Traffic Control Flagger Safety Program

Chapter Section

High-visibility Clothing

Flaggers must wear high-visibility clothing so that pedestrians and vehicles can see them easily even from a far distance. During daytime, the flagger’s vest, jacket or shirt should be orange, yellow, yellow-green or a fluorescent version of these colors.

Flagging Position

• Flaggers must remain alert and standing at all times. No lawn chairs or straddling barricades.
• However, a small plastic foot rest can go a long way to reducing fatigue and back pain.
• Always face oncoming traffic and never turn your back to oncoming traffic or stand in the path of moving traffic.
• A flagger’s normal station is on the shoulder of the road, not in the line of traffic.
• Stand in a location that allows approaching traffic adequate time to respond.
• Vehicle drivers must be able to recognize you as a flagger for at least the minimum site distance.
• As an example, if the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour, minimum site distance is approximately 550 feet.