Vital Infrastructure for Construction Sites

For the uninitiated, a construction site may look like a ragged mess of vehicles, materials, and half-built structures. But for anyone that’s been involved in the construction industry for some time, you’ll know that there are a lot of interwoven systems that make construction sites more efficient and safer than ever before. When it comes to establishing a productive and well-secured construction site, there are many vital infrastructure components that must be considered.

Safety infrastructure

Building contractors are usually the ones responsible for the safety of all staff. They ensure that there is sufficient safety equipment for builders to use, and they also design the site so that workers know exactly where things are in the event of an emergency. This is because every building site has safety infrastructure in place that takes many different forms.

Fencing

Fencing is usually the first thing that construction sites will put up. This isn’t just to protect workers, but also local residents and pedestrians. Putting up fencing ensures that everyone knows where the boundaries of the construction site are. It clearly defines the site so that people know exactly when they should be wearing safety equipment, and it also means there’s less chance of someone or a child wandering into the site and injuring themselves.

However, fencing isn’t just used for safety. It can also be used for site security to deter intruders and also prevent thieves from stealing equipment and having an easy escape route. Fencing also guides the flow of foot traffic, meaning there are clearly defined entrances and exits which can easily be monitored to only allow authorised staff in.

Bog Mats

Bog mats are pretty vital when it comes to outdoor construction sites. For large sites where land has been excavated, it can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to move large vehicles such as cranes and heavy machinery. With a bog mat, it creates a more stable and safe surface for vehicles and also people to traverse. This also marks a pathway for vehicles to travel around the construction site and is also frequently used to transport heavy materials from one side of the site to another.

Signage

Construction sites can be large and confusing places. That’s why signage is extremely important for any construction site regardless of how big or small they are. Signage needs to be present to remind workers about safety considerations, but it’s also helpful to guide workers and vehicles around. Signage can also help direct people to offices, first aid kits, and even staff facilities should they be lost. Signage is also helpful for keeping people out of the construction site and marking restricted areas.

Lighting

Lighting is an overlooked safety infrastructure component that can be incredibly important when the sun goes down. In most cases, lighting is used to deter people from entering the construction site, but there are also times where it’s necessary to light up darker areas or when workers are still active during the evening. Temporary indoor lighting is also necessary because natural light typically can’t reach those areas.

Staff facilities

Staff facilities are also very important. In most cases, every big construction site will have an office location where the foreman or project manager will spend most of their time. They will guide their workers and assign tasks for the day, and they’ll also use those offices for meetings when a visitor comes. There are usually lots of plans and design documents for the building to ensure that the build is proceeding as planned.

Other staff facilities include toilets and potentially even an on-site canteen if the building site is located far away from food service businesses. These are usually managed by workers themselves, but there are situations where construction sites will hire cooks and janitorial staff to help maintain the site and ensure it is properly cleaned.

Construction-related infrastructure

Lastly, we can’t forget all of the infrastructure elements that assists with the construction project itself. For example, there’s a need for utilities such as power, water, and gas. In some cases, it’s also helpful to have sewer connections for draining and cleaning. The internet is another commonly-used utility that will be important for communication.

Storage is another common piece of infrastructure that is essential to any construction site. While materials can often be stored in vehicles, it’s more convenient if they’re stored on-site so that vehicles can drive back and forth from a supplier to keep the construction site topped up on raw building materials.