Northwest Territories Traffic Control Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Who may control traffic in the NWT

In the NWT, workplace safety is governed by the Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The WSCC enforces them. The regulations call a worker who directs traffic or equipment a designated signaller. In everyday work the same person is called a traffic control person (TCP) or flagger.

Section 138 of the regulations says the employer must designate the worker, train them to protect their own safety and the safety of other workers, and keep a record of that training, giving the signaller a copy.

The NWT and Nunavut TCP training card

• The training card is signed by the trainer or employer.
• You must carry it on the job and show it to authorities when asked.
• The card is valid for one year. The code calls for an annual refresher, or more often if needed.
• General training is not enough. Site-specific training must be given for every job location.

The WSCC also lists personal requirements: good physical health, good vision and hearing, alertness, good judgment, a pleasant and cooperative manner, and no impairment that could affect the work.

Codes of practice

The Traffic Control Person Code of Practice is made under the Safety Act. A code of practice is not directly prosecutable, but a failure to follow it may be considered when deciding whether the law was followed. Treat it as the expected standard.

Drivers have duties too. The NWT Driver's Manual tells drivers to obey the flag person's signal and to obey construction zone speed limits. It also says that directions given by a police officer overrule traffic signs and signals.

Lesson 2: The traffic control plan and when TCPs are used

Section 139 covers work where workers are at risk from vehicle traffic. The employer must give those workers high-visibility clothing, develop and implement a written traffic control plan, train workers in the plan, and keep it readily available at the site.

What the plan sets out

• The maximum allowable speed of vehicles, where it applies
• The types and locations of signs and barriers
• Vehicle routes and which vehicles have priority
• The duties of the workers and the employer

WSCC's TCP safety bulletin says each TCP must know and sign the traffic control plan for the shift. The supervisor keeps the plan on site and makes sure each worker has read and signed it.

A person is the last choice

Under section 139(4), an employer must not use designated signallers to control traffic on a highway unless other methods are inadequate or unsuitable. Those other methods include warning signs, barriers, lane control devices, flashing lights, flares, pilot vehicles and automatic or remote-controlled systems.

Lesson 3: Hi-vis clothing, the paddle and other equipment

Section 138(2) requires the employer to provide a designated signaller with a high-visibility vest, armlets or other high-visibility clothing, and a suitable light during darkness and poor visibility.

High-visibility apparel

WSCC's high-visibility code of practice uses the CSA Z96 standard. It sorts work by risk. Flagging crews are listed as high risk: Class 2 apparel in daytime and Class 3 in low light or at night. Background colours are fluorescent yellow-green, orange-red or red. Retroreflective stripes go around the waist, over both shoulders and in an X on the back. Class 3 adds stripes on the arms and legs.

The stop/slow paddle

• The sign must be at least 1.6 metres tall.
• STOP side: white letters on a red background.
• SLOW side: black letters on a yellow background.
• Both sides must be reflective.

Other equipment in the code

• Hard hat: CSA certified, Type 2, Class E or G, with reflective material all around
• Footwear: CSA grade 1 (green triangle patch)
• Rain gear in orange or yellow, with reflective stripes or a vest over it
• Your TCP training card and an incident logbook or notebook

Lesson 4: Setting up and where to stand

A TCP ahead sign warns drivers that a TCP is in the road. It is used only when TCPs are actively controlling traffic. Unless it is mounted high on a post or barrier, it shows two red-orange flags. Do not take your control position until the TCP sign is set up.

An approach taper before the work area moves traffic out of its normal path. A termination taper after the work area brings it back.

Your control position

• Stand halfway between the last sign and the taper, just outside the travel lane, with the paddle resting on the edge line.
• Do not flag on a bridge, near a railway crossing, over a hill, around a curve or on icy roads.
• Do not stand in shade, in a group, or beside or in a vehicle.
• Plan an escape route when you take your position.
• Leave only when relieved, when the job ends, or to avoid a crash.

Stopping distances

Distances grow a lot for heavy trucks, wet or icy roads and downhill traffic. Watch for wildlife too: the code notes that bison are large and curious.

Lesson 5: Signals, radios and night work

Signals with the paddle

• Stop: hold the STOP side upright where the driver can see it and raise your free hand, palm out.
• Release: turn the paddle to SLOW, then signal drivers on with your free arm. Never wave the sign.
• Slow: show the SLOW side and move your free hand up and down, palm down.

Without radios, partners use hand signals. The emergency signal is to drop the paddle, raise both arms and wave them above your head. Only the designated signaller may signal an equipment operator, except in an emergency, and only one signaller signals an operator at a time.

Radios

Test radios across the whole zone before work, carry spare batteries and keep both ears free to hear traffic. If a radio fails, do not change your sign. Repeat the message and check the radio and battery. If the failure is confirmed, the TCP showing SLOW briefly stops a vehicle and asks the driver to report the failure to a person in authority. Never let traffic from both ends into the zone at the same time. A cell phone is a good backup.

Night work

• A flashlight with a red or orange cone (wave it back and forth to stop traffic)
• Reflective material all around the hard hat and reflective stripes on clothing
• Overhead lighting at the control position if reasonably possible (section 138(3))

Problem drivers

The Driver's Manual warns drivers that speeding fines are doubled in construction zones when workers are present. Do not chase or argue with a driver who ignores you. Report speeding, abusive drivers and wildlife to your supervisor, and record incidents in your logbook.