TRADE NEWS RELEASE
April 12, 2002
Contact: Frank Meilinger
Phone: (202) 693-1999

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking comment on its proposal to amend the construction industry standard for the types of traffic control signs, signals, and barricades that must be used at roadway work sites.

"By strengthening protections for roadway construction workers we can save lives and prevent senseless accidents on roads all across our nation," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "At the same time employers will have a clearer understanding of their responsibilities and greater flexibility in making these work sites as safe as possible."

The rule, which applies to employers involved in road construction and repair operations, requires compliance with either the Millennium Edition or Revision 3 of the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), in place of the 1971 MUTCD.

Among the specific changes, the revised standard would require retro-reflective and illuminated devices at intermediate and long-term stationary temporary traffic control zones; warning devices for mobile operations at speeds above 20 mph; advance warning signs for certain closed paved shoulders; a transition area containing a merging taper when one lane is closed on a multi-lane road; temporary traffic control devices with traffic barriers that are immediately adjacent to an open lane; and temporary traffic barriers separating opposing traffic on a two-way roadway.

The standard's revision is being made through the direct final rule approach because most employers have been required by the Federal Highway Administration to comply with Revision 3 in lieu of the 1971 MUTCD since 1996. OSHA is publishing both a direct final rule and a proposed rule in the same Federal Register notice. This expedited approach saves regulatory resources over the more traditional rulemaking by streamlining one stage in the rulemaking process. If no significant adverse comments are received, the final rule will be effective on August 13, 2002. However, if such comments are received, OSHA will withdraw the direct final rule and address the comments in formulating a new final rule based on the proposal.

Public comments must be sent in triplicate by June 14, 2002, to Docket Office, Docket No. S-018, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N2625, Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments that are 10 pages or less may also be faxed to (202) 693-1648.

The signs, signals and barricades direct final rule is scheduled to be published in the April 15, 2002 Federal Register.