Help Ensure Visitor Safety on Your Construction Site
Construction sites pose inherent risks, and managing access for site visitors is crucial to help ensure safety, security and efficient operations.
Effective access control and risk management for site visitors are fundamental for maintaining safety, preventing unauthorized access, and ensuring smooth construction operations.
By implementing access control measures and safety measures, construction sites can help protect visitors on the jobsite.
Access Control: Method and Best Practices
Access control refers to protocols and measures that regulate who can and cannot enter a construction site and which areas they are allowed to access. Below are some primary components of access control:
- Perimeter Control: Physical barriers, such as chain-link fences, locked gates, and walls to define the boundaries of the construction site and restrict unauthorized access.
- Identification and Verification: Identification badges, cards, or wearable devices to provide entry to the jobsite for authorized personnel. Often, these use verification methods, such as PIN codes, biometric scans (fingerprint or retina scans), or access cards with embedded chips.
- Entry Points: The site logistics plan should designate specific entry and exit points, which are monitored by security personnel or electronic access control systems.
- Visitor Management: Implementing a system to track and monitor visitors is important. This includes requiring visitors to sign in, provide identification, state their purpose, be oriented to the jobsite, and always be accompanied by authorized personnel.
- Access Zones: Divide the site into different zones with varying access levels if the project is performing work in areas that justify the separation of visitors from the work taking place. This might involve higher-risk activities, such as steel erection, structural concrete pours, or excavation activities. Only allow authorized personnel to enter specific zones.
- Time-Based Access: Set restrictions on when visitors can access the site or specific zones. Deter unauthorized access during off-hours.
- Surveillance Systems: Install security cameras and monitoring systems to record activities. These can serve as deterrents and provide evidence if there are incidents.
- Security Personnel: Employ guards responsible for checking identification and verifying credentials.
- Remote Monitoring: Use technology to monitor access points and receive real-time alerts about unauthorized attempts. These systems can help protect construction equipment from fire and water damage by using water, temperature, humidity, and rate of rise sensors. Notifications can be sent to supervisors’ phones in the event of unauthorized access, water incursion, or signs of fire.
- Emergency Access: Implement protocols for emergency responders to quickly access the site during accidents or fires. Preconstruction coordination meetings are important to bring local first responders up to speed with the project access points, live fire hydrant locations, and the egress paths of the project while it is being built.
Additional Safety Measures for Visitors
In addition to access control, consider the following safety measures, specifically for site visitors:
- Personal protective equipment should include safety gear, such as safety helmets, high-visibility protective vests, safety boots, gloves, and eye protection.
- Hazard Protection: Implement extra protection in areas where visitors could be at risk.
