Is your site ready for winter shutdown?

It’s that time of year again, with many sites preparing for the winter shut down that will see us through to the New Year. Before you start enjoying that well-earned break, a few things need to be done to make sure your site is left safe and secure. Not tying up the loose ends before Christmas could leave your project in jeopardy come January, so here are a few things you can do to start getting ready for shutdown.

Check your fencing. Plenty of youths (and thieves) often try to enter empty sites, so making sure the perimeter is secure is crucial. By far the easiest way to stop trespassers hurting themselves, is to stop them entering altogether, so stable fences and working locks are key. Obscuring the site from view is also a good idea.

Check your signage. You are legally obliged to ensure that safety/ hazard signs are clearly displayed around the perimeter of the site. You must take any actions that are reasonably practicable to deter people from entering site and injuring themselves. An emergency contact number should be clearly displayed.

Secure your tools and equipment. Ensure that tools and machinery are properly secured to prevent trespassers from tampering with them or stealing them.

Prepare your security staff.For sites requiring security over the shutdown period, basic health and safety training is essential. Skeleton staff would also benefit from being trained on the operation of equipment such as temporary heaters. Keeping buildings tidy and dry over the winter break will help to avoid unnecessary slips, trips and falls.

Plan ahead. Ensure that you have pre-booked any hire machinery to return to site in January. Heaters are likely to be essentially at this time of year, especially if you have a new build that needs drying out

To make sure you’re not on HSE’s naughty list this year, RVT has put together a comprehensive checklist so you can make sure you are ready for shutdown. This is available as a free downloadable PDF for practical use on site.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at RVT Group!

*Please note, we have tried to cover all bases, however you may need to add additional site-specific items to this check list. RVT take no liability for any issues arising from the use of this document.