Asphalt Review - Feb/March 2013 - Australian Asphalt Pavement ...

ASPHALT REVIEW
Roadwork Safety –
Innovation and
Future Directions
The following paper is an abridged version of a presentation to AAPA’s 15th Road Construction
and Surfacing Health and Safety Conference, in Melbourne during 2012. It highlights the
experience of Michael Rose in roadwork safety in Victoria; however, the information contained
in it is relevant across the whole of Australia. In particular it highlights the hierarchy of controls.
This recognises that the behaviour of roadworkers and passing motorists is the primary risk on
worksites. Physical separation (elimination of the risk) is therefore the most effective strategy and
is top of the hierarchy of control.
By Michael Rose CFSIA RSP Aust, Manager Project Safety, VicRoads Major Projects.
Introduction – evolution and innovation
of safety controls at VicRoads
This paper provides an overview of the evolution and innovation in
roadwork safety at VicRoads over the past decade, and highlights the
current safety challenges still facing our industry.
Prior to the introduction of the Worksite Safety–Traffic Management
Code of Practice (2004 version) there were eight fatalities reported
in Victoria for works on or adjacent to traffic over a 26-month period,
including three on VicRoads works. There have been no fatalities since
the Code was introduced on VicRoads major projects.
The development of the hierarchy of safety controls for worksite
traffic management and the classification of work on or adjacent to
roads used by traffic as high risk work under Occupational Health
and Safety (OHS) legislation for all classes of road have been major
contributing factors to the safety improvements. Despite this good work
we have not yet achieved zero injuries or fatalities in all areas.
Major road projects are frequently faced with up to 16 classified
high risk construction work activities. However, the activities involving
mobile plant operation within work zones was demonstrated during
2011 to be our highest risk area with at least five fatalities around
Australia.
The Hierarchy of Safety Controls for Roadwork
The Hierarchy of Safety Controls for Worksite Traffic Management was
first introduced by VicRoads in 2005 via the Worksite Safety–Traffic
Management Code of Practice (2004 version). At the same time, the
OHS Act 2004 was introduced mandating the hierarchy of controls
approach through the defined concept of Ensuring Health and Safety
(OHS Act, Section 20).
The introduction of the OHS Regulations in 2007 further reinforced
that works on or adjacent to roads used by traffic is a high risk activity
for construction work. It also established the statutory obligation to
eliminate the traffic hazard where reasonably practicable or reduce the
risks by following the established hierarchy of safety controls.
The hierarchy of controls may be described as:
1. Elimination;
2. Substitution;
3. Isolation;
4. Engineering;
5. Administrative;
6. Personal protective equipment; and
7. A combination of controls
The WorkSafe Test of Reasonably Practicable
The OHS Act 2004 Section 20 requires hazards be eliminated, so far as
reasonably practicable, or reduced via the hierarchy of safety controls,
so far as is reasonably practicable. The WorkSafe test for practicability
requires the following factors to be considered.
• How likely is it that there will be some harm;
• How serious could the consequences be;
• What do, or should, you know about the hazard and ways of
eliminating or reducing it
• Are suitable ways to eliminate or reduce the hazard or risk available;
and
• How much will it cost to eliminate or reduce the hazard or risk (This
is not a defence at law and needs to be balanced against the duty of
care for workers with a presumption in favour of health and safety.
Therefore cost is not as a credible reason against deployment).
Evolution of practices in traffic
management safety in Victoria
The following describes evolved practices in traffic management
safety in Victoria since 2006, using the hierarchy of traffic controls and
commencing with the most effective and reliable controls:
a. Elimination of Hazard - Road Closure to Eliminate the Traffic Hazard
Full or partial road closure is the highest level control used. Road
closures should be well communicated in advance to the public
to reduce inconvenience. Road closures also facilitate increased
productivity with reduction in construction times due to the removal of
traffic and the unrestricted access provided.
24 ROADS FEB/MARCH 2013