Safety For Construction Near Schools
With population growth and aging school buildings, school construction projects are springing up all over the country. But even when the school is intact, there can be construction sites nearby. Construction sites are inherently dangerous places. There are a wide range of protocols that must be in place to keep children, faculty and visitors safe in or around a construction zone.
Construction Site Safety
Children can be curious about construction areas and equipment. When children are curious, they will often find a way to explore. It is vital that any construction site near a school is kept secure. This means fencing and locked gates. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the site must be inspected regularly to make sure that the perimeter is secure. All power machinery must be supervised during the workday, and locked away when unused. All building materials must be kept away from both the building and the security perimeter.
Hazardous Chemicals
Dangerous chemicals, dust and other pollutants can affect the respiratory systems of passersby. Many older schools have hazardous chemicals in their construction. Even when schools have had lead or asbestos abatement, the soil around the school may be contaminated from hazards used decades ago. Like the perimeter, regular soil and air inspections must be completed. In addition to latent threats, there are a wide range of pollutants that are unique to a construction site. Diesel fuel emissions, chemical fumes and a wide range of dust can all contribute to a dangerous air quality. Constant monitoring and adjustment are needed to keep the air quality safe for school children.
Construction Traffic
Any large building project requires large building equipment. Large trucks, cement mixers and cranes are needed to lay foundations and lift beams into place. This kind of traffic disrupts the flow of school traffic as parents drop off and pick up students. Throw a 120-student school bus into the mix and it is a recipe for disaster. During the construction phase, traffic may need to be rerouted so that cars and buses approach the school from a direction that keeps them free from the construction area. In addition, cranes should be used when school is not in session, or used at a safe distance. If cables snap, construction pieces may become a hazard to nearby buildings or streets, and this may include the school.
Safety Personnel
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health requires several safety figures be present during construction. There must be a designated medical safety person on the site at all times. This person must have received accredited training from The American Red Cross, The U.S. Bureau of Mines or some equivalent organization in first aid and emergency medical care. The construction company must also provide personnel that can go into the school and instruct faculty and students about safety and explain the construction process. This includes basic construction site safety, reasons to stay away from the site and how to recognize dangers.
Construction Site Safety
Children can be curious about construction areas and equipment. When children are curious, they will often find a way to explore. It is vital that any construction site near a school is kept secure. This means fencing and locked gates. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the site must be inspected regularly to make sure that the perimeter is secure. All power machinery must be supervised during the workday, and locked away when unused. All building materials must be kept away from both the building and the security perimeter.
Hazardous Chemicals
Dangerous chemicals, dust and other pollutants can affect the respiratory systems of passersby. Many older schools have hazardous chemicals in their construction. Even when schools have had lead or asbestos abatement, the soil around the school may be contaminated from hazards used decades ago. Like the perimeter, regular soil and air inspections must be completed. In addition to latent threats, there are a wide range of pollutants that are unique to a construction site. Diesel fuel emissions, chemical fumes and a wide range of dust can all contribute to a dangerous air quality. Constant monitoring and adjustment are needed to keep the air quality safe for school children.
Construction Traffic
Any large building project requires large building equipment. Large trucks, cement mixers and cranes are needed to lay foundations and lift beams into place. This kind of traffic disrupts the flow of school traffic as parents drop off and pick up students. Throw a 120-student school bus into the mix and it is a recipe for disaster. During the construction phase, traffic may need to be rerouted so that cars and buses approach the school from a direction that keeps them free from the construction area. In addition, cranes should be used when school is not in session, or used at a safe distance. If cables snap, construction pieces may become a hazard to nearby buildings or streets, and this may include the school.
Safety Personnel
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health requires several safety figures be present during construction. There must be a designated medical safety person on the site at all times. This person must have received accredited training from The American Red Cross, The U.S. Bureau of Mines or some equivalent organization in first aid and emergency medical care. The construction company must also provide personnel that can go into the school and instruct faculty and students about safety and explain the construction process. This includes basic construction site safety, reasons to stay away from the site and how to recognize dangers.
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