When it comes to creating a superior product, the quality of the supplies you are using is crucial to your success. I started thinking carefully about which supplies companies were using to create products a few years ago, and I learned a lot about the process. After evaluating a wide range of different businesses, I now consider myself an industrial equipment enthusiast, and I love to learn more about the process each and every day. This blog is all about creating a better product by working with the right suppliers, being careful with your processes, and avoiding manufacturing problems in the long haul.
When performing work that will impact traffic flow, there are four critical safety zones you need to consider. You can find these four zones below, given in the order that approaching motorists will encounter them:
Each zone requires some specific equipment considerations. Before beginning work on any road project, it's crucial to ensure you have the appropriate traffic safety and control equipment for all four zones.
1. Advance Warning Area
This zone alerts drivers to an impending change in traffic conditions before arriving in your work zone. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) describes the required size of this zone for various projects. You must use signage in this area to alert drivers to lane closures, shifts, and other conditions. LED signs or illumination may be necessary if your crews work at night or in low visibility.
2. Transition Area
The transition area is necessary for any work zone involving single or multiple lane closures. The transition area provides motorists with the space required to adjust their driving patterns before encountering your work crews or equipment. This zone must provide adequate tapering distance by utilizing channelizing equipment such as road cones or barriers.
You can find the amount of equipment required and its required spacing in the MUTCD. It's crucial to follow these requirements as they vary based on road conditions, speed limits, etc.
3. Activity Area
The activity area is the most crucial safety zone in any workspace. This area covers the road where your crews and equipment will be actively working. The activity area should include a buffer following the transition area to account for inattentive motorists who fail to react to the warning or transition areas. You must separate this area from the usable traffic space by utilizing channelizing equipment.
Your crews must separate the actual work area from the traffic lanes occupied by motorists. For high-speed or long-term work zones, utilize heavy-duty channelizing equipment, such as concrete or steel barriers. These devices are critical for protecting your personnel, materials, and construction equipment.
4. Termination Area
The termination area provides a zone for motorists to resume utilizing the entire road area and return to standard traffic patterns. Equipment used in this area is often optional, but you may want to provide an additional buffer space and tapering to smooth out the traffic flow. Smoothing downstream traffic flow can potentially reduce sudden, unpredictable stopping, making traffic around your work zone safer.
Any road closure or change in road conditions can produce hazardous conditions, even on roads with low speed limits or relatively little traffic. Understanding how to correctly design your work zone and utilize traffic safety and control equipment can help avoid accidents and keep your work crews safe.
For more information on renting traffic equipment, contact a traffic equipment rental service.
Share19 May 2022
