Warning over construction site dangers

Parents are being urged to keep their children away from construction sites over the summer holidays

Dozens of children are seriously injured on construction sites every year, and the Health and Safety Executive is concerned that there may be an increased danger this year with more sites being mothballed during the economic downturn.

Mike Cross, HSE Head of Operations for Construction in the North West, said: “We want children to enjoy playing outside during the summer holidays but it’s vital they stay safe. Construction sites often appeal to young people as they look like giant adventure playgrounds, but they can be extremely dangerous.

“The recession has led to some sites shutting down in the North West, which means there aren’t workers on duty to make sure children stay away. There should be good security fencing around construction sites, but children can often find their way onto them if they try hard enough.

“Scaffolding, excavations, fragile surfaces, electricity cables and stacked up building materials are all potential dangers on building sites. We’re asking companies to ensure sites are properly secured to make it harder for members of the public to get onto them.

“If sites are being shut down, construction workers should remove anything that might make it easier for children to explore the site, like ladders and even scaffolding. They should also regularly revisit sites to check the fencing is still secure.

“I hope parents will remind their children of the risks of construction sites and encourage them to stay away during the holidays. If anyone does have any concerns about a site’s security, they should contact us as soon as possible.”

The construction sector is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK, with seven deaths and 1,552 serious injuries in the North West in 2007/8. In the past two years, there have been nearly 60 serious injuries to children on UK construction sites, including one death.