The construction site
Construction Site (All You Need to Know)
Time to get technical! We’re taking a closer look at everything you need to know about being on a construction site, including health and safety concerns and some of the workers you might find on a job.
What is a construction site?
A construction site is an area or piece of land where construction work is taking place.
Sometimes construction sites are referred to as ‘building sites’. This usually implies that buildings or houses are being constructed, whereas ‘construction site’ covers a wider scope of work. This could refer to anything from a house extension to a landscaping project, road or bridge construction or a huge engineering project, such as the Crossrail development or the creation of a new power station.
Land is generally classed as a ‘construction site’ when it’s handed over to contractors to begin work. Across a construction site, multiple activities often take place at different times, under the same plan.
Health and safety concerns onsite
Construction industry sites are potentially dangerous environments. To minimise risks, it’s important to be aware of health and safety issues and put measures in place to reduce their impact.
Some of the main health and safety concerns on a construction site include:
Movement of machinery and materials
Construction sites are busy places, where heavy machinery is often used to move materials or lift loads. Traffic plans and barriers separating plant operations from other important works are key to site safety.
Trip hazards
Uneven ground can present the risk of trips, slips and falls during construction works. Materials left lying around can create a dangerous obstacle course, so equipment should be monitored and safe zones cordoned off to minimise hazards.
Harmful materials and substances
Asbestos and lead paint can be harmful to construction workers, as can chemicals, paints and the fumes created by these.
Asbestos needs to be removed and disposed of in a safe way. Appropriate PPE should be worn to prevent dust and toxic substances from affecting skin, eyes and airways.
Working at height
Working at height is often part and parcel of building construction. Falling tools and debris can also increase risks. All staff on site should be provided with training to prevent accidents, and scaffolding and towers need to be made secure.
Manual handling and physical strain
Training on lifting and moving heavy items, with or without mechanical lifting tools, will help to minimise accidents that arise from poor manual handling. To reduce physical strain resulting from the use of vibrating power tools and groundworking equipment, safety equipment should be worn, tools routinely maintained, and regular breaks taken.
Noise
Repetitive sounds from machinery and tools can affect hearing and may prevent workers from communicating efficiently, resulting in accidents.
Ear protection and adequate training can help to reduce strain and injury.
Electricity
Using power tools and being in close proximity to overhead cables and power lines puts construction workers at risk of electrocution. All work around power lines should be thoroughly risk assessed, and only qualified electricians should carry out electrical work.
Risk of collapse
Any incomplete construction work presents risks of collapse. Good preparation and precautionary measures can help to prevent injuries. Demolitions should only be undertaken by trained operatives.
What are the key roles working onsite?
Every construction project is different, and the workers and contractors required will change depending on the task in hand. Many construction projects will be made up of core specialists from the industry, however, including:
Site manager
The site manager will have an overview of an entire project and will help to plan and coordinate resources, assist with overall planning, ensure smooth communication between teams and contractors, monitor progress and produce reports for clients.
Engineer
Engineers plan, design and manage large construction projects, using computer modelling software and data to advise on the best course of action and create project blueprints.
Architects and designers
Architects design new structures or renovate existing ones. CAD operatives or BIM coordinators model their plans using 3D design software.
Surveyor
Surveyors provide professional advice on a range of construction-related matters, from measuring buildings and checking quality, to assessing damage for legal and insurance purposes.
Operatives
Construction operatives carry out a range of manual tasks on a construction site, including preparing ground, driving heavy machinery, moving materials, erecting scaffolding and carrying out work whilst a project is in progress.
Skilled tradespeople
From bricklayers to carpenters, fitters, plumbers, painter and decorators and more, there are a wide range of craftspeople needed to bring a construction project together and give it a professional finish.
In addition to these roles, there could be hundreds of other people working on a construction project, from estimators and accountants, to legal experts, health and safety advisors, ecologists and sustainability consultants, landscape architects, transport managers and more.
Things to remember when working onsite
Construction sites are exciting, vibrant places; however, when working onsite, it’s important to be aware of the work being carried out around you and to minimise any potential risks to yourself or to others where possible.
If equipment appears to be out of place or could pose a danger, you should inform a manager or team leader, and ensure the issue is resolved by a qualified person, rather than jumping in and harming yourself unnecessarily.
Construction site - Designing Buildings
We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. You can find out about our cookies and how to disable cookies in our Privacy Policy.
If you continue to use this website without disabling cookies, we will assume you are happy to receive them. Close.
Edit this article
Last edited 04 Jan 2022
See full history
A construction site is an area or piece of land on which construction works are being carried out.
The term ‘building site’ is often used interchangeably with construction site, although this tends to indicate that buildings (and sometimes, more specifically, housing) are being constructed, whereas the term ‘construction site’ can refer to all types of works, such as road construction, sewer construction, landscaping, and so on.
The CDM Regulations suggest that a construction site: '...includes any place where construction work is being carried out or to which the workers have access, but does not include a workplace within the site which is set aside for purposes other than construction work.'
Typically, land will become a construction site when it is handed over to a contractor to begin the construction works.
Regulation 6 of the CDM regulations requires that notice is given to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as soon as is practicable before the construction phase begins. On projects involving more than one contractor, the CDM regulations also require that the client appoints a principal contractor to co-ordinate the construction phase.
In the first phase of the works, construction may be restricted to preliminary activities such as; securing the site, site clearance, setting up site facilities, demolition, groundworks, and so on. It is often apparent that a site has become a construction site when hoarding is erected to secure its perimeter.
It is relatively common for sites to remain in this 'prepared' condition for some time with little evidence of further construction works being undertaken. This may be due to complexities in securing all the land required, obtaining permissions, securing all the funding required, complex ground works, ongoing design, and so on.
This can leave developers open to accusations of landbanking.
Once above ground works begin, construction sites may appear to progress relatively quickly as structural frames grow and cladding is installed. They may then appear to slow again as internal fit outs are undertaken and finishing work is carried out.
Typically, a construction site will revert to being a non-construction site when it is handed back to the client on certification of practical completion. However, there may be ongoing minor works required to rectify any defects that become apparent.
NB The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines site in relation to a building as: ‘…the area of ground covered or to be covered by the building, including its foundations.’
On Designing Buildings Wiki, there is a range of useful information relating to construction sites, including:
- Access to construction sites.
- CDM.
- Complaining about construction sites.
- Condition survey.
- Development footprint.
- Ground conditions.
- Handover construction site to the client.
- Handover to the contractor.
- Hoardings.
- How to work safely on a construction site in the dark.
- How to work safely on a construction site in winter.
- Injuries on construction sites.
- Landbanking.
- Lighting of construction sites.
- Logistics.
- Mobilisation.
- Notifiable project F10 form.
- On site.
- Possession.
- Perimeter security.
- Plot.
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Site appraisals.
- Site area.
- Site facilities.
- Site induction.
- Site layout plan.
- Site office.
- Site plan.
- Site safety.
- Site storage.
- Site survey.
- Temporary site services.
- Share
- Add a comment
- Send us feedback
- View comments history
Formation of best practices among developers and capital construction projects
Holding an annual competition for the professional holiday "Builder's Day" contributes to the formation of best practices among developers and capital construction projects, as well as the prevention of violations in the field of construction. In the city of Krasnoyarsk, 14 objects and 8 developers participated in the COMPETITION "The Best Construction Site - 2017".
In the nomination "The best organization of the construction site" , such developers as ARBAN, SIBLIDER, SIBIRYAK, SIBAGROPROMSTROY and KULTBYTSTROY have prepared their facilities. The main evaluation criteria were - the level of organization of the construction site of the facility, the fencing of the construction site, the arrangement of the construction site with a wheel wash, on-site roads, the organization of storage, the arrangement of a residential camp.
Construction company "ARBAN" Kirov - st. Republic in Krasnoyarsk”. A feature of this object is its construction in the existing existing development of the central part of the regional center. The construction site along the perimeter is equipped with a fence with a canopy for safe passage, the entrance area and the construction site cover has a hard surface. nine0003 Automatic gates are installed at the entrance, the building of the checkpoint is equipped with a video camera, thus, the entrance and entrance to the territory of the construction site is under constant control of responsible persons of the security service. The commission at this facility noted the competent approaches of " ARBAN " to the arrangement of the construction site, modern methods of regulating the construction process. Also in the nomination "The best organization of the construction site" was attended by developers "SIBAGROPROMSTROY" with a construction site for a residential building under construction No. According to the results of the competition in the nomination " The best organization of the construction site ” the winner was “ ARBAN ” for the object “Orthodox Old Believer Church st. Kirov - st. Republic in Krasnoyarsk”. In the nomination "The safest construction site" , the level of organization of safety of construction production, the level of mechanization of construction production at facilities (lifts for transporting goods, building materials and lifting workers to the construction horizon, etc. Construction company "SIBLIDER" submitted to the competition the object "Residential building No. 14 with underground parking on the street. Zatonskaya - Vavilov St. - Semafornaya St. "in two nominations" The best organization of the construction site "and" The safest construction site. The construction of two high-rise residential buildings in the Kirovsky district of the city is associated with the immediate proximity of the existing residential development. The Commission noted integrated approaches « SIBLIDERA » to the organization of construction production. Modern premises, both for holding meetings and for the work of foremen at the construction site, are equipped with computer technology. Welfare rooms for line workers are equipped with everything necessary for the rest of workers, there is also an outdoor shower. Elevators to the mounting horizon are installed on the construction site, hazardous areas are fenced off. A plastering station is used for finishing work. The commission noted at the construction site " SIBLIDERA » mechanization of construction processes and modern management of production activities in a construction site using computer technology. . Residential area "Innokentievsky", Krasnoyarsk". According to the results of the competition in the nomination “ The safest construction site. Zatonskaya - Vavilov st. - Semafornaya st. In the nomination "The best new building in landscaping and landscape gardening" objects were evaluated according to the concept of landscaping, organization of sports areas, modern playgrounds, playgrounds for recreation of different ages, complex gardening, application of landscape gardening ideas, vertical gardening . The construction company " Sibiryak " submitted an object in the Central District of Krasnoyarsk to the competition. “The complex of residential buildings No. 2, 2A, 2B, III of the Pokrovsky microdistrict is an open courtyard space with a large playground for children, outdoor exercise equipment for sports, basketball and tennis courts. Landscaping was decided by planting adult large-sized trees, shrubs, flower beds were planted. The commission noted this new building as a standard for large-panel housing construction for comfortable living. nine0003 The construction company " SibLeader " has prepared for the competition the 2nd stage of the residential complex "FREGAT-NEO" on the street. Krasnodar - Malinovsky street. The second stage of the residential building is united by a common courtyard with the first stage, an interesting solution was to arrange the border of the two lines in the form of a bench, where you can not only sit while watching a child play, but also admire flower arrangements in pots and lush hydrangeas. The construction company " ARBAN " presented a new residential complex "Pokrovka-Life" on Karaulnaya street in the Soviet district of Krasnoyarsk. A feature of this complex is a closed courtyard space with a modern children's playground, a sports ground and a recreation area located in the underground parking. An interesting element of improvement is the lawns on the outside, where pine trees are planted on a small hill, creating the effect of hills, and numerous flower beds. nine0003 The construction company " New City " presented a new building on the street. Pushkin "Residential Complex of Parallels", consisting of two buildings and an inner courtyard. The developer " KRASINVEST ", a member of the group of construction companies "KRASSTROY", prepared for the competition a new building in the Sverdlovsk district of the city "Residential building No. According to the results of the competition in the nomination "The best new building in landscaping and landscape gardening" , the commission singled out three sub-nominations: SIBIRYAKA" 
2 LCD "Novaya Panorama" at Oktyabrskaya St., "KULTBYTSTROY" with a construction site for a residential building under construction at Sverdlovskaya St. Residential Complex "DOMINO", as well as " SIBIRYAK » with the object «Complex of hostels for students "Perya", on the street. Borisov" in the Campus of the Siberian Federal University. 
), mechanization of production processes (plastering stations, the use of progressive tools, welding equipment, etc.), the availability of personal protective equipment for workers. nine0003 
nine0003 
The commission assessed the landscape design of the residential complex both inside the yard and from the street side. nine0003 
Karamzin. nine0003
Three developers DSK, SIBIRYAK and NOVIY GOROD took part in nomination "From developer to management company" . In this nomination, the condition of the facades of the building, the asphalt pavement of the courtyard space, the condition of the playgrounds, the quality of the MAFs, and comprehensive landscaping were evaluated.
Construction company " DSK " presented objects on the street.
Yastynskaya in the Soviet district of the city, the management company "SOFT". nine0003
The construction company " Sibiryak " presented residential buildings in the III microdistrict "Pokrovsky", the management company "Pokrovsky Gates". in the residential complex "Small quarters" on Parusnaya street, in the Sverdlovsk district of the city, the management company "Comfort-CITY". The commission noted the general concept of improvement - the creation of modern cozy streets where you can take a walk, play, play sports and just have a cup of coffee.
The winner in the nomination "From the developer to the management company" was recognized as the object of the residential complex "Small quarters" of the developer " NOVY GOROD "Comfort City" , the management company.
In the "Most Disciplined Builder/Contractor" nomination, the results are based on the statistical data of the service based on the results of the verification activities carried out.
GSK "KRASSTROY" was recognized as the winner in this nomination. nine0003
Comments
- Comments
- VK
Download SocComments v1.3
Add comment
12/16/2021
21:08
2003
Yakutia
On December 16, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Yakutia Dmitry BERDNIKOV, on behalf of the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Aisen Nikolaev, held a regular field meeting at the construction site No. 1. Old Tabaga. nine0003
“One of the main events of this year in the republic was the launch of the Lena Bridge project. This is the most important geostrategic transport project for the whole of Russia. Today, work is being carried out here to rebuild engineering communications that fall into the construction zone of the main course of the bridge. And next year, after receiving a positive conclusion from Glavgosexpertiza, the implementation of the main stage of the project to build a bridge across the Lena River will begin,” Dmitry Berdnikov noted.
nine0003
The First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the order of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to ensure year-round uninterrupted traffic on the Lena, Vilyui and Kolyma federal highways until 2030 once again confirms his attention to the transport connectivity of Yakutia and the entire east Russia. Here, the construction of the Lensky Bridge should become the flagship.
Dmitry Berdnikov, answering journalists' questions, announced that at present, in the area of Staraya Tabaga, the reconstruction of three lines of power supply networks of 10 kV overhead lines has been completed. “Today, work is underway on 110 kV power supply networks and work on the reconstruction of communication networks. Pile foundations for electric poles were installed. Contractual work is underway to remove gas supply networks that enter the main target, ”said the first deputy chairman. nine0003
Speaking about the construction site, he said that a sandy base of 36,000 cubic meters of sand had been prepared and 276 road slabs had been laid.
The technological site is fully supplied with electricity. Thus, the construction site is fully prepared for ongoing work. With an increase in the pace of construction, this site will be increased almost three times.
On this day, the contracting organization Tekhelectrosnab LLC installed a forty-meter metal pole No. 2 of the reconfigured 110 kV Maya-Tabaga I-II circuit. The participants of the off-site meeting witnessed the vertical lifting of a support for a high-voltage line. nine0003
A large-scale infrastructure project, which has no analogues in the world, is being implemented under a concession agreement concluded between the government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and a consortium of Rostec State Corporation and VIS Group. Today, the project is fully secured by extrabudgetary funding from the concessionaire and financial partner, Sberbank PJSC. A positive conclusion was received from the State Expert Review of project documentation for the preparatory stage of the project, which made it possible to start work in 2021.
