Ambode Unfolds Measures to Prevent Death at Construction Sites

• Emphasises insurance policy requirements

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed that all contractors should desist from covering construction sites in the state with zinc, aluminum sheets, planks and palm fronts in order to reduce the incidence of death on the sites.

 Henceforth, according to the governor, all construction sites shall be covered (hoarded and boarded) with stable opaque polyvinyl (PVC), material regardless of the size of the site, location, space and time in the state.

He disclosed this in an Executive Order E0/AA/003 of 2017 he recently signed, noting that the order was the strategy his administration introduced to prevent death and life-threatening injury often recorded at construction site across the state.

He said the order was without prejudice to the extant regulations and insurance policy requirements on construction sites, aimed at ensuring safety of life, saying non-compliance would be sanctioned in accordance with relevant building control regulations.

He said it had been observed that currently, hoarding on most sites “are erected with corrugated iron, aluminum or asbestos sheet, planks, palm fronds and others. And they are most times improperly installed. They have been known to collapse and cause both death and injury. They can also be unsightly, ugly and offensive.

 “It has become necessary to assist all parties involved in preconstruction, construction or demolition (exercise) understands the key issues, and to give guidelines for designing and installing temporary fencing or hoarding on construction sites in the state.”

He, therefore, emphasised the importance of hoarding, noting that since construction sites represents cells, it must not be exposed rather should be properly shielded until project completion.

Aside, the governor emphasised that site hoarding should be sturdily built and properly affixed “to the ground to withstand pressure, impact and inclement weather. The practice of hoarding and boarding of construction site with materials such as zinc, aluminium sheets, plank, palm fronts and others,” must stop in the state.

“The supporting framework of the site hoarding shall be of any; reinforced concrete, steel or timber sections, that is, BS 8110 for reinforced concrete, BS 5950 for steel sections and BS 5268 for timber sections.

 “And the height of hoarding materials for building should not be less than 2.4 meters; structures above two floors shall be netted round to avoid the fall-off of the spent construction materials over the hoard.

 “Typical proprietary hoarding particularly of building above five floors should incorporate the architectural perspective of the proposed project or advertising,” Ambode added.

 He said temporary fencing at construction site should cover the site perimeter wherever public access exists and be designed to ensure no interference with line of sight of pedestrian, motorist, traffic lights, crossing, ramps or car entrance or exit.

 At every construction site across the state, Ambode said necessary signage, traffic and pedestrian management devices, should be placed in a way that presents no hazard or obstruction to pedestrians or road traffic.

 “When constructing the fence, at least 1.5 metres distance should be made available between the fence and the road for pedestrian and have gates and doors that only swings inwards.”

 Aside the space, the governor explained that signs should be made available “to indicate where vehicles enter and leave the site as well as allow sufficient space within the property that allows vehicle to load and unload at ease.”