Toolbox Talk – Traffic Management 

This Toolbox Talk is focused on Traffic management which involves supporting workers in building and civil construction by providing safety equipment such as cones, delineators, jersey barriers and fences, as well as putting up traffic lights and diverting traffic through a series of road closures and diversions.

The term ‘vehicles’ includes cars, vans, lorries, low-loaders, and mobile plant such as excavators, lift trucks and site dumpers etc.

Keeping vehicles and pedestrians apart.

Most construction transport accidents result from the inadequate separation of pedestrians and vehicles.

It can be avoided by careful planning, particularly at the design stage, and by controlling vehicle operations during construction work.

• Entrances and exits – provide separate entry and exit gateways for pedestrians and vehicles.
• Walkways – provide a firm, level, well-drained pedestrian walkways that take a direct route where possible.
• Crossings – where walkways cross roadways, provide a clearly signed and lit crossing point where drivers and pedestrians can see each other clearly.
• Visibility – make sure drivers driving out onto public roads can see both ways along the footway before they move on to it.
• Obstructions – do not block walkways so that pedestrians must step onto the vehicle route.
• Barriers – think about installing a barrier between the roadway and the walkway.

To limit the number of vehicles on site:

Good planning can help to minimize vehicle movement around a site. For example, landscaping reduces the quantities of fill or spoil movement.

• Provide car and van parking for the workforce and visitors away from the work area.
• Control entry to the work area.
• Plan storage areas so that delivery vehicles do not have to cross the site.

People on site

Employers should take steps to make sure that all workers are fit and competent to operate the vehicles, machines, and attachments they use on-site by, for example:

• checks when recruiting drivers/operators or hiring contractors.
• training drivers and operators.
• managing the activities of visiting drivers.

People who direct vehicle movements (signalers) must be trained and authorised to do so.

Accidents can also occur when untrained or inexperienced workers drive construction vehicles without authority. Access to vehicles should be managed and people alerted to the risk.

 

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