NUESTRO PROCESO

O8.3.1 This section deals with short-duration stops, i.e. those lasting less than 15 minutes.

O8.3.2 There is always an element of danger in activities undertaken on an operational road. There is a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978 on every employer and every operative to take particular care to ensure the safety of themselves and those affected by their actions. Some ways of meeting this requirement are:

• carry out a risk assessment; see Section O2.2;

• plan to do the inspection in periods of light traffi c fl ow;

• ensure that all staff are adequately trained, informed and supervised; • plan the inspection before going on to the road and try to keep to the plan;

• do not embark on any activity if visibility is poor or during adverse weather conditions, except in an emergency. Whenever visibility is signifi cantly reduced, the inspection should not proceed unless there are at least two persons present at the site, one of whom should act as a lookout to warn others of approaching traffi c;

• remain alert at all times and whenever possible facing oncoming traffi c; and • complete the inspection as quickly as possible.

O8.3.3 Whenever possible, short-duration inspections of structures or particular features of roads should be conducted well away from the traffi c lanes, e.g. making use of verges or overbridges. Inevitably sometimes it will be unavoidable for people to be on the hard shoulder or on traffi c lanes and any such carriageway inspections or measurements lasting 15 minutes or less should be carried out in accordance with the guidance in this section. If they are being carried out on a high-speed dual carriageway and are likely to last longer than 15 minutes but less than 90 minutes then reference should be made to the document “Guidance for works on the hard shoulder and road side verges on high speed dual carriageways” which is available on the following website: www.standardsforhighways.co.uk. This document is not valid in Northern Ireland and guidance for inspection stops in Northern Ireland lasting less than 90 minutes is given in Part 1: Design, Appendix A4. In all other cases if they are likely to last longer than 90 minutes, inspection stops should be carried out as either mobile works or, if appropriate, as static works, with appropriate signing in each case.

O8.3.4 On some roads, particularly urban or rural roads, the geometry of the road and adjacent features such as junctions, changes in speed limit or high traffi c fl ows mean that particular care is needed when carrying out inspection stops. In these cases, in particular, a site specifi c risk assessment should be carried out prior to the inspection.

O8.3.5 Authority to stop on a motorway for maintenance purposes is covered by the Motorway Regulations. Inspections and surveys are covered by the Regulations which state that any inspection, survey, investigation or census is to be carried out in accordance with any general or specifi c authority granted by the Secretary of State. All personnel who carry out this kind of work on motorways are required to carry a pass certifying that the bearer is required to carry out the inspections etc. by authority of the Secretary of State. This pass also serves to establish the bearer’s credentials if required by the police.

O8.3.6 Any proposal to carry out an inspection on a highway, particularly a motorway, should be notifi ed to the Highway Authority’s agent for maintenance and to the police in accordance with arrangements previously established.

O8.3.7 For all classes and speeds of road, any vehicle stopping on a highway for inspection or works purposes should be of a conspicuous colour and marking (refer to Section O5.2). It should be identifi able to traffi c police (obviating the need for them to stop) by a sign “HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE” to diagram 7404 on or in the vehicle and facing the rear, and by any other vehicle identifi cation scheme required by the Overseeing Organisation. The “HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE” sign should also be used on all-purpose roads. Vehicles should always carry a roof-mounted fl ashing amber beacon complying with paragraph O5.3.1.

O8.3.8 When arriving at the site the following procedures for stopping on the highway should be observed:

• manoeuvre to the left-hand traffi c lane and switch on roof-mounted fl ashing amber beacon before starting to slow down. For the general use of roof-mounted beacons refer to paragraphs

O5.3.4 and O5.3.5;

• on motorways stop on the hard shoulder as far to the left as possible, approximately 50 m in advance of the site;

• on all-purpose roads stop in any convenient lay-by, fi eld gate entrance or side road; if stopping on a grass verge, leave suffi cient space for use by pedestrians; if there is no alternative to stopping on the carriageway, park the vehicle as close to the edge as possible;

• consider adopting the “fend” position (see paragraph O7.2.78);

• if the vehicle is to remain parked on the hard shoulder of a motorway or in the carriageway of an all-purpose road, the fl ashing beacon should remain on for the duration of the stop unless within the confi nes of a fully installed traffi c management layout;

• ensure that there is a minimum safety clearance between live traffi c and all personnel and vehicles; see Part 1: Design, Section D3.2;

• put on a high-visibility garment (see Section O6.3) before leaving the vehicle; and

• leave the vehicle by a door on the side away from the traffi c if possible, otherwise look out for approaching traffi c before opening the door and alighting.

O8.3.9 While on the road the following points should be observed: • do not run – to reduce the risk of tripping and falling;

• take particular care in climbing up and down side slopes – to avoid slipping, falling or rolling on to the carriageway; and

SINGLE VEHICLE WORKS AND INSPECTION STOPS

• if it is essential to cross the carriageway, wait for a gap in the traffi c which is long enough to allow walking across briskly keeping a look out for oncoming vehicles. Be prepared to wait some time to do this in safety. On very heavily-traffi cked roads it may be possible to cross the carriageway only during off-peak periods. See Section O3.5 and the HSE publication entitled “Crossing high- speed roads on foot during temporary traffi c management works” (Construction Information Sheet 53). See References (Appendix 3).

O8.3.10 On completion of the work, the following should be observed: • take special care when rejoining the traffi c stream;

• ensure that the appropriate direction indicator is switched on before moving off;

• on a motorway, build up speed on the hard shoulder to match the speed of traffi c in the left- hand lane before rejoining it. NB watch out for debris which can accumulate on a hard shoulder and may hinder its use; and

• the fl ashing amber beacon should remain in operation until the main fl ow of traffi c has been rejoined.

O8.3.11 The “Surveying” plate variant to diagram 7001.1 is used for the protection of survey teams working on or very near the carriageway where the carriageway is not obstructed.

O8.3.12 On a heavily-traffi cked road or where equipment is located on the carriageway, it will be necessary to close a lane using the principles set out in Part 1: Design, Sections D5 and D6 for single and dual carriageway roads respectively, so that the team may work in safety. Alternatively, it may be necessary to close one carriageway completely. This should be done by means of the appropriate layout of signs, including the “road works” sign to diagram 7001, delineators and barriers.