Construction Site Safety: Managing Access and Protecting the Public

2 Sep 2026

Construction sites are busy places, with workers, contractors, vehicles, machinery and building materials all operating in the same area.

But construction sites can also create risks for people who aren't working there.

An unfinished building, open excavation or area of construction activity can be dangerous if people who shouldn't be there are able to gain access. This is particularly important when a site is beside houses, schools, footpaths, roads or other areas where people are nearby.

This is why managing access to a construction site is an important part of managing health and safety.

Why Is Site Access So Important?

Construction sites can contain hazards that wouldn't normally be present in a public area.

There may be open excavations, temporary structures, plant, machinery, electrical equipment, building materials or areas where someone could fall. If people who aren't authorised to be there can gain access, they could be exposed to these hazards.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 specifically deal with site safety and access to construction sites.

The contractor responsible for a construction site must take appropriate precautions to keep the site safe. The regulations also require the site's surroundings and perimeter to be clearly visible and identifiable, safe access and egress to be provided, and appropriate precautions to protect people at or near the site, including barriers where necessary to prevent unauthorised entry.

So, controlling access isn't simply about protecting equipment or materials. It is part of managing the risks created by construction work.

Fencing, Hoarding & Barriers

One of the most obvious ways of controlling access is to physically separate the construction area from people who shouldn't be there.

The type of barrier needed will depend on the site and the risks involved.

A construction site beside a busy road or residential area may need a different approach from a site with little public access.

Depending on the circumstances, controls may include fencing, hoarding, gates, barriers and warning signs.

And it's important to remember that putting up barriers isn't the end of the job.

They need to be maintained and checked to make sure they are still doing what they are supposed to do. If fencing is damaged, a gate is left open or a barrier is moved, the risks can change very quickly.

The arrangements should also be reviewed as the construction project develops. A site can look very different from one week to the next, and controls that were suitable at the beginning may not be sufficient later on.

What About People Living Near a Construction Site?

Construction sites don't always exist in isolation.

A housing development may be surrounded by occupied homes. A commercial development may be beside an existing business. Roadworks can take place directly beside pedestrians and passing traffic.

In these situations, the interface between the construction site and the public needs to be carefully considered.

The risks may include people entering the site, pedestrians being brought close to construction activity, vehicles crossing public routes or members of the public coming into contact with materials, plant or unfinished work.

Children can also be particularly vulnerable where a construction site is close to residential areas or places where children are likely to be present.

The HSA has highlighted the importance of keeping children and members of the public away from construction sites, including through secure fencing and appropriate warning signs.

Don't Forget About Excavations

Open excavations are another important consideration.

A trench, shaft, pit or other opening can create a serious fall hazard, particularly if it is accessible to people who aren't involved in the work.

The Construction Regulations include specific requirements for protecting accessible excavations, shafts, pits and openings where a person could fall and suffer injury.

Depending on the circumstances, a suitable barrier or secure covering may be required.

This is why access and construction hazards need to be considered together.

It isn't enough to think about whether someone can enter the site. You also need to consider what they could encounter if they do.

What Should Your Risk Assessment Cover?

There isn't one solution that will work for every construction site.

The risks will depend on the type of work being carried out, the location of the site, what is happening around it and who could potentially be affected.

A suitable risk assessment should consider questions such as:

• Who needs to enter the site, and how is access controlled?

• Could unauthorised people gain entry?

• Are homes, schools, businesses or public footpaths nearby?

• Could members of the public come into contact with excavations, machinery, materials or other hazards?

• Are fencing, barriers and warning signs suitable for the work being carried out?

• Are safe routes provided for pedestrians where construction work affects public areas?

• What happens when the site is unattended?

• Do the controls need to change as the construction project progresses?

A risk assessment shouldn't be treated as a document that is completed once and then forgotten.

The HSA says risk assessments should be reviewed where there is a significant change to the matters they relate to, or where there is another reason to believe that the assessment is no longer valid.

This is particularly important on construction sites, where the work and the physical environment can change regularly.

How Can OHSS Help?

At OHSS, we help businesses identify hazards, assess risks and put appropriate control measures in place.

Our Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment service includes identifying hazards, assessing risks and compiling risk assessment reports, as well as risk auditing and risk assessment training.

OHSS also provides Workplace Safety Statements based on the type of work a company carries out, the hazards identified and the risks assessed.

For construction companies, OHSS provides training in construction risk assessment and can help businesses develop a more effective approach to identifying and managing workplace risks.

The exact assessment will depend on the nature of the work and the risks involved. Physical measures such as fencing, gates and barriers will need to be put in place and maintained by the relevant duty holders and contractors, but these measures should form part of the overall approach to managing the health and safety risks on the site.

Keep Your Construction Site Safe

Good construction site safety isn't simply about keeping people out.

It's about making sure that workers, contractors, visitors and members of the public aren't unnecessarily exposed to the hazards created by construction work.

Managing access, using appropriate barriers and warning signs, providing safe routes and regularly reviewing the risks can all form part of the solution.

But every construction site is different, and the right controls will depend on the individual site and the risks identified.

At OHSS, we've been helping Irish businesses manage health and safety risks since 2001. If you need help with construction risk assessments, hazard identification or a Workplace Safety Statement, call us today on (01) 6905907 or visit www.ohss.ie to find out more about our services.

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