Sometimes, you need to work nights to complete a construction project because it would interrupt traffic flow too much during the day. Working the night shift means that more traffic can flow unimpeded throughout the day.
Yet there are also traffic control risks and challenges to account for when working through the night. Managing risks in the construction industry is crucial for keeping workers safe in a dangerous industry. As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a responsibility to manage the risks associated with construction work including an emergency plan and a Safe Work Management Plan (SWMS).
A nighttime traffic control risk assessment is crucial for maintaining high safety standards when working overnight near a road. As traffic management and security experts in Sydney, the SSTC team knows all the challenges of working nights.
The risks of traffic control night work include:
Construction workers that begin their shifts in the late evening or night-time are more likely to suffer injuries than their colleagues on the day shift. The lack of visibility obscuring the hazards and the dangers posed by worker exhaustion is a powerful combination.
Night shift work disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythms, which increases worker fatigue and the risk of accidents. Fatigue reduces alertness, which increases the risks of worker mistakes and on-site accidents.
Fatigue can reduce a worker’s attention to detail, slow down their reaction time, or cause them to neglect safety protocols or make poor split-second decisions.
The reduced visibility at night-time can make it more difficult for workers to see their surroundings and properly carry out their duties. It can also make it more difficult for drivers to see signs and road markings and navigate the worksite.
Slips, trips and falls are among the most common hazards in the workplace, causing thousands of preventable injuries per year. During traffic control night work, fatigue and low visibility can increase the risk of these accidents. Identifying the hazards involves taking a good look at your work areas, procedures, tools and equipment.
Unfortunately, there’s no way you can completely remove the traffic control risks involved with working construction overnight or the risks of the construction industry in general. But you can certainly take precautions and reduce the dangers a great deal. Some of the most effective measures include:
Every construction site should be well-lit with either natural or artificial lighting to provide adequate visibility. Poor lighting conditions at night during a construction site traffic area increases the dangers to motorists and pedestrians. It’s important to make sure lighting levels are adequate while keeping the kind of glare that causes worker eyestrain at bay. There are different lighting options available to help you achieve your aims, from portable work lights and temporary light towers to reflective clothing and illuminated barriers.
Due to artificial lighting, any dust you kick up during the night shift will be more noticeable than during the day and can compromise your staff's visibility. If your construction project unleashes a lot of dust, you’ll want to keep it under control by dampening the ground or cleaning it regularly.
Because it’s so much harder to see what’s happening at night, it makes sense to provide high-visibility, reflective clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE). If your employees work overnight in construction, high-visibility vests or jackets are essential, at the very least.
Since fatigue causes accidents, it only makes sense to promote a healthy sleep schedule and ensure your employees get adequate time off the clock to rest properly. A consistent sleep/work schedule is key for employees who work the night shift full-time. Sometimes, that involves using eye masks or earplugs to create a bedroom environment conducive to healthy sleep, even in the middle of the day. Drowsy driving accidents are common among shift workers, so providing a place for a quick nap after they finish work can help a great deal.
Rushing through your work raises the already elevated risk of mishaps and accidents even further. Instead of rushing, maintain a steady, even pace on the night shift while still getting all your work done.
A nighttime traffic control risk assessment is an essential document if your business undertakes activities during the night. It ensures you’re operating in the safest possible way, guarantees you meet all the necessary legal requirements, streamlines your operations and gives you a clearer idea of where to allocate resources. You just need to work with a traffic control company that knows exactly what to include in your plan.
The SSTC team specialises in creating customised solutions for safe and efficient traffic flow on roads and highways. This can include the right nighttime works traffic control plan in Sydney.
Our traffic control plans (TCPs) are designed to meet the unique needs of every construction project, including the schedule, road conditions and traffic volume. We use state-of-the-art technology and equipment to ensure that our plans are accurate and effective. We implement advanced traffic management systems like real-time traffic monitoring and incident response coordination and provide equipment such as roadwork signs, concrete barriers, cones and bollards.
On top of TCPs and equipment, SSTC’s traffic management services can include a nighttime traffic control risk assessment. This detailed plan identifies potential traffic hazards during night work and assesses the risks to employees and the public. It outlines signage, hazards, and other factors that can be used to maintain safety. We use the results of the risk assessment to come up with practical, actionable ways you can manage traffic. We can even provide traffic controllers so you can focus on your construction project.
All of SSTC’s traffic controllers are highly trained and certified, and we also have a fleet of fully equipped Utes. Our experienced in-house planning division allows us to provide our clients with detailed nighttime traffic control risk assessments, traffic control management plans, vehicle management plans, dilapidation reports and swept path diagrams, among other important documentation.
With over 25 years of combined experience in the business, SSTC is trusted by some of Australia’s largest construction companies. If you’re in the Sydney area, we can provide everything from professional security and traffic management to plans and permits, all delivered with the high safety standards we’re renowned for.
To find out more about maintaining safety standards during the night shift, contact the SSTC team and get your free quote.