ATSSA Signal March/April 2020

The Signal | March/April 2020 35 Training News Neon orange – the color of spring in the roadway industry Like daffodils, neon orange barrels start springing up en masse each year as temperatures rise and daylight hours increase. The advent of springmeans roadwork is getting into full swing and with it comes the need for proper training. • Are your flaggers ready to roll? • Have your guardrail installers been fully trained? • Is the pavement marking crew prepared? • And what about the folks who handle Temporary Traffic Control (TTC)? “Training is crucial now because warmer - months are when all the work is being done,” said Jessica Scheyder, training program manager for ATSSA. “Crews need to be ready to go.” If they aren’t yet ready, ATSSA can help. Flagger training is the most common need because flaggers are used in every job, but people often overlook the need for formal training, Scheyder said. “Flaggers are the front line and their train - ing is vital. If you can’t spare the time to send your folks to a classroom course, they can take one online,” she added. The ATSSA Training Department offers a full slate of courses. Some are offered in person around the country, some are provided by request, and an increasing number are available online and can be taken in the convenience of your office at the time that’s best for you. The ATSSA website provides a full list of courses along with the cost. Offerings include sign retroreflectiv - ity, guardrail and barrier, high friction surface treatment, pavement marking, pedestrian safety, and temporary traffic control. Those are in addition to themost frequently requested courses: Flagger Certification Training, Flagger Instructor Training, Traffic Control Technician, and Traffic Control Supervisor. “Gearing up for installation, whether it is TTC, guardrail installation, or pave - ment marking installation, ATSSA can help get your personnel prepared,” said Donna Clark, ATSSA’s vice president of member services. Many companies make sure their guard - rail installer and pavement marking personnel are trained, but many others forget that these disciplines also need training, she added. “Safety is just as important to what they do. We applaud those companies that have stringent training requirements and encourage others to follow suit,” Clark said. ATSSAhas trainednearly 1millionpeople since 2001. Roughly 200,000 have earned ATSSA certification in at least one of nine training areas. “ATSSA has something for everyone. Whether it’s your first year on the job or your 20th, ATSSA training provides the tools your personnel need to stay safe and confident in their abilities,” Scheyder said. “Our training is updated frequently to ensure the latest regulations and requirements are being covered.”  For details, go to ATSSA.com/Training . Orange and white barriers dot the landscape as work zones appear.