Posted By Anthony Edwards Hi, I have been approached by a client who maintains the grounds of an estate and golf course. All operatives are trained in the use of all machinery used. As part of their role they maintain the grass area in front of the entrance to the complex which is approx 6ft wide and 400 feet long next to a B class road. Do the operatives require any specialist qualifications when working by the road. Signs are placed informing on comming drivers that grass cutting is taking place. Your advice will be gratefully accepted Regards Nutty

Posted By MickN The latest in Irish legislation says that traffic marshals need to be adequately trained. Is it the same for the UK? The only other thing I'd suggest is carrying out the work at a time when traffic volume is low. Mick

Posted By Glyn Atkinson Sorry this is strictly a Friday answer - no offence meant to a serious job of work - "Instruct all workers not to stand back to admire their work !"

Posted By RP No, not the Streetworks Act, this is aimed squarely at Utility companies, not grass cutters... You are not acting illegally by placing signs/cones on the highway unless they are causing an obstruction. All you need to do is notice the authority about the work, thats if they are interested. You commit an offence if you 'do not' place signs, etc. Highways Act applies.

Posted By Edward H RP, you are of course correct in stating that the sideways safety clearance given in the NRSWA Code of Practice [the "Red Book"] for a 50mph or faster road is 1.2m; that was written assuming the worse case i.e. that the works were in the road, that they were going to be there for a few hours, and that the workforce were milling about on foot. If the works are on the verge it can be argued that passing vehicles are less likely to accidentally enter the workzone, similarly if the workforce are on vehicles [ride-on mowers] they are less likely to randomly step back into the live traffic lane. This and the practical limitations of fitting a works vehicle + 1.2m clearance into the average verge has been recognised in the new guidance, soon to be published on the Highways Agency website "Guidance for Works on the Hard Shoulder and Road Side Verges on High Speed Dual Carriageways". The absolute minimum figure of 0.5m for short duration work came from there. Anything placed on the highway is an obstruction [skip, dead dog, road-cone]. Some obstructions may be permitted in law [e.g. lawfully parked vehicle, licensed skip or scaffold]. To make a roadsign lawful it has to be placed with the permission of the highway authority; utility contractors as statutory undertakers, have blanket permission to undertake street works provided, as you say, they notify the highway authority. Anyone other than a statutory undertaker has to seek specific permission from the authority. In my experience, most highway authorities will only give permission with a condition to the effect that the gang placing the signage are appropriately qualified, and most HAs will accept qualifications either under NRSWA or 12D

Posted By Eamon Murtagh Check Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual from the Highways Agency re marking of roadworks. The Traffic Signs Manual is now in two parts - Part 1 Design and Part 2 Operation, and is available in hard copy format and electronically. It can be accessed via the DFT website http://www.dft.gov.uk/ with the benefit of a new search facility, or by using the following link. In Ireland the Minister for Transport has issued a circular directing councles to migrate to the new Revised Chapter 8. it can be accessed at The updated Chapter 8 (see below) which is issued on an interim basis in ... Signs and Layout Diagrams from Traffic Signs Manual updated Chapter 8 (see page ... www.transport.ie/viewite...d=9095&lang=ENG&loc=1225 - 22k a guidance document has also been produced and it deals with rolling lane clousers for grass cutting