15 roadside workers killed, hundreds injured over 10 years: WorkSafeBC

New data from WorkSafeBC shows over the past decade,15 roadside workers have diedand 229 have been injured after they were hit by vehicles while on the job.

The agency says 66 per cent of those workers were in construction, including 124 who worked in traffic control or as flag persons.

Last year, one worker died and 21 others were injured at work sites across B.C.

The new statistics from WorkSafeBC come as the agency kicks off an annual safety campaign aimed at protecting roadside workers.

As part of the campaign, police in Vancouver will conduct an "enforcement blitz" Monday morning, checking for motorists who are using cell phones, speeding or driving aggressively near a work site.

Trina Pollard, WorkSafeBC's manager of industry and labour services, says the campaign is about getting drivers to slow down, pay attention to roadside workers and follow the directions of road signs.

"Every roadside worker deserves to make it home to their family at the end of their shift without injury," she says.