April 29, 2002—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking comments on its proposal to amend the construction industry standard for the types of traffic control signs, signals, and barricades that must be used at roadway work sites. The rule, which applies to employers involved in road construction and repair operations, requires compliance with either the Millennium Edition, or Revision 3 of the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), in place of the 1971 MUTCD.
Among the specific changes, the revised standard would require retro-reflective and illuminated devices at intermediate and long-term stationary temporary traffic control zones; warning devices for mobile operations at speeds above 20 mph; advance warning signs for certain closed paved shoulders; a transition area containing a merging taper when one lane is closed on a multi-lane road; temporary traffic control devices with traffic barriers that are immediately adjacent to an open lane; and temporary traffic barriers separating opposing traffic on a two-way roadway.
The standard’s revision is being made through the direct final rule approach because most employers have been required by the Federal Highway Administration to comply with Revision 3 in lieu of the 1971 MUTCD since 1996. If no significant adverse comments are received, the final rule will be effective on August 13, 2002. However, if such comments are received, OSHA will withdraw the direct final rule and address the comments in formulating a new final rule based on the proposal.
Public comments must be sent in triplicate by June 14, 2002 to Docket Office, Docket No. S-018, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N2625, Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments that are 10 pages or less may also be faxed to 202/693-1648. The signs, signals and barricades direct final rule is scheduled to be published in the April 15, 2002 Federal Register.
