The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRASWA) sets out the procedures and guidelines that all utility companies need to adhere to when placing or maintaining their equipment on the highway.  The Act and associated Codes of Practice cover the notification requirements, the safety to highway users and the standards required of the reinstatement of all excavations on the highway.

May 2009
Qualifications for Streetworks Co-ordinators/Administrators
Visitors to this website are often requesting information about such qualifications. There are currently no nationally recognised qualifications for key people in the post of streetworks administrators (utility or street authority) although the people doing this work are a key element to ensuring compliance and success under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004. The  Department of Transport has no powers to create a qualification for streetworks administration

It should be recognised that those who are submitting notices to authorities as well as receiving them fully understand the process involved and can demonstrate a level of competence to do so.

So how does the industry go about introducing a nationally recognised qualification?
Key stake holders have clearly identified the need for a qualifications and should approach an awarding body, usually through a relevant Sector Skills Council, who certificate qualifications and assist in the development of a qualification.  The industry should identify the key elements of noticing and compliance with the TMA and NRASWA.   Working with an awarding body to design and develop a qualification should reflect the competences needed to carry out the task.  Such competences would include:

• Knowledge of the Acts, Regulations and Codes of Practice

• The noticing process and software systems used

• knowledge of the Fix Penalty Notices, and how to avoid them...

• Permit schemes

• Section 74

• Offences

• Cooperation, communications and compliance

• Guidance documents

Such a qualification can sit with the National Occupational Diplomas that replace NVQ's and placed on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (see www.qca.org.uk).  This would then be nationally recognised as an industry qualification.

February 2009
Streetworks Qualifications/Regulations/Reassessment
The Department of Transport has announced that the amended Regulations expected to come into force in April 2009 will not include the previously planned provision for the reassessment of qualified operatives and supervisors in England.  Ministers had decided that reassessment should not go ahead at this time by placing extra Regulations on the industry.

It is expected that those who supported the reassessment will show disappointment at the withdrawal for reassessment from the Regulations.   Units 002 and 010, signing Lighting and Guarding will become a registered qualification allowing SWQR Cards to be issued.

With over 170,000 operatives and supervisors qualified it will mean that there will be no requirement to provide evidence of continuing competence before applying for a new card.  This figure does not include those only holding one unit (001, 002, 010) which may be several thousand more.

Authorities currently unable keep highways in a reasonable condition due to budget cuts will pay a higher price for poor workmanship.

Scotland and Wales are yet to make a decision.

Have your say: Click Here

June 2008
National Highway Sector Scheme 12 (SS12)
Many enquiries from the website relate to Sector Scheme 12, often from confused people who either believe that this scheme replaces Streetworks qualifications or only applies to unrestricted roads throughout the UK.

Sector Schemes are part of quality management systems aimed at ensuring goods and services are delivered to a consistently high standard for clients.  There are several Sector Schemes including, road Marking, Street Lighting, Vehicle Safety Systems, to name a few.  On of the schemes is aimed at Temporary Traffic Management, this is referred to as Sector Scheme 12 and is split into parts that relate to road types as follows

12A/B - High speed motorways and dual carriageway roads.
12C    - Mobile lane closures on high speed motorways and dual carriageway roads.
12D    - Works on single carriageway roads.

12D is split into several modules covering the different types of traffic control as defined in Chapter 8 or the Traffic Signs Manual, moving works, works requiring traffic control, convoy works, multi-phase traffic signals and works on dual carriageways restricted to 40mph or less.

The sector schemes are client lead through contract agreements in accordance with the manual of highway contract Documents, specifications for highway works and is aimed at highway authority works, not Streetworks for utility purposes.   Whilst not a mandatory requirement by any legal framework it is strongly advised that highway authorities ensure that their own employees and contractors used are occupationally competent to install, maintain and remove temporary traffic management.

Since 1992 highway authorities have used the Streetworks qualifications to ensure that employees are trained and assessed to a standard set out in the units available.  These units include 002 and 010 for operatives and supervisors and are not a legal requirement for highway works.   Highway authorities should be more insistent on SS12 qualifications for their own works relating solely to temporary traffic management, as they do with Vehicle Safety Fencing and Road Marking.

As a final note, SS12D is a superior qualification than Streetworks for temporary traffic management as it covers a more extensive set of works types likely to be encountered with assessment taking place over a period of time to ensure continuing competence.  the Sector Schemes should form an integral part of contracts for highway works.   The Awarding body for sector scheme qualifications is Lantra Awards.

Further information www.ukas.com www.lantra-awards.co.uk