Worker safety should be a top priority for construction firms. Construction sites can often be hazardous zones, with fall-risks, equipment accidents, and harmful material exposures just some of the risks that require safety proofing.

One useful and long-lasting tool for construction site safety is a well-placed Armco construction barrier – a rigid and durable solution that can be positioned around the site to promote and enhance a safe environment that maintains its productivity as well as its reputation.

This guide shows you how a safety proofing process should work and reveals some of the best Armco products for the job, with information on construction site health and safety regulations.

CT safety barriers offer barriers for a wide range of purposes around your construction site.

How to carry out construction site safety proofing

Risk assessment: Assessing the construction site is the first step – conduct a thorough and detailed audit to unearth hazards, evaluate their risks, and discover how they impact workers, visitors, and the surrounding environment. It’s a good idea to prioritise the hazards that pose the biggest threats and work down the list.
Safety implementation: Next, put the findings into practice. By actively enforcing the necessary measures and monitoring them – whether they’re barriers and signage, establishing safe zones, or enforcing safety protocols.
PPE equipment: Ensuring staff use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital for protecting workers from hazards. These might include hard hats, high-visibility clothing, steel-capped boots, gloves/eye protection, or depending on the nature of work done in your site, respiratory masks.
Safety training: For continued safety, introducing safety training into your employment program can enforce safety processes and get everybody on the same page. It’s important to introduce new workers to the site, its hazards and your own protocols, as well as general emergency procedures. It’s also vital to introduce new protocols and refresher courses when new equipment comes in or regulations shift.

Construction site health and safety regulations

There are several health and safety regulations relevant to construction sites. It’s important to be aware of them when safeguarding your workplace, ensuring any new additions are compliant.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA): This legislation mandates that employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and others.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: These regulations delineate that employers must conduct risk assessments and implement measures to identify and manage risks effectively.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015): CDM 2015 outlines the responsibilities of all parties involved in construction projects, aiming to improve health and safety throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER): PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work – including forklifts, PPE, and operational machinery – is suitable, maintained, and used safely.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER): These regulations focus on the safe use of lifting equipment, ensuring that lifting operations are properly planned, supervised, and executed.
Work at Height Regulations 2005: These regulations set out requirements to prevent death and injury caused by falls from height, which is a common hazard in construction.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH): COSHH requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health, such as chemicals and dust, to prevent ill health.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: These regulations require employers to avoid hazardous manual handling operations and, where unavoidable, assess and reduce the risk of injury.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR): RIDDOR mandates the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012: These regulations impose duties to manage asbestos in buildings and ensure that work with materials containing asbestos is carried out safely.

Why use Armco construction barriers?

Armco construction work barriers – whether temporary or permanent – are a vital addition to construction sites for the following reasons:

Durability and longevity: Manufactured with galvanised steel, Armco construction barriers can withstand a lot of impact and last a long time, so you save costs on installation and maintenance.
Versatility: Due to their malleable components, Armco construction barriers can be suitably erected in a variety of construction environments, whether they are roadworks or building sites.
Cost effectiveness: Implementing long-lasting materials reduces the frequency of replacements, minimises downtime due to accidents and damaged infrastructure, and lessens the need for consistent maintenance, saving money.
Ease of installation: The modular design of Armco barriers allows quick assembly and disassembly, providing minimal disruption to ongoing operations. You can also reuse their components across multiple projects, promoting sustainability and efficiency.
Visual guidance and delineation: Armco barriers provide clear visual indication of boundaries and no-go zones, deterring unauthorised access to construction areas while enhancing site organisation and traffic management.

Best Armco barriers for construction sites

CT Safety manufactures and distributes several Armco barriers ideal for construction environments, including:

1) Armco crash barriers

These robust barriers are manufactured with steel to absorb vehicular damage, protecting staff and site infrastructure. Their corrugated W shape absorbs energy upon impact, making them amenable to various construction site applications.

2) Pedestrian Armco barriers

Construction sites often have pedestrian areas, especially when situated in public. Pedestrian Armco barriers are essential for delineating pedestrian pathways within sites, ensuring workers and visitors are separated from vehicular traffic and hazardous zones.

3) Security barriers

Security barriers control construction site access, safeguarding unauthorised persons from entering while protecting valuable equipment and materials from theft or damage.

4) Bollards

Bollards provide vertical posting to protect specific areas and structures from vehicle intrusion. They can be erected to protect building entrances, exits, and other critical infrastructure found on construction sites. CT Safety offers various types of bollards for this purpose, including telescopic and static steel options to suit different needs.

5) Safety handrails

Safety handrails provide support and protection for workers in various areas, particularly elevated zones like platforms and stairways. They help prevent falls and guide personnel safely through the site. We provide key clamp handrails, DDA handrails, and roof edge protection solutions that we tailor to construction site needs.

Additional protection: Accessories and fixings

Armco barrier safety comes in various shapes and forms, with additional accessories that allow you to construct malleable construction barrier fixings around your site.

Fishtail End Caps: These are durable end caps made from galvanised steel or bright yellow polymer, designed to enhance visibility and safety around the construction site.
Pedestrian End Caps: End caps are designed to protect pedestrians from sharp edges and are available in various materials and colours that can enhance visibility based on best practices.
90-Degree Internal and External Corners: These components allow the barrier system to navigate corners, ensuring continuous protection regardless of the shape and length of the protective materials in place.
Flexi-Corner Components: These are adaptable pieces that adjust to various angles, accommodating unique site layouts.
Plastic End Caps: These malleable caps provide a durable finish to barriers, ensuring longevity by protecting them from corrosion. They also protect workers from sharp edges.
Anchor Bolts: Our anchor bolts secure Armco posts to the ground, ensuring a stable foundation for the barrier system.
Lap Bolts: These bolts Join overlapping guardrail sections to create a continuous and unbroken barrier.
Bolt Caps: Cover exposed bolt ends to prevent corrosion, ensuring a long-lasting solution for health and safety needs while reducing the risk of injuries.

Safety proofing your site with CT Safety’s construction barriers

Armco construction barriers are a durable and versatile way to make your construction site safer while complying with health and safety regulations. With a thorough assessment of the needs of your workplace, you can discover the type of Armco products you need and where to place them.

We recommend looking over our range of Armco barriers to determine your needs. You can speak with our team of professionals to talk through the project scope.

Call: (01977) 666 818

Email @ sales@ctsafetybarriers.co.uk