Worksite Safety Update Promoting safety in road construction

Transcription

1 Worksite Safety Update Promoting safety in road construction No 110 August 2011 In this Edition: Roadwork Speed Compliance A Combination of Controls Page 1 Are Your Verges Wide Enough? Page 5 Cleaning Innovation for Rebound able Traffic Delineators Page 9 Pedestrian No Go Zone Innovation on M80 Leighton Section Page 11 Roadwork Speed Compliance - A Combination of Controls The importance of Roadwork Speed Compliance increases as the effectiveness and reliability of the selected control decreases under the traffic management hierarchy of controls. The combination of controls deployed at roadwork sites includes signage and posted speed limits to limit crash severity and risks to both public and works personnel. The hierarchy of safety controls for worksite traffic management is now well established and supported by OHS Legislation, providing a duty to apply the highest level control that is practical in the circumstances. The Victorian Worksite Safety-Traffic Management Code of Practice 2010 reflects OHS Legislation and the hierarchy of safety controls, as developed in the state since 2004 when the Code established the hierarchy for traffic management safety controls. The Australian Standard AS has also adopted the hierarchy of safety controls. At roadworks a combination of controls is usually deployed with traffic management signage including worksite speed limits present on most worksites. What has changed of recent years has been a significantly higher level of physical protection in the form of temporary safety barriers for longer term worksites and truck mounted attenuators (TMAs) for the shorter term worksites. Reinforcement and Enforcement of Worksite Speed Limits Signage is an administrative or behavioural control and it is therefore not surprising that compliance with posted speed limits is often unreliable. It is the lowest control under the hierarchy. With behavioural controls it is necessary to frequently reinforce the required behaviour. It is recognised that positive reinforcement of required behaviour is more effective than negative reinforcement such as speed enforcement so various positive reinforcement approaches are being trialled in this area, in addition to the Police, Transport Safety Service and Department of Justice speed enforcement. Commencing in 2005 the My Dad (and Mum) Works Here communication campaign was introduced intending to appeal to the human consequences of speeding at roadwork sites. This was combined with a greater emphasis on the removal of redundant signs and the reinstatement of higher speed limits after work hours (when safe to do so). The campaign was restricted to signs deployed throughout the worksites. It was popular among works personnel who felt that the campaign did emphasise and highlight their vulnerability to speeding traffic, and the need for drivers to respect their safety. However, in common with similar sign only campaigns elsewhere, no significant reduction in speeds through worksites was measured. Page 1 of 14

2 One learning from focus groups conducted as part of the communication process was too many drivers thought it was alright to speed if no works personnel were visible and that the worksite speed limits were advisory only. Other drivers admitted they slowed down a bit but did not comply with the posted speed limit. This driver culture was definitely not conducive to a safe worksite, it was also evident that some drivers do not understand the risks and obligation to comply with speed limits at roadwork sites and more driver education in this area is indicated. More recently signs have been deployed on major projects such as the M1 West Gate Bridge Strengthening and the M80 Upgrade, with general messages that workers may be on site, even if you cannot see them behind the barriers. Grandad has joined the Mum and Dad Works Here signage to remind drivers that workers with children and families are working hard to improve their roads, to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety for them in the long term. In addition to existing use of VMS displays, other innovations are being considered to communicate / remind drivers that they need to slow down at roadworks otherwise they risk a fine for speeding. An example is the VicRoads Media release Slow Down on Worksites, see copy appended to Update. This media release also provides the VicRoads number ( ) to report poorly signed road work sites. Brian Felmingham, M80 TSA Surveillance Manager with his happy Granddaughters and the Grandad works on the road, please send him home safely sign. Page 2 of 14

3 Peter Maroudis, BMD and You can t see me but don t forget I m here sign Josh Prentice, M80 TSA and I work here at night so please slow down sign. Page 3 of 14

4 Were building you more lanes, please be patient sign. Until recent years regular enforcement of roadwork speed limits by patrol cars or road safety cameras was relatively rare and the public were not really encouraged to comply with roadwork speed limits. Speeding behaviour was reinforced by the lack of any visible enforcement and potential negative consequences of fines the driver culture was such that speeding was more frequent than compliance with the posted speed limit. Variable Message Signs are used on the M80 Project to display warnings that Speed Limits Are Enforced to remind drivers of the potential consequences of speeding through the roadwork project sites (three at present). The Police and VicRoads Transport Safety Services Officers provide regular patrols on projects where high speed high volume traffic is experienced. Recent and on-going speed measurement on the M80 Upgrade Project, indicate that traffic speeds have reduced as a consequence since the warnings and enforcement were introduced. Colour VMS displays are very visible and are being used on both trailer and TMA mounted VMS. The VMS displays are also used for driver communication purposes for incidents, traffic hazards, truck high incident zones and tailgating warnings in the event of an incident. Most are now remote operated from the VicRoads Traffic Management Centre. The Department of Justice (DOJ) are deploying portable road safety cameras on the longer term sites after required site surveys and suitable approvals have been obtained. The advantage of the cameras is that the enforcement is achieved without the need for patrol car pursuit and stopping beside very busy roads. Page 4 of 14

5 DOJ Portable Road Safety Camera on the M80 Upgrade Project. In summary: Speed Limits at roadwork sites are a behavioural control and tend to be unreliable on their own. It is therefore necessary to deploy a combination of controls such as: Safety Barriers for physical protection on the longer term worksites or TMA protection for shorter tem protection, so far as is reasonably practicable. Speed compliance is still an essential safety control so reinforcement and enforcement of speed limits is an important element of the overall safety strategy at roadworks worksites. All roadwork personnel appreciate the enforcement activities conducted by the Police, TSS and DOJ and their presence does result in reduced speeding in general. Are Your Verges Wide Enough? The past 12 months has seen a high rate of plant rollover on road construction sites. Many plant operators have probably not experienced earthworks in such wet conditions and inexperience with these conditions appears a significant contributing factor. The overturning / rollover learning since 2003 on VicRoads projects have been widely circulated via this newsletter. The movement of powered mobile plant on site is now classified as high risk construction work under the OHS Regulations requiring Safe Work Method Statements for this type of activity. An early learning was that to attempt the operation of plant too close and parallel to the edge of Verges frequently results in a wheel sliding over the edge followed by a rollover / overturning. Page 5 of 14

6 VicRoads has been working with our Contractors, Experienced Plant Operators and Trainers and WorkSafe to identify controls to prevent recurrences, so far as is reasonably practicable. WorkSafe have also circulated previous Safety Updates and Alerts to our industry via their Safety Soapbox newsletter. Indicated Minimum Wheel Clearances on Verges Plant has rolled over where the wheel clearances are less than 500mm. Recommendations made as a result of these incidents is for plant operators to position their machine no closer than 500mm from an edge. In the case of rollers the general recommendation is to roll at 45 degrees if closer than 1 metre (see forward for photograph). Rollers, scrapers and dump trucks have high centres of gravity and this needs to be identified and the risk of rollovers highlighted together with controls in the SWMS. Compactors have a low centre of gravity and are much less likely to rollover permitting their use for the initial placement of fill over width prior to the rollers commencing. Graders are also less susceptible to rollover than rollers, scrapers and dump trucks. The surfaces need to be flattened by a grader or compactor before rolling commences. A recent survey of projects has shown that most contractors have identified the overturning risks in their SWMS. However, although the hazard has been identified in terms of working on slopes some SWMS do not identify the risk with respect to the construction of verges (where the majority of rollovers occur) or high batters with potential for greater injury, or specify the minimum machine edge clearances to be maintained. The machine widths obviously have a bearing on the width of verges. Verge fill will need to be initially placed over-width where necessary to provide at least 500 mm clearance on both sides of the machine. Plant overturning / rollovers need to be eliminated as per the OHS Regulation (1) and (2) and the design and construction of the earthworks need to facilitate this elimination of overturning, where it is reasonably practicable. Wearing of Seat Belts Mandatory The use of seat belts has now been mandated on all sites surveyed, complying with OHS Regulation (1) and (2). This control is very effective in eliminating / significantly reducing injuries as the result of an incident where the drop-off is of a height less than 1 metre. However, elimination of the rollovers must be seen as the primary safety objective, particularly on high batters such as ramp and bridgework construction. Operators are required to wear seatbelts fitted to plant for operator protection under the OHS Regulations. The photographs on the following pages illustrate incidents where the plant was working very close to the edges of verges two showing the now predictable outcome of a rollover: Page 6 of 14

7 Narrow verge with roller wheels on edge, both sides with potential for rollover. Narrow verge with both wheels on edges of verge. Page 7 of 14

8 Narrow verge. Wheels were on edges of verge, both sides Page 8 of 14

9 Cleaning Innovation for Rebound able Traffic Delineators Any traffic guidance scheme which provides rebound able type traffic delineators such as the Klemmfix is subject to the build-up of dirt, particularly during the long exposure to wet weather. Cleaning these delineators has traditionally been conducted by hand exposing works personnel to traffic and a low repetitive manual cleaning. Mario Cala, an employee on the M80 Project Tulla Sydney Alliance (TSA), identified the need for a safer more efficient method to clean the Klemmfix delineators which are extensively used on the project because of their effectiveness. He then designed and produced the Klemm Kleen device which is attached to a truck and can safely clean the delineators without exposing personnel to traffic and manual handling risks. The truck is protected by a TMA during the operation and the work is usually conducted at night in offpeak traffic conditions. Mario demonstrated the cleaning device to the project and they quickly recognised the benefits of the device and purchased one. More details may be obtained from Mario who may be contacted on A video of the machine in operation may be viewed at: Page 9 of 14

10 The machine cleans the Klemmfix units by passing over them as they bend over. The units rebound cleaned of road grime for optimum reflectivity. Page 10 of 14

11 Pedestrian No Go Zone Innovation on M80 Upgrade Project - Leighton Contractors Section Plant, Trucks and pedestrians are always a potentially dangerous mix on road construction sites. Historically there have been many fatalities and serious injuries from pedestrians being hit. This is why the movement of powered mobile plant in a construction workplace is classified as high risk work under the OHS Regulations. Historically the separation has been achieved through site safety rules setting behaviours around plant with no communications between visitors and plant operators other then visual. Lower cost UHF radios now make their general deployment cost effective so that voice communication between personnel and plant operators becomes practical. Zones are not new regarding the used of radio when entering haul roads as a traffic control device or advising operators of intention to pass close to plant in other vehicles / plant, but the concept is new regarding the introduction of formal Pedestrian No Go Zones near plant. Leighton Contractors have introduced Pedestrian No Go Zones throughout their M80 project section in order to control pedestrian works personnel entry into areas where powered mobile plant and trucks are in operation. When introduced this was the first VicRoads project to introduce such controls with the objective of separating mobile plant and pedestrians on site excluding personnel who have no good reason to be close to the mobile plant but permitting safe controlled access when personnel do have a good reason to enter the area with permission and knowledge of the plant operators. Pedestrian No Go Zone Sign warning to stop and contact the lead plant operator via 2 way radio and to wait for permission before entering the red zone. Page 11 of 14

12 Site Activities, Hazards, Controls and Contact details Board. Site hazards, controls and contact details including UHF channel are provided on a board located close to the Pedestrian No Go Zone sign (see above). Closer to the plant operating area barriers are provided together with another warning sign to prevent closer approach until cleared to do so by the lead plant operator. Leighton is to be congratulated for developing a more structured approach to the isolation of personnel from mobile plant. This initiative is now identified as best practice for the isolation of works personnel from mobile and operating plant on road construction sites. Page 12 of 14

13 Barrier close to plant operating area Worksite Site Safety Update is produced monthly by VicRoads Major Projects Division to communicate industry safety information and initiatives within VicRoads and to our contractors. It is also circulated via the WorkSafe Safety Soapbox to industry. The content reflects civil road construction and maintenance safety and includes works conducted on or beside operational roads. The editor may be contacted at: Page 13 of 14

14 Media release Slow down on work sites 8 September 2011 VicRoads Regional Director, Nial Finegan, today reminded people to follow reduced speed limits on road work sites for their own safety and the safety of workers. Construction speed limits are in place for the safety of the travelling public as well as those involved in the roadwork activities, said Mr Finegan. Drivers need to know these are enforceable speed limits and when they exceed the limit around worksites they are breaking the law. VicRoads Transport Safety Services and Victoria Police will be working in partnership to ensure better compliance. While sometimes it might appear to drivers as though no work is underway, if the lower speed limit is still in place, it is for the safety of people on the road. Often during works the road surface is not safe for the normal speed limit, or there is machinery or materials close to traffic lanes, said Mr Finegan. It is important for drivers to follow the slower speed limit during this period. VicRoads has developed a Code of Practice for Worksite Safety - Traffic Management in consultation with industry and unions to provide clear guidance for all people conducting works on roads. Safe working conditions for our staff is of upmost importance and we will continue to work cooperatively with employers and unions on the issue, said Mr Finegan. "We want everyone to get home safely each day." VicRoads carries out audits to ensure that road signage is up to standard. If you see any poorly signed road work sites, please report it to VicRoads on END Media contact: Gemma Beard Manager Stakeholder Engagement VicRoads Metro North West Region T M E gemma.beard@roads.vic.gov.au Page 14 of 14