Traffic Management Plans are a key component of an integrated Traffic Management System. They are high-level documents that provide a repository and a reference point for various operational documents – procedures, guidelines, plans, etc.

A Traffic Management Plan is designed as a living document that can be updated as the operational circumstances evolve and change.

With the experience gained through reviewing, upgrading and developing Traffic Management Plans throughout Australia, RTSM Consulting will ensure that your traffic management is safe, efficient and compliant

Organisations often assume their exposure to traffic and transport risk is limited to the interaction between vehicles onsite. The recent chain of responsibility legislation and the introduction of Safe System approaches for managing transport related risks has raised the profile and importance of strategic approaches to the establishment of frameworks under which operational and legislative requirements can be met.

RTSM Consulting can develop and manage the implementation of traffic safety strategies and provide input into the development of comprehensive organisational Occupational Health & Safety strategies for the resource and transport industries.

The resource industry typically seeks expansion into undeveloped regions leading to challenging logistical operations. These often involve extensive land transport tasks required for the construction and operation of regional and remote facilities.

Land transport increases the exposure for the workforce and local communities to risks associated with road activities and traffic.

RTSM Consulting can provide high-level integrated road safety assessments on broad regional road networks.

Some of the issues arise from an inherent attitude where site roads are perceived as supporting and non-essential infrastructure that is ‘added’ to match and accommodate operational constraints. Roads are often seen as ‘associated’ features without a full understanding of their importance for safe and efficient movement of the vehicle fleet and their integration with the operation being undertaken.

Organisations often give insufficient consideration to appropriate road design, construction, and maintenance methods. Site roads are usually designed and constructed primarily to meet production requirements while safety issues aspects may not be integrated into the design criteria.

During the construction and operational stages it is important to identify risks and improvement opportunities with the existing road networks in which an operation must coexist and interact with a range of stakeholders, including local communities.

If identified at an early stage, the issues can be addressed and solutions developed and communicated to minimise negative impacts and facilitate positive outcomes for all those who are affected by a resource operation.

RTSM Consulting can conduct thorough and detailed analyses of the existing and proposed road networks and transport demand. Through a needs analysis based on a consultative approach with the communities and stakeholders appropriate solutions can be identified, implemented and managed.

Resource industry operations do not start and stop at the front gate. The impact of operations extends throughout the surrounding road network during construction and the operational stage. Traffic impact assessments can identify this impact and provide acceptable solutions to manage it. There are many reasons to undertake a traffic impact assessment, including;

• as inputs into environmental impact assessments,
• conditions of development imposed by regulatory authorities, and
• assisting in consultation with local communities.
  RTSM Consulting understands the impact of resource industry operations and also understands the requirements and processes of all community and regulatory stakeholders.

Resource industry operations begin their life as construction sites. Once established, operations have systems in place to manage their exposure to traffic related risks. However, during the construction stage the principals may be exposed, through the chain of responsibility, to various traffic risks.

Construction activities, including transport to and from sites, require careful planning and consideration to ensure that site safety and efficiency is maintained. RTSM Consulting can undertake operational reviews, audits as well as road network and traffic planning for construction projects.

Road safety auditing is a nationally accredited formal process for improving road networks through all phases of the road network lifecycle – from concept design, detailed design and to auditing of existing road systems. The auditors should be experienced and independent of the designer or asset manager so that the proposed solutions are presented without bias.

RTSM Consulting is an accredited Senior Road Safety Auditor and has conducted numerous road safety audits on resource operations across Australia. RTSM Consulting conducts audits based on the requirements of the Austroads Guide to Road Safety, Part 6: Road Safety Audit, 2009 2022. Issues that are covered by a road safety audit include road design, signage, speed management, intersection configuration, visibility, etc.

Australian legislators consider road transport to be one of the high-risk areas within the overall workplace health and safety framework established for safe operation of mining and mineral processing projects. Consequently, there is an expectation that an effective Principle Hazard Management Plan will be developed and implemented to address this area of risk management.

The current legislation in Australia is broad and seldom provides sufficient guidance to the industry on how to achieve compliance.

Having worked with both the legislators and the industry and understanding the individual requirements and expectations, RTSM Consulting can assist organisations with achieving compliance with the legislative requirements.

Vehicle crashes and accidents are seldom the consequence of a single factor. Consequently, crash investigations should be multi-faceted and conducted by multi-disciplinary teams. RTSM Consulting is able to provide a quick response support in participating in crash investigation teams and providing expert advice when required.

While advice and instruction on how to improve processes can be useful, it is increasingly evident that effective training empowers staff to be self-aware and able to self-identify concepts and strategies for improving road safety and efficiency in their workplace.

RTSM Consulting can customise and deliver traffic safety and traffic management training packages to meet your specific requirements.

Are you looking for quick advice, quick responses, flexibility and adaptability to your requirements? Sometimes, all that is needed is a quick advice on ‘How to…?” “Which one…?” ”Where do…?”. Being small and flexible, RTSM Consulting can assist with the little issues that help you to move on.

RTSM Consulting’s goal is becoming a trusted advisor and long-term reliable partner for all transport related issues – big and small. Building relationships with a broad range of stakeholders is the foundation for its business.

RTSM Consulting has the understanding, respect and knowledge that you can trust.