Guidelines for Traffic Control at Surface Mines

1. Guidelines for Traffic Control at Surface Mines Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

2. Contents • Purpose of Traffic Control Guidelines • Standards for Coal & Metal/Nonmetal Operations • What Mine Operators need to know about Traffic Control • What Equipment Operators need to know about Traffic Control • Regulatory Signs • Traffic Patterns • Warning Signs • Guidance Signs Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

3. Purpose Of Traffic Control Guidelines • All kinds of sizes of vehicles travel roads at surface operations. These vehicles are operated by drivers who have varying levels of experience traveling these mine haulage roads. This means that there is a need for good traffic control on these roads. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

4. Standards for Metal/Nonmetal Operations • 56/57.9100(a) • Rules governing speed, right-of-way, direction of movement, and the use of headlights to assure appropriate visibility, shall be established and followed at each mine. • 56/57.9100(b) • Signs or signals that warn of hazardous conditions shall be placed at appropriate locations at each mine. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

5. What Mine Operators need to know about Traffic Control • Planning and Signs • Design • Standardization • Placement • Visibility • Maintenance • Hazard Awareness Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

6. What Equipment Operators need to know about Traffic Control • Haulage Routes • Traffic Patterns • Haulage Safety Procedures • Characteristics of the Vehicle • Reporting Unsafe Conditions Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

7. Regulatory Signs • These signs give information about the rules of the road. • Disobeying these signs can result in disciplinary action even if they don't result in an accident. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

8. Stop Signs • Stop signs need to be located as close as possible to the point where a vehicle is supposed to stop. Use "STOP AHEAD" signs in cases of limited sight distances. Supplement stop signs with "4-Way" or "All Way" signs where multi-way stops are required. Examples of places where stop signs might be used include: intersections of secondary roads and main haul roads, intersections where sight distance is limited, intersections of haul roads and public roads, and places where accidents have occurred in the past. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

9. Yield Signs • Yield signs need to be located as close as possible to the point where vehicles are supposed to yield. Place "Yield Ahead" signs in advance of the "Yield" signs where necessary. Yield signs assign the right-of-way where secondary roads intersect main haul roads, or where two haul roads intersect and stopping is not required. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

10. Speed Limit Signs • Speed limits are based on factors such as road conditions, grades, surface, visibility, curves, potential hazards, and the mechanical capabilities of the haulage equipment used at the mine. Post speed limits at regular intervals to remind drivers of applicable speed limits. Also post speed limit signs near intersections where traffic may be entering onto the haul road from another road with a different speed limit. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

11. Turn Prohibition Signs • These signs are used to restrict certain types of turns at intersections. They are also used at intersections to keep traffic from turning onto a one way road and traveling in the wrong direction. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

12. Lane Use Control Signs • These are used at intersections where drivers are required to turn, or to tell drivers how certain lanes are to be used. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

13. No Passing Signs • No passing signs are placed at the beginning of (and at intervals within) a restricted passing area. A "Pass With Care" sign indicates the end of the no passing zone. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

14. Keep Right/Left Signs • These signs are placed at the end of median dividers and channeling islands to indicate which side of the median or island should be used by traffic. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

15. Do Not Enter Signs • This sign is placed at the end of a one way road to keep traffic from entering the roadway and traveling in the wrong direction. "Wrong Way" signs supplement "Do Not Enter" signs. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

16. One Way Signs • These signs are placed at appropriate corners of intersections facing traffic entering or crossing the one way road. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

17. Traffic Pattern Signs • Changes in traffic patterns need: • Sign of Advanced Warning • Sign Where Change Begins • Sign Indicating When Change Should Be Complete • Pattern reminder • Left Lane Driving Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

18. Traffic Patterns - Left Lane Driving Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

19. Warning Signs • These signs indicate the presence of a hazard. • Ignoring these signs can result in an accident. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

20. Curve Signs • These signs help to warn drivers about potentially hazardous curves which may not be obvious to them. Supplement the sign with a "Reduced Speed Limit" sign if the safe speed for negotiating the curve is less than the posted speed limit. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

21. Steep Grade Warning Signs • These signs provide drivers with advanced warning of steep downgrades where they need to exercise special caution. Post the percent grade, length of grade, and any special gearing requirements to better prepare the driver to descend the grade safely. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

22. Escape Ramp & Berm Signs • Escape ramp and berm signs give drivers advance warning of their location in case of an emergency. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

23. Intersection Warning Signs • Intersection warning signs inform drivers in advance about obscured intersections or where crossing or turning traffic may not be immediately visible. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

24. Narrow Roadway Signs • These signs warn drivers in advance that the roadway ahead narrows to such an extent that two vehicles cannot pass each other safely. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

25. Roadway Condition Signs • These signs let drivers know about sharp rises or drops in the roadway surface that could create hazardous conditions, or affect the safe handling of the vehicle. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

26. Traffic Pattern Warnings • These signs remind the driver of the prevailing traffic pattern. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

27. Advance Warning Signs • Advance warning signs give drivers enough lead time to safely complete a maneuver. These signs are also used in cases of limited sight distance and in advance of a change in regulations. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

28. Railroad Crossing Signs • Used to Identify railroad crossings. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

29. Other Warning Signs • Other warning signs are used for special conditions such as blasting zones. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program

30. Guidance Signs • Guidance signs provide information to drivers, and direct drivers and visitors to destinations such as offices, shops, scales, and other areas. Michigan Mine Safety & Health Training Program