Rank: Forum user 
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What are peoples thoughts/policies on mobile phones on construction sites?
Do you allow them for minimal use or emergencies?
Do you have a designated zone for phone use?
Blanket ban or designated users only?
It seems to be a matter of policy rather than legislation (unless you're driving) but I guess you could site HSWA reg7 and say that is reasonable to think an employee would not use his phone as it would be a distraction from his work.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi
Why not do a risk assessment on use of mobiles, you can then show what the risks are and make a decision based on that, or include mobiles in your operational risk assessments.
If they are not already banned for non-safety reasons.
Ian
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Rank: Forum user
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We ban their use on site, for safety reasons (distraction) and have a designated area somewhere safe.
Works well, and we have near miss reports when someone is spotted using a phone ( usually delivery drivers)
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Rank: Forum user
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On our plant we have ban on the use of mobiles while out on site, they can be used when in the canteen, while on a break or in the office, no other use permitted.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Prohibition might work with a self-contained workforce but I can't see sub-contractors complying with this -they'd lose potential business!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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ron hunter wrote:Prohibition might work with a self-contained workforce but I can't see sub-contractors complying with this -they'd lose potential business!
If it's a case of comply and maybe lose potential business, or lose this current actual business, I expect they'd find a way.
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Rank: Super forum user
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"Prohibition might work with a self-contained workforce but I can't see sub-contractors complying with this -they'd lose potential business!"
?? Better to lose potential business than to lose actual business (they're on my site they're doing my business - they're failing to follow my site rules - they no longer work on my site... Simples.
Also better to lose potential business than lose their life because they stepped in front of a dump truck whilst distracted.
Operatives - not allowed to use on site other than in canteen or changing rooms, (Decent locker provided for personal belongings as per CDM Regs) Supervisors - allowed to use for operational purposes ONLY whilst standing (NOT walking) in a place of safety. All written into client side site rules for a major project - generally well enforced and worked well.
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Rank: Forum user
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ron hunter wrote:Prohibition might work with a self-contained workforce but I can't see sub-contractors complying with this -they'd lose potential business!
They agree to site rules during induction.
If they don't obey the rules, they will be asked politely to obey, then sent off site if they persist.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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On 2012 London Olympic Stadium project you could use your mobile phone as long as you were not in a hazardous area / activity and not walking around - you know kicking that imaginary stone around. A bit of common sense & personal responsibility. Worked very well indeed, apparently a few 'yellow cards' were issued to those non-compliant but no 'red cards' & no incidents.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Victor Meldrew wrote:On 2012 London Olympic Stadium project you could use your mobile phone as long as you were not in a hazardous area / activity and not walking around - you know kicking that imaginary stone around. A bit of common sense & personal responsibility. Worked very well indeed, apparently a few 'yellow cards' were issued to those non-compliant but no 'red cards' & no incidents.
A sensible approach.
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Rank: Super forum user
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"A sensible approach"
(!)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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This is in the 'difficult box'.
In the railway industry they are banned on or about the track unless the call is work related, even then, only certain people may use one when in a place of safety. The problems are many - for example, those working on the track may need to call the signalman for a number of reasons. Hence they are an essential part of the kit. That said, certain grades like Lookout are not allowed to use the phone period whilst carrying out their duties for obvious reasons.
Many have smart phones which can access all sorts of information. A complete ban would be ideal - but can it be properly enforced and monitored? Supervisors and managers use phones frequently for work purposes - are they to be given a special dispensation?
I would advocate a common sense approach. Use a phone if necessary for work when on site, but make sure you are in a place of safety and standing still. The reality is people will use them even if they are banned - better to manage it me thinks.
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Rank: Forum user
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Banning phones on site is impossible. You may believe that your site is free of them but unless you check every pocket on the way in you cannot guarantee success. Phones have a "silent" function and you'll never know it's there unless you have very good hearing (which is unlikely in the construction industry).
The best solution, as has been said above is to tolerate it with control. Use of the phone isn't a problem as long as the person has found a safe place to do so. Educating your workforce and reminding them that this is being monitored helps here. A good policy I once encountered was "walk - don't talk". As long as you were standing in one spot you could use as you liked.
The obvious caveat is a workplace where atex considerations are paramount, although even here I have had contractors ask me to approve their "Ex" mobile phones!
Mick
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mick Noonan wrote:Banning phones on site is impossible.
I've worked on sites where you arrive, go into one changing room, remove every possession and every item of clothing then walk through a corridor to another changing room where you get dressed into company clothes. I don't think anyone took a phone onto site...
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mick Noonan wrote:Banning phones on site is impossible. Mick
It's not Mick - some businesses/clients I work for, albeit not construction, require me to hand over my phone at security, sign accordingly, where it is then locked in a mini safe & I'm given the key. Obviously I collect on leaving site. The reason given by the vast majority of the clients/businesses is not H&S but security / integrity of company assets / products.
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Rank: Forum user
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Victor, Achrn,
All rules can be broken and are dependant on the integrity of those looking to get in, or get their phones in. You are describing the exceptions, my reference was a generalisation of the vast majority of construction sites.
My point is that just because you erect a sign prohibiting the use of mobile phones on site, don't expect 100% compliance.
MIck
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