The government published a set of rules and regulations yesterday that are aimed at regulating construction sites in terms of their effect on the environment.

Despite the number of accidents at construction sites, including one in Hamrun last week that claimed the lives of two men, the new regulations do not cover the health and safety aspects of workers in the construction industry.

Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino explained that the regulations aimed to limit environmental degradation by means of appropriate construction management practices.

Mr Pullicino said that the aim of the regulations was to minimise the nuisance caused to neighbours and the public by construction projects, to reduce discharges into the environment, including dust emissions and spillages of building materials, and to improve the visual impact of construction sites and their immediate environment.

He said it was common knowledge that the construction industry played an important role in the Maltese economy, but the lack of safeguards for the environment often caused inconvenience to neighbouring residents and areas.

Mr Pullicino said that in 2006, 60 per cent of the permits issued by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority were for the

redevelopment of existing buildings.

He explained that, after construction sites had been divided into three categories, the new regulations would be introduced gradually in three phases, over a period of two years. They would come into force by summer for all major projects and projects in the seven localities that have been earmarked as high development areas.

The regulations will oblige the owners of plots or construction sites to appoint a site manager who will be responsible for ensuring that the contractor is abiding by all the regulations. The site manager’s contact number must be clearly visible on a notice board on site and will be available on a 24-hour basis.

The owner will be bound to repair or replace pavements that are damaged during construction work and will be obliged to deposit a bank guarantee that will be used to finance the reinstatement of pavements and streets, if the owner fails to do so.

Another regulation relates to the construction of a temporary safe walkway for pedestrians. This is also subject to local council approval.

In order to control the amount of dust generated at construction sites, the regulations propose a number of measures. The cutting of stones and bricks will have to be carried out in an enclosed space. Alternatively, tools with proper extraction systems must be used.

Sand, screed and other loose building material is to be transported, deposited and stored on site in rigid containers with suitable covers or else in sturdy sealed bags. Moreover, building sites, as well as their immediate surroundings, must be kept clean.

Another regulation deals with the setting up of hoarding material that will protect the adjacent areas from dust and falling material from inside the site and will also serve to conceal the construction site from people on the outside. Such hoarding should be made of suitable material that is free-standing and independent of the site and should be equipped with waste chutes and suitable lighting.

The regulations also stipulate that the working hours permissible where noise generated from activity can be heard from the outside are between 7am and 8pm. In summer, demolition and excavation work can take place between 8.30am and 7pm. No construction work is allowed on Sundays and public holidays.

The level of noise emitted from any construction site shall not exceed the maximum permissible level of 110 decibels.

Mr Pullicino said the regulations would be enforced by enforcement officers of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, who will be joined by 14 former Dockyard workers who have been trained and are presently working as plainclothes environmental officers. He said that at first, these officers would give a warning instead of handing out fines.

What Malta needed, said Mr Pullicino, was “self-

regulation” and a “compliant society”.