The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is offering its support to Child Safety Week (19 -25 June) by reminding the construction industry and parents to be alert to the dangers faced by children playing on or near building sites during school summer holidays.
Stephen Williams, Chief Inspector of Construction commented:
"Long summer evenings are a time for fun and adventure, unfortunately, all too often it can also be a time of tragedy. Understandably some children are drawn to construction sites as exciting places to play, but they are not playgrounds and playing on them can have fatal consequences. Industry and parents need to work together to ensure children's safety."
Three children died and 235 were injured between 2001/02 and 2004/05 during construction works where simple precautions would have prevented the incidents ever happening.
The HSE has issued the following practical advice for parents and workers which will help keep children safe this summer:
- warn children against playing in dangerous areas, including building sites;
- make sure you know where your children are going, and when they will be back
- encourage them to play only in safe areas such as playgrounds
- workers should watch out for children playing around sites, if you see children, stop work and make sure they are off site before you begin again
- lay heavy objects on the ground or fix them firmly upright so they cannot fall onto children and injure them
- secure sites adequately when finishing work for the day
- never allow children to ride in construction plant machinery
Child Safety Week is organised by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, a national charity devoted to preventing accidental injuries to children.
Further information on Child Safety Week can be found by clicking the following link: Child Accident Prevention Trust: Child Safety Week
