Traffic Safety · 2–5 min toolbox talk
Cone Placement Around Vehicles
A safety talk focused on cone placement around work vehicles, including visibility, traffic exposure, worker positioning, taper setup, pedestrian paths, and protecting work areas near moving vehicles.
Use this printed script for your tailgate or toolbox talk. Read through the hazards, script, and questions with your crew.
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“Cone Placement Around Vehicles”
Key Hazards
- Workers struck while placing or retrieving cones
- Drivers not seeing the work vehicle or work area in time
- Cones placed too close, too late, or in confusing patterns
- Pedestrians or vehicles entering the work area
- Poor visibility from curves, hills, weather, darkness, or glare
- Workers turning their backs to traffic during setup or teardown
2–3 Minute Talk Script
Cones help warn and guide drivers, but they only work when they are placed correctly and workers stay protected while setting them.
Cone placement should match the road speed, traffic volume, work duration, visibility, and type of work being performed.
Workers should plan cone placement before stepping into traffic exposure. The safest available path, escape route, and vehicle protection should be considered.
Cones should give approaching drivers enough time to see, understand, and respond to the work area.
Cones should be placed in a clear pattern. Random or inconsistent cone placement can confuse drivers and pedestrians.
Workers should face traffic when practical, avoid unnecessary time in travel lanes, and stay alert during setup and removal.
Cone placement may need to be adjusted as the job changes, traffic increases, visibility drops, or the work vehicle moves.
Safe cone placement around vehicles depends on planning, visibility, correct spacing, clear patterns, high-visibility clothing, and treating setup and teardown as high-risk tasks.
Safety Reminders
- Plan cone placement before entering traffic exposure.
- Wear high-visibility clothing.
- Place cones where drivers have time to react.
- Use clear and consistent patterns.
- Face traffic when practical.
- Adjust cones when work conditions change.
- Use extra caution during cone removal.
Ask the Crew
- What traffic hazard needs to be controlled?
- Can drivers see the cones and work vehicle in time?
- Is cone spacing appropriate for the area?
- Where is the worker’s escape path during setup?
- Does the cone layout clearly guide traffic and pedestrians?