OSHA Inspection: TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES LLC DBA FLAGGER FORCE

Issued

Jun 22, 2010

Abate by

Jun 25, 2010

Penalty

Initial $3,675 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

40.1-51.1(a) of the Code of Virginia:  The employer, Traffic Control
Services, LLC dba Flagger Force, did
not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
flagging traffic on a two lane road which
exposed them to being struck by moving vehicles by not having the work
zone set up in accordance with The
Virginia Department of Transportation-Virginia Work Area Protection Manual
TTC-19.0.
On April 26, 2010, an employee was flagging northbound traffic on State
Route 42 in Rockingham County
approximately 1 mile north of the Augusta County line between the
intersections of State Routes 835 and 728.
A second employee was flagging southbound traffic.  Telephone
communication lines were being installed by
employees of a separate company.  The flagger stopped a vehicle traveling
northbound.  A second vehicle
entered the work zone and struck the rear of the stopped vehicle.  The
impact caused the stopped vehicle to
strike the flagger in which he received significant multiple fractures.
A.  The flagging station had not been located to allow sufficient stopping
distance.  The flagger was located on
the blind side of a curve at the bottom of a hill.  The stopping sight
distance was estimated to be between 250
and 300 feet.
B.  The northbound flagging station was approximately 1 1/2 miles from the
flagger symbol sign.
C.  A shadow vehicle was not present in the work zone.
D.  The work zone was estimated to be 3.5 miles in length.
One feasible and acceptable method, among other methods, to correct this
hazard would be to ensure the
minimum stopping sight distance for a 55 mile an hour zone was 495 feet;
the flagging station was established
no more than 1/2 mile from the flagger symbol sign; provide a shadow
vehicle with at least one rotating,
oscillating, or amber strobe light be parked be parked 50'-100' in advance
of the first work crew and to ensure
the maximum length of the work area did not exceed 2 miles as required by
the
Virginia Work Area Protection
Manual TTC-19.0 (Non-Stationary Flagging Operation On Two-Lane Road).ne

Issued

Jun 22, 2010

Abate by

Jul 25, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,100