Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
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Text from 'Exposure of Short-term Utility Work Zones Through Effective Safety Planning ' PowerPoint Presentation

Workshops > ITS and Mitigation

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INCOM, INC. Reducing Exposure of Short-term Utility Work Zones Through Effective Safety Planning

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INCOM, Inc. Presenting Author: Todd Belobraydich, Incom, Inc.

Co- Authors: Glen Mudd, Louisville Water Company and Carl Griffith, TRENCH-IT, Inc.

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Presentation Overview

  • Intro & Background - The Need
  • Two Successful Utility Programs
    • Louisville Water Company - Traffic Control Program
    • TRENCH-IT, INC. - Temporary Traffic Control Policy
  • Common Elements of the Two Programs
  • A Proposed Utility Model Program
  • Discussion / Q A

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Who is INCOM?

  • Div. of Dicke Tool Company; founded 1886
  • Started 1993; utility safety support services
  • Publications, Training Courses, Consultation
  • Member National Safety Council - Utilities Division
  • NSC - Certified Worksite Traffic Control Supervisor
  • ATSSA - Certified Worksite Traffic Technician

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The Need

  • Deteriorating Infrastructure
  • Changing Traffic Patterns
  • Changing Driver Habits
  • "Orange Overload"
  • Customer Relations through Field
  • Operation Personal Contact

Slide 06

The Need

The utility safety dilemma..................

  • How can we keep the road users and our workers safe, while at the same time inhibiting traffic flow as little as possible?

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Photo - Truck surrounded by orange cones doing work on a residential road.

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Photo - Construction work sign with flags and truck surrounded by orange cones on a residential road.

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Photo - Arrow sign, two trucks at intersection surrounded by orange cones.

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Photo - Two construction tracks in intersection surrounded by orange cones.

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Utility-Specific Issues

  • Variable Durations
    • 1-30 minutes
    • 2-4 hrs
  • Variable Locations / Conditions
    • Off the road
    • On the shoulder w or w/o encroachment
    • In the roadway
    • Day or night
    • Overhead, on-ground, under-ground

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Utility-Specific Issues

  • Inter-Jurisdictional Operations
    • Many utilities now multi-state
    • "Maximum-minimum as minimum"
  • Low Employee to Vehicle / Worksite Ratio
    • Technicians need training
  • Utility Contractors
    • Tend to imitate utility client

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Two Successful Utility Programs

  • Real-life Examples
    • Louisville Water Company
    • TRENCH-IT, Inc.
  • Comprehensive & Effective
  • Utility Developed
  • Common Elements
  • Basic Utility Model

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Louisville Water Company

  • Local municipal water utility for Louisville, Kentucky
  • Multi-Phase Approach
    • Education
    • Auditing
  • Three Phases of Training

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Louisville Water Company

  • New Employee Safety Orientation
    • Basic information
    • Create an educational foundation
  • General Safety Training
    • Annual basis
    • Drive the issue home
  • Expanded Training
    • Supervisory level
    • Conducted by consultants
    • Advanced treatment of issues

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Louisville Water Company

  • Traffic equipment contractors used to set-up and take down the traffic control zones for most work site situations.
  • Work zones are audited routinely to monitor the performance of both the crew and the contractor.
  • Deficiencies discussed & solutions implemented.
  • The continual emphasis on training reinforces the quality of the audits.

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Leading utility contractor located in McHenry, Illinois
  • Seven Part Program
  • Award Winning

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Purpose
  • Objective
  • Scope
  • Accountability
  • Definitions
  • Set Up Procedures
  • Training

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Purpose
    • The purpose of this program is to establish guidelines for temporary traffic control installation, maintenance, and removal. This program also serves to identify standard operating procedures for setting up temporary traffic control work zones.

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Objective
    • The guidelines set within this policy will help to regulate, warn, and guide traffic through Trench-It roadway work zones. The ultimate goal of this program is to prevent employee injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and personal injury to motorists and/or pedestrians.

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Scope
    • This policy applies to all work zones established on or near public roadways. Each employee working in these work zones must follow the guidelines established within this policy to ensure their safety and the safety of the general public.

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Accountability
    • Safety Director
    • Foremen
    • Crew Leaders
    • Employees

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Definitions
    • Activity Area
    • Advance Warning Area
    • Buffer Space
    • Termination Area
    • Traffic Space
    • Transition Area
    • Work Space

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Set Up Procedures
    • The traffic control setup will be selected from the typical applications illustrated in appendix A of this policy, the typical applications within the "Guide to Temporary Traffic Control in Work Zones" or a plan devised with the aid of the MUTCD guidelines.

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TRENCH-IT, Inc.

  • Training
    • All employees are required to receive training on proper temporary traffic control in work zones. Retraining will be given once every two years, or when deficiencies are noted on jobsites. Update training will be given when this policy or MUTCD guidelines change.

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Common Elements of the Two Programs

  1. Education / Training
  2. Clear Objectives
  3. Responsible Employees
  4. Standardized Procedures
  5. Auditing
  6. Enforcement
  7. Monitoring

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Common Elements of the Two Programs (continued)

  1. Training appropriate to level of responsibility
  2. Established Criteria for use of Outside Services
  3. Adherence to MUTCD and Regional Standards
  4. Written Policy/Program - Supplemental Manual or Field Reference
  5. On-going; Up-datable Program Features

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A Proposed Utility Model Program

By grouping the common elements of the two programs in similar categories, a distinct framework emerges.

  1. Training
    1. Education / Training
    2. Training appropriate to level of responsibility

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  1. Standards
    1. Clear Objectives
    2. Standardized Procedures
    3. Adherence to MUTCD and Regional Standards
    4. Written Policy/Program - Supplemental Manual or Field Reference
    5. On-going; Up-datable Program Features

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  1. Responsibility
    1. Responsible Employees
    2. Auditing
    3. Enforcement
    4. Monitoring
    5. Established Criteria for use of Outside Services

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A Proposed Utility Model Program

  1. Training
  2. Standards
  3. Responsibility

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About The Authors:

Glen Mudd is the Director of Safety, Health and Security for the Louisville Water Company, Louisville, KY. Glen is a Certified Utility Safety Administrator and currently serves as Chairman of National Safety Council-Utilities Division.

Carl Griffith is the Safety Director for TRENCH-IT, Inc., a leading utility contractor located in McHenry, IL. Carl serves as Financial Officer of the National Safety Council-Utilities Division and is a Certified Utility Safety Administrator.

Todd Belobraydich is Vice President - Sales & Marketing for InCom, Inc., specializing in the development of customized safety training, publications and other related services for telecommunications, electric, gas and water utilities.

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INCOM, Inc.

Reducing Exposure of Short-term Utility Work Zones Through Effective Safety Planning

Discussion - Q & A
Office of Operations