Is Lane Marking Required by OSHA?

OSHA provides road workers with safety guidelines.

Highway and road lane marking is standardized by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This manual contains safety regulations formulated by the Department of Transportation and endorsed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for road workers.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

First published in 1927, the manual regulates traffic control markings on any publicly accessible roads from bike ways to highways. All types of lane markings are covered in it, including temporary lane markings used during construction and emergencies. As of 2010, it was last updated in 2009.

Work Zone Lane Markings

During construction on a highway, the redirection of traffic is sometimes necessary to provide a permanent zone to store equipment throughout the duration of the job. In these cases, lane markings must be altered to provide safety zones in accordance with the MUTCD.

OSHA Usage

OSHA uses the MUTCD's regulations to provide for worker and pedestrian safety during construction. This sometimes requires the altering of lane markings to alert drivers of new traffic patterns. In cases where lane markings are not necessary, OSHA continues to use the regulations for signage and flaggers.

References

• DOT: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• OSHA: Work Zone Traffic Safety During Disaster Recovery Efforts
• OSHA: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Resources

• The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices