Introduction
National Work Zone Awareness Week serves as an important reminder for all of us—safety in work zones is everyone’s responsibility. Throughout this week, we focus on raising awareness about the risks faced by workers, drivers, and pedestrians in work zones across the country. By highlighting these challenges, we aim to foster a safer environment for everyone involved.
National Work Zone Awareness Week
National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of the construction season. The key message of this campaign is for drivers to use extra caution when travelling through work zones.
This year, the North Carolina Department of Labor will host the 26th national event. This years theme is, “Respect the zone so we all get home.”
NWZAW will be observed from April 21-25. North Carolina DOT outlines specific themes for each day, including:
- Work Zone Safety Training Day (April 21st) – This emphasizes the importance of laying the groundwork for safety through training. Therefore, take a moment during the workday to engage in safety demonstrations and discussions
- National Kickoff Event (April 22nd) – Hosted by the North Carolina DOT at a public site in the state
- Go Orange Day (April 23rd) – Wear orange to show your support of work zone safety
- Social Media Storm (April 24th) – Organizations, companies, and individuals are encouraged to share messages and use #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety on social media between 9 AM and 4 PM ET.
- And, Moment of Silence (April 25th) – Started in 2022, this day encourages companies and families to join together for a moment of silence as a tribute to the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident
Resources
For more information, visit the National Work Zone Awareness Week webpage.
To learn more about NWZAW events, visit the calendar of events webpage.
To download social media images, the 2025 NWZAW poster, and to purchase work zone accessories, visit the participate webpage.