Traffic Management Plan vs Traffic Management Standards Manual

Written by James Goodsell | Nov 27, 2024 7:06:24 PM

A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) and Traffic Management Standards Manual are both essential components of worksite safety in Australia. The question is — what’s the difference between them?

In this article, we outline the key differences between TMPs and a Traffic Management Standards Manual, as well as how to make sure your organisation has all the right safety protocols in place.

What is a Traffic Management Plan?

A Traffic Management Plan is a site-specific document outlining how traffic will be managed at a worksite. A Traffic Management Plan accounts for a range of traffic types, including people, vehicles, and other mobile plant equipment, such as forklifts, rollers, and elevated working platforms.

This is particularly critical in warehouses and factories where vehicles and pedestrians frequently move around within close proximity. A Traffic Management Plan typically includes several elements, such as:

The types of traffic present
Traffic control measures
Emergency exits and routes
The flow and routes of pedestrians and vehicles
Vehicle operation zones
Frequency of vehicles and pedestrians interacting
Layout of barriers, walkways and signs
How short-term, mobile work and complex traffic situations will be managed

The plan will also be developed considering the site-specific features and processes, including walkways, machinery, and usage patterns. This will help to identify and resolve any potential threats before they arise.

Our Traffic Management Plans

We are experts in traffic management and will create a thorough Traffic Management Plan tailored to your worksite. We will ensure key safety features are built into your processes, allowing you to take a proactive approach that ensures safety considerations are integrated from the outset.

Your Traffic Management Plan ensures a safer working environment for all staff and visitors with the following outcomes:

Effective traffic management.
Clear expectations of traffic regulations.
Separation of pedestrians from mobile plant equipment, where possible.

What are traffic management standards?

Traffic Management Standards are a set of high-level traffic protocols developed for large multi-site companies. The purpose is to create a consistent approach to the company’s basic traffic management.

While every site will have specific traffic requirements and challenges, there are numerous features and solutions that should be implemented consistently across every location. We can help you develop your Traffic Management Standards Manual, maximising retention and minimising confusion for those on-site.

A Traffic Management Standards Manual often includes standards for the following:

Line marking
Barriers
Signage
Loading zones
Driver safety zones
Any other traffic-related elements

While each site has unique features to include in the site-specific traffic plan, a set of all-inclusive traffic standards ensures continuity for the whole company. With these fundamentals in place, staff transitioning between locations will have clear expectations and protocols to follow.

Our Traffic Management Standards

If your business operates across multiple locations, our safety experts can develop a comprehensive set of standards for your traffic management. We will share our product recommendations and how to maximise consistency on all the worksites.

Contact us to discuss your options ›

Case Study: Ecolab Traffic Plan

At the Ecolab manufacturing facilities, hazardous chemicals are frequently moved around, posing a risk to the workers on-site.

After conducting a comprehensive Site Safety Audit and risk assessment at both their Revesby and Kwinana Beach sites, we identified the key hazards. Based on our assessment, we developed a Traffic Management Plan tailored to the Revesby site. We implemented a one-way traffic system and dedicated pedestrian pathways to ensure a secure environment for all personnel.

We also introduced a comprehensive range of tangible improvements for traffic management, including safety barriers, clear line markings, wheel stops, speed bumps, and strategically placed safety signage. These measures help control vehicle speeds and protect pedestrians, ensuring a well-organised and secure worksite for all.

See the full Ecolab case study here ›

Traffic control measures

According to the Safe Work Australia Traffic Management Guide, an organisation must eliminate traffic hazards from the workplace where it is reasonably practicable. When implementing traffic controls, such as a TMP or Traffic Management Standard Manuals, consider whether a hazard can be eliminated altogether. When elimination is not an option, you must then consider substitution, isolation, and engineering controls.

The Hierarchy of Control outlines the order of steps for PCBUs to take, from the highest level of protection to the lowest.

Substitute the hazard for a safer alternative. For example, you could swap a forklift for a walker stacker.
Isolate the risk from workers by using overhead walkways or other separation methods.
Implement engineering controls, such as reversing sensors and reversing cameras.

If after these measures are put in place, a risk remains, you will need to implement administrative control measures, such as training, instruction, and supervision.

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. 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 materials or safety products required will vary by situation, but our team can help you see what fits your site best.

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 about our Traffic Management Plans, Traffic Management Standard manuals, and Site Safety Audits, explore our website. Alternatively, contact our team to discuss your requirements.

View full post