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Work Zone Roles and

Responsibilities

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Module ObjectivesModule Objectives

Recognize the roles of LEOs and others in work zones

List LEO responsibilities and expectations in work zones

Discuss communication channels among all involved and the importance of good communication

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Decision-MakersDecision-Makers

Set procedures for how their LEOs may be used Implement policies Be active and engaged – even if contractor is mainly

responsible for hiring LEOs Our State: City of New Haven

Work Zone Permit & Safety Enforcement / Inspection

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DiscussionDiscussion

Does your jurisdiction have a defined process for using officers in work zones?

How is coordination achieved?

How would you evaluate your current practice?

Is the process working as well as it could be?

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Typical WZ StakeholdersTypical WZ Stakeholders

1. State/Local Highway Agency

2. Contractor

3. Contractor’s Point of Contact

4. Traffic control technicians

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1. Highway Controlling Agency1. Highway Controlling Agency

May be: State DOT Public Works Department Other local agency

Responsible for the overall project, including enforcement of the TCP

The “final authority” May contract-out these

responsibilities

Approves a Traffic Control Plan (TCP) for

the project

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1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.)

1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.)

May allocate enforcement resources

May provide WZ inspection services and liaison with LEOs

Builds the TCP which includes: Pattern of TCPs Tasks to be performed Project phasing

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1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.)

1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.)

TCP may include location/placement of police officers / flaggers based upon:

WZ type Location Duration Time of day Safety

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2. Contractors2. Contractors

Build and maintain project May provide own inspection

services and liaison to LEO Responsible for ensuring

the traffic control plan is correct on a daily basis

May be responsible for directly hiring and paying LEOs

Assumes officers are trained!!

Implements the Traffic Control Plan based on

the MUTCD and local standards

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Contractors….Contractors….

Do not have the authority to place officers contrary to established procedures and/or endanger the police officer

Request a briefingfrom the

contractor, DOT, or traffic agency representative!

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Contractors….Contractors….

Should provide a daily work zone briefing to police officers prior to the beginning of each shift or special enforcement activity. If they don’t seek you out, you find them. Know what, how, where and when you are expected to perform a duty. The officer

you are relieving is

another good source of work zone

information, but not your

only one!

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3. Contractor’sPoint of Contact (POC)

3. Contractor’sPoint of Contact (POC)

Represents the Contractor at the site In charge of project on site May be called the “Work Zone” (WZS)

or “Traffic Control Supervisor” (TCS) Certification or training in WZ

The TCS is responsible for inspection and documentation of the installation, operation and removal of the work zone

A Highway Controlling Agency Inspector may also be a POC – be sure of your communication channels

Know your primary

contact in the field!

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4. Traffic Control Technicians4. Traffic Control Technicians

Report to the WZS / TCS Are the WZ Workers Are a good technical source

on TCP issues Should have some WZ

training, at least hazard recognition

LEOs should help them understand and support role of LEOs in WZ

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5. Law EnforcementOfficers

5. Law EnforcementOfficers

Should: Be trained in basic work zone

operations and safety Obtain names & numbers of

contractors’ and their on site POC Attempt to make daily contact with

Contractor’s on site POC and/or Highway Controlling Agency POC/Inspector

Law Enforcement Agencies expected to enforce or work in work zones should attend the project’s pre-construction conferences.

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The “Pre-construction Conference”

The “Pre-construction Conference”

A meeting where everyone involved with the project discusses: Roles and

responsibilities Construction details

Procedures/schedules are discussed

Decisions are made Questions are answered

Law Enforcement Agency

representatives should attend and take information back to others!

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5. Law EnforcementOfficers

5. Law EnforcementOfficers

Anyone working in close proximity to traffic is in danger! Watch your back!!

Your activities will affect everyone’s safety!

Your badge does not protect you from traffic impacts!

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Main Types of PoliceServices in WZ

Main Types of PoliceServices in WZ

a) Presenceb) Traffic Controlc) Enforcementd) Emergency

Traffic Control

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LEO Work Zone Services:a) Presence

LEO Work Zone Services:a) Presence

Deterrent to speeding and aggressive driving

Gains attention of drivers for compliance with traffic control devices

Creates opportunity for warning workers of safety issues and impending danger from oncoming traffic

Most common LEO activity in

WZ!

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Presence IssuesPresence Issues

Work zone areas may cross jurisdictional boundaries and cause coverage issues

Longer queuing and higher traffic impacts Multi-agency traffic teams are an option.

E.g. I-95 Q-Bridge Expansion, LEO Agencies: State PD, New Haven PD, East Haven PD

Use of State Police is another option for presence officers to reduce jurisdictional issues Your Agency should have a

process or policy!

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LEO Work Zone Services:b) Traffic Control

LEO Work Zone Services:b) Traffic Control

Some operations may require traffic control:

To move vehicles or equipment in, out or through the work zone.

To address limited lane use MUTCD or Highway Agency

required flagging operations Intersections * Detour/diversion situations * To direct traffic & keep it

moving *

*These may be in line with normal duty for a police

officer depending on

Agency policies.

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LEO Work Zone Services:c) Enforcement

LEO Work Zone Services:c) Enforcement

LEOs assigned to presence work - should not enforce traffic laws.

Active enforcement of traffic laws through the WZ by separate local LEOs may be combined with presence LEOs

Are not as common as presence LEOs

WZ should be enforced

as strictly as school zones!

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LEO Work Zone Services:d) Emergency Traffic Control

LEO Work Zone Services:d) Emergency Traffic Control

Not within the scope of this program

Emergency traffic control is a type of temporary traffic control

Chapter 6I of MUTCD discusses Control of Traffic Incident Management Areas (emergency road user occurrences, natural disasters or unplanned events.)

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1. Stay in communication

2. Be3. Be alert4. Drive-through

What to do WhenWorking in a Work Zone

What to do WhenWorking in a Work Zone

5. Investigate crashes? Agency policy.

6. Arrive early/leave late

7. Monitor TCP compliance?

Let’s discuss in more detail!

VISIBLE

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1. Stay in Communication1. Stay in Communication

Contact Agency for clarification and directions

Report to the WZ POC at beginning of shift

Remain in radio contact with the local dispatch

Maintain radio or visual contact with other presence LEOs or flaggers to coordinate work zone traffic control as necessary

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What to discuss with thePoint of Contact (POC)

What to discuss with thePoint of Contact (POC)

Project objective and schedule for your shift

Contact information Your location: moving or stationary? Express concerns about your or others’

safety, if any Be friendly! Identify enforcement areas if applicable.

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Your visibility could be critical!

2. Be Visible2. Be Visible

Patrol car emergency lights ON

If outside the patrol vehicle and within the work zone, YOU MUST wear issued retroreflective safety clothing

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2. Being Visible2. Being Visible

University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Study

Seen at 891’ ANSI Class II 125’ Normal

Driver reaction time 1.5 sec.

Braking Deceleration 0.5g

Stopped 159’ for 35 MPH 425’ for 65 MPH

Too late!

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Where is the safest placeto be for PRESENCE?

Where is the safest placeto be for PRESENCE?

Identify the safest and most efficient location, that is in compliance with procedures

Will discuss in next module

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Stay alert at all times!

3. Be alert3. Be alert

Face Traffic

P DDon’t Watch

work

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In both directions. See what the drivers will see.

To become familiar with the work zone and its activities

To identify hazardous, confusing, or unsafe conditions

To determine safe places for other non-presence LEOs to investigate crashes and for enforcement action to take place.

4. Drive-Through4. Drive-Through

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Investigate minor property damage or minor crashes that occur within the WZ if the time required to complete the investigation is minimal and IF your agency policy permits such actions.

5. Investigate Crashes -Property Damage?

5. Investigate Crashes -Property Damage?

Crashes involving injury shall be investigated by appropriate personnel, not the WZ “presence” officer. Initial involvement should be guided by

agency policy. Determine local property damage (PDO)

policies ahead of time!

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6. Arrive early/leave late6. Arrive early/leave late

For best worker, driver, pedestrian and self-protection, when possible, be present when the traffic control devices are being installed or removed.

But even better -

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The 15 Minute Rule …….The 15 Minute Rule …….

Arrive 15 minutes before traffic control devices are being placed according to TCP, moved or taken down by Contractor

Stay 15 minutes after changes have taken place, to observe traffic to ensure any new traffic control plan change is working properly

Discuss with POC

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Does your Highway Agency or jurisdiction inspect TCP compliance? Check TCP through field inspections? Detect safety violations and require

immediate correction by contractors? Do Inspectors notify supervisor of

problems and record violations for further action?

Allow formal/informal changes of TCP to address traffic/safety concerns?

7. Inspect TCP Compliance?7. Inspect TCP Compliance?

LEOs are usually not responsible for TCP inspection, but should know their TCP and can be extremely valuable in identifying potential

problems.

NJ State Police has a program….

NJ Safety Intervention Results: July 1, 1995 - November 30, 2000

5248 TotalInterventions

11,544 EmployeesRemovedFrom Risk

3387 OSHAViolationsCorrected

4008 DOTViolationsCorrected

247 DifferentContractorsImpacted

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The City of New Haven Work Zone Inspection Program

The City of New Haven Work Zone Inspection Program

Work Zones by permit or emergency work only.

WZ / Sidewalk Obstruction Permits approved by Police Chief and Director of Public Works

TCPs designed and approved by New Haven Traffic and Parking engineers.

Daily inspections of WZ compliance with TCPs by WZ trained personnel.

Contractors may be immediately shut down for no permit, violation of terms or non-compliance with TCP.

Multiple violations can result in contractor being prohibited from performing permit work in New Haven by proposed Ordinance.

New Haven LEOs are being trained

on the duties, hazards, TCPs

and requirements of

WZs.

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DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

How do you feel about requiring training for officers before they work in or around traffic work

zones?

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Module RecapModule Recap

What are the traditional roles of LEOs in work zones?

Who else is involved with work zones? What specific activities are typical of LEOs

in work zones? What is the “15-Minute Rule”? Do you know your POC? Do policies related to emergency response

exist?