Health, Safety & Quality Consultancy

SAFETY AT STREET WORKS AND ROAD WORKS

Introduction
The ‘Safety at Street Works and Road Works’ is a code of practice issued by the Secretary of State for Transport under the ‘New Roads and Street Works Act 1991’. The code sets out the health & safety requirements for carrying out street and road works to keep both operatives and other road users safe during these operations. This applies especially to vulnerable users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders as well as drivers.

While the majority of the document is concerned with vehicular traffic flows, lane closures and temporary traffic lights, there is specific guidance on protecting pedestrians when carrying out installation work on public buildings.

PPE
High visibility jackets/vests conforming to BS 471: 2003 must be worn at all times to conform to the requirements of the code.

Portable Pedestrian Barriers
Portable pedestrian barriers which may include mesh should be reasonably ridged, designed to resist being blown over by the wind or passing traffic and have:

• A handrail fixed at between 1.0m and 1.2m above ground level which should be reasonably smooth and be ridged enough to guide pedestrians and give them support.
• A visibility panel of at least 150mm deep is required which may be integral to the handrail or, if separate, must be fixed so that its upper edge is a minimum of 0.9m above ground level.
• A tapping rail (or equivalent reasonably ridged area if the barrier is a virtually continuous one) of minimum depth of 150mm with a lower edge at ground level or set at up to 200mm above ground level. (See Fig 1).

Information Boards

Information boards are not normally required for mobile works and minor works which do not include excavation.

Safe Routes for Pedestrians
If a footway or part of a footway has to be closed, a safe route for pedestrians must be provided which should include access to adjacent buildings, properties and public areas.

Safe routes should always provide a minimum unobstructed width of 1m, increased wherever possible to 1.5m or more. (See Fig 2). However, a balanced assessment must be made to provide pedestrians with the safest option. For example, a route of 1m unobstructed width which uses the existing footway is potentially safer than a wider temporary route placed in the carriageway.

The use of the other footway may be acceptable on quiet roads, but if you choose this option you must ensure that the alternative route is safe to use, and you must take into account the needs of children and people with disabilities.

Other Operations

For advice on other roadside operations see: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4388/safety-street-works-code.pdf