Design of Traffic Control Elements Write a report to develop a worksite traffic management plan for a four-lane two-way arterial road. In you plan include: The eight steps of worksite traffic...

1.TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANS
1.General
This chapter explains the eight steps of traffic management plan at worksite maintaining a standardised approach to the conduct of works on roads (whether on the roadway or roadside) that protects the safety of road users and persons engaged in the ca
ying out of such works.
1. The management of traffic is an essential requirement of any work undertaken on roads (whether on the roadway, shoulder or roadside). The objectives of traffic management are to –
· provide a safe environment for all persons working on, and traffic travelling along roads.
· minimise the impact of the works on traffic and adjacent landowners/ occupiers
· minimise delays to train, tram or bus services (and where possible, give priority to public transport), and minimise interference with people’s ability to access a train, tram or bus
· cater for the needs of all road users and
· communicate the a
angements for, and impacts of, any activities affecting
traffic.
2. Section 99A(3)(a) of the Road Safety Act 1986 requires any person conducting works on a road to ‘have in operation a traffic management plan’, while section 99A(4)(a) requires that a traffic management plan ‘comply with the prescribed requirements’ of any relevant Regulations, being the Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2009.
3. It should be noted that a traffic management plan provides the details of proposals for the management of traffic during the conduct of works on roads and normally includes a traffic guidance scheme, worksite hazard assessment (such as a Safe Work Method Statement), and details of the location, nature and duration of the works. A traffic guidance scheme shows the a
angement of temporary traffic control devices to warn traffic and guide it through, past or around a work area or temporary hazard.
4. A traffic management plan includes details of the requirements to manage traffic through the worksite outside normal working hours or when workers are not present at the site (after-care). This would include the removal or covering of any signs that are not applicable, particularly temporary worksite speed limits.
5. Where a standard diagram is used as a traffic guidance scheme, or forms part of a traffic management plan, the standard diagram should clearly identify any relevant variations necessary to relate the standard diagram to the specific conditions of the worksite.
6. In preparing a traffic management plan, especially for those works having a ‘worksite hazard rating’5 of ‘High’ as determined by the worksite hazard management process , consideration should be given to the following matters where relevant
· the safety of the workers at the worksite and the public passing through or adjacent to the worksite.
· overall strategy for the management of traffic, including traffic staging methodology during various stages of the work.
· a
angement of traffic control devices for each stage of the works.
· a
angement and number of traffic controllers required for each stage of the works.
· emergency access – for both workers and any emergency services vehicles travelling through the worksite.
· any unusual hazards or job specific requirements e.g. nea
y school or access to shops.
· use of alternative routes as required.
· provision for over-dimensional vehicles.
· provision of safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities.
· provision for, and impact on, public transport (e.g. delay to buses/trams, restrictions on passenger access to bus or tram stops, potential for traffic to queue across an adjacent railway crossing), including where possible, priority for public transport.
· provision for access to abutting properties.
· duration and times for conducting the works (e.g. day or night operation).
· traffic management a
angements at the worksite outside normal working hours or when workers are not present at the site (after-care).
· a
angements to address and monitor the risk of end-of-queue collisions due to a build up of traffi c at worksites.
· emergency contact details.
· communication a
angements.
Note: the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 classify all construction work on or adjacent to roads used by traffi c as ‘high risk construction work’ for which a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required.
7. A traffic management plan should be prepared by a person who is suitably experienced and competent in traffic management, having regard to the nature and complexity of the works, and the type of traffic management plan required. Consultation with workers who have experience in working on trafficked worksites can be beneficial in ensuring that a practicable traffic management plan is prepared.
8. Where a traffic management plan proposes the use of certain traffic control devices as part of the subject works that require a written authorisation, a copy of the traffic management plan should be included with the authorisation application for the use of those traffic control devices.
2.WORK SITE HAZARD MANAGEMENT PROCESS
2.1 General
For all works within the road reserve, a systematic approach is necessary to identify
the hazards and risks to health and safety, to prioritise the critical risks from the lesse
isks, identify effective measures to control those risks that may have an undesired o
unexpected outcome, and to describe the manner in which the hazard control measures
are to be implemented. Methodology for the hazard based assessment of worksite
conditions is shown in the figure below.
Figure 1 : Hazard Assessment methodology
2.2 Step 1 – Determine Worksite Hazard Rating
1. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 classify all construction work on or adjacent to roads used by traffic as high risk construction work. These Regulations require that a Safe Work Method Statement be prepared for all such works.
Note: ‘high risk construction work’ includes, amongst other things, construction workwhere there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres.
· on or adjacent to roadways or railways used by road or rail traffi c.
· at workplaces where there is any movement of powered mobile plant.
· in, over or adjacent to water or other liquids where there is a risk of drowning.
· involving a trench or shaft if the excavated depth is more than 1.5 metres.
Note: a ‘Safe Work Method Statement’ is defined as a document that:
· identifi es work that is high risk construction work; and
· states the hazards and risks to health or safety of that work; and
· suffi ciently describes measures to control those risks; and
· describes the manner in which the risk control measures are to be implemented.
2. Every individual at worksite should be assessed to determine a ‘worksite hazard rating’ based on consideration of the main risk factors present at the worksite. This ‘worksite hazard rating’ is intended to provide an overall assessment of the risk of an event involving road users or workers occu
ing within the worksite if there were no protective measures in place.
3. Determination of the ‘worksite hazard rating’ will enable a decision to then be made on the extent of planning and detail required for a traffic management plan
Note: the ‘worksite hazard rating’ should, wherever reasonably practicable and having regard to the
nature of the works and the road on which they are taking place, result from an actual physical
inspection of the proposed worksite.
4. The major factors in assessing the hazard rating of a worksite are the road type, speed limit and clearance between the traffi c and workers on the worksite. Table 1 provides a guide for assessing the hazard rating of the worksite.
Table 1: Guide for Assessing Worksite Hazard Rating
Local Traffi c Road – (e.g. shown
own in Melway or thin black in Country Directory)
• Collector Road – (e.g. shown grey in Melway) or Rural Arterial ‘C’ Road
• Secondary Road – (e.g. shown orange in Melway) or Rural Arterial ‘A’ and ‘B’ Road
• Arterial Road (u
an area – e.g. shown black and red in Melway) and Rural ‘M’ Road
• Freeway (u
an area – e.g. shown green or blue in Melway)
Note: The rural ‘M’, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ road types are as indicated on road signs.
L: Low Worksite Hazard Rating
H: High Worksite Hazard Rating
2.3 Step 2 – Determine Required Level of Planning
(1) The level of planning required in preparing a traffi c management plan at a worksite
to eliminate or reduce the risk level is dependent on the expected worksite hazard
ating and any prescribed requirements as detailed in the relevant Regulations.
(2) The level of experience and competence required of the person preparing, approving,
eviewing or modifying a traffic management plan for the worksite is related to the expected worksite hazard rating. As a general guide –
(a) Expected worksite hazard rating: High – a site specifi c traffi c management
plan (including any relevant traffi c guidance scheme) should be prepared by a
person suitably experienced and competent in traffi c management and discussed
with and communicated to those on the worksite.
and qualifi ed in traffi c management, and where necessary, road safety audits.
(b) Expected worksite hazard rating: Low – a traffi c management plan should be prepared under the supervision of, and/or reviewed by, a person suitably competent and experienced in traffic management, and any occupational health and safety requirements.
2.4 Step 3 – Determine Hazards at the Worksite
(1) Before any detailed evaluation is made of the hazards involved at a worksite, consideration should be given to what situations might cause these hazards to occur. Table 2 lists some of the possible causes and the resultant hazards, with other issues to be identified on a site specific basis.
Table 2: Examples of Worksite Hazards
(2) A detailed consideration of...