Excerpt

The manual of traffic controls for construction and maintenance work zones is the basic regulation that guides flaggers and the signs they use. Each state uses their own guidelines and regulations and most state programs are based upon this manual and regulation. This program can only provide basic guidelines and information. So it's important to follow your company's policies and procedures. As a flagger you must remember that you're job is the most important one on the crew as the lives of all individuals in the workplace depend upon you, and your decisions. If you have a question about your job assignment be sure to ask your supervisor as this job is extremely important, and you can't take chances with not fully understanding your job assignment.

Equipment

The clothing you wear must be approved and according to your state's standards. Generally your vest, shirt, or jacket, and pants should be orange, yellow, strong yellow-green, or a florescent version of these colors. At night and in low visibility situations the vest, shirt or jacket should be retro-reflective. Pants must be worn at night and in low visibility situations. Generally a hard hat is required that is in these same required colors. You should maintain a neat appearance. Retro-reflective clothing must be visible at a minimum distance of 1000 feet, and must identify the wearer as a person through the full range of body motions. Quite often you'll see flaggers who don't use proper personal protective equipment. Your basic tools are a standard stop slow paddle with a minimum of 18 inch by 18 inch octagon. The staff of the stop slow paddle should be a minimum of five feet to the bottom of the sign, but a seven foot staff is recommended. The paddle should be reflectorized in standard colors. When two flaggers are used on one job two-way radios should be used to coordinate efforts. Flood lights and flashlight with wand are required for nighttime operations.

Flagging position

Flaggers must remain alert and standing at all times. Face oncoming traffic, and never turn your back to oncoming traffic, or stand in the path of moving traffic. A flagger's normal station is on the shoulder of the road. If you drive to the work site, park your vehicle off the road, away from your station. Stand alone. Don't mingle with the work crew or the public. Make sure you're visible to oncoming traffic. Not standing where the sun is impeding visibility or in a shadow. Stand at a location that allows approaching traffic adequate time to respond. Vehicle drivers must be able to recognize you as a flagger for at least the minimum sight distance. As an example, if the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour minimum sight distance is approximately 550 feet.

Flagging situations

Prior to the start of flagging operations all signing must be in place. A good visibility location is one where the sight distance is sufficient and the flagger is clearly visible to approaching vehicles. When the temporary traffic control zone covers a long segment of highway, additional flagger signs may be needed. In high speed areas the maximum distance from the last sign to a point where the driver detects the flagger must not exceed one mile. When more than one flagger is being used all communication procedures must be clear before any flagging begins. If there is a major intersection within the closed area an additional flagger may be needed to control traffic entering the temporary traffic control zone from the major intersection. Unless a flagger is a licensed uniform law enforcement officer the flagger may not override an in-place regulatory traffic control device such as a stop sign or a red light at a traffic control system. Flaggers must coordinate their operations with the signal system.