This guide examines major public liability pitfalls when undertaking heritage construction projects and best-practice precautions protecting contractors, occupants and these landmarks for posterity.
Understanding Your Liabilities
Heritage sites are laden with irreplaceable features requiring preservation. Damaging or removing these through negligent, unauthorised or careless working risks:
- Enforcement Fines - Breaching listed building controls attracts unlimited fines. Historic England prosecutes unauthorized alterations.
- Asset Value Impairment - Accidentally destroying period details like cornicing or stained glass causes substantial financial loss for owners.
- Reputation Damage High-profile errors could end client relationships and stop future work opportunities.
- Personal Injury - Debris falling from scaffolding or unsafe access equipment can permanently disable site visitors.
Mitigating Liabilities
Responsibly mitigate public liability risks on heritage sites by:
Researching Site History
Consult architectural plans, conservation files and occupant records determining locations of protected assets like load-bearing walls before drilling or weak ceiling rose features before accessing lofts.
Advising Specialists
Bring skilled conservators on-site ensuring your scaffolding erection, material removals or equipment installations won't damage delicate period features in situ.
Using Heritage Tradesmen
Employ qualified specialists with proven historical renovation experience for tasks like lime plastering, stonemasonry or lead guttering over standard teams to achieve compliant quality work.
Agreeing Access Plans
Coordinate with owners/occupiers to schedule noisy work, deliveries or waste removals when buildings/grounds are unoccupied preventing public accidents.
Installing Protective Coverings
Shield floors, banisters, stained glass window and other period details not undergoing works to prevent accidental scratches or breakages by teams.
Inspecting Work Thoroughly
Prevent public liabilities from arising once on-site by:
Monitoring Continuously
Supervise all site activity ensuring no one deviates from agreed access routes or touches protected assets without authorisation.
Checking Before Leaving
Require teams conduct final walk-throughs before departing each day to identify then immediately fix any damage like disturbed pipe joints now leaking onto ceiling features.
Photographing Before/After
Take dated pictures recording condition of any high-value details near activity areas as evidence of responsible practice should disputes later arise over whether damage occurred on your watch.
By understanding liabilities, mitigating risks diligently during works and inspecting sites thoroughly before departing, contractors can responsibly maintain these landmarks for future generations while protecting themselves from expensive public liability claims.
