Keeping your site safe over the Christmas break

The Christmas break is nearly here, and chances are you’re counting down the days until you can switch off and spend proper time with family and mates.

Before you shut the gates for the holidays, let’s make sure your site is safe and secure. Everyone’s racing to wrap up work before shutdown, the sun’s cranking up, Christmas catch ups are filling the calendar, and the end-of-year tiredness is kicking in. That’s when shortcuts start sneaking in.

The good news is that a bit of prep now means you can enjoy your time off without worrying about what’s happening back on site. No calls about damage. No surprises when you return. Just a decent break.

Empty sites attract attention

An unattended building site over the holidays can be pretty tempting. Locked gates help, but if the site’s not properly secured it’s still at risk from trespassers, theft, and vandalism.

Your pre-shutdown checklist

• Is your boundary secure? Walk your fence line. Check it's at least 2 metres high and look for any gaps or weak spots. Make sure all gates are locked properly.

• Can people see it's dangerous? Your Hazard Board needs to be up to date with current risks and have your contact details clearly visible. Need a new board? You can order one through the HazardCo Hub.

• Have you removed the temptation? Remove ladders from site completely if you can. If you can't secure them so they can’t be used. Same goes for equipment and machinery, either remove it or hide it out of sight with the keys safely with you.

• Are excavations and openings secure? Any holes or trenches need to be covered and fenced off. Even better, backfill them if you can.

• Is everything safely stacked? Check that materials won't topple over if there's strong wind or a summer storm.

• Are hazardous substances stored properly? All your chemicals, fuels, and other nasties need to be locked in proper storage. Best option? Take them off site completely if you can.

• Will temporary structures survive the weather? Give your scaffolding, barriers, and fencing a once over. Summer storms can be brutal.

• Is the power off? Switch off and lock out all temporary power supplies and switchboards.

• Is the site clean? Do a quick tidy up before you go. Empty skip bins, remove waste. A clean site is safer and less attractive to anyone thinking about having a nose around.

Two easy wins using HazardCo

• Before you leave: Do a Site Review in the HazardCo App on your final day so you know nothing’s been missed.

• When you’re back: Do another Site Review on your first day back. You’ll spot any issues straight away.

Both reviews are stored in your system, giving you a clear record of how the site looked before and after the break.

If someone’s working over shutdown

If you do need someone on site during the break, you need a lone worker plan in place to make sure they stay safe. Key things to cover:

• Regular check ins (not just once a day, make it frequent)

• First aid kit on site and easily accessible

• Trained first aider present

• No high-risk work

The bottom line

Put a bit of time into going through this Site Security Checklist and secure your site now. Meaning you can properly switch off over Christmas.without wondering if you left something open. No phone calls cutting into your downtime.

Need support? Give the HazardCo Advisory team a call on 1800 954 702 or flick an email to info@hazardco.com and they’ll help you get shutdown-ready.

Have a safe and relaxing Christmas.