How to Become a Traffic Marshal

Looking to become a traffic marshal? This article will give you a breakdown of how to become a traffic marshal as well as their duties and responsibilities.

What is a Traffic Marshal?

A traffic marshal, also known as a banksman, is a designated person who is professionally trained in safely directing large moving vehicles around a construction site. They are trained to place themselves into correct positions and make use of banksman signals, and possibly radio communication, to guide large vehicle drivers when their view is obstructed.

Traffic marshals help to prevent accidents from happening on a building site or loading bay.

Roles and Responsibilities

Traffic marshals are the eyes and ears of drivers of large vehicles, in particularly cranes and heavy goods vehicles. These vehicles are quite hard to move, and due to the driver's position in the vehicle, they don't provide drivers a good line of sight. This is why traffic marshals play a pivotal role in a construction site.

As part of their daily duties, traffic marshals usually receive a risk assessment briefing, to which they use, along with their training, to carry out their tasks.

They ensure there are no obstructions on the vehicle's path while keeping a look out for any potential causes for accidents. While directing vehicles, traffic marshals maintain a healthy distance away from the vehicle, but close enough to be visibly seen by the vehicle driver. 

Marshals do need to keep moving to different positions on the site as the vehicle manoeuvres so that the driver can still see them. But as they move, the marshal needs to be fully aware of his or her surroundings and keep a look out for people who might come in harm’s way. 

Traffic marshals also need to beware of some of the systematic patterns of some, if not all, of the vehicles. 

What Skills and Experiences Do You Need to Become a Traffic marshal?

As the above shows, traffic marshals have important responsibilities to ensure the safety and well-being of drivers of large vehicle and construction workers.

To work as a traffic marshal, they need to have the following skills:

Excellent knowledge of health and safety procedures

Good awareness of environment

Assertiveness

Attention to detail

Clear and confident communication skills

Ability to communicate using complex hand signals

Good fitness levels

What Qualifications Do You Need?

Beside having knowledge and competence, traffic marshals will need to have a valid CSCS green card. To attain the labourer card, you need to complete the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment and pass a 45 minute CITB Touch Screen Test. 

They will also need to complete an accredited half day traffic marshal course where you will receive a Traffic Marshal Certificate, which is valid for 3 years. 

While the qualification is valid for 3 years, we highly recommend that you attend a refresher course on a yearly basis to keep up-to-date with the newest regulations.

Salary Expectations

According to Adzuna, average salary expectations for a traffic marshal in London are £19,850.

How Can The Learning Station Help?

Here at Safetymark Training, we deliver the half day Traffic Marshal Course through online distance learning. This means you can complete the course in your own time and at your own pace.

Our traffic marshal course will give you the competence and confidence to manage and redirect traffic. The course will take you through the basics of the general daily duties, including the banksman signals that you will need to present to vehicle and crane operators.

The course has been designed to meet the legal requirements and regulations set by HSE. All you need to do to complete the course is go through the learning material and complete the short quizzes along the way.

Some of the topics covered in course include:

What a traffic marshal (banksman) is

The duties of a banksman and a traffic marshal

Accidents and injuries

Safety procedures

Complex hand signals

Visibility

We also deliver CSCS training where you can gain your Green CSCS card within a week.

For more information on how Safetymark Training  can help, please get in touch via call us at our London-based training centre on 0203 859 5901.