Because traffic controllers work onsite, a full range of personal protective equipment or PPE is mandatory at all times. This is standard fare for individuals working in demanding environments, and comes with the benefit of offering safety, as well as convenience via uniform traffic control devices, as they spend a significant amount of time subjected to the elements.
Who decides what traffic controllers wear?
While Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts deals with the general national transportation and infrastructure goals of the country on a federal level, it doesn’t handle the regulation or accreditation of traffic controllers directly. Instead, individual state and government agencies handle those frameworks, down to what is considered necessary PPE for traffic control workwear.
Headwear
As can be expected in any high-risk environment, hard hats are required for traffic controllers on duty to comply with minimum safety requirements, which are typically set following standard workplace risk assessments. Acceptable hard hats come outfitted with a fluorescent strip or band for safety while operating in nighttime or limited visibility conditions, such as heavy fog. A broad brim is also recommended for eye protection and shading.
Eyes and Ears
Just as AS/NZS 1337.1 standard-compliant eyewear must be worn in environments with high concentrations of chemical or air pollutants, traffic controllers must have polarised sunglasses on at all times during daytime duty hours. This protects their eyes from prolonged sun exposure without sacrificing the optimal vision required for the demanding nature of the job.
Traffic control clothing is designed with the anticipation that workers will be exposed to brief as well as prolonged scenarios that reach a harmful decibel range for unprotected ears. Thinning out a four-way traffic jam following an accident or waving through a contingent of mixer trucks en route to a construction site are two examples of this, as these scenarios often necessitate a moderate degree of horn-honking from heavy vehicles.
Bodywear
The standard traffic controller uniform prioritises visibility above all else, and for good reason. Workers are usually required to wear either orange or yellow fluorescent vests or shirts with reflecting strips on either side. A clear text label designating the individual’s role is also typically required, both on the front and back of the traffic control uniform.
Matching full-length, high-visibility bottoms must be worn while on duty, complete with reflective bands of their own. These bands are usually blue in colour, but can be grey in some localities. Traffic controllers must also wear steel-toed boots, and are encouraged to invest in a comfortable pair as the typical work shift comprises a significant amount of time spent up and about. Steel caps over the toes offer limited but significant protection for workers’ feet in scenarios involving errant vehicles or loose vehicle components.
Sunscreen
Traffic controllers must take proper precautions to protect their eyes and skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, particularly under the Sydney sun. Workers are encouraged to apply sunscreen to exposed areas, and reapply regularly. SPF 50 broad-spectrum sunscreen is recommended year-round, as UV intensity in Australia is categorised as UV Index 3 — or in a nutshell, “damaging” — even on cloudy days.
Conclusion
The necessity of PPE in traffic control is in keeping with the safety requirements for working within any demanding or high-risk environment. It’s important for workers to comply with uniform rules and regulations throughout the work shift, in order to keep themselves safe and traffic flowing efficiently.
