Everyone involved in a construction project has legal obligations under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) to ensure the health and safety of all who might be affected by the work, including site operators and members of the public.
Under CDM 2015 commercial clients are those who have construction work carried out as part of their business, such as property developers.
SafeSite Facilities has been contracted to work on two major commercial and residential redevelopments - Assembly Bristol and Project ND6 & ND7 – to support the planning, management, monitoring and coordination of health and safety on the sites, while work is ongoing.
The £150m Assembly Bristol mixed-use regeneration scheme includes three new buildings across the waterside development, which will consist of 200,000 sqft of office and retail space. The site overlooks the Avon, adjacent to Temple Way near the city centre. Project ND6 & ND7 is a commercial and residential redevelopment in the centre of Bristol.
Both sites are located on a very busy main access route to the city centre, local offices, mainline station and surrounding carparks and ensuring the safety of high volume pedestrian and vehicle traffic, was a primary consideration for the construction team.
Construction site safety and security in action
A number of safety and security systems have been installed by SafeSite Facilities including concrete block supported timber hoarding and around the site perimeter, and vehicle and pedestrian gates, which provided reliable and secure access to the site.
Exterior bulkhead lights are constructed to survive dust, water and, to some extent, breakage. They acted as an additional safety measure and security deterrent on site.
Health and safety requirements continually change on construction sites, due to constant plant, material and vehicle movement. Temporary safety and security solutions provide the flexibility required to meet these demands.
For example, on one elevation on Building A at the Assembly Bristol site, the main footpath had to be kept open at all times for pedestrian access to the train station and other routes.
A combination of temporary Heras fencing and low level Chapter 8 fencing provided a secure space for contractors to work behind and safe and unrestricted passage for passers-by. SafeSite Facilities also installed RB22 water-filled barriers at the kerb line to protect pedestrians and drivers alike.
Clear communication
With all projects, close collaboration and clear communication between SafeSite Facilities, the principal contractor, and its other subcontractors has been key to ensuring the project site remains fully operational whilst maintaining workforce and public safety at all times.
Further information about contractors’ obligations under CDM 2015 can be found on the website of The Health & Safety Executive. Their site also contains useful guidance and best practice on managing health and safety in construction.
