[shot of construction project on Ontario highway] [TITLE: Traffic Control at Road Work Projects]
My name is Aggrey Emojong. I'm a Construction Health and Safety Inspector with the Ministry
of Labour with the Province of Ontario.
I'm going to be showing you some of the things that we look for when we are at a construction
project where there are traffic control operations.
The main hazard at a road construction project is being struck by motorists and also equipment
that the workers are working around.
Traffic control safety is something that must be taken very seriously because serious injury
could result.
The hazards on a typical road construction project vary from job site to job site. At
the highways and the freeways, you have vehicles moving at very fast speeds. Within the city,
you have vehicles mixing in with pedestrians.
[sound-up] MOL Inspector: "Good morning. It's Aggrey Emojong, Ministry of Labour."
When I arrive on site to do an inspection, I usually meet the Management Representative,
the Supervisor or the Foreman and also a Health & Safety Representative representing the workers.
I start with an administrative review.
[sound-up] MOL Inspector: "Do you have a Traffic Protection Plan?"
Worker: "Yes we do. Right here.
I'm looking for a Notice of Project, Employer Registration Forms, Policies and Procedures,
the names of the Health & Safety Rep that is posted, the Emergency Procedures, the Act.
I'll review any previous Ministry of Labour inspections, the Joint Health & Safety Committee
meetings or inspections, determine whether there are outstanding issues and start from there.
[sound-up] MOL Inspector: "How are you? Good morning, how are you doing?"
With the Supervisor, with the Health & Safety Rep, we go on tour of the project. I also
talk to workers individually and see if they have any other outstanding issues.
[sound-up] Inspector: "Approximately how many workers do you have here today?"
Worker: "Today we have 15 workers, including labourers and machine operators."
Inspector: "What kind of activities are you doing here at the job today?"
In addition to the protective equipment that the workers have to use, I'm looking for making
sure that the workers who are working around heavy equipment are observant to how they
approach the equipment. I also verify that there's limited backing of vehicles at all
times at the project.
Many times, truck operators' visibility is limited and workers working in proximity
to those vehicles are in serious danger.
I'm looking to see that there are traffic signal operators on the job site and make
sure that the traffic signal operators are trained.
For temporary road closures, the Ministry of Labour legislates the preparation of a
Traffic Protection Plan. One of the measures that is used to prepare such a traffic plan
is the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Traffic Manual.
I am looking for high-visibility. Making sure that the workers use equipment that is highly-visible
to them. Making sure they use their safety boots, their safety hats, safety glasses.
They may need hearing protection.
During my inspections, I ensure that proper protective measures are carried out at the
project. For instance signs, barriers, delineators, speed control devices are in place. All the
tools that are identified in the Traffic Protection Plan.
At night, motorists may travel faster. They need adequate signage to warn them of construction
projects ahead so they can make suitable adjustments.
In a construction project, there can be very many young workers, new workers, especially
during the summer. They need adequate training and supervision at all times.
[sound-up] Foreman: "Any other questions guys?"
In case of any doubt at a construction project, ask questions. My biggest advice to workers
at road construction projects is to make sure that they are adequately trained and respect
what the employers has provided them as training to carry out their work safely so they can
return to their families in one piece.
For more information, please visit our website. [URL: ontario.ca/labour or ontario.ca/constructionsafety]