VERY SHORT DURATION OPERATIONS

Transcription

1 VERY SHORT DURATION OPERATIONS Terry A. Paholek, P.E. Director of Mnt Ops (BRY)

2 Very Short Duration Work Zone Operations Research Project CTR research team: Randy Machemehl Li Wang Sami Kolahdoozan Dan Seedah Fernanda Leite TxDOT Project Director: Paul Montgomery, P.E.

3 Very Short Duration Work Zone Operation (VSDOs) A planned or unplanned activity that can be executed in 15 minutes or less. This includes potholes patching debris removal, dead animal removal, sign placement for TCP, etc.

4 Very Short Duration Work Zone Operation (VSDOs) Main Fact: VSDOs still interrupt the flow of traffic and create safety risks for workers and the traveling public. Underlying Concern: There is no real guidance on VSDOs. We rely on the judgment of individual workers to determine if they should proceed with a VSDOs or call in full TCP.

5 Very Short Duration Work Zone Operation (VSDOs) Assumption that VSDOs is based on: It takes at least 15 minutes to set-up/remove a simple TCP. Setting up signs, cones, etc. and involves getting on pavement, in no shoulder are present. Thought is if you can perform your task in less time than setting up signs, then VSDOs provide less exposure to safety risks by the driving public and workers.

6 This project identified risk factors that should be considered in order to make a good decision on if a VSDO is appropriate. If we train employees on these risk factors, then we will get better decisions in the field about using VSDOs. This is important due to the turnover of employees and the continuous loss of experience in the field. New employees need to hear this info clearly and quickly.

7 Risk Factors that the project considered for type of TCP: Traffic Volume Traffic Speed Time of Day Distracted Drivers Can drivers understand TCP/devices and flaggers Visibility TCP setup time Work vehicle location Potential for erratic vehicles Roadway geometry Weather

8 In terms of guidance the MUTCD requires the following for working on roadways Have a plan (TCP) for the safety of all users (workers, pedestrians, cars, bikes, etc) Road users should be interrupted as little as possible Road user should be clearly guided in work zone All workers should be trained on TCP procedures Public relations should be considered Roadside safety should be considered (clear zones) VSDOs meets the intent of MUTCD, if we train our workers on TCP operations and have them consider the big picture.

9 Original plan for Research Project: Create a decision tree for workers to consider when arriving at a work location that could be a VSDOs. Upon investigation, it was determined that there were 11,664 options on the decision tree. Thus, the decision tree was abandoned and a Risk Management process was considered.

10 Risk Management process: Risk Identification What are risks? Risk Assessment Prioritize the risks. Risk Analysis What are the root causes of the most prevalent risks? Mitigation Strategies What can be done to eliminate the most prevalent risks? Evaluation Is the final answer applicable to the initial need.

11 Researchers shadowed TxDOT and saw: 93% of jobs were less than 5 minutes Most jobs had 1 truck and 1 operator Light bar was most common TCP Parking area varied (lane/shoulder/grass/parking lot)

12 Factors that workers should consider: Traffic volume Traffic speed Time of day Type of roadway Weather Severity of hazard (can it wait or is it imminent hazard) Visibility Location of work (lane or shoulder) Roadway geometry Type of work Surface condition Safety response

13 Future Options/Improvements: Make trucks more visible Make workers more visible Innovative devices to warn workers of approaching cars EDUCATE workers on making good decisions

14 Questions? Worker Safety in Very Short Work Zone Operations: State of Practice and Risk Management Process TxDOT/CTR Research project