Temporary Signage and Barriers

Temporary signage and barriers warn of hazards, control access, and direct safe movement around the site.
CDM 2015 requires clear signage and barriers to separate people from hazards throughout the construction phase.
Common types include Heras fencing, water-filled barriers, hazard warning signs, and prohibition notices.
Signs must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.
Barriers must be substantial enough to physically prevent access, not just indicate the boundary.
Temporary signs lose effectiveness if they become dirty, damaged, faded, or obscured by other items.
Warning tape alone is not a barrier — it only provides a visual warning and can be easily breached.
Wind loading on hoardings and fencing requires adequate foundations and bracing to prevent collapse.
Regular inspection ensures signs and barriers remain in place, visible, and effective.
Temporary barriers are classified as temporary works where they serve a structural or safety function.

Hazard prevention	Effective barriers physically prevent people from entering dangerous areas such as excavations and plant zones.
Legal requirement	CDM 2015 and the Safety Signs Regulations require clear, compliant signage and barriers on construction sites.
Communication	Signs inform workers and the public about hazards, rules, and routes — poor signage leads to preventable incidents.

Do

Don't

Install barriers that physically prevent access to hazardous areas, not just tape
Use signs that comply with the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996
Inspect temporary signage and barriers regularly for damage, visibility, and stability
Secure hoardings and fencing against wind loading with adequate bracing and foundations
Clean and replace signs that are dirty, faded, or damaged so they remain legible
Position signs at eye level where they will be seen by approaching workers
Update temporary signage as the site layout and hazards change during construction
Include temporary hoarding in the temporary works register where it serves a safety function
Brief workers on the meaning of site-specific signs during the induction process
Remove temporary signs promptly once the hazard they relate to no longer exists

DON'T use hazard tape as the sole barrier to a dangerous area — use physical fencing
DON'T leave damaged, fallen, or illegible signs in place — replace them immediately
DON'T block signs with stored materials, plant, or scaffolding
DON'T erect hoardings without bracing that can resist expected wind loading
DON'T use non-compliant or homemade signs for safety-critical warnings
DON'T leave outdated signs that refer to hazards that no longer exist
DON'T install so many signs that important warnings are lost in visual clutter
DON'T move or remove barriers without authorisation and a replacement plan
DON'T position signs where they are hidden behind vehicles, skips, or hoardings
DON'T treat temporary barriers as permanent — they need regular maintenance and inspection

See also: Temporary Hoardings and Fencing | Site Security and Access Control

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