Part 7: Traffic, Vehicles and Plant on Site

Construction Health & Safety Management

Simon Smith (University of Edinburgh)

& Philip Matyear (Balfour Beatty)

Overview

General

Legislation

HSE view

What is site transport ?

Transport Top - Ten

1. Programme

2. Site access

3. Vehicle and pedestrian segregation

4. Reversing vehicles and mirrors

5. Safe operator

6. Safe plant and vehicles

7. Loading, storage and parking areas

8. Signage and lighting

9. Hi-visibility clothing

10. Surrounding environment

Street Works

Summary

Further reading

General

Fact - After falls from height, the second biggest killer in construction is plant and transport.

Fact - if an incident on site is transport related, death or serious injury is the likely outcome.

Source - HSE Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2006/07

Legislation - Principle RequirementsHealth and Safety at Work Act etc 1974

Requires employers and self employed workers to;

•Ensure they provide and maintain workplaces, equipment and systems of work that are , so far as is reasonably practicable , safe to workers and the public.

•Employees to take care of their own and others health and safety.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999

Requires employers and self employed workers to;

•Identify the control measures they need to take by carrying out risk assessments

•Institute safety management systems

•Appoint competent persons to assist in health and safety management

•Ensure co-ordination and co-operation

•Provide information and relevant information training to employees

Construction, Design and management Regs 1995

Applies to all stages of a construction project and places duties upon clients, designers and contractors. The regulations aim to ensure:

•Reduction of risk at the planning and design stages

•Selection of competent appointees and provision of adequate resources

•Effective management of health and safety throughout the project

Construction (Health, safety and welfare) Regs 1996

Contains two specific regulations aimed at the use of vehicles on construction sites;

•Sites need to be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles can move around safely

•All vehicles should be driven, operated or towed in a safe manner and be loaded so that can be used safely.

Provision and use of work equipment Regs 1998

Applies to the selection, use and maintenance of work equipment including vehicles.

HSE viewHSE press release E028:03 - 21 February 2003

HSE CONSTRUCTION BLITZ TARGETING MOBILE PLANT, VEHICLES AND LIFTING OPERATIONS

The matters that may be covered during these visits include:

Safe Site - availability of a traffic management plan, separation of plant and vehicles from pedestrians, the control of reversing or slewing operations, use of high-visibility clothing and the maintenance of traffic routes.

Safe Plant and Vehicles - the maintenance of critical controls, warning devices and visibility aids, authorisation to drive plant and vehicles, all round visibility by provision and use of sufficient mirrors, CCTV, roll-over protection and seat belts.

Safe Driver - possession of training certificates that have been checked, operation of plant and driving of vehicles in a safe manner, induction carried out including information on the traffic management plan.

What is site transport?

Any vehicle or piece of mobile work equipment used in the workplace e.g. cars & vans, forklift trucks, delivery vehicles, dumpers & excavators, mobiles cranes etc.

Transport - Top Ten The top-ten considerations that can influence transport safety on construction sites

1. Programme - specifying the early installation of permanent roads during project conception has the advantage of establishing clearly defined traffic routes around the site.

Not all projects lend themselves to this concept, however where this can be achieved there are clear benefits:

It will ensure that through traffic and traffic across site follows a suitable route

Flat level running surfaces reduce this risk of vehicles overturning and enables loads to be transported safely without risk of materials falling off.

General maintenance of permanent roads is generally easier - reduced sludge factor - cleaner roads - cleaner site etc

Transport - Top Ten2. Site Access - potential accident black spot where the site has the greatest contact with members of the public. Site access points should:

Provide safe site entry and access points with enough turning room for the largest vehicle.

Good visibility and lighting are important where vehicles come into close contact with the public - where necessary an escort / banksman may have to be considered.

Where possible keep pedestrians separate form vehicles by means of different site entry and exit points, barriered footways - make sure pedestrians have a good view of the site entrance.

Transport - Top Ten

3. Vehicle and Pedestrian Segregation - Where ever possible vehicle and pedestrian movements should be adequately separated to ensure there are safe routes for both around site;

Pedestrian routes;

clearly separated from vehicle routes by fencing and/or a kerb or similar

wide enough to safely accommodate the number of people expected to use at peak times

allow easy access to work areas

kept free from obstruction

clearly marked and signed

provide pedestrians a clear view of traffic movements at crossings

ensure pedestrian safety where they cross main vehicle routes

Transport - Top Ten

3. Vehicle and Pedestrian Segregation (cont.)

Vehicle routes;

Establish clear access routes avoiding sharp bends, blind corners, narrow gaps, steep gradients, adverse cambers, overhead obstructions, shafts and excavations

Minimise the need for reversing - consider one-way circuits etc

Adequate for the number, type and size of the largest vehicle that may use them.

Protect any temporary structures such as scaffold or falsework that could be damaged if struck by a vehicle

Have firm level running surfaces with adequate drainage - muddy site roads may cause skidding and ‘bogged’ in problems

Protect the sides of an excavation and waterways if vehicles run along side them.

Transport - Top Ten3. Vehicle and Pedestrian Segregation (cont.)

Examples of Traffic management Plans / Site Layouts:

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EV

V

A

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Reproduced f rom the Ordnance Surv ey map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty 's Stationery Of f ice (C) Crown Copy right 2003

Transport - Top Ten4. Reversing Vehicles and Mirrors

In many cases the traffic routes around site may be arranged by default i.e. the roads and access ways are predetermined by existing structures and new buildings, however where this is not the case we should carefully consider the following factors on our routes to eliminate or reduce reversing to a minimum.

Consider one-way circuits and avoid the need for vehicles to reverse whenever possible by the use of turning circles and drive through loading / unloading areas.

When reversing is required use trained signallers to control vehicle movements, wear high visibility clothing.

Equip vehicles with audible reversing alarms and rear visibility aids such as rear view cameras, fish eye and convex mirrors.

FACT - The most common cause of a transport accidents is people being struck or run over by a vehicle. 25% of transport related fatalities are caused by reversing vehicles.

Transport - Top Ten

5. Safe Operator

All operators and drivers of vehicles on construction sites should hold a recognized card showing the appropriate level of training for the equipment they are in control of.

Visiting drivers must be informed and abide by the site transport rules, e.g. no reversing without a banksman, 5mph speed limit, etc.

Current standards require plant operators to hold a National Plant Operators Registration Scheme Card (CPCS) which is recognised by the MCG and CSCS.

Operators are responsible for checking and maintaining their equipment on a daily / weekly basis.

Transport - Top Ten

6. Safe Plant and Vehicles

Rollover protection and seat restraints should be fitted to all vehicles where there is a risk the vehicle may roll over.

Specify / select vehicles that have good all-round visibility or visibility aids as discussed in reversing and mirrors.

Overloading some vehicles can obstruct the drivers view and make the vehicle unstable when operating on vehicle limits.

Transport - Top Ten7. Loading, Storage and Parking

Where conditions allow position contractor parking near to the site complex welfare facilities - this will reduce the amount of vehicle and pedestrian movement across site

Loading and storage areas should be located away from the main work areas, have a clear entrance and exit point and use a one way system if possible. There should be sufficient room for delivery vehicles to manoeuvre and safe areas for those unloading / loading materials.

Loads - ensure loads are securely attached to vehicles and that loose material such as bricks and lumps of clay cannot fall from lorries / site dumpers and strike pedestrians.

Do not overload vehicles, they become unstable, difficult to steer and the braking becomes less effect.

Load and unloads vehicles in the correct manner.

Transport - Top Ten8. Signs and Lighting

The use of signs and well lit vehicle and pedestrian routes are necessary on most construction projects. Clear well positioned signs help reduce potential confusion for drivers and pedestrians when trying to move around site.

Further consideration must be given to lighting during the winter period when shorter daylight hours often means sites are starting and finishing in the dark.

Note; Signs located on the public highway must conform to Department for Transport Standards in relation to size, spacing / position and reflective values.

Transport - Top Ten

9. Hi - Vis Clothing

Hi-visibility clothing incorporating fluorescent and reflective material should be worn at all times on all sites where vehicles are moving around on site.

High visibility clothing should be clean, vest worn properly, and not cut down in any way.

When natural light is poor e.g dusk / cloudy days high visibility clothing is essential to enable drivers and operators of vehicles to see pedestrians on site.

Transport - Top Ten10. Surrounding Environment

During the planning and construction phases consideration must be given the surrounding transport network.

The roads used to approach the site have an essential part to play in ensuring safe access and in keeping the local community traffic flow moving..

Sometimes it is necessary to re-direct site traffic via a particular route to avoid a school, congested road, height and weight restrictions on bridges etc

Where time and route restrictions are in place these must be passed on to all subcontractors, visitors and deliveries in advance of arriving on site.

Special consideration must also be given to special loads and vehicles e.g. deliveries of long sections of steel, precast beams and large plant such as mobile cranes and concrete pumps.

Street Works

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

Effective from April 1993 - the act and code of practice set out standards for street and road works including traffic and pedestrian management.

Two extracts from the Safety at Street Works and Road Works - A Code of Practice

Summary

The cause of workplace transport accidents can often be attributed to poor management at site level, however using the ‘ Transport Top-Ten ’ as a guide will help you manage the traffic and pedestrian movements around site.

A well developed traffic and pedestrian management plan will go a long way to help the overall project in terms of;

Reducing the likelihood of a transport related accidents.

Improving efficiency and productivity.

Creating a good first impression for clients and other visitors

Further Reading

Available from HSE Books