The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (CDM 2015) are the primary set of rules governing construction projects. It applies to all construction and building work and includes every type of project from new build and conversions to refurbishment and demolition. 

Part of the law requires those in charge of construction projects to carry out operations without posing a danger to the public. This includes other workers who can potentially be affected by the construction work. 

According to HSE inspector David Kirkpatrick, construction companies must make it a priority to secure their construction sites to prevent access by unauthorised parties. These sites can be full of hazards that vulnerable people such as children may not be able to fully understand. 

Under CDM 2015, the project client should provide all necessary information about the following particulars: 

This information will guide the measures taken by contractors. Key issues that need to be addressed are: 

All construction sites must have: 

While there has been a decline in the numbers of children being injured or killed on construction sites, complacency must be avoided. Two or three children die every year after accessing building sites, and many more are seriously injured. One such example is the case of a UK construction company penalised for safety shortcomings that allowed a two-year-old boy to wander onto a construction site. 

360 Property Limited was the main contractor for a new build housing development. The site, which is located at Oak Road, Blaina, received an improvement notice after certain security issues were not corrected, despite an earlier visit from an HSE inspector who pointed out safety concerns. 

On August 20, Newport Magistrates’ Court heard how, between January 22 and June 10, 2015, there were inadequate security measures in place at the construction site. On May 21 of that year, a two-year-old boy managed to access the site and was riding his bike when he fell into a drain whose cover had been removed. Luckily the boy was frightened but not hurt. 

360 Property Limited received a fine of £10,000 and were ordered to pay costs amounting to £6,668.15 after the contractor pled guilty to two offences under section 18(2) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 and section 27(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. There was technically one offence divided into two by the regulations change. 

It’s not just children who are at risk but also other members of the public, such as passers-by, can be injured by: 

For maximum efficacy, the pre-construction information from the client should include: 

To manage site access, the following are required:

Site Boundaries 

To manage public risk, boundaries must be defined by suitable fencing. The fence type should be consistent with the type of site and the surroundings. Contractors need to determine what the perimetre will consist of, supply the fencing, and maintain it once erected. 

Questions that contractors must ask themselves include: 

Authorisation 

The primary contractor must take adequate measures to prevent unauthorised parties from accessing the site. 

People may be restricted to certain areas or authorised to access the entire site. 

The contractor must explain applicable site rules to authorised parties and perform any required induction. 

They may have to accompany or supervise some authorised parties while on site or accessing certain areas. 

Hazards that Present a Risk to the Public 

Many construction site hazards present a risk to visitors and the general public. Contractors must consider if they exist on a certain project and, if so, how they will manage them. 

Vulnerable Groups 

Children, the elderly, and people with certain disabilities may need special consideration, especially if work is being done in locations like hospitals and schools. 

Children can be attracted to construction sites as potential play areas. Constractors must take all reasonable steps to keep them from accessing the site and endangering themselves. 

The steps below are especially important for child safety: