Traffic management for truck-mounted concrete booms

WorkSafe ACT inspectors have encountered several instances of truck-mounted mobile concrete placing booms operating adjacent to public roadways without adequate risk management controls in place.

Concrete pumping activities are often undertaken in busy or trafficable areas where motorist, cyclists, pedestrians, delivery drivers and workers may interact with concrete pumping equipment. Without appropriate planning and controls, these activities may create risk to workers and members of the public.

WorkSafe ACT reminds persons conducting business or undertaking (PCBUs) involved in the operation of truck-mounted mobile concrete placing booms near public roadways of their obligations to identify, assess and manage risk to health and safety. Also considering measures that should be implemented to minimise risk associated with these activities.

GUIDANCE

When concrete pumping activities are conducted on or near public roads, a temporary traffic management system should be implemented to control the movement of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians through or past the work area. The aim is to establish a safe system of work for both workers and road users.

Temporary traffic management may be required when work is conducted on or near:

Public roads

Road verges or medians

Footpaths

Bicycle paths

Construction sites that interface with road network

Other locations where work activities may affect traffic management.

There are various ways to control the risks associated with working on or near roadways. A temporary traffic management plan (TTMP) or traffic control plan (TCP) should be developed to identify and document how traffic control devices and other safety measures will be implemented at the site.

Under the Road Transport Safety and Traffic Management Act 1999, approval from the appropriate authority is required before installing prescribed traffic control devices. In the ACT, a temporary traffic management or traffic control devices application must be approved by Roads ACT within the City and Environment Directorate when work is conducted on, or within a specified distance of:

a public roadway

a footpath

a bicycle path, or

any area where traffic control devices will be installed, removed or modified.

PCBUs must ensure risks to health and safety are eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, risks must be minimised by implementing controls in accordance with the hierarchy of controls, giving priority to higher-order controls.

Examples of traffic control measures that may be considered include:

road closures

footpath closures

detours

protective barriers, and

traffic controllers.

Where concrete pumping involves multiple truck deliveries, a dedicated spotter should be used to manage the safe movement and positioning of delivery trucks. This role should be separate from any traffic controllers managing public traffic.