Construction sites can pose a number of unique risks to workers. It is important to have good health and safety measures in place to protect workers and also the general public.
One key area to cover in your health and safety plan is traffic control. Many construction sites will need to utilise vehicles and plant machinery to move materials and waste around site. This needs to be managed very carefully as there will also be foot workers moving around onsite.
Good traffic control and proper site organisation is essential to keep things moving safely and avoid accidents.
Traffic Management on Site
When you have vehicles and plant machinery onsite accidents can happen. Nearly 100 people are seriously injured every year on construction sites as a result of accidents with moving vehicles.
An important step in any construction site health and safety assessment is to look at vehicle and pedestrian movement around site. Key issues will include:
- Planning routes to keep vehicles and pedestrian movement separate
- Minimising the amount of vehicle movement onsite
- Restricting pedestrian access in high traffic areas
- Planning designated turning areas for vehicles
- Install correct signage to warn and instruct pedestrians and drivers
- Ensure both pedestrians and vehicles are easily visible
- Ensure drivers are fit and competent to operate vehicles and machinery
A large percentage of accidents can be avoided if the right traffic management and organisation is in place on construction sites. Health and safety in construction projects is an important issue that cannot be overlooked.
Planning Routes
One of the main ways to help prevent accidents onsite is to plan proper routes. This will help to restrict movement of vehicles and pedestrians and ensure everyone understands in which part of the site vehicles will be operating.- Limit the amount of non-essential vehicles onsite by providing designated car parking areas for workers, managers and visitors.
- These car parks should be clearly signposted and well away from the main working area.
- You should also control entry to the construction site with barriers and gates. This will help to prevent any vehicles entering the worksite accidentaly or without authorisation.
- Plan designated areas for delivery drops. This will avoid the necessity of delivery lorries crossing the main worksite.
- Put in place clearly marked roadways and pedestrian pathways onsite.
- Reversing is a major cause of accidents. Mark out a designated turning circle to reduce the need for reversing onsite.
- One way systems can also reduce the risk of collisions onsite.
- Good lighting onsite can also help to prevent accidents. Temporary lighting can be installed along key routes and used in bad weather conditions and overnight.
Monitoring and managing health and safety in construction industries can save lives. Putting in place proper organisation and planning of vehicle and pedestrian movement onsite can help to prevent accidents.
Related Courses
- NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate
- NEBOSH International Construction Certificate
- Construction NVQ
- CDM courses
- Contractor Management