In a road construction what are safety measures that need to be placed before commencing the activities?

Before commencing new road construction the contractor must submit to the client the following method statements to be approved : 

1- Method of  setting out road works.

2-Method of excavation and fill.

3-Method of drainage works.

4-Method of kerbs ,gullies, manholes.

5-Method of dust control .

6-How to assess risk of burred and over head services .

7- Risk for manual handling .

8-Risk assessment for materials use , cement,asphalt .....

9-Risk assessment for machines movement

If the above method statements are approved and followed by the contractor ,then many risks could be avoided , e.g manual handling , plant and equipment movements , dust control ,trench collapse ,adverse use of materials , cement , asphalt , ....

The safety officer must check the above method statements and follow up their reality  during the work in all the duration of the road construction and submit his reports ,daily , weekly, monthly to project manager.

HI Esob,

In road construction, there are several risks of viz; loss of property, material and most important is losing life and time which is very critical in any project particularly road construction. 

Few suggestions I would ask and recommended by company, country and International organizations such as OSHA safety guidelines,

1) Keeping and well maintained signs.

2) Press and radio releases also educating workers by implementing JSA/JHA on the work area.

3) Proper safety training to the workers particularity drivers/operators/traffic controllers.

4) Proper clothing to the workers specially working in night shift.

5) Maintaining safe work practices by implementing limits and/or restrictions on speed/phone/cellular devices.

6) Creating Action plan/Safe work plan (emergency plan) in case of any accidents.

Identification these and other necessary control measures recommendations by company's safety practices/procedures will definitely minimize/controls the risk of accidents.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-128/default.html

To better understand these injury risks, NIOSH reviewed the current literature on highway safety, analyzed data on worker fatalities in the highway and street construction industry, and held a workshop with individuals from

government, labor, industry, academia, and state departments of transportation. During the workshop, participants were asked to discuss measures that could be taken by employers, manufacturers, and government and research agencies that would reduce or eliminate these hazards. This document draws on the collective knowledge, experience, and expertise of numerous individuals and organizations who are intimately involved with highway construction. By bringing together partners from all parts of the industry to discuss prevention of these injuries, NIOSH hoped to improve our understanding of the hazards faced by highway workers, raise the industry's awareness of these hazards, and initiate discussion among all concerned about measures that can reduce these hazards. The material presented in this document does not constitute an all-inclusive checklist. Rather, it is a listing of interventions from which contractors, contracting agencies, and other entities may choose those most appropriate to their situations and needs. More than 50 individuals participated in the workshop, and more than 30 individuals and organizations reviewed prior drafts of this document. Each of their contributions is sincerely appreciated.

Before the start of Day 1, your company and the contractor should conduct a kick-off meeting. in that meeting where HSE is an agenda, the owner HSE representative must be prepared to require the contractor requirements that are stated in the safety plan. The meeting is to be recorded in a minutes of meeting and to be close-out by the contractor before actually starting the job. The owner have the freedom to decide if the contractor will proceed of course this depends if the requirements already met.

Dear Mr . Esob M Philip

Thank you for inviting me to answer your question in HSE, in the construction of roads, I have seen several answers in this respect, all interesting and well described, but the experience has a value, how to do it.

The subject of HSE is very diverse, but you have to get the road to safety in general.

In India We Take SP:70 for safety tips.

as per road safety measures following points should be followed:-

1. Have a Plan. Every road construction project should have a transportation management plan. The plan should consist of a temporary traffic control plan to protect workers by safely conducting traffic around or through the work zone. You should also have a traffic control plan for inside the work zone that manages the flow of heavy equipment, construction vehicles and on-foot workers.

2. Properly Control Traffic. The work zone should consist of an advanced warning area with warning signs alerting motorists of upcoming changes in driving conditions, a transition area using traffic control devices for lane closures and traffic pattern shifts, a buffer area, the work area and a termination area to allow traffic to resume back to normal and a sign indicating that the work zone has ended. All traffic control devices whether it’s cones, barrels, barriers or signs should comply with the Federal Highway Administration’s along with any state agency requirements.

3. Create Separate Work Areas. Road construction work zones are busy areas usually with several work activities taking place at the same time. To avoid accidents use cones, barrels and barriers to clearly delineate specific areas of the work zone such as material storage, areas where heavy equipment is being used, vehicle parking and safe areas for workers on foot to move about in.

4. Wear Proper Safety Equipment. Proper safety equipment should be worn by all personnel inside the work zone. Personal protective equipment (PPE) including hard hats, steel-toed boots, highly visible clothing and, depending on the noise levels, hearing protection. All PPE should meet or exceed the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) developed standards. All highly visible clothing whether it’s a vest, jacket or shirt should be bright fluorescent orange or lime/yellow and also have visible reflective material especially if working at night and should meet ANSI Class 2 or 3 standards.

5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings. Regardless of what your job duties entail in the work zone you should always be mindful of what’s going on around you. Avoid walking behind any vehicles that may be backing up or into the swing radius of heavy equipment. Whenever possible, face traffic while inside the work zone or have a spotter available when you have to have your back turned. Spotters should also be used to monitor the movement of vehicles and heavy equipment inside the work zone in addition to monitoring traffic in order to alert workers to any potential dangers.

6. Avoid Blind Spots. There are any number of vehicles and heavy equipment moving about inside the work zone including dump trucks, compactors, pavement planers, excavators, pavers and rollers. Operators should ensure that all mirrors and visual aid devices are attached and operating properly including back up alarms and lights. If you are on foot and working near these machines while in operation remember that the driver has a limited line of sight. Always stay in visual contact with the driver. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if you can’t see them then they probably don’t see you.

7. Have a Competent Person on Hand. A competent person should be onsite whenever work is being performed. According to OSHA, a competent person is someone who is “capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” A competent person is needed to conduct hazard assessments and regular inspections of the worksite. A competent person is also needed to select the appropriate class of PPE to be used by workers and to approve the appropriate types of traffic control devices. Workers should report any unsafe hazards or equipment to the competent person assigned to the work zone so they can be corrected immediately.

8. Start Each Workday with a Safety Meeting. In addition to ensuring that all personnel at the jobsite have the proper training required it is also a good idea to have a quick safety meeting before work begins. Since conditions can change greatly from day to day in the work zone workers should be briefed on the work activity scheduled each day and notified of all potential hazards. This is also a good time to ensure that all workers have and are wearing the proper PPE required for the work being done that day.

9. Have a Site Specific Safety Program. Every road construction project is different and each work zone has its own unique hazards and challenges so creating a safety program geared specifically for the site can go a long way in preventing accidents. The site specific safety program include identifying all hazards and plans to control and mitigate them, schedules to routinely inspect all equipment and material, a plan for first aid and emergency medical care in the event of an accident and safety training schedules for all employees.

10. Stay Hydrated. Workers performing road construction are susceptible to overexertion and heat-related illnesses. Asphalt absorbs 95% of the sun’s rays and asphalt temperatures can easily be 30° F or more higher than the surrounding air temperature. Workers should drink plenty of water or liquids high in electrolytes like sports drinks or coconut water. Workers should also get out of the heat and sun as much as possible especially on extremely hot days to avoid heatstroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion.

SUPERVISION Supervision, generally by the person in charge (e.g. the General Services Supervisor/Town Foreman), is essential to ensure the activity is completed as planned, and to a safe system of work. SAFE PASS As identified in the Construction Regulations, all people engaged in construction work must possess a current Safe Pass card, having successfully completed the one-day safe-pass training. Safe Pass cards must be renewed as appropriate. Proof of such training should be available on site. PLANT/EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION It is a legal requirement for most construction plants to be tested and examined regularly, in particular all lifting appliances and lifting gear. The certificates relating to these must be kept up to date. CSCS The Construction Skills Certification Scheme, as prescribed in the Construction Regulations, identifies certain skills on construction sites that require mandatory training. On successful completion of this training, persons are given a CSCS card. CSCS cards must be renewed as appropriate. Proof of such training should be available on site.

DIVERSION A road diversion may be needed so that members of the public and related traffic do not come close to the road works. This control should first be considered during the design process in conjunction with the Gardaí. A road diversion may solve some problems, but care needs to be taken to ensure that it does not create greater problems. Road diversions need to be meticulously planned to ensure that the volume and size of traffic diverted can safely navigate the alternative road. Possible issues include bridge clearances, safe public/local access, road markings, road surfaces and road width. Adequate road markings, warning signs, etc, should be provided. Arrangements for road diversions should be detailed in the site’s traffic management plan. ROAD SIGNAGE Chapter 8 of the Department of Transport's Traffic Signs Manual must be referred to. This manual provides the guiding principles on the use of cones, lane tapering, lane widths, markings, safety zones, signals, signs, etc, for a variety of roadwork scenarios. The guidelines should be implemented sensibly, taking account of special issues at each work site (e.g. prevailing sight lines, road surfaces, etc). It is required that the signing, lighting and guarding-works be supervised by a competent person who has been issued with a valid CSCS card.

TRAFFIC/SPEED CONTROL Traffic-control plans must be prepared to help plan and control traffic movement. Measures to control traffic may include: bollards, flagmen, ramps, stopgo men, stop-go systems, temporary traffic lights and warning signs. Liaison with local Gardaí may be necessary. The activity of installing and removing cones, signs and traffic-control systems, should be planned with the same care and attention as other aspects of road works. In carrying out these activities, it is essential to ensure that you can see the traffic and the traffic can see you. Vehicular speeds must be controlled when passing through or in the vicinity of roadwork activities. Speed signs advising drivers of permitted speeds must be erected and displayed appropriately. Road surfaces and prevailing sight lines must be considered when deciding appropriate speeds. VEHICLE CRASH BARRIERS Where everyday transport moves close to road works, careful segregation must be planned, including the use of vehicle bollards, crash barriers, guardrails, signs, etc. The choice of the appropriate Vehicle Crash Barrier must be based on a Risk Assessment. This Risk Assessment should take into account the type and extent of work activity, including construction plant in use, duration of works, lines of sight, location, road surface, traffic speed, traffic volumes, width of road, etc.

Prior to commencing road construction, method statement and safety document should be finalized with due approval of client