It is a known fact that open construction sites are a threat to the safety and security of members of the public, especially children, who enter these sites and get hurt. According to an estimate, dozens of children get hurt every year on construction sites, and this has prompted the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to issue guidelines to construction firms in order to restrict access to public this summer to their sites, especially if no work is in progress.

HSE Head of Operations for Construction in Scotland, Jeanette Reuben said that during the summer holidays of children, they cannot be asked to stay indoors all the time, but when allowed to play outside their security should be the prime concern. She also pointed out that the economic meltdown has resulted in many of the construction sites being abandoned; leaving behind potentially dangerous building materials, electric wires, scaffolds etc., which not only entice children, but also make it easier for them to access the site, as there is no one to prohibit them from entering.

Reuben suggested that such construction sites should be properly fenced, especially when there is no work going on, and regular building site safety checks should be conducted to ensure that there is no lapse in the security of the site. She added that workers of a closed down site should remove all building materials as well as equipments from the site and lock them safely somewhere, to prevent them from reaching the hands of children. Further, construction managers should make entering their sites very difficult and remove all objects like ladders and scaffolds that might help children in getting in. Make sure your organisation is aware of its health and safety obligations and has a clear understanding of its statutory duties with a well regarded NEBOSH National General Certificate course; designed to help those with health and safety responsibilities to carry out their duties at work more effectively, and to protect the organisations for which they work - click on NEBOSH exam for course details.

HSE is also of the opinion that the managers at construction site should stop the work in progress if they see any children trying to get into the worksite. They should also lock and put all the material and machinery in a safe place at the end of the day, away from reach of members of the public, especially children.