Archaeological organisations have a duty of care to prevent danger arising from their work. In the United Kingdom, this is enforced through the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) and in Ireland, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (as amended) (SHWWA). The focus is often on the archaeologists, but we, archaeologists, need to consider ensuring the work area and excavations do not pose a risk to others who may come onto the site as visitors or trespassers.
In construction, fencing is usually addressed by a client or Principal Contractor (PC) if the project falls within the CDM regulations in the UK. In Ireland, if the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations (Amended 2021) (SHWWCR) apply, then it is the responsibility of the Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS). However, most stand-alone archaeology projects are not subject to CDM in the UK (see FAME Health & Safety Technical Guide 0), and this guide is intended for situations where the archaeology organisation has to make the fencing decisions.
The FAME Health and Safety Working Group creates our Health and Safety Guides to provide detailed practical advice to our members and for the archaeological sector. You can download the guide below. They rarely change but occasional updates do occur and it is best to check this page for the most recent version.