3.Risk management#

3.1Introduction#

The most obvious hazard to persons undertaking construction work or maintenance activities on, or adjacent to, a road, is the risk of death or injury resulting from coming into contact with vehicular traffic or moving plant. Appropriate control measures for these risks are outlined in sections 4-7 of this code. In addition, there are other hazards and risks identified in section 8 of this code that may be relevant to the work.

Nonetheless, the risk management process outlined in the WHS Regulation and the How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice must be followed in order to identify all hazards and risks.

3.2Risk management#

Risk management involves the identification and analysis of all hazards likely to arise during work on roads, including the setting up, operating, changing and ultimate dismantling of a traffic guidance scheme, followed by the determination of appropriate measures to manage exposure to the risks. The process is appropriate at all levels of planning and operation, including when preparing:

• standardised plans and procedures for the conduct of minor routine and mobile work, and
• traffic guidance schemes for more extensive or complex work, where site-specific risks will assume importance.

In each case, the process should be carried out by first identifying all the hazards likely to arise, and evaluating them for the likelihood of occurrence and adverse consequences, using historical data, experience or other means. The proposed procedural statement or traffic guidance scheme should then be checked in detail to ensure that adequate means of controlling or reducing those risks found to be significant, are in place.