Road work

Part 20—Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation applies to every workplace where there is a risk to the safety or health of a person due to the movement of vehicular traffic. Workers who perform road work have the potential to be exposed to many hazards and risks. Their safety and health are at increased risk because of their close proximity to vehicular traffic.

There are many hazards associated with road work, including, but not limited to the following:

Road hazards

Road hazards include inclement weather conditions, slippery surfaces, poor lighting, close proximity to nearby moving vehicles, limited/tight workspace, overhead cables, other roadside work or traffic control in close proximity, bike lanes, uneven ground, construction debris and obstacles.

Traffic hazards

Potential traffic hazards include a nearby intersection with traffic lights or traffic coming from multiple directions, rush hour traffic, traffic merging from two lanes to one, increased vehicular and foot traffic due to bus stops nearby, and school zones, parks, playgrounds or community centres nearby.

Vehicle hazards

Vehicle hazards include large vehicles entering the work zone to deliver supplies and materials, speeding, reduced signage visibility from large vehicles blocking signage or reducing road width and emergency vehicles frequently passing by.

Weather hazards

Possible weather and light hazards include rain, fog, snow or ice, wind, reduced light and/or the rising or setting sun.

Work activity hazards

Potential work activity hazards include work vehicles or mobile equipment entering or exiting the worksite, vehicles travelling to the worksite, equipment operated at the worksite and placement of supplies and equipment (be sure that they can be safely accessed).

Legislation

An employer must develop and implement safe work procedures for road work, train workers on them and ensure compliance.

As per Part 20.5(2), if vehicular traffic creates a risk to the safety or health of a worker, an employer must ensure that one or more of the following are used to protect the worker:

warning signs
barriers
lane control devices
flashing lights
flares
conspicuously identified pilot vehicles
automatic or remote-controlled traffic control systems
speed restrictions
one or more workers who are designated and act as flagpersons (must hold a valid flagperson training certificate issued by a provincially recognized organization)

In addition, employers must also ensure the following with regard to road work:

flagpersons must wear and use all required personal protective equipment (PPE), including:
- CSA approved Class 3 Level 2, high-visibility apparel in fluorescent yellow green
- CSA approved protective headwear in a fluorescent colour (equipped with retro-reflective tape during hours of darkness)
- CSA-approved footwear
- STOP/SLOW paddle with reflective surfaces
all workers and supervisors must be aware of the hazards in the workplace
an effective means of communication must be in place with other flagpersons when visibility is obstructed (use of personal electronic devices, including cell phones and other music or media players while working is prohibited)
workers must be given competent supervision

It is important to remember that each roadside work site is unique. The type of road, type and volume of traffic, visibility and work being performed and so on can drastically affect the risks that roadside workers are exposed to. Therefore, each site should be assessed to identify all potential hazards. Site-specific safe work procedures and plans need to be put into place in compliance with all applicable requirements in the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations.

Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations are in place to protect the safety and health of workers in Manitoba. Below are several parts of the regulation that apply to road work.

Part 2, 4, 6, & 20 Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation