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Construction Safety Talks

Flagging Traffic: Using A Paddle

No. 67

How This Talk Applies To My

Crew:

Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk.

As a supervisor, you know that flagging is provided at work sites either to stop traffic intermittently or to maintain continuous traffic flow past the work site at a reduced speed. Its purpose is to protect both the motorist and the work crew.

Signs need to be posted at least 100 feet before the flagger notifying road users of the upcoming workzone. You need to remind your crew that whenever they are the flagger, they must be visible at all times to approaching traffic far enough ahead to allow for enough time for the oncoming vehicles to respond. They must also leave themselves time to get out of the way if the driver doesn't respond to their signals. And they should always face traffic.

Tell your crew that flaggers must be neat, courteous, patient, and have a good sense of responsibility.

We use the following methods of signaling with the STOP/SLOW paddle. (see the illustrations on the next page)

1. TO STOP TRAFFIC the flagger faces road users and aims the STOP paddle face toward road users in a stationary position with their arm extended horizontally away from the body. The free arm shall be held with the palm of the hand above shoulder level toward approaching traffic.

2. TO DIRECT TRAFFIC TO MOVE the flagger faces road users with the SLOW paddle face aimed toward road users in a stationary position with the arm extended horizontally away from the body. The flagger shall motion with the free hand for road users to proceed.

3. TO ALERT OR SLOW TRAFFIC the flagger faces road users with the SLOW paddle face aimed toward road users in a stationary position with the arm extended horizontally away from the body. To further alert or slow traffic, the flagger may motion up and down with the free hand, palm down.

4. Be sure the correct side of the paddle is always towards the traffic so as to not give the wrong message.

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5. Warn all workers in the workzone when a vehicle fails to obey your signal. Only then can you try to get the license number.

6. If for some reason you must leave your post, call for a replacement. Don't leave the job unguarded.

7. Drink plenty of water.

8. Swap the flagger responsibilities among other employees so that the job doesn’t get boring and they become less alert.

To Stop Traffic

Traffic Proceed

To Alert and Slow Traffic

Try This For Show And Tell!

Demonstrate the proper way to flag traffic and have every member of the crew prove to you that they know how to do it.

Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking:

• Have all of you been trained in flagging procedures?

• Should you face the traffic or the work site?

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• Has anyone ever had an accident - or know of one - involving flagging traffic?

Attended By:

The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification.