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A flagger is a person who provides temporary traffic control when permanent traffic control is not applicable. Because flagging exposes the flagger to traffic—the number one cause of death for highway construction sites—the use of flaggers is avoided.
Flagger abilities and training
When flaggers are deployed to safely move traffic through work zones, they are responsible for public safety and make the greatest number of contacts with the public of all highway workers. For these reasons they should be trained in safe traffic control practices and public contact techniques. Flaggers should also be able to satisfactorily demonstrate the following abilities:
Flagger stations
Flagger stations shall be located such that approaching road users will have sufficient distance to stop at an intended stopping point. Except in emergency situations, flagger stations shall be preceded by an advance warning sign or signs. Except in emergency situations, flagger stations shall be illuminated at night.
Flagger apparel
High-visibility safety apparel is critical. At a minimum, OSHA requires that for daytime work flaggers wear a vest, shirt, or jacket that is orange, yellow, strong yellow green or fluorescent versions of these colors. For nighttime work, similar outside garments shall be retroreflective. The retroreflective material shall be orange, yellow, white, silver, strong yellow-green, or a fluorescent version of one of these colors and shall be visible at a minimum distance of 1,000 feet. Also, it is a best practice to also wear white pants and a white reflectorized hard hat at night.
Flagger signaling
29 CFR 1926.201 requires that flaggers conform to the signaling methods found in Part VI of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (1988 Edition, Revision 3, or Millennium Edition):
Device | Signal | Method |
Sign Paddle | To stop traffic | The flagger shall face traffic and extend the STOP sign paddle in a stationary position with the arm extended horizontally away from the body. The free arm is raised with the palm of the hand toward approaching traffic. |
To direct stopped traffic to proceed | The flagger shall face traffic with the SLOW paddle held in a stationary position with the arm extended horizontally away from the body. The flagger motions with the free hand for traffic to proceed. | |
To alert or slow traffic | The flagger shall face traffic with the SLOW sign paddle held in a stationary position with the arm extended horizontally away from the body. | |
Flag | To stop traffic | The flagger shall face traffic and extend the flag staff horizontally across the traffic lane in a stationary position, so the full area of the flag is visible hanging below the staff. The free arm is raised with the palm of the hand toward approaching traffic. |
To direct stopped traffic to proceed | The flagger shall stand parallel to the traffic movement and with flag and arm lowered from view of the driver, motion with the free hand for traffic to proceed. Flags shall not be used to signal traffic to proceed. | |
To alert or slow traffic | The flagger shall face traffic and slowly wave the flag in a sweeping motion of the extended arm from shoulder level to straight down without raising the arm above a horizontal position. Flagger keeps free arm down. |
Other flagger work practices
In addition to proper apparel and signaling, flaggers should: