Civil road works require good planning and coordination between different parties to be executed safely for both the workers and drivers. Therefore, road construction safety tips are essential to remember to ensure the safety of all those involved in the construction process and drivers and passengers using the road.
Efficient road planning helps avoid traffic congestion, and it is essential for the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. On the contrary, traffic congestion can cause frustration and even road rage. In addition, when drivers are forced to slow down or stop, they are more likely to take risks and make hazardous decisions. As a result, it can lead to accidents and injuries.
Whether you are an experienced civil construction contractor or getting started, knowing vital road construction safety tips always helps. Before we jump onto the tips, let’s look at some critical road construction rules:
Important road construction rules
Below are some crucial aspects that you need to keep in mind to ensure the roads are equipped with safety standards for passengers and vehicles:
Road width:
To meet the AS 1428.1 (2009) road standards, keep the below points in your consideration:
- To ensure a single wheelchair individual crosses a road easily, the width should not be below 1200 mm.
- For a pram to travel on the road and accommodate a wheelchair, the width should not exceed 1500 mm.
- In addition, to ensure two wheelchairs pass, the width should be at least 1800 mm.
Turning area:
All passengers, including specially-abled travelers, should be able to use the road efficiently. For this, ensure to meet these rules:
- All the turning areas need to be at a particular level — not steeper than 1:40 gradient or 1:33 for a bituminous surface.
- For a wheelchair to take a 90° turn on the road, the turning space should be at least 1500 mm x 1500 mm.
- For a wheelchair passenger to take turns between 90° to 180°, the turning area should be at least 1540 mm (width) x 2070 mm (length).
Road gradients:
For maximum safety at roads, ensure to follow these gradient guidelines:
- No landings are required if the gradient is shallower than 1:33.
- For gradients of 1:33, it should not be greater than 25m intervals.
- For gradients of 1:14, it should not be greater than 9m intervals.
- For gradients of 1:20, it should not be greater than 15m intervals.
Road construction safety tips
Let’s look at some vital road safety tips that every civil road construction company should follow:
Ensure your staff is fully-trained:
The contractor’s responsibility is to ensure all their on-site staff is thoroughly trained and aware of the safety procedures. Inexperienced or untrained workers can lead to severe accidents. Utah commercial contractors must ensure that all on-site personnel are fully briefed and knowledgeable about any safety protocols, as inexperienced or inadequately trained staff can result in catastrophic incidents.
In addition, everyone on-site must follow safety guidelines to create a safe working environment. It includes wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and following safety signage. All workers should follow the site safety plan, which should be created before work begins.
Set up a proper perimeter:
For the safety of both ground staff and drivers, it is essential to set up a perimeter around the construction site. It will help to control traffic flow and protect workers from oncoming traffic. It is important to use traffic control devices such as cones, barrels, or barricades to set up a safe perimeter. It is also essential to have adequately trained staff controlling traffic flow.
In addition to this, it’s essential to use proper signage. It includes using warning signs, detour signs, and construction zone signs. You can also use warning signs to warn drivers of potential hazards ahead. Detour signs help in guiding drivers around the construction site. Finally, construction zone signs should indicate the beginning and end of the construction zone.
Use proper lighting:
Proper lighting is essential for both workers and drivers. For workers, it is necessary to have adequate lighting to see what they are doing and avoid potential hazards. For drivers, it is essential to have proper lighting to see the construction site and slow down if necessary. It is also important to use reflective tape or paint on traffic control devices to be visible at night. In addition to this, workers should wear brightly-colored clothing to ensure they are visible to drivers.
Ensure a safe work zone:
A safe work zone is critical for both workers and drivers. For creating a safe work zone, it is essential to follow these guidelines:
- No one should be working within the traveled way of the road
- All workers should be wearing a high-visibility vest
- There should be a clearly defined area for workers to stand
- Workers should not be standing too close to the edge of the road
- There should be a safe place for pedestrians to cross
Manage traffic effectively:
As the contractor, it is your responsibility to manage traffic effectively and ensure the safety of both drivers and workers. It includes using traffic control devices, adequately trained staff, and signage to guide drivers around the construction site. It is also essential to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible. It will help to minimize delays and keep everyone safe.
Avoid blind spots:
There are certain areas around construction equipment that are blind spots. It means that the equipment operator cannot see what is happening in these areas. Therefore, it is essential to avoid these areas so that workers and drivers can stay safe.
Some blind spots to be aware of include:
- Areas behind dump trucks
- Areas under excavators
- Areas around bulldozers
Popular bus stops to visit in Melbourne
We’ve got you covered if you plan to visit the most productive, well-built, and popular bus stops across Melbourne. We’ve picked the top ten bus stops out of 346 routes.
- Monash University (Clayton) – Huntingdale Station (FUS)
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- Oakleigh – Box Hill (RU)
- Craigieburn Station – Craigieburn North
- Werribee Station – Tarneit Station (RN)
- Tarneit Station – Hoppers Crossing Station (RN)
- Tarneit Station – Williams Landing Station (RN)
- Elwood – Monash University (RU)
Wrapping up!
As a professional civil road construction company, it’s crucial to ensure the safety of both your workers and drivers. By following these road construction safety tips, you can create a safe work environment and avoid potential accidents. Moreover, also focus on the overall sustainability of the project.
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