Tips On Creating A Traffic Management Plan For Your Next Construction Project
Managing traffic around your construction project isn’t just about maintaining traffic flow, it’s also an important part of ensuring workplace health and safety. So if you’re looking to create your own traffic management plan for your next construction project, we’ve pulled together 6 handy tips to help guide you through the process.
Why do I need a traffic management plan?
Traffic management plans on construction sites are important for several key reasons.
Firstly, a traffic management plan can help you identify potential risks and hazards so you can implement controls and measures to eliminate or reduce them. Traffic doesn’t just refer to vehicles, it also includes mobile plant or machinery and pedestrians that have the potential to interact with each other. By creating a traffic management plan, you can identify areas of your site that pose a risk and implement control measures to manage the risks effectively.
Traffic management plans can also help to improve the flow of traffic on and around your construction site. Having a plan in place means that people can move around more easily, whether they’re in a vehicle, operating plant or on foot. This applies to workers on site as well as the traffic passing by if your site is located near a road.
Lastly, a traffic management plan also ensures compliance with relevant legislation and workplace health and safety requirements. Depending on the extent of work involved with your construction project, the local council may require you to provide a copy of your traffic management plan.
How to create a traffic management plan
We’ve pulled together 6 steps to help you create an effective traffic management plan. These steps are based on the Safe Work Australia workplace traffic management guide. If you’re after more information, please refer to the guide directly.
Step 1: Identify risks and hazards
The first step to developing a traffic management plan is to identify all the potential risks and hazards on site that could pose a threat to your workers or the general public. Use a site map to pinpoint potential collision points where the flow of pedestrians and mobile plant or vehicles could overlap.
Step 2: Conduct a risk assessment
Next, conduct a thorough risk assessment of your construction site. Consider the different construction phases and how they could potentially impact traffic flow both on and around the site. Assess the movement of vehicles, machinery and people around your site.
Step 3: Map out safe routes
Assess your site plan to identify the safest possible routes to be taken by vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians. Where possible, try to minimise any potential collision points.
Step 4: Implement control measures
Once you’ve identified the potential risks and hazards at your site, it’s important to implement a hierarchy of controls that prioritises the most effective control measures.
The best way to manage risk is to eliminate it altogether, but if this isn’t possible you must minimise the risks as much as practically possible.
Here are just some of the different control measures you can implement around your construction site to help mitigate risk.
Warning signs
Placing traffic signs around the construction site can alert workers, contractors and visitors to potential hazards. They can also be used to clearly communicate important safety information.
Variable message signs are also an effective and convenient way to keep drivers informed of changed traffic conditions. Trailer-mounted and solar-powered, these signs are also remote-controlled, so you can easily adjust the message displayed when needed.
Portable lighting towers
If your construction project will involve night work, a portable lighting tower can help to illuminate the site and improve visibility.
Traffic barriers and fencing
Construction barriers help to prevent or restrict access to a construction site. They can be used to funnel traffic and keep pedestrians and vehicles separated to reduce the risk of accidents while ensuring the safety of your workers.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
While PPE is one of the least effective forms of protection, it can help to improve the visibility of the workers on site. Ultimately, PPE should only be used as a last resort after all other control measures have been exhausted.
Common forms of PPE for traffic management and construction include:
- Reflective clothing, like pants, shirts, jumpers and high-visibility vests,
- Steel cap boots,
- Hard hats with a brim for sun protection,
- Earplugs or earmuffs, and
- Protective eyewear, including safety glasses or goggles.
Step 5: Conduct appropriate training
Once you’ve finalised your traffic management plan, it’s essential that you communicate the details clearly to all workers on the site and any other relevant stakeholders. Conduct regular safety meetings to ensure your staff are kept up to date with any changes to the traffic management plan and understand the importance of their role in upholding the safety measures outlined in the plan.
Step 6: Adjust your traffic management plan as needed
With any construction site, it’s important to be flexible and dynamic. The same approach applies to your traffic management plan. As the project progresses, your plan may need to be adjusted to allow for changes.
Conduct regular site visits and assessments to ensure the traffic management plan is working as intended. Keep an eye out for any areas for improvement and implement changes as needed.
It’s also important to be open to feedback from site workers, contractors and other stakeholders and make changes accordingly. Regularly reviewing your traffic management plan will ensure it remains effective while helping to maintain the health and safety of your workforce.
Keep the traffic flowing on site with Orange Hire
As the largest specialist supplier of traffic management solutions, the Orange Hire team is on hand to help you with all of your traffic management needs. From barriers and screens to lighting and sign boards, we’re home to the largest range of specialist traffic management equipment.
Get a quote today or give our friendly team a call for tailored traffic solutions.
