Staying safe this summer

BUILDING sites are not playgrounds and could be death-traps, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning Oldham families.

As the long summer school holiday approaches the HSE is reminding children and parents to be aware of construction sites and not treat them as somewhere to play.

Between 2001 and 2007 four children died and the HSE was notified of at least 311 injuries to children on construction sites.

In most cases simple steps could have prevented the incidents happening.

Mike Cross, HSE head of operations for construction in the North-West, said: “Let’s ensure that summer remains a time for fun and not tragedy because children have been drawn to construction sites as exciting places to play.

“The dangers are many and varied and they are not always obvious. Typical dangers include scaffolding, excavations, fragile surfaces, electrical power supplies and unstable stores of materials.”

HSE inspectors will be looking at security during site inspections and give this advice for parents:

Warn children against playing in dangerous areas.

Make sure you know where your children are going and when they will be back.

Encourage them to play in safe areas or take part in organised activities.

Building site managers should ensure that:

Workers should watch for children playing around sites. If you see children on site stop work until they are off site.

Materials are stored securely on site.

Sites are adequately secured at the end of the day, and vehicles, plant and equipment are put away and locked up. Isolate electrical supplies where possible.

Never allow children to ride in or on construction plant or machinery.