This safety briefing note is for all Property Managers and those who are responsible for managing construction projects (both using internal staff and external contractors). This Safety Briefing has been developed using guidance from the HSE. Further information for the HSE document Protecting the Public – Your next move can be found on the following website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg151.htm
What does the law say?
The law[1] says Bron Afon must conduct its work without putting members of the public at risk. This includes the public and other workers who may be affected by our work. As the client Bron Afon should provide information about:
- Boundaries
- adjacent land usage
- access
- measures to exclude unauthorized persons
This will influence the measures contractors take.
Key issues are:
All construction sites require:
- Measures to manage access across defined boundaries; and
- Steps to exclude unauthorised people.
While the numbers of children being killed or injured on construction sites has reduced, there is no room for complacency. Each year, two or three children die after gaining access to building sites, and many more are injured.
Other members of the public are seriously injured by:
- Materials or tools falling outside the site boundary
- Falling into trenches; or
- Being struck by moving plant and vehicles
The client’s pre-construction information should include:
- project boundaries
- adjacent land use e.g. near school, playground or populated area
- access
- measures to exclude unauthorised people
- details of any antisocial behaviour that may affect the site
How do I manage safe site access?
Site boundaries: You need to define boundaries physically, where necessary, by suitable fencing. The type of fencing should reflect the nature of the site, risk and its surroundings.
Determining the boundary is an important aspect of managing public risk. You need to:
- plan what form the perimeter will take
- provide the fencing
- maintain the fencing
Questions you need to ask yourself as a Project/Property Manager/officer in charge of work include:
- What is the nature and type of the construction work?
- How heavily populated is the area is?
- Who will need to visit the site during the work?
- Will the site attract children?
- What are the site characteristics (eg existing site boundaries, location, proximity to other buildings)
- Has there been any previous incidents?
- Is there likely to be a specific interest or issues in this site? e.g. contentious issues, subject to arson
- Is the site likely to be affected by adverse weather conditions e.g. flooding, high winds
Typically, in populated areas, this will mean a two-metre high small mesh fence or hoarding around the site. This must be specifically risk assessed for each project and in proportion to the risk of the site.
Authorisation: The principal contractor must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised people accessing the site. However, property managers/those managing works must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the Principal Contractor complies with their duties.
- People may be authorised to access the whole site or be restricted to certain areas
- You must explain relevant site rules to authorised people and undertake any necessary site induction
- You may need to supervise or accompany some authorised visitors while they are on site or visiting specific areas
What are the hazards to members of the public?
Many hazards have the potential to injure members of the public and visitors. Consider if they exist on your project and how you will manage them.
Falling objects – You must make sure objects cannot fall outside the site boundary. On scaffolds you can achieve this using toe-boards, brick guards and netting. You may also need fans and/or covered walkways
Delivery and other site vehicles – Make sure pedestrians cannot be struck by vehicles entering or leaving the site. Obstructing the pavement during deliveries may force pedestrians into the road, where they can be struck by other vehicles
Scaffolding and other access equipment – Prevent people outside the boundary being struck while they are erecting, dismantling and using scaffolding and other access equipment. Prevent people accessing the scaffold and other access equipment. Please remember that ladder guards should not be used, ground floor ladders should be removed from all sites at the end of the day. However just removing ladders may not be adequate on some sites as there may be alternative access points around the scaffold so security and prevention of access should be appropriately assessed.
Storing and stacking materials – You can reduce the risks associated with the storage of materials by storing materials within the site perimeter, preferably in secure compounds or away from the perimeter fencing
Openings and excavations – People can be injured if they fall into excavations, manholes, stairwells or from open floor edges. You’ll need to put up barriers or covers around these hazards
Some other hazards include –
- slips, trips and falls within pedestrian areas
- plant, machinery and equipment
- hazardous substances
- electricity and other energy sources
- dust, noise and vibration
- road works, ground works, ditches and excavations
This list is not exhaustive and all hazards identified need to have appropriate controls in place.
What needs to be considered for vulnerable groups?
The elderly, children and people with certain disabilities may need special attention. Working near schools, nurseries, hospitals, public accessible areas etc. needs careful thought and planning and you and the contractor may need additional controls preventing access.
Some children are drawn to construction sites as exciting places to play. You must do everything you can to keep them out of the site and away from danger. Don’t take access for granted, this may mean daily checks on site as situations and conditions can change (some projects have an end of day checklist)
The following specific steps are particularly relevant to child safety:
- Secure sites adequately when finishing work for the day
- Barrier off or cover over excavations and pits
- Isolate and immobilise vehicles and plant and if possible lock them in a compound
- Store building materials (such as pipes, manhole rings, and cement bags) so that they cannot topple or roll over
- Remove access ladders from excavations and scaffolds
- Lock away hazardous substances
Some contractors provide viewing panels in hoarding to help with children’s curiosity, please check that the relevant hoarding and fencing is used on your projects
What do individuals need to do?
Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety and this includes safety on site. If you see anything that is dangerous on site, unsafe act or situation such as children accessing the site, please report immediately to the relevant Property Manager and the Health and Safety Team.