Fact Sheet No2
Fiche de renseignements no2
Ministry of Labour	Ministère du Travail
April 10, 2000			00-16
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC CONTROL AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION WORKER SAFETY

The Ontario government is amending highway traffic control provisions of the Regulations for Construction Projects to better protect highway construction workers from being struck by passing vehicles during highway construction.

Highlights of the amendments include:

·         Improving general safety measures to protect workers from passing vehicles on all highways;

·         Improving safety measures for workers directing traffic;

·         Requiring highway construction projects to have a traffic protection plan;

·         Providing for instruction on the safe set-up and removal of traffic control measures during highway construction work, including the use of traffic cones and barricades;

·         Requiring the installation of barriers or the placing of crash or blocker trucks and longitudinal buffer areas, if physically possible, between workers and traffic, on all stationary freeway construction work of more than five days' duration;

·         Requiring the placing of crash or blocker trucks and longitudinal buffer areas, if physically possible, between workers and traffic on all stationary freeway construction work of less than five days' duration.

·         Requiring the placing of crash or blocker trucks between workers and traffic and the taking of other measures during mobile operations on all freeways;

·         Replacing blocker trucks with crash trucks for stationary operations on low- volume freeways and mobile operations on all freeways by Jan. 1, 2003. This requirement is being phased in to allow contractors adequate time to acquire the necessary number of trucks; and

·         Improving visibility standards for safety garments.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has used a number of the above measures for several years, especially on high-volume freeways. For example, MTO routinely uses crash trucks to protect operations on high-volume freeways. One of the amendments requires the use of these measures on all freeways.

Most of the amendments will come into effect on June 12, 2000. MTO is already including the traffic control requirements in its contracts.

A requirement for new traffic control signs will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2001 to allow industry time to replace current signs with new ones required by MTO. When construction workers wear nylon safety vests, there will be a requirement for a tear-away feature beginning Jan. 1, 2001. This feature improves safety of construction workers by helping the nylon vest tear off if necessary.

In addition to the amendments, the Ministry of Labour has also implemented a number of operational initiatives aimed at protecting workers, including increasing highway inspections by 10 per cent, inspecting all highway construction projects at least once, and targeting proactive field visits. These initiatives will continue after the amendments are in place.

Also, in consultation with industry partners, MTO continuously researches and improves traffic control measures for construction workers on Ontario's highways, as needed.

Editors:

Also see fact sheets on fall protection amendments and additional regulatory changes to the Regulations For Construction Projects.

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