, storage, and access points, the risk associated with backing vehicles can be significantly reduced, thereby enhancing overall safety.

While assigning spotters, providing training, and considering the size of vehicles may contribute to safety, these measures do not address the fundamental issue of site layout. Spotters can help in specific situations, but if the layout itself encourages frequent backing, accidents may still occur. Training can improve awareness but does not eliminate the inherent risks when vehicles must back up in congested areas. Larger vehicles may have a greater blind spot, potentially increasing the risk of pedestrian accidents rather than reducing it.

Therefore, effective site layout that minimizes the need for vehicles to reverse plays a crucial role in enhancing pedestrian safety in construction environments.