In South-America the man on Road Work signs is usually shown just when the first spadeful is cut, or just when he last spadeful is shoveled back. We know this because there is material on the spade and there is no trace of a heap which should be present while the construction project is going on.

We call this type of signs: H0 (heap zero).
This, and other types, are explained in Argentina.

Small variations can be found :
• the spade may be empty: reported from e.g. Chile
• variations in the headwear:
  • the man is bareheaded: reported from e.g. Chile, Peru
  • the man wears a wide-brimmed hat: seen in e.g. Mexico, Peru
  • the man prefers a narrow-brimmed hat like here in Colombia
  • the man prefers a cap with a visor: reported from e.g. Costa Rica