Building sites can be very dangerous if they’re not managed correctly. They’re not only hazardous to the people working on them but also to passing pedestrians. Incidents have occurred in the past where bricks have fallen on passing pedestrians leading to serious injuries and even death. The construction company has a duty of care to make sure their workers and anyone who passes the building site are kept safe. Here are some ways that construction companies can ensure the safety of people walking around the construction site and passing pedestrians.
Signage is often not enough to deter pedestrians from following the same route they’re used to walking. They may be distracted by their phones and completely unaware of the signs put in place. A better way to stop pedestrians from accessing unsafe areas is to use a combination of physical barriers and signage pointing them in the right direction. Physical barriers will prevent them from entering areas unknowingly.
For particularly busy periods or dangerous areas, you may want to use workers to make sure pedestrians aren’t entering danger zones. A friendly, knowledgeable worker in high visibility clothing and a hard hat is ideal for this role. They can also be on hand to answer any questions pedestrians might have and point them in the right direction. Having a worker in place at all times may not be necessary, but it can be helpful during busy periods.
Vehicles can be a hazard to pedestrians on and around a building site. To help to reduce the risk to pedestrians, they should be kept apart from vehicles wherever possible. To help this, provide separate entrances and exits for vehicles and workers on foot. Make sure that pedestrians don’t use the vehicle entrance and exit as they’ll be at risk. If they need to share a route, it should be clearly marked and well-lit so drivers can see anyone on foot easily and pedestrians can spot vehicles. Lighting is only usually needed if work continues in the hours of darkness.
Pedestrians on a construction site should always wear high-visibility clothing. This will make them more visible to drivers. High-visibility vests need to be worn over coats and other clothing. All construction workers must wear hard hats while walking around the site if objects may fall.
Traffic in and around the site must be effectively managed to prevent accidents and protect pedestrians. Professional traffic management plans in Melbourne clearly outline the risks that vehicles pose moving through and around your project site. This plan will identify any potential risks to pedestrians and how you can minimise these risks with the implementation of the correct measures. Companies with experience in creating traffic management plans can ensure the plan is structured in the right way to get approval from road authorities and local councils.
All walkways should be clear and even to prevent unnecessary trips and falls. Avoid creating walkways in areas near drains or other uneven surfaces. In addition, walkways should be kept clean and dry to encourage usage. Muddy or slippery walkways are dangerous to pedestrians and may be avoided altogether. Properly designed walkways can prevent accidents on construction sites.
When vehicles are turning, it can cause a hazard to pedestrians in the area, especially large construction vehicles on a busy and noisy construction site. One way to minimise this risk is to create a one-way system around the site so that vehicles don’t need to turn around or reverse when driving around the construction site. This can also help to minimise vehicle collisions and damage to equipment and buildings. It is important to mark one-way systems clearly, and drivers should be aware of the rules when driving around construction sites. This should form part of the health and safety briefing.
These are some methods for protecting pedestrians on a building site. Many other methods can be tailored to your specific project. If you’re unsure or don’t have the right expertise get in contact with a professional to ensure everyone is kept safe.