Practice 000.653.3211
Date 012009
Page 1 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
PURPOSE
This practice defines the requirements for managing traffic in construction areas.
SCOPE
This practice includes the following major sections:
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General
Project Roads
Flagging
Road Construction/Maintenance
APPLICATION
This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of P2S and its
contractors.
DEFINITIONS
None.
Health, Safety, and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 012009
Page 2 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................................................................1
SCOPE ..........................................................................................................................................................................1
APPLICATION ...........................................................................................................................................................1
DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................................................................1
1.0
GENERAL .......................................................................................................................................................3
1.1
Identified Hazards ..........................................................................................................................................3
1.2
Vehicle Operation ..........................................................................................................................................3
1.3
Signs ..............................................................................................................................................................3
1.4
Work Near Operational Heavy Equipment ....................................................................................................4
1.5
Work Near Roads ..........................................................................................................................................4
2.0
PROJECT ROADS ..........................................................................................................................................4
2.1
Speed Limits ..................................................................................................................................................4
2.2
Traffic Management Plan ..............................................................................................................................4
2.3
Operational Machinery ..................................................................................................................................5
2.4
Excavations ....................................................................................................................................................5
2.5
Restricted Areas and Escort Vehicles ............................................................................................................5
A. Restricted Areas .............................................................................................................................................5
B. Escort Vehicles ..............................................................................................................................................5
3.0
FLAGGING .....................................................................................................................................................5
3.1
Flaggers .........................................................................................................................................................6
3.2
Hand Signaling Devices.................................................................................................................................6
3.3
Flagger Stationing ..........................................................................................................................................6
3.4
Flagging Procedures ......................................................................................................................................6
3.5
Training .........................................................................................................................................................7
4.0
ROAD CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE ..............................................................................................7
5.0
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................8
Health, Safety, and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 012009
Page 3 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
1.0
GENERAL
1.1
Identified Hazards
Identified hazards to employees traveling on infrastructure roads system include:
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1.2
General public interface
Maintenance crews on infrastructure roads
Vehicle speed
Light vehicle operator training
Communications
Road conditions
Track operations
Standard equipment for light vehicles
Signage
Restricted areas and escort vehicles
Operation machinery
Blind crests and corners
Excavations
Vehicle safety standards
Journey management
Road rules
Vehicle interaction
Equipment and vehicle inspections
Defective light vehicles
Search and rescue and emergency access
Vehicle Operation
Employees operating a vehicle on any road within the boundary of facilities, including
access roads, must always drive to the conditions regardless of the posted speed limit
signs.
1.3
Signs
Signs must meet the following requirements:
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Give clear direction
Be visible and not obscured
Be maintained
Be reviewed regularly for relevance
Pictograms may be required where tourists’ numbers are high
Health, Safety, and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 01May2009
Page 4 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
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1.4
Side roads will be signed (STOP and NO ENTRY)
No red signs will be erected within 16 feet (5 meters) of any railway
Flashing lights will be placed to warn drivers of any hazards present at night or in
poor visibility
Work Near Operational Heavy Equipment
Spotters and other people working near heavy equipment must wear high-visibility vests
or clothing and use the correct signage at all times.
1.5
Work Near Roads
Where maintenance crews are working close to traffic, additional precautions will be
taken to keep visibility and early warning at a maximum. These may include local
watering of dust generating areas, wearing of high-visibility vests, and posting of
additional traffic controllers at the extremities of the work environment.
2.0
PROJECT ROADS
2.1
Speed Limits
The speed limit for projects/sites will be limited to a maximum of 37 mph (59.6 kph).
Roads where potentially hazardous work is being undertaken (such as culverts where
employees are close to the road), will have a speed limit of 12 mph (19.3 kph), and signs
will be placed at least 50 feet (15.2 meters) before work area in both directions.
Additional methods for controlling speed will also be used. These include but may not be
limited to:
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2.2
Audible speed alarms
Radar guns
Traffic Management Plan
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) will be created for the “green field” projects/sites.
Changes to the TMP will be communicated to affected parties.
Copyright © 2009, P2S. All Rights Reserved.
Health, Safety and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 01May2009
Page 5 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
2.3
Operational Machinery
In order to delineate the paths of the earth-moving machinery, a “Scraper and Mobile
Equipment Circuit” or similar signs must be erected 300 feet (91.4 meters) before the
circuits.
To minimize the potential of light vehicles entering the blind spots of heavy vehicles, all
other equipment, light vehicles, and mobile equipment are to give way to heavy vehicles
operating on any infrastructure road or facility.
2.4
Excavations
For excavations on roads, barriers will be put in place to prevent vehicle access to the
trench.
The barriers will be of suitable height, and constructed of material to prevent the largest
vehicle driving through.
2.5
Restricted Areas and Escort Vehicles
A.
Restricted Areas
Site personnel will be informed of restricted areas of the project. These areas are not to
be accessed without authority from the Project/Site Manager.
The speed limit for the site will be limited to a maximum of 37 mph (59.6 kph). Local
road rules apply to the roads.
B.
Escort Vehicles
For large or nonroutine loads, an escort vehicle provided by the contractor should be used
in front of and, when necessary, behind the vehicle or mobile equipment.
Other vehicles must be escorted at the Project/Site Manager’s discretion.
Drivers entering the site must wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE).
Refer to Practice 000.653.3000, Personal Protective Equipment.
3.0
FLAGGING
The primary function of a flagger is to guide the flow of traffic (such as loaders, dozers,
dump trucks, excavators, and automobiles) safely through or around work areas or where
traffic lanes are intermittently blocked.
Copyright © 2009, P2S. All Rights Reserved.
Health, Safety and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 01May2009
Page 6 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Trained flaggers will be assigned as follows:
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Flaggers must be trained (refer to Section 3.5) and equipped (refer to Section 3.2) to
direct traffic.
Flaggers will be required to wear an orange or lime green warning garment (vest)
and a protective helmet and other required PPE at all times. At night, reflectorized
garments will be required.
Flaggers will be used to control traffic flow through work areas at decreased speeds to
reduce the hazards to employees working in the area.
3.1
Flaggers
Selection of capable personnel is essential.
Flaggers must wear an orange safety vest as an outer garment. Reflective apparel must
be worn at night.
The flagger must be clearly visible from a distance to permit appropriate response to the
flagger’s instructions by a vehicle operator. If at any point the flagger is not visible, all
equipment moving through that area must shut down.
3.2
Hand Signaling Devices
Hand signaling devices (orange flags or signs of appropriate color/markings) must be
used in controlling traffic through work areas.
Flags used for signaling purposes will be at least 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) square,
made of a good grade of P2Sescent orange material, and securely fastened to a staff
approximately 3 feet (0.9 meter) in length.
Yellow flashing lights must be used during periods of darkness.
3.3
Flagger Stationing
It is important for the flagger to remain in full view of all vehicles and to avoid standing
in congested areas. Under no circumstances will flaggers stand in the lane being used for
moving traffic. Flaggers should stand adjacent to lanes where equipment is traveling.
3.4
Flagging Procedures
The following methods of flagging will be used:
Copyright © 2009, P2S. All Rights Reserved.
Health, Safety and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 01May2009
Page 7 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
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3.5
To stop traffic, the flagger will face approaching traffic and extend the flag
horizontally across the traffic lane in a stationary position so that the full area of the
flag hanging below the staff is visible. The free arm may be raised with the palm
turned toward approaching traffic.
When it is safe for the vehicle operator to proceed, the flagger will turn parallel to
the traffic movement. When the flag is used, drop the arm with the flag to lower it
from the view of the vehicle operator and motion traffic ahead with the free arm.
The orange flag will not be used to signal traffic to proceed.
To slow traffic with the flag, the flagger will give the stop signal and then change to
the signal to proceed before the vehicle comes to a stop.
Training
Flaggers will be given instruction and training by experienced trainers to develop a clear
understanding of their duties and responsibilities.
At a minimum, instruction and training will include the following:
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Communications
Attitude
Safety equipment
Tools
Hand signals
Location or positioning
Action(s) for directing traffic
Emergency procedures
Project/Site Management must approve and verify that appropriate training has been
conducted for each flagger before their being used on public highways.
Note:
4.0
In some locations, (Washington State, for example), a specific training
curriculum and/or certification as a “trained flagger” is required.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE
During construction or maintenance that causes a detour, restriction, or otherwise affects
access to facilities or traffic on existing, plant, project, or public roads, supervisors will
perform the following:
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At least 2 weeks before the start of an operation:
 Ensure that affected plant and site personnel are notified.
 Ensure that any required written plan has been submitted to the client and (as
applicable) the agency having jurisdiction for review.
Copyright © 2009, P2S. All Rights Reserved.
Health, Safety and Environmental
Practice 000.653.3211
Date 01May2009
Page 8 of 8
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
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Ensure that employees who are designing and setting up traffic control devices
have been properly trained. (P2S supervisors should consider requesting
certification/documentation from contractors.)
Specify and ensure proper and effective location(s) for temporary traffic control
signs, devices, signals, and barricades in accordance with the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Services for Streets and Highways (or similar in-country regulations if
outside the U.S).
Ensure that warning signs are erected facing in all directions when construction
activities are adjacent to the roadway or intersection.
Ensure that signs intended for hazard warning during hours of darkness are
illuminated or have reflectors.
Remove or cover any existing control devices that drivers should not obey while
construction or maintenance activities are being performed.
Restore regular traffic control signs and devices and cover or remove temporary traffic
control signs when the construction or maintenance is complete and before a roadway or
area is restored to unrestricted use.
5.0
REFERENCES
Document ID
000.653.3000
Document Title
Personal Protective Equipment
Non-P2S Documents
U.S DOT MUTCD
Copyright © 2009, P2S. All Rights Reserved.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Health, Safety and Environmental