Safety Technical Specialist, Ohio Department of Transportation
Temporary traffic control enables motorists to safely travel a roadway affected by various types of construction projects and utility operations. It serves to regulate, warn and guide motorists.
However, these worksites create potential hazards because motorists are confronted with unknown conditions. Normal driving routes are changed. If motorists are delayed, they will become angry and aggressive.
Work zones can be dangerous in Ohio. In May 2004, a city employee was knocked out of a bucket truck while working on a traffic signal. The driver was found to be DUI. But, the police report said the temporary traffic control zone was not set up adequately. The city also could not produce documentation that employees had received work zone training.
In January 2005, another city employee was killed while patching potholes. He was hit by a pickup truck and was pinned against the city’s dump truck. The city was later cited because a protective shadow vehicle with advance warning signs was not used. Employees were not properly trained to recognized and avoid unsafe conditions when working near traffic.
In a temporary traffic control zone, planning for the separation of motorists, construction equipment, and workers on foot, in theory, should provide a safer workplace.
In reality, the only thing between the work area and motorists is a line of orange cones or barrels. For workers trying to do their job, they’re just one step from death.
Even when all traffic control measures are taken, a confused or unaware driver can crash through a work site, or a daydreaming worker can step into the path of a speeding vehicle. Some drivers take reckless chances by running stop signs or changing lanes without signaling. These unsafe acts jeopardize other drivers who may lose control of their vehicle while avoiding a collision.
Section 4511.11 of the Ohio Revised Code requires "Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall place and maintain traffic control devices in accordance with the department of transportation (ODOT) manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices….."
Each work zone is unique in itself. Consult ODOT’s Ohio Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD) for typical setups that can be adopted for your specific situations in consideration of geometrics, speed, and time of day. Remember, the key concept in temporary traffic control is the ability to positively guide road users through work zones in order to protect workers from injuries and fatalities.
All traffic control must be carefully planned and approved by a competent person before work begins. He/she should drive through the traffic pattern before any work starts to insure that the public will understand how to negotiate the control zone. If there is any possibility of driver confusion in the pattern, change it.
The OMUTCD should be followed for proper signage and barricading. Place initial warning signs far enough in advance of the work to give motorists time to respond to the conditions. All signs and related equipment should be in good condition and highly visible.
Devices which guide traffic such as cones, barrels, etc., should be clean, highly visible and spaced relatively close together, so drivers will not deviate from an assigned traffic flow. All such barriers must be made of material that will cause little or no damage if a vehicle contacts it.
If a flagger is assigned to traffic control duties, a highly visible sign paddle at least six feet in height should be used during daylight hours. It should be octagonal in shape, at least 18 inches across, and have letters at least six inches high that say STOP on one side and SLOW on the other. Flaggers should have two-way radios.
All construction vehicles should be equipped with backup alarms and "slow moving vehicle" signs when appropriate. Ideally, they should be painted a highly visible color and many jurisdictions also require flashing yellow beacons. All operators must be qualified and trained to operate the equipment they are using. If a vehicle will be parked along-side the road, orange cones should be placed around it to alert drivers.
Minimizing vulnerability to the whims of traffic is challenging, but there are some personal safety considerations that can help protect workers:
- Be visible. Wear high visibility safety apparel meeting the ANSI 107 requirements for reflectivity. Make sure the size label identifies a shirt or vest as a Class 2 garment for daytime use. Class 3 apparel is optional for nighttime use, but is highly recommended.
- Plan an escape route. Where will you run if a vehicle drives into the work area?
- Where’s the traffic? Know where you are in relation to the traffic at all times. Use the buddy system. Everybody watches out for everybody else and frequently glances at oncoming traffic.
- Don’t work with your back to oncoming traffic. Don’t bend or stoop towards the traffic lane if working next to live traffic. Watch out for extended side mirrors on vans, trucks, and RVs.
- When stopping on a project or along the highway, check your mirrors and make sure you are clear before opening a door and stepping out from the driver’s side.
- Look for hazards. Always survey the work area for potential safety problems. Besides the traffic, there may be heavy equipment in operation, an open trench, and utilities either above or below ground.
- Make eye contact with equipment operators. Be sure you always have eye contact with an operator before approaching equipment. Let the operator know where you’re going and what you’re doing. Never approach equipment from the operator’s blind spot or stand anywhere out of the operator’s sight.
- Stay out of "crush zones." Don’t put yourself near a fixed stationary object or between two pieces of equipment where you can be crushed when something moves.
- Don’t hitch rides on equipment, especially just by hopping on the side of moving equipment and grabbing hold of something. It’s just as easy to fall off and get run over.
We must all prepare for the unexpected in a temporary traffic control zone. When the worksite involves moving traffic, safety awareness should be at its peak, to protect both the public and the crew. Above all, if your work takes you out on a busy street or highway, keep your brain turned on and stay alert because you are just one step from death.
REFERENCES Publications:
Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.11
Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD), 2005
Ohio Temporary Traffic Control Manual, 2005
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