Flaggers

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Flaggers SafetyIn Highway Work Zones
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Session Objectives

• You will be able to
• Recognize the hazards of flagging
• Identify different sections of a
  temporarytraffic control zone
• Understand the temporary traffic control plan
  and your responsibilities
• Use signaling devices effectively
• Position warning signs, tapers, and flagging
  stations safely

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Hazards of Flagging

• Risk from equipment and passing vehicles
• Statistics support high risk of injury
• More than 100 workers killed and 20,000 injured
  each year

• More motorists than workers killed or injured in
  temporary traffic control zones

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Temporary Traffic Control Zone

• Advance warning area
• Transition area
• Activity area
• Termination area

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Advance Warning Area

• Road users informed of work zone
• Warning signs longer on freeways
• Sign A1,000 feet from transition
• Sign B1,500 feet from sign A
• Sign C2,500 feet from sign B
• Drivers see sign C first

6
Transition Area

• Road users are redirected out of the normal path
• Mobile operations transition area moves
• Tapers are used to transition traffic
• Space taper devices properly

7
Traffic Tapers

• Minimum taper length L WS
• Merging taper requires longest distance
• Shifting taper is used where shoulder is closed
• Downstream taper is used in termination area

Minimum Taper Length Width x Speed
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Activity Area

• Work space is for workers, equipment, and
  material
• Traffic space routes road uses through activity
  area
• Buffer space separates road user flow from work
  space

9
Termination Area

• Returns road users to normal path
• END ROAD WORK sign
• Longitudinal buffer and taper

10
Temporary Traffic Control Plan

• Avoid abrupt lane changes
• Encourage alternate routes
• Schedule road work at night
• Provide adequate warning for motorists
• Using flagging to guide motorists

11
Routine Inspections

• Implement traffic control plan properly
• Monitor plan under varying conditions
• Keep channelizing devices clean andreflective
• Check for missing traffic control devices
• Look for evidence of near misses

12
Warning Signs and TapersTest Your Knowledge

• What is the recommended spacing for three advance
  warning signs on a highway?

13
Warning Signs and TapersTest Your Knowledge
(cont.)

• How long should a taper in a transition area be
  if the offset is 16 feet and the speed limit on
  the highway is 55 miles per hour?

Minimum Taper Length Width x Speed
14
Warning Signs and TapersTest Your Knowledge
(cont.)

• What is the maximum distance in feet between
  devices in this taper if the speed limit is 55
  mph?

15
Temporary Traffic Control Zone Setup and
Inspection

• Do you understand
• What weve discussed about the advance warning
  area, transition area, activity area, and
  termination area?
• The importance of routine inspections in
  temporary traffic control zones?
• What inspections should cover?

16
Criteria for Flaggers

• You are responsible for public safety and must
• Communicate instructions clearly
• Maneuver quickly
• Control signaling devices

17
Criteria for Flaggers (cont.)

• Understand safety traffic control
• Recognize dangerous traffic situations
• Know the traffic control plan
• Be identified as flaggers by motorists

18
Flagger Authority

• Monitor operations in the work area
• Communicate with traffic control supervisor
• Halt operations if hazard arises

19
High-Visibility Apparel

• Clothing meets safety standards
• Fluorescent background color
• Reflective materials
• Designed to identify as a person
• High-visibility armbands, hats, vests, gloves
• Inspect reflective material regularly

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Alternatives to Flaggers

• Hazardous conditions (high traffic speeds, bad
  weather, limited visibility)
• Alternative traffic management systems (lane
  shifts, portable traffic signs,remote signaling
  devices)

21
Hand-Signaling Devices

• Control road users
• STOP/SLOW paddle
• Red flags
• Strobe lights on paddles

22
Signaling with Paddles

• Stop road users
• Direct stopped road users to proceed
• Alert or slow traffic

Image Credit California State Dept. of
Transportation
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Signaling with Flags

• Stop road users
• Direct stopped road users to proceed
• Alert or slow traffic

Image Credit California State Dept. of
Transportation
24
Flagger Stations

• Road users must have sufficient distance to stop
• Errant vehicle can stop before entering work
  space
• Advanced warning signs
• Lighted at night

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Flagger Stations (cont.)

• Stand on shoulder next to road
• Enter road only after vehicles have stopped
• Be able to warn workers of danger
• Stand away from shade and shadows
• Keep workers away

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One Flagger

• Short traffic control zone
• Stationed on shoulder opposite work space
• Good visibility of traffic
• Traffic controlled at all times

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Two Flaggers

• Flagger at each end
• One flagger is the coordinator
• Communicate with each other

Image Credit California State Dept. of
Transportation
28
Flagging at Night or in Adverse Conditions

• Wear highly visible clothing or rain gear
• Illuminate flagger workstation
• Use warning signs to reflect actual work zone
  conditions
• Do not attempt to perform any other duties
• Do not use devices such as cell phones or pagers

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Match the Traffic Direction With the Hand Sign
SLOW

• Stop
• Proceed
• Slow down

STOP
SLOW
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Flagger Safety Procedures

• Do you understand
• About flagger qualifi-cations and authority?
• About high-visibility apparel and alternatives to
  flaggers?
• About signaling devices and flagger stations?
• When one flagger is sufficient and when two are
  required?

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• Make sure you understand your responsibilities
  and authority
• Be familiar with the traffic control plan
• Wear high-visibility clothing
• Inspect signs and devices regularly
• Position your flagging station properly
• Use clear signals to guide traffic through the
  traffic control zone