The last few days before Christmas can get busy. There are jobs to finish, deliveries to juggle and a crew ready for a break. Before you lock the gate, take a bit of time to sort out what will happen on site while everyone's away.
For Brisbane builders, that means a few practical checks: who can get in, what happens with the power, when the toilet will be serviced and who's keeping an eye on the cameras.
Here's a checklist to work through before you knock off. Use it alongside your site's safety plan, and leave time to speak with your electrician and hire suppliers before they head away too.
1. Make sure everyone knows the dates
Let your suppliers know your last working day and when the crew will be back. If a few trades are working through the break, mention that as well.
Choose someone to be the main contact while the site is closed, with a backup for the days they're unavailable. Make sure both can arrange access and get hold of the right supplier. The phone number on the gate needs to reach someone who will answer.
Keep the important details together:
- The site address, last working day and first day back.
- Who's allowed in and how they'll get access.
- What's staying on hire and what's being collected.
- Toilet service dates and supplier phone numbers.
- Who's checking camera alerts, and their backup.
- Who'll check the site before work starts again.
Check your suppliers' holiday arrangements too. Their last day, service runs and return dates may be different from yours.
2. Have one last look around
Leave time for a proper walk around the site. Check the fences and gates, clear away loose rubbish and make sure the people responsible have dealt with unfinished structures, openings and excavations.
WorkSafe Queensland's summer shutdown checklist is a useful reference for fencing, emergency contacts and unfinished work. Its end-of-year security advice also covers machinery, hazardous chemicals and keeping unauthorised people out.
Have a look at the hired equipment while you're there. Can the service truck still reach the toilet? Has a stack of materials blocked a camera's view? If something needs moving or looks unstable, call the supplier. Don't move or alter hired poles yourself.
Take a few dated photos before you leave. If there's still a job to finish, agree who's doing it and make sure it's sorted before shutdown.
3. Talk to your electrician about the power
Ask your licensed electrician what needs to be isolated before the break, whether anything needs to stay powered and what to do when work resumes. Share those instructions with anyone who'll be visiting. Leave electrical work and changes to the supply to the licensed providers.
If your temporary pole is staying for the next stage of the build, let the hire company know. Stopping work doesn't automatically stop the hire. If you're finished with it, get the disconnection and collection arrangements underway.
Our temporary power hire and off-hire guide explains the steps. Service wires and the meter must be removed as required before we can collect the pole. Ask us to confirm the date your hire ends.
Starting a new job in January? Send us the address, dates and connection details through our temporary power pole hire page. Pole installation, network connection and metering are separate steps, so make sure each is arranged.
4. Sort out the toilet service before locking up
If the portaloo is staying, let us know whether anyone will be using it over the break. Speak with the office about servicing before changing the padlock or handing the keys to someone else.
Our standard construction site portaloo hire includes fortnightly servicing. Weekly or extra visits cost more. Confirm your holiday service dates with us and make sure the driver can get to the unit.
If the toilet needs attention, tell us before the last day. And if fencing, parked machinery or a delivery has changed the access, let us know. You don't want a service truck arriving to find a locked gate and nobody with the key.
Think about the first day back as well. Will the facilities be ready for everyone returning, including any extra trades? If the toilet is being collected instead, confirm the pickup and when the hire ends.
5. Decide who's checking the cameras
Before leaving, check that the people covering the break can use the app, see the right areas and play back footage. Agree who follows up on an alert and who takes over when they're unavailable.
Our solar camera bundle records continuously, with a 10-day playback window. Recordings are deleted after that, so download anything you need to keep. If you're away for a couple of weeks, don't leave it until you return.
Staffed monitoring isn't included with our cameras. Someone on your team needs to take responsibility for checking alerts and arranging a response.
If you're looking at construction site camera hire, bear in mind the 12-week minimum. Plan it around the build, even if Christmas is what prompts the enquiry. Our standalone solar bundle is available; cameras on our hired temporary power poles are still coming soon. We'll need to confirm the setup and installation date for your site.
6. Plan the first morning back
Have someone check the site before the trades get started. Look at the access, fencing, hired equipment and toilets, and follow up on anything reported during the break. Use your electrician's instructions when restarting the supply.
If storms or flooding have damaged electrical equipment, keep clear and get it assessed. The Queensland Electrical Safety Office's storm safety advice explains what needs checking before reconnection. Solar panels, batteries and wiring can still be dangerous when the mains power is off.
Let suppliers know if the restart date changes. A quick call beforehand gives everyone time to sort out visits and access.
Let us know what you need over the break
Poles and Holes is a family-owned business based in Capalaba, established in 1960. We supply temporary power poles, construction toilets and site cameras for Brisbane building projects.
If you've already got equipment on hire, give our office a call or send an enquiry with your site address, order reference and shutdown dates. Let us know what's staying, what needs collecting and who we can contact while you're away. We'll confirm the arrangements with you.
