A 5-year-old boy reportedly died after he fell into a cement pit filled with water at a construction site at Old Goa on Saturday. It is learnt that the police have arrested the contractor. It must be said that a construction site, however big or small it may be, could prove dangerous for the general public if adequate precautionary measures are not taken by the contractor. The golden rule is that all construction sites need to be adequately barricaded with metal sheets before the construction begins. It is the responsibility of the contractor to secure objects onsite and minimize the risk of them falling. Security in and outside of work hours is integral to protect pedestrians from potential construction hazards. Strict security and safety protocols will also protect contractors from liability and negligence in the case of a safety incident or security breach. There needs to be clear signage throughout the site. Trenches should be adequately covered. Movement of construction vehicles should be monitored. Falling of tools and materials outside the site boundary should be prevented at all cost. People can suffer serious injuries if they fall into stairwells, manholes, or excavations from open floor edges. The contractor must block these areas with barriers or use a suitable covering.
