Frequently Asked Questions
- Part 6 Temporary Traffic Control
The following list of questions relates to the MUTCD Part 6 Temporary
Traffic Control:
- Does Part 6 of the MUTCD require all workers to wear
safety vests?
- Does Part 6 address the use of police officers?
- What is the difference between a work zone and a temporary
traffic control zone?
- How long can the FLAGGER sign be left in place during
a work day if the work crew is not on the roadway and the flagger
is not actively flagging traffic?
Part 6 Temporary Traffic Control: Frequently Asked
Questions
- Q: Does Part 6 of the MUTCD require all
workers to wear safety vests?
A: Part 6 currently contains several provisions
for worker protection in highway work zones. These provisions refer
to the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards that
are becoming recognized by most agencies as the national standard
for high visibility garments. Section 6E.02 requires persons flagging
traffic in a work zone to wear a high visibility garment meeting the
"Class 2" ANSI 107-1999 standard and specifies details regarding
the colors, visibility, and retroreflectivity of the garment. Section
6E.02 also recommends that for nighttime activity, flaggers should
wear a Class 3 high visibility garment. Also, Section 6D.03(B) recommends
that all workers exposed to the risks of moving roadway traffic or
construction equipment should wear Class 1, 2, or 3 high-visibility
safety apparel, with the specific class being selected by a competent
person designated by the employer to be responsible for the worker
safety plan within the activity area of the job site.
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- Q: Does Part 6 address the use
of police officers?
A: Yes, there are several sections in Part 6 that
address the use of police officers in temporary traffic control zones.
Section 6E.02, High-Visibility Clothing, recommends that, when uniformed
law enforcement officers are used as flaggers, the law enforcement
officer should wear the same class of high-visibility clothing as
the section requires for civilian flaggers. In Chapter 6H, three "Typical
Applications" (TA-10, TA-13, and TA-27) have notes referring
to the use of uniformed law enforcement officers as flaggers. Chapter
6I, Control of Traffic Through Traffic Incident Management Areas,
makes frequent references to police and uniformed law enforcement
officers throughout the Chapter.
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- Q: What is the difference between
a work zone and a temporary traffic control zone?
A: A work zone is one particular kind of temporary
traffic control zone. Section 6C.02, Temporary Traffic Control Zone,
states that "a temporary traffic control zone is an area of highway
where road user conditions are changed because of a work zone or an
incident through the use of temporary traffic control devices, uniformed
law enforcement officers, or authorized personnel." The same
section also states that "a work zone is an area of a highway
with construction, maintenance, or utility work activities. A work
zone is typically marked by signs, channelizing devices, barriers,
pavement markings, and/or work vehicles."
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- Q: How long can the FLAGGER sign
be left in place during a work day if the work crew is not on the
roadway and the flagger is not actively flagging traffic?
A: Section 6F.29 states that the FLAGGER sign shall
be removed, covered, or turned away from road users when the flagging
operations are not occurring. However, the very act of removing, covering,
or turning the signs away from road users and then reactivating the
signs could put highway workers at risk. Therefore, FHWA does not
believe that a literal interpretation of 6F.29 should preclude the
use of engineering judgment to adjust for operational conditions for
short durations of no flagging activity. In consideration of all relevant
provisions in Part 6 of the MUTCD relative to this matter, it is the
interpretation of the FHWA that the FLAGGER Signs may be left in place
for periods of 15 minutes or less when no flagging activity is occurring,
provided that the flaggers must remain in the vicinity of the normal
flagging activity during these short periods. Official Interpretation
#6-200(I) was issued on this matter on September 22, 2004 and may
be viewed in its entirety on the MUTCD website at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/index.htm.
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