CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road

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Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road
Version 4.1
February 2026

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road
Version 4.1 – 16th February 2026
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency .............................................................................................................. 4
3. Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ....................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Planning and Assessment........................................................................................................ 6
3.3 Traffic Control Plans (TCP) ...................................................................................................... 7
3.4 Major Roadwork Sites ............................................................................................................. 7
3.5 Roadwork Hazards and Controls ............................................................................................. 8
3.6 Traffic Diversions................................................................................................................... 14
3.7 Night Work ............................................................................................................................ 18
4. Document Amendment Record ................................................................................................... 19

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1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all Employers within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This CoP is designed to incorporate requirements set by Abu Dhabi Public Health
Centre (ADPHC) and Sector Regulatory Authorities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
(b) This CoP establishes the requirements and standards so that the risks associated with
road works, as applied to both new highway construction works and the
reconstruction or resurfacing of existing highways, are assessed, that control
measures are implemented in accordance with the hierarchy of controls and that
control measures are taken to prevent injury, illness and disease to persons who might
be exposed to risks arising from those activities.
(c) The term "Road works" is the general term used in this CoP for activities of working
on or adjacent to a road.
(d) Road works includes the use of road surfacing materials containing cement, such as
concrete and mortars and those containing bitumen, pitch or tar, such as hot rolled
asphalt, cold asphalt, bituminous-macadam and tar macadam and also the use of
bitumen and tars in cold or hot liquid and spray form.
(e) Various ancillary works and materials are also covered, including the use of water-
bound macadam and epoxy resins, the burning off and planning of existing bituminous
road surfaces, the use of fuels such as diesel oil, petrol and liquefied petroleum gas,
as well as many other maintenance activities such as patching, surface dressing,
drainage works and trench reinstatements, carried out on roads and highways.
(f) The term "Bituminous Material" used in this CoP refers to any material containing
bitumen, tar or pitch as a binder and can also be considered to apply to bitumen or tar
used in liquid form.

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2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i)
ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;
(ii)
ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner and
Service Provider Registration.
(b) Employers shall ensure employees required to implement the requirements of this CoP
are trained in the use of relevant plant and equipment and understand the risks
associated with working on or adjacent to roads and the control measures put in place
by the employer.
(c) Employers shall ensure that those involved in the planning and organisation of road
works have received respective competence training which can be demonstrated in
the safe systems of work and precautions to be adopted.
(d) In addition, those operating any site plant or equipment shall have received training
to a recognised standard in its safe operation and can understand the method
statement and risk assessment to that particular activity.
(e) Induction training to the workforce shall identify the precautions to be taken by
individuals, including use of personal protective equipment and segregated traffic
routes for pedestrians and vehicles.
(f) Employers shall maintain a record of the required training that contains the following
information:
(i) name and ID number;
(ii) Emirates ID number of the employee;
(iii) subject(s) of training;
(iv) dates(s) of training;
(v) training provider; and
(vi) person(s) providing the training.

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3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5.
(b) Employers shall undertake their specific roles and responsibilities in accordance with
the following:
(i) ensure the appropriate planning of road works in accordance with this CoP; and
(ii) development of a Traffic Control Plan for all works carried out on a road.
3.1.2 Employees
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.7.
(b) Employees shall undertake their specific roles and responsibilities in accordance with
the following:
(i) following information provided by the employer regarding equipment use;
(ii) observing safe work practices and operating procedures prescribed by the
employer;
(iii) using appropriate PPE, equipment or safety device provided for work by the
employer in accordance with any training or instruction received; and
(iv) reporting any activity or defect which they believe is reasonably foreseeable to
endanger their safety or another person.

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3.2 Planning and Assessment
(a) Employers shall ensure the following:
(i) a documented assessment of the various risks is undertaken, and systems of work
are established which are safe to all parties involved or affected including the
public;
(ii) that effective procedures and control measures are in place, which are
implemented in order to manage activities safely and without risk to health;
(iii) that for the Building and Construction Sector the management of road works
requirements are included in the Pre-Tender Safety and Health Plan in accordance
with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 53.0 – OSH Management During Construction Work; and
(iv) that associated safe systems of work and site rules are included in the Safety and
Health Construction Management Plan (OSH-CMP) in the case of the Building and
Construction Sector in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 53.0 – OSH Management
During Construction Work.
(b) Employers shall ensure that planning and design is developed in accordance with the
relevant Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) requirements, design
manuals and instructions and the relevant No Objection Certificate (NOC) and
Certificate of Completion (COC) are to be obtained.
(c) When planning roadwork, employers shall consider if there are specific roadwork
related risks such as:
(i) pedestrian access and properties requiring vehicular access where these shall at
all times be maintained;
(ii) if any underground services are present;
(iii) where work is planned which involves breaking up or opening any road or any
sewer drain or tunnel under it; this shall be specified on the Notice of Intent and
approval shall be given by all relevant authorities before commencing works;
(iv) any part of the road to be obstructed by plant or materials shall be appropriately
signed and guarded, paying particular regard to the needs of the People of
Determination (people with disabilities);
(v) works shall be supervised by a supervisor having prescribed qualifications and
there shall be on site at all times at least one trained operative having relevant
qualifications;
(vi) it is important that the workforce is given appropriate induction training before
beginning road works; and
(vii) visitors shall be given appropriate instruction on relevant hazards before entering
the works area and be accompanied at all times by a trained person.

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3.3 Traffic Control Plans (TCP)
(a) Employers shall ensure a Traffic Control Plan (TCP) is developed for all work performed
within the public right-of-way and shall clearly depict the exact sequence of the
construction operation(s), the construction to be performed, schedule of activities, and
the travelled way that will be utilized by all movements of traffic during each phase
of construction.
(b) The TCP shall ensure that work zone activities level of risk has been assessed. All TCP
devices and equipment (cone, signs, jursey barrier concrete or plastic, etc) shall
address the safety of employees and equipment in the work zone. Use of concrete
barrier shall be very specific to adjacent activities and in case of any change in TCP,
work zone safety shall be evaluated again and approved.
(c) Employers shall ensure a site traffic control assessment is conducted by road safety
engineer to identify problems associated with traffic issues which shall consider:
(i) traffic conditions, such as major or minor road; high or low speed road; residential,
commercial or rural location; peak-hour traffic flows;
(ii) road type and conditions (e.g. divided, number of lanes, near or at an intersection);
(iii) road layout (uphill, downhill, work near a curve or a crest);
(iv) reasonably foreseeable weather conditions and visibility;
(v) time of the day (e.g. lighting conditions, different traffic flows);
(vi) extent of the disruption caused by the work (e.g. number of lanes to be closed, how
many are left open, if the work involves closing the footpath, whether parking is
affected); and
(vii) work zone activities along the running traffic shall be assessed according to
method statements.
(d) Employers shall ensure the TCP site layout and sequence of work shall:
(i) allow road traffic to be safely guided through, around or past the work area;
(ii) keep traffic delays and disruptions to a minimum; and
(iii) provide safe pedestrian access around or past the work site.
3.4 Major Roadwork Sites
(a) On major roadwork sites, such as on highways, designers shall ensure that at least one
safe method of construction is identified, covering the workforce, others involved in
the project and members of the public.
(b) Designers shall avoid difficult space limitations wherever reasonably practicable.
Appropriate space is required for lateral and longitudinal safety zones, for the working
area, for buffer zones and for efficient traffic management systems.
(c) Employers shall provide safe type barriers for buffer and safety zones according to
the running traffic speed (plastic or concrete barriers). In certain circumstances, where
there is a high risk to employees from highway traffic the use of concrete barriers may
be required.

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(d) Employers shall ensure that appropriate space is provided for:
(i) access for site transport;
1. where reasonably practicable, well signed lead-in and lead-out coned off
lanes shall be provided for site transport.
(ii) access for emergency services;
1. where reasonably practicable, a clear traffic lane shall be provided between
the limits of the "working space" and the live traffic, for use by the
emergency services;
2. where a clear lane cannot be provided, the site access lane will need to be
used by emergency services and, in the event of an incident blocking the
running lanes, traffic police may require the site access lane to be used by
general traffic; and
3. where a site access lane cannot be provided, it will be necessary for an
access through the works area to be available for use in an emergency.
(iii) access across traffic lanes;
1. works personnel may need to get from one side of a traffic lane to the
other. Where this is the case a risk assessment shall be prepared by the
employer to identify the safest means of crossing;
2. where traffic volume is low and vehicle speeds are less than 80 km/h works
personnel shall cross via designated crossing points; and
3. busy and high-speed traffic lanes shall never be crossed on foot and safe
procedures shall be introduced, such as the provision of temporary bridges,
or an approved route for authorized vehicles to follow.
3.5 Roadwork Hazards and Controls
3.5.1 General
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) vehicles and plant shall be equipped with two high intensity rear reversing lamps
that are automatically switched on when reversing, plus an automatic audible
reversing alarm to warn operatives of the danger from a reversing vehicle;
(ii) reversing maneuvers are directed by a banksman located towards the rear of the
vehicle but within sight of the driver;
(iii) in order to enable works to proceed smoothly on heavily used roads, consideration
is given, where reasonably practicable, to:
1. working during light traffic flows only;
2. working at night; and
3. working at weekends.
(iv) when works are being carried out on a road open to traffic, two-way working of
traffic flows shall be maintained whenever reasonably practicable;
(v) minimum widths recommended are 2.75 meters for one-way working and 5.5
meters for two-way working, in addition to compliance with work zone traffic

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management requirements issued by the Department of Municipalities and
Transport;
(vi) approved speed limits for the work area shall be appropriately posted (km/h);
(vii) control measures shall be implemented to maintain both site safety and security
outside working hours in order to reduce the risk of incidents to the public; and
(viii) vehicles and plant shall be secure and immobilised when not in use.
3.5.2 Burns and Fire Risks
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that shall include:
(i) control measures for bituminous materials that are supplied and used in hot form.
This includes hot rolled asphalt which is supplied at a temperature in the region of
135°C and liquid bitumen for surface dressing at 150°C, for which burns can easily
occur;
(ii) control measures for machinery and hand tools used to lay hot bituminous
materials or to heat existing road surfaces;
(iii) control measures to prevent the overheating of bitumen or tar boilers and the
control measures implemented to control the fire risks associated with fuels such
as diesel and LPG; and
(iv) control measures for skin contact with LPG which can give cold burns, and cement,
when wet, in the form of concrete or mortar which can cause serious burns.
3.5.3 Carcinogenic Nature of Pitch, Tar and Mineral Oils
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures where operatives who use pitch, tar or mineral oils, especially
over a long period of time can develop a skin cancer in the form of cancerous warts.
The danger arises where any of these materials are in frequent contact with the
skin;
(ii) control measures that will be taken to screen for such conditions which may occur
on the face, neck, hands, arms or scrotum that can often be cured by early
treatment; and
(iii) control measures where further hazards from prolonged and constant contact with
these same materials and the contraction of dermatitis may occur.

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3.5.4 Vehicle and Plant Incidents
(a) Employers shall ensure that safe systems of work are developed to minimise the risks
associated with vehicles and plant that include:
(i) the risks when vehicles or plant are moving or working alongside pedestrians
including members of the public on any road works site. Hazards under this heading
fall into two general categories:
1. the traffic incident type where a pedestrian is run over by plant or a vehicle;
and
2. the machinery/operative type of incident where injury is caused by the
operation of the plant, vehicle or machinery such as in the case of being
struck by the bucket of an excavator.
(b) To control these risks employers shall provide a clear segregation area where
reasonably practicable or provide a banksman where this is not the case. The preferred
option shall be to provide dummy flagger instead of an employee.
3.5.5 Incidents Involving Members of the Public
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures, as road works present an additional risk to road users, over and
above the ever-present traffic incident risk. This shall include road works that are
well signed, as the sudden appearance of roadmen and plant in the road in front of
moving traffic can lead to sudden avoidance action by drivers leading to an
incident; and
(ii) control measures which include the provision of a complete system of advance
warning signs, together with an appropriate traffic control system.
3.5.6 Eye Hazards
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) the specific eye hazards associated with the use of hot bitumen and epoxy resins;
and
(ii) control measures which are in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 2.0 – Personal
Protective Equipment.
3.5.7 Falls
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures required to manage specific work at height risks associated with
road works;
(ii) control measures required to manage the specific risk of falling from moving
vehicles or plant; and
(iii) control measures which are in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 23.0 – Work at
Height.

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3.5.8 Noise Hazards
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures where excessively noisy plant or other equipment is used
whereby permanent damage to hearing can occur;
(ii) control measures for the reduction of noise at source and the provision and use of
hearing protection. However, employers shall consider that, if hearing protection is
worn when working close to fast moving traffic, the risk of a traffic incident is
increased; and
(iii) control measures which are in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 3.0 – Occupational
Noise and
ADOSH-SF – CoP 3.1 - Vibration.
3.5.9 Hazards from Overhead and Underground Services
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures required where the presence of underground electricity cables
and other services exist, particularly on existing roads;
(ii) the location and identification of all underground and overhead mains and cables
which shall be established before works on site commence;
(iii) control measures covering attention to electricity cables, both underground and
overhead and also to gas mains, water mains and telecoms;
(iv) control measures required to verify the location of any given service main before
commencing excavation works in the locality; and
(v) control measures which are in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 39.0 – Overhead
and Underground Services.
3.5.10 Hazards from Dusts, Fumes and Smoke
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures required for various dusts on roadwork sites including dust
containing pitch which is carcinogenic, cement dust which can cause lung scarring,
burns and dermatitis and Silica dust which can cause silicosis; and
(ii) the assessment and monitoring of any dust, fume or smoke conditions as fumes
and smoke from hot bituminous materials can cause discomfort, nausea and may
lead to cancer.

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3.5.11 Personal Hygiene
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) transportable washing and toilet facilities which are provided on all sites to enable
operatives to wash off bituminous materials, cement or oils from the skin,
especially before eating or using toilet facilities;
(ii) the provision of appropriate welfare facilities;
(iii) the arrangements for clean overalls for all employees involved with using solvents,
bituminous materials and epoxy resin; and
(iv) ensure compliance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 8.0 – General Workplace Amenities.
3.5.12 Protective Clothing and Equipment
(a) Employers shall ensure all operatives handling bituminous materials or concrete, and
all others working on roadwork sites shall at all times wear the following in accordance
with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 2.0 – Personal Protective Equipment:
(i) Safety helmets:
1. conspicuously colored to make the wearer more visible to vehicle and plant
operators. All site personnel shall wear a safety helmet at all times.
(ii) Safety boots:
1. with steel toecaps and with stout heat resisting soles.
(iii) High visibility clothing:
1. essential to ensure that operatives are easily visible to all vehicle and plant
drivers and to passing traffic.
(iv) General covering/clothing:
1. cover exposed parts of the body in order to prevent contamination of the
skin with bituminous materials or concrete or cement;
2. if clothing becomes impregnated with any bituminous material or concrete
or cement, it ceases to protect and may even cause the effects which it is
intended to prevent as oils, bituminous materials and cement work their
way through clothing on to the skin; and
3. all overalls, gloves shall be regularly cleaned to remove any contamination.
In bad cases of saturation with bituminous material or cement, the only
remedy is disposal and replacement.
(v) Gloves:
1. able to protect the wearer against heat, oil, tars, bitumen and concrete.
(vi) Eye protection:
1. for such operations as cutting out, grinding, spraying bitumen or tar. Eye
protection shall include provision of eye wash facility to wash eyes in case
of dust, chemical or foreign body enters the eyes.
(vii) Hearing protection:
1. noise from various sources can often be reduced by the provision of baffles
or screens. Noise from internal combustion engines can be reduced by the
provision of silencers or replacement of defective ones.

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(viii) Dust masks and breathing apparatus:
1. where working in confined sites such as a narrow road between tall
buildings or in tunnels or underpasses; and
2. if breathing apparatus is required, appropriate selection and training is
required.
3.5.13 Fuels
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) correctly storing fuels and limiting storage amounts wherever reasonably
practicable;
(ii) implementation of a strict no smoking policy for all persons involved with roadwork;
(iii) taking measures to ensure leaks of any fuel are stopped quickly and effectively;
and
(iv) keeping spill kits at convenient locations to deal with fuel spills.
3.5.14 Fire Extinguishers
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) providing appropriate fire extinguishers conveniently located throughout the area
where roadwork is being carried out;
(ii) provision for all fuel storage areas with firefighting points;
(iii) maintaining fire extinguishers in all vehicles and plant used where road works are
being carried out; and
(iv) control measures shall be in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – Element 6 – Emergency
Management.
3.5.15 Pedestrian & Warning Barriers
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) control measures to prevent persons or plant from falling into any excavation and
the control measures required where the public are involved, which will mean the
fixing of continuous rigid barriers to mark any temporary footway and to protect
pedestrians from traffic, excavations and plant; and
(ii) control measures shall be in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 22.0 – Barricading of
Hazards.

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3.6 Traffic Diversions
3.6.1 General
(a) Employers shall ensure that traffic diversions comply with work zone traffic
management requirements issued by the Department of Municipalities and Transport
and any special requirements of the Traffic Police Department. In particular:
(i) it is essential and mandatory for the protection of operatives and the general public
that appropriate signs are displayed giving road users advance warning of road
works;
(ii) the sizes and positioning of signs and cones are dependent on the type of the road
and the relevant speed limits;
(iii) if it is necessary to hold down signs and cones because of wind problems, only
sandbags shall be used. Hard heavy objects shall not be used as, if hit by a moving
vehicle, they could become lethal missiles dangerous to persons or other vehicles
nearby;
(iv) warning signs shall be set so that their lower edge is at least 300mm clear of the
ground;
(v) signs shall be clearly visible to approaching drivers by both day and night, and in all
weather conditions; and
(vi) if there is not appropriate lighting available to appropriately illuminate the sign at
night, then reflective signs shall be used.
3.6.2 Safety Zones
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) a safety zone, marked by cones and lamps which shall be provided where
reasonably practicable to protect operatives from the traffic and to protect traffic
from the road works;
(ii) on any roadwork site, a space which shall be provided around the works for the
storage of spoil, tools, plant and equipment and to allow the safe movement and
operation of plant;
(iii) plant which must not be allowed to encroach onto the safety zone, nor must
operatives be allowed to enter it other than to maintain the cones or safety signs;
(iv) A safety zone which comprises:
1. a lead-in taper of cones, which will vary with the speed limit and width of
the works;
2. a sideways clearance between the working space and moving traffic, which
shall be at least 0.6 meters on roads with speeds up to 80 km/h and at least
1.2 meters on roads with speeds of 80 km/h and over;
3. an exit taper which is always at 45 degrees to the curbside or road edge;
and
4. a traffic barrier, facing oncoming traffic, positioned within the coned-off
area to show the width of the works site.

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(v) for roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h or more, an additional traffic barrier at the
end of the lead-in taper.
3.6.3 Working Space
(a) Employers shall ensure appropriate working space to ensure that the movement and
operation of plant (e.g. swinging of jibs and excavator arms) is clear of passing traffic
and is not encroaching into the safety zone, or adjacent footway.
3.6.4 Buffer Zones
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) on heavily used high-speed roads such as highways and other principal roads,
control measures which are developed to provide buffer zones, to segregate
opposing traffic flows;
(ii) the width of such buffer zones which shall preferably be a full lane width of 3.65
meters, but shall be at least 1 meter. A full lane width has the added advantage of
providing a separate unused lane for access and emergency vehicles if breakdown
or incident occurs; and
(iii) barriers which are used to delineate buffer zones. The ideal types in this case are
traffic cones, cats eye bollards or simple red and white colored plastic pendant
markers, all of which are relatively harmless if hit by a vehicle.
3.6.5 Traffic Barriers
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) traffic barriers that are constructed and shall be continuous concrete traffic
protection devices (barriers) that comply with
NCHRP-350(TL3), used to indicate
the road works and to segregate the traffic from the works; and
(ii) their design shall not cause a further hazard if hit by a moving vehicle, and they
shall be of a conspicuous color and kept clean.
3.6.6 Cones
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) a line of traffic cones shall be positioned at a taper and shall guide traffic past the
works, at a distance ahead of the works as indicated in Table 1;
(ii) the maximum spacing distance of cones in longitudinal lengths of coning shall be
no more than 9 meters, but no less than 2 cones shall be used in any length
between tapers; and
(iii) generally lead-in tapers used with traffic control measures, and all exit tapers, shall
be approximately 45° to the curb line with cones spaced 1.2 m apart.

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3.6.7 Advance Signage
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include;
(i) Road Works Ahead’ signs which shall be placed in advance of the road works and
shall be the first signs to be seen by the driver;
(ii) signs which shall be placed in accordance with the specifications laid out in Table
1;
(iii) ‘Road Narrows Ahead’ signs which shall be placed midway between the ‘Road
Works Ahead' signs and the beginning of the taper of traffic cones;
(iv) ‘Keep Right’ or ‘Keep Left’ signs which shall be placed at the beginning and end of
the lead in taper of cones; and
(v) on roads with speed limits of 80km/h or more, all “Ahead” signs shall have the
distance to the works in meters printed on them.
3.6.8 Lamps
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include;
(i) provision of road danger lamps for use at night, in poor daytime visibility and in bad
weather;
(ii) road danger lamps shall not be higher than 1.2 meters above the road (flashing
lamps 120 to 150 flashes per minute);
(iii) lamps can be used on any road with or without street lighting; and
(iv) lamps are only to be used if all of the following are satisfied:
1. the road speed limit shall be under 60 km/h;
2. the road danger lamp shall be within 50 meters of a street lamp;
3. the street shall be illuminated; and
4. the lamps are steady.
3.6.9 Pedestrians
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established that include:
(i) works on footways which shall leave at least 1.5 meters unobstructed width for
temporary pedestrian ways. Where this is not reasonably practicable, an alternative
safe route for pedestrians shall be provided;
(ii) rigid barriers which shall be used to mark any temporary footway and to protect
pedestrians from traffic, excavations, plant and materials. Road danger lamps shall
be placed at the ends of the barriers at night. Handrails shall be between 1.0 meter
and 1.2 meters above ground level; and
(iii) temporary footway if in the carriageway, and signing will be necessary for both
pedestrians and drivers. The provision of curb ramps or raised footways may also
be necessary to help blind, elderly or disabled persons, or for those with prams or
wheelchairs.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road
Version 4.1 – 16th February 2026
Page 17 of 20
Type of road
Minimum
siting
distance
(D)
of first
sign
in
advance
of works
(metres)
(Note 1)
Minimum
clear
visibility
to first
sign
(metres)
Minimum
size
of
signs
(mm)
Minimum
height
of
cones
(mm)
(Note 2)
Details of lead-in cone tapers
Width of hazard (metres)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Single carriageway
road, restricted to
40km/h or less
20
to
45
60 600 450
Length of taper (T) in metres 13 26 39 52 65 78 91
Min. No. of cones 4 4 6
7 9 10 12
Min. No. of lamps at night 3 3 5 6 8 9 11
Single carriageway
road, restricted of
speeds 41km/h to
60km/h inclusive
45
to
110
60 750 450
Length of taper (T) in metres 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Min. No. of cones 4 6 8 10 13 15 17
Min. No. of lamps at night 3 5 7 9 12 14 16
All-purpose dual
carriageway
road, restricted to
40km/h or less
110 to
275 60 750 450
Length of taper (T) in metres 25 50
75 100 125 150 175
Min. No. of cones 4 7 10 13 15 18 21
Min. No. of lamps at night 3 6 9 12 14 17 20
Single carriageway
road, with speed limit
80km/h or more
275
to
450
75 750 450
Length of taper (T) in metres 25 50 75 100 125 150 175
Min. No. of cones 4 7 10 13 15 18 21
Min. No. of lamps at night 3 6 9 12 14 17 20
All-purpose dual
carriageway
road, with speed limit
80km/h or more
725
to
1600
105 1200 750
Length of taper (T) in metres 32 64 96 128 160 192 224
Min. No. of cones 5 9 12 16 19 23 26
Min. No. of lamps at night 4 8 11 15 18 22 25
Table 1: Positioning of Signs and Cones
Note 1: Minimum and normal maximum distance of the first sign (D) is given to allow a range wherein the sign can
be placed in a convenient position, bearing in mind available space and visibility for drivers.
Note 2: It may be appropriate to use the next larger size of cone in lead-in tapers (eg. 750mm cones) in tapers
where 450mm cones are indicated and 1 meter high cones where 750mm cones are shown.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road
Version 4.1 – 16th February 2026
Page 18 of 20
3.7 Night Work
(a) Employers shall ensure safe systems of work are established for night work that
include:
(i) all vehicles and plant which shall be equipped with two high intensity rear fog
lamps that are automatically switched on when the vehicle is placed in reverse;
(ii) works carried out at night which shall always be floodlit, taking care not to affect
the vision of oncoming traffic;
(iii) for lane closures where necessary flashing arrow signs are used to signify lane
closures;
(iv) the work site to be fully lit by floodlighting. Where it is not practical to floodlight
the whole work site consider floodlighting the Traffic Controllers and the
Stop/Slow signs;
(v) the works supervisor shall check floodlighting to ensure it does not adversely
affect road users or adjacent dwellings or businesses;
(vi) control measures for pavement markings as line marking is generally not clearly
visible, therefore employers shall use raised reflective pavement markers (stick
and stomps). Retro-reflective cones can also provide the continuity to guide
motorists through the work site effectively;
(vii) control measures needed to achieve standard spacing’s, particularly on winding
rural roads; and
(viii) advance signs are required and other matters to consider are:
1. yellow is better than red at night;
2. externally lit signs are preferred to unlit retro-reflective signs;
3. messages on signs shall be brief and clear;
4. use standard signs in standard sizes for ease of storage and installation;
and
5. keep accurate records of the locations and types of signs displayed.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 33.0 - Working On or Adjacent to a Road
Version 4.1 – 16th February 2026
Page 19 of 20
4. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment
Page/s Affected
4.0
15th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Occupational Safety
and Health Practitioner and Service
Provider Registration
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted
4.1
16th February
2026
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements. Throughout