Most site safety plans focus on what happens inside the fence. Scaffolding, excavation, plant and falls from height all get plenty of attention.
The road at the front of a development gets less thought, yet it is where workers, delivery drivers and the public meet. Clear road markings play a big part in keeping that space safe, both during the works and after the site opens.
Delineation Line Marking is a family-owned line marking company that provides road line marking across Perth and the South West of Western Australia. Its road work covers intersection marking, longitudinal lines, thermoplastic markings and raised pavement markers.
This guide covers the points site managers should plan for when a project affects a road, a new access point or an internal estate road.
Why road markings matter on a construction project
Drivers read the road surface as much as they read signs. Lines tell them where to stop, which lane to use and where the road edge is.
When a project changes a road layout, the markings need to change with it. If they do not, drivers get mixed messages. Mixed messages near a work zone put both the public and your crew at risk.
Good markings also help your own vehicles. Trucks entering and leaving a site need clear turning paths, and other road users need to know where those trucks will be.
Old lines and new lines do not mix
A common hazard near roadworks is a road showing two layouts at once. The old lane lines remain visible while a temporary layout has been set out with cones or new paint.
Drivers can follow the wrong set, especially at night, in rain or with low sun in their eyes. That can lead them straight into a work area.
Where a layout changes for more than a short period, the old markings should be removed or properly covered. The Delineation Line Marking removal page notes that blackout paint may still let old markings show in certain light, and may not suit roads. Mechanical removal or abrasive methods give a cleaner result where it matters.
Know the rules for working on WA roads
In Western Australia, work on or beside a road is tightly controlled. Main Roads WA explains when you need to notify it and get consent, such as for works needing traffic management on a state road or any work within the road reserve.
Its guidance also sets out that anyone doing works that affect traffic or pedestrian access in the road reserve needs a current traffic management accreditation. Traffic management companies need to be registered under the state scheme, and complex arrangements need a Traffic Management Plan endorsed by a Roadworks Traffic Manager.
For local roads, you apply to the local road authority, which is usually the council. Build these approvals into your program early, because they can take time.
Line marking contractors often work within a traffic management setup that someone else has arranged. Agree on who is providing traffic control before the job is booked, so nobody turns up expecting the other party to have it covered.
Your duties under WHS law
Work health and safety laws apply on the road just as they do inside the site. The person conducting the business or undertaking has duties to manage risks to workers and to others affected by the work, including members of the public.
WorkSafe WA is the regulator in Western Australia and publishes guidance across construction, plant and other hazards. Check its material when you prepare your safe work method statements for road related tasks.
Line marking itself brings its own hazards. Crews work close to moving traffic, often bending down or walking backwards while they check the line. Their safety depends on the traffic controls around them as much as on their own care.
Include the line marking crew in your site induction if they will be working inside or beside your work zone. Show them where plant will be moving, where the exclusion zones are and who to speak to if something changes during the day.
Plan the timing around traffic and weather
Road marking works best on a dry surface in reasonable weather. Delineation Line Marking says its waterborne road marking paint can dry within 5 to 15 minutes on a hot, dry day, and around 30 minutes to an hour in cooler, humid conditions.
That drying time affects how long a lane or turning area needs to stay closed. Factor it into your traffic management plan so traffic is not let back on too soon.
Quieter times of day, or weekends, can reduce the number of vehicles passing the crew. The company lists weekday hours on its site and notes that weekends are available on request.
Think about night time visibility
Many roadwork crashes happen at night. Markings that look clear in daylight can be hard to see in the dark, especially on wet asphalt.
Raised pavement markers reflect headlights and help drivers pick out lanes and edges. Thermoplastic markings are another option that can suit busy road areas. Ask your line marker which products suit the speed and volume of traffic on your road.
Check the standard of the finished work
The final markings on a public road need to match the approved design and the road authority’s requirements. Delineation Line Marking states that its road markings meet or exceed Main Roads WA standards, and that it is a member of the Road Marking Industry Association of Australia.
Before handing a road back, walk or drive the layout with the plan. Check that arrows point the right way, stop lines sit where the signs say they should, and no old markings are left to confuse drivers.
Keep photos and a marked up plan with your handover records. They are useful if questions come up later.
A practical checklist for site managers
Before road marking work starts on your project, check these points:
- Road authority consent sought and conditions understood.
- Traffic management plan prepared by accredited people.
- Responsibility for traffic control agreed with the line marker.
- Old markings removed or covered where the layout changes.
- Work timed around traffic volumes and dry weather.
- Night visibility products discussed for busy or high speed roads.
- Finished markings checked against the plan before reopening.
Road markings are a small part of a large project. Planned well, they help everyone who uses the road around your site get home safely.
