What is new risk-based approach to traffic management?

What is new risk-based approach to traffic management?

Big changes are ahead for the traffic management industry, with the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) having been retired in October 2024.

The key challenge with the Code was its core focus on compliance. Often, the rules did not make sense for each traffic managed site - with a cookie-cutter style approach being applied to every setup. In some cases, this led to creating more risks rather than reducing them. It also did not empower Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) providers to fully evaluate the risks of a site - instead pushing them to just ‘complying with the Code’.

As a result of these issues, NZTA has retired the Code and instead created the NZ Guide to TTM, therefore moving from a more compliance-based to a risk management approach.

Like businesses in other industries, it will now be up to the TTM provider to communicate, collaborate, and cooperate with the principal contractor and RCA(s) to effectively and efficiently manage their obligations under The Health & Safety at Work Act 2015, along with mitigating hazards related to each specific site.

The requirement to move to a more risk-based approach means TTM businesses must be more astute and pragmatic, whilst still ensuring a safe environment for both road workers and road users.

This requires a greater level of trust from organisations using TTM services. They will need to be reassured that their provider has the skills and expertise to effectively manage risks on site. This is from a governance, operational, and delivery perspective.

How is Traffic Safe managing this change?

Traffic Safe NZ is at the forefront of this transition with our director, Karl Hitchcock, on the Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group.

This team of TTM experts and partners has been working on a pathway to adoption. As such, we are well informed and equipped to provide clients with purpose-suited, risk-based TTM solutions.

Here are some highlights of what we have been doing so far –

• Our Board has developed a detailed risk management approach to manage this change whilst ensuring safety as a primary outcome.

• An extensive staff training programme is in place to help further enhance our people’s ability to meet the new way of working.

• We are working with our business partners and clients to ensure our risk frameworks are aligned to meet the highest standards of safety.

• Regular audits are taking place on worksites with our assessors to ensure we are delivering effectively and efficiently to the new risk-based approach.

• We are sharing best practice scenarios through industry groups in an aim to continuously improve and share learnings with others.

Whilst this is a significant change to how traffic management is delivered, rest assured we have it covered.

Not only that, as experts in this area, we will take you on the journey of this transition so that you can seamlessly reap the benefits of enhanced efficiency and safety sooner rather than later.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns, we’d be happy to hear from you.