How to keep historic landmarks safe with tube and clamp

According to Historic England, heritage assets are those which are of archaeological interest. They provide a primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and the people and cultures that made them.

Within these landmarks may be listed buildings. Grade I denotes “exceptional interest” and Grade II denotes “special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them”. These sites may affect planning permission as they need to be preserved to maintain this heritage interest.

These historical landmarks may be thousands of years old, and as such, may be vulnerable to damage. Coupled with regular footfall from year-round visitors, there are implicit health and safety risks associated with historical landmarks.

That said, there are no specific laws regarding health and safety around historical sites. Rather, the keeper’s obligations fall into two main areas: to protect the health and safety of employees and visitors, and to follow a duty of care and pay compensation should harm come to visitors.

Essentially, this means that historical landmarks must follow the same legislation as most public-facing UK spaces:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

This law is the central tenet of all health and safety regulations. It ensures that employers provide a safe working environment for their staff, contractors and visitors.

Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: these laws set out the minimum requirements for safety in the workplace. They don’t apply to construction sites, but to facilities and equipment used in buildings.

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994: particularly pertinent for buildings undergoing restoration, this minimises risks to workers and visitors during construction and maintenance.

Due to their age and relative wear and tear, historical buildings can present multiple risks for visitors.

These risks will include, but aren’t limited to:

Degradation of structures: pathways and staircases may degrade due to damp, time and visitor numbers.

High drop: older buildings may not have appropriate safety provisions for high towers or turrets.

Hazardous terrain: general weathering may make grounds unstable, causing trip hazards.

Keepers of historical landmarks should make visitors aware of these inherent risks, and try to mitigate them where possible.

This may include, but isn’t limited to:

Signposting: uneven floors or hazards such as falling rocks should be clearly monitored. In more extreme circumstances, visitors may have to sign waivers.

Railing installations: hand railings in places of ascent and descent, such as old staircases, can provide better stability.

Safety barriers: viewing platforms need not be restricted. But they should be safe – protecting visitors from high drops with barriers.

When it comes to safety installations, each historical landmark will have bespoke requirements based on its size, shape, age and, of course, where the barrier or railing would be installed. This would require any installation solution to be versatile, durable and flexible.

The use of tube and clamp can satisfy the need for these safety installations. A solution which can be designed to meet the specific requirements of a landmark, tubes can be cut to size to fit even the most complex of historical building designs, with a tactile, strong finish to assure visitors.

Likewise, tube clamps allow these designs to perform in a range of directions, without the need for welding. They’re finished with an anti-corrosion coating to protect against the elements – ideal for sustainable restoration.

When working together, tube and clamp mechanisms offer a long-lasting, safe solution ideal for these historical landmarks.