Code of practice for construction and demolition sites

In any construction, demolition or excavation site there are major concerns of noise, air pollution, site conditions and safety of both the workforce and members of the public.

Compliance with the relevant parts of this document should enable work to be completed safely and in an environmentally friendly way.

Work on any construction/demolition site must have regard for the safety of people outside the site who may not recognise the dangers associated with such work, as well as the workers themselves. This document does not replace a contractors statutory responsibility to provide and maintain safe working conditions, although reference is made to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Construction/demolition sites hold an interest for adults and children, so active measures should be taken to keep them out and consideration should be given to the provision of non-climable security fencing at least two metres high.

The contractor will prepare and provide a current emergency contacts set of procedures for each work site. These procedures will be followed in any site emergency. They will contain emergency telephone numbers and the method of notifying services/the council for action.

Copies of the procedures will be issued to the Council, Devon Fire and Rescue Service, police, ambulance service and statutory authorities etc.

For those sites at which contaminated material is encountered, the Contractors Safety Officer will ensure that a Worker's Safety Information Sheet is prepared and prominently displayed in rest/mess rooms and wash rooms covering hygiene, work practices, clothing requirements etc.

Crane arcs will be confined within the site periphery unless agreed otherwise with the Counciland the police. At the completion of works the contractor will leave the site free from plant, rubble and any unwanted materials.

The security of neighbouring property should be considered. Care should be taken not to leave scaffolding and ladders or any conditions, which facilitate access to neighbouring property.

The contractor will follow a 'good housekeeping' policy at all times. This will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following requirements:

• Rubbish will be removed at frequent intervals and the site kept clean and tidy. The new law on waste management  'The Duty Of Care part II of The Environmental Protection Act 1990', requires that all reasonable steps be taken to look after any waste you have and prevent its illegal disposal by others
• Toilet facilities will be kept clean.
• Food waste will be removed frequently.

A rodent survey should be carried out by a suitably qualified contractor prior to the commencement of any work at the site to identify any rodent activity. A copy of the contractors report must be submitted to the Environmental Services division of Plymouth City Council together with details of any baiting programme that is required.

The Council's code of practice for construction and demolition provides best practice guidance, where a planning condition has been attached to a planning permission requiring a code of practice or site management plan, you may wish to adopt the Council's code of practice below:

[Back to top]