SAFETY BARRICADING ON CAMPUS
The University is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and people are active around campus - day
and night. The protection of our staff, students, and visitors from falls is a priority and must be
yours too.
We have a number of high risk groups that warrant special care around construction or maintenance
work areas or hazards. Of particular concern are students and school children passing through the
campus who may not be deterred by warning signs alone, nor have an awareness of the site dangers.
We also have a number of visually handicapped persons on campus and any disruption to the ground or
floor surface area can cause significant falls or trips for them.
You can’t prevent persons getting into a work site!
You’re right. While even a properly
erected fence or barricade and safety
signage will not always stop those who are
determined to get into or through the
work area e.g.: vandals, thieves or just plain ignorant people,
But it will discourage most people.
It demonstrates that you have taken all reasonable steps to meet your legal responsibilities under the
WH & S Act.
A perimeter fence or temporary barricade can protect people from the danger of building or
maintenance hazards such as:
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Electric shock from “live “cables
Exposed steel reinforcing bars,
Trenches, pits, excavations,
Trip hazards ,
Contact with chemicals or substances.
Being hit by falling objects
All University staff, contractors and workers have H & S legal obligations to protect members of the
general public from the hazards of building or maintenance work.
Q. When should you fence your worksite?
Construction barricades or fences are best erected before any work begins on dismantling, building or
other site preparation.
Barricades must not be removed or partly dismantled until the area is safe to enter, traverse or occupy.
Q. What other Risk Factors need to be considered?
The University campus, buildings and thoroughfares are highly trafficked areas with high volumes of
staff or students accessing or passing through most work areas. The situation is similar to the inner city
and other demanding business areas. For highly used areas like these, the type of fencing or barricading
required depends on:
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the worksite construction or maintenance hazards including the presence of special
hazardous substances
the local environmental conditions – access or pathways, existing walls or fences, stairs,
trees or vegetation , weather, working inside or outside
the expected job length – time to complete project or part of [this alone should not
determine fence type]
Other risk factors on campus include site location and proximity to:
 campus shops and businesses
 campus amenities e.g.: ATM’s, toilets, lunch or eating areas, parking meters or spaces
 occupied offices or laboratories
 trenches, excavations or service pits,
 University plant or other restricted areas of essential service – power, gas,
telecommunications
 nearby pathways or traversing tactile indicator trails for visually impaired persons and
 The likelihood of students or staff being around after hours e.g.: evening classes, weekend
activities.
Q . What type of fence or barricade should you use?
For minor construction, maintenance or repair jobs e.g.: repairs to footpaths, open shallow manholes,
i
When deciding temporary fencing or barricading, the following characteristics should be considered:
 A suitable height to deter entry or access,
 Be constructed from dedicated materials,
 Be suitably coloured to contrast with surroundings and be
visible at night ii
 Be difficult to climb (fences)
 Be difficult to gain access underneath
 Be stable and able to withstand anticipated loads
 Gates and joints in the fences to be secure and not become a
weak point for entry.
As a minimum, barricades may be comprised of:
 Portable plastic or metal folding or erected barriers with horizontal guardrails which can
withstand reasonable side forces & weather to remain upright –minimum 900 mm high or
 Plastic mesh barriers 900 mm high supported by capped star pickets or other upright structures
at maximum spacing of 3 metres or
 Highly visual barricades –installed at least 1.5 metres away from the edge of any open
excavations (where possible).
 The base of obstacles and structures should be able to be located with a long (white) cane. Their
bottom edge should be less than 200mm above the floor surface.
 Open holes should be shielded with a sturdy cover that is capable of withstanding all loads likely
to be imposed on it.
 Hazard warning signs are placed conspicuously to alert persons of any trip/fall hazards.
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 Where a person may fall 1 metre or less in common use areas, edge protection of 900 mm high
[minimum] must be erected . It must be able to withstand downwards and outwards force of
impact from any person who may fall against it.
“Witches hats” [traffic cones] and single strand wire
are not suitable safety barricade or fencing materials
on their own.
Single strand plastic barricade tape should only be used
where the risk is very low to general public and the type
of work makes it impractical to use other methods.
The FM project co-ordinator must authorise its use.
For defined Construction worksites:
Contractors should refer directly to the relevant WH & S Regulations at Workplace Health and Safety
Qld website for mandatory standards of perimeter fencing, hoarding, gantries or other forms of
construction site security and containment.
A helpful WHSQ Site Security Guide is also available at
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/guidancenote-sitesecurity.pdf
Referenced documents:
i
Site Security and public access onto housing construction sites- Guidance note WH&S QLD
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/guidancenote-sitesecurity.pdf
ii
PCA Pedestrian Safety Policy ; Blind Citizens Australia 2010 - http://www.bca.org.au/index
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