Portable Positive Protection Typical Application for TMA Trucks

Portable Positive Protection Typical Application for TMA Trucks

Typical Application for TMA Truck Portable Positive Protection

It is important to have advance warning of the mobile lane closure using TMA trucks for advance warnings with appropriate signing to warn drivers of the lane closure.

The typical application diagram below includes a potential approach to executing this mobile lane closure when using portable positive protection. While this approach reflects the MUTCD typical application for mobile operations, other deployments may or may not include the shadow vehicles. In either case, advance warning for drivers is of utmost importance to the safety of the operation.

A typical application drawing to relay main points about how to use portable positive protection.

An example of a traffic control configuration for a mobile lane closure:

About

SPA Safety Systems

At SPA Safety Systems of Flanders NJ, contractors and engineers can find the best in class and high-performance TMA trucks for work zone safety in New Jersey, PA, NY, CT, RI, or MD.

We carry an extensive inventory of Truck Mounted Attenuator trucks, Cone Trucks and Scissor Lift Trucks for sale or rent, and equipment and parts inventory. For more information call (973) 347-1101 or visit our dust control water trucks web page at https://spasafetysystems.com/.

 

Over 36 Years of Serving the Construction Industry

SPA is a family owned and operated business celebrating over 36 years of serving the construction industry. We developed our reputation for excellence by providing quality products and superior service.

For more information call (973) 347-1101 or visit our dust control water trucks web page at https://spasafetysystems.com/ .

 

SPA Safety Systems
278 Old Ledgewood Rd
Flanders, NJ 07836

(973) 347-1101

Citation and credits:

Mobile Barriers LLC.. (2016). Portable Positive Protection: A Guide for Short Duration and Short-Term Work Zones. (Based on Material Developed by ATSSA for the FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant Program ed.). USA: Retrieved from https://www.mobilebarriers.com/

Information Sources

Federal Highway Administration Resource Charts

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_hardware/resource_charts/

 

TX Deployment—“Texas Department of Transportation Rolls out Mobile Barriers MBT-1”

http://mobilebarriers.com/images/TxDOT%20Rolls%20Out%20Mobile%20Barriers%20MBT-1.pdf

 

Mobile Barriers MBT-1 Cost benefit Analysis—with Analysis from CO, CA and Others

http://mobilebarriers.com/images/docs/Cost%20Benefit%20Analysis%20-%20Mobile%20Barriers%20MBT-1.pdf

 

Field Guide for the Placement of Shadow Vehicles in Work Zones

Field Guide for the Use and Placement of Shadow Vehicles in Work Zones

 

Guidelines on the Use of Positive Protection in Temporary Traffic Control Zones

https://www.workzonesafety.org/fhwa_wz_grant/atssa/atssa_positive_protection_guidelines

 

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices – Part 6 sections 6F and 6G

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

 

North Texas Tollway—“Mobile Barriers Protect Workers”

Mobile Barriers Protect Workers

 

Washington State Department of Transportation Work Zone Traffic Control Guidelines Book M54-44

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Publications/Manuals/M54-44.htm

 

National Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse

http://www.workzonesafety.org

 

Developmental History of Highly Mobile Barriers

Moveable Barriers

 

Mobile Barriers Web Site

www.mobilebarriers.com

10 Suggested Steps to Take When Planning TMA Portable Positive Protection

10 Suggested Steps to Take When Planning TMA Portable Positive Protection

10 Suggested Steps to Take When Planning to Use Portable Positive Protection

 Developed by ATSSA for the FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant Program

The following list shows a collection of steps to follow in implementing portable positive protection.

This list can be applied to either towable devices or steel barrier sections already staged on the roadside for future use. Many strategies are possible and those that are intended should be defined in the contract plans and provisions or as well detailed temporary traffic control plans (TTCP).

Diagram - Mobile Operation on a Multi-Lane Road

(1) Identify crew members who will perform the work and those who will assist with traffic control. A responsible person, such as the Traffic Control Supervisor or Agency Inspector may be charged with this duty.

(2) Organize crew members and meet ahead of the scheduled operation to discuss the deployment. Be sure that manufacturer guidance is reviewed and understood in light of State and local requirements. Some agencies follow a Pre-Activity Safety Plan process, which is a best practice approach and may include an assessment for portable positive protection. TTCPs should be available for all involved and written instructions may be needed for some activities.

(3) Ensure that the necessary equipment is available to perform the work activities. The Traffic Control Supervisor and Agency Inspector should refer to an equipment list developed from equipment shown on the TTCP.

(4) Develop and/or review site-specific TTCPs for location of work, type of work activity, time of day and potential lighting needs, safe stopping locations, positioning of semi-trailers for unloading devices, and other temporary traffic control devices such as signs and arrow boards that will accompany the installation.

(5) Review the existing traffic data for the work location and analyze the project’s effect on traffic flow, including the potential for queuing, speed variability, and the potential hazards associated with slowing traffic as the device is put into place. The higher the traffic levels, the more benefit in reduced exposure to offset cost of the portable positive protection. Work hours may need to be established to minimize traffic impacts.

(6) For a right-lane closure it may be necessary to stop on the shoulder in advance of the work space to find the appropriate gap in traffic where the lane can be closed safely, in keeping with accepted safety practices.

(7) For a left lane closure, consider the limited inside shoulder area and how the operation will be initiated, including ground placement of advance warning signs, if applicable. This setup may require a mobile lane closure if the inside shoulder is narrow (especially if a median wall exists) and advance warning signs are placed on the ground instead of or in addition to using vehicle-mounted signing.

(8) Consider potential lateral and longitudinal displacement and leave room in the event that lateral deflection occurs when a vehicle strikes the protection device. A lateral buffer space may need to be established, usually one lane width.

(9) When using trailers, consider slightly angling the cab/tractor away from the side where traffic will pass. This may help avoid cab/tractor impact from an errant vehicle as it travels down the outside of the trailer in the event of impact. When in operation, ensure that a truck mounted attenuator is lowered into place, if applicable.

(10) Once the operation is complete, all materials and tools are removed from the site, and all personnel are accounted for in the vehicles, use radio communication from the upstream vehicle (advance warning or shadow vehicle) to determine the appropriate timing for moving the operation back into the flow of traffic and opening the lane. For steel barriers, it may be possible to move the sections back to the shoulder prior to loading back onto a removal vehicle.

ATSSA article on "Ten Suggested Steps to Take When Planning to Use Portable Positive Protection"
FHWA Work Zone Safety Article

“Portable Positive Protection: A Guide for Short Duration and Short Term Work Zones.” The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, Developed by ATSSA for the FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant Program, Sept. 2015, www.workzonesafety.org/training-resources/fhwa_wz_grant/atssa_portable_positive_protection/.


About

SPA Safety Systems

At SPA Safety Systems of Flanders NJ, contractors and engineers can find the best in class and high-performance TMA trucks for work zone safety in New Jersey, PA, NY, CT, RI, or MD.

We carry an extensive inventory of Truck Mounted Attenuator trucks, Cone Trucks and Scissor Lift Trucks for sale or rent, and equipment and parts inventory. For more information call (973) 347-1101 or visit our dust control water trucks web page at https://spasafetysystems.com/.

 

SPA Safety Systems
278 Old Ledgewood Rd
Flanders, NJ 07836

(973) 347-1101

TMA Truck for sale and rent - SPA Safety Systems

SPA Safety Systems – TMA Trucks for Sale and Rent.

TMA Work Zone Safety Portable Positive Protection

TMA Work Zone Safety Portable Positive Protection

TMA trucks are also known as attenuator trucks, crash trucks, or safety trucks has one basic purpose – to save lives.

Truck Mounted Attenuator trucks have an attenuator crash-absorbent system attached to them so that they can easily be deployed anywhere at any given time. In essence, these are trucks that come with their own enormous crumple zone. TMA trucks are deployed behind moving operations such as trucks dropping traffic cones or painting lines on roads, protecting workers as they perform their duties along the working area. They are also useful as an alternative to Fitch barriers, sand filled drums, in work zones that are stationary.

If used properly, these safety trucks can easily slow down oncoming cars quickly enough such that cars won’t crash into the work zone. However, they don’t stop so quickly that the people inside the cars are injured.

TMA Work Zone Safety has become a common sight these days and there are even autonomous TMA trucks entering the marketplace which may eliminate the need for human drivers.  This will lead to one less employee having to be in the truck should it be hit harshly.  Constant research and advancement in this technology have made it safer for the employees without having to compromise the safety of the travelers.

TMA Trucks promoting portable positive protection

Portable positive protection applies to those approved devices that provide crashworthy levels of protection that are acceptable. They are portable and quick to install and remove as compared to traditional devices. These devices are known as TMA trucks in the industry.

While temporary portable concrete barriers are generally considered apt for use on long term projects (projects lasting more than 3 days), the proper definition of portable would be a device that is quickly deployable when it comes to shorter work operations. TMA trucks are amazingly portable and they are equipped with positive protection attenuators that can easily absorb crash impacts.  TMA Trucks promote Work Zone Safety as they can easily be placed and moved from the path of travel at work sites to provide better protection in the work zones for both long and short-term operations.

There has been an increased focus on the usage of TMA Trucks or positive protection for ensuring protection of workers by separating workers and traffic in work zones physically. Portable Positive Protection protects both the workers as well as road users.

TMA Trucks are especially useful in work zones where there is traffic congestion since they can easily be moved in order to reopen traffic lanes quickly as per the need. Additionally, portable positive protection might also be less intrusive than other traditional methods and thus might reduce congestion and delay. Motorists should also be protected from any hazard they may encounter by intruding into the workspace inadvertently.  Improved work productivity is also a benefit of portable positive protection because the workers recognize that they are exposed less to traffic hazards and that they can focus more on the given project due to having more confidence of their safety. This will help reduce the overall work time while also improving their efficiency and help offset the portable positive protection installation time.

Best ways of using TMA Trucks to promote TMA Work Zone Safety

  • The Federal Highway Administration recommends TMA trucks for any moving freeway application as well as for stationary ones. Even for non-freeway roads, it is recommended that TMA use should be considered depending on the road’s speed and other conditions.
  • The Federal Highway Administration offers guidelines on how you can place the TMA truck. In general, the buffer between the TMA truck and the first vehicle or worker to be protected should be a little bigger if it is being used in moving operations. A stationary operation in traffic that isn’t moving any faster than 45 mph needs a buffer of just 74 feet, but a moving operation on a highway with high speeds would require the front of the TMA trucks to be at least 172 feet behind the working area.
  • Ensuring that all TMA drivers are trained and highly qualified. It is the responsibility of the TMA drivers to ensure that the TMA or protective vehicles are in a proper position for protecting crew members from errant vehicles. The TMA Truck drivers should be alert, attentive, and keep a keen eye on the surrounding traffic and roadway conditions. The TMA Truck drivers should be aware of their roles in keeping their colleagues and other vehicles on the road safe.
  • Always have an emergency plan in place if things take a turn for the worse. Think about whom to call if someone hits the TMA. Hire someone who is trained in CPR and first aid. While it is highly unlikely that you’ll experience such an incident but you should still plan for the worst. You can track incidents via mobile forms as it’ll allow you to easily capture snapshots of the scene, insert GPS maps, document police details, and store this information securely for instant access.

 

 Building - SPA Safety facilities in Flanders NJ USA


 

About SPA Safety Systems

SPA Safety Systems in Flanders NJ is a family-owned and operated business celebrating over 36 years of serving the construction industry. We developed our reputation for excellence by providing quality products and superior service.

You can find an extensive invent of best-in-class and high-performance TMA trucks for Work Zone Safety and Scissor Lift Trucks for sale or rent in New Jersey, PA, NY, CT, RI, and MD. We carry an extensive inventory of Truck Mounted Attenuator trucks for sale or rent, and equipment and parts inventory.

For more information call (973) 347-1101 or visit our TMA trucks web page at https://spasafetysystems.com/ .

SPA Safety Systems

278 Old Ledgewood Rd

Flanders, NJ 07836

(973) 347-1101

Truck Mounted Attenuators, TMA Trucks, Traffic Control Trucks, Scorpion TMA, Cone Trucks, Impact Attenuator and
TMA Trucks For Sale, Built to Specifications and for Rent at SPA Safety Systems.

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