Roadside Working

New guidance in development

Following ongoing enquiries and concerns raised with FISA for roadside working we are moving forward with drafting new guidance to support the industry on the subject. 

Thanks go in advance to those from the industry that have volunteered to help with writing this guide.

In brief below is an outline of key points for Roadside Working:

Roadside Working

• The approach should be a thorough Risk Assessment of the hazards from tree felling and the controls to prevent injury to those using the public highway.
• The hazards should be well understood to those involved in forestry i.e. falling trees, or parts of, and chainshot if a mechanised operation. You should also consider haulage turning on and off the highway, debris from mulchers, flails and chippers. The controls to protect the public are through effective Traffic Management, creating exclusion zones and segregation to the forestry works.
• For many situations with main/trunk roads, the appropriate response is to engage a competent traffic management organisation. Bear in mind that while they may be experts in their field, they may not fully understand the risks associated with tree works. Recent enquiries and concerns raised with FISA note that lane closures have not included the need to accommodate HGVs associated with the forestry site, both for plant delivery and collecting cut material/chip. It is the duty of the Forestry Works Manager to communicate these to the traffic management organisation at the outset and for the FWM to satisfy themselves that they have fully understood the tree work aspects.
• Traffic management can vary between Chapter 8 signing and guarding, traffic controls, to even full road closures. In all cases, traffic management must be sited, maintained and removed by qualified personnel and if unqualified, permit applicants should contract out this duty to organisations qualified and resourced to do so. The following legislation applies in the use of traffic management:
  • The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended)
  • Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991
  • The Street Works Regulations 1995 (Accreditation Units 1 and 2)
  • Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 8 (as amended)
  • Department of Transport Departmental Standard TD 21/85 & TA 47/85
  • The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016
• Site planning must take place to ensure that the tree works keep within the wood where possible and the traffic management is to protect from the unexpected.
• As with all Risk Assessment this must be constantly reviewed to ensure the controls are adequate, and if not, revised.