This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Code of practice on safety at roadworks
23/10/2002
A new Code of Practice for roadworks sites was launched
today.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said
that workers doing a difficult job in dangerous locations
deserve all the safety and protection that can be
provided.
The Minister was speaking during a visit to major
roadworks at Bargeddie on the Baillieston-Newhouse section
of the A8, where a £23 million refurbishment is in
progress.
He said:
"Accidents at roadwork sites result in a significant
proportion of the overall casualties in the construction
industry which has one of the worst safety records of
employment in the UK.
"This new Code of Practice will help prevent accidents
and save the lives of vulnerable workers by creating better
systems and procedures for setting out traffic management
schemes on busy roads.
"It presents good practice now, giving advice on how to
protect the lives of men as they lay cones and maintaining
safe traffic conditions for drivers. It also highlights the
benefits of the proper use of appropriate safety
equipment."
On the refurbishment of the A8, a dual carriageway
since the 1960s presently carrying 73,000 vehicles each day
- 23 million trips each year, the Minister said:
"I am pleased to see progress made so far with this
major maintenance programme. Repairs to the existing road
are necessary now to avoid the disruption to the Central
Scotland road network, which continuing deterioration of
the road would have caused.
Careful planning by the contractor has maintained a good
flow of traffic through the site so far. The next stages of
the work however, require more complex traffic diversions
to allow traffic to travel safely through the site. The
continued safety of the workers depends on drivers being
vigilant and keeping within the speed limit.
"Once works are completed, the new road will be strong
enough to carry traffic for many years. The new road will
offer drivers increased safety with a 2-lane dual
carriageway and hardshoulders for broken down vehicles and
improved slip roads from the existing junctions."
The new Code of Practice is designed to allow
contractors to set out safely, traffic control diversions
around roadworks on busy roads that are still in use when
work is underway.
It has been produced by a UK wide Steering Group
comprising representatives from central and local
government, contractors, specialists, police, researchers
and the Health and Safety Executive.
Training on best practice as set out in the Code is
already in hand through skills certification courses.
Upgrading work on the A8 began on August 12, 2002 with
the widening of the westbound carriageway opposite the
Showcase Cinema. Work will continue in phases until the
planned completion in January 2004.