Road works present with the ever-present danger of traffic accidents. Several safety measures must be taken to protect both workers and motorists alike.
On 8 February, the media reported that a 55-year-old road worker was hit by a car and sustained serious injuries to his legs. The Crash Investigation Unit were forensically examining the scene where the accident took place on Minmi Road in Maryland, which is in the Newcastle regional area.
Working on or next to a public road is classified as high-risk construction work by SafeWork Australia, hence; a person conducting a business or undertaking PCBU are advised that if workers are working on or near a public road there are some extra risks they must consider. They need to ensure that they contact the local road authority for advice before they start work on a public road.
Safety protocols for road workers
The safety of road workers is a critical concern, and there are several protocols that should be in place to ensure their well-being. Some of these protocols include:
- Road workers should be provided with and required to wear appropriate PPE, such as hard hats, high-visibility vests, safety glasses, and work gloves to protect against injury.
- Adequate traffic control measures, such as cones, signs, and flaggers should be in place to separate workers from moving vehicles and protect them from being struck.
- Heavy equipment and vehicles used by road workers should be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure their safety. Drivers should also be trained to operate these vehicles in a safe manner.
- Before beginning work, a job hazard analysis should be conducted to identify potential hazards and determine appropriate control measures.
- Emergency response plans should be in place and workers should be trained on what to do in the event of an emergency.
- Road workers should be prohibited from working under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and regular drug and alcohol testing should be conducted to ensure compliance.
- Effective communication between workers and between workers and motorists is crucial for maintaining a safe work environment.
- Workers should receive regular safety training on topics such as hazard recognition, traffic control, and emergency response.
These are some protocols which could vary depending on the specific work site, but they provide a good starting point for ensuring the safety of road workers.
Warning signage
Warning signs are an important component of traffic control and play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of road workers and motorists. The placement and visibility of warning signs is important to ensure that motorists have sufficient time to react and slow down or take other appropriate action as they approach a work zone.
In the United States, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides guidelines for the placement of warning signs in work zones.
The requirements in Australia
In Australia, the safety of road workers is also a critical concern and there are similar protocols in place to ensure their well-being. The Australian Standards for Traffic Management (ASTM) provides guidelines for the placement of warning signs and other traffic control devices in work zones.
Types of temporary protections in work zones
The types of temporary protections that should be in place in a road work zone depends on the specific conditions and the type of work being performed. However, some common forms of temporary protections that should be considered include:
- Traffic control devices such as temporary pavement markings, which includes stripes and arrows to direct traffic and provide a clear path through the work zone.
- Temporary lighting, especially at night or in low-light conditions.
- Temporary barrier systems, to provide a physical barrier to protect pedestrians from being struck by vehicles.
- Temporary guardrails and temporary access and egress points to provide for workers and vehicles to enter and exit the work zone safely.
These are only some of the temporary protections. What is required is dependent on the specific conditions and the type of work being performed including the hazards that arise as a result of the job being performed.
Safety training and educations for road workers
Road workers should receive appropriate training and education to ensure their safety and the safety of motorists.
Training and education is an ongoing process and it is important for road workers to receive regular updates and refreshers to maintain their skills and knowledge. Workplaces have a responsibility to provide appropriate training and education to their workers and to ensure that they perform their tasks safely.
WHS laws and regulations
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 are supported by a range of industry-specific codes of practice, guidelines, and standards, including the Australian Standards for Traffic Management (ASTM). Compliance with these laws and regulations is enforced by the relevant health and safety regulator, such as Safe Work Australia in the case of the Commonwealth, and by the state and territory health and safety regulators. Workplaces are responsible for ensuring that they comply with the applicable laws and regulations and that their workers are trained and equipped to work safely.
Summary of road worker traffic safety management
It is important to note that if a road worker is hit by a car, it is a serious injury that must be reported to the relevant health and safety regulator and investigated to ensure that appropriate action is taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The WHS laws and regulations in Australia
In Australia, the health and safety of road workers is governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and the associated Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations). These laws and regulations apply to all work activities, including those performed on highways. Some of the key provisions of the WHS Act and Regulations that relate to working on highways include:
- Duty of care: The WHS Act imposes a duty of care on all persons who conduct a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other people who may be affected by the work.
- Risk assessment: PCBUs are required to assess the risks associated with work activities and to implement measures to control those risks.
- Safe systems of work: PCBUs are required to implement safe systems of work, including the use of traffic control devices, personal protective equipment, and safe work procedures, to protect workers and other people who may be affected by the work.
- Training and instruction: PCBUs are required to provide training and instruction to workers to ensure they are competent to perform their tasks safely.
- Emergency preparedness: PCBUs are required to have procedures in place to respond to emergencies, such as vehicle crashes, fires, and medical emergencies in the work zone.
- Communication: PCBUs are required to communicate information about health and safety risks and safe work procedures to workers and other people who may be affected by the work.
- Reporting and investigation: PCBUs are required to report certain types of incidents, such as fatalities and serious injuries, to the relevant authorities and to conduct investigations to determine the cause of incidents and identify ways to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The provisions of the WHS Act and Regulations are supported by a range of industry-specific codes of practice, guidelines, and standards, including the Australian Standards for Traffic Management (ASTM). Compliance with these laws and regulations is enforced by the relevant health and safety regulator, such as Safe Work Australia in the case of the Commonwealth, and by the state and territory health and safety regulators. Workplaces are responsible for ensuring that they comply with the applicable laws and regulations and that their workers are trained and equipped to work safely.
The Codes of Practices that apply
Yes, there are several codes of practice that apply to working on highways in Australia. These codes provide guidance on the implementation of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and the associated Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations) and help ensure that road workers are protected from hazards. Some of the codes of practice that may apply to working on highways in Australia include:
- Australian Standard for Traffic Management (AS 1742.3-2010): This standard provides guidance on the design and implementation of traffic management plans for construction and maintenance work on roads and highways.
- Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: This code provides guidance on the safe use of plant, such as vehicles and heavy equipment in the workplace, including in road work zones.
- Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Falls at Workplaces: This code provides guidance on the identification and management of fall hazards in the workplace, including in road work zones.
- Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work: This code provides guidance on the management of health and safety risks associated with construction work, including work performed on roads and highways.
These codes of practice are not legally binding, but they provide practical guidance on how to comply with the requirements of the WHS Act and Regulations and are considered by courts and tribunals in determining what is reasonably practicable. Workplaces should familiarise themselves with the relevant codes of practice and implement the recommended practices to ensure the health and safety of their workers and other people who may be affected by the work.
Serious incident and accident are notifiable to the regulator
Yes, in Australia, if a road worker is hit by a car, it would be considered a serious injury under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and would be subject to notification requirements.
Under the WHS Act, workplaces have a duty to notify the relevant health and safety regulator of certain types of incidents, including serious injury, illness, or death. This notification must be made as soon as practicable after the workplace becomes aware of the incident. The notification must include details of the incident, the workers involved, and the steps taken to respond to the incident.
In addition to the notification requirements, workplaces must also investigate the incident to determine the cause and identify ways to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. This may involve reviewing the systems and procedures in place for the work activity, and making any necessary improvements to ensure the health and safety of workers and other people who may be affected by the work.
In summary, if a road worker is hit by a car, it is a serious injury that must be reported to the relevant health and safety regulator and investigated to ensure that appropriate action is taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
