Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Gender equality
Practice meets perfect
May/June 2023 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • News
IOSH News
Construction

Keep unoccupied sites safe, warns IOSH

Open-access content Friday 7th August 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 2 years old.
Building site contractors are being urged to ensure they secure their sites when not being used

iStock

With schools across the UK having now broken up for the summer holidays, IOSH is urging building site contractors to make sure they secure their unoccupied sites to prevent people trespassing on them and putting their lives in danger.

The warning comes just two weeks after a 10-year-old boy died following an accident at a site in Glasgow. While the cause of that incident is subject to investigation, IOSH says those in charge of construction sites must have measures in place to stop people accessing sites when they are not in operation.

While construction sites are focusing on managing the risks of COVID-19 transmission, they must remain vigilant with other health and safety risks.

'Just saying you shouldn’t go onto a building site to children will often not be enough,' said Malcolm Shiels, chair of IOSH’s Construction Group. 'Boredom, peer pressure, the perceptive appeal of excitement and an apparent ready-made ‘playground’ could all be in the minds of children if they live close by or regularly pass a construction site.

'The best deterrents are education and a secure site provided by the principal contractor'

'If they do access a site, they are putting their lives in danger. There are numerous risks they face on sites, such as excavations, machinery and hazardous substances.

'The best deterrents are education and a secure site provided by the principal contractor and IOSH urges all contractors to ensure their site is secure and prevents children being able to gain access.”

Measures contractors can take include boundary fencing at least two metres high as well as covering excavations and pits and removing access ladders. Building materials such as cement bags should be stored safely, so they don’t fall over, and hazardous substances should be locked away.

Malcolm also encourages parents to warn children about the dangers of accessing sites, and suggest arranging visits to sites for children so they can see the dangers themselves.

You may also be interested in...

ISO 45003 consultation open

 ISO 45003 consultation opens

Friday 7th August 2020
IOSH members are encouraged to share their consultation feedback on the draft standard ISO 45003
Open-access content
IOSH backs pledge to recognise seafarers as key workers

 Seafarers join global key worker list

Tuesday 4th August 2020
IOSH has backed a pledge to recognise seafarers as key workers.
Open-access content
Twelve IOSH members have been elected to the Institution’s Council

 12 new members elected to Council

Thursday 13th August 2020
Twelve IOSH members have been elected to the Institution’s Council
Open-access content
Have your say in IOSH's elections

 Have your say in IOSH's elections

Thursday 30th July 2020
Voting for this year’s IOSH Council Elections closes next week – ensure you make your contribution to shape the outcome
Open-access content
As the Institution welcomes its 1000th student, another achieves the membership hat trick

 IOSH hits membership milestones

Friday 28th August 2020
As the Institution welcomes its 1000th student, another achieves the membership hat trick
Open-access content
IOSH Career Hub

 The IOSH Career Hub has something for everyone

Monday 31st August 2020
The recently launched IOSH Career Hub is a ‘one stop shop’ for careers guidance, as members have discovered.
Open-access content
Topics
News
IOSH News
Construction
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Health and Safety Improvement Manager

Leeds
£35000 - £50000 per annum
Reference
5452992

SHEQ Systems Advisor

Up to £40000.00 per annum + Car Allowance
Reference
5452988

Senior Health and Safety Manager

Reading
Up to £65000.00 per annum + Great Car Allowance & Benefits
Reference
5452983
See all jobs »

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2023 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ