Here are a few tips for setting up your next Construction Traffic Control Zone.

Common Road Work Hazards

Here's a few things to consider in your next traffic control zone:

• Moving construction vehicles and equipment.
• Moving vehicles driven by the public.
• Noise from equipment and vehicles.
• Limited visibility.
• Limited or poor lighting.
• Bad weather.

Road Works Best Practices

• Have a Plan: The main way to avoid hazards on a road worksite is to have a detailed plan for the job. Make sure you identify all specific risks and have a plan in place to minimize them. Make sure every team member knows the plan before work commences.
• Be Prepared: Always ensure the correct signage, traffic control systems, road markings, etc. are in place. Before heading out to the worksite, make sure you have all of the equipment with you.
• Wear Correct PPE: When working in traffic, wear the correct PPE such as a reflective high-visibility vest, hard hat, eye protection, appropriate clothing, and protective footwear. (when required)
• Get in, Get it Done, Get Out: By this, we mean always minimize the amount of time staff needs to be exposed to traffic. The best way to achieve this is to be prepared.
• Ensure Correct Training: All staff on a road worksite need to be properly trained in all aspects of safety. For example, the traffic control team needs to be fully trained. Only the required staff should be onsite.
• Remove Hazards: Always ensure that all waste is removed from the worksite ASAP and that equipment that is not required is removed when no longer needed.
• Have Emergency Plans: Accidents do happen. For this reason, you must have emergency plans in place in the event of an accident. All staff must be made aware of the emergency plans before work commences. Depending on the specifics of the job, you may require backup plans in place.

Key Takeaways

1. Be aware of the hazards around you when working on the road, such as equipment, vehicles, and machinery.
2. Always make sure there is a detailed plan in place, and you are aware of it, and then stick to it.
3. Always make sure you take and then wear the correct PPE.
4. Only spend as much time as you need to when working on the road. This helps to minimize the risk of accidents happening.
5. Everybody on the worksite should have the proper training.
6. Remove any hazards when you see them.
7. Make sure there are emergency plans in place in the event of something going wrong.
8. Every traffic control zone set up is different, so are the hazards, safety required, and appropriate best practices. Take your list as other tips to consider when setting up your next zone.

Let's Not Meet By Accident!®️

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