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Contractors reminded to keep sites safe from children

HSE Press Release: E100:04 - 16 July 2004

Following an incident to a small child on 22 June 2004 at a construction site in Filey, North Yorkshire, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a reminder to contractors that it is their responsibly to keep children off sites and to store materials and plant safely.

In the last 5 years 472 children have been killed or injured on construction sites in Great Britain.

Philip White, head of HSE's Construction Sector said:

"The recent serious incident involving a three year old boy should serve as a sobering reminder to everyone in the construction industry that construction sites are dangerous places for children. With school holidays about to commence across Great Britain, extra care needs to be taken to ensure that sites are secure and that materials and plant are stored safely."

Protecting the public - your next move, provides guidance to assist contractors in identifying the main risks and provides advice on how to eliminate the hazards and control the risks.

Notes to editors

1. Injuries to non-employed children (aged 1 - 15) in the Construction sector, as reported to HSE during the period 1998/9 to 2002/03.

Year Fatal Non-fatal Total
1998/99 0 111 111
1999/2000 3 122 125
2000/01 1 81 82
2001/02 1 91 92
2002/03 1 61 62
Total 6 466 472

2. Copies of Protecting the public - your next move, HSG 151, ISBN 0 7176 1148 5, price £7.95, are available from HSE Books.

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Updated 2011-08-17