The short answer: If vehicle traffic at a work site is dangerous to workers, Alberta’s OHS Code requires the employer to control that traffic so the workers are protected. Workers on foot who are exposed to traffic have to wear high-visibility safety apparel, and anyone designated to control traffic has to be clearly identifiable as a traffic controller.
What section 194 of the OHS Code says
Section 194 covers vehicle traffic control. In plain terms:
- Control the traffic. If traffic at a work site is dangerous to workers on foot, in vehicles or on equipment, the employer must make sure it is controlled to protect them.
- High-visibility apparel. A worker on foot who is exposed to traffic must wear high-visibility safety apparel, and the employer must make sure they do.
- Designated traffic controllers. A worker the employer designates to control traffic must wear apparel that clearly identifies them as a traffic controller. In the dark, or when visibility is poor, that apparel must be retroreflective.
- Handheld signal light. A designated traffic controller must use a handheld signal light when it’s dark or visibility is poor.
- Public highways. If traffic on a public highway is dangerous to workers, the employer must protect them, using measures such as warning signs.
Check the current wording on the Government of Alberta’s OHS legislation search tool, because the Code is updated from time to time.
The road authority has rules too
The OHS Code sets the safety duty. The road authority, such as a municipality or Alberta Transportation, sets the rules for how a work zone is laid out on its roads, and permit conditions can add to them. Provincial highway projects follow provincial traffic accommodation guidance, and flaggers on those jobs have their own training requirements. Always read your permit and the road authority’s manual before you set up.
What a good setup covers
- A written plan for the zone: where traffic goes, where workers are, and how the setup is taken down.
- Signs, cones, barriers and protection vehicles placed in the right order, and removed in the reverse order.
- Flaggers who work as a team and communicate by radio, with a plan for night work and poor visibility.
- Workers who know where they can stand, where the escape route is and when to stop work.
Training road, utility or municipal crews?
Temporary Traffic Control for Work Zones covers Alberta’s traffic control rules, planning a work zone, signs and devices, setup and takedown, and flagging basics. $39 per learner, with a printable traffic control plan and a flag person daily checklist. It is awareness training and isn’t a flag person certification. Volume pricing starts at 5 seats.
Common questions
Does Alberta require traffic control at every work site?
The OHS Code requires traffic control when vehicle traffic at a work site is dangerous to workers. That depends on the site, the speed and volume of traffic and the work being done, so the employer has to assess it.
What does a worker on foot have to wear near traffic?
High-visibility safety apparel. A designated traffic controller needs apparel that clearly identifies them as a traffic controller, and it has to be retroreflective in the dark or in poor visibility.
Is an online traffic control course a flagger certification?
No. Awareness training helps crews understand the rules and the setup, but road authorities can require specific flagger training on their projects. Check the requirements for the road you’re working on.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the current OHS Code and your road authority’s requirements for your situation. See our training disclaimer.