Who Is Responsible for Construction Traffic Control in BC?
BC traffic-control responsibility is shared across the employer or prime contractor, qualified supervisor, road authority, plan owner, and trained field roles.
In British Columbia, traffic-control responsibility is shared, but it is not vague. The employer must ensure effective traffic control whenever traffic could be hazardous to a worker. On a multi-employer site, the prime contractor also has coordination responsibilities. The road authority controls permits and approved use of the roadway, while assigned field roles implement the workplace plan.
Employer or prime contractor
The employer must ensure traffic hazards are assessed, an appropriate workplace-specific traffic-control plan is prepared, effective controls are implemented, and workers receive the required training and orientation. A prime contractor normally coordinates these duties across employers at a multi-employer workplace.
Qualified traffic-control supervisor
WorkSafeBC Part 18 requires a qualified supervisor whenever traffic control is used. The supervisor ensures the plan is implemented, devices are in place and removed when no longer required, the work zone is inspected, TCP training is verified, orientation is completed, and coordinated traffic-flow changes have an assigned lead.
Road authority and permit holder
The municipality, province, or other road owner sets its approval, permit, work-window, notification, and submission requirements. The permit holder must ensure the project stays within those conditions and follows the authority's change process.
Traffic Control Persons and other field roles
A TCP directs traffic at the assigned position after approved training and site orientation. The TCP follows the plan and supervisor; the role does not automatically include permit ownership, plan design, or authority to make an unapproved closure.
Traffic-control contractor
The contractor is responsible for the roles, equipment, supervision, and deliverables defined in its agreement. The project owner should confirm in writing who supplies the plan, obtains approvals, provides devices, supervises the field, and handles changes.
Safeside provides traffic-control crews, lane-closure support, and planning support for an agreed project scope.