Flaggermeans a person who provides
temporary traffic control.
For the purpose of this chapter, MUTCD means
the Federal High Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
as currently modified and adopted by the Washington State department
of transportation.
(1) General requirements for signaling and flaggers.
(a) Employers must first apply the requirements in this section.
Then you must set up and use temporary traffic controls according
to the guidelines and recommendations in Part VI of the MUTCD.
(b) Job site workers with specific traffic control responsibilities
must be trained in traffic control techniques, device usage,
and placement.
(a) Flaggers are to be used only when other reasonable traffic
control methods will not adequately control traffic in the work
zone.
(b) If signs, signals, and barricades do not provide necessary
protection from traffic at work zones and construction sites
on or adjacent to a highway or street, then you must use flaggers
or other appropriate traffic controls.
(3) Flagger signaling.
(a) Flagger signaling must be with sign paddles approved by
WSDOT and confrom to guidelines and recommendations of MUTCD.
(b) Sign paddles must comply with the requirements of the MUTCD.
(c) When flagging is done during periods of darkness, sign
paddles must be retroreflective or illuminated in the same manner
as signs.
(d) During emergency situations, red flags, meeting the specifications
of the MUTCD, may be used to draw a driver's attention to particularly
hazardous conditions. In nonemergency situations, a red flag
may be held in a flagger's free hand to supplement the use of
a sign paddle.
(4) Adequate warning of approaching vehicles. Employers must:
Position work zone flaggers so they
are not exposed to traffic or equipment approaching them from
behind.
- If this is not possible, then the employer,
responsible contractor, and/or project owner must develop
and use a method to ensure that flaggers have adequate visual
warning of traffic and equipment approaching from behind.
Note:
The following are some optional
examples of methods that may be used to adequately warn
or protect flaggers:
- Mount a mirror on the flagger's hard
hat;
- Use an observer;
- Use "jersey" barriers.
The department recognizes the importance
of adequately trained flaggers and supports industry efforts
to improve the quality of flagger training. However, training
alone is not sufficient to comply with the statutory requirements
of revising flagger safety standards to improve options
available that ensure flagger safety and that flaggers have
adequate visual warning of objects approaching from behind
them.
(5) High-visibility garments for flaggers.
(a) While flagging during daylight hours, a flagger must at
least wear, as an outer garment:
A high-visibility safety garment
designed according to Class 2 specifications in the ANSI/ISEA
107-1999, American National Standard for High-Visibility
Safety Apparel.
- Consisting of at least 775 square
inches of background material that are fluorescent yellow-green,
fluorescent orange-red or fluorescent red in color;
and
- 201 square inches
of retroreflective material that encircles the torso
and is placed to provide 360 degrees visibility around
the flagger.
A high-visibility hard hat that is white,
yellow, yellow-green, orange or red in color.
Note: A high-visibility garment meets Class
2 specifications if the garment:
Meets the requirements above; or
Has an ANSI "Class 2" label.
Definition:
For the purpose of this rule, hours of darknessmeans one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour
after sunrise.
(b) While flagging during hours of darkness, a flagger must
at least wear, as an outer garment:
A high-visibility safety garment
designed according to Class 2 specifications in ANSI/ISEA
107-1999.
- Consisting of at least 775 square
inches of background material that are fluorescent yellow-green,
fluorescent orange-red or fluorescent red in color;
and
- 201 square inches of retroreflective
material that encircles the torso and is placed to provide
360 degrees visibility around the flagger.
White coveralls, or other coveralls or trousers that have
retroreflective banding on the legs designed according to
ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 standards.
When snow or fog limit visibility,
pants, coveralls, or rain gear, meeting these additional
requirements must be worn:
- In a highly visible color;
- With retroreflective banding on the
legs;
- Designed according to ANSI/ISEA 107-1999.
A high-visibility hard hat:
- Marked with at least 12 square inches
of retroreflective material applied to provide 360 degrees
of visibility.
Note: ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 is available by:
Purchasing copies of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999
by writing:
American National Standards Institute
11 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036 or
Contacting the ANSI website at http://web.ansi.org/.
or
Reading a copy of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 at any Washington State
library.
(6) Flagger training. Employers must make sure that:
(a) Each flagger has in their possession:
A valid Washington traffic control
flagger card;
or
A valid flagger card from a state
such as:
- Oregon;
- Idaho;
- Montana;
or
- Other states having a flagger training
reciprocity agreement with Washington.
(b) The flagger card shows the following:
Verification that the flagger training required is completed;
Date the flagger received their flagger training;
Name of the instructor providing the flagger training;
Name of the state that issued the flagger card;
The card's expiration date, not
to exceed three years from the date of issuance; and
The flagger's picture or a statement that says "valid
with photo ID."
(c) Flagger training is based upon the MUTCD.
Exemption: Personnel that have not completed
a flagger-training course may be assigned duties as flaggers only
during emergencies. Emergency assignments are temporary and last
only until a certified flagger can be put into the position.
Definition:
For the purpose of this rule, emergency means
an unforeseen occurrence endangering life, limb, or property.
(7) Flagger orientation and traffic control plan.
(a) The employer, responsible contractor or project owner must
conduct an orientation that familiarizes the flagger with the
job site. This requirement applies each time the flagger is
assigned to a new project or when job site conditions change
significantly.
The orientation must include, but is not limited to:
The flagger's role and location on the job site;
Motor vehicle and equipment in operation at the site;
Job site traffic patterns;
Communication and signals to be used between flaggers
and equipment operators;
On-foot escape route;
and
Other hazards specific to the job
site.
(b) If flaggers are used on a job that will last more than
one day, then the employer, responsible contractor and/or project
owner must keep on-site, a current site specific traffic control
plan. The purpose of this plan is to help move traffic through
or around the construction zone in a way that protects the safety
of the traveling public, pedestrians and workers.
The plan must include, but is not limited to, the following
items when they are appropriate:
Sign use and placement;
Application and removal of pavement markings;
Construction;
Scheduling;
Methods and devices for delineation and channelization;
Placement and maintenance of devices;
Placement of flaggers;
Roadway lighting;
Traffic regulations; and
Surveillance and inspection.
(8) Advance warning signs.
(a) Employers must provide the following on all flagging operations:
A three sign advance warning sequence
on all roadways with a speed limit below 45 mph.
A four sign advance warning sequence on
all roadways with a 45 mph or higher speed limit.
(b) Warning signs must reflect the actual condition of the
work zone. When not in use, warning signs must either be taken
down or covered.
(c) Employers must make sure to follow Table 1 for spacing
of advance warning sign placement.
Table 1. Advanced Warning Sign Spacing
Road Type
Speed
Distances Between Advance
Warning Signs*
A**
B**
C**
D**
Freeways and Expressways
70
55
1,500 ft. +/- or per the MUTCD.
1,500 ft. +/- or per the MUTCD.
1,500 ft. +/- or per the MUTCD.
1,500 ft. +/- or per the MUTCD.
Rural Highways
65
60
800 ft. +/-
800 ft. +/-
800 ft. +/-
800 ft. +/-
Rural Roads
55
45
500 ft. +/-
500 ft. +/-
500 ft. +/-
500 ft. +/-
Rural Roads and Urban Arterials
40
35
350 ft. +/-
350 ft. +/-
350 ft. +/-
N/A
Rural Roads, Urban Streets, Residential Business Districts
30
25
200 ft.***
200 ft.***
200 ft.***
N/A
Urban Streets
25
or less
100 ft.***
100 ft.***
100 ft.***
N/A
* All spacing may be adjusted
to accomodate interchange ramps, at-grade intersections, and driveways.
** This refers to the distance
between advance warning signs. See Figure 1, Typical Lane Closure
on Two-Lane Road. This situation is typical for roadways with
speed limits less than 45 mph.
*** This spacing may be reduced
in urban areas to fit roadway conditions.
Exemption: In a mobile flagging operation,
as defined by the MUTCD when the flagger is moving with the operation,
the "flagger ahead (symbol or text)" sign must be:
Within 1,500 feet of the flagger;
and
The flagger station must be seen from
the sign.
If terrain does not allow a motorist to see the flagger from
the "flagger ahead" sign, the distance between the flagger
and the sign must be shortened to allow visual contact, but in
no case can the distance be less that the distance specified in
Table 1, Advanced Warning Sign Spacing.
(9) Providing a safe job site for flaggers. Employers, responsible
contractors and/or project owners must make sure that:
(a) Flagger stations are located far enough in advance of the
work space so that the approaching road users will have sufficient
distance to stop before entering the work space. Follow Table
2 for the distance of the flagger workstation in advance of
the work space.
Table 2. Distance of
Flagger Station in Advance of the Work Space
Speed* (mph)
Distance (ft.)**
20
35
25
55
30
85
35
120
40
170
45
220
50
280
55
335
60
415
65
485
*Posted speed, off-peak 85th-percentile speed prior to work
starting or the anticipated operating speed.
**This spacing maybe reduced to fit roadway and worksite conditions.
Distances greater than those listed in the table are acceptable.
(b) Flaggers stand either on the shoulder adjacent to the road
user being controlled or in the closed lane prior to stopping
road users. A flagger must only stand in the lane being used
by moving road users after road users have stopped.
Definition:
Road user means a vehicle operator, bicyclist,
or pedestrian within a public roadway, including workers in temporary
traffic control zones.
(c) Flagger workstations are illuminated during hours of darkness
by floodlights that do not create glare that poses a hazard
for drivers.
Note: To identify potential glare, observe
the lighted area from various directions and angles on the main
roadway after initial floodlight setup.
Exemption: Emergency situations are exempt
from these illumination requirements. For the purpose of this
rule, emergency means an unforeseen occurrence
endangering life, limb, or property.
(d) Flaggers are not assigned other duties while engaged in
flagging activities.
(e) Flaggers do not use devices that may distract the flagger's
vision, hearing, or attention.
Examples of these devices include cell phones, pagers,
radios, and headphones.
Devices such as two-way radios used for communications
between flaggers to direct traffic or ensure flagger safety
are acceptable.
(f) Flaggers receive a rest period of at least ten minutes,
on the employer's time, for each four hours of working time.
Rest periods must be scheduled as near as possible to
the midpoint of the work period.
A flagger must not be allowed to work more than three
hours without a rest period.
Exemption: Scheduled rest periods are not
required when the nature of the work allows the flagger to take
intermittent rest periods equivalent to ten minutes for each four
hours worked.
(1) “Barricade” means an obstruction
to deter the passage of persons or vehicles.
(2) “Signs” are the warnings of
hazard, temporarily or permanently affixed or placed, at locations
where hazards exist.
(3) “Signals” are moving signs,
provided by workers, such as flaggers, or by devices, such as
flashing lights, to warn of possible or existing hazards.
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