If you don’t work for a roading company that has the in-house resources to keep up with the changes to Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) chances are you are confused.
It’s important that you get your head around the changes, especially if you have workers that act as Temporary Traffic Managers in your team or carry out activities on the shoulder of the roading corridor.
Why is it happening?
We keep killing road workers and other people on our roads and it’s not ok. People have a right to do their job and go home. The lower temporary speed limit and new pedestrian/ cycle initiatives are based on the following key road safety measures:
- Reducing vehicle against person impact force.
- Reducing stopping distances on worksites through slower speed limits.
- Greater road user focus through worksites, including identifying where road workers are positioned and where pedestrians/cyclists are to go.
- Lower risks of pedestrian fatalities in general.
What’s going on with CoPTTM?
Please remember I’m not a roading engineer and this information has all come from:#19-01 Revision of the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) and NZTA Notice Interim Requirements for TTM on State Highways
Under the Code of practice for Temporary Traffic Management (COPTTM), temporary traffic management is required wherever a work activity alters the normal operating condition of the road. This activity may occur on the carriageway, shoulder, berm or footpath.
Summary of key interim procedures supersede any previous notes and the EED dated 1 April 2019.
- 7.3 Notification to Worksafe: Any crash resulting in death or notifiable injury/illness in a work vehicle must be notified to WorksafeNZ as soon as possible.
- 4.1.1 Garment Compliance: High Vis garments to have a cross on the back
- Work Activities with Personnel on Foot: A static closure with 50km/h Temporary Speed Limits in place for work activities with personnel on foot within 5m of the edgeline and a 30km/h Temporary Speed Limits in place for work activities with personnel on foot on the lane.
- 3 Level LV Worksites: shoulder is less < 2.5m and <250 vehicles per day or<20 v per hour, must use warning signs and flashing beacons
- 5 LV & L1 Shoulder <2.5 M provide a live line with a shoulder taper of 10m with at least 5 cones
- 2.4 Overhead Safety Zones: maximum legal height is now increased to 4.3 m
- 2.10 Cycle Lanes: If you are blocking a cycle lane, you must create a temporary cycle lane.
- 2.1 General: Footpaths: if a footpath is affected by a worksite you must make provision for footpath users, including users with sight, hearing, or mobility issues. And use footpath controllers to guide pedestrians
- 2.4 Footpath Controller: must assist by stopping work and assisting pedestrians until the way is clear and giving information to interested parties
How can you find out more about the changes to CoPTTM?
Luckily NZTA has come to the rescue and there are going to be delivering a CoPTTM training and competency model roadshow around the country. It will explain the new training and competency model and advise on next steps for bringing this to the TTM industry
I’m booked in for the session in Queenstown on the 24th May 2019, and there are presentations everywhere from Whangarei to Dunedin.
If you have anything to add to the list on the changes to CoPTTM please call Sarah on 0272 007 680 or email sarah@employmenow.co.nz.
Have a safe and productive week.
SB