Preparing for Easter Shutdown

As we prepare for a long bank holiday weekend, we’ll invariably see all 4 seasons of weather over the weekend! Therefore, it is important to make sure your site is left safe and secure over the 4-day period.

Here’s our top 5 tips to ensure your site stays safe over the Bank holiday weekend.

1. Prior to shut down, make sure that you walk the entire site, checking that any excavations have been back filled or covered over; that your scaffold has been inspected and access removed; any part-built structures or temporary works are adequately supported (you may need to consider any additional loading that may be imposed by snow, rain or high winds); and that all plant and equipment are secured and immobilised.
2. If you are leaving heating running over the holiday, ensure that it is thermostatically controlled and that combustible materials cannot fall onto heaters to prevent fires starting. Wherever possible, flammable substances such as Petrol, LPG, Butane Oxy acetylene etc should also be removed from site.
3. Arson is a threat to your site whatever time of year, so it is always a good idea to keep combustible materials away from the site perimeter and the building under construction.
4. Security is also important. Ensure that your perimeter fencing is secure and cannot be easily climbed to prevent anyone gaining access, as you remain responsible for the health and safety of any persons visiting your site, whether legally or not. Check that it is sturdy enough to withstand any high winds.
5. It is always a good idea to maintain good relationships with neighbours, as they can be your eyes and ears outside of working hours, therefore sharing, and displaying an emergency contact number is a good idea.