Construction sites are not playgrounds

Areas where work is being done on the motorways are full of dangers.

The contractor for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project has been highlighting some of the dangers on the sites including construction machinery, unstable land, heavy goods vehicles and open excavations.

SRP general manager Gabriel Valtueña-Ramos said: “We are a responsible company and as such the safety of the local community, road users and our workforce is of paramount importance to us.

“A construction site could be seen as an attractive place for young people to explore, especially as the summer holidays are upon us.

“Therefore, we are reminding young people of the inherent dangers that exist within live construction sites and are urging them to stay safe by staying away.”

SRP has produced a health and safety poster as a reminder of the inherent nature of live construction sites which is displayed on site as well as leaflet which is available on the on the Transport Scotland website wwww.transport.gov.scot.

The project’s health and safety manager Lesley Baird said: “Construction sites often attract children as they look like huge adventure playgrounds, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – sites often have unseen dangers and although we ensure they are secured with fencing, children can still find ways onto them if they try hard enough.

“The M8 M73 M74 site is vast and borders many of the local communities across North and South Lanarkshire, therefore we would like to remind parents, guardians and carers to warn their children and to encourage them to stay away from the site.

“We barrier off or cover over excavations and pipes and ensure vehicles and heavy plant are secured and keys are removed to immobilize them. However, sudden changes in the weather, like bursts of heavy rain, can create muddy pools which can be deep, as well as other possible hazards.

“We maintain a policy of ‘Looking for an Incident Free Environment’ (LIFE), which we promote heavily across our sites, but while everything is being done to make these areas safe, we also need parents to play their part.”

Construction of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project will remain fully operational during the holiday period, and where no work is taking place the site will be secured using a variety of methods, including on site security and fencing.