Site Operations
Mobile Plant, Reversing Operations & Pedestrian Segregation
Controlling the interface between mobile plant and pedestrians on UAE construction sites — traffic management plans, banksman procedures, reversing controls and segregation infrastructure required under ADOSH-SF (formerly OSHAD) and Dubai Municipality codes.
v2.0Updated 15 Feb 2026ADOSH-SF v4.1 (February 2026)Learning Objectives
- Explain the legal duty to segregate pedestrians from mobile plant on UAE sites.
- Describe the components of a compliant Site Traffic Management Plan (STMP).
- Apply the banksman/signaller procedure for reversing mobile plant.
- Identify segregation infrastructure required for pedestrian walkways and crossing points.
- Recognise high-risk plant interface scenarios and the controls that prevent them.
Training Video
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1. Legal Basis for Segregation
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Cabinet Resolution No. 32 of 2022 require employers to eliminate contact between moving plant and pedestrians so far as reasonably practicable. ADOSH-SF (formerly OSHAD) Mechanism and Dubai Municipality Code of Construction Safety Practice both mandate a documented Site Traffic Management Plan (STMP) before any plant mobilises. Trakhees CSR applies the same requirement on Palm and free-zone projects. Failure to segregate is one of the most frequently cited causes of fatal struck-by incidents on UAE sites.
2. Site Traffic Management Plan
The STMP must map vehicle routes, pedestrian routes, one-way systems, speed limits (typically 20 km/h on internal roads, 5 km/h near active work fronts), designated crossing points, and turning/reversing areas. It is prepared by a competent traffic coordinator, approved by the project HSE Manager, reissued whenever site layout changes, and briefed to every new plant operator and worker at induction.
3. Reversing Controls
Reversing is the leading cause of plant-pedestrian fatalities. The hierarchy is: eliminate reversing through one-way routes and drive-through layouts; if unavoidable, use a trained banksman with dedicated hi-vis, whistle and hand signals recognised by the operator; fit reversing alarms, CCTV/reversing cameras and proximity sensors as engineering backup, never as a substitute for the banksman. The banksman must remain in the operator's direct line of sight at all times.
4. Pedestrian Segregation Infrastructure
Segregation is achieved with continuous physical barriers (minimum 1.1 m hard barrier or equivalent) between walkways and vehicle routes, dedicated pedestrian gates separate from vehicle gates, raised or coloured walkways, and controlled crossing points with stop/go signage or traffic lights at high-flow junctions. Lighting of at least 50 lux is required on all pedestrian routes used during hours of darkness or reduced visibility.
5. High-Risk Interface Scenarios
The highest-risk moments are plant reversing near site offices and welfare, deliveries at the material laydown area, tower crane load landing zones, and shift-change periods when foot traffic peaks. Controls include exclusion zones during lifting, dedicated delivery marshalling points away from pedestrian desire lines, and staggered shift-change timing where practicable. Every incident investigation on struck-by events must review whether segregation was breached.
6. Operator and Worker Competence
All plant operators must hold a valid UAE operator competency card for the specific plant category and undergo site-specific induction on the STMP before operating. Pedestrians receive induction on designated routes, crossing points, and the meaning of banksman signals. Daily pre-use checks of reversing alarms, mirrors, cameras and horns are mandatory and recorded; defective plant is removed from service immediately.
Knowledge Assessment
1. Which UAE authority requires a documented Site Traffic Management Plan before plant mobilisation?
2. Typical internal site road speed limit is:
3. The leading cause of plant-pedestrian fatalities is:
4. Reversing alarms and cameras should be treated as:
5. Minimum height for a hard segregation barrier between walkways and vehicle routes is approximately:
6. Minimum lighting level required on pedestrian routes used in darkness is:
7. A banksman must remain:
8. Who prepares and approves the STMP?
9. Defective reversing alarms or cameras found during daily checks should result in:
10. A high-risk interface scenario requiring special controls is:
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