State Rep. Doug Wozniak on Friday called for the House Ethics and Oversight Committee to hold a hearing to examine a recent report that outlined failures by the Michigan Department of Transportation to complete investigations and other reporting requirements following worksite crashes.

“Construction personnel are tasked with fixing our roads in all sorts of weather while cars drive by just a few feet away. MDOT has a responsibility to ensure worksites are as safe as possible,” said Wozniak, R-Shelby Township. “The House Ethics and Oversight Committee must consider the shortcomings in MDOT’s follow-up, make certain all worksite crashes are thoroughly investigated, and guarantee all procedural failures are addressed and corrected.”

The performance audit by Michigan’s nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General discovered that MDOT did not properly notify officials in more than 80% of investigated fatal crashes, did not complete crash analysis to fix worksite failures in 73% of investigated fatal crashes, and did not follow up to ensure worksite safety issues were corrected after they were identified by investigators.

“Any time a construction worker is injured or killed in a worksite accident, MDOT must do everything it can to ensure that whatever failures led to the death are corrected to prevent future tragedies,” Wozniak said. “I hope that MDOT leadership is similarly concerned about these findings and would appreciate the opportunity to participate in a hearing to collaborate with lawmakers and help identify meaningful changes to protect workers and drivers.”

The Work Zone Management Unit within MDOT is responsible for performing field investigations following worksite crashes. They also conduct field reviews of worksites to identify potential safety and mobility concerns.

Wozniak said he would like to hold a hearing this summer, as this is the time of year when most road work is done. He added that this is too important a matter to allow to languish until fall.

“Think of how many construction projects are underway right now,” Wozniak said. “Thousands of workers are laboring at all hours on our highways and bridges. I don’t think it would be unreasonable for a dozen lawmakers and MDOT personnel to gather in a Capitol hearing room to discuss what needs to be done to keep them safe.”

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