What is a banksman?

A banksman (also called a traffic marshal or signaller) directs vehicle movements on site, particularly reversing manoeuvres, to keep pedestrians and other workers safe from moving plant and vehicles. The role exists because reversing vehicles cause a significant number of workplace transport deaths and serious injuries every year, and most of these are preventable with a competent, visible banksman using clear signals.

Legal basis

• The main duty comes from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places a general duty on employers to ensure the health and safety of employees and others affected by their work.
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require safe pedestrian and vehicle routes, and effective segregation where possible.
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of vehicle movements, which is where the need for a banksman is usually identified.
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) cover the safe use of vehicles and plant as work equipment.
• HSE guidance HSG136 'Workplace transport safety' is the key reference document banksman training is built around, though it is guidance rather than law itself.

Core duties of a banksman

• Act as the driver's eyes in blind spots, guiding reversing or manoeuvring vehicles safely.
• Stand in a safe position where the driver can always see them and where they cannot be crushed or trapped.
• Use recognised, standardised hand signals (or a radio/two-way system) so signals are never ambiguous.
• Stop the manoeuvre immediately, using a clear stop signal, if a hazard appears.
• Wear high-visibility clothing that meets EN ISO 20471 so they are clearly seen in all conditions.
• Never turn their back on the vehicle and never direct more than one vehicle at a time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Standing in the vehicle's blind spot or path 'to get a better view' - this is a major cause of banksman fatalities.
• Using informal or made-up signals instead of the recognised standard signals.
• Assuming the driver has seen the stop signal without confirming eye contact or vehicle response.
• Directing traffic without proper training, or without a documented risk assessment identifying the need.
• Failing to agree signals with the driver before the manoeuvre begins.

Key numbers to remember

There is no single fixed 'exclusion distance' set in law - the safe distance is determined by site risk assessment, but the principle of segregation (keeping pedestrians and vehicles apart wherever possible) always comes first, with a banksman used where segregation cannot be achieved.

Why standard gestures matter

A traffic marshal or banksman guides vehicle movements using a recognised set of hand signals so that every driver, on every site, understands the same instruction. Signals must be clear, deliberate and given from a position where the driver can see you and you can see any hazard or other people in the vicinity. Never give a signal from a position you would not want the vehicle to reverse into.

The core signals

• Stop: one or both arms raised straight up, or arms crossed above the head. This must be instantly recognisable and used the moment a hazard appears.
• Move towards me / come forward: beckoning motion with one arm, palm facing the driver, drawn towards your own body.
• Move away from me: arm extended, palm facing the driver, pushed away from your body in the direction of travel.
• Move left / move right: arm extended and pointing in the direction the vehicle should turn, using clear, repeated arm movements not just a static point.
• Slow down: both hands lowered, palms down, moved gently up and down.
• Distance remaining: hands held apart, closing together as the vehicle gets nearer to the stopping point, so the driver can judge the gap without needing to see it directly.
• Stop engine: a flat hand drawn across the throat, or a hand drawn across the neck level.
• Apply handbrake: a clenched fist raised.

Rules for using signals

• Only one banksman should direct a single vehicle movement at a time; mixed signals from two people is the biggest cause of banksman-related incidents.
• Signals must be given from a safe position, in the driver's direct line of sight, never from a blind spot.
• If eye contact or mirror contact with the driver is lost, stop the vehicle immediately.
• Use a high-visibility signal (hi-vis clothing, and a signalling paddle or torch in poor light) so gestures are seen clearly against the background.
• Agree the signal system with the driver before the manoeuvre starts, especially on unfamiliar sites or with unfamiliar drivers.
• Radios/two-way communication can supplement hand signals but must never replace them where line of sight is available, since hand signals are the fail-safe if radio contact drops.

Common mistakes

• Giving vague or lazy hand movements that could be misread as something else.
• Standing where you could be struck if the vehicle continued or reversed unexpectedly.
• Continuing to signal after losing sight of the driver or a hazard.
• Two banksmen signalling the same vehicle, causing confused or contradictory instructions.
• Failing to use the stop signal early enough when a hazard, pedestrian or obstruction appears.

Why reversing needs special care

Reversing is one of the highest-risk vehicle movements on any site. The driver's view is limited or blocked, so a trained banksman/traffic marshal is often needed to guide the manoeuvre safely and prevent collisions with people, structures or other plant.

Avoid reversing wherever possible

• The safest reverse is the one that never happens. Site layouts should be designed with one-way systems and drive-through routes so vehicles do not need to reverse at all.
• Where reversing cannot be avoided, use a banksman, CCTV/reversing cameras, proximity sensors, or a combination of these as extra controls, not as a replacement for good planning.
• Keep reversing manoeuvres as short as possible and use a fixed, agreed reversing area.

The banksman's role

• Position yourself where the driver can always see you and where you are never between the vehicle and a fixed object.
• Never stand directly behind the vehicle in its path — guide from the side, within the driver's mirrors or direct eye line.
• Agree hand signals with the driver before the manoeuvre starts. A standard 'stop' signal (arms crossed above the head, or one arm raised) must be understood and obeyed instantly.
• If you lose sight of the driver, or the driver loses sight of you, the vehicle must stop immediately.
• Only one banksman should direct a vehicle at any one time to avoid conflicting signals.

Exclusion zones and pedestrians

• Maintain a clear exclusion zone around the reversing vehicle; pedestrians must never be allowed to walk through the swept path or blind spot.
• Segregate pedestrians and vehicles using barriers, marked walkways and signage wherever site space allows.
• Never place yourself in a position where you could be crushed against a wall, fence, stack or another vehicle.

High-risk zones and equipment

• All banksmen must wear high-visibility clothing that meets the relevant standard so they are clearly seen in all light conditions.
• Be aware of the vehicle's specific blind spots — these vary by vehicle type (HGV, dumper, forklift, articulated trailer) and can be several metres long.
• Trained banksmen should be briefed on the site traffic management plan before starting work.

Common mistakes

• Standing in the reversing vehicle's path rather than to the side.
• Using unclear, informal or inconsistent hand signals.
• Allowing pedestrians to cross the exclusion zone during a manoeuvre.
• Continuing to guide a vehicle after losing eye contact with the driver.
• Treating a banksman as a substitute for eliminating reversing through better site design.

Why segregation matters

Most fatal site accidents involve vehicles hitting pedestrians. The core rule is total segregation wherever reasonably practicable: keep people and moving plant apart in space or in time, not just relying on shouted warnings.

The hierarchy of control

Workplace Transport safety follows a hierarchy: eliminate vehicle movements first, then segregate, then control (traffic routes, signage, banksmen), and only rely on PPE/hi-vis last. A traffic management plan (TMP) should be drawn up before work starts and reviewed as the site changes.

Segregation methods

• Physical barriers: fencing, guardrails, concrete blocks (Jersey barriers), or fixed walkways.
• Separate designated pedestrian routes and vehicle routes, clearly marked and signed.
• One-way systems to remove the need for reversing.
• Exclusion zones around excavators, cranes and other plant with a 360-degree swing radius.
• Where segregation is not fully possible, use crossing points with clear visibility, controlled by signage or a banksman.

Key numbers and rules

• Minimum pedestrian walkway width is generally 1050mm on a construction site, wider where two-way flow or equipment is carried.
• Vehicle routes should be wide enough for the largest vehicle plus a safety margin, with passing places on narrow one-way routes.
• Speed limits must be set and signed for site conditions, commonly 5-10mph on site roads, lower near pedestrian crossings and site entrances.
• Excavator/crane exclusion zones must cover the full slew radius plus load swing, not just the digging arc.
• Reversing should be eliminated by design (one-way routes, turning circles); where unavoidable it needs a banksman and a plan.

Common mistakes

• Treating hi-vis and painted lines as sufficient control instead of physical segregation.
• Letting delivery drivers wander site without an induction or an escort.
• Poor lighting or blind corners on pedestrian routes at night or in winter.
• No review of the TMP when site layout changes (new excavation, new compound, phase change).
• Banksman standing in the exclusion zone or in the driver's blind spot instead of a safe, visible position.

Signage and induction

All segregation measures must be backed by clear signage at entrances and along routes, and every visitor or driver must be inducted on the site traffic rules before entering.

Why PPE and visibility matter

A traffic marshal (banksman) works in the danger zone between moving vehicles and pedestrians. If a driver cannot see you, or you cannot see a driver, your signals mean nothing. PPE and visibility rules exist to make sure you are seen first and protected second.

High-visibility clothing

• High-vis clothing must meet BS EN ISO 20471. Class 2 or Class 3 garments are the usual standard for banksman/traffic marshal duties, giving good coverage on the body with retroreflective bands.
• Class 3 is preferred for higher-risk sites, low light, or where you work close to fast-moving traffic, because it gives the greatest background and reflective area.
• Hi-vis must be clean, undamaged and unfaded. Reflective strips lose performance when dirty, torn or bleached by sun and washing, so check it before every shift.
• Colour matters against the background: fluorescent orange-red or yellow works well in most settings, but choose the colour that contrasts most with the site environment.

Other core PPE

• Safety helmet (hard hat) to current EN 397 standard on any site with overhead load or vehicle movement risk.
• Safety footwear with protective toecap and, on many sites, midsole protection against penetration.
• Gloves suited to the task, and hearing protection where noise levels require it.
• Eye protection if there is a risk of dust, debris or flying particles from plant or loading operations.

Low light and night work

• At night, in poor weather, or in areas of low natural light, standard daytime hi-vis is not enough. Use Class 3 garments and consider additional lighting such as a torch or illuminated wand for signalling.
• Never rely on vehicle headlights alone to be seen; position yourself where you are visible from the driver's normal seated eyeline, not hidden by the vehicle's blind spot.

Positioning and visibility as a system

• PPE only works if you also manage your position. Never stand in a reversing vehicle's blind spot, between two vehicles, or in a position where a single vehicle movement could trap you.
• Maintain eye contact or confirmed radio/signal contact with the driver at all times you are directing a movement. If you lose sight of the driver, or the driver loses sight of you, stop the movement immediately.

Common mistakes

• Wearing faded or damaged hi-vis that no longer meets its rated class.
• Assuming Class 2 is always enough, when site rules or low-light conditions call for Class 3.
• Standing in a blind spot while wearing correct PPE, wrongly believing the vest alone keeps you safe.
• Failing to check PPE at the start of every shift, not just when issued.

Loading, tipping and hazards

As a traffic marshal or banksman you must control loading and tipping operations, not just vehicle movement. Most incidents happen because the driver's view is blocked and nobody is directing.

Before loading or tipping

• Check the ground is firm, level and free of soft spots, drains or cellars that could collapse under load.
• Vehicles must be on level ground before tipping - even a 5 percent slope can cause a loaded tipper to overturn sideways.
• Check for overhead hazards first: power lines, bridges, building overhangs. A raised tipper body can easily contact overhead cables.
• Establish an exclusion zone around the vehicle equal to at least the height of the tipper body when raised, plus a safety margin.
• Confirm the vehicle handbrake is on and wheels are chocked on any incline before loading begins.

During loading

• Never let anyone stand under a raised bucket, grab, or suspended load - this is the single biggest cause of banksman fatalities.
• Keep the load within the vehicle's rated payload and load the vehicle evenly to avoid instability.
• Sheet and secure loose loads before the vehicle moves off - unsheeted loads are a common enforcement failure and a real hazard to others.
• Maintain constant communication with the plant operator using agreed hand signals or radio - stop work immediately if you lose sight of the operator or they lose sight of you.
• Watch for pedestrians and other vehicles straying into the loading zone; you are responsible for keeping the area clear.

During tipping

• Check overhead clearance again immediately before raising the body - situations change and someone may have moved the vehicle.
• Never allow anyone near the rear or sides of a vehicle while the body is rising or the load is discharging.
• Watch for the vehicle becoming unstable as the load shifts - stop tipping at once if the vehicle starts to rock or lean.
• Fully lower the tipper body before the vehicle moves off; driving with the body raised is a major cause of overturns and overhead strikes.
• Confirm the load has fully discharged - a stuck or partial load can shift suddenly and unbalance the vehicle.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming ground looks solid without checking for hidden services or voids underneath.
• Standing within the fall radius of a raised body or bucket 'just for a moment'.
• Allowing tipping on sloping or uneven ground to save time.
• Forgetting to check overhead power lines every single time, even on a familiar site.
• Letting the vehicle move before the body is confirmed fully down.

Your job is to stop the operation the moment any of these hazards appears - it is always better to pause than to guess.