For those members that will be taking a ‘Builders break’, the Association recommends that contractors plan well for this period since the industry cannot afford any further losses sustained due to any oversights during this period. The most important factor is to secure the site and safeguard all assets on it.

To this end, the following is a list of items each contractor should consider during this period:

• Secure the perimeter of the site.
• Security guards in place and decide on which areas they may access.
• Electrical power on site – decide on what security lighting is required to be on. All other breakers for circuits that are not required should be turned off.
• Water supply only for security and firefighting to be left on. All other waterpoints to be deactivated.
• All materials of high value and easily transportable to be taken off site or if this is impractical, secured on site.
• All small power tools and survey equipment to be taken back to head office storage.
• All plant to be cleaned and secured on site. Remove all batteries from the plant and store securely.
• All keys for plant and secure containers to be removed from site.
• Cranes to be secured and the boom placed in free mode.
• Remove all computers and any other high value electronic goods from site.
• Identify any areas of risk on site and secure with barriers and warning signs. Make sure that all scaffolding is secure and that access to the scaffolding is controlled.
• Contact numbers of personnel in case of emergency during the holiday to be posted in the security office. Also make sure that the personnel know that they have been placed as a point of first contact.

It is also important to remember that the December period can bring with it some bad weather. Strong winds can have devastating effects on scaffolding and other temporary structures such as site fencing, therefore ensure that these elements are properly secured to prevent collapse and damage to others.

Remember that this should be a time of rest and therefore the more planning that goes into closing the site for this break, will reward you with a stress-free holiday. This will recharge your batteries to enable you to come back in the new year and complete the project on time and with a profit to show for your efforts.

Neil Enslin | Occupational Health and Safety Manager