Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 2- Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations) - Operations 2009.pdf/10

INTRODUCTION * This document, Part 2: Operations, provides guidance for those responsible for planning, managing, and participating in operations to implement, maintain and remove temporary traffic management arrangements. It contains advice relating to good working practice spanning all aspects of temporary traffic management operations from broad management issues to issues involving the activities of individual operatives. The guidance is illustrated by the inclusion of sample plans relating to the operational guidance of particular temporary traffic management techniques.

Working drawings for the design of the signs shown in the plans and other prescribed signs are available for download free of charge on the Department for Transport website: www.dft.gov.uk.

The Traffic Signs Manual is applicable in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This Chapter sets out a code of practice to enable the legal requirements to be met in a wide variety of circumstances, although it has no statutory force, except in Northern Ireland where an authorised officer for the Department may deem it to have such force. (In Northern Ireland, Article 31 (or equivalent) is the legal status that deems Chapter 8 to be a legal document for certain roads only and only for the signs and devices used.) All authorities, bodies and organisations responsible for all types of roads to which the public have access are strongly recommended to make compliance with the requirements of Chapter 8 a condition of contract in the case of works carried out on their behalf. These roads include toll roads, tunnels and bridges, industrial parks, retail parks, leisure parks, academic, hospital, dock, railway, Ministry of Defence, heritage, park, and similar estate roads etc.

It should be noted that many of the basic principles contained in this document are also covered in the Safety at Street Works and Road Works – A Code of Practice, which has legal backing under Sections 65 and 124 of the and Article 25 of the Street Works (NI) Order 1995.

Section 174 of the and Section 60 of the  and Article 31 of the Road Traffic Regulation (NI) Order 1997 make it clear that the proper guarding, lighting and signing of the works are the responsibility of the person carrying them out.

Traffic signs and other apparatus for the control of traffic must conform to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) in force at the time of the works. Any requirement for goods or materials to comply with a specified standard shall be satisfied by compliance with the requirements for mutual recognition contained in clauses 104 and 105 of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (Volume 1 Specification for Highway Works).

The contents of this document may be considered as representing what is reasonably practicable for the enforcement of the, the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978, and associated regulations.

Compliance with the requirements of this Chapter may assist local traffic authorities to comply with their network management duties under Section 16 of the.

Safe and efficient traffic management is founded upon the following simple principles:
 * provision of clear and early warning of obstructions in the highway;
 * optimisation of road space and the provision of an adequate safety zone and working space at works locations; 8