Mobile Plant Operation and Site Traffic Management
Traffic management
A traffic management plan separates pedestrians, light vehicles and heavy plant using one-way systems, defined routes, crossing points, speed limits, signage and physical barriers. Reversing is a major cause of fatalities, so routes should minimise it; where reversing is unavoidable, use trained banksmen, reversing aids and exclusion zones.
Operator responsibilities
Operators must be trained, authorised and fit to work. Before moving, check the area, use mirrors and cameras, sound the horn where needed, and never carry passengers unless the machine is designed for it. Loads must be within capacity and secured; travel with the bucket or load low. On slopes, loaded machines travel downhill where conditions allow, and stability must be maintained.
Interaction rules
- Never walk or work under a raised bucket or load.
- Keep out of the operator's blind spots; make eye contact before approaching.
- Pedestrians use designated routes and crossings, wearing high-visibility clothing.
- Where a banksman directs a machine, only one person directs at a time and agreed signals are used.
Traps
- "The operator saw me" is not a control; blind spots are large and mirrors have limits.
- Speed limits are maximums for ideal conditions, not targets.
- A banksman does not remove the need for segregation or exclusion zones.
Worked example
A dumper needs to reverse to a tip point. Controls: one-way route to avoid reversing where possible, a trained banksman in a safe position visible to the driver, agreed signals, an edge stop/berm at the tip, and no pedestrians in the zone.