Prioritizing worker-centered risk mitigation strategies and technological solutions: a best–worst method study from highway work zones of India

Highway work zones are hazardous areas where construction and maintenance activities occur alongside active traffic, posing significant safety challenges for on-site workers. This study investigates the effectiveness of hazard mitigation strategies from the workers' perspective, focusing on safety, mobility, comfort and adaptability. Fourteen mitigation strategies were evaluated using the best-worst method (BWM), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, across three types of work zones: utility, maintenance and construction. Findings show that the importance of safety and mobility varies by work zone type; safety is most critical in the utility type, while mobility is prioritized in the construction type due to its influence on traffic flow and worker risk. Key effective strategies include enhanced traffic control devices, speed enforcement and intrusion alert systems. Automatic flagging devices are helpful in utility and maintenance work zones, while dynamic systems like variable speed limits and intelligent transportation systems improve safety in construction work zones.