Place and fix vehicle restraint systems

This standard describes how to place and fix vehicle restraint systems (VRS). It covers placing, positioning and fixing posts and placing and fixing components to posts for VRS, in accordance with instructions and specifications. If you are using equipment or machinery you need to be trained, and hold current certification where required, in line with relevant legislation. This standard is suitable for VRS installers working on highways.

1. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and company policies and procedures
2. wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. carry out your work in accordance with instructions and specifications
4. select and prepare the required tools, equipment and resources
5. check to confirm that a safe working environment has been established
6. obtain components of the specified type, material, quality and grade required to carry out the work
7. use industry recommended working practices to place and fix supports for vehicle restraint systems at specified lines, levels and angles in accordance with instructions and specifications
8. use industry recommended working practices to assemble vehicle restraint systems to meet the instructions and specifications
9. use industry recommended working practices to place, position, tension where required and securely fix assembled components at specified lines and levels
10. maintain the integrity of protective finishes during fixing
11. use, maintain and store tools, equipment and resources safely and in a clean and serviceable condition
12. monitor and maintain signs and protective barriers in good working order, within your level of responsibility
13. dispose of waste and excess materials safely to minimise environmental risk, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements
14. carry out your work in a manner that causes minimal impact on the surrounding area, other users of the site and anyone else who may be affected

1. the relevant environmental and health and safety requirements associated with placing, positioning and fixing vehicle restraint systems
2. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the task to be carried out
3. the relevant requirements and procedures for gaining access to the site
4. the reasons for traffic management when working adjacent to highways and other transport systems
5. the types of signs and protective barriers used in the fencing industry
6. the health and safety requirements associated with sign and barrier installation, including permit-to-work schemes
7. where to obtain the instructions and specifications required to carry out your work
8. the types of tools and equipment used for placing and fixing vehicle restraint systems and how to prepare, use and maintain these safely and correctly
9. the different types and construction of vehicle safety fencing systems
10. the components used in association with vehicle safety fencing and their uses
11. the methods used for assembling vehicle safety fencing and fencing components
12. the industry recommended working practices used for handling and positioning posts
13. the industry recommended working practices used for providing temporary supports and aligning and levelling posts set in concrete
14. the reasons for, and methods of, setting posts to allow for tensioning
15. the factors that affect the positioning and the method of fixing posts and components
16. the types of backfill and methods of consolidation
17. the precautions to take to avoid distortion during the tensioning process
18. the industry recommended working practices used for fixing fence materials to posts
19. the issues that occur when joining different types of materials
20. the different types of protective finishes used for vehicle restraint systems, why they are used and the methods of maintaining their integrity during fixing
21. the reasons for the use of transitions and how they are installed
22. the reasons for the use of a terminal and how it is installed
23. the limits of your responsibility when dealing with difficulties that arise during the work
24. the relevant legal requirements controlling the disposal of waste and excess materials
25. the storage requirements for tools, equipment and resources
26. the storage requirements for signs and protective barriers
27. how to minimise the impact of your work on the surrounding area, other users of the site and anyone else who may be affected

Instructions and specifications could include:

• plans/drawings
• schedules
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturers guidelines
• customer requirements
• quality standards e.g. BSI, CE
• verbal instructions