Temporary Runarounds AHA (Activity Hazard Analysis / Job Hazard Analysis)
Updated 2026-06-23
A Temporary Runarounds AHA (Activity Hazard Analysis / Job Hazard Analysis) is the plan that keeps the crew building and using temporary runarounds safe in the live-traffic transitions and work zone, on the roadway surface and geometry, and around the construction-adjacent traffic. Temporary runarounds install the temporary detour routes that carry traffic around a construction work zone — combining the live-traffic-transition and work-zone hazard, the roadway-surface and geometry hazard, and the construction-adjacent-traffic hazard. This guide walks through building a Temporary Runarounds AHA that names the live-traffic-transition/work-zone, roadway-surface/geometry, and construction-adjacent-traffic hazards and assigns the traffic-transition, roadway, and work-zone controls that hold up in the field.
Why temporary runarounds needs its own AHA
Temporary runarounds install and use the temporary detour routes (runarounds) that carry traffic around a construction work zone — the temporary roadway alignments, shifts, and detours that route public or site traffic around the area being worked on, keeping traffic moving while construction proceeds. The defining feature is that a runaround carries live traffic through and around an active work zone, so the transition of traffic onto and off the runaround, and the exposure of workers to that traffic, are the critical hazards. The hazards combine the live-traffic-transition and work-zone (a runaround transitions live traffic onto a temporary alignment and past the work zone — the traffic-transition points (where drivers shift onto/off the runaround) and the work-zone traffic-control setup are critical (a poorly designed or marked transition causes crashes)), the roadway-surface and geometry (the temporary runaround roadway — its surface, alignment, geometry (curves, grades, width), and condition (temporary roads may be rougher/narrower)), the construction-adjacent-traffic (the runaround runs traffic adjacent to the active construction — the struck-by hazard to workers from the traffic, and the traffic's proximity to the work), and the visibility/signage. The live-traffic-transition/work-zone and the construction-adjacent-traffic justify a dedicated AHA.
Breaking temporary runarounds into steps
The steps for a Temporary Runarounds AHA follow the runaround:
- Plan the runaround alignment and traffic-control (per an approved TCP)
- Build the temporary runaround roadway
- Set up the traffic-control transitions (tapers, signage)
- Transition traffic onto the runaround
- Protect workers from the adjacent traffic
- Manage the transition, roadway, and traffic hazards
- Maintain the runaround and traffic control
- Remove and restore
Each step carries a hazard, and the live-traffic-transition/work-zone, the roadway-surface/geometry, and the construction-adjacent-traffic are where the most significant risks concentrate.
The hazards step by step
Live-traffic-transition and work-zone
A runaround transitions live traffic onto a temporary alignment and past the work zone — the traffic-transition points (where drivers shift onto/off the runaround) and the work-zone traffic-control setup are critical (a poorly designed or marked transition causes crashes). The controls are an approved traffic-control plan (TCP) for the runaround, proper transitions/tapers (channelizing devices, proper taper lengths, clear delineation), clear signage and delineation guiding drivers through the transition, appropriate speed control, and the traffic-transition controls. The live-traffic-transition/work-zone is a defining hazard — bad transitions cause crashes. (These follow the work-zone-traffic-control fundamentals.)
Roadway-surface and geometry
The temporary runaround roadway — its surface, alignment, geometry (curves, grades, width), and condition (temporary roads may be rougher/narrower). The controls are adequate roadway surface and geometry for the traffic and speed (safe curves, grades, width, sight distance), maintaining the surface, appropriate speed for the temporary geometry, and the roadway/geometry controls. The roadway-surface/geometry is a defining hazard. (These follow the temporary-roadway fundamentals.)
Construction-adjacent-traffic
The runaround runs traffic adjacent to the active construction — the struck-by hazard to workers from the traffic, and the traffic's proximity to the work. The controls are positive protection/separation between the traffic and the workers (barriers where warranted, buffer space), high-visibility PPE for workers, spotters/ flaggers where needed, awareness of the adjacent traffic, and the adjacent-traffic controls. The construction-adjacent-traffic is a defining hazard — traffic runs next to the workers. (These follow the work-zone-worker-protection fundamentals.)
Visibility/signage
The visibility and signage (drivers seeing the runaround, especially at night) carries the visibility hazard. The controls are clear signage, delineation, and lighting (visibility of the runaround day and night), and the visibility controls. (These follow the traffic-control-device fundamentals.)
A simple Temporary Runarounds AHA structure
| Step | Hazard | Control | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Traffic transition | Plan alignment and traffic control per approved TCP | MUTCD |
| Build roadway | Geometry | Adequate roadway surface and geometry | project |
| Set up transitions | Crash | Proper tapers, signage, delineation | MUTCD |
| Transition traffic | Crash | Guide traffic through transition, speed control | MUTCD |
| Protect workers | Struck-by | Positive protection/separation, high-visibility PPE | OSHA 1926.201 |
| Maintain | Traffic control | Maintain runaround and traffic control | MUTCD |
Traffic-transition safety and worker protection
A Temporary Runarounds AHA centers on traffic-transition safety and worker protection. The traffic-transition safety addresses moving live traffic onto and off the runaround — controlled by an approved traffic-control plan, proper transitions and tapers (channelizing devices, taper lengths, delineation), clear signage guiding drivers, and appropriate speed control, since a bad transition causes crashes. The worker protection addresses the struck-by hazard from the adjacent traffic — controlled by positive protection/separation between traffic and workers (barriers where warranted, buffer space), high-visibility PPE, spotters/flaggers where needed, and awareness of the adjacent traffic. And the roadway gets surface/geometry controls. An AHA built on traffic-transition safety and worker protection, with roadway and visibility controls, addresses the hazards that define temporary runarounds.
From the field: what actually goes wrong
In fourteen years across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects, temporary runarounds are traffic-control work at its core — they route live traffic around a work zone — so the defining hazards are the traffic transitions and the exposure of workers to that traffic. The live-traffic-transition and work-zone hazard is the first defining concern: a runaround transitions live traffic off its normal path onto a temporary alignment and past the work zone, and the transition points (where drivers shift onto and off the runaround) are where crashes happen if the transition is poorly designed or marked. Drivers moving at speed need clear, well-designed transitions to safely change their path, so an approved traffic-control plan (TCP) for the runaround, proper transitions and tapers (channelizing devices, correct taper lengths, clear delineation), clear signage and delineation guiding drivers through the transition, and appropriate speed control are the controls. A confusing or abrupt transition is where vehicles crash into each other, into the channelizing devices, or into the work zone.
The construction-adjacent-traffic and the roadway-surface/geometry are the other defining hazards. On the projects I have run, the whole point of a runaround is to keep traffic moving right next to the active construction, which means the traffic runs adjacent to the workers — creating a struck-by hazard from vehicles that leave the runaround or from workers who stray into it. So positive protection and separation between the traffic and the workers (barriers where warranted, adequate buffer space), high-visibility PPE, spotters or flaggers where needed, and awareness of the adjacent traffic are the controls. Work-zone struck-by incidents, where a vehicle enters the work space, are among the most serious traffic-control hazards, so the separation between the runaround traffic and the workers is critical. The roadway surface and geometry (the temporary runaround may be rougher, narrower, or have tighter curves and grades than the permanent road, requiring adequate geometry and appropriate speed) and the visibility and signage (drivers seeing the runaround day and night) round it out. The AHA built on traffic-transition safety and worker protection is the one that protects the traveling public and the workers.
The bottom line
A Temporary Runarounds AHA names the live-traffic-transition/work-zone, the roadway-surface/geometry, and the construction-adjacent-traffic hazards with specific controls — an approved TCP with proper transitions and signage for the traffic (bad transitions cause crashes), positive separation and high-visibility PPE to protect workers from the adjacent traffic, and adequate roadway geometry. The traffic transitions and the worker protection are the defining concerns. The AHA that manages both is the one that protects the public and the workers.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the traffic transitions the critical hazard?
A runaround transitions live traffic off its normal path onto a temporary alignment and past the work zone, and the transition points (where drivers shift onto and off) are where crashes happen if poorly designed or marked — drivers moving at speed need clear, well-designed transitions to safely change path. Controls are an approved traffic-control plan (TCP), proper transitions/tapers (channelizing devices, correct taper lengths, delineation), clear signage guiding drivers through the transition, appropriate speed control, and the traffic-transition controls.
How are workers protected from the runaround traffic?
The runaround keeps traffic moving right next to the active construction, so the traffic runs adjacent to the workers — creating a struck-by hazard. Controls are positive protection/separation between the traffic and the workers (barriers where warranted, adequate buffer space), high-visibility PPE for workers, spotters/flaggers where needed, awareness of the adjacent traffic, and the adjacent-traffic controls — work-zone struck-by incidents being among the most serious traffic-control hazards.
What roadway hazards apply?
The temporary runaround roadway may be rougher, narrower, or have tighter curves and grades than the permanent road, so its surface, alignment, and geometry matter. Controls are adequate roadway surface and geometry for the traffic and speed (safe curves, grades, width, sight distance), maintaining the surface, appropriate speed for the temporary geometry, and the roadway/geometry controls.
What are temporary runarounds?
Temporary runarounds install and use the temporary detour routes that carry traffic around a construction work zone — the temporary roadway alignments, shifts, and detours that route public or site traffic around the area being worked on. Because a runaround transitions live traffic past a work zone with workers adjacent to it, the traffic-transition, roadway, and adjacent-traffic hazards apply.
Related AHAs and JHAs
- Temporary Roads AHA — the temporary roads the runaround uses
- Temporary Ramps AHA — the related temporary access structures
- Traffic Control and Work Zone Safety JHA — the traffic-control fundamentals
- Asphalt Paving Operations JHA — the paving of temporary roadways
Written by Mustafa Tok, CSP, ASP, CHST — OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.