Traffic marshal hire in London

What does a traffic marshal do?

A traffic marshal controls the vehicles that come in and out of your site, and keeps people out of their way. On a typical day, our marshals meet each delivery at the gate, hold it until the route is clear, and guide the driver to the unloading area. They help drivers reverse, turn and park using the signals agreed for your site, and stop the movement if anyone steps into its path.

While a vehicle unloads, they keep people who don’t need to be there out of the area. At the gate, they ask people on the pavement to wait while a vehicle crosses, and guide the driver back out onto the road when it’s clear. They tell your site manager about near misses, blocked routes and deliveries that arrive without a booked slot.

They work to your traffic management plan: your routes, signals, speed limits, delivery slots and exclusion zones. If your site has a construction logistics plan or works to the CLOCS Standard, they work to that too.

Sites often bring in extra marshals for a concrete pour with a stream of mixer lorries, a steel or crane delivery, or a run of muck-away and skip changes.

Why do construction sites need traffic marshals?

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require a construction site to be organised so that, as far as reasonably practicable, pedestrians and vehicles can move around it safely. That means keeping them apart or, where that isn’t reasonably practicable, protecting people and warning them when a vehicle is coming. Where a vehicle gate isn’t safe for people on foot, the regulations also call for a clearly marked pedestrian gate beside it, kept clear. Marshals keep that working on busy days, when people are tempted to cut through the vehicle gate.

HSE says most construction transport accidents result from poor separation of pedestrians and vehicles, and that reversing is a major cause of fatal accidents (HSE). Where vehicles have to reverse or manoeuvre near people, a marshal controls the movement.

London sites bring their own pressures: often a single gate onto a busy street, deliveries crossing pavements and cycle lanes, and delivery slots that leave little room for delay.

Traffic marshal, banksman or security officer?

The job titles overlap, so it helps to agree what the role involves on your site.

Many London sites pair the roles at the gate: an SIA-licensed officer controls who comes in, and a marshal controls how vehicles move once they’re inside. One person can often do the first two jobs in the table. Guarding is different: it’s one of the activities the SIA licenses under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, and marshalling vehicles isn’t. If you need both, we can supply SIA-licensed officers for site security and marshals for vehicle movements.

Crane lifts are a separate job again, for a trained slinger signaller.

What should you check before you hire?

• Training. Main contractors often ask for marshals with a CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller card by name. HSE says people who direct vehicle movements must be trained and authorised to do so (HSE). Ask which cards each marshal holds, such as a CSCS card or a CPCS or NPORS plant and vehicle marshaller card, and check they’re the cards your site accepts.
• Briefing. Ask how marshals learn your plan, routes and signals before their first shift. Ours work from the assignment instructions you give us.
• Insurance. Ask for proof of public and employers’ liability cover. We’ll send you our insurance certificate on request.
• Kit. Ask what marshals bring with them, such as PPE and radios, and what you’ll need to provide.
• Cover. Ask what happens if a marshal is ill or late, so the gate is never left without one.