Utility Work Zone Safety Guidelines and Training

State-of-the-Art Synthesis and State-of-the-Practice

Synthesis

Prepared for: United States Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration Office of Acquisition Management

400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 4410 Washington, D.C. 20590

Prepared by: Wayne State University

Transportation Research Group Detroit, MI

and Bradley University

Peoria, IL

Date: April 2007

Utility Work Zone Safety Guidelines and Training State-of-the-Art Synthesis and State-of-the-Practice

Synthesis

Prepared for: United States Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration Office of Acquisition Management

400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 4410 Washington, D.C. 20590

Prepared by: Wayne State University

Transportation Research Group Detroit, MI

and Bradley University

Peoria, IL

Date: April 2007

The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the U.S. Department ofTransportation, Federal Highway Administration. This report was prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal HighwayAdministration.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 STATE-OF-THE-ART SYNTHESIS................................................................................. 3

2.1 Definitions....................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Crashes, Injuries and Fatalities in Work Zones .............................................................. 8 2.3 Urban Issues.................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Utility Work Zone Locations ........................................................................................ 17 2.5 Human Factors .............................................................................................................. 17 2.6 Implementation/Removal of Traffic Control Devices .................................................. 22 2.7 Traffic Control Devices ................................................................................................ 24 2.8 Worker Safety ............................................................................................................... 37 2.9 Training Programs/Best Practices................................................................................. 38

3.0 STATE-OF-THE-PRACTICE SYNTHESIS ................................................................... 50

3.1 Results of the Survey .................................................................................................... 50 3.2 Summary of Current Practices Survey.......................................................................... 55

4.0 CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................... 56 5.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 62 APPENDIX I BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................I-1 APPENDIX II TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REFERENCES .................................................. II-1 APPENDIX III SAMPLE SURVEYS AND DATA............................................................... II-1

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Trend of Motor Vehicle Fatalities by Work Zone Type in the USA (1994-2005)........ 10 Figure 2. Information Handling Zones Applied to a Typical Highway Work Zone .................... 18 Figure 3. New Jersey's Shadow Vehicle Used in Mobile Operation [Source: Paaswell, et. al. (24)] ...................................................................................................... 25 Figure 4. Spot Map of States Responding to Survey .................................................................... 51 Figure 5. Spot Map of States that Responding Utility Companies Cover .................................... 52

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Crashes by Work Zone Type in the USA (1994-2005) ........ 9 Table 2. Driving Difficulties in Work Zones and Positive Guidance Principles.......................... 21 Table 3. Functionality Criteria Satisfied by Selected Work Zone Devices/Equipment [Adapted from Paaswell, et. al. (27)]............................................................................................ 26 Table 4. Guidance for Use of Protection Vehicles on Mobile and Short Duration Operations [Adapted from Finley and Trout (29)] .......................................................................................... 27 Table 5. Summary of Training Programs and Materials............................................................... 48

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1.0 INTRODUCTION Utility work zones pose unique challenges to the motorist as well as to the workers health and

safety. Utility service providers such as the electric, gas, telephone and cable companies often

need to work on or near public highways providing essential services to the public at large. Most

of their work activities typically require less time as compared to roadway construction and

maintenance activities, and are generally completed in a timely manner. It is often impractical

for a utility company to create detailed, site-specific work zone plans for each and every work

zone they work in. The utility companies and their contractors, therefore, must follow policies,

procedures and safety standards for work zone traffic control that incorporate desirable safety

and mobility guidelines and standards and follow their intent to ensure the safety of the motorists

and workers alone.

The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (1) contains the basic

principles of design and the use of traffic control devices for all streets and highways. Part 6 of

the MUTCD contains the standards, guidance, options, and support information related to work

zones. In work zones, temporary traffic control is primarily used to enhance traffic safety and

mobility. As stated in Part 6 of the MUTCD, the primary function of temporary traffic control

is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians through

or around temporary traffic control zones while reasonably protecting workers and equipment

(1). The MUTCD includes Typical Applications for a variety of street and highway work zone

situations commonly encountered by road users. These provide detailed schematics and depict

examples of recommended advanced traffic control warning signs, tapers for lane transitions,

buffer space, temporary channelizing devices (such as cones drums, traffic barriers), and

pavement markings. However, the MUTCD does indicate that such procedures be used for

establishing traffic control devices to satisfy actual field conditions, as they may vary drastically

from the condition illustrated in the typicals with such conditions as: road configuration,

location of work, work activity, duration of work, traffic volumes, and traffic speeds. In such

cases, MUTCD recommends that the typicals/guidelines be applied/adjusted to actual situations

and field conditions using proper judgment (1). Many professionals and regulatory agencies

misinterpret the MUTCDs typicals and think that they must be used in all circumstances.

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The MUTCD (Part 6) provides comprehensive information related to roadway construction-

related traffic control. The research that provides the background for the MUTCD rarely

involves utility work zones. The manual, however, recognizes the transient nature of utility

work and differentiates between the shorter duration of work by providing a certain amount of

flexibility for the typical temporary traffic control for a given situation. Work duration is a major

factor in determining the number and types of devices used in temporary traffic control zones

(1).

Work zones often contain a sign at the beginning of the work zone informing drivers that a work

zone is beginning and another sign at the end letting drivers know that the work zone has ended.

Utility work zones may not always contain these signs since they are shorter in duration and may

be mobile. The MUTCD gives a definition of construction, maintenance and utility work zones

stating that they may be defined by signs at the beginning and end of the work zones, but they

may also be defined by providing rotating lights or strobe lights. According to the MUTCD, A

work zone is an area of a highway with construction, maintenance, or utility work activities. A

work zone is typically marked by signs, channelizing devices, barriers, pavement markings,

and/or work vehicles. It extends from the first warning sign or high-intensity rotating, flashing,

oscillating, or strobe lights on a vehicle to the END ROAD WORK sign or the last TTC device.

(1)

The US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration has established a Work

Zone Safety and Mobility Rule (2), which is applicable to all state and local governments that

receive highway funds. It support