Working on or near a road (WNR): is work activity carried out on or near a road and includes, for example, the safety of those working to maintain roads and street furniture, traffic wardens, engineers, emergency service personnel, road users and members of the public affected by the work activity.
UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS
he following provides information on traffic and vehicle hazards in roadside work zones. You will also need to consider hazards associated with your specific work activities. Working close to traffic is dangerous. Each roadside work site has its own unique set of hazards. Make sure your employer or supervisor has informed you of the hazards at your work site before beginning work.
Be aware that the types of hazards can change over the course of your work shift. Traffic volumes can increase, for example, or changing light levels can reduce drivers’ visibility.
POTENTIAL HAZARDS AROUND THE WORK SITE
- Take note of any work vehicles or mobile equipment you need to be aware of.
- Consider if work vehicles will be entering or exiting the work site over the course of the day.
- Store your equipment and supplies in an area where they won’t get hit and you can safely access them.
POTENTIAL HAZARDS ON THE ROAD
- Establish if your work zone is set up near a busy Intersection with traffic coming from multiple directions.
- Measure how much space you have between your work site and the roadway. Be aware of your location vis-à-vis traffic, cyclists and pedestrians as you work.
- Be aware of the visibility of approaching drivers. Check to see if there are any curves, crests of hills, trees and bushes, or parked vehicles.
- Take note of any overhead cables, railway crossings or right-of-way.
- Be aware of other roadside work or traffic control going on nearby.
POTENTIAL TRAFFIC HAZARDS
- Be aware of the type of traffic that is passing by – passenger vehicles, buses, large trucks.
- Large vehicles such as commercial trucks travel are often wider than normal vehicles and may have protruding side mirrors.
- Be aware of vehicles travelling faster than the speed limit.
- Identify any cycle lanes. What is the volume of cyclists?
LOOK AT THE LOCAL AREA
- Be aware of delivery vehicles, buses or other vehicles that may periodically block signage or reduce road width.
- Identify any traffic entering or exiting nearby commercial premises that could block signage or obstruct visibility of you or your co-workers.
- Consider any police, ambulance or fire stations you should be aware of.
LOOK AT PEDESTRIANS
- Be aware of any pedestrian traffic near your work site. Is there a clear path for pedestrians to travel safely, including those with mobility issues such as the elderly or disabled?
- Be aware of any children in the vicinity. Identify nearby schools, parks, playgrounds, etc.
LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT
- Consider if the weather may impact visibility of drivers (e.g. fog, heavy rain).
- Be aware of the condition of the roads. Are they slick or slippery?
- Be aware of any light conditions or location of the sun that may affect the drivers’ visibility.
LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT CHANGE
Consider how the above hazards may change over the course of your work. For example:
- rush-hour traffic flows
- school run traffic and parking
- special events
- weather, amount of daylight, and road surface conditions
You can get more training from RCL Safety Centre thru https: www.safetycentre.ng/training_register
At RCL Safety Centre this training is also available in different Nigerian languages like PIDGIN,YORUBA,HAUSA AND IGBO
Our company (RCL Safety Centre) is an indigenous company dedicated to Health, Safety and Environment Training and Services.
We are technical partners of the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) as well as approved training partners of most major International Occupational Safety and Health organizations like NEBOSH, and corporate members of ISPON (Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria) with thousands of personnel trained in various areas till date.
For more information visit our website: www.safetycentre.ng
Email: sale@safetycentre.ng or mma@safetycentre.ng
Contact us on: 08099700070, 09057666623 or 08164363532