AWP Safety Marks National Work Zone Awareness Week 2025 by Advancing It’s Mission to Protect and Respect

North Canton, Ohio – As the nation observes National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) from April 15–19, AWP Safety, North America’s leader in professional traffic control, it’s doubling down on its core commitment: protecting the people who power our infrastructure. With over 8,200 team members securing more than 1 million worksites each year, AWP Safety’s message is clear and urgent: “Respect the zone so we all get home.”

“We participate in NWZAW events across the country to raise awareness, from local events to customer engagement,” said Michelle Marsh, senior vice president, EH&S for AWP Safety. “But awareness is just the start. Our real impact happens every day, on the real roads, through the hands of trained professionals who turn that awareness into action—one jobsite at a time.”

Elevating the Standard of Safety

Safer roads start by building a team that’s capable and confident. As chief HR officer Michael Shearer explains, that begins with how AWP Safety recruits, trains and grows its workforce.

“Our people aren’t just clocking in. They’re showing up with a calling,” he says. “For instance, we’ve launched structured career paths so that field Protectors who excel in their role go on to become supervisors and trainers. That knowledge transfer and stability mean customers get crews they can trust—and the public gets safer roads.”

Shearer adds the demand for qualified traffic control professionals is only going up: “As infrastructure projects accelerate across the country, we’re preparing to nearly double our workforce by 2030—not just to meet demand, but to raise the standard for career development in this industry.”

On the ground, these Protectors and leaders bring safety to life by solving daily challenges, whether it’s an unplanned road closure, a scheduling curveball or keeping things calm when a driver gets too close for comfort?. For companies and municipalities considering self-managed flagging in work zones, Shearer offers clear advice:

“It’s so much more than signs and cones,” he says. “It’s about training, compliance and knowing what to do when the unexpected happens. That’s the peace of mind? a professional approach gives you.”

Smarter Tools. Safer Roads. 

Work zones are fast-moving and unpredictable, but increasingly, technology is helping to reduce human exposure and improve situational awareness. AWP Safety meets these challenges by redefining what’s possible in work zone safety through integrating advanced technologies that reduce risk and improve efficiency. Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFADs) allow Protectors to direct traffic remotely, reducing their exposure to live lanes.

Intelligent traffic cones, powered by solar energy and equipped with speed detectors and communication tech, are also part of an emerging “internet of roadwork devices.” These tools share traffic data with crews, managers and navigation platforms. Combined with GPS-linked systems that feed work zone locations to apps like Waze and Google Maps, this network gives drivers advance warning—often before they see a sign—helping them slow down, reroute or prepare for delays.

“Technology allows us to go beyond reactive safety,” says Marsh. “It gives us the power to predict, prevent and perform. Because the goal is not just creating safer work zones—it’s building a smarter traffic control model that evolves with every mile.”

Respect the Zone – A Shared Responsibility

While National Work Zone Awareness Week brings attention to work zone safety, AWP Safety emphasizes that real change happens year-round. From the Protectors who suit up at dawn to the motorists navigating disruption on the way home, safety in work zones is a shared responsibility. It takes skilled people, smart planning and public respect.

AWP Safety reminds motorists that while the road may change, the mission stays the same: make it safe, keep it human and always find a better way forward.

To learn more about smarter traffic control strategies or to schedule a demo of AWP Safety’s latest work zone technologies, submit an inquiry to our sales team.  For NWZAW resources and ways to support impacted families, visit nwzaw.org.

About AWP Safety
AWP Safety, is North America’s leading worksite safety partner, trusted by utility, broadband, and transportation providers to protect the people who power critical infrastructure. With a technology-first approach and a deep commitment to customer success, AWP Safety is modernizing traffic control through innovative solutions—including professional flagging, Smart Work Zones, transportation management plan design and engineering, equipment sales and rentals, and 24/7 support. Founded in 1981, the company operates in 33 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, securing over 1 million worksites each year. AWP Safety was recognized by Newsweek as one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces 2025 for Diversity by Newsweek“.