Ensuring that your construction site or work zone can meet the requirements set by OSHA is an essential part of running a successful project. OSHA has many requirements for work zones, including barricades. Knowing the rules about barricades helps you maintain your compliance with OSHA standards and allows you to purchase or rent the right materials to maintain your barricade. In this article, we’ll help you understand what the OSHA barricade requirements are and where you can get the materials or devices you need to stay in compliance.
OSHA Barricade
There are two main types of barricades that OSHA rules mention: rail barricades and traffic control devices.
A rail barricade is a barricade that is a portable or fixed device that has one to three rails with appropriate markings. These rail barricades are used to control road users by closing, restricting, or delineating all or part of the right-of-way.
The stripes on these portable rail barricades must be orange and white and also need to have retro-reflective markings on them. This means that the light that shines on the marking reflects in the direction it came from. The stripes must also be at a 45-degree angle relative to the traffic direction. Rail barricades also come in a few main grades. Type 1 and 2 rail barricades need to be a minimum of two feet, and Type 3 rail barricades need to be a minimum of four feet.
In addition to the rail barricade, there is also an OSHA-defined barricade of traffic control devices. These devices are defined as channelizing devices that warn drivers of conditions created by work activities in or near the roadway. They guide drivers and include equipment like cones, tubular markers, drums, barricades, vertical panels, and longitudinal channelizing devices.
What are OSHA Barricade Requirements?
When it comes to road barricades, there are a few key OSHA requirements to keep in mind. While you can always read the full standards for barricades, we’ve summed up the main points of compliance that you should keep in mind:
- Road devices that are used to channel pedestrians need to be accessible for people with low vision and should be detectable for people using long canes. A continuous detectable bottom to the device should be no higher than 2 inches off the ground so long canes can find the device.
- There can be a gap not exceeding 2 inches between the bottom rails so that there is facilitation for drainage.
- Warning lights may be added to devices in areas where there is a chance of frequent fog or snow, or where there is severe roadway curvature and other visual distractions.
- Barricades should be properly supported so they do not blow over and positioned so that they can be visible.
- When a barricade is positioned at a point of hazard, there should be legible traffic control signs that direct roadway users and protect traffic control devices.
- The retroreflective material of the device needs to have a smooth, sealed outer surface that will display the same color day or night.
- Any device that is damaged and has lost a significant amount of retro-reflectivity needs to be replaced.
How Carolina Traffic Devices Can Help
At Carolina Traffic Devices, we specialize in providing the traffic control devices you need to keep your work zones and construction sites safe and within OSHA standards. We have an extensive catalog of traffic devices that can be purchased or rented to protect your work zone and have over 20 years of experience in the Southeast. To learn more about us and how we can help, contact us today to get started.
