Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 2- Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations) - Operations 2009.pdf/28

OPERATIONAL ISSUES *Operatives should work facing oncoming traffic as far as practicable and inside the safety of the traffic management delineators; any available footway or verge should be used when collecting or transporting equipment on foot; see also Section O3.2.
 * Care shall be taken when erecting signs etc. to ensure that they are secure, upright and positioned where they are not hidden from view by other temporary signs, any existing features or vegetation. The temporary signs should not interfere with the visibility of permanent signs, junctions etc.; see also Section O4.
 * Carrying of signs on foot across the live carriageway shall be done only when there is a suitable gap in the traffic; see Section O3.5.
 * The handling of large signs may be facilitated if the signs are hinged. The hingeing arrangement should not compromise the appearance of the sign.
 * When coning from a moving vehicle (refer to Section O5), operatives should avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of their bodies e.g. by leaning out.
 * The method of placing signs on dual carriageways with no hard shoulder or driveable verge should be the subject of a risk assessment and a method statement to avoid directing traffic into lanes temporarily occupied by the traffic management vehicles.

When cones, warning lights and signs etc. are being set out, it is essential that all persons involved shall wear high-visibility garments; see Section O6.3.

On high-speed roads in particular, during the initial work of setting out advance warning signs and of establishing the taper of cones, a sign with the legend "WORKFORCE IN ROAD SLOW" to diagram 7001.3 should be positioned on the near side of the carriageway, in advance of the first crossing point. The variant "SETTING OUT ROADWORKS AHEAD" may also be used. The use of either of these signs should also be considered for works on other types of road. Alternatively, if VMS are available then these should be used to display the message “WORKFORCE IN ROAD SLOW”, see paragraph O7.2.32. Whenever possible, either of these signs should be enhanced by the addition of a high intensity flashing warning light, refer to paragraph O4.7.15. The temporary sign or VMS message should be removed immediately following completion of the setting out work.

Setting out should start with the "road works" sign to diagram 7001 at the recommended distance from the start of the taper. Signs and cones should then be set out in sequence, moving towards the site of the works. It may be necessary to involve the police or traffic officers when setting up initial traffic management signing on motorways and other high-speed roads.

There are particular hazards associated with short-term temporary traffic management needed as part of the implementation of the main temporary traffic management. The implementation of such schemes therefore requires particular care. For example, for an overnight carriageway closure on a dual carriageway or motorway, see Part 1: Design, Section D6.20, a rolling road block may be required to allow the remaining cones to be placed up the exit slip road to implement the closure (see paragraph O7.2.68).

Consideration shall be given to the state of the traffic management at all times during the implementation of the temporary traffic management arrangements, e.g. when installation of the arrangement needs to take place over several nights, the detailed traffic management design should take account of and remove or control the risk associated with the intermediate arrangements.

Whenever temporary traffic management operations involve regular repetition of layouts, e.g. use of overnight near side lane closures, the contractor should consider the safety advantages of changing legends or uncovering and recovering signs using remote control methods. 26