The Health and Safety Executive has issued a timely reminder to the construction industry: with school holidays approaching, site security must be a priority. Children have tragically lost their lives — and others have been seriously injured — after making their way onto unsecured construction sites.
This is not a new risk, but it is one that peaks during the summer months when children have more free time and are more likely to be exploring outdoors unsupervised. HSE is calling on everyone in control of construction sites to take immediate action.
What HSE Is Asking You to Do
HSE has set out specific steps that are particularly relevant to child safety during the holiday period:
- Perimeter fencing and hoarding — ensure suitable fencing is erected, reflecting the nature of the site and the surrounding area
- Regular security checks — inspect and maintain fencing and hoarding to ensure it remains in good order
- End-of-day procedures — secure sites adequately when finishing work for the day
- Excavations and pits — barrier off or cover over all excavations → Control of Excavations RAMS
- Vehicles and plant — isolate and immobilise all vehicles and plant; lock them in a compound where possible → Mobile Plant Monitoring Checklist
- Building materials — store pipes, manhole rings, cement bags and similar materials so they cannot topple or roll over
- Access equipment — remove ladders from excavations and scaffolds → Working at Height Checklist
- Hazardous substances — lock away all hazardous substances → COSHH Assessment Template
Your Legal Duty Under CDM 2015
This is not just good practice — it is a legal requirement. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 set out clear duties regarding unauthorised access to construction sites:
- Regulation 13(4) — the principal contractor must take reasonable steps to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the construction site
- Regulation 15(10) — site security arrangements must be maintained
- Regulation 4(6) — clients must ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place
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."
If you are a principal contractor or site manager, the message is clear: check your site security now, before the holidays begin.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
Beyond the HSE checklist above, here are additional measures that demonstrate due diligence:
1. Conduct a site security risk assessment — identify vulnerable points in your perimeter, particularly near residential areas, parks, and schools → Risk Assessment Template (General)
2. Brief your workforce — ensure all operatives understand the importance of securing the site at the end of each shift. A toolbox talk on site security takes five minutes and could save a life → Site Safety Induction Template
3. Use a site checklist — a daily close-down checklist ensures nothing is missed when the last person leaves site → Site H&S Checklist
4. Review your RAMS — if your method statements do not address public protection and site security, they need updating → RAMS Action Tracker
5. Consider CCTV and signage — visible deterrents reduce the likelihood of unauthorised access
6. Check scaffold access — remove or secure all access ladders and ensure scaffold is not climbable from ground level → Use of Mobile Scaffold Platforms RAMS
HSE Guidance and Further Reading
HSE has published detailed guidance on protecting the public from construction site hazards:
- HSG 151 — Protecting the public: your next move
- CIS72 — Protecting the public: What you need to know as a busy builder
- HSE Construction — Public Protection
Get Your Site Security Documentation in Order
If you need to formalise your site security arrangements — whether for a CDM compliance audit, a principal contractor requirement, or simply to demonstrate due diligence — SafetyPod has ready-to-use templates that cover the key areas:
- → General Construction Trade Pack — includes site checklists, induction templates, and monitoring forms
- → Site H&S Checklist — daily site inspection covering security, housekeeping, and welfare
- → Control of Excavations RAMS — method statement for securing excavations
- → Permit to Dig — formal permit system for excavation works
Construction sites are places of work containing numerous hazards. Keeping children and the public safe is not optional — it is your duty. Act now, before the school holidays begin.