Construction Sites a Potential Danger-Zone for Children, Says HSE
HSE has warned construction firms to make sure no outsider is able to enter their work sites, especially if they are shut down. It has also asked them to make regular assessment of the sites to ensure that there are no chinks in the security measures.
Mishaps with children at construction sites are quite common and with the economic downturn, the perils are even more as many construction projects have been scrapped mid-way and are easily accessible for children to enter and play.
HSE Head of Operations for Constructions, Jeanette Reuben has said that the HSE wants children to enjoy their summer by playing outdoors, but it also does not want to compromise on their safety. It is common knowledge that children find construction sites adventurous but do not understand the dangers lying inside those large playgrounds, hence building site safety must be considered in these terms, she added.
Children are often able to find ways into construction sites even with fencing and warning signs to dissuade them. There are many dangers on sites such as the scaffolding, electrical wires, brittle surfaces, and discarded building materials. The HSE has advised companies to make sure that these sites remain inaccessible to the public and they should remove all the things that make exploring the area easily. They should ensure that the area is properly barricaded so that children cannot enter even if they try hard, and check regularly for any breach. IOSH courses from Workplace Law Training are designed to give managers and supervisors all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams; click on IOSH Safety for more information.
The HSE has also directed workers at operational sites to discontinue work if they discover children trying to trespass. They also have the duty to make sure that all the equipments are stored away safely after they finish up with work.
