Each year, thousands of workers are injured or killed due to vehicular accidents. Many of these accidents were preventable if workers had received the proper training for directing and controlling the flow of traffic in and around work sites.
If your job requires you to control traffic, you likely need to complete a nationally recognised training program. Here is everything you should know about the required courses in Hobart.
What Is Traffic Control Training in Hobart?
Traffic control training for works on roads covers the practical skills and knowledge for safely controlling traffic on public roads or construction sites. The training is intended to help maintain a safer work environment for workers and anyone accessing the road or work site.
The training follows the Australian Standard – AS1742.3 – Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Anyone involved in the installation or management of traffic at work sites need to understand and comply with the requirements of the AS1742.3 standard.
The goal of the training is to help reduce the risks associated with traffic on construction sites. Some of the biggest risks include:
- Interactions between vehicles and pedestrians
- Moving vehicles
- Reversing vehicles
- Lack of signage or visibility
Training helps workers understand these risks and how to mitigate them using various techniques, such as the use of a stop/slow bat and various signs.
Workers also learn proper communication using radios. Communicating with workers to coordinate plans and communicating with drivers and pedestrians helps maintain the safe movement of traffic.
How Do I Become a Traffic Controller in Hobart?
To become a traffic controller, you need to complete the required training courses. There are two types of traffic control courses – RIIWHS205D and RIIWHS302D.
RIIWHS205D control traffic with stop slow bat is the standard course that workers complete for basic worksite traffic management (BWTM). It covers the skills for controlling traffic on roads and worksites, including:
- Planning and preparing the worksite
- Using a stop slow bat
- Operating a radio for communication
- Coordinating traffic
- Cleaning up the site and signs
To learn how to design and implement traffic management plans, you need to complete the RIIWHS302D course. This course covers the requirements for traffic management plans for private and public roads, along with the following learning outcomes:
- How to plan and prepare the worksite
- How to set, monitor, and close down traffic using proper signage
- How to clean up the site and maintain signage
Both courses also include instructions that cover additional standards and nationally recognised training, including RIIWHS201D and RIICOM201D. The first program includes the code of practice for working safely and following WHS policies. The second program covers the code of practice for communication in the workplace.
AlertForce also offers a combination course. The traffic control (TC) and implement traffic control plans (ITCP) program combines both units of competency into a single half-day course.
Do You Need a Licence for Traffic Control in Hobart?
Yes, you need a licence to handle traffic control duties in Hobart and the rest of Tasmania. You may apply for a licence after completing the required program.
The course you take depends on your operational role at the worksite. Road workers and any other person responsible for implementing a road management system should obtain the licence by completing the RIIWHS205D course. Front line managers and supervisors may need to take the RIIWHS302D program.
After your licence expires, you need to complete a renewal course. Renewals are available for RIIWHS205D and RIIWHS302D. You may also complete renewal for the combination TC + ITCP course.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Traffic Controller?
These courses also come with a few prerequisites. Before enrolling, you should obtain your white card. The white card is a requirement for anyone working in the construction industry, which may also apply to road maintenance crews.
However, the card is not a requirement for undertaking the training, but the work that you complete may require you to complete the construction induction course.
To attend the course, you also need to understand the English language and wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers are often requirements. Other commonly required PPE include:
- Safety glasses
- High visibility vests
- Hard hats
- Steel-capped boots
- Gloves
Check the requirements at the registered training organisation before enrolling.
After completing the program, you receive a statement of attainment and may apply for a licence. The licence is valid for a period of three years. Every three years, you must complete a renewal course to maintain your qualification.
How Much Does the Traffic Control Course Hobart Cost?
As mentioned, AlertForce offers several courses related to the duties of a traffic controller. The RIIWHS205D and RIIWHS302D courses cost $272 per person. The TC + ITCP combo course costs $444 per person and includes both units of competency.
With the combo course, you save $100 compared to taking the courses individually. You also save time.
All courses last half a day. At AlertForce, the classes are scheduled for 8 am to 3:30 pm.
In the end, these programs are not a requirement for everyone. They are intended for those that need to manage the flow of vehicles on or around a worksite. Besides road works, this may include work on a construction site or inside a warehouse.
Forklifts, cranes, and lorries are vehicles and may create hazards without proper traffic management. To keep yourself, co-workers, or employees safe, select the appropriate program and enrol today.