Road Safety in Work Zones

Dr. Venkaiah Chowdary

Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Warangal
vc@nitw.ac.in
 Overview
• Introduction

• Worker Safety

• Traffic Safety

2
 Overview
• Introduction

• Worker Safety

• Traffic Safety

3
 Introduction
• Work (construction) zones – integral part of road
system

• In India, “stage construction” widely adopted

• Includes improvement of the road in terms of:

– Widening to increase number of lanes
– Widening to create divided carriageway
– Changes to horizontal alignment
– Changes to vertical alignment
– Increase in pavement thickness
4
– General maintenance activities
 Introduction
• Many injuries and deaths take place in work
(construction) zones
• Significant number of workers associated with
construction and maintenance of roads get injured
and killed every year
• Professionals working at all levels in road
construction and maintenance should aim for “no
loss of life”
• Swedish approach to road safety: “Vision Zero: no
loss of life is acceptable; we are human and make
mistakes; road system must be designed to protect
5
us at every turn!”
 Introduction
• Traffic on roads increased many times, will
continue to increase
• Many roads expected to operate at capacity
• Existing methods of maintenance and construction
compromise safety, cause delays, cause
inconvenience: no longer acceptable
• Changes required in design and implementation
practices
• Current techniques allow traffic to use portion of
carriageway cause considerable problems in terms
of delays, driver’s frustration, tendency to over
6
speed to make up time!
 Introduction
• Road construction and maintenance (C&M) work
is hazardous for both site operative and road user
• At rural work sites, traffic movement within 15 m
• Speeding vehicles create whirlwind of dust
affecting visibility
– 8’ in front, 16’ in rear
(most hazardous areas)
– Watch for workers on foot
– Can you see vehicles through this window?
– Need to keep windows and mirrors clean
– Driver’s of construction equipment (dump truck)should
remember equipment blind spots & limited visual areas7
 Introduction
• Traffic noise and C&M equipment noise masks the
sound of an approaching “crash”

• Non-uniformity in traffic control methods and

sign placements increases confusion to road users

• In India, travel distances are > 300 km, many

drivers are semi-literate, need to adopt uniform
traffic control methods and devices!

8
 Overview
• Introduction

• Worker Safety

• Traffic Safety

9
 Worker Safety
• Workers are at high risk of fatal and serious nonfatal injury
• Hundreds of workers get killed and thousand get injured
every year while working in and around work zones
• Numerous works to be done manually:
– Clearing and preparing highway work zones
– Installing traffic barricades, cones, markers
– Controlling traffic passing near, in, & around work zones
– Installing sewer, water, storm drain pipes
– Placing bitumen and cement concrete on roads
– Operating laser guided equipment to place pipes
– Operating air, electric and pneumatic drills
– Transporting and setting explosives for road construction
10
 Worker Safety
Guidelines available for worker’s safety under following heads:
• Material handling (hazardous materials handling, storage, and
use; manual material handling; mechanical material handling;
handling petroleum products; spill control)
• House keeping
• Noise (hearing protection when > 90 dB for 8 h)
• Illumination
• Dust and emission control
• Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] (safety helmets, safety
footwear, waist coat, jacket, apron, rope grip fall arrestor,
goggles, welder’s glasses, gloves, nose masks, ear muffs)
• Working at height (scaffolds, ladders, fencing)
11
 Worker Safety
• Workers on foot are at high risk due to dump trucks backing
• Victim under sheet backed over by dump truck

12
 Worker Safety
Vehicle and heavy equipment
blind spots:
• Blind spot (blind area) is area
around a vehicle or equipment that
is not visible to the operator, either
by direct line of sight or indirectly
by use of internal and external
mirrors
• Construction worker dies from
crushing injuries when backed
over by a dump truck; white figure
shows where the worker was
standing; driver did not see the
victim
• Operator’s view from motor grader cabin 13
 Worker Safety
Vehicle and heavy equipment blind spots:
• Blind areas around a dump truck:
• 8 ft in front and 16 ft in rear are most hazardous areas

14
 Worker Safety
Vehicle and heavy equipment blind spots:
• Truck drivers and equipment operators sit high above the
ground and cannot see pedestrian workers crossing close to
front of them

15
 Worker Safety
Vehicle and heavy equipment blind spots:
• Tools/attachments on vehicles can create greater blind spots
or swings that increase the risk to workers being struck
• Need to know equipment swing radius

16
 Worker Safety
Vehicle and heavy equipment blind spots:
• Backing zone is defined by the shaded area
• Driver cannot see anything in the blind spot either directly
or by using mirrors

Camera

Backing Zone
17
(Distances in feet)
 Worker Safety
• Visibility greatly reduced at night
• Drivers are more tired, sleepy, less attentive
• Poor visibility, glare off lights, adverse weather conditions,
tired drivers, inattentive workers are major causes

Poor lighting Better lighting

18
 Overview
• Introduction

• Worker Safety

• Traffic Safety

19
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
20
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
21
 Traffic Safety
Objectives of Work zone Traffic Management
Plan (WTMP):

• To manage the traffic as efficiently and safely as

possible under all work conditions

• To lay down procedures to be adopted by field

engineers:
– to ensure the safe and efficient movement of traffic
– to ensure the safety of workers at site undertaking the
construction
22
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
23
 Traffic Safety
Process of ensuring safe work zone conditions:

1) Before start of work

2) During execution

3) Partially completed section

24
 Traffic Safety
Contractor prepares site
specific TMP
1) Before start of work:
Submits to Engineer

More details/modifications No Engineer

(Engineer informs road
Approval
construction agency)
Yes
Contractor implements
TMP at site, ask for RFI

More details/modifications
No Engineer
(Engineer informs road
Approval
construction agency)
Yes
Work starts 25
 Traffic Safety
2) During execution: Engineer
checks TMP as
per the check
list once in a
week

Warning must be issued if

compliance < 80%

Stop work, if compliance < 70% or

repeated non-compliance

26
 Contractor prepares site
specific TMP
Traffic Safety Submits to Engineer

3) Partially More details/modifications No Engineer

completed (Engineer informs road
Approval
construction agency)
section: Yes
Contractor implements
TMP at site, ask for RFI

More details/modifications
No Engineer
(Engineer informs road
Approval
construction agency)
Yes
Road Work starts
No construction
With penalties as
agency checks
per IRC:SP:55
for satisfactory
compliance Work continues
27
Yes
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
28
 Traffic Safety
Requirements of WTMP:
• Should provide safety for road users and workers
• Should consider the needs of all road users including
pedestrians, bicyclists, non-motorized vehicles, and
motorized vehicles
• Should warn road users in advance of the changing
road environment
• Should inform roads users about the condition to be
encountered
• Should guide road users through unusual sections
29
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
30
 Traffic Safety
Phases of WTMP:
1) Planning phase: identify and include traffic control
requirements
2) Design phase: design TMP in detail (type, location,
layout of traffic control devices)
3) Implementation phase: install traffic control devices
safely
4) Operation and maintenance phase: inspect TMP and
devices regularly both in day and night
5) Close out phase: remove all traffic control devices
safely and reinstate permanent traffic scheme 31
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
32
 Traffic Safety
Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone:

1) Advance warning zone

2) Approach transition zone

3) Activity/working zone

4) Terminal transition zone

33
5) Work zone end zone
 Traffic Safety
Elements of temporary traffic control zone:

34
 Traffic Safety
Elements of temporary traffic control zone:
 Traffic Safety
1) Advance warning zone
– Is the area to warn road user of approaching hazard
– To prepare road user for change in driving
conditions
– Provide information to road user about:
• presence of the hazard through “Men at Work” sign
accompanied by distance to hazard
• reduction in number of lanes, change in speed limit
• type of hazard
• Extent of hazard (e.g.: length of restriction)
– Reduction in speed should be notified
– Information conveyed through traffic signs 36
 Traffic Safety
2) Approach transition zone
– Is the area in which traffic is guided into the altered
traffic flow pattern around the working zone
– Involves merging/turning movements
– Traffic is taken across the transition zone using
signs, barricades, channelizing devices, markings
– Road safety devices should kept clean of dust,
properly illuminated and visible during nights and
extreme weathers (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
– When insufficient space is available for passage of
up and down traffic, waiting area shall be provided
with properly demarcated stop line 37
 Traffic Safety
3) Activity/working zone
– Speeds should be controlled
– Path of traffic should be clearly delineated to avoid
vehicles intruding into the work area
– Delineation and channelizing devices used
– Work zones involving machinery with revolving
booms (cranes, excavators) should consider
intrusion of moving parts while determining later
clearances for buffer or safety zone

38
 Traffic Safety
3) Activity/working zone
Components of working zone:
a) Work area: area occupied physically by the works
b) Work space: space set aside around the work area
for workers, equipment, and material
c) Traffic space: area where traffic is routed through
the activity area; road capacity and traffic demand
determines width of traffic space
d) Safety buffer: space separating traffic space from
work area
• Longitudinal safety buffer
• Later safety buffer 39
 Traffic Safety
3) Activity/working zone
Components of working zone:

40
 Traffic Safety
4) Terminal transition zone
– Provides a short distance to clear work area and to
return to normal traffic lanes
– Extends from downstream end of work area to the
sign indicating end of work zone
– Downstream taper may be placed in the termination
zone for smoothening the traffic flow to return the
traffic to original lanes
– Downstream taper not advisable when trucks
carrying material move into work area by reversing
from downstream end of working zone
41
 Traffic Safety
4) Terminal transition zone
 Traffic Safety
5) Work zone end zone
– Work zone end length extends from the end of
terminal taper length to the last traffic control device
such as “End Road Work” sign or speed limit sign
informing the road users that they can resume
normal operations

43
 Traffic Safety
6) Tapers
– Used in transition and termination areas
– Created by a series of channelizing devices/
markings to move traffic out of or into normal path
a) Merging taper: used when two lanes merge into one
lane (needs longer distance to adjust speed)
b) Shifting taper: used when a lateral shift is needed
without merging
c) Shoulder taper: used on an expressway when work
is in progress on a shoulder lane

44
 Traffic Safety
6) Tapers
 Traffic Safety
Suggested lengths of temporary traffic control zones:

46
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
47
 Traffic Safety
Functions of Traffic Control Devices:
• Warn the road user
• Inform the road user
• Guide the road user
• Modify road user behaviour
• Protect road user and the vehicle
• Ensure safe passage to the road user
• Provide a safe working area

48
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Traffic Control Devices:

• Roads Signs

• Channelizing Devices

• Lighting Devices and Variable Message Signs

49
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Traffic Control Devices:

• Roads Signs

• Channelizing Devices

• Lighting Devices and Variable Message Signs

50
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Road Signs in Work Zones:

• Regulatory/Mandatory Signs

• Warning Signs

• Informatory/Guide Signs

51
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Road Signs in Work Zones:
• Regulatory/Mandatory Signs
– Normal Regulatory (NR) Signs (from IRC:67, 2012, circular)
– Work Zone Regulatory (WR) Signs [rectangular, white text,
arrows, borders on red background]

52
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Road Signs in Work Zones:
• Warning Signs
– Normal Warning (NW) Signs (from IRC:67, 2012, regular are
triangular with white background) near work zones are
triangular with yellow background
– Work Zone Warning (WW) Signs [rectangular with yellow
background and black text, legend, border]

53
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Road Signs in Work Zones:
• Informatory/Guide Signs
– Black text with yellow background

54
 Traffic Safety
Sign Placement:
• Should be located on left-side of the roadway
• Should be placed on both sides where special
emphasis is needed
• In rural areas, ground-mounted signs shall be
installed at side shoulder where bottom of sign
shall be at least 2.1 m measured from near edge of
the pavement

55
Traffic Safety
Sign Placement:

56
 Traffic Safety
Signs Mounted on Barricades:

57
 Traffic Safety
Signs – Letter Size:

58
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Traffic Control Devices:

• Roads Signs

• Channelizing Devices

• Lighting Devices and Variable Message Signs

59
 Traffic Safety
Channelizing Devices:

• Function is to warn and channelize movement of

road users through changed path

• Used to separate vehicular traffic from the work

space, pavement drop-offs, pedestrian paths,
opposing directions of vehicular traffic

60
 Traffic Safety
Channelizing Devices:
• Traffic Cones
• Tubular Markers
• Vertical Panels
• Drums
• Barricades
• Pavement Markings
• Roads Studs

61
 Traffic Safety
Traffic Cones:

62
 Traffic Safety
Placement of Traffic Cone:

63
 Traffic Safety
Tubular Markers/Spring Posts:

64
 Traffic Safety
Tubular Markers/Spring Posts:

65
 Traffic Safety
Placement of Tubular Marker/Spring Post:

66
 Traffic Safety
Hazard Markers:

67
 Traffic Safety
Drums:

68
 Traffic Safety
Water-filled Barricades:

69
 Traffic Safety
Placement of Water-filled Barricade:

70
 Traffic Safety
Barricades:

71
 Traffic Safety
Type IV Barricades used for deep excavations:

72
 Traffic Safety
Barricades:

73
 Traffic Safety
Direction Indicator Barricades:

74
 Traffic Safety
New Jersey Barrier:
• Precast reinforced concrete, 1.5 to 2 m long with
provision to interlock; used for high speed traffic

75
 Traffic Safety
Pedestrian Barriers:

76
 Traffic Safety
Pavement Marking:

77
 Traffic Safety
Road Studs:

78
 Traffic Safety
Categories of Traffic Control Devices:

• Roads Signs

• Channelizing Devices

• Lighting Devices and Variable Message Signs

79
 Traffic Safety
Lighting Devices:
• Supplement channelization
• Temporary traffic control signals
• Types
– Floodlights
– Flashing warning beacons
– Warning lights
– Steady-burn electric lamps

80
 Traffic Safety
Arrow Boards:

81
 Traffic Safety
Arrow Boards:

82
 Traffic Safety
• Objectives of Work Zone Traffic Management Plan
• Process of Ensuring Safe Work Zone Conditions
• Requirements of WTMP
• Phases of WTMP
• Elements of Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• Traffic Control Devices
• Basic Layouts of Traffic Management
83
 Traffic Safety
Basic layout of Traffic Management:
• Each construction zone pose unique problems
• Basic layout influenced by:
– Environment: urban, rural
– Type of carriageway, no. of lanes
– Traffic volume and speed with and without work in
progress
– Type of traffic: mixed, segregated
– Available sight distance in construction zones
– Mobility of work zone: minor pot hole repair, lane
markings where workers and equipment move along
the road 84
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations:
• Used on 2-lane bidirectional road
• Suitable for low volume roads
• Construction activity on one lane and traffic on other
lane
• Types:
– “Give and Take” System
– Priority Signs
– STOP/GO boards or flags
– Portable traffic signals

85
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations:

86
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations: Give and Take System

87
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations: Priority Signs

88
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations: STOP/GO Boards

89
 Traffic Safety
Alternate One-Way Operations: Portable Traffic Signals

90
 Traffic Safety
Detour:

91
 Traffic Safety
Temporary Diversion:

92
 Traffic Safety
Lane Narrowing due to Work at Centre of the Road:

93
 Traffic Safety
Median Cross Over in Two-Lane Dual Highway
Construction:

94
 Traffic Safety
Shoulder as Travel Lane:

95
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Two Lane to Four Lane (Eccentric
Widening):

96
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Two Lane to Four Lane (Shifting of
Traffic from One Carriageway to Other):

97
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Two Lane to Four Lane (Concentric
Widening):

98
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Two Lane to Four Lane (Concentric
Widening):

99
 Traffic Safety
Third Stage of Two Lane to Four Lane (Concentric
Widening):

10
0
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Four Lane to Six Lane (Concentric
Widening):

101
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Four Lane to Six Lane (Concentric
Widening):

102
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Single/Intermediate Lane to Two Lane
with Shoulders:

103
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Single/Intermediate Lane to Two Lane
with Shoulders:

104
 Traffic Safety
Temporary Diversion for Reconstruction of CD Works:

105
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork in Junction Area:

106
10
6
 Traffic Safety
Work at Centre of Carriageway:

107
 Traffic Safety
One Direction for Major Work at the Centre of Road:

108
 Traffic Safety
Road Work with Detour/Bypassing:

109
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Flyover/Vehicle Underpass (VUP)
Construction:

110
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Flyover/Vehicle Underpass (VUP)
Construction:

111
 Traffic Safety
Fast Lane Taken Up for Work:

112
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork Affecting Both Carriageways of Expressway:

113
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork at the Centre of a Junction:

114
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork at the Corner of a Junction with Temporary
Signal Control:

115
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork at Roundabout with Constricted Circulatory
Carriageway:

116
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork at Level Crossing with Traffic Control with
STOP/GO Boards:

117
 Traffic Safety
Hard Shoulder in a Multilane Highway Taken up for
Works:

118
 Traffic Safety
Major Works with Entry/Exit Provisions for Works
Traffic:

119
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork with Complicated Diversions and Contra
Flow:

120
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork Vehicle, Truck Attenuators and Shadow
Vehicle:

121
 Traffic Safety
Roadwork Near Entry Ramps with Arrow Panel
Display:

122
 Traffic Safety
First Stage of Developing Major Cross Road Junction to
a Cloverleaf Interchange:

123
 Traffic Safety
Second Stage of Developing Major Cross Road
Junction to a Cloverleaf Interchange:

124
 References
• NHAI. (2012). “Draft Road Traffic and Work Zone Safety
Manual”, Submitted by Indian Institute of Technology
Delhi to National Highways Authority of India, New
Delhi, India.
• IRC:SP:55. (2014). “Guidelines on Traffic Management in
Work Zones”, Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi, India.
• WSDoLI. (2009). “Road Construction Work Zone Safety
– Protecting Workers on Road and Construction Sites”,
Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Washington
State Department of Labor and Industries, USA.
• http://www.visionzeroinitiative.com/

125
Thank You!
126