Construction sites are well-known for being risky places to work. In some instances, there’s a lot of loose machinery, tools, and materials standing around. It’s essential for project managers and supervisors to ensure that the site is kept organised.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by using the temporary fencing hire Melbourne construction sites often have around them. For most companies, temporary fencing has become standard practice. If your company isn’t using this safety measure, keep reading for a list of the reasons why you should be.
Why a Temporary Fence Matters
As the name suggests, a temporary fence can easily be put up and removed when you no longer need it. These fences are typically placed around the entire construction site and can also be used to cordon off smaller sections on the job site. Here’s how using these fences will simplify your current construction site.
1. Restricts Access to Potentially Dangerous Areas
The most common reason that construction sites use temporary fences is to cordon off potentially dangerous areas. For starters, fences are placed around the border of the site to deter public access. This is especially important if the site is located in an area where there’s a lot of passing foot traffic.
Temporary fences are also used inside the job site. Fences can cordon off machinery and materials to prevent potential injuries. It’s also an effective way to keep your equipment safe and organised. Since fences vary in height and size, it’s super easy to secure anything from small tools to larger excavators.
2. May Help to Deter Vandalism
Another common reason to use temporary fencing is to deter vandals and graffiti artists from vandalising machinery and newly erected structures. If your construction site is in an area that has a reputation for malicious behaviour, it’s a good idea to invest in taller fences. Remember to add no-entry signs so that you have a better legal standing if a vandal is caught on your construction site.
3. The Law Requires It
There may have been a time when temporary fencing was considered a nice to have rather than a necessity. These days, however, temporary fencing forms part of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations).
The requirement is that the workplace should be safe and without risk to the employees working there and the general public who may walk past the site. It’s an effective way to highlight where the construction ends so that members of the public know where they may and may not walk.
4. Create Smaller Work Sections
A lot is going on in any construction site. In addition to work being done with heavy machinery, there may also be sections where smaller tasks are being done. Workers may be preparing cement, digging trenches, sorting materials and a host of other jobs.
You can easily use temporary fencing to create or secure these smaller sections. This not only identifies where workers are but also keeps related items together. For the most part, it also goes a long way toward preventing different contractors from getting into each other’s spaces.
It’s easier to maintain and increase productivity if there is a structure on your job site.
It’s worth pointing out that fencing can also be put up to identify hazardous areas that can go unnoticed. Unstable terrain, open drains, and wet cement are just a few examples that can cause accidents. Close these areas with fences to reduce the risk of accidents.
5. Temporary Fencing is Easy to Install
Another top reason to consider temporary fencing is that it’s so easy to install that it doesn’t hamper any of your workflow processes. In fact, the process only involves fitting a weighted base to the steel panels of the fence and then fastening the panels via steel couplings. Simply take the whole set-up apart when you’re done with it.
Temporary fences can be hired which means there’s no need to invest capital in purchasing rows of panels and weights to construct the fences. If you don’t have the time or manpower to assemble fences, the good news is that most rental agencies will set everything up at an additional surcharge.
Since these fences are easy to move, you can easily move any excess panels to other areas on your job site. You can also speak to your rental agent for additional panels if the need arises. Securing your job site has never been easier.
Final Thoughts
Temporary fencing solutions are designed to keep your job site safe and secure. Fencing panels create an effective way to store tools and equipment, instantly keeping the area neat and organised. You can also use the fences to warn workers of hazardous areas such as open drains.
When your job site is organised, there’s less risk of someone having a trip and fall accident, or for smaller tools to get damaged. Adding fencing also means that you will be adhering to local health and safety regulations. It’s clear that temporary fencing has many benefits that shouldn’t be ignored.