Edition 76, March 2010

Traffic controller accreditation in Qld

Changes to the way road traffic controllers are accredited will form the first major component of a comprehensive roadwork safety review under taken in Queensland.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the Department of Transport and Main Roads would introduce a registration system for all traffic management companies working on state-controlled roads.

"This will be a big boost to safety and it will help ensure consistency within the traffic management industry," Mr Wallace said.

The Traffic Management Association of Queensland estimates there are about 100 traffic management companies in Queensland, with approximately 27,000 licensed traffic controllers.

The new registration system was for traffic management companies and was in addition to the existing requirement for individual traffic controllers to be licensed.

The new system will require traffic management companies to demonstrate safety, quality and consistency within their organisational processes. It will also focus on factors including:

financial stability
occupational health and safety
industrial relations
appropriate training.

Traffic management companies will be regularly audited by the department and may be de-registered if they are performing poorly.

Mr Wallace said implementation of the new registration system would begin immediately and by early next year only registered traffic management companies would be permitted to work on state-controlled roads.

Between July 2003 and March 2008 there were six deaths and 22 serious injuries in Queensland related to roadwork and civil construction. The most obvious hazards to these workers are being hit by passing traffic and heavy roadwork equipment.

The full roadwork safety review is expected to be complete mid-year.

For more information on traffic controller accreditation in Queensland visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Industry/Accreditations/Traffic_controller_accreditation_scheme/

This page was generated on 31 March, 2010

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