CCWA Introducing New Mobile Illuminated Traffic Control Hub to Improve Safety for Employees Working Within Roadways
November 22, 2022 – (Morrow, GA) – Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) employees who work
within roadways and right of ways are highly at risk of injury from motorists if the work zone is not properly set up and visible. These inherent dangers led members of CCWA’s internal Safety Committee to find a solution to mitigate these hazards. The solution is CCWA’s Mobile Illuminated Traffic Control Hub, ‘M.I.T.C.H’, being introduced on Wednesday, November 30 at 2 p.m. at 1600 Battle Creek Road in Morrow.
“Working during the day is dangerous enough but working at night presents additional hazards as visibility is greatly decreased,” says Risk and Safety Specialist Scott Cantrell. “M.I.T.C.H. allows us to make the work zone highly visible with the use of flashing strobe lights, flashing navigation indicators such as an arrow board, and flood lighting to illuminate the work zone. This greatly reduces the chance of motorist involved accidents at the work zone.”
M.I.T.C.H. is a 6’x12’ fully enclosed trailer with exterior LED lighting to illuminate the work zone, flashing strobes as warning indicators, and a LED arrow board to inform drivers of the navigation route. All graphics are reflective for high visibility. The interior contains all the necessary components for setting up work zones occurring in roadways and right of ways in accordance with the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
The exterior LED cube lighting on the front, back, and left side is directed downward towards the ground so as not to blind approaching motorists, yet still provide the visibility. The lighting on the right side is angled to broadcast onto the right of way for workers to be able to better see while performing their duties. Two flashing amber strobe lights are mounted on the front and back to function as warning indicators, and a LED arrow board is mounted at the rear to provide even more visibility and direct motorists into the appropriate lane of travel.
M.I.T.C.H.’s accessories are completely powered by solar energy, recently termed “photovoltaic” energy. A 200-watt monocrystalline solar panel charges a massive group size 4D, 200 Ah Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) deep cycle battery. The total ampere load of all M.I.T.C.H.’s electrical circuits combined is 8.9 amps due to the energy efficient LED technology. This AGM battery should power M.I.T.C.H.’s external and internal lighting, as well as the arrow board for approximately 18 hours.
Inside, at the front wall of the trailer is the control hub. The solar panel controller, battery, fuse panel, and all control switches are easily accessible and intuitively laid out. Enlarged diagrams from Section 6 of the MUTCD are located at the hub for workers reference for proper work zone set up. Additionally located at the control hub are an OSHA/ANSI approved first aid kit for 132 persons and a Class A,B,C fire extinguisher with a one-hand deployment mount for quick access.
Worker’s boots can become wet and slippery when working on water and sewer lines. To prevents slips while workers are entering or working inside the trailer, M.I.T.C.H.’s floor has been coated with a textured anti-slip coating of Deck-Over, and the rear frame, a stepping point for entrance, has been covered with a strip of adhesive grip tape highlighted with a phosphorescent bar to prevent banged shins.
M.I.T.C.H. is stocked with traffic control devices and other accessories, including two-way radios, stop/slow paddles and batons for flaggers, reflective cones, ten cone bar delineators, and all necessary signage with bases are conveniently accessible for setting up the work zone. To keep everything organized and easily deployable, every device has a secured storage spot. Keeping a clean workspace promotes safety by preventing trips and falls, and the interior was designed with this in mind.
According to Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Anquilla Henderson, all work involved in the construction of M.I.T.C.H., except for the graphics installation, was done entirely inhouse by a team of employees from several departments, led by Cantrell. This includes wiring, metal fabrication, painting, carpentry, and design. “They have worked in these types of situations for years and have a passion for safety. We could not be prouder of this new safety initiative that we think will be a standard for other utilities to emulate,” she adds.
CCWA was created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1955 to provide water and sewer to approximately 450 customers. The Authority has since grown to provide water, sewer, and storm water services to more than 289,000 people throughout Clayton County and its six municipalities. Nearly 400 water professionals work at CCWA operating treatment facilities, maintaining distribution and collection systems, and performing dozens of other critical functions that directly contribute to quality of life in the community.