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Working on Hard Shoulders and Roadside Verges on National Highways Toolbox Talk: Ensuring Safety in High-Risk Areas
The Working on Hard Shoulders and Roadside Verges on National Highways Toolbox Talk provides essential guidance on safely conducting work in high-risk roadside environments, such as hard shoulders, emergency refuge areas, and verges. Developed in line with Raising the Bar 42 (RTB42), this document follows UK health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Traffic Signs Manual (Chapter 8), and HSE guidance on workplace transport safety. It supports businesses in implementing robust safety protocols to protect workers, minimise roadside hazards, and ensure compliance with National Highways standards.
Working on hard shoulders and verges presents significant risks due to proximity to live traffic, limited space, and unpredictable driver behaviour. This toolbox talk addresses the key safety considerations for these environments, including:
The document highlights the importance of dynamic risk assessments to account for changing traffic conditions, weather factors, and site-specific hazards. Workers are trained to stay alert to traffic flow, position themselves safely when operating near the carriageway, and use designated safe zones for breaks and equipment storage.
In line with Raising the Bar 42, the toolbox talk also covers the use of Impact Protection Vehicles (IPVs) for additional safeguarding and the critical role of effective communication between site operatives, traffic marshals, and vehicle operators. The importance of pre-work safety briefings and clear signage placement is emphasised to reduce confusion for road users and prevent incursions into work areas.
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Useful Resources and Links
Traffic Signs Manual – Chapter 8: Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual
Safety at Street Works and Road Works (The Red Book):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-at-street-works-and-road-works
HSE Guidance on Traffic Management and Roadside Safety:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/trafficmanagement.htm
