It is a good idea for the installation team to discuss the project in length whereby answering the questions mentioned above and filling out the traffic plan before submitting it to the required municipality in which they will be working.
By Mark Wallis
When a sign professional is tasked with a project that has them working near or on a roadway it is imperative for them to explore all risks involved in completing the project. There are some extremely important questions sign installers must ask themselves before even arriving on-site. These include:
- Where to park?
- Where is the operating/lifting radius?
- Where is the work zone?
- How will traffic be directed away from the hazard zones?
- What signs will be needed to direct traffic?
- Are barriers, caution tape, and scaffolding needed?
- How long will they be on-site?
- Whose business/right of way will be affected by operating on-site and are they okay with the plan?
- What risks are involved?
Installers must make sure they are within a safe distance from powerlines.
Laws of the road
In Ontario, for example, when working near or on a roadway, sign installers need to follow the Ontario Traffic Manual book 7. This book contains a multitude of temporary traffic plans for any type of lane/road closure one may need to perform to complete the task at hand.
That said, it is a good idea for the installation team to discuss the project in length whereby answering the questions mentioned above and filling out the traffic plan before submitting it to the required municipality in which they will be working. It is important to complete this work far in advance of the scheduled installation as this will allow any necessary changes to be completed in a timely manner.
Submitting these traffic plans is extremely important—not only for the safety of the sign installation team, but also for pedestrians. It provides the municipality the opportunity to notify emergency response personnel about any road and/or lane closures, too.
