Temporary fencing is mandatory for construction sites. It is the requirement of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), an organization in the US that inspects construction sites. In some countries, you have to follow it as a condition by that state’s law. Otherwise, you may be penalized and have to bear a heavy fine.
Temporary fencing not only saves your construction site but your laborers, your machinery and materials, and other persons. Temporary fencing, safety signs, and barriers help protect your laborers from getting injured on the construction site. You must install these to follow the protocols of a construction site.
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Reasons You Need Temporary Fencing
Temporary fencing must be installed properly and should have a height of 6 feet minimum, and must be checked regularly for safety purposes. Construction sites should be fenced for a variety of reasons. Some of them are:
Temporary Fencing as a Visual Barrier
Temporary fencing acts as a visual barrier on construction sites and guides the outsiders to not enter without safety. It does protect not only the outsiders but also the drivers and other unauthorized personnel from entering the construction site.
Many building projects are located in densely populated areas and can bring unwanted visitors. Furthermore, if one of the unauthorized visitors is injured on your property, you may be held accountable for damages. On the other hand, a temporary construction fence can assist keep these intruders out.
You also need to install temporary fencing for your workers to keep doing their work without being interrupted and without fear of injuring residents.
It also helps to control the traffic flow without any blockage and makes a safe and defined pathway for the workers and authorized personnel for entrance and exit.
Limit entry points to manage mobility in and out of the building site. Managing traffic may be difficult if your fence has several entry sites or installing cameras at each entry point is too expensive.
Temporary Fencing to Save Construction Site Materials
Temporary fencing also plays an important role in maintaining the material of construction. It saves your material from being stolen. It also helps control the escape of waste materials, debris, etc., from the construction site.
Controlling the unintentional movement of dirt, rock, debris, or construction tools should be on a construction safety checklist. Because the flow of people outside the construction site is uncontrollable, you must ensure that no hazardous material escapes and injures passers-by. Suppose construction site waste is not properly managed. You could face a fine, or regulatory authorities could shut down your building site.
Ensure compliance with government guidelines and regulations
Contractors are provided with guidelines by different local governments. Although safety regulations for construction sites may differ from state to state, they are almost uniform. A safety fence is necessary for construction on any property regardless of its location.
You may be in legal trouble if you don’t follow the guidelines. Construction costs are often substantial, and you don’t want those costs to skyrocket because of legal disputes or temporary construction delays.
As an added benefit, compliance protects you against lawsuits from trespassers who might get hurt. You may incur significant damages if someone gets hurt on your site if you do not comply with the safety requirements. It will further increase the cost of your development.
Temporary Fencing for the Safety & Health of the Public
When walking down the sidewalk, pedestrians are frequently lost in their little world, entirely oblivious to what is happening. As a result, they may unintentionally go onto a highly unsafe building site, putting their health and safety at risk.
Underage Children, in particular, may mistake construction sites for enjoyable playgrounds, oblivious to their danger. As a result, installing a fence notifies the public that construction is underway. The area must be spared and keep youngsters from entering the area.
How Much & for How Long Fencing is required at the Construction Site
Temporary fencing should be in place throughout the construction process, from when the foundation is laid until the project is finished. Based on your project’s many levels, it could take anywhere from 6 months to one year.
Cost of Temporary Fencing
The temporary fencing cost depends on how long the construction process continues on the site. The longer the construction period, the more costly your fencing may get.
In addition to the length of time it takes to rent a temporary fence, the cost is determined by whether you need to hire a new one owing to different work schedules. Fencing replacement or repair costs might also arise because of lost, stolen, or damaged fencing.
Why Construction Site Protocols are Necessary
Before any construction work starts, you will need a safety fence, independent of where you’re building your property is building. Construction authorities in various local governments govern contractors. Although state standards may change, construction site safety standards are nearly consistent across the country.
If you do not obey the guidelines, you could face legal consequences. Construction costs are frequently high, and you do not want to increase them by pursuing violation cases or halting work temporarily.
Suppose you do not fully comply with the safety requirements. In that case, you may have to pay considerable damages to those injured on your property, which will raise the cost of your construction.
Final Words:
Safety and assisting signs are among the first things one looks for when going to a construction site. In other words, before starting any project, you must think of temporary fencing and safety signals. Temporary fencing complies with state law and prevents you from facing penalization by safety authorities. In addition to protecting outsiders from injuries, these barriers help define the construction site’s boundaries and allow workers to work without being concerned about injuries.
