Controlling hazards in temporary traffic management

The Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management provides guidance on how to identify and control a range of industry-specific hazards and risks in temporary traffic management (TTM).

The following guidance addresses some of the most common causes of workplace injuries – hazardous manual handling, slips and trips and falls under 2 m.

Hazardous manual handling

Manual handling is work in which a person has to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain something. TTM may require manual handling.

Manual handling becomes hazardous manual handling if it involves:

• high force, repeated force or ongoing force
• using sustained awkward postures
• repetitive movements
• exposure to sustained vibration
• handling people or animals
• loads that are unstable, unbalanced or hard to hold.

Hazardous manual handling is the biggest cause of injury in Victorian workplaces. The injuries, illnesses and diseases from hazardous manual handling are called musculoskeletal disorders. They're also known as MSDs.

Find more information about hazardous manual handling and MSDs in part one of the Compliance Code: Hazardous Manual Handling.

Regulations for hazardous manual handling

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) require employers to identify hazardous manual handling at work. As an employer, you must do this so far as reasonably practicable.

The OHS Regulations also have a hierarchy of control to manage the risks of MSD from hazardous manual handling.

In line with the hierarchy, you must eliminate the risk of MSDs so far as is reasonably practicable.

If you can’t eliminate the risk, you must reduce it so far as reasonably practicable. Follow the hierarchy of controls in the OHS Regulations to reduce the risks.

Examples of hazardous manual handling

Following are examples of hazardous manual handling in TTM.

• Using sustained awkward postures while
  • placing and removing signs from vehicles
  • placing and removing cones and bollards.
• Repetitive movements, such as those involved with
  • using stop-slow bats
  • putting out bollards from trucks.
• Exposure to constant vibration, such as when driving for long periods on uneven roads.
• Handling loads that are unstable, unbalanced or hard to hold. For example, when handling C-class signs.
• Using tools and equipment, such as stop-slow bats.
• Moving barriers or equipment.

How to find and control hazardous manual handling

The following steps may help you manage the risks of hazardous manual handling:

Slips, trips and falls

Falls from above 2 m are considered falls from height. Part 3.3 of the OHS Regulations deals with preventing falls from above 2 m.

While the OHS Regulations focus on higher falls, slips and trips and falls under 2 m are a leading cause of workplace injury. Employees, contractors, clients and others can be at risk. The injuries from slips, trips and falls are known as musculoskeletal injuries. They include:

• sprains and strains
• back injuries
• joint and bone injuries
• soft-tissue injuries
• hernias
• chronic pain

Musculoskeletal injuries can occur suddenly or develop over time.

As an employer, you have an OHS Act duty to provide and maintain a working environment for employees that is safe and without risks to health. You must also ensure your work does not place other people at risk. Your duties include identifying hazards and controlling risks of slips and trips and falls under 2 m. You must fulfil these duties so far as is reasonably practicable.

A person who manages or controls a workplace must ensure employees can enter and leave the workplace safely. Employees must be able to do so without risk to their health. This includes employees with additional needs or disabilities. As a person with management or control, you must fulfil this duty so far as is reasonably practicable.

Slips, trips, falls checklist

WorkSafe has guidance to help you control the risks of slips and trips and falls under 2 m. The guidance includes a checklist. Print, complete and keep a copy of the checklist for your records. A WorkSafe inspector may ask to see this document when inspecting the workplace.

Make sure you consult with employees and any HSRs when addressing slip, trip and fall risks. Use safe systems of work and do regular inspections to identify hazards and control risks.

For more information or help with hazards at work, contact WorkSafe.