TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - 14.10.2020

Traffic management plans for small works

A facilities management company carrying out relatively small-scale construction works on a footpath has found itself in court over a vehicle collision. How would a traffic management plan have helped to prevent the accident?

Crushed

The accident happened at Abney Hall Country Park, Stockport when facilities management company Totally Local Company Ltd (T) was carrying out footpath resurfacing works. On site the company had a small crew of employees who were working with ride-on machines. They had use of shipping containers for securing the machines, equipment and materials on site. On 30 November 2018 one of the employees was driving a small ride-on surface roller while another was locking up a container. The driver accidentally reversed into his colleague crushing the man between the vehicle and the container. He was left with a collapsed lung and various broken bones requiring surgery.

Unsuitable traffic routes

The HSE investigation found that the traffic routes used were unsuitable: not only were vehicles able to operate around pedestrian workers, there was no separation from members of the public. Inspectors concluded that the company ought to have had a traffic management plan for the project.

T pleaded guilty to breaching ss.2and 3Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 . The company was fined £200,000 with costs of £8,367.

Segregation

Most cases which cite the absence of traffic management plans relate to workplaces where larger equipment, such as fork lift trucks and heavy goods vehicles, is circulating. However, it’s clear from the accident that despite the size of the equipment it was capable of causing serious damage.

Tip. A traffic management plan should address the need to keep pedestrians and vehicles apart as the number one priority. Other risk control measures are important too, such as high-visibility clothing and warning horns/beacons, but they are not appropriate as the only precautions.

Traffic management plan. Your traffic management plan should identify: (1) the layout of routes for both vehicles and pedestrians to keep them apart so far as possible; (2) how you will minimise vehicle movements, i.e. tackle the root cause of accidents; (3)  how pedestrian movements will be controlled; (4)  how to control turning and reversing vehicles; (5)  visibility for drivers; and (6)  signs and instructions (see The next step ).

Public safety

Allowing the public to have free access to a work site with moving plant is highly dangerous and illegal. Although in this case the accident involved a worker, it’s easy to visualise the risk to children, more vulnerable adults, pets, etc. in a public setting.

Tip. When planning work in a public area, liaise with other relevant parties, e.g. the client, neighbours and local authority, to ensure that access to the location is closed off, or if that’s not feasible, include the cost of barriers in your quotation.

For a template traffic management plan, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 03.

The accident occurred because a pedestrian was in the immediate vicinity of a ride-on surface roller. A traffic management plan must include measures to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart along with precautions such as signage, high visibility clothing and worker instructions.

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