Traffic Control Online Training

Description

What’s in the Traffic Control Course?

Our Traffic Control training course is perfect for those who manages traffic control. This course covers traffic control basics, flagging, hazards, and hazard prevention. This presentation includes intermittent practice quiz questions to prepare for a final written exam included with the course. In addition to the written exam, this course also includes a practical exam to review basic near awareness knowledge.

Estimated Training Length: Because everyone learns and progresses at different speeds, the amount of time you spend taking this training will vary. However, the estimated time for this training is 90 – 120 min.

Intended Audience:

• Employees
• Supervisors

OSHA Requirements: This course meets the following OSHA Requirements:

• Section 5 (a)(1) OSH act of 1970 – General duty clause on training.
• 29 CFR 1926.6 (u) – OSHA gives authority to the MUTCD
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart G – MUTCD Referenced

Why Take Our Online Traffic Control Training?

Our online training course provides a substantial, thorough, and effective way to learn how to work safely. We’ve been providing industry-specific safety training solutions for individuals, safety managers, and business owners for over 15 years.

The online course meets the classroom requirement for occupational safety training. It also includes a proficiency checklist that employers can use to perform a practical evaluation, in accordance with standards and regulations.

We have fine-tuned this training to provide you with the best experience possible. Our robust training approach gives an interactive experience that helps learners retain information and apply it on the job site, preventing costly accidents and fines. Safety training is an investment. That is why hundreds of companies and individuals all over the world trust the Hard Hat Training Series for their online training needs.

Why Buy Our Online Traffic Control Training?

• Complete Training: First and foremost our goal is to keep you safe and save you money. Don't risk getting expensive OSHA fines because you settled for a sub-par training program that didn't cover safety topics in depth. Train using a program that helps you retain what is learned so that it is put into practice on job sites.
• Cost-Effective: Hiring a trainer to come on-site can be expensive. In contrast, our online curriculum lowers costs while still providing a professional training experience.
• Records Tracking System: We offer an easy-to-use management system so that if you have multiple students who are receiving the training you can have access to all records, all-terrain certificates, observation guides and more! (contact us if you would like us to quickly create a company account for you)
• Train Your Way: You can use this online training program for new hire training, refresher training or train remotely. Access it from anywhere and work on your schedule.
• Interactive Learning: Special reminders and quiz questions throughout the course prep students for the final exam so that it is passed the first time.
• Corporate License: Do you want to host this course on your own server? Contact us about obtaining broadcasting rights for this and any of our other online courses.

Get a Traffic Control Training Certification!

Traffic Control Online Certification | Traffic Control Training Course

A traffic control person is someone who regulates traffic on a construction site.

• Work zones are designated with signs, cones, barrels, and barriers to redirect traffic.
• Most of the time traffic control workers are outside at road construction projects.
• Traffic control officers and flaggers must be aware of extreme temperatures and bad weather. 

What Does a Traffic Control Person Do?

A person who manages traffic on a building site is known as a traffic control person. They are in charge of ensuring that traffic moves through a work zone safely. To maintain safe traffic flow in both directions through a construction zone, there are typically two or more traffic control persons on duty.

As a traffic control person, you play a crucial role in building, maintenance, and utility projects. You control traffic at construction sites to keep everyone safe—workers, drivers, and pedestrians—there. Your main duties would usually include: 

• Directing traffic
• Manage the flow of traffic
• Ensure safe work

You might not know just how important you are as a traffic controller. All throughout the world, traffic accidents claim hundreds of lives each year. Roadside workers and motorists are only kept safe from the risks connected with roadwork by properly positioned and maintained traffic control devices and attentive, well-trained flaggers.

Why Do You Need Training?  

Many industries, such as construction, painting, municipalities, utilities, and emergency services, benefit from the use of traffic control. Except for emergency workers, traffic control principles will often remain the same for each of these industries. Due to this, emergency traffic control will not be covered in this session.

Make sure you and your staff have the expertise and abilities to operate in temporary traffic control conditions safely. By completing this online traffic control training course, participants may show their knowledge of PPE, appropriate hand signals, job site safety, and preparation, as well as their duties and responsibilities.

Knowing your equipment and keeping it in good working order is the first step in traffic control safety. Your safety is ensured when you know what instrument to use, how to use it, or how to maintain it. It is crucial that you become acquainted with the necessary equipment.

Signs should be repaired or replaced right away if they are broken or unreadable. Weather damage, cracking, scratching, vandalism, bending, snow, ice, and mud are just a few of the factors that can render signs unreadable. It is quite improbable that drivers will be able to read a sign effectively from a distance if they can’t read it when standing at the job site.

Planning and maintaining traffic control measures should never be rushed. It is partially your obligation to ensure the safety of the drivers who pass through the work zone. One of the most important things that traffic controllers may perform is planning. 

Without a plan, setting up traffic control can be extremely risky for both employees and drivers. Planning where the traffic control will be put up, what will be utilized, and how to safely finish setup is crucial whether you are preparing for a big, long-term project or a fast patch.

Hazards of the Job 

Hazards are all around you when working traffic control. Even seasoned employees tend to ignore the most common hazards and only pay attention to traffic. There are many additional risks that need to be handled and avoided besides traffic. While we can’t cover every potential risk, here are the risks faced on a daily basis.

Weather 

Although it is thought of as more of a nuisance than a danger, the weather is much more than that. Hail and lightning might damage your vehicle or impair your hearing. Snow, rain, sleet, dust storms, and fog can all impair a driver’s sight and ability to stop. If you’re working outside during bad weather, take additional precautions.

Heat 

One of the biggest threats to traffic control persons and flaggers is heat. The dark asphalt you are standing on absorbs heat, so even if the temperature outside is 90 degrees, the asphalt may reach 130 degrees or more. It is very easy to get dehydrated. When working outside in the heat, it is important to drink lots of water. 

Be sure to wear sunscreen and take regular rests. Take a break right away if you ever start to feel dizzy or ill. This is one of the first symptoms of heat stroke. A person’s risk of developing skin cancer increases if they spend years working outside and are frequently exposed to the sun. A recent study revealed that of all job types, construction has the highest risk of developing skin cancer.

It is not worth taking this chance. Apply sunscreen to any exposed skin to protect yourself from cancer and sunburn. Keep in mind that sunburns can happen on hot, cold, and even foggy days.

Cold 

Working in extreme cold can be just as hazardous as the heat. Even though flaggers and traffic control workers are often busiest in the summer, it’s important to know how to be safe no matter the weather. When visiting a job site in the winter, always dress appropriately. Be sure to bundle up. The greatest strategy for staying warm is to layer.

Frostbite or hypothermia can develop if you spend a lot of time outside in the cold without the proper clothes. If not treated correctly, hypothermia can be fatal. Recognize the symptoms and warning signs of frostbite. Always keep in mind that snow can reduce vision or produce a glare, making it more difficult for drivers to see.

Wind, Rain, and Other Inclement Weather  

Rain may reduce visibility and lengthen stopping distances for cars, much like snow and ice can. You should dress in more highly visible attire in advance of this. Also, place your setup in a visible and convenient area. If it’s raining, be sure to dress correctly or keep the necessary equipment on hand at all times. Hypothermia can be brought on by wind and rain. 

In addition to reducing a driver’s visibility, wind difficulties might result in dust being kicked up. Plan appropriately; if you are going to be in an area with heavy winds, wear goggles. You can prevent dust from getting into your eyes and obstructing your vision of oncoming cars. Be mindful of the chance that cones and signs may be blown over by the wind. Although poor weather makes driving more dangerous, drivers might get distracted or willfully disobey traffic laws even when the weather is not bad.

Motorist 

The biggest immediate danger to traffic controllers and others in the construction zone is from motorists. Even a slow-moving automobile can kill a worker if it strikes them. It is crucial to keep in mind that no traffic control system, no matter how precise, can ensure that everyone working in a construction zone is safe. This danger can only be avoided by paying close attention to your surroundings and keeping an eye on the road.

Angry drivers and pedestrians may be dangerous in traffic. Drivers may become upset and decide to put the lives of others in the work zone in danger by disobeying signs and warnings. Angry commuters may act out against employees. It is important to maintain professionalism and learn how to handle these kinds of circumstances.

Ten Basic Guidelines for Working on or Near Roads

1. Never work outside the job zone or on the edge.
2. Never load or unload a vehicle on the side of the road with traffic.
3. Work with the flow of traffic.
4. Whenever possible, avoid driving in reverse. If unavoidable, use a signaler to help you back up safely. 
5. When backing up, use mobile equipment and vehicles that have warning systems.
6. Spraying the area with water on a recurring basis can help control the discharge of dust that could worsen vision.
7. Wear the proper personal protective equipment, and ensure it is kept in good working condition.
8. Lighting fixtures should be positioned so that drivers are not blinded.
9. Keep equipment and cars away from the walkway.
10. Check the area every day to make sure that all signs, cones, and other signaling devices are in the proper location. Check that they are in working order and cannot be readily moved by pedestrians, vehicles, or wind gusts.

Traffic Control Person Certification 

Although flagging and traffic control appear straightforward, there are many different approaches to take and not all are ideal. Certification training is the best course of action to learn the propertraffic controller practices. Traffic control methods are used during any construction work on or near a public road to protect the safety of both its workers and the general public. Four basic goals of worksite traffic control are as follows:

1. Keep construction workers and motorists safe by managing the flow of traffic. 
2. Stop traffic when necessary; otherwise, keep traffic going at reduced speeds to minimize tie-ups and delays. 
3. Ensure construction continues safely and effectively.
4. Make sure public transportation takes precedence over construction vehicles.

To do this, a lot of construction sites hire Traffic Control Persons, or Flaggers, who manually direct vehicle traffic using a STOP/SLOW sign and hand signals to avoid conflicts between workers, opposing road traffic, work vehicles, and pedestrians. 

There are many laws that you must follow for both your own safety and the protection of those around you when operating as a Traffic Control Person (TCP). One criteria that never changes is that anyone operating as a Traffic Control Person must be “competent” in any activity they conduct, though the exact requirements vary between states. According to OSHA, a “competent person” is anybody who: “who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”

Employers have a legal obligation to make sure their staff members are capable of handling the tasks allocated to them. For employees who need to fulfill the duties of a traffic control person safely and competently, the Traffic Control Training Course has been created.

Online Training

For those who manage traffic control, our Traffic Control Online Training course is ideal. Our online traffic control training course offers a comprehensive look at basic traffic control, flagging, occupational hazards, and hazard prevention. Modern technology allows for speedier systems and newer improvements. This traffic control training provides you with the finest possible experience. Hard Hat Training offers a reliable and OSHA Aligned training series. 

 If you have to go to a training facility before or after work, holding down a 9–5 job and taking on additional coursework may feel exhausting. The training facility may steal your weekends and fill up all your spare time. Online courses can be completed whenever and wherever you are, all you need is an internet connection.

With appealing graphics, readable typography, video clips, animated explanations, and other features, online courses aid in information retention and memory. More so than writing down notes on paper, information is better understood when it is presented in well-designed ways.

What is a Work Zone for Traffic Control Personnel? 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation accidents and employees hit by vehicles or mobile equipment account for the greatest number of fatal work injuries. Workers engaged in emergency response, cleanup, utility work, demolition, building, and other jobs in busy areas are at risk of being struck by moving vehicles. 

Work zones direct traffic and are often marked by signs, cones, barrels, and barriers. 

There must be a traffic control plan in place for vehicle movement in areas where there are construction workers. The correct paths must be visible and understandable to drivers, employees, and pedestrians.

• Driving directions are provided on message boards, traffic control systems, and traffic signals to direct traffic away from construction zones.

• Inside work zones, approved traffic control equipment such as cones, barrels, barriers, and posts are also employed.

Work Zone Traffic Safety 

• Work Zone Protections: Materials such as concrete, water, sand, collapsible barriers, and truck-mounted impact absorbers can prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering construction work zones.

• Signs: Standard highway signs for information, speed restrictions, and construction zones will help drivers recognize instructions like “EVACUATION ROUTE,” “DO NOT ENTER,” “REDUCED SPEED AHEAD,” “ROAD CLOSED,” and “NO OUTLET” in designated traffic lanes. The internal traffic control at a construction site should be marked with normal highway signs to help workers find their way around.

• Traffic Control Devices: Standard traffic control devices, lights, and message boards will direct drivers to take a route away from the construction zones. The permitted traffic control equipment that will be used as a part of the traffic control plan will be decided by those in authority. This includes cones, barrels, barriers, and delineator posts. Work zones should also use these tools. 

• Flagging: Flaggers should dress in retroreflective, high-visibility attire with a bright backdrop. Worker visibility is increased to at least 1,000 feet in all directions. There should be signage alerting drivers to the presence of flaggers ahead. Flaggers should use flags, paddles with lights, or STOP/SLOW paddles.

• Training: Flaggers must get training or certification and only use approved signaling techniques. More details about flagger training are provided later in the article.

• Lighting: Flagger stations must be well lit. Lighting should be at least 5-foot candles or more for both machine operators and those on foot. When natural lighting is limited, flares or chemical illumination should be used. Glare should be reduced or avoided entirely.

• Driving: As advised by the manufacturer, seat belts and rollover protection should be used on machinery and vehicles.

How Do I Become a Certified Flagger?

Flaggers play an important role at any site as they manage the flow of traffic. If this position appeals to you, you might find it useful to understand what a flagger is and how to become one.

What Does A Traffic Control Flagger Do?

A traffic control flagger is someone who regulates vehicle traffic around construction sites. A flagger typically works for a construction company or government agency. Specialized equipment including traffic cones, warning signs, and barricades help them in doing so. Besides directing traffic, flaggers help drivers and construction workers in avoiding onsite hazards.

What Is the Role of a Flagger?

A traffic control flagger’s most frequent responsibilities include:

• Traffic control near building sites: Using signs and hand signals, flaggers control the flow of traffic around construction zones. 

• Notifying motorists of detours: Flaggers will alert drivers to detours or other important traffic-related information.

• Putting up traffic cones and construction signs: Flaggers install specialized signs around a jobsite before the workday. Including those that read “Road Work Ahead,” “End Road Work,” and “Road Closed.”

• Interacting with fellow flaggers and construction workers: Coordinate with other flaggers stationed at various points around the construction site to control two-way traffic on single-lane roads. They also alert employees to any traffic problems that could endanger their safety or the safety of the project.

• Working on a variety of tasks with the building crew: When the construction team needs to clear various pieces of waste and rubble off the road, flaggers can help.

• Recording on reckless driving: Drivers that disobey construction signs or other particular instructions are recorded by flaggers. They then report them to their managers, who pass the information along to law enforcement officials.

Getting Started as a Flagger

Consider performing the following actions to become a traffic control flagger:

Get a High School Diploma

Although a high school diploma is not a requirement for all flagger positions, having one can help you stand out from the competition. You might learn valuable abilities for the position, such as communication skills. Earning an equivalent diploma, such as a GED, if you haven’t completed high school, is equally valuable.

Acquire the Necessary Soft Skills 

Even though the majority of flagger employers provide on-the-job training, getting ready for the job ahead of time might help you persuade hiring managers that you’re qualified for the job. You can increase your chances of landing a job as a flagger by honing some of the following particular skills:

• Physical skills and abilities: Flaggers have to carry heavy equipment while standing for long periods of time. So, it’s crucial that you maintain good physical health.

• Interpersonal and communication skills: Flaggers give drivers vocal and nonverbal directions and safety advice. Interpersonal skills aid them with these responsibilities since they often have to deal with angry or irritated drivers and communicate with pedestrians.

• Self-reliance: You must be able to guide traffic for extended periods of time with little to no supervision if you want to work as a flagger. Making decisions on your own while following rules is a critical skill for the job.

Complete a Flagger Certification Training Course

Getting certified can increase your chances of landing a flagger job. Most job postings call for certification and some states even make it a requirement. The particular training for flaggers entails studying a range of particular techniques that you would use in actual situations. You can take the flagger certification test once you’ve finished the classes. After that, to keep abreast of the most recent changes to the market and regulations, you must recertify every four years.

Apply for Flagger Positions

Once certified, you can begin submitting applications for flagger positions. Searching job portals and specialized state organizations, such as transportation departments, is one of the greatest ways to find open positions.

At sites where roads are being built, flaggers spend the majority of their time outside. This means that they often have light physical challenges, such as working in hot or cold environments and standing up for extended periods of time. They also need to lift and carry various objects that typically weigh up to 10 pounds, among other relatively difficult physical duties. Flaggers may also be required to operate hazardous equipment and put themselves at risk due to the road construction site location.

To learn more about traffic control, read our How To Do Traffic Control article.