Proper site security can prevent tragedies
A tragic reminder
The recent tragic death of a young child on a construction site has prompted the HSE to remind the industry of the importance of site security. The seven-year-old boy had become caught in a discharge pipe embedded in soil ahead of fence post instalment and suffocated as a result. The inquiry found inadequate fencing to stop unauthorised entry to the site.
Legal duty to secure sites
If any third party intrudes on to a site, be it a child or a criminal, if they are injured the site owner may be held liable and prosecuted. The Occupiers’ Liability Acts require that businesses take precautions to protect the premises. Under this legislation, the landowner is responsible for protecting people on that land, whether they’re authorised visitors or not.
Bees to a honeypot
It’s well reported that children are tempted to play on building sites as they tend to be attracted to loud noises, big machines and a sense of adventure. However, social media trends have also resulted in an increase in trespassing incidents with “urban explorers” recording their climbing prowess.
A study carried out by Herts Tools revealed that £17.5m worth of tools were stolen in London in 2020, and according to the police there had been a 50% increase in construction site theft by 2022. If the trespasser is on the property with criminal intent, there may still be a prosecution of the building firm should they come to harm.
What constitutes sufficient security?
The Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015 require companies to erect fencing to prevent trespassing. However, depending on the location of the site this may not be enough of a deterrent, and further measures such as perimeter hoarding, CCTV and 24/7 security patrols may be required. Tip. Use our risk assessment - protecting the public from construction works to identify the level of risk and reasonably practicable control measures (see The next step ). Tip. Traditional mesh fencing may not be sufficient, as intruders are easily able to view the site. If hoardings are used they conceal ongoing operations, making the scene less attractive to wandering youths and criminals.
Other controls
There are other simple measures that can reduce the likelihood of intrusions, such as removing or securing access ladders at the end of the day and ensuring scaffolding cannot be easily accessed from external areas.
Once access is gained
This still may not be enough to prevent access and you have a legal duty to keep others safe. Therefore, you should leae the site in a safe condition at the end of the day, including:
- cover or barrier off excavations
- store materials so they cannot topple over
- tidy away tools and equipment
- isolate and immobilise vehicles and plant and if possible lock them in a compound
- lock away hazardous substances.
For our risk assessment, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 21 issue 16.
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