1
METHODOLOGY OF KHS SAFETY INSPECTIONS
1.1
Safety Inspection routes and frequencies
EVERY road, footway and cycleway within Kent Highway Services’ jurisdiction is allocated to an
inspection route. The mode and frequency of inspection is determined by the Maintenance Hierarchy,
which was established by Kent Highway Services in 1999 and can be found in Kent’s Highway Asset
Maintenance Plan.
Kent Highway Services’ safety inspection programme dictates pre-determined frequencies for
carriageways, footways and cycleways, which are:
Carriageways
Road Category
Approx. Length (km) in Kent
Frequency
Mode of Inspection
Major Strategic*
408
Monthly*
Driven (double manned)
Other Strategic*
781
Monthly*
Driven (double manned)
Locally Important
1174
6 monthly
Driven (double manned)
Minor Roads
6000
6 monthly
Driven (double manned)
*High speed dual carriageways comprising of the A256, A249 (M20 to M2), A229 Bluebell Hill and A299
Thanet Way, and any other sections of the road network with high-speed, large volume traffic flows
(subject to approval by divisional managers), are to be inspected on a weekly basis.
Footways
Footway Category
Frequency
Mode of Inspection
Heavy Use (i.e., areas that attract large numbers of Monthly
On foot (single inspector)
pedestrians – major shopping areas, shopping
parades, prime seafront areas, walks to schools
where ‘walking buses’ operate etc.)
Other Urban/Rural
Yearly
On foot (single inspector)
Cycleways
Cycleway Category
Frequency
Mode of Inspection
On Road
As for carriageways
Driven (double manned)
On Footway
AS for footways
On foot (single inspector)
Off highway
UNDER REVIEW
UNDER REVIEW
The frequency of any safety inspection can be increased (subject to divisional managers’
approval) if a carriageway or footway is deteriorating rapidly with intervention defects occurring
frequently.
1.2
Ad-hoc safety inspections
If part of an inspection route is being routinely inspected at a higher than pre-determined frequency
because of special circumstances then these supplementary inspections should form part of the routine
safety inspection programme.
However, any other safety inspection that is undertaken outside of the pre-determined route and
frequency is defined as an ad-hoc safety inspection. Such inspections will be carried out in response to
reports of defects submitted by members of the public or Kent Police, or when an inspector notices a
problem on his/her travels.
1.3
Flexibility of timescales for safety inspections
It is essential that safety inspections be carried out on time and within specified tolerances. Good time
management is the key to ensure that realistic inspection routes are in place, and each divisional
network operations manager is responsible for the day to day management of the safety inspection
programme within the division.
Kent Highway Services has established the following tolerances for safety inspections:
Frequency of Inspection
Tolerance
Weekly
+ or – 1 working day from designated date.
Monthly
Within the same week of the designated date
6 monthly
+ or – 12 working days from designated date
Yearly
+ or – 12 working days from designated date
If a safety inspection cannot be completed within the tolerance, due to unforeseen circumstances such
as inclement weather (e.g., snow, standing floodwater or major roadworks) then a record of the fact
MUST be entered onto the KHS safety inspection record form. The site in question MUST be re-visited
and inspected as soon as practically possible. In these circumstances a supplementary safety
inspection record must be completed and linked back to the ‘original’ record.
If a road is particularly obstructed with cars, due to parking, and a full safety inspection cannot be carried
out then a note to this effect should be added to the standard inspection record. Roads that are prone to
vehicle obstruction at certain times during the day (i.e., in the vicinity of schools) should be inspected
outside of these periods. Highway inspectors should liaise with their line manager beforehand if a
relaxation of procedures relating to overtime is required.
1.4
Driven safety inspections
ï‚·
All vehicles MUST be double manned when carrying out ALL driven safety inspections.
ï‚·
Mobile inspections on high-speed dual carriageways should be undertaken using a KHS
inspection vehicle that is specifically designed for that purpose.
ï‚·
Driven inspections of dual carriageways are to be undertaken in both directions.
Where private/pool/lease vehicles are being used for inspections they MUST be highly conspicuous.
They should display visibility markings and a Highway Maintenance sign, and be fitted with a roof
mounted amber flashing beacon as a minimum (a double beacon or light bar is preferable) to warn other
highway users that an inspection is taking place.
Every possible precaution MUST be taken to ensure that the inspection is carried out in the safest way
possible (see chapter 6 of this Manual for a generic risk assessment). If highway inspectors consider
that circumstances make it unsafe to carry out a routine safety inspection then they should consult with
their line manager.
1.5
Walked safety inspections
As with any activity on the highway, highway inspectors MUST wear the appropriate safety equipment at
ALL times when carrying out inspections on foot.
When carrying out a walked inspection highway inspectors are required to walk in both directions on
opposite footways and identify defects over the whole highway (refer to section 2 of this Chapter).
Further passes may be necessary in certain circumstances (e.g., busy shopping areas).
Again, every possible precaution MUST be taken to ensure that the inspection is carried out in the safest
way possible (see chapter 6 of this Manual for a generic risk assessment). If highway inspectors
consider that circumstances make it unsafe to carry out a routine safety inspection on foot then they
should consult with their line manager.
1.6
Cycled safety inspections
This mode of inspection is voluntary and highway inspectors opting to use bicycles should ensure that
their machines are roadworthy. High visibility jackets MUST be worn at all times.
Document Outline
