Walt

Helmets now required!

On February 15, 2008, Publication 213 (Temporary Traffic Control) was updated. Specifically, Pub 213 is based on Part VI of the Federal MUTCD, and applies to Fire Departments, Police, municipal workers, and utility operations.

When PennDOT first published Pub 213 (Feb, 2006), they called it Work Zone Traffic Control, which by title didn't include Fire Departments or Police. Whoops! The new Pub 213 even includes a Fire Police operation on the cover!

The revised Pub 213 now has several pages of explanations in the front, including a little blurb on page 5 (General Note #9) that states: "All workers including flaggers shall wear a helmet and high-visibility fluorescent orange or yellow-green apparel with retroreflective material that meets ANSI 107-2004 Class 2 risk exposure anytime day or night. Class 3 high-visibility apparel should be considered for additional flagger visibility at night. During inclement weather, high-visibility fluorescent rain gear may be used". The note goes on to list "...responders to incidents within the highway right-of-way..."

SO, "what kind" of helmet? The reasoning for the rule was that cops who got struck generally lived if they were wearing helmets, as the helmets stayed on their heads. Cops wear motorcycle helmets, not the $8 cheapies we associate with the electric company. A good motorcycle helmet looks great and costs the same price as a good fire helmet.

What's your life worth? $8 or $250?

Link to the Entire Pub 213 - this may take a minute or two (5 megs)...