As the school holidays approach, the Health and Safety Executive has issued an important reminder to construction companies: site security must remain a priority, especially when children are more likely to be out and about in local communities.
Construction sites can naturally attract curiosity. To a child, an unfinished building, scaffolding, machinery, materials, or open ground may look like somewhere to explore. However, those same areas can present serious risks, particularly when a site is left unsecured outside working hours.
While incidents involving children entering construction sites are rare, HSE has highlighted that children have tragically lost their lives, and others have been injured, after gaining access to unsafe and unsecured sites.
Those in control of construction sites have a duty to take appropriate steps to prevent unauthorised access. This is not just about meeting legal requirements. It is also about protecting local communities, particularly during school holidays when children may have more free time and spend more time outdoors.
Site managers, contractors, and clients should take time to review their site security arrangements and ensure they are suitable for the location, the type of work being carried out, and any nearby homes, schools, play areas, or public spaces.
HSE has advised construction companies to consider a range of practical control measures to help keep children and members of the public safe.
This includes making sure suitable perimeter fencing or hoarding is in place where required, and that it is checked regularly to ensure it remains secure and in good condition. Sites should also be properly secured at the end of each working day, with access points closed and unauthorised entry made as difficult as reasonably possible.
Excavations and pits should be barriered off or covered, and access ladders should be removed from scaffolds and excavations when not in use. Vehicles and plant should be isolated, immobilised, and, where possible, locked within a secure compound. Building materials should also be stored safely so they cannot topple, roll, or create additional hazards.
Hazardous substances must also be locked away securely to prevent access by anyone who should not be on site.
Construction sites contain a wide range of hazards, from working at height and moving plant to sharp materials, unstable ground, hazardous substances, and open excavations. These risks are well understood by trained workers, but they may not be recognised by children or members of the public.
That is why effective site security is such an important part of construction health and safety management. It helps prevent accidents before they happen and reduces the likelihood of unauthorised access outside normal working hours.
The summer holidays are a useful reminder for businesses to look again at their arrangements and ask:
Small checks can make a significant difference.
Strong site security should not be treated as a one-off task. It should form part of daily site management, regular inspections, end-of-day procedures, and wider risk assessment processes.
By taking proactive steps now, construction companies can help protect children, safeguard the public, and demonstrate responsible site management.
As HSE has made clear, clients and contractors must ensure unauthorised access to sites is prevented both during and outside working hours.
