2011 Rev 03
South Dublin County Council
Procedures for the Execution of Winter Maintenance Operations in the Roads Department of South Dublin County Council
Winter Maintenance System WMS

1. Table of Contents

1. Table of Contents............................................................................................................... 2

1.1 Document Management....................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Glossary of Terms............................................................................................................. 3

1.3 Purpose and Scope............................................................................................................. 4

1.4 Precautionary Gritting..................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Emergency Scenarios......................................................................................................... 5

1.6 Trial Run of Salt Bins….....................................................................................................5

1.6 Road Weather Information System Arrangements................................................................ 5

2. Depots................................................................................................................................ 6

3. Health & Safety.................................................................................................................. 6

3.1 Lone Working.................................................................................................................... 6

4. Responsible Persons............................................................................................................ 7

4.1 IceCast Duty Engineers...................................................................................................... 7

4.2 Depot Inspectors............................................................................................................... 7

5. Procedures and Rosters....................................................................................................... 7

5.1 Duties of the Ice-Cast duty Engineer................................................................................... 7

5.2 Monday – Friday Procedure................................................................................................ 8

5.3 Weekend (Sat. - Sun.) and Bank Holidays Procedure............................................................. 8

5.4 Winter Maintenance Duty Engineers’ Roster........................................................................ 9

5.5 Rates of Spread for Precautionary Salting........................................................................ 9

5.6 Treatment of snow already on the road after Precautionary Salting........................................ 9

5.7 Treatment of Hard-Packed Snow and Ice............................................................................ 10

6 Appendices

6.1 Appendix 1 Priority Routes

6.2 Appendix 2 Salt Bin Locations

6.3 Appendix 3 Emergency Scenarios

6.4 Appendix 4 Safe Working Alone System

6.5 Appendix 5 Winter Maintenance Roster 2011

1.1 Document Management

Date	Version	Author
01/09/2010	DRAFT	V. Dennan
13/10/2011	2011 Rev01	G. Walsh
14/10/2011	2011 Rev02	G. Walsh
19/10/2011	2011 Rev03	V.Dennan

 

1.2 Glossary of Terms

A
B
N	N.P	National Primary
	N.S	National Secondary
S	S.D.C.C	South Dublin County Council
W	WMS	Winter Maintenance System

1.3 Purpose and Scope

South Dublin County Council is responsible for the following;

·        80 km of National Primary

·        124 km of Secondary Roads

·        689 km of Regional Road.

Winter maintenance is confined to National Primary and National Secondary Routes, Regional routes and 151km of Local roads. The percentages are summarized below in table 1.

	Gritted km	Total km	%
NP & NS	80	80	100%
Regional	124	124	100%
Local	151	689	21.9%

The purpose of this document is to identify the processes, procedures and control measures employed by South Dublin County Council (S.D.C.C), to ensure that Winter Maintenance works are carried out in accordance with procedural and Health and Safety requirements. All members of staff involved with Winter Maintenance shall be fully acquainted with this Winter Maintenance Strategy and will have access to copies of it.

1.4 Precautionary Gritting

The primary aim is to keep these roads safe and as free as possible from winter hazards.

In order to do this, S.D.C.C Roads Department spreads salt/grit on these roads before ice or snow is expected (called Precautionary Gritting), this operation of pre-salting is timed to be completed before the onset of freezing or snowfall.

.

	Road	Length km
Route 1	Lucan	66.73
Route 2	Clondalkin	38.98
Route 3	N7	48.34
Route 4	Saggart	24.84
Route 5	Tallaght	46.18
Route 6	Kimmage	34.66
Route 7	Ballyboden	42.67
Route 8	N81	46.16

Table 2

1.5 Emergency Scenarios

If snow or ice settles, Snowploughing, salting and gritting is put into action. South Dublin County Council is constantly striving to improve the winter maintenance service.

In emergency scenarios, i.e. sudden snow storms or prolonged periods of freezing temperatures. S.D.C.C has prepared specific routes to deal with; reduced driver numbers, low salt and heavy snowfall.

Priority Routes can be seen in Appendix 1.

 

1.6 Trial Run of Salt Bins

For the 2011 season a trial will be carried out. This trial will involve leaving Salt Bins at 15 specified locations throughout the county (3 per electoral area). These locations have been identified as problem areas during icy conditions.

These Salt Bins will be kept stocked with rocksalt and a shovel will be provided so that members of the public can treat a road if they deem it required. Instructions on spread rate will be provided.

Salt Bin locations can be seen in Appendix 2.

1.7 Road Weather Information System Arrangements

An Ice Prediction System is be supplied by:

Vaisala TMI Ltd

Vaisala House

349 Bristol Road

Birmingham

Tel No:    0044 (0)121 683 1200Fax No:     0044 (0)121 683 1299

The server for the network Ice Prediction System will be housed at the Vaisala office in Birmingham.

The Ice Prediction System polls the outstations on the network at maximum intervals of one hour. This may be reduced to shorter intervals depending on conditions during the winter season.

Access to the IceNet website will be available to all the Duty Engineers. Access to IceNet website is available from any computer with internet access

2. Depots

S.D.C.C currently operates Winter Maintenance operations from Ballymount Depot.

The new Salt Barn at Fonthill, recently completed will be operational from Nov 2011.

3. Health & Safety

S.D.C.C will ensure so far, as is reasonably practicable:

·     Safe and healthy working conditions,

·     Safe equipment and systems of work,

·     Provision of appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision,

This procedural document should be read in conjunction with

·     Roads Maintenance Ballymount – Risk Assessments / Gritters

·     Roads Maintenance Palmerstown – Risk Assessments / Gritters

A copy of which is attached in Appendix 3 below

 

3.1 Lone Working

Where Lone working occurs, the procedures outline in Appendix 4 below shall be utilised.

4. Responsible Persons

Winter Maintenance coordinator: Caitriona Lambert

4.1 IceCast Duty Engineers 2011

Name	Position	Contact Numbers
Mobile
Tony O’Grady	Senior Engineer	086 8560552
Tadhg Madden	Assistant Engineer	086 8559502
Gary Walsh	Graduate Engineer	086 0479609
Michael Glynn	Senior Executive Engineer	086 1723274
Padhraic McGillycuddy	Area Engineer	086 2346174
Caitriona Lambert	Senior Executive Engineer		086 8506771

4.2 Depot Inspectors 2011

Name	Depot	Routes	Contact Numbers
Mobile
Paddy Hearns	Palmerston	1-4
Tony Murphy	Ballymount	5-8

5. Procedures and Rosters

A roster of Duty Engineers to give 24-hour coverage will be agreed to manage information from Met. Eireann and Vaisala. The Duty Engineer will have authority to instruct treatment as required. Consultation with the Winter Maintenance Coordinator will be carried out as necessary.

The Duty Engineer will also ensure plant and personnel are mobilised. The Duty Engineer will instruct the Inspector when a decision to treat has been made. The Inspector will ensure the drivers are instructed and ready to treat the road at the time required. The Inspector will take instruction from the Duty Engineer.

5.1 Duties of the Ice-Cast duty Engineer

The Pre-salting Phase will be activated by the Ice-cast Duty Engineer in the event of ice or adverse weather prediction from the Ice-cast service,. This is normally issued before 2.30pm in the afternoon.

Pre-salting shall commence at the time determined by the Ice-cast duty Engineer to ensure the completion of routes before the onset of icy conditions. As the Ice-Cast forecast and data is available at 2.30 pm therefore it is expected that the callout is given as early as possible particularly on a Friday in order that arrangements can be made before personnel finish work.

 

5.2 Monday – Friday Procedure

·        The Ice-cast Duty Engineer checks the ice-cast and forecast at 2.30pm each day.

·        In the event of the forecast of ice conditions the Duty Engineer notifies the Inspector on call before 3.30pm, of routes to be pre-salted and time of commencement.

·        The Inspector then notifies the drivers and the Machinery Yard Foreman, on call for that week.

·        The duty drivers proceed to their parking depots at the end of their normal working day and fit the salt spreaders.

·        The Inspector notifies the loader driver, proceeds to the salt depot at the end of normal working time, and prepares the depot for loading of salt.

·        At the designated time, the drivers will collect their machines, load salt and pre-salt their prearranged routes, on completion the driver will return the spreader to its parking location.

·        The Inspector, will be on standby in the event of breakdown.

·        From the call out time the Inspector will monitor the operations and in the event of breakdown will call out a fitter, or activate the standby salt spreader which ever he feels appropriate.

5.3 Weekend (Sat. - Sun.) and Bank Holidays Procedure

The pre-salting duty roster is as above

·        Ice-cast Duty Engineer checks the ice-cast and forecast at or before 2.30pm each day.

·        In the event of the forecast of ice conditions he notifies the Inspector on call before 3.30pm, of routes to be pre-salted and time of commencement.

·        The Inspector notifies the drivers and Machinery Yard Foreman, on call for that week, of the time of callout.

·        The Inspector notifies the loader driver, proceeds to the salt depot at the time appointed and prepares the depot for loading of salt.

·        The duty drivers proceed to the depot at the appointed time, load salt, proceeds to complete assigned routes, and on completion the driver will return the salt spreader to its parking location.

5.4 Winter Maintenance Duty Engineers’ Roster

The winter Maintenance Duty Engineers Roster is to be filled out in September of every year, detailing the dates of each Duty Engineers roster. See Appendix 5.

5.5 Rates of Spread for Precautionary Salting

It is intended that Precautionary Action forms the major part of winter operations.

For frost and road surface temperatures at or above -2ºC salt shall be spread at 10-20 grm/m2 dependant on local conditions and the immediate forecast.

If freezing conditions are expected after rain or frost and the road surface temperature is below -2ºC spread rates will be increased to 20-30g/m2 according to the amount of moisture present and the temperature expected.  Unless freezing conditions coincide with rainfall, salting shall be delayed as long as possible to reduce loss of salt by run-off.

If continuous snow is forecast, salt shall be spread at 30-40g/m2 according to the anticipated severity of the snowfall.  Every effort will be made to ensure enough salt is applied before snow starts to stick to the road to melt the initial snowfall and to provide a wet surface.

The spread rates for precautionary salt treatments are summarised below.

Weather Conditions	Definition	Salt Spread Rate  (gram/square metre)
Light	Frost and/or light snow	10
Moderate	Freezing conditions after rain	20 to 30
Severe	Continuous snow	30 to 40

 

 

5.6 Treatment of snow already on the road after Precautionary Salting

Snow ploughing will commence on major routes as shown in Appendix 2 as directed by the Duty Engineer. Each pass of the plough shall be supplemented by an application of salt at a rate as per the table above. Special salting may be necessary to deal with melted water from snow, which may freeze at night, and a watch will be kept for such conditions.

 

5.7 Treatment of Hard-Packed Snow and Ice

If the previous procedures are carried out successfully then the formation of hard-packed snow should be prevented.  However, in cases where hard-packed snow and ice occur and provided that the ice is no more than 20mm thick and the air temperature is below -5ºC, then removal shall be carried out by successive salt applications of 20-40g/m2. 

6 Appendices

6.1 Appendix 1 - Priority Routes

PRIORITY ROUTES 2011/2012

 

 

6.2 Appendix 2 - Salt Bin Locations during Trial Run

 

 

6.3 Appendix 3 - Emergency Scenarios

Chapter 1 RISK ASSESSMENT – Gritting Roads

Ref: RDS/MB/RA/0218

Risk Rating:    Medium  Risk

Work Activity: Gritting Roads

Assessed by: IRS

HAZARDS

Loading of grit by JCB (external contractor) – risk of collision with pedestrians

Reversing truck

Mounting gritter (insertion of pins) – hand injury

Gritter dismounting from truck while in motion

Manual handling

Persons Exposed To Risk

Public

ü

Other contractors/employees

ü

Visitors

ü

Work Description (including location)

Application of grit to public roads using gritting unit attached to truck during hours of darkness

Existing Controls

Appropriate PPE must be worn

Gritter must be strapped to truck body by nylon straps before truck moves off Drivers specially trained in the mounting and operation of gritters

Gritter legs must be raised and pinned before truck moves off

Site Specific Controls / Recommendation

First aid kit

Drivers to be specially trained in the mounting and operation of gritters

IRISK ASSESSMENT

Ref: RDS/MB/RA/0218

Monitoring Arrangements

Monitor compliance with risk assessment

Monitor wearing of PPE

Supervisor Checks

Check that PPE is being worn

Check that new starts have undergone induction and appropriate training Check that drivers have been fully trained in the mounting and operation of gritters

Check that safe systems of work are being followed

15.2                        Information, Instruction and Training

Risk Assessment and safe systems of work

Use of PPE

Induction training for new employees Manual handling training

Personal Protective Equipment (last resort)

ü                 ü                  ü                                                                         ü

Additional notes on PPE

Initial Risk Rating (without any control measures)

Severity Rating (A)

Exposure Rating (B)

Exposure Probability Rating (C)

Multiple fatality

15

1 Person

2

Exposure would rarely occur

4

Fatality

12

2 – 5 Persons

4

Exposure unlikely to occur

8

Major injury (hospitalisation)

9

6 – 20 Persons

6

Exposure likely to occur

12

Reportable injury

6

21 – 100 Persons

8

Exposure occurs regularly

16

Minor accident

3

100 + Persons

10

Exposure certain to occur

20

Risk Rating Calculation Risk = A X (B + C) =  192   High Risk

Risk Reduction Rating (after controls introduced)

Severity  Rating (A)

6

Exposure Rating (B)

4

Exposure Probability Rating (C)

8

Exposure Rating (B)

Risk Rating Calculation Risk = A X (B + C) =  72  Medium Risk

Low Risk = 18 – 59   Medium Risk = 60 – 89 Substantial Risk = 90 - 129  High Risk = 130 -  450

Risk Assessment Review

As and when process changes  or yearly

Date of Risk Assessment………29/01/09…. ………….………………… ……….…………….……………

 

6.4 Appendix 4 - Safe Working Alone System

Winter Salt Spreading - Safe Working Alone System

The Salt Spreading Operations are carried to prevent the occurrence of icy conditions on roads, the main period of activity is from November 1^st to March 31^st, but it is not exclusive to this period.

The operation when activated is scheduled each night to finish approximately two hours before the onset of icy conditions on the road.  The equipment consists of a truck and a gritter mounted on the truck.  The gritters are located in the Machinery Yard in, and the, in The Salt used is stored in

Hazards

The Risk Assessments of the winter salting activity refers to the activity of lone working and lists the controls as follows.

• In the event that a driver operates the Salt Spreading Unit without an attendant, a Safe Working Alone System must be put in place.
• A communication procedure and an emergency procedure must form part of the system.
• An arrangement for periodic checks must be included.

Safe Working Alone System

 

The following is the lone working procedure to comply with these controls

i)                    Before leaving the depot

a)      Complete check of machine

b)      Complete check of controls

c)       Complete communications check with designated contact

ii)                  During Route

a)      Check in with designated contact at approximately 30 minute intervals or agreed timing

(Specific check in locations and timings should be agreed with the supervisor and recorded to coincide with specific points on the route e.g. end of specific section of road, suitable stop point, etc)

b)      Check in with designated contact on completion of route

Stop Procedure

In the event of stopping during the route, the following shall be the procedure

• Park in a safe location
• Communicate with the designated contact

(When leaving the cab, inform the designated contact that you are leaving the cab, for what purpose and how long you expect to be out of the cab)

• Contact your designated contact on return to the cab
• Personnel Should never mount the Bridge of the Salt Spreader unattended

Breakdown Procedure

• In the event of breakdown during the route, the following shall be the procedure

Park in a safe location

• Communicate with the designated contact
• Remain in the cab and await instructions from your supervisor