First, describe the work and worksite
Fictional example: a daytime road-repair crew closes one lane of a two-lane road under an authority-approved temporary traffic-control plan. Two trained flaggers control alternating traffic through the remaining lane using STOP/SLOW paddles and two-way radios. A side entrance, pedestrians, and construction vehicle deliveries require specific coordination. This example does not design sign spacing, tapers, buffer distances, or lane geometry. It excludes night work, intersections, rail crossings, emergency incident control, and automated flagging devices.
- Identify the roadway authority, permit/plan revision, adopted MUTCD and state supplement, actual speeds, traffic mix, sight distances, operating hours, and person responsible for traffic control.
- FHWA identifies the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025, as its current national MUTCD. Confirm the applicable authority’s adopted requirements and project conditions before using the example.
- Confirm flagger training and any jurisdiction-required certification, approved apparel and devices, reliable communication, relief coverage, weather/heat arrangements, and the emergency alert method.
- The plan must account for pedestrians, bicyclists, mobility needs, driveways, emergency vehicles, and construction plant movements; their movements cannot be left to improvisation.
Build the analysis one step at a time
What will the worker do? How could someone be harmed? What prevents or reduces that exposure? Who checks the control, and when?
Review the traffic-control plan and assignment
Hazard: An unsuitable layout or unclear release authority sends road users toward the work or into opposing traffic.
Control: The traffic-control supervisor confirms the applicable plan and field suitability with the responsible authority as needed. Assign one coordinator and brief both flaggers, equipment operators, and relief personnel on lane clearance, side-entry control, emergency signals, and stop-work conditions.
Verification: Identify the plan revision, responsible personnel, limits, and communication procedure; resolve field discrepancies before opening the operation.
Why this belongs in the analysis: A JSA explains how the crew will implement a traffic plan; it cannot establish whether an unreviewed layout is adequate.
Install and verify the temporary controls
Hazard: Workers setting signs or channelizers are struck; drivers encounter a lane closure without understandable advance warning.
Control: Use the authorized setup sequence and protection for the installation crew. Place devices and pedestrian routing according to the plan. Verify the approach from a road user’s perspective before commencing alternating traffic.
Verification: The supervisor checks signs, visibility, devices, buffers, pedestrian provision, and access arrangements against the plan; correct deficiencies first.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The setup crew needs protection before the completed work zone exists.
Establish flagger stations and communications
Hazard: A flagger cannot be seen in time, lacks an escape route, or releases vehicles after an unclear message.
Control: Use planned stations with adequate approach visibility, stopping provision, and an available escape route. Select compliant high-visibility apparel. Test radios, use agreed identifiers and clear acknowledgements, and rehearse communication-loss and intrusion actions.
Verification: Each flagger identifies the escape route and demonstrates the message sequence with the coordinator before taking control.
Why this belongs in the analysis: Two working radios do not establish a reliable procedure unless both people understand what a message authorizes.
Stop and release alternating traffic
Hazard: Opposing vehicles enter together, an unexpected side-entry vehicle joins the lane, or a flagger steps into moving traffic.
Control: Use trained STOP/SLOW procedures from the planned station. Release traffic only after positive coordination confirms the opposite stream is stopped and the section is clear. Coordinate side entrances and construction deliveries; do not use personal phone activities while flagging.
Verification: Confirm the actual clearance of all road users, including slow-moving bicycles, rather than relying solely on elapsed time.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The last vehicle may take longer than expected, and an entrance can add a vehicle after the first stream passes.
Monitor queues, conditions, and relief
Hazard: The queue extends beyond warning coverage; glare or weather reduces visibility; fatigue leads to missed movements.
Control: Monitor both approaches and report growing queues or deteriorating conditions. Have the supervisor adjust the operation through the authorized process. Arrange hydration, breaks, and trained relief with a positive handover; stop the dependent activity if effective control is lost.
Verification: Record observed issues and corrective action; the relieving flagger confirms the traffic state and communication method before taking over.
Why this belongs in the analysis: A layout suitable at opening can become inadequate as traffic demand or visibility changes.
End the operation and remove controls
Hazard: Devices are removed too early, exposing workers, or obsolete signs confuse drivers after normal operation resumes.
Control: Confirm the work area and roadway are ready for reopening. Use the authorized removal sequence while maintaining worker and road-user protection. Remove or cover controls no longer applicable and hand the road back under the authority’s procedure.
Verification: The supervisor verifies the final road condition, restored routes, remaining restrictions, and completion of required handover records.
Why this belongs in the analysis: The traffic-control task continues until the temporary arrangement is safely removed or transferred.
What does a useful control look like?
| Needs improvement | More useful for this scenario |
|---|---|
| Traffic: wear a vest and stay alert. | Implement the approved layout, verify station visibility and escape, coordinate releases positively, and monitor queues and intrusions. |
| Flaggers will use radios. | Test radios and agree identifiers, clearance messages, acknowledgements, coordinator authority, and the action for communication loss. |
Decisions that change the analysis
Radio contact fails after one direction has been released. What happens?
Apply the prebriefed communication-loss procedure: do not release opposing traffic into an unconfirmed lane, alert the coordinator, and restore reliable control before resuming. Never assume the first stream has cleared.
The queue reaches around a bend. Is the original plan still sufficient?
Notify the traffic-control supervisor immediately. Evaluate warning visibility and queue protection under the authorized change process; maintain safe control while resolving the condition.
Agree when the crew will pause
- Pause for lost communication, an intrusion, inadequate visibility, queue growth beyond the plan, or an unbriefed replacement flagger.
- Reassess a changed closure length, work location, speed environment, side access, night operation, or new pedestrian restriction.
After a pause, correct the condition, reassess the work, and obtain required authorization before restarting. Keep unresolved actions visible.
Download the worked example and free template
No account or paid membership required. The worked example contains planned controls. The blank template is for your own work; neither includes fabricated inspection results, signatures or approval.
Your editable working copy
Build and download your draft
Start blank or load the learning example. Replace its assumptions with your actual conditions and involve the people doing the work. Your entries stay in this browser tab; download a copy before leaving or refreshing.
1. Describe your work and site
2. Work through each task
Describe an observable step, how someone could be harmed, and the control that acts on that hazard. Identify who checks it and what evidence is needed.
3. Record changes, checks, and open actions
Walk the work area, review with the crew, and resolve missing controls. Follow the required approval process. This tool does not judge completeness, verify signatures or authorize work.
Open the downloaded file in a browser, then use Print → Save as PDF for a printable copy.
Common questions
Does this flagging JSA determine sign spacing or taper length?
No. Those design decisions depend on the adopted requirements, speeds, road geometry, visibility, and approved plan. Record the applicable plan rather than copying generic distances from another job.
Does a flagger need certification everywhere?
Training and demonstrated ability are essential, and states, roadway authorities, and contracts may require specific certification. Check the actual jurisdiction and project requirements; completing this worksheet is not flagger training or certification.
Are these resources part of a paid course?
This walkthrough, browser draft builder and downloads are free public resources, separate from Academy course enrollment.
References and source note
- FHWA: Current MUTCD edition
- FHWA MUTCD 11th Edition with Revision 1: Part 6; Chapters 6C, 6D and 6E
- OSHA 1926.201: Signaling
This original walkthrough was informed by review of uploaded examples, then rewritten for the stated fictional scenario using current primary references. It does not reproduce a source document or its approval record. Use actual equipment instructions and site requirements alongside these references. Reference review: October 6, 2026.