As school holidays approach, construction companies across the region are being urged to take additional precautions to keep children safe this summer.

While rare, children have tragically lost their lives, and others have been injured, after making their way on to unsecure and unsafe construction sites.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on the construction industry to prevent children from accessing construction sites during the school holiday period, to stop children being injured or worse in pursuit of innocent fun and curiosity.

HSE is reminding those in control of sites that they have a duty to do everything they can to keep children out of the site and away from danger, with the following specific steps particularly relevant to child safety:

• Where necessary, to reflect the nature of the site and the surrounding area, ensure suitable perimeter fencing or hoarding is erected.
• Regularly check and review site security to ensure fencing or hoarding is maintained and kept in good order.
• 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.

The school holiday period serves as a timely reminder that site security is not only a legal responsibility but a vital part of protecting local communities, especially when schools are closed and children have more free time to be outside.

HSE has a range of guidance and further information available to help manage the risks: Protecting the public

HSE’s Mike Thomas said: “Construction site managers should check their sites are secure, and in areas where children live and play, they should remain vigilant and ensure that the risks to children are properly controlled.

“Construction sites are places of work and contain numerous hazards, all of which can pose a dangerous threat to anyone entering without permission. Clients and contractors must ensure that unauthorised access onto sites is prevented, both during and outside working hours.”

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.

• Guidance referred to in this release can be found: HSG 151 – Protecting the public – your next move

• Other guidance referred to in this release can be found: CIS72 – Protecting the public: What you need to know as a busy builder

1. The relevant law in relation to unauthorised site access is set out in Regulations 13(4), 15(10) and 4(6) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
2. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available
3. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.