Traffic management is an aspect of business operations that is often overlooked, however, it is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficient movement of people and vehicles within a workplace environment such as warehouses and distribution centres.
An efficient traffic management plan (TMP) will provide workers with a clear understanding of designated pathways, vehicle operation zones, and safety protocols, ensuring the safety of both employees and visitors. Implementing a comprehensive traffic management plan is essential to ensure a safe and productive worksite.
In this article, we will outline how to create a traffic management plan and highlight how SafeQuip can support your business.
What is a Traffic Management Plan?
A traffic management plan outlines the movement of workers and visitors within a site, identifying hazards and risks. It provides a summary of what needs to be removed and/or reduced to ensure a safe working environment. A traffic management plan will typically include identifying the types of traffic present, determining the routes they will take, and putting measures in place to control traffic flow.
A TMP considers various forms of traffic in the workplace, including:
- People; such as workers and visitors.
- Vehicles, including delivery trucks and vans.
- Waste-carrying equipment.
- Other mobile plant equipment, such as forklifts, rollers, and elevated working platforms like scissor lifts.
A traffic management plan aims to enhance the safety of workers, pedestrians, and drivers by minimising risks associated with traffic. It will outline efficient methods for managing traffic within the workplace, fulfilling several key objectives such as safety, accessibility and legal compliance.
A thorough TMP is necessary to educate workers to ensure a safer and more productive worksite. The plan should be used as a foundation for training all workers, contractors, and others, and should be included in their respective inductions. It must apply to all vehicles on site, whether they are owned by the company, contractors, or personal vehicles, and can also be used for any visitors to your site, so they know where they should go and what places they should avoid while visiting.
The plan will also include an analysis of all the features around your worksite, including open walkways, places where machines and other devices typically go, and usage patterns. This will help you identify and resolve any potential threats.
Your business will require a complete site safety audit of their workplace to see what is necessary. Once a plan has been provided, this plan will need to be implemented to mitigate the risks identified as soon as possible. Contact our team of experts to book a safety audit or to discuss our full project implementation service.
How do you implement a Traffic Management Plan?
To prepare a thorough TMP, your business will need to evaluate your current situation by identifying hazards such as the speed of vehicles and machines, malfunction risks, poor visibility and any areas prone to falling objects. Some other key features to identify will include:
- Pedestrian zones, including places where pedestrians should be isolated from.
- Shared zones that can support people and vehicles alike.
- Exclusion zones to follow when a vehicle is on the tarmac or another sensitive place.
- Signage for spaces where visibility is minimal.
How can SafeQuip help?
At SafeQuip, we specialise in end-to-end site safety improvement projects. Our process includes site auditing, risk assessments, traffic management plans and project installation. Our team of experts can conduct a site safety audit to identify what risks may be present in your workplace, provide a plan with solutions and then assist with the implementation project.
Whether you are looking for a safety audit on its own or a full project implementation, SafeQuip offer services to suit all business requirements. Our process includes:
1. A Discovery Appointment
Our team will discuss your current challenges and assess the condition of the site. We will discuss various approach options with site stakeholders and obtain an agreement to prepare a proposal for the site safety audit and traffic management plan.
2. Conduct a Site Safety Audit
Following the approval of the proposal, the site safety audit would be carried out as follows:
- Conduct an initial discussion/briefing
- Risk assessment: We will conduct a site safety audit providing a detailed analysis of your site, identifying any potential hazards and how to resolve these.
- Plan development and refinement: We help you design a practical and effective traffic management plan tailored to your workplace needs.
The time to create a site safety audit could also vary from a single day to an entire week, depending on the size and complexity of the site.
3. Project Implementation
Once your traffic management plan is completed, our team will assist your business in implementing the plan, ensuring a seamless transition and compliance with recommendations. This in turn will reduce the time required for your business to go to market, engage with multiple providers, and try to explain the findings of the plan to them. We will install various materials that may be required as a result of the safety audit, such as safety barriers, line markings, speed humps, traffic delineation and safety signage. The particular materials or safety products required will vary by situation, but our team can help you see what fits best in your site.
Additionally, the SafeQuip team offer a traffic management standards document. This document is beneficial for businesses with multiple worksites to ensure consistency across all locations. This will be developed following the completion of an initial traffic management plan.
For more information on the services we offer, contact us today.
Conclusion
Understanding what a traffic management plan is and its importance is crucial for ensuring the safety of your employees and any visitors to your worksite.
Contact the SafeQuip team today to book an appointment to discuss your traffic management needs. Alternatively, download our Site Safety Audit Guide for more information on how safety audits work and the value of having an independent assessment completed. By including these elements in your traffic management plan, you can improve the safety, accessibility and legal compliance of your workplace.