Working in Traffic with Bucket Truck

[Candie Blackburn]

#106213

hello,

I am inquiring about best practice for electrician that is working in a bucket truck in active traffic on street lights. This would be two lane and single lane traffic.

What are the safety precautions recommended for this work?
Is it considered a construction site if its a quick job and only the electrician is attending for maintenance?
Is there any best practices / regulations that suggest someone on the ground to direct traffic or are the flashers and indicators on the bucket truck sufficient?

[Glenn Demby]

#106214

1. Safety Precautions: Would be not recommended but required by the OHS regulations of your province. If you tell me where you operate (or if you’re federally regulated), I’ll do the research and let you know the exact requirements.

2. The definition of “construction” depends on the nature of the work, not how long it lasts. So, yes, if the site would constitute a “construction project” under your jurisdiction’s OHS laws, you would be subject to the more stringent OHS rules for construction.

3. Again, I believe that this is more a matter of regulation than best practice. I’ll see what I can find once I know which jurisdiction’s laws apply.

OHS Insider, Editor in Chief

[Candie Blackburn]

#106215

I appreciate the reply, we are located in Ontario.

[Glenn Demby]

#106225

The work would be subject to OHS Const Project Regs. traffic control requirements for work on a “highway,” defined as “a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles”

IF A WORKER MAY BE ENDANGERED BY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC–that would presumably include the electrician in the bucket truck, YOU/THE CONSTRUCTOR IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT MUST:

1. Use any of the following necessary to protect the worker: Barriers; Barricades; Delineators; Lane control devices; Warning signs; Flashing lights; Flares;Traffic control devices; Blocker trucks; Crash trucks; Sign trucks; Speed control devices; and/or Longitudinal buffer areas (Regs, Sec. 67(2))

2. Employer must implement a written traffic protection plan for its own workers that specifies the vehicular traffic hazards and measures listed above used to protect workers and is kept at the project and made available to an MOL inspector or worker on request (Regs., Sec. 67(5))

3. The Regs. say that workers “may be used” to direct traffic but don’t specify criteria on when they MUST BE used (Regs. Sec. 67(3))

4. If workers are used to direct traffic their signs must meet the requirements of Sec. 68

5. If workers are used to direct traffic on a “public way,” i.e., a highway or other street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct, or other open space to which the public has access, as of right or by expressed or implied invitationmust, you must meet the requirements of Sec. 69 and wear reflective clothing that meets the requirements of Sec. 69.1

I pasted in the key Sections below. I hope this answers all of your questions. If not, feel free to ask a follow up question.

OHS Insider, Editor in Chief

****
68. The following requirements apply with respect to a sign used by a worker to direct vehicular traffic:

1. It shall be octagonal in shape, measure 450 millimetres between opposite sides, and be mounted on a pole that is 1.2 metres long.

2. It shall be made of material with at least the rigidity of plywood that is six millimetres thick.

3. On one side it shall be high-intensity retro-reflective grade red in colour, with the word “STOP” written in legible high-intensity retro-reflective grade white letters 150 millimetres high in a central position on the sign.

4. On the other side it shall be high-intensity retro-reflective micro-prismatic fluorescent chartreuse in colour, with a black diamond-shaped border that is at least 317 millimetres by 317 millimetres, and with the word “SLOW” written in legible black letters 120 millimetres high in a central position on the sign.

5. It shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 22; O. Reg. 142/17, s. 12.

69. (1) This section applies with respect to directing vehicular traffic that may be a hazard to workers on a public way. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(2) A worker shall not direct vehicular traffic for more than one lane in the same direction. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(3) A worker shall not direct vehicular traffic if the normal posted speed limit of the public way is more than 90 kilometres per hour. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(4) A worker who is required to direct vehicular traffic,

(a) shall be a competent worker;

(b) shall not perform any other work while directing vehicular traffic;

(c) shall be positioned in such a way that he or she is endangered as little as possible by vehicular traffic; and

(d) shall be given adequate written and oral instructions, in a language that he or she understands, with respect to directing vehicular traffic, and those instructions shall include a description of the signals that are to be used. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(5) The written instructions referred to in clause (4) (d) shall be kept at the project. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

69.1 (1) A worker who may be endangered by vehicular traffic shall wear a garment that covers at least his or her upper body and has the following features:

1. The garment shall be fluorescent blaze or international orange in colour.

2. On the front and the back, there shall be two yellow stripes that are 5 centimetres wide. The yellow area shall total at least 500 square centimetres on the front and at least 570 square centimetres on the back.

3. On the front, the stripes shall be arranged vertically and centred and shall be approximately 225 millimetres apart, measured from the centre of each stripe. On the back, they shall be arranged in a diagonal “X” pattern.

4. The stripes shall be retro-reflective and fluorescent. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(2) If the garment is a vest, it shall have adjustable fit. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

(3) A nylon vest to which this section applies shall also have a side and front tear-away feature. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23; O. Reg. 345/15, s. 12.

(4) In addition, a worker who may be endangered by vehicular traffic during night-time hours shall wear retro-reflective silver stripes encircling each arm and leg, or equivalent side visibility-enhancing stripes with a minimum area of 50 square centimetres per side. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 23.

[Candie Blackburn]

#106226

thank you.

Would the flashing lights on the actual bucket truck be sufficient? as a Safety professional I would request they set up some barriers for lane controls. I am anticipating some push back so have to ask.

[Author]

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