Work Zone Roles and Responsibilities

1. Work Zone Roles and Responsibilities

2. Module Objectives • Recognize the roles of LEOs and others in work zones • List LEO responsibilities and expectations in work zones • Discuss communication channels among all involved and the importance of good communication

3. Decision-Makers • Set procedures for how their LEOs may be used • Implement policies • Be active and engaged – even if contractor is mainly responsible for hiring LEOs • Our State: City of New Haven Work Zone Permit & Safety Enforcement / Inspection

4. Discussion • Does your jurisdiction have a defined process for using officers in work zones? • How is coordination achieved? • How would you evaluate your current practice? • Is the process working as well as it could be?

5. Typical WZ Stakeholders 1. State/Local Highway Agency LE Agency? 2. Contractor 3. Contractor’s Point of Contact LEO? 4. Traffic control technicians

6. 1. Highway Controlling Agency • May be: • State DOT • Public Works Department • Other local agency • Responsible for the overallproject, including enforcement of the TCP • The “final authority” • May contract-out these responsibilities DOT Approves a Traffic Control Plan (TCP) for the project

7. 1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.) • May allocate enforcement resources • May provide WZ inspection services and liaison with LEOs • Builds the TCP which includes: • Pattern of TCPs • Tasks to be performed • Project phasing

8. 1. Highway Controlling Agency (cont.) • TCP may include location/placement of police officers / flaggers based upon: • WZ type • Location • Duration • Time of day • Safety

9. 2. Contractors Implements the Traffic Control Plan based on the MUTCD and local standards • Build and maintain project • May provide own inspection services and liaison to LEO • Responsible for ensuring the traffic control plan is correct on a daily basis • May be responsible for directly hiring and paying LEOs • Assumes officers are trained!!

10. Contractors…. • Do not have the authority to place officers contrary to established procedures and/or endanger the police officer Request a briefing from the contractor, DOT, or traffic agency representative!

11. Contractors…. • Should provide a daily work zone briefing to police officers prior to the beginning of each shift or special enforcement activity. If they don’t seek you out, you find them. Know what, how, where and when you are expected to perform a duty. The officer you are relieving is another good source of work zone information, but not your only one!

12. 3. Contractor’sPoint of Contact (POC) • Represents the Contractor at the site • In charge of project on site • May be called the “Work Zone” (WZS) or “Traffic Control Supervisor” (TCS) • Certification or training in WZ • The TCS is responsible for inspection and documentation of the installation, operation and removal of the work zone • A Highway Controlling Agency Inspector may also be a POC – be sure of your communication channels Know your primary contact in the field!

13. 4. Traffic Control Technicians • Report to the WZS / TCS • Are the WZ Workers • Are a good technical source on TCP issues • Should have some WZ training, at least hazard recognition • LEOs should help them understand and support role of LEOs in WZ

14. 5. Law EnforcementOfficers • Should: • Be trained in basic work zone operations and safety • Obtain names & numbers of contractors’ and their on site POC • Attempt to make daily contact with Contractor’s on site POC and/or Highway Controlling Agency POC/Inspector • Law Enforcement Agencies expected to enforce or work in work zones should attend the project’s pre-construction conferences.

15. The “Pre-construction Conference” • A meeting where everyone involved with the project discusses: • Roles and responsibilities • Construction details • Procedures/schedules are discussed • Decisions are made • Questions are answered Law Enforcement Agency representatives should attend and take information back to others!

16. 5. Law EnforcementOfficers • Anyoneworking in close proximity to traffic is in danger! Watch your back!! • Your activities will affect everyone’s safety! • Your badge does not protect you from traffic impacts!

17. Main Types of PoliceServices in WZ • Presence • Traffic Control • Enforcement • Emergency Traffic Control

18. LEO Work Zone Services:a) Presence • Deterrent to speeding and aggressive driving • Gains attention of drivers for compliance with traffic control devices • Createsopportunity for warning workers of safety issues and impending danger from oncoming traffic Most common LEO activity in WZ!

19. Presence Issues • Work zone areas may cross jurisdictional boundaries and cause coverage issues • Longer queuing and higher traffic impacts • Multi-agency traffic teams are an option. E.g. I-95 Q-Bridge Expansion, LEO Agencies: State PD, New Haven PD, East Haven PD • Use of State Police is another option for presence officers to reduce jurisdictional issues Your Agency should have a process or policy!

20. LEO Work Zone Services:b) Traffic Control Some operations may require traffic control: • To move vehicles or equipment in, out or through the work zone. • To address limited lane use • MUTCD or Highway Agency required flagging operations • Intersections * • Detour/diversion situations * • To direct traffic & keep it moving * *These may be in line with normal duty for a police officer depending on Agency policies.

21. LEO Work Zone Services:c) Enforcement • LEOs assigned to presence work - should not enforce traffic laws. • Active enforcement of traffic laws through the WZ by separate local LEOs may be combined with presence LEOs • Are not as common as presence LEOs WZ should be enforced as strictly as school zones!

22. LEO Work Zone Services:d) Emergency Traffic Control • Not within the scope of this program • Emergency traffic control is a type of temporary traffic control • Chapter 6I of MUTCD discusses Control of Traffic Incident Management Areas (emergency road user occurrences, natural disasters or unplanned events.)

23. VISIBLE What to do WhenWorking in a Work Zone • Stay in communication • Be • Be alert • Drive-through Investigate crashes? Agency policy. Arrive early/leave late Monitor TCP compliance? Let’s discuss in more detail!

24. 1. Stay in Communication • Contact Agency for clarification and directions • Report to the WZ POC at beginning of shift • Remain in radio contact with the local dispatch • Maintain radio or visual contact with other presence LEOs or flaggers to coordinate work zone traffic control as necessary

25. What to discuss with thePoint of Contact (POC) • Project objective and schedule for your shift • Contact information • Your location: moving or stationary? • Express concerns about your or others’ safety, if any • Be friendly! • Identify enforcement areas if applicable.

26. Your visibility could be critical! 2. Be Visible • Patrol car emergency lights ON • If outside the patrol vehicle and within the work zone, YOUMUST wear issued retroreflective safety clothing

27. Too late! 2. BeingVisible University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Study Seen at 891’ ANSI Class II 125’ Normal Driver reaction time 1.5 sec. Braking Deceleration 0.5g Stopped 159’ for 35 MPH 425’ for 65 MPH

28. Where is the safest placeto be for PRESENCE? • Identify the safest and most efficient location, that is in compliance with procedures • Will discuss in next module ?

29. P D 3. Be alert • Stay alert at all times! Face Traffic Don’t Watch work

30. 4. Drive-Through • In both directions. See what the drivers will see. • To become familiar with the work zone and its activities • To identify hazardous, confusing, or unsafe conditions • To determine safe places for other non-presence LEOs to investigate crashes and for enforcement action to take place.

31. 5. Investigate Crashes -Property Damage? • Investigate minor property damage or minor crashes that occur within the WZ if the time required to complete the investigation is minimal and IF your agency policy permits such actions. Crashes involving injury shall be investigated by appropriate personnel, not the WZ “presence” officer. Initial involvement should be guided by agency policy. Determine local property damage (PDO) policies ahead of time!

32. 6. Arrive early/leave late • For best worker, driver, pedestrian and self-protection, when possible, be present when the traffic control devices are being installed or removed. • But even better - 15-Minute Rule!

33. The 15 Minute Rule ……. • Arrive 15 minutes before traffic control devices are being placed according to TCP, moved or taken down by Contractor • Stay 15 minutes after changes have taken place, to observe traffic to ensure any new traffic control plan change is working properly 15-Minute Rule! Discuss with POC

34. 7. Inspect TCP Compliance? • Does your Highway Agency or jurisdiction inspect TCP compliance? • Check TCP through field inspections? • Detect safety violations and require immediate correction by contractors? • Do Inspectors notify supervisor of problems and record violations for further action? • Allow formal/informal changes of TCP to address traffic/safety concerns? LEOs are usually not responsible for TCP inspection, but should know their TCP and can be extremely valuable in identifying potential problems. NJ State Police has a program….

35. NJ Safety Intervention Results: July 1, 1995 - November 30, 2000 11,544 Employees Removed From Risk 5248 Total Interventions 4008 DOT Violations Corrected 3387 OSHA Violations Corrected 247 Different Contractors Impacted

36. The City of New Haven Work Zone Inspection Program • Work Zones by permit or emergency work only. • WZ / Sidewalk Obstruction Permits approved by Police Chief and Director of Public Works • TCPs designed and approved by New Haven Traffic and Parking engineers. • Daily inspections of WZ compliance with TCPs by WZ trained personnel. • Contractors may be immediately shut down for no permit, violation of terms or non-compliance with TCP. • Multiple violations can result in contractor being prohibited from performing permit work in New Haven by proposed Ordinance. New Haven LEOs are being trained on the duties, hazards, TCPs and requirements of WZs.

37. DISCUSSION • How do you feel about requiring training for officers before they work in or around traffic work zones?

38. Module Recap • What are the traditional roles of LEOs in work zones? • Who else is involved with work zones? • What specific activities are typical of LEOs in work zones? • What is the “15-Minute Rule”? • Do you know your POC? • Do policies related to emergency response exist?