Cone Placement

[NickfromWI]

ORClimber just reminded me of a question I keep meaning to place here.

Where do the cones go?

What are the things you consider when placing the cone?

I think cones should be placed to warn drivers of the oncoming hazard. I see some people put the cones right next the truck, one in front, one in the middle, and one back by the chipper. This seems less useful to me. It's seems like its just so if something happens, the boss can tell the insurance that "cones were out."

Check the pic and tell me what you think is appropriate.

love
nick

 

[MasterBlaster]

I would go one or two cones further along the truck.

 

[treeman82]

Don't forget the road signs before the cones

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

how about in front of the driveway if that road looking area is a drive way last thing you want is a **** driveing into your work zone

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've always liked the little flashing strobe that sets in the cone.

They just look cool.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

in a scenario like the one pictured overhere in the UK i would have to use 6 signs ,2 men at work signs ,2 arrow signs ,2 road narrows signs ,and about 10 cones min

 

[NeTree]

As a matter of rules, here's where they go in Mass.

5 cones (not less than 6" or more than 18" away from the vehicle, measured from the side of the vehicle) to de-lineate the vehicle, or 5 feet apart.

3 cones 5 feet apart make up the "approach".

1 cone even with the frontmost and rearmost cones if there's a sidewalk.

 

[ORclimber]

Here the rules are detailed and change depending on the speed limit. I have to check the flaggers manual on the rare occasions I work on major roads.

In residential areas I like to use cones to (hopefully) communicate that there is a work area, and stake my territory. Cones behind the chipper so no one parks there. Cones all the way to the front of the truck so oncoming traffic can see a work zone. Pretty much like NEtree's picture.

My cones have a way of disappearing, going to have to start marking them. I'd like to get some Tree Work Ahead signs with company name incorporated. Mark the work area, advertise, and theft deterent.

 

[Menchhofer]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
I've always liked the little flashing strobe that sets in the cone.

They just look cool.

Anyone know where to purchase this type of strobe?

 

[NickfromWI]

Eric- Not more than 18" away? I don't like that rule. Cones going along the truck I want far enough that the crew can walk along the truck, open any doors, get whatever they need and go back. Yes, 18" could work. I prefer at least a foot and half

I know I put the cones out further than most people would like. I often see co-workers scooting them in closer, but I just put them back out!


I remember one job we did out in a rural area working on some trees right on the side of the road....The traffic from the other side of the road was coming by quickly, so I set up the cones to form a "pinch" ...a tight squeeze formed by the cones. The space was just barely big enough for the cars to get through (or so it seemed to them...they still had plenty of room). But the result was they they HAD to slow down in order to get through without hitting the cones.

It worked, but might make some people mad (the thought of setting up cones on the OTHER side of the street). It was nice working there and hearing the cars slow down!

love
nick

 

[ORclimber]

Is it legal to put cones in the oncoming traffic's lane? Doing rural right of way work we'd stick a few cones right on the center line up in front of the work area. That seemed effective in getting speed demons attention, especially on curves. Of course there were flaggers involved too.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Menchhofer
Anyone know where to purchase this type of strobe?

You can probably find them somewhere on the net. You should have them hard wired to yur new bucket truck. I had em on mine when I did city trimming.

 

[Menchhofer]

thx been thinking about putting them on bucket but not sure yet.

 

[NeTree]

The goal of cones is to direct traffic safely around your equipment, not to hinder the flow of traffic, or force them to "slow down".

Anything else requires a police detail. Example- on narrow roads where two vahicles can't safely pass if you're set up, you're required (because you're now making uit a one-lane road.)

 

[MasterBlaster]

I like when the cops are called in for traffic control. They TCOB real nice.

 

[NickfromWI]

Thanks, Rocky. I now see the error of my ways.

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

Originally posted by netree
The goal of cones is to direct traffic safely around your equipment, not to hinder the flow of traffic, or force them to "slow down".

Anything else requires a police detail. Example- on narrow roads where two vahicles can't safely pass if you're set up, you're required (because you're now making uit a one-lane road.)

That's a good point, Eric. I've been on jobs where the crew got shut-down for not following protocol. But I am looking at things from a "here I am at a jobsite and this is what we are doing today" perspective. I am not a boss or a foreman. I saw my coworkers working in the road and I saw the traffic on the other street flying by. Seemed like a hazard. I fixed it.

I'd rather get brownie points from a cop asking me why the cones were set up like that, than from a doctor asking why the guy got hit.

love
nick

 

[NeTree]

Remember Nick...

With todays liberal sue-happy society, if you cause somebody so much as a dent in their fender with your cone placement, you're liable to get sued for everything under the sun.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I want one of them brownies!

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by netree

Anything else requires a police detail. Example- on narrow roads where two vahicles can't safely pass if you're set up, you're required (because you're now making uit a one-lane road.)

Wow. Different laws there. I've legally shut down one direction of highways many times without police. 2 flaggers, signs, and cones. You need a permit too, but that's no biggie. Heck, sometimes you don't need flaggers on rural roads if visability, speed limit, and traffic density are right.