For construction workers and site managers, ensuring proper traffic management is one of the most critical aspects of their job. This means creating a safe and efficient system for handling the flow of vehicles and pedestrians through the work zone.
There are several factors to consider when designing a traffic management plan, including the type and size of the construction project, the number of workers and vehicles on site, and the location of the work zone concerning other traffic.
Some of the most common traffic control measures used in construction zones include:
Hire Traffic Control Services
Hiring traffic control services is one of the most important steps to ensure proper traffic management on a construction site. Traffic controllers are professionals who are trained in managing and directing traffic flow, and they can help keep your construction site safe and efficient.
Find the best traffic control services near you to ensure that the people controlling your traffic are familiar with the place. For instance, if the site is located in Narwee, NSW, check out https://sstc.net.au/traffic-control-services/ and consider hiring this team of experts.
There are a few things to keep in mind when hiring traffic control services:
- Make sure the company is experienced and has a good reputation.
- Ask for references and check them out.
- Make sure the company is insured and bonded.
- Get some quotes from different companies and compare prices.
Hiring traffic control services is a significant investment, but it is worth it to ensure the safety of your construction site. Taking the time to find a reputable and experienced company will pay off in the long run.
Install Signages and Instructions
Safety signs play an essential role in maintaining facilities compliant and workers informed. Construction workers and laborers must have sufficient knowledge to identify different types of hazards in the construction site, the risk level of each hazard, and the safety measures to take.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to keep staff safe, and having a visual communication approach, such as safety signs, is the answer. Signage includes Notification signs and Safe operation Instruction signage to keep your employees informed.
These signs will notify the workers of the location of first aid kits, emergency eyewash sites, and other details concisely and clearly. Additionally, signages are also effective visual instruction to manage vehicle and foot traffic within the site to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles know where they should go to avoid traffic congestion.
Provide Better Visibility for Vehicles
When vehicles reverse in locations where people can’t be excluded, the risk increases, and visibility becomes critical. Hence, if you want to increase visibility within the construction site and help manage the traffic, you should consider aiding drivers with mirrors, reversing alarms, and CCTVs so drivers will have better visibility around the vehicle.
Installing proper lighting is also key to improving visibility as it lets pedestrians and vehicle drivers better see each other, especially after sunset or during bad weather. Remember that operating under low light conditions poses numerous additional hazards to construction workers. For example, sight distance will be significantly reduced, and headlight glare may momentarily conceal objects until it’s too late to avoid them.
Regarding people within the construction site, you should ensure that they wear additional high-visibility accessories so that vehicle drivers can easily see them and avoid any accidents.
Maintain Clear Routes
Traffic control is a vital part of any construction project. Hiring professional traffic control services can help ensure the safety of your workers, pedestrians, and motorists. Traffic control services can also help you maintain clear routes and avoid potential congestion and delays.
When construction projects occur, it is vital to maintain clear routes for pedestrians and motorists. Hiring traffic control services can help you do this. Traffic control services can help you set up signs, cones, and other traffic control devices. They can also help you direct traffic around the construction site.
Hiring traffic control services can also help you avoid potential congestion and delays. Traffic control services can help you plan the flow of traffic around the construction site. They can also help you monitor traffic conditions and make adjustments as needed.
During construction health and safety checks, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors look for well-organized sites, free-flowing walkways, and access routes. Keeping the routes clear will also ensure that the emergency exits are free of obstruction so that people can evacuate freely and immediately during emergencies.
Site Logistics
Site logistics play a pivotal role in the success of any construction project. Poorly managed site logistics can lead to delays, accidents, and injuries.
So, to avoid these issues, it is important to have a clear plan for managing traffic at your construction site. This includes specifying who is responsible for traffic control, setting up traffic signs and cones, and managing construction vehicles.
According to Michelle Gray, core construction EHS leader, Speed limits should be imposed within the site where it’s applicable to help manage vehicle traffic.
He also added that traffic flow must be organized and coordinated to keep vehicle speeds low and reduce travel routes to parking areas, trailers, and the loading and unloading stations. It’s also safer for vehicles to make right-hand turns in and out of the construction site. It eliminates the need for cross-traffic.
Conclusion
Construction sites can be hectic places, with many large vehicles and equipment moving around. Thus, it’s crucial to have a good traffic management plan in place to ensure the safety of everyone on site.
