You Want Sum

Oi, you want some wanker. Get a real job you fucking loser. We hear this everyday while we carryout out our job to support our love ones, and every day we have to take shit. But who cares, no one and that’s the honest truth, or is it?

We had an operative hit by a vehicle who had jump a red signal, she got out and started abusing the operative because he was standing in the carriageway and it was he’s fault. She even rang 999 to complain. She drove off the police appeared and with two witnesses, who saw everything the police didn’t want to know.

 

 

 

 

A few months back an operative had acid thrown in his face, as I’m writing this blog another operative is in hospital having pins placed in his arm. Who cares?

I read an Article, about road rage at road works which was dated 13 August 2007.

It said

“Eighty per cent of road workers have been verbally or physically abused by motorists, according to a survey for National Motorway Month released by the RAC Foundation today.

Forty per cent of workers are abused on either a daily or weekly basis. In the survey, almost 80% of ‘near misses’ recorded at roadworks in the last 12 months were due to poor driver behaviour”. That’s five years ago and still, we are having to put up with violence and abuse at work on a daily basis.

Many people think of violence at work to solely consist of physical attacks on a member of the workforce by a member of the public.

However, in the context of health and safety issues within the workplace, the term ‘violence at work’ has been broadened to encompass any kind of abusive or aggressive behaviour that might contribute in inflicting Physical or Psychological Harm to the victim.

Stay safe

Gazza

Who Care’s

Help Me Get Home (your safety campaign) is coming up to its first anniversary. What has it achieved?

Well apart from me spending a lot of my time promoting your safety campaign and investing over £2000 of my own money, NOTHING.

When I started the campaign, everyone wanted to be a part of it, people were saying great idea, just what the industry needs. A one stop safety shop where we could all share best practices and keep more people safe throughout the industry.

So I started the campaign, got a website, got a blog started and brought some merchandise, Mug, Pens, Car Stickers, wrist bands and some business cards with all the campaign details. The first few months were very good, people signing up to the Facebook group, reading the LinkedIn post and following the campaign on Twitter.

I went to trade shows, safety summits for the safety of Road Workers promoting your safety campaign. WHY?

Because no one cares about the safety of road workers. Not even the people who work on the carriageways, the people I met at the trade shows, the managers of big companies who showed willing but haven’t bothered.

We all go on Facebook, all I see is operative’s slagging off other operatives, taking photos of poor TM, taking videos of poor TM. What’s worse using a phone while driving to take the photo or video, or knowing its wrong and not informing the TM Company that’s it’s not quite right. What was the old slogan?

“Don’t Walk By”

Two weeks ago, I emailed 192 people about getting involved with Help Me Get Home, all the people are in the industry, some are Directors at large companies, who could make a difference and get the company to support the campaign, and all I got was one reply saying, I’m already in mate. Really, in what? I have had no response about safety, no safety alerts and no ideas, so what are you in.

 So to all you people who say they care about safety on the carriageway, take a good look at yourself, do you really care?

So let’s take a look. I know several people who work at major players with in our industry, who all said they would help, well I’m still waiting for the help.

At this point I would like to thank Mr Steve Bennett who owns TLS Ltd, for he is the only person who has put his money where his mouth is. He made a very generous donation to Highways Industry.Com, so they could publish four articles about the campaign, Thanks Steve.

So I am looking for someone or a company to help me push the campaign to the next level. Because I actually believe in your safety so you can get home to your love ones.

 

Gazza

Road Expo 2015

Every November I travel to Edinburgh, Scotland. This year was no different I was on Acklea Ltd stand showing of the Scorpion crash cushion. We all met at the usual hotel in Edinburgh on the night before the show for a catch up. Acklea Ltd very kindly allowed my to use there stand to promote our safety campaign “Help Me Get Home”. So I arrived about 09:00 and got a few of the promotional hand outs ready for the start of the show. Usual type of things pen, car stickers and wrist bands. Only forgot about the mugs in the boot of my car.

At 09:30 the show doors opened, with all the usual suspects were in attendance, ABG Ltd, Acklea Ltd, Alba Traffic Management, A-Plant Lux , BCS Group Plc. Border Barrier Systems, Clearview Traffic Group Ltd, Coneworx Ltd, Highway Care Ltd, Road Safety Markings Association, Safety Vehicles Hire & Lease Ltd, Solar Signs UK Ltd, SRL Traffic Systems Ltd, The Rich Works, Transport Scotland and Westcotec Ltd, just to name a few.

One of the first visitors to the stand was Derek Mackay Minster for Transport for Scotland and the Isles.

I explained about our mission for the campaign. “Our mission is a one-stop safety shop for all carriageway workers. Sharing all safety information across the industry will have a better influence than just keeping it to your company or your supply chain. After all, everyone has the right to get home after their shift on the carriageway”.

By the end of the day I had secured a definite fee to advertise on the website and three other companies willing to pay for advertising on the website. Overall a very good day the more and more people know about your campaign “Help Me Get Home”

Remember it will only work if you get involved, so tell your employers about the campaign and it would be good to share safety information.

Road Workers Safety Summit 2015

On Wednesday 21st October I travelled to the NEC in Birmingham. I didn’t know what to expect as this was the first summit. I arrived at 09:00 for a coffee and a bit of networking. I saw a few friendly faces which help breaks the ice at these sort of meetings.

The opening address, was meant to be by the transport minster, but unfortunately he couldn’t make it through having a busy diary, I thought nice to feel wanted another let down for road workers. The opening address, started about the changes in CDM 2015, Its all about openness and what was described as the three C’s.

Co-operation

Collaboration

Co-ordination.

Wow, I thought that’s exactly what’s our campaign is all about sharing safety alerts, incidents and best practice, so the whole industry can stay safe not just the big companies. The rest of the opening address informed us, what the rest of the day was going to be about, we had to choose to attend two different workshops.

My first workshop was Behaviour Change. The theme was “Just Culture”. I really enjoyed this workshop, we started with SKATE;

Skills                        

Knowledge

Attitude

Training

Experience.

This is fine but we have a transit work force, how can we monitor or control the behaviour of the operatives? A visible leadership, upper management carrying out site visits, holding front line forums with the operatives working on the carriageway. Everything our safety campaign is all about. A voice for the operatives.

My second workshop was “Improving Traffic Management through Collaboration” again something our campaign is trying to achieve. This workshop was hosted by Colas Ltd. This workshop was the one of the best I have attended, It wasn’t about Colas Ltd, It was about us the candidates, answering three questions and the diversity of answers were very different but really they were the same. We watched a shocking video of an IPV strike, that really hit home. I would like to thank Dennis Gregg, Robert Cummings and Dr Ryan Wood for a great workshop. I am really impressed with Colas Ltd’s attitude and determination to Road Worker Safety.

My biggest disappointment of the day was the lack of attendees from companies who work on the carriageways and local authorities. Here’s hoping for a better turn out next year.

Stay Safe

Gazza

 

Let’s Have a Mass Debate

Now that I have your attention, let’s talk 50 shades of grey. Ok let’s talk about another grey area in temporary traffic management. In particular, can I install a three or four way with a 12D M2 qualification? Now, straight away your all saying don’t be daft, but I will explain.

 The 12D M5 qualification is to install a multi-phase traffic signal set up. That’s where a three way has three individual phases. Now what if the same three way only has two phases? Getting my drift.
We all know that on a three way we use the sign opposite, which clearly states 3-way control and doesn’t even mention phases. So can I install a three way control which only has two phases? The main carriageway is phase one and the side road phase two, only two phases so if I change the 3-way control sign to a WHEN RED LIGHT SHOWS WAIT HERE , that’s a two phase set up which I can install with a 12D M2 card.

 In chapter 8 diagram SC12 clearly shows a four way set up using the 7011, WHEN RED LIGHT SHOWS WAIT HERE. Is that because it only has two phases?
So let’s go back to the three way which only has two phases isn’t that the same as using the adjoining traffic not under signal control but using a traffic signal. Again two phases with 3 approaches, which can be installed by a M2 operative. So I asked myself what is the difference between three approaches with two phases and three way control with two phases? Surely if I can install one with a M2 card why can’t I install the other with a M2 card?
The 12D M5 course is for Multi-Phase, Portable Traffic Signal Installations;
Definition:
Temporary Traffic Management Systems incorporating the use of portable, temporary traffic signals to control 3 or more phases

So Can I install a three way with two phases on my M2 qualification?
Please don’t start installing a 3 way unless you hold the M5 card.
I’m not even going to talk about, do I need an IPV on a 30mph dual-carriageway.

Thank You All

What a week, talk about crossroads, T junctions and roundabouts. After four and a half years at Mervyn Lambert Plant Ltd , I’ve now left. Now I work at Capital Traffic in Essex.

Thank you Jonathan & Kelly Thompson for the opportunity to help your company and training centre grow.

On Wednesday I visited Traffex at the NEC in Birmingham armed with 200 car stickers. First stop was at the Signal Traffic Management stand, what lovely people, after a short chat about Help Me Get Home Safety Campaign they agreed to display the car stickers in their vehicles, “Thank You”. Next it was on to the Highways Industries.com stand, and I met up with Adiran Pulham of Up to Speed Training and Assessment Centre. Up to Speed are pushing the Help Me get home safety campaign very hard and have agreed to place the logo on their centres staff PPE. Many thanks for your help and support Adiran.

        

On the same stand was KDO Software, where I met up Anna Howe who will be visiting Capital Traffic to show of the software for going paper less, “Thank You Anna”. Next I saw Steve Bennett of TLS Ltd who tried so hard to get me to stay the night, I see you all had a good night. The warmth of all the staff at TLS Ltd made me feel very welcome and all support the safety campaign. Steve and the Staff at TLS Ltd “Thank You”.

I had a chat with Matt Lambert of Highways industry.com, about the “Help Me Get Home” safety campaign and I am delighted that Highways industry.com are supporting the campaign. Thank You

But most of all if you have purchase a car sticker and promoting the safety campaign, “Thank You”

Gazza

TM Labour Suppliers

Traffic Management Labour suppliers are they a good thing or a nightmare waiting to happen?

At the moment the industry is very busy, mainly due to being mad March when all the local authorities need to spend their budget and an influx of money from the government due to the election being announced.

I saw an article on Facebook regarding an agency supplying the Traffic Management industry of traffic management operatives started in 2009, the question they asked was “how many labour suppliers are there now”? What a good question, You go on Facebook, Twitter and most other media outlets you will always find labour agencies trying to recruit carded or non-carded operatives.

Now I have nothing against labour supply companies and I will keep my opinion to myself, however this post is to start a debate on the good the bad and the ugly side of the supply agencies. Not to start slagging them off or complaining about certain companies, keep this a clean debate.

The Good

You only have to use their operatives as and when required, they tend to work on short notice.

The Bad

Give me 5 minutes and I’ll call you back, 5 minutes turns into 20 and so on, that’s if they ring you back. In the meantime you try another supplier and guess what, I’ii call you back, 5 minutes. The operatives can sign for more than one supply agency. Then you have to chase for a copy of their cards and certificates, Most of the operatives who work for labour supply companies have to be self-employed, if that’s the case who’s insures them, I bet they are not covered by the labour supply company, how can they be insured by the company who hired them? Would you put someone on your insurance if you didn’t know them.

There seems to be a bit of confusion on who responsible for the self-employed agency worker

Agency staff

As an employer, you can hire temporary staff through agencies. This means:

• you pay the agency, including the employee’s National Insurance contributions (NICs) and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
• it’s the agency’s responsibility to make sure workers get their rights under working time regulations
• you must make sure they can access your facilities (such as canteen and childcare facilities), and information on your job vacancies
• after 12 weeks’ continuous employment in the same role, agency workers get the same terms and conditions as permanent employees, including pay, working time, rest periods, night work, breaks and annual leave
• you must provide the agency with information about the relevant terms and conditions in your business so that they can ensure the worker gets equal treatment after 12 weeks in the same job
• you must allow agency workers to use any shared facilities (eg a staff canteen or childcare) and give them information about job vacancies from the first day they work there

you are still responsible for their health and safety

Freelancers, consultants and contractors

If you hire a freelancer, consultant or contractor it means that:

• they are self-employed or are part of other companies
• they often look after their own tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs)
• they might not be entitled to the same rights as workers, eg minimum wage
• you’re still responsible for their health and safety

Click to access 11-949-agency-workers-regulations-guidance.pdf

So if they are self-employed and paying their own contributions, surely they must have to have their own insurance.

If they are a sole trader or a Limited company working through the agency, they still pay their own contributions so surely they must have to have their own insurance or have I got this wrong?

The Ugly

How can you, as a company control the labour suppliers traffic management operatives working hours, have they double shifted? how many shifts have they carried out that week? After all they can work for one agency on days and another agency on nights, hows that safe. How many times do you get let down by the operatives not turning up on-site and then its you who has to face the customer.

Remember this is to help the TM operatives for their rights as well as the agencies. It’s only a poll.

Stop/Go (Is it safe)?

At the end of 2013 there were 35.0 million vehicles licensed for     use on the roads in Great Britain, of which 29.1 million were cars.

The total number of licensed vehicles has increased in every year since the end of the Second World War except 1991.

Between 1996 and 2007, the annual growth in licensed vehicles averaged 2.5 per cent a year, although from the mid-2000s it had already begun to slow somewhat. Following the recession of 2008-9 it slowed further, but did not stop, averaging 0.3 per cent a year between 2008 and 2011.

Between 2012 and 2013 the total vehicle stock increased by 1.5 per cent, the first substantial year-on-year increase since 2007.

So in 1991 there was a recession in vehicles on the road, also in 1991 the traffic count for Stop/Go operation was ;
Maximum two-way traffic flow
Coned area length (metres)       Vehicles per 3 minutes
Up to 100                                                     70
Up to 200                                                     63
Up to 300                                                     53
Up to 400                                                    47
Up to 500                                                     42

Yes it looks the same as it is in the new Safety at Street Works and Road Works 2014 October. That’s because it is

Coned area length (metres)       Vehicles per 3 minutes
Up to 100                                                     70
Up to 200                                                     63
Up to 300                                                     53
Up to 400                                                    47
Up to 500                                                     42

The question is, how many operatives carry out traffic counts for stop/go operation. Or is it just a case to get it installed because they are under pressure from their company or the client who waiting to carry out the works.

With this big increase in vehicles on the carriageway how can stop go be safe. If the traffic counts were recorded how many sites would be installed? How many operatives carry out traffic counts for Stop/Go

With the local authorities demanding more and more Stop/Go surely that’s going to lead to more operatives facing more, abuse and threats of violence.

Fines warning to drivers ignoring safety signs

From:

Highways Agency

First published:

30 April 2014

Part of:

Smart motorways, Managing, improving and investing in the road network, Transport and UK economy

The Highways Agency is warning motorway drivers they are putting road workers’ lives at risk by ignoring safety signs and illegally using the hard shoulder to avoid congestion caused by accidents.

The Agency is supporting Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Police in a number of prosecutions resulting from incidents earlier this month (April 2014) where drivers have ignored ‘red X’ lane closure signs or used the hard shoulder to get past congestion resulting from accidents.

Both Cheshire Police and Greater Manchester Police have reported several drivers for offences. The drivers now risk fines and potentially losing their licences under the penalty points system.

The warning comes after incidents along the M56 and M6 earlier this month when Highways Agency traffic officers were working with the police to manage traffic at serious collisions. The incidents involved drivers using the hard shoulder to get past the incident scene or ignoring ‘red X’ signs designed to stop drivers from entering lanes with hazards ahead.

Although Highways Agency traffic officers do not have enforcement powers, the Agency is reminding drivers that it is an offence to ignore the instructions of traffic officers – including electronic signs they set – and to use the hard shoulder without good reason.

Control room traffic officers at the Highways Agency’s regional control centre at Newton-le-Willows monitor traffic and incidents from hundreds of CCTV cameras across the region – and today the Highways Agency revealed it has handed CCTV footage from recent incidents to support prosecutions of drivers.

John McTaggart, the Highways Agency’s Head of On Road Services, said.

Our traffic officers are getting very frustrated that their lives and the lives of emergency workers and other road workers are being put at risk by the thoughtlessness of a minority of motorway users.

We and the emergency services have enough to do during serious incidents without worrying whether a stray vehicle is heading towards us in the hard shoulder or after driving under a red X. This is not only dangerous but can also impede any emergency services or recovery vehicles needing to use the hard shoulder to get to an incident and help clear it as soon as possible.

We urge drivers to re-read the Highway Code, be reminded that it is an offence to drive under a red X sign or to use the hard shoulder except in a genuine emergency – and be assured that where possible we will support the police in prosecutions of drivers who flout the law.

The Highways Agency is reminding drivers that the deployment of ‘red X’ signs is increasing as part of the smart motorways programme currently being delivered along key sections of the motorway network across England. With full or part-time use of the hard shoulder in smart motorway sections ‘red X’ signs are used to close a lane when it is not needed or there is a break down, accident or other incident in the lane. Drivers should never drive under a ‘red X’ sign and should switch to an available lane.

A new section of smart motorway opened today on the M25 accompanied by a ‘Get smart, know your motorway’ campaign to raise awareness of the increasing use of red X signs and how drivers should respond to them.

Details of the new smart motorway section are available on the Highways Agency’s website

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Drivers can also visit the Highways Agency’s website for more information about the smart motorways and the campaign.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000

The First Month

Little did I know what sort of response I would receive regarding your safety campaign, Help Me Get Home.
I started a Facebook group which received a mixed response, might be due to other traffic management groups. The next step was opening a twitter account, which is dying a slow death. Next was a LinkedIn group which is taking off.

I was disappointed by Facebook as the safety campaign is for the operatives working on the carriageway. Feedback has been poor and not one mention of a safety issue, perhaps we have the safest operative on the carriageway in the world.

Car Sticker

I had to think of another approach on how to get the campaign noticed and to gain more exposure.
So I made a basic website; www.helpmegethome.co.uk/ Next I had some car stickers made to replace the tax disc, but you can place them in any car window. Other things made are 1050 x 750 fixed frame signs and some 300 mm x 300 mm signs for training centre or office safety notice boards.
What I needed was for someone to help me get this out into the world of temporary traffic management. Someone who is as passionate about TM safety as me. I paid a visit to Birmingham, Up to Speed Training and Assessment Centre. Adrian had shown an interest in the safety campaign and thought it was a good idea to get safety from the carriageway operatives after all there are the ones in the front line.
So Adrian has agreed to help run the safety campaign and we are delighted he has joined us. So the admin team are as follows, Gary Knight, Rob Tyson and Adrian Pulham.
Now we can work as a team and deliver your safety campaign.
Remember Help Me Get Home will only work with your input.

If you require a car sticker or have any safety concerns email;
enquiries@helpmegethome.co.uk 

Stay Safe

Gazza