The Iowa DOT specifications require all flaggers working on projects let through the Department’s letting process to be appropriately "trained." We do NOT require that they be "certified," Refer to Specification Article 2528.03.K.
Both the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Certified Flagger program and the National Safety Council (NSC) Certified Flagger program are considered to be equivalent to the Department’s flagger training requirements as long as Iowa specific requirements are included in the training. Flaggers that have been trained or certified under other State flagger training programs, must also have Iowa based training to be able act as a flagger in Iowa. Other than the ATSSA or NSC flagger training programs stated above, Iowa does not allow flagger training reciprocity.
All projects let by the Iowa DOT require a trained traffic control technician to be on the Prime Contractors payroll and have responsible management oversight of the projects traffic control and to be onsite on the project when traffic control signs and devices are being installed or removed. Refer to Specification Article 2528.01.C.
Currently, only the ATTSA Traffic Control Technician. IMSA WORK ZONE Traffic Control, Iowa AGC Traffic Control Technician, Minnesota DOT Traffic Control Supervisor, or Texas Engineering Extension Service Work Zone Traffic Control training classes have been accepted by the Iowa DOT. Other TCT training programs should be submitted to the Office of Construction for review. Also, the ATSSA Traffic Control Supervisor certification is considered an equivalent program.
The sign sheeting requirements (see Specification Article 4186.03.B.2.a) are only required on signs used on Department administered projects or on Iowa DOT Right-of-Way. County and City projects let through the Department are not required to use the brighter sign sheetings.
The TCT is required to have responsible oversight of the projects traffic control. The TCT is required to be-site supervising the employees who are installing, moving, or removing the traffic control signs and devices for the project. Once traffic control is in place and not being moved or removed, they can delegate some of their other day-to-day oversight to those working on the project; such as the project superintendent or foreman. The trained traffic control technician is required to fill out the daily traffic control diary on any day when traffic control signs and devices are installed, moved, or removed.
The Iowa DOT does not provide flagger training classes. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to train their own flaggers based on the requirements shown in the specifications.
Traffic Quality Control is only required on projects that include the lump sum Traffic Control Bid Item. If the local agency is supplying the signs and traffic control devices for use on the project, and is not including the lump sum Traffic Control Bid item, Traffic Quality Control is not required.
The minimum requirements for the daily diary include:
- Date of information entry
- Name of individual who reviewed the traffic control
- RS Standard, Detail Sheet, or Plan Sheet used on project or stage
- Any exceptions noted
- Any approved changes to traffic control plan as let and in use
- Other actions required
- Any incident or work zone crashes noted
At a minimum, the Traffic Quality Control daily diaries are to be submitted at the completion of the project. It is preferable that the Traffic Quality Control daily diaries be submitted at the end of every two weeks. Many RCE Offices require the daily traffic control diaries to be submitted biweekly in order for the Contractor to be paid for traffic control. During the start of the project it is recommended that the Traffic Quality Control diaries be reviewed with the Project Engineer more often to review the effectiveness and proper operation of the projects overall traffic control.
Both flagger related materials are available through the Iowa DOT warehouse at telephone number (515) 239-1253. The video is available in both computer and DVD player formats. Make sure you order the correct format. The Flagger Handbook is also available electronically at the following URL: http://www.iowadot.gov/erl/current/FM/flagger.pdf. The downloaded Flagger Handbook is only allowed for training purposes. The printed version is the version to be presented to the trained flagger per specification article 2528.03.K.1.a.