Workers must know how to plan, design, implement, inspect, and/or supervise traffic control devices in work zones. The purpose of this course is to help you meet that responsibility.
This online training teaches you how to read and interpret traffic control plans, identify deficiencies, and correct them. The course also provides you with tips and best practices to ensure safety in the field.
WORK ZONE DESIGN
Work Zone Traffic Control Training is essential to every roadway construction project. It helps ensure the safe passage of all road users, including drivers and construction crews, through and around temporary traffic control work zones.
Keeping traffic flowing through work zones safely requires a lot of planning, implementation, and inspection. This is why the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires all workers, contractors, and other transportation agencies to obtain Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control Training.
The training is designed to be a comprehensive course covering the technical and non-technical aspects of work zone traffic control. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest work zone safety and management practices advances.
This two-day course is based on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards and American National Standards Institute requirements for work zone safety. The training also includes hands-on activities that are a fun and engaging way to learn.
In addition to the basics of TTC, the training covers how to design a work zone that provides safe mobility for all road users. Typical work zone components, such as Advance Warning, Transition, and Activity areas, are discussed.
The module also explains how to use performance measures as part of work zone safety evaluations. This will allow the participants to assess their TCP’s effectiveness and identify improvement areas.
One of the best ways to keep workers and drivers safe is to design a work zone that focuses on maximizing traffic visibility and flow. This training will cover how to do this through a combination of methods, such as traffic engineering, planning and design, traffic signalization, positive protection devices, and pedestrian considerations.
The training also covers the role of the work zone traffic control supervisor and their responsibilities. It is important for supervisors to have this training because they are the ones who will be responsible for implementing the traffic control plan in the field.
WORK ZONE LOGISTICS
The logistics of work zones are extremely important to the safety and productivity of your construction project. It can be a challenge to find ways to keep your workers safe and minimize delays for motorists.
Developing a traffic control plan for each job is one of the best strategies for reducing traffic disruptions. This plan should include traffic control devices that allow drivers to travel safely through a work zone.
In addition, these plans should describe the proper placement of signs and arrow panels that inform road users about the upcoming work zone. This information is the first-time road users see the work and can help them prepare for the trip.
Additionally, it can help them understand the type of lane closures and speed restrictions they should expect when driving through a work zone. This is particularly helpful for long-term projects with extended lane closures, such as a construction project that may involve trenching.
Another important tool is the use of truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) to help drivers slow down or stop in time when entering and exiting a work zone. These devices can be used in areas where it is not feasible to use a conventional lane closure or other temporary traffic control device, such as a barricade.
When preparing your traffic control plan, it is also important to consider the safety of pedestrians who will be traveling in or around the work zone. This includes people who may be in wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Putting an employee in the area who can assist pedestrians with questions or concerns is a good idea.
Pedestrians should be provided with appropriate signage that clearly denotes the work zone’s location and the lane they should enter. This will help them avoid accidents and injuries while in the work zone.
Providing flaggers with high-visibility clothing that meets ANSI standards for class 2 or 3 risk exposure is also a good idea. This will ensure that they are visible for at least 1,000 feet.
WORK ZONE INSPECTIONS
Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control Training is an important course for any roadway worker dealing with construction site traffic and safety issues. The course focuses on the entire temporary traffic control process and is designed to provide knowledge of the MUTCD guidelines, device standards, component parts, and installation/removal considerations in highway work zones.
The course primarily targets traffic managers, technicians, and engineers responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining traffic control in work zones. This course provides comprehensive training on MUTCD standards, guidelines, and implementation and is an important prerequisite for the Supervisor Training Course.
This course is an essential part of the inspections of work zones and is required for any employee who has direct responsibility for the selection, placement, or maintenance of traffic control devices in work zones on state highways. The course is based on VDOT’s Work Zone Traffic Safety Program, established to follow the Federal Highway Administration regulations provided in 23 CFR 630 Subpart J as of July 1, 2009.
In addition to providing detailed instructions on how to use a traffic control retroreflectometer for sign inspection, this class provides guidance on selecting high-visibility safety apparel and appropriate situations where each type of clothing is required or recommended. The course also includes a review of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Roadside Design Guide.
A comprehensive work zone traffic control inspection program identifies and resolves discrepancies from the traffic control plan, including deficiencies in the maintenance of work zone signs and safety hardware. This course is designed for traffic control engineers, traffic technicians, supervisors, and local officials involved with the inspection of roadway work by utilities or other contractors.
Work zones are daily disruptions to traffic patterns and narrow roadways that can lead to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Because of this, a robust inspection program is necessary to ensure that work zones are safe for motorists and workers.
NSC’s work zone traffic control training courses are based on the Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) guidelines and American National Standards Institute requirements, and they provide hands-on activities that help workers do their jobs safely. NSC also offers a Work Zone Flagger training course that is designed to teach individuals how to conduct flagging operations in work zones.
WORK ZONE SAFETY
Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control Training is an important component of work zone safety and is designed to increase worker awareness and understanding of how their actions directly impact the mobility and safety of work zones. This training focuses on traffic control devices and flagging procedures and helps participants learn the basics of how to use these devices during construction and road maintenance operations, as well as identify potential hazards that they may encounter.
In addition, it teaches how to set up a work zone and maintain the traffic control devices that are used during construction activities. This training is recommended for all workers who will be involved in the design, placement, and maintenance of temporary traffic control devices.
One of the most important aspects of working in a work zone is the ability of drivers to merge safely into a reduced number of lanes when lane closures are in effect. When drivers plan ahead, adjust their speed, and smoothly merge into a safe gap between vehicles in the open lane, they can greatly reduce traffic delays.
Another critical component of work zone safety is the use of tapers to shift traffic out of a closed lane and back into its normal path. The taper length is based on the average speed of the traffic and is considered when designing a work zone or lane closure.
Using the “zipper merge” technique is an excellent way to reduce traffic delays during a lane closure. The zipper merge is when a driver adjusts their speed to match the slowest vehicle in the lane, then smoothly merges into a safe gap between them.
The use of shadow vehicles and truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) can also help motorists navigate through work zones. This course explains how to use shadow vehicles and TMAs and the proper criteria for their placement in work zones.
When using these devices, workers must follow the MUTCD guidelines and ensure that their devices meet the manual requirements and the state’s flagging regulations. The course also covers the importance of maintaining equipment in good condition and provides guidance on selecting high-visibility safety apparel.
