THE government is hoping to tackle illegal roadworks by introducing a qualification card, which anyone wanting to dig up a road or working close to one will have to carry.
Recently, the JEP reported that more than 40% of roadworks on Island roads could be either illegal, in that they didn’t have a required permit from the government, or non-compliant, in that they went outside of the conditions of their permit.
The government has said that, from January, any works on or next to a road that can affect road users or pedestrians, or any person applying for a road works permit, will need the card, which must be available for inspection.
It said that the new requirement was designed to ensure “consistency and safety across all road works activities”.
“Even if your organisation has not previously been involved with such requirements, it is important to review whether this change affects you or your teams,” it added.
A government spokesperson said: “Working without a permit, and working on the road without adequate skills or knowledge can have serious safety consequences, and also can also cause problems, such as disrupting coordination efforts, insufficient public awareness and traffic congestion.”
The Infrastructure and Environment Department say that the new measures will ensure roadworks are safe, authorised, and carried out to acceptable standards.
I&E and training provider 4safety have teamed up to provide online courses in roadworks safety, portable traffic signals, excavation and reinstatement, and pavement surfacing.
The new card will be a mandatory requirement for a roadworks permit, and applicants will need to enter the supervisor’s card number to complete the online permit application form on Trafficworx.
Existing qualifications can be transferred onto the new card by 4safety.
