Solutions for improved road worker safety in NSW

iMOVE’s Improving worker safety on high-speed high-volume roads project, conducted with Transport for NSW and Deakin University’s Safe Future Mobility Research Lab has been completed, and that project’s final report is available here for download.

The M1 is one of Australia’s busiest roads, running approximately 129 kilometres between Sydney and Newcastle. The road’s busyness and importance therefore sees a larger than normal presence of road workers in attendance, performing such tasks as maintenance, repairs, incident response, and road and roadside inspections.

Aims and objectives

This project sought to:

• Identify current technologies and innovative work methods for reducing risk associated with high-speed, high-volume road operations; and
• Recommend technologies and practices targeting safety improvement for potential future trials

Upon assessment these aims would be expected to bring about the following outcomes for workers:

1. Remove or reduce the need for workers to be on the road;
2. Reduce worker exposure to risks related to work

Methodology

The project methodology includes five phases:

• Phase 1: Inception, planning, and methodology development
• Phase 2: Understanding work practices and current risks
• Phase 3: Identification of best practices and technologies
• Phase 4: Options analysis and recommendations
• Phase 5: Reporting

Work on these was drawn from a literature review, interviews with workers, and consultations with international experts and industry representatives, and options analysis to develop recommendations for future trial.

Key findings

The final report details a number of areas in which workers’ safety on high speed high volume roads would be improved, across:

• Temporary traffic management
• Work methods

Falling within these two areas is improvements in asset inspection, and use of technologies such as geospatial video, pavement sensors, drone video, and LiDAR 3D models.
Each of the possible solutions in these areas were assessed in terms of:

• Reducing traffic exposure
• Reducing incident exposure
• Reducing incident severity
• Improving driver compliance

Proposed solutions

What follows below is a selection of proposed solutions. Some are already in use or in the process of undergoing Australian trials, some require further research before being trialled, and others are solutions or technologies not currently available in Australia.

Note that the recommendations are provided as general recommendations for work on high speed high volume roads. They do not consider specific work or site setup, including the location, timing, and context of setting up the solutions noted in the recommendations. In future trials and use, it is strongly suggested that risk assessments, traffic guidance scheme developments, and other relevant approvals are considered before implementing the recommendations on site.

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Listed here is a selection of recommendations contained in the final report. It should also be noted that these are “… recommended as priority considerations for trial and/or implementation on the study section of the M1.”

Variable message sign (VMS) and related information provision: Findings of the current research suggest that increased use of VMS is likely to improve compliance, reduce exposure to incidents and potentially reduce incident severity. Both portable and permanent VMS can be expected to reduce worker exposure to traffic by reducing or removing the need for and/or time required to place and adjust signage. Greatest benefit may be realised where VMS can be provided as permanent fixtures and remotely operated. Whether fixed or portable, message content and symbols must be appropriate for conditions and easy for all drivers to understand.

Variable speed limit signs (VSLS): The infrastructure needed for permanent VMS, including overhead gantries, can also accommodate VSLS which, if linked to appropriate sensors and information technology, may respond automatically to different levels of traffic congestion and incidents. While permanent VSLS may provide the greatest benefit in terms of improved compliance and reduced worker exposure, increased use of portable VSLS is also recommended where warranted by site and operational conditions.

Speed feedback and vehicle-activated warning signs: Speed feedback signs should be used at work sites wherever possible as a reminder to drivers to check their speeds and adjust if needed. Consideration should also be given to trials incorporating flashing beacons on top of speed feedback signs as research has found this to be an effective addition for drawing drivers’ attention.

Traffic monitoring and congestion warning systems: Increased CCTV monitoring is recommended to assist with incident assessment and response. This is expected to be incorporated in smart motorway infrastructure, which should also accommodate a congestion and/or queue warning system. Future advancements in AI and image processing technologies could provide a reliable platform for automated detection of incidents, congestion, and other road hazards such as presence of debris on road.

Increased police presence: Increased visible presence of police at work sites is highly likely to improve work zone speed compliance and is therefore recommended. Police cars should be located safely within work zones and protected by appropriate traffic controls suitable for conditions.

Automated cone truck: Trial of new commercially available automated cone trucks is recommended to potentially reduce worker exposure to traffic and incidents. The current research identified that automated cone trucks have previously been trialled in NSW, but their effectiveness has been limited due to technical and operational problems.

WORK METHODS

Automated pavement repair trucks: A range of technologies, including 3D printing, are available for automated minor pavement repair such as pothole and crack filling, allowing such works to be completed more efficiently and quickly. While further investigation is needed to identify and confirm the availability of relevant products, trial and evaluation of the most promising options is recommended to reduce worker exposure to traffic and related incidents.

Debris removal vehicles and accessories: Trial of new vehicle-based tools and technologies for debris removal and drainage maintenance is recommended. This may include vacuum trucks for clearing drains and scuppers, and sweeper trucks and related accessories.

Communications technology: Some sections of the M1 are known to be compromised in terms of telecommunications and signal transmission. Efforts should be made to ensure that communication networks are as reliable as possible in all locations and that workers are provided with (and competent in the use of) the most appropriate technology. This may result in reduced exposure to traffic and related incidents and allow more efficient completion of works.

Planning and coordination: Improved planning and coordination of operations is recommended to allow some works to be completed with greater efficiency, particularly for very short duration and mobile works. M1 workers indicated that such ‘clumping’ of different activities could be achieved more regularly, thereby reducing exposure to traffic and related incidents.

Expected project impacts

From Transport for NSW:

This project sort to review and reduce the risk of working near traffic for workers on the M1. The M1 is a high-speed, high-volume road with unique geometric and traffic characteristics unique to this road making. There is consensus in the literature that the risks are greater for high-speed work zones where workers are exposed to live traffic. Deakin University was able to assemble a multidisciplinary team of experts in road safety, road works, traffic management, safety evaluation and transport engineering to identify controls that could be trailed to mitigate these risks.

We were able to identify opportunities for innovative use of existing technologies and innovative ways of working in the areas of structural and roadside inspections, temporary traffic control devices and alternative ways of conducting temporary road works or maintenance activities on the M1. This information will help inform any future trials.

Download the final report

Download your copy of the final report, Improving Road Worker Safety on the M1, by clicking the button below.