Key Messages Short duration static works must not exceed 60 mins, including setting up and dismantling traffic management. A vehicle or vehicles should be used whenever possible to protect the workforce. All activities must be properly planned and subject to a risk assessment, undertaken by trained and competent personnel. The work location must be continually monitored for changing conditions that may affect the ongoing safety of the activity All personnel must have their NRSWA qualification cards available on site. Introduction Every year, Thames Water and its contractors carry out thousands of minor short duration works activities in the public highway. These activities involve a single or a small number of vehicles, making one or more intermittent stops, or where there is a requirement for a person(s) to undertake a task on the footway or carriageway that doesn t involve an excavation. Typical activities include sewer entry, valve operations, meter reading, sewer blockages, survey work (CCTV), leakage sounding, leakage correlation, hydrant flushing, chlorination, tankering and sampling. It is during these times that the employee(s) involved in the task can be at their most vulnerable; these standards are provided for your guidance to assess the work to ensure you and other road users are safe. Where operatives are working wholly on the footway or verge some very short duration works may be undertaken without the use of static signs and cones, provided that a site specific risk assessment demonstrates minimal obstruction to traffic flows and a low risk to operatives and road users. The works vehicle must be parked legally and where traffic can pass safely, without any difficulty and not obstructing pedestrians walking by, where possible maintaining a width of 1m however local permitting arrangements may specify an alternative width (mainly 1.2m) as a minimum. The working area MUST not be left unattended at ANY TIME to allow for the barriers to be removed if required. If at any time the employee believes that even after applying these standards their own or others safety is still in question, the work should be suspended and the task MUST be assessed by a competent individual, trained to a minimum NRSWA Unit 10 and arrangements for further additional controls around signing, lighting and guarding will be implemented if required. Training All operatives undertaking short duration street works on behalf of Thames Water MUST be trained and competent. The minimum qualification requirement for an operative will be NRSWA Unit 2. Any individual supervising work in the highway must be trained to a minimum of NRSWA Unit 10. NB NRSWA qualification cards MUST be available onsite at all times. Responsibility for establishing a safe working area There must always be a lead person responsible for the work site. The lead person on site is responsible to ensure that the works are carried out in accordance with the work plan and risk assessment, team members are briefed and the worksite is set up correctly prior to any activities commencing. October 2015 Page 1 of 7 Version 3
Short duration static works Short duration static work will involve a single vehicle or a small number of vehicles undertaking: One or more intermittent stops of up to 15 minutes for activities such as sewer tankering (pumping from or discharging to sewers), sewer jetting, valve operations, meter reading etc.; or One or more intermittent stops of between 15 and 60 minutes for activities such as leak detection, making safe / minor repairs to manhole and valve covers, sewer entry, etc. These time periods must include all time needed to set up and dismantle any signing, cones and guarding which have been used. Planning and risk assessment A risk assessment must be carried out for all works before any task begins. The risk assessment MUST take account of road layout and speed of traffic, the works to be undertaken, location, duration and restoration of the work site to the original state. Work activities may only be managed as short duration static work if the risk assessment demonstrates it is safe to do so as a lone worker and if the following conditions exist: The activity including erecting and dismantling traffic management will take less than 60 minutes. The road has a maximum speed limit of up to 40mph, It is a single carriageway road. There is clear and good visibility on each approach for oncoming traffic of the work site, taking into consideration large obstructions such as buildings, bends or narrowing in the road, brows of a hill and weather conditions. The work does not impede the public footway requiring pedestrians to seek an alternative route. If the work cannot be completed as a Short Duration task fitting the above criteria; DO NOT continue until you have assessed what other controls would be required to allow the task to be completed safely. This MUST involve at least a second person to support the work activity on site and you may require further guidance by a Unit 10 trained person to discuss the site conditions for further assessments to be made. Any activity completed not as a Short Duration task must still comply with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice. Traffic Control An adequate unobstructed road width is required to allow two-way traffic to flow safely past the work site. Standard: Normal traffic Restricted: Cars and Light including buses and HGVs vehicles Two-way working 6.75 m minimum 5.5 m minimum Where the above cannot be provided the road width can be restricted to 3.25m and a single file traffic supplement plate must be used on the road narrow sign. The standard widths are designed to maintain access for buses and heavy goods vehicles and must be provided wherever practicable. Where the work may restrict lane widths that will prevent the passage of larger vehicles, a suitable diversion route must be agreed with the highway authority and bus operator. In these circumstances you must stop work and consult a trained unit 10 competent person who will discuss what form of Temporary Traffic Control may be required with the relevant highway authority for the work to be carried out safely. October 2015 Page 2 of 7 Version 3
Basic requirements for vehicles The following are the basic requirements when undertaking short duration static works: The vehicle must be noticeably coloured i.e. chevrons and branding in line with statutory and TW requirements. The vehicle must have one or more roof mounted beacons operating at all times The following must then be in place before the works can start: Site set up requirements Single stop, short duration works Stop less than 15 mins duration Place Road Works Ahead signs for drivers approaching in each direction; ensure there is clear visibility of 60meters when approaching the sign (see appendix 1). If there is limited visibility on the approach to the proposed work site due to a bend in the road or brow of a hill you must provide extra advance signs; these signs must be placed first. The signs must be placed at the appropriate distance in advance of the works. (See Code of Practice NRSWA and appendix 1 part D). Display the correct side Road Narrows sign for drivers approaching in each direction. A keep left / right sign must be displayed next to the vehicle for drivers approaching on the same side of the carriageway, showing which side to pass. Stop 15 to 60 mins duration Display advance signs as above, and Display Keep left / right arrow at the start of the lead-in taper Place cones to form 45 o lead-in and exit tapers, and Cone off the working space making sure you create a sideways safety zone of 0.5m at the side where traffic is passing Place a barrier around the area where the work is taking place NB Remember to allow two-way traffic, if this is not achievable see above section Traffic control for road widths. Stop more than 60 mins WARNING: This is not short duration work and additional controls will be required in accordance with NRSWA i.e. standard signing, cones and guarding for a fixed site must be provided with the potential requirement for traffic lights to be put in place for the safety of other road users and operatives. This will need to be assessed with a Unit 10 trained and competent person. IF ANY OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS CANNOT BE MET, YOU MUST NOT UNDERTAKE THE WORKS. October 2015 Page 3 of 7 Version 3
See below for minimum equipment requirements and the above table Site set up requirements For dimensions D see Appendix 1 For dimensions D and L see Appendix 1 Note 2 See above section Traffic control for further details October 2015 Page 4 of 7 Version 3
Minimum equipment requirements This list below details the minimum amount of equipment that must be carried and used as appropriate to undertake short duration work safely: 12 traffic cones (450mm) for tapers, more may be required dependant on the working area size 3 road works ahead signs (750mm) with removable supplement arrows if required 2 road narrows (750mm) with removable single file traffic plates 3 directional keep left / keep right arrows (750mm) Folding pedestrian barriers If additional signage is required after an assessment is completed using the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice, the equipment must be requested and brought to site before the work can commence. PPE must be donned prior to leaving the vehicle in accordance Thames Water s PPE requirements The minimum requirements will include: Hard hat High visibility jacket (Class 3, two bar, long sleeves) Steel capped safety boots Gloves appropriate for the task Eye protection All equipment must be maintained and in good condition. Using a vehicle to protect the workforce Wherever possible short duration works must involve the use of a vehicle(s). If a vehicle cannot be used due to the location (e.g. impedes a bus route / stop etc.), then consideration of further control measures around signing, cones and guarding must be assessed and applied. When using a vehicle or vehicles, it is required that: The work vehicle(s) are parked in a safe position with roof mounted amber beacons turned on and hazard lights flashing. The beacons must remain on at all times. The vehicle should be parked between the oncoming traffic and the work area; ensuring a clear distance between vehicle and working area of: o o 2m on roads with a speed limit of 30mph roads 5m on roads where the speed limit is 40mph. The work vehicle must be noticeable and have high visibility chevron markings. Materials and equipment can be obtained using the rear doors of the vehicle (unless the side doors open onto the footpath). The rear doors are kept closed when not in use, to maximise visibility of chevrons on the back of the vehicle. October 2015 Page 5 of 7 Version 3
Monitoring The site must be continually monitored by the lead person/ operator and team for changing conditions throughout the duration of the work. Significant changes will require the work to be suspended and the risk assessment reviewed prior to continuing. If additional safety controls are required, work must not recommence until they are installed. Regular inspections of street works activities must be undertaken by a Unit 10 trained manager or supervisor on a regular basis and recorded. NB. This Essential Standard has been developed for Short Duration tasks only; if after planning and assessing the task it cannot be done safely contact your supervisor for assistance. The task must ONLY commence once additional controls are in place using the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice for guidance and the task is completed as a minimum 2 person team. October 2015 Page 6 of 7 Version 3
Appendix 1 October 2015 Page 7 of 7 Version 3