CLOCS – Construction Logistics and Community Safety
The CLOCS Standard for construction logistics: ‘Managing work related road risk’ was developed by Transport for London (TfL) in response to research which showed that construction vehicles were responsible for a disproportionately high number (35%) of cyclist and pedestrian fatalities involving HGVs in London.
The CLOCS Standard calls for the construction industry to recognise its responsibilities for vehicles and drivers delivering to and collecting from construction sites, and provides a clear framework to ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities in eliminating construction WRRR. The Standard sets out actions by clients and contractors and requires fleet operators to comply with the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) or equivalent.
CLOCS is managed by a partnership involving SECBE Ltd, Construction Clients Leadership Group, LHC, Build UK and the Considerate Constructors Scheme. The role of the partnership is to embed, monitor, promote and expand the CLOCS Standard across the UK.
To find out more about these issues, visit the Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on… cycle safety’ learning toolkit and take our ‘Vulnerable Road Users’ e-learning course.
To find out more about CLOCS monitoring, visit the Scheme’s website here.
You can find out more about the ‘Principal Contractor requirements’ section of the CLOCS Standard by expanding the boxes below.
Principal contractors shall ensure the project’s potential impact on the community has been properly risk-assessed.
The principal contractor shall demonstrate to the client that community considerations have been properly considered by implementing a suitable and sufficient CLP.
The principal contractor should consider community engagement activity throughout the project.
Principal contractors shall develop and/or implement the agreed CLP and ensure it is appropriately reviewed and updated prior to the start of each new phase of construction.
An approved CLP that, as a minimum, shall:
- have input from significant site and fleet operators
- have considered, agreed and committed to planned measures where practical
- have risk-assessed and specified the safest vehicle routes and identified acceptable reasons for deviation
- define ‘last mile’ vehicle routes to and from site
- require use of a delivery management system
- require competent site access traffic marshals
- remain a live document
Principal contractors shall procure site and fleet operations that comply with the requirements of the CLOCS Standard.
If not otherwise defined by the client, principal contractors shall define the scope and specific requirements for CLOCS implementation.
Principal contractors shall include CLOCS requirements in their:
- procurement strategy
- core tender documentation
- contracts and/or purchase order
- conditions of contract or equivalent
- site management documentation
Principal contractors shall also ensure that adequate resources are allocated by site and fleet operators within the tender price to meet the CLOCS Standard.
Useful Links
CLOCS Guide – Improving road safety using the planning process
CLOCS Guide – Managing work related road risk in contracts
CLOCS Guide – Incorporating CLOCS in Client Procurement
RTPI Practice Advice – Planning For Construction Safety
Example contractual clauses
Supplier self-certification form
Compliance checking & monitoring process
Example letter to supplier’s sub-contractors
Principal contractors shall ensure use of an effective delivery management system to minimise congestion, disruption and emissions.
Principal contractors shall operate a system that manages deliveries to and from site. This could range from a simple spreadsheet to licensed software.
The delivery management system should include capacity to:
- plan and schedule delivery times
- capture vehicle/driver details and accreditation
- coordinate with neighbouring sites
- control and reduce peak hour traffic
- include the complexity of holding areas
Principal contractors shall ensure that the vehicle routes to and from site committed to in the associated CLP are specified and communicated.
Principal contractors shall:
- make all sub-contractors, fleet operators and service suppliers aware of the requirement to use specified routes at all times
- clearly communicate permitted deviations, such as temporary road closure or road traffic incidents
Principal contractors should also:
- ensure any deviations from designated, permitted or controlled routes be justified, with unauthorised deviations being investigated and reported to the client
- ensure the reasons behind adopting a specific vehicle route are clearly communicated
- distribute maps or other routing information to all companies/drivers accessing the site
Useful Links
Freight Infrastructure in London Toolkit
Crash Map
Principal contractors shall ensure the ground conditions of the site are suitable for the vehicles servicing the site, particularly those fitted with safety features.
Principal contractors shall carry out regular reviews of the ground conditions of the site and where necessary implement diversions as the site ground conditions change.
Sites should also be:
- suitable for access by low entry vehicles with increased direct vision
- assessed and rated using the CLOCS Handbook – Assessment for on-site ground conditions
Principal contractors shall ensure that access to and egress from the site is appropriately managed, clearly marked, understood and clear of obstacles.
Principal contractors shall ensure that effective traffic management principles are adhered to by:
- minimising potential hazards e.g. using one-way systems, traffic lights and calming measures
- assisting with safe vehicle access and egress
- using additional equipment such as wide angled mirrors to aid the driver’s view of the road
Principal contractors shall ensure effective and efficient site access gate checks.
Principal contractors shall appoint competent site access traffic marshal(s) to:
- manage site traffic in the context of the delivery management system
- check through general observation and sufficiently frequent spot checks that:
- vehicles and drivers meet the requirements of the CLOCS Standard
- that the specified route has been followed
Non-compliance shall be immediately risk-assessed, appropriately mitigated and addressed through contract management.
The principal contractor may also report any non-compliant fleet operators to the relevant accrediting body.
Principal Contractors shall ensure that vehicles are loaded and unloaded on-site as far as is practicable.
Principal contractors shall either:
- Provide a stable, graded surface on-site for vehicle loading and unloading, or
- Identify a suitable ‘off-loading’ area off-site
Principal contractors shall ensure effective monitoring of site compliance to the CLOCS Standard
Principal contractors shall provide the client with regular reports to monitor compliance against the CLOCS Standard:
- monthly reports shall include performance of both fleet and site operations
- quarterly reports shall be reviewed by both principal contractor and client to identify trends and any need for remedial action
- six monthly (approximately) an independent assessment by the CLOCS site monitoring team shall be required
Where non-compliance is identified, an action plan to address all key issues shall be obtained and monitored.
Principal contractors shall obtain information on all collisions that result in harm (and near miss incidents) that occur on journeys associated with the project and report to the client
Principal contractors shall:
- procure for the collection and review of headline collision information
- consider on road collisions with equal importance to incidents within the hoardings (e.g. RIDDOR)
- develop, implement and monitor an action plan where data identifies a need for improvement
- report to the client headline collision and non-compliance information and provide an action plan to address all key issues
Where non-compliance is identified, an action plan to address all key issues shall be obtained and monitored.
