Site Security During School Holidays

With the school holiday period approaching and children having more time to spend outdoors, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging those responsible for construction sites to take proactive steps to prevent unauthorised access.

Although incidents are uncommon, there have been tragic cases where children have been seriously injured or lost their lives after entering unsafe construction areas out of curiosity or while playing.

Site managers and contractors have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable precautions to keep children away from hazards.

Key measures to improve child safety include:

• Installing suitable perimeter fencing or hoarding where necessary, taking into account the nature of the site and surrounding area.

• Regularly checking and reviewing site security to ensure fencing or hoarding is maintained and kept in good order.

• Securing sites adequately when finishing work for the day.

• Barriering off or covering excavations and pits.

• Isolating and immobilising vehicles and plant and, where possible, securing them within a locked compound.

• Storing building materials (such as pipes, manhole rings and cement bags) so they cannot topple or roll over.

• Removing access ladders from excavations and scaffolds when they are not in use.

• Locking away hazardous substances.

The school holiday period is an important reminder that maintaining site security is not only a legal requirement but also a crucial part of protecting the wider community.

Full guidance on Protecting the Public can be found on the HSE Website here.