Land transportation safety

recommended practice
Additional guidance notes
to OGP report no. 365

Road hazard assessment

All routes travelled should be assessed for hazards and those inherent risks that would adversely affect
the success of a journey. This assessment could range from a review of local intersections and roads
with a history of vehicle accidents or traffic conflicts to a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of
a route travelled.
A person or persons well versed in the type of vehicles to be operated on the routes, should perform
these assessments prior to the commencement of operations in a given area. The risks and controls
measures subsequently identified should then be included in the prejourney risk assessment process.
Alternative lower risk routes should be selected whenever possible in preference of those with a higher
risk ranking.
A road hazard assessment tool has been provided as an example. It may be used as is, modified to fit
needs, or used as a reference. The first sheet is the hazard identification and assessment whereas the
second sheet is a format proposed for recording the assessment.

Disclaimer
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, neither the OGP nor any of its members past present
or future warrants its accuracy or will, regardless of its or their negligence, assume liability for any foreseeable or unforeseeable use made thereof, which liability
is hereby excluded. Consequently, such use is at the recipients own risk on the basis that any use by the recipient constitutes agreement to the terms of this disclaimer. The recipient is obliged to inform any subsequent recipient of such terms.

Copyright notice
The contents of these pages are The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers 2005. All rights are reserved.

Sheet 1: Hazard identification and assessment

Instructions for road hazard assessment
Review road on following aspects:
Km/Mi
Hazard
RR Risk Rank
SS Signal Strength

Detail, control and comment

AA Actions Assigned

Record each hazard by the corresponding kilometer/mile reading on the Hazard

Register
Make use of the Hazard Type table to identify the road hazard(s)
Risk Rank each hazard or hazard grouping at that kilometer/mileage reading using
the Risk Ranking definitions and sheet
Indicate the mobile phone Signal Strength at each hazard kilometer/mileage reading on a scale of 0-5 at each; identify kilometer/mileage reading of anomalous signal
strengths (high or low)
As required and appropriate record detail of the hazard(s), identify control measures required to be implemented to eliminate or mitigate the risk(s), indicate as Point
of Decision (chain up/en-route inspection/driver capability review) where applicable,
location of facilities to assist in emergency response, or other information as desired
Identify those hazards that have corrective Actions Assigned and record Remedial
Work Plan file number at bottom of the Hazard Register

Hazard type table

Risk Ranking

Driving surface width and integrity

Low risk

Narrow (meeting or passing a vehicle difficult, no pulloff areas)

High crowning traffic migrates to the center of the
road
Excessive loose gravel
Paved or oiled surface breaking up
Washboard
Potholes/ruts
Shoulder type
Sharp drop off
Washout
Soft
Narrow
Ditch condition
Deep
Obstacle strewn
Fluid filled
Ice roads/ice bridges

Potential collision objects

Trees/rocks
Encroaching road banks
Narrow bridge/bridge rails/tunnel or abutments/cattle
guards
Height restriction (bridges, overpasses, low power lines)
Avalanche risk (rock, mudslides, snow)
Passing other vehicles (poor visibility, dust, blowing
snow)
Meeting other vehicles (logging trucks, weekend traffic,
rural , farmers)
Animals (known areas and crossings)
Pedestrians (school zones, hikers, hunter, tourists)

Road design/intersections
Corners (blind, sharp, banked)
Intersection (blind, sharp)
Railway crossings (high angle, controlled)
Crest of hill (cant see over)
Steep hill (runaway downhill, load limiting uphill)
Risk of grounding ou
Crown of hill
Railroad grade crossing
Bridge approach
Very deeply worn ruts
Inadequate or absence of appropriate signage
Line-of-sight obstruction (vegetation, structures)
Dust

exposure managed by application of existing policy,

procedure or practice
exposure management within control of driver

Medium risk
exposure managed by enhancement of existing policy,
procedure or practice and/or requires use of utility
devices
exposure management remains within control of driver
control must be in place for journey to proceed

High risk
exposure mitigated through intervention by party or
parties other than driver
control must be in place for journey to proceed
Assessed risk is relative to conditions at time of assessment.
Escalating factors should be considered during pre-trip
planning as they may impact risk ranking and the required
controls.

Escalating Factors
Fog or smoke
Poor drainage/frequent mud
Snow and ice
Shadowed areas (slow to thaw)
Known drifting location
Over-graded shoulders
Frost heaving
Runoff, thaw/freeze cycle
Crosswinds/blowing snow
Weight restrictions (road/bridges)
Sun (eg low angle in winter)
Road surface liable to deteriorate rapidly when wet
Low illumination
Driver experience
Fatigue/low alertness
Conflicting priorities (eg crew change)
3rd parties conflict/animals (traffic conditions)
Rain
Visibility, pooling on roads
Winds

Sheet 2: Recording the assessment

Basic information
RHA number: 12345
Assement date: 10 Jan 03
Maximum advised speed(s)?:
Road (average):
posted at turnoff
steep hills, trucks use chains
high grade gravel

Start point: <intersection>

Radio control? box, ticked
KPH MPH
Conditions at time of assessment
Weather:
clear

End point: <gas plant>

Radio frequency: 555.55
60 (max speed posted)
Light: clear, 08:30+
Temp: -17C

Road directions & detail:

From <intersection>, west 11km to gas plant
private road (emergency contact re: road: 403-555-5555 ext. 55)

Hazard register
Km/Mi Hazard
0
0.2
steep downgrade
corner at bottom, left
0.7
S curves, right
1.1
sharp corner, right
1.8
sharp curve, left
sharp rise
2.4
S curves, right
4-4.6
downgrade leading to bridge

Risk rank Cell SS Detail, control & comments

3
Posted steep hill, trucks use chains - decision point
M
1
Seasonal, may need chains

5
5.7
6
7-9.3
9.2
9.6
10.5

10.7
11

steep upgrade
sharp curve, left
upgrade, then downgrade

L
L
M

1
1
1

L
M

1
0

M
L
M

0
1
1
3
3
0

sharp curve, right

L
sharp curve, right
M
intersection
steep downgrade
H
extremely narrow bridge at bottom
steep upgrade
corner at top of grade, right
facility entrance, traffic point

40 kph

no side rails on bridge, poorly marked

seasonal, may need chains
seasonal, may need chains
seasonal, may need chains
section with good cell phone signal strength
30km/h
turn-off to Billy Bog
2.8m wide, no side rails on bridge, poorly marked
require signal person on ground to guide driver
seasonal, may need chains
seasonal, may need chains
Gas plant, staffed, land line available for emergencies