CHAPTER 29 TRAFFIC CONTROL

29 TRAFFIC CONTROL Equipment

Protective Devices
Section 67(2) of the Construction Projects
regulation (213/91) requires that all workers at a
project on a highway who may be endangered by
traffic must be protected by using as many of the
following measures as is necessary:
1. Barriers
2. Barricades
3. Delineators
4. Lane control devices
5. Warning signs
6. Flashing lights
The green book (OHSA and Construction Regs)
makes it mandatory for traffic control persons 7. Flares
(TCPs) to be protected from hazards. This includes 8. Traffic control devices
not only wearing personal protective clothing and
equipment but also putting measures and devices 9. Blocker trucks
in place to guard against the dangers of vehicular 10. Crash trucks
traffic. Safety should receive prime consideration in
11. Sign trucks
planning for traffic control.
12. Speed control devices
Objectives 13. Longitudinal buffer areas.

The objectives of traffic control are as follows: Personal Protective Equipment

• To protect construction workers and the motoring • Hard hat that meets regulated requirements.
public by regulating traffic flow.
• Safety boots, CSA-certified, Grade 1 (green
• To stop traffic whenever required by the progress triangular CSA patch outside, green rectangular
of work. Otherwise to keep traffic moving at label inside).
reduced speeds to avoid tie-ups and delays.
• Garment, usually a vest, covering upper body and
• To allow construction to proceed safely and meeting these requirements:
efficiently.
-- The main material should be fluorescent blaze
• To ensure that public traffic has priority over or international orange in colour according
construction equipment. to the construction regulations. However, any
colour listed in the CSA standard is acceptable
Instructions (i.e., fluorescent/bright yellow-green,
fluorescent/bright orange-red, fluorescent red).
Section 69(4) of the Construction Projects -- It must have retroreflective and fluorescent
regulation (213/91) requires that TCPs be given stripes—two vertical stripes (5 cm wide) on
written and oral instructions regarding their duties. the front that cover at least 500 cm2 and two
A worker who is required to direct vehicular traffic, diagonal stripes (5 cm wide) on the back that
are arranged in an X pattern and cover at least
(a) shall be a competent worker;
570 cm2.
(b) shall not perform any other work while directing
-- For nighttime work, additional retroreflective
vehicular traffic;
silver stripes or bands that encircle each arm
(c) shall be positioned in such a way that he or she and leg are required.
is endangered as little as possible by vehicular
-- If the garment is a vest, it must have an
traffic; and
adjustable fit. If the vest is made of nylon, it
(d) shall be given adequate written and oral must have a side and front tear-away feature.
instructions, in a language that he or she
understands, with respect to directing vehicular We recommend that garments comply with
traffic, and those instructions shall include a Canadian standard CSA Z96-15: High-Visibility
description of the signals that are to be used. Safety Apparel. In particular, a Class 2 garment,
Level 1 or Level 2.
These written instructions must be kept on the
project.

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TRAFFIC CONTROL

After Dark This last point is a very common situation and

requires two traffic control persons to ensure that
Section 69.1(4) of the Construction Projects
vehicles do not move in opposing directions at the
regulation (213/91) requires workers who may be
same time (Figure 29-1). In some cases, such as
endangered by traffic to wear retroreflective silver
on a curve or hill where the two cannot see one
stripes encircling each arm and leg, or equivalent
another, a third TCP is necessary to keep both in
side visibility-enhancing stripes with a minimum
view and relay instructions (Figure 29-1).
area of 50 cm2 per side.
The following measures are also recommended:
• Wear a hard hat with reflective tape.
• Use a flashlight with a red cone attachment as
well as the sign and carry spare batteries.
• Place flashing amber lights ahead of your post.
• Stand in a lighted area under temporary or street
lighting, or illuminated by light from a parked
vehicle (stand fully in the light without creating a
silhouette).

Sign
A sign used to direct traffic must have the following
features.
• Octagonal in shape, 450 mm wide, and mounted
on a pole 1.2 m long
• Made of material with at least the rigidity of
plywood 6 mm thick
• High-intensity retroreflective red colour on
one side, with STOP printed in high-intensity
retroreflective white letters 150 mm high
• On the other side, high-intensity retroreflective
micro-prismatic fluorescent chartreuse colour, Figure 29-1: Positioning of TCPs
with a black diamond-shaped border, at least 317
mm x 317 mm, with SLOW printed in black letters
120 mm high. Requirements of a Good TCP
• Sound health, good vision and hearing, and
Preparation mental and physical alertness
• Mature judgment and a pleasant manner
Before starting work, make sure that you know the
following: • A good eye for speed and distance to gauge
oncoming traffic
• The type of construction you will be involved
with—paving, installing pipe, grading, cut and fill, • A driver’s licence (preferably)
etc. • The ability to give motorists simple directions,
• The type of equipment to be used, such as explain hazards, and answer questions
scrapers, trucks, compactors, and graders • Liking, understanding, and respect for the
• How the equipment will be operating—for responsibilities of the job.
instance, crossing the road, along the shoulder, in
culverts, or on a bridge What to check each day
• Whether you will have to protect workers settling • Make sure that the STOP-SLOW sign is clean,
up components of the traffic control system such undamaged, and meets height and size
as signs, delineators, cones, and barriers requirements.
• Any special conditions of the contract governing • Place the TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSON AHEAD
road use (for instance, many contracts forbid sign at an appropriate distance to afford
work during urban rush hours) motorists adequate warning (Figure 29-2).
• How public traffic will flow—for example, along • Remove or cover all traffic control signs
a two-lane highway, around curves or hills, by at quitting time or when traffic control is
detour or on a road narrowed to a single lane. temporarily suspended.
• Arrange with the supervisor for meal, coffee,
and toilet breaks.

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 TRAFFIC CONTROL

work area work area

5 – 30 m 5 – 30 m
from first cone
from first cone of transition taper
of transition taper

Figure 29-2: Sign Indicating TCP Ahead Figure 29-3: Typical Arrangement
on a Two-Lane Roadway
Where to stand
Where Not to Direct Traffic­
• Stand the correct distance from the work area.
(Refer to Table 29-1 below and Figure 29-3.) According to the construction regulations:
• Do not stand on the travelled portion of the • A worker shall not direct vehicular traffic for more
roadway and always face oncoming traffic. than one lane in the same direction. (O. Reg.
213/91, s. 69(2))
• Be alert at all times. Be aware of construction
traffic around you and oncoming traffic on the • A worker shall not direct vehicular traffic if the
roadway. normal posted speed limit of the public way
is more than 90 kilometres per hour. (O. Reg.
• Stand alone. Don’t allow a group to gather 213/91, s. 69(3))
around you.
• Stand at your post. Sitting is hazardous because How to Signal
your visibility is reduced and the ability of a • Use the STOP-SLOW sign and your arms as
motorist to see you is reduced. shown in Figure 29-4. Hold your sign firmly in full
• Adjust distances to suit road, weather and speed view of oncoming traffic.
conditions. Remember these points: • Stay alert, keep your eyes on approaching traffic,
-- Traffic must have room to react to your and make your hand signals crisp and positive.
direction to stop (e.g., vehicles may need twice • Give the motorist plenty of warning. Don’t show
the stopping distance on wet or icy roads). the STOP sign when the motorist is too close. The
-- Stand where you can see and be seen by average stopping distance for a vehicle travelling
approaching traffic for at least 150 m (500 ft). at 50 km/h (30 mph) is 45 m (150 ft). Higher
speeds require more stopping distance.
-- Beware of the danger of being backed over or
hit by your own equipment. • When showing the SLOW sign, avoid bringing
traffic to a complete halt. When motorists have
• Hills and curves call for three TCPs or some other slowed down, signal them to keep moving slowly.
means of communication. The job of the TCP in
the middle is to relay signals between the other • When showing the STOP sign, use firm hand
two. signals and indicate where you want traffic to
stop. After the first few vehicles stop, move to a
• Once you have been designated a TCP by your point on the road where traffic in the queue can
supervisor, look over the area for methods of see you.
escape (i.e., a place to get to in order to avoid
• Before moving traffic from a stopped position,
being injured by a vehicle heading your way if the
make sure the opposing traffic has stopped and
driver has disregarded your signals). If this should
that the last opposing vehicle has passed your
happen, protect yourself first by moving out of post. Then turn your sign and step back on the
the path of the vehicle and then warn the crew. shoulder of the road.
• Coordinate your effort with nearby traffic
Table 29-1: TCP Placement signals to avoid unnecessary delays, tie-ups, and
60 km/h or lower, 70 km/h to 90 km/h, confusion. Do not use flags to control traffic.
Normal Regulatory
one lane or reduced one lane or reduced
Posted Speed
to one lane to one lane • In some situations, two-way traffic may be
allowed through the work zone at reduced speed,
Traffic Volume Low High Low High with a traffic control person assigned to each
Distance of TCP
direction. Since motorists can be confused or
From First Cone of 5 – 10 m 10 – 15 m 15 – 25 m 20 – 30 m misled by seeing the STOP side of the sign used
Transition Taper in the opposite lane, the signs must be modified.
Source: Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 7: Temporary Conditions, 2014 ed. The STOP side must be covered to conceal its
distinctive shape and command. This should
prevent drivers from stopping unexpectedly.

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TRAFFIC CONTROL

Under section 146.1 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act,

all drivers are required to stop when a TCP displays
a STOP sign and are not allowed to proceed until
the sign is no longer displayed. In addition, all
drivers must slow down when a TCP displays a
SLOW sign. However, TCPs are not law enforcement
officers. If problems arise, follow these steps.
• Report dangerous motorists to your supervisor.
• Keep a pad and pencil to jot down violators’
licence plates.
Figure 29-4: Proper Arm Placement • Ask your supervisor for assistance from police in
difficult or unusual traffic situations.
How to Improve Safety • Never restrain a motorist forcibly or take out your
• Don’t be distracted by talking to fellow workers anger on any vehicle.
or passing pedestrians. If you must talk to
• Always be alert to emergency services.
motorists, stay at your post and keep the
Ambulance, police, and fire vehicles have priority
conversation brief.
over all other traffic.
• When using two-way radios to communicate with
another traffic control person, take the following
Remember
precautions:
• Always face traffic.
-- Establish clear voice signals for each situation
and stick to them. • Plan an escape route.
-- Be crisp and positive in your speech. • Wear personal protective clothing.
-- Test the units before starting your shift and • Maintain proper communication with other traffic
carry spare batteries. control persons.
-- Avoid unnecessary chit-chat. • Stay alert at all times.
-- Don’t use two-way radios in blasting zones. • Be courteous.
• When two traffic control persons are working
Traffic control is a demanding job—often a
together, you should always be able to see
thankless job—but always an important job. How
each other in order to coordinate your STOP-
well you succeed will depend largely on your
SLOW signs. Signals between you should be
understood. If you change your sign from STOP attitude.
to SLOW or vice-versa, you must signal the other To help TCPs
person by moving the sign up and down or communicate,
sideways. This will ensure that traffic control is employers or
coordinated. Two-way radios are the best way of supervisors can give
communicating. them IHSA's pocket-
• When you can’t see the other traffic control sized Traffic Control
person, a third should be assigned to keep you Hand Signals Card
both in view. (V006) to ensure that
everyone is using and
understands the same
Legal Rights signals on the jobsite.
Refer to the Traffic Control section of the
Construction Projects regulation (O213/91, s.67 to Most of the information
69.1) under the Occupational Health and Safety in this chapter is also
Act (OHSA) for legislation relevant to TCPs. OHSA available in a pocket-
Regulations are enforced by the Ministry of Labour. sized booklet. The
Handbook for Traffic
Additional guidelines for traffic Control Persons (B016)
control are spelled out in the is available in both
Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 7: English and French
Temporary Conditions, available (B016F) and can be
through Service Ontario ordered or downloaded
Publications. The information by visiting the Products
applies to traffic control by any section of ihsa.ca.
persons or agencies performing
construction, maintenance, or
utility work on roadways in
Ontario.

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