Contractors and the general public often work together on construction projects If not properly managed, both are at risk from traffic. When road closures are not possible, traffic gets in the way of a project, it’s common to close the road. When this isn’t possible, contractors need traffic control people, entitled flag persons, flaggers, or signalers to manage the risks.
The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOSH) defines the roles of a traffic control person are:
- Keeping traffic moving safely through construction sites by stopping, slowing down, or directing them.
- Regulating traffic as needed in order to keep workers from harm.
- Communication to other workers via clear directions and signals.
- The balance between controlling traffic without causing more congestion or delays
- All traffic control workers in most Canadian provinces and territories must be trained. Each jurisdiction has its own rules for traffic control.
- This online course covers the Ontario Traffic Manual and OSHA safety rules.
In construction projects, traffic control is used to achieve four main goals:
- Safety for the Construction workers and the general public
- Prioritizing drivers ahead of construction equipment.
- Traffic control people are in charge of directing motorcycle drivers and pedestrians
- Optimizing traffic: Stopping cars when workers need protection, and letting traffic move at a slower speed to avoid congestion and delays.
- Rapid movement of project activities while still protecting people’s safety
Online Content:
- The Traffic Control Person for Construction Training online course illustrates how to keep people from getting hit by cars while working on a roadway. It notes legal requirements of the roadway, general safety rules, various traffic control situations and ppe (personal protective equipment ) to wear.
- Workers and supervisors responsibilities.
- Traffic controller jobs
- Traffic control system layouts
- Roles and Responsibilities of a Traffic Officer
- Safety protective gear and devices
- Hand signals and STOP/SLOW signs
- Preparedness for the job
- Traffic Control requirements and rules
After the class,
To learn about the job of a traffic control person, take this course. You will be able afterward to describe the PPE they need and how to use it properly. You will also learn about the signs and equipment used in traffic control, as well as the situations in which they are used. It’s also important to plan ahead and communicate with your coworkers before things happen.
The skills you will also learn:
- Conducting checks before and after each task.
- Choosing a good location to control traffic.
- Establishing enough steps and signs to slow down or stop the traffic.
- Responding to problems and emergencies that come up.
Additional things to think about when you’re a traffic control person.
Traffic Control people need to know about the details of the project: what will happen on each day, what type of equipment will be used, and the layout of the equipment
Traffic control workers must wear personal protective equipment such as CSA approved high-visibility vests, hard hats, safety shoes, goggles, and earplugs. Traffic controllers also need to have a plan for when things do not go as planned, such as when a car doesn’t follow directions or loses control.
Barriers and traffic lights should be used when possible to help with the traffic controllers job.