(Connued in page 4) IN THIS EDITION E E L L P P UENTE UENTE This edition is the sixth of a series that focus on the implementation activities of EVERY DAY COUNTS (EDC) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2 By: Antonio Nieves Torres, FHWA Office of Infrastructure [email protected]Page Message from the Director 2 Meet Your new DTPW Secretary and PRHTA Executive Director 3 Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2 4-5 Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works 6-7 Why is High Friction Surface Treatment Part of the Next Wave of Innovation in Preventing Roadway Departure Crashes? 8-9 UPRM’s Representation at the 2013 TRB Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. 10-11 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week 12 Emeritus Member Recognition at 2013 TRB 13 Future Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums and Webinars Citizen’s Commitment to Road Safety 14 15 The Puerto Rico Transportaon Technology Transfer Center is part of a network of 58 Centers through the United States that comprises the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP), which enable local governments, countries and cies to improve their roads and bridges by supplying them with a variety of training programs, an informaon clearinghouse, new and exisng technology updates, personalized technical assistance, and newsleers. Newsleer of the Puerto Rico Transportaon Technology Transfer Center University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Intelligent Compaction (IC) refers to the compaction of road materials, such as soils, aggregate bases, or asphalt pavement materials (HMA/WMA), using modern vibratory rollers equipped with an integrated measurement system as is Global Positioning System (GPS), accelerometers, onboard computer reporting system, and feedback control. Volume 27, Number 1, 2013 Puerto Rico LTAP
Meet Your new DTPW Secretary and PRHTA Executive Director, Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2, Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works, Why is High Friction Surface Treatment Part of the Next Wave of Innovation in Preventing Roadway Departure Crashes?, UPRM’s Representation at the 2013 TRB Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week, Emeritus Member Recognition at 2013 TRB, Citizen’s Commitment to Road Safety, among others.
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1 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013
(Continued in page 4)
IN THIS EDITION
EELL PPUENTEUENTE
This edition is the sixth of a series that focus on the implementation activities of
EVERY DAY COUNTS (EDC) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the
Federal Program Every Day Counts 2
By: Antonio Nieves Torres, FHWA Office of Infrastructure
Why is High Friction Surface Treatment Part of the Next Wave of Innovation in Preventing Roadway Departure Crashes?
8-9
UPRM’s Representation at the 2013
TRB Annual Convention in
Washington, D.C.
10-11
2013 National Work Zone Awareness
Week 12
Emeritus Member Recognition at
2013 TRB 13
Future Seminars, Conferences,
Symposiums and Webinars
Citizen’s Commitment to Road Safety
14
15
The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center is part of a network of 58 Centers through the United States that comprises the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP), which enable local governments, countries and cities to improve their roads and bridges by supplying them with a variety of training programs, an information clearinghouse, new and existing technology updates, personalized technical assistance, and newsletters.
Newsletter of the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus
Intelligent Compaction (IC) refers to the compaction of
road materials, such as soils, aggregate bases, or asphalt
pavement materials (HMA/WMA), using modern
vibratory rollers equipped with an integrated
measurement system as is Global Positioning System
(GPS), accelerometers, onboard computer reporting
system, and feedback control.
Volume 27, Number 1, 2013
Puerto Rico LTAP
2 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
M essage from the Directoressage from the Director
W elcome! Best regards to all our readers in our first edition of the Newsletter El Puente for 2013.
El Puente is an important tool used by the Center to transfer and share emerging technologies and
innovative research initiatives related to transportation, with emphasis on road safety, workforce
development and management of the built road infrastructure.
Our feature article, Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts
(EDC) 2, written by Eng. Antonio Nieves Torres of the Office of Infrastructure of the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), presents an overview, benefits and advantages associated with the
implementation of Intelligent Compaction (IC) technology. In synthesis, this innovative technology
makes use of real-time density, temperature, roller speed, mat stiffness combined with control
measurement systems that allows real-time corrections in the compaction process.
In this edition, I want to congratulate Eng. Miguel A. Torres-Díaz, incoming Secretary of the Puerto
Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and Eng. Javier E. Ramos-Hernández,
recently appointed Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority
(PRHTA), for accepting to lead these administrative agencies to address the challenges of our highway
systems in this 21st ͭ century. The administrative and professional capacity of these two professional
engineers is presented in this edition.
The second article related to the control and prevention of fatal risks in road works, written by Eng.
Fernando Cortés, Safety and Health Director of Ferrovial Agroman, presents a series of Standards that
have been developed through his experience in highway construction projects manage by this company.
These guidelines are a tool that has the potential to be used and adapted by other contractors
performing highway construction work in Puerto Rico.
Another innovative technology associated with the federal program Every Day Counts (EDC) 2, known
as High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is presented herein. The article author by Gregg Freeman,
Business Development Director of Kwik Bond Polymers, presents a background, benefits and
advantages of implementing this new technology that has been driven by the FHWA as part of the
program Surface Enhancements at Horizontal Curves (SEAHC).
In this edition, the Center Staff congratulate the student delegation of the Dwight David Eisenhower for
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI-DDETFP) fellowship program who represented the UPRM at the
2013 Transportation Research Board conference. Graduated student Davis Chacón presented his
research entitled "Before and After Highway Safety Evaluation Using Empirical Bayes Approach: A
Case Study in Indiana", and undergraduate student Valeria Arocho presented her summer research
findings in a paper entitled "Pavement Condition Ratings for Parking Lots Using Modified PASER ".
The highlights of the 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week that emphasize the education and
awareness to drivers and all roads users regarding the importance of highway safety in construction
zones is presented. Our awareness campaign theme is All together we can raise awareness and make a
difference in saving lives on our public roads.
The Center Staff congratulates Dr. Nigel H.M. Wilson for being appointed Emeritus Member of the
Transportation Research Board (TRB) for his outstanding contributions in technical committees
associated with Transit Management and Performance.
The electronic version of El Puente Newsletter is available at www.uprm.edu/prt2 and also you can
contact us to submit technical articles for the Newsletter of interest to municipalities oriented to
transportation with emphasis on road safety, workforce development and management of the built
infrastructure.
I hope that the selection of these articles in this first edition of Newsletter El Puente for 2013 are of
benefit to our readers and other professionals in local transportation agencies in the 78 municipalities of
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Benjamín Colucci Ríos
3 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013
Secretary of Puerto Rico Department of
Transportation and Publics Works (DTPW)
Professional engineer
Miguel A. Torres-
Díaz was appointed
Secretary of the
Department of
Transportation and
Public Works
(DTPW) the January
2013. Engineer Torres
-Díaz has a Bachelor
of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master’s
degree in Management Engineering from the
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR)
and is a licensed professional engineer of the
College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto
Rico (CIAPR).
Engineer Torres-Díaz, who chaired the Institute
of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the CIAPR, has
over 16 years of experience in the field of
infrastructure project management with a wide
experience in the planning, preparation and
development of projects during the design,
bidding and construction phase.
Engineer Torres-Díaz was Vice-President of the
Beta Engineering Company, an independent
consultant for the Infrastructure Financing
Authority (AFI) in regional infrastructure
projects of the Central American and Caribbean
Games Mayagüez 2010, Negotiated Director
and Coordinator of construction projects for the
Public Housing Administration, among other
professional experiences.
For his contribution to the construction industry
in Puerto Rico, engineer Torres-Díaz has been
recognized as the Distinguished Young
Engineer by the CIAPR and Engineer of the
Americas by the Pan-American COPIMERA
Engineering Organization, among others
professional recognitions.
Executive Director of Puerto Rico Highway
and Transportation Authority (PRHTA)
Professional engineer Javier E. Ramos-
Hernández was appointed Executive Director
of the Puerto Rico Highway and Transporta-
tion Authority (PRHTA) in January 2013.
Engineer Ramos-Hernández has a Bachelor
of Science in Civil Engineering from the
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
(UPRM) and is a licensed professional
engineer of the College of Engineers and
Surveyors of Puerto Rico (CIAPR).
Engineer Ramos-Hernández has an extensive
experience in the coordination and develop-
ment of highway projects in the design and
construction phase. He has served as director,
project manager and highway engineer of the
Barrett, Hale & Alamo Consulting Engineers
firm.
During the period of 2001 to 2003, engineer
Ramos-Hernández served as the Design Area
Director of the Puerto Rico Highway and
Transportation Authority (PRHTA).
Engineer Ramos Hernandez also occupied
important leadership positions in the CIAPR
San Juan Chapter that included President,
Vice-President, Secretary, among others.
Meet Your New Secretary of the DTPW and the Executive Director of the PRHTA
The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center Family wishes success to both
public officials in their new roles as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public
Works and Executive Director of Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, respectively
and welcome local transportation officers and the general public to provide the necessary support
for them to fulfill their respective duties and carry Puerto Rico to an economic development
through an efficient and reliable highway transportation system with the highest safety standards
for all road users. Congratulations!
4 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
By integrating measurement, documentation,
and control systems, the use of Intelligent
Compaction (IC) rollers allow for real-time
corrections in the compaction process. IC
rollers maintain a continuous record with col-
or-coded plots that include the number of pas-
ses, stiffness values, temperature (HWA/
WMA), frequencies, amplitude, and roller
speed as well as the location of the roller
drum.
Compaction is one of
the most important
processes in roadway
construction. It is
needed to achieve
consolidation and
uniformity of the
materials, which in
turn better ensures a
stable base platform
and pavement
surface. Construction materials possess
optimum densities that ensure adequate
support, stability, and strength. Achieving
these densities consistently and uniformly is
extremely important. Current processes using
conventional compaction equipment may
result in inadequate and/or non-uniform
material densities, which can be one of the
factors that result in premature
failure. Intelligent Compaction helps to
overcome this.
Benefits of IC
The benefits of Intelligent Compaction
include:
Continuous record of material stiffness
values, coverage and temperature.
Improved uniform and consistent
densities.
Intelligent Compaction: New Initiative of the Federal Program Every Day Counts 2
Director of Safety and Health - Multinational Construction Company in Puerto Rico
Introduction
This is the first of a series of technical articles
associated with the prevention and fatal risk
control during road work.
A careful review of roadwork incident statistics
from 2005 to 2009, has identified a number of
risk factors on individual projects of the compa-
ny. These risks require the development of good
practices to eliminate any potential death and
reduce incidents that could cause potential dam-
ages or fatalities.
These prevention and control standards of
significant or fatal risks have been developed
through the experience of current and past
construction projects. They establish minimum
performance expectations for managing risks at
an acceptable practice level.
The existence of these standards does not ensure
control of risks facing all areas of our activities
(including some that have caused many
injuries). These other risk areas are addressed
through the risk management process, that is a
key element of the management standards of
safety and health of the company.
Standards Context
Standards should be read and used in relation
with health and safety policies of the company.
The management system is a hierarchical
approach where the highest level of the organi-
zation must effectively support the needs of the
standards.
Application of the Standards
The standards apply to all places and activities
where the company is the Contractor that
manages the job site (policy of Puerto Rico
OSHA for Construction site), which applies to
all company employees, subcontractors, suppli-
ers and visitors involved in controlled activities.
General Requirements
The implementation of the standards for preven-tion and control of significant or fatal risks is mandatory in all sites and operations controlled by the company. The mandatory nature is indicated by the use of the verb "shall" included in the standards. In some cases, the phrase "shall be or must be" is used. It means that the primary intent remains, but specific circumstances may make the implementation of the requirements be unreasonable.
Any deviation from the specifications of these standards must be formally approved under a procedure to manage exceptions, according to the following steps:
a. Documented and detailed description of the difficulties of the implementation of the stand-ard.
b. Detailed and documented assessment of the risks associated with the situation under the proposed alternative control measures.
c. Formal approval documented by the Project Manager (or maximum authority) and site safety representative, indicating that the level of risk in the alternative control measures is understood, is acceptable for the organization and is consistent with the Vision "Zero Injury" of the Safety and Health Culture of the company.
Standards Implementation Requirements
As previously stated in these standards, when using the word "shall" it means that this require-ment is mandatory. The phrase "shall be" indicates that the main objective is to fulfill all requirements as if they were mandatory. However, there will be circumstances where local conditions may demonstrate that the requirement is either not applicable or an alter-native approach is necessary. When the verb "shall” is used, the change can only be consid-ered as compliance if the company representa-tive of highest level of the operation approves it on the basis of a risk assessment, that weighs the risk level and the control measures.
The risk management approach to be adopted must be consistent with the occupational safety and health policy of the company by monitoring risk control hierarchy.
It is recognized that the principles of risk management are still necessary (i.e. beyond compliance with a mandatory standard) to identify, measure, monitor and reduce the probability of incidents through research, evalua-tion and understanding of the hazards associated with the activities covered by these standards.
Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works
7 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013
Take 3 (routine) or Take 5 (high risk).
c. Verify safety conditions through a checklist that meets the minimum standards to eliminate or control risks, according to the hierarchy of risk control. In road works, this preventive tool is called "Maintenance Inspection and Traffic Control”.
3. Reduction and Risk Control
A hazard is a danger source that is defined as "a condition or situation that exists within the workplace that could cause physical harm, injury and/or damage to property or the environment."
Risk assessment refers to the technical study of the adverse effects to health, safety and environ-ment, as a result of human exposure to hazards transmitted by physical, chemical and biological agents, and consists of the identification and characterization of hazards, exposure assessment and risk characterization.
4. Risk Treatment
After identifying or recognizing a hazard and evaluating the risk, is required to select a control method and apply it to each recognized risk. The main objective is to select the most practical and effective as possible. The Risk Control Hierar-chy is shown below:
Elimination: methods that eliminate the risk entirely.
Replacement or substitution: methods using a safe alternative for substitution or mitigation (ex. less toxic chemicals for cleaning).
Engineering controls: methods to isolate, confine and contain the risk.
Separation: isolate the hazard by shielding or enclosure.
Administrative controls: are control measures, such as isolation and blockade, job rotation, training and instruction, rules and safe work procedures, among others.
Personal Protective Equipment: should be seen as the "last defense barrier" against risky situations. It should only be considered if all oth-er previous methods are not practical.
Prevention and Fatal Risks Control Standards in Road Works (CONT.)
Approval of Alternatives Control Measures
In exceptional circumstances where the specific
requirements of a standard for significant or
fatal risks control can not fully achieve the
objectives, the approval of alternatives control
measures will be applied and documented based
upon the Risk Control Management Plan that
includes the following:
a. Standard details in accordance to the existing
gap.
b...Alternatives Control Measures that should be
implemented.
c. Time required to meet the priority, based on
the associated conditions to achieve it.
d. Establish a point of compliance and authoriza-
tion signed by the Senior Manager in charge of
the project.
Standards Structure
The requirements of these standards are classi-
fied into three priority areas:
a. Reason for inclusion and contributing factors.
b..Requirements associated with systems and
procedures.
c. Requirements associated to the persons.
These three areas cover the essential manage-
ment controls that must be in place to integrally
manage these risks categories.
Critical Aspects of Occupational Safety and
Health
These are the scenarios with the highest
frequency of incidents and the consequences are
significant or fatal in the activities within in the
Construction Industry. To control, reduce and
eliminate risks in road works and reduce
incidents with high severity potential, adequate
practices and procedures should be applied in
the following work areas:
1 . Health and Safety Trainings
In risk assessment, prior to starting any road
related activity, a specific training for employee
exposure to traffic and work within road areas
should be contemplated.
2. Evaluation of Significant Risks
All jobs considered will have a special focus for
which, in risk assessment, should: a. Assign the task to employees, considering its planning, using the preventive tool called “Work Assignment”. b. Evaluate by means of a safety analysis and/or evaluation of the task using the technique called
8 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
Why is High Friction Surface Treatment part of the next wave of innovation in preventing roadway departure crashes?
For more information regarding our seminar program in Puerto Rico and USVI and how to register please contact Grisel Villarubia ([email protected]) or Irmalí Franco ([email protected]) at (787) 834-6385 or visit our website at www.uprm.edu/prt2.
15 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER EL PUENTE NEWSLETTER, VOL. 27, NO. 1, 2013
Walking together we will
achieve it!
riding on a motorcycle
16 TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
EL PUENTE is published by the Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer
Center located at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.
PUERTO RICO TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681
787.834.6385 PHONE
787.265.5695 FAX
www.uprm.edu/prt2
EL PUENTE
NEWSLETTER
The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the Center Director and Editor and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public
Works, the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, or the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works.
Benjamín Colucci Ríos Director & Editor
Gisela González Program Administrator
Grisel Villarubia Irmalí Franco Administrative Coordinators Kevin Y. Rodríguez Editor Assistant Marivic Hernández Carlos D. Fuentes Anne M. Méndez Adlin Santos Verónica Feliciano