Effective Measures for Your Construction Site Security
- Admin
- October 22, 2023
A busy man force, deployed machinery and tools, dust, dug up holes, and erected scaffoldings all represent a construction site. In other words, it is the initial stage of a small or large project that will bloom to its fullest in the upcoming era.
Thinking about the key significance of a construction site for a successful project completion may seem attractive; however, there are some considerables on the other side of the wall.
A construction site is a vulnerable spot for thieves and burglars. As per the stats, 90 % of construction sites face a risk of vandalism. These risks lead to significant losses in terms of equipment and project delays.
It has been studied that around £800 million is lost through thefts from construction sites annually. Moreover, almost 100,000 construction sites are set to fire intentionally. These stats reveal the sensitivity of construction sites and their risk level. There are numerous reasons behind the risky nature of the construction site:
- These sites have valuable machinery, tools and construction materials that can be stolen.
- These sites are usually located in open places and attract thieves .
- The labourers at these sites are busy in their work, making them more risky.
Let’s go through some possible risks to a construction site, followed by some effective measures to mitigate those risks.
Risks Associated with The Construction Sites
Construction sites have a variety of risks associated with them with variable nature like physical, personnel-related and digital vulnerabilities.
Vandalism
Vandalism is one of the primary threats to a site. The reason for this is crystal clear. A construction site has a lot of machinery and materials that can be stolen. Once stolen, not only this results in financial loss but in project delays as well.
Unauthorised Access
The public access, open access or unauthorised access is another risk for a construction site. You need more than one access point for vehicles and workers to get in, but random persons can also benefit from those points maliciously. Trespassers and intruders steal assets, damage property or harm the workers at the site.
Cybersecurity Threats
Last but not least, maintaining cyber security is another risk as hackers can not meddle with your sensitive information like drafts of the structure, maps, personal information of the workers, etc.
On-Site Accidents
There is a possibility of on-site accidents from falling objects, tripping hazards or careless machinery operations.
Consequences of Thefts at Construction Site
Thefts at your construction site result in several losses for your company:
- Whether physical or digital, thefts at the construction site lead to remarkable financial loss.
- Loss of items also affects the agreed timeline of project completion. Replacing the stolen goods takes time, which ultimately delays the project. This also affects your ability to start future projects timely.
- Reputational damage is another key drawback of site theft. It gives your company a bad image in the market and makes it difficult to attract new clients.
- Ultimately, in the end, a construction site comes with legal penalties. When you fail to make a site secure from financial and health hazards, this causes you fines. Moreover, this court proceeding wastes a lot of time.
Risk Assessment for Construction Site
The consequences of the site security breach demand a careful insight into the matter and critical measures to evade vandalism or theft:
- First, a detailed risk analysis is necessary to ensure all types of protocols, physical and operational.
- It must be ensured that the movement of vehicles and individuals is limited and via a checkpoint to avoid random trespassing.
- Machinery that is not used should not be left unattended. You must auction it or keep it secure to avoid any untoward incident.
- Likewise, vehicles that are not in use should be duly locked in your safe parking.
Effective Security Measures for A Construction Site
Ensuring site security spans a range of physical and technological measures
Security Guards
Deploying an active squad of guards helps counter the heinous activities of the thieves. Guards quickly check the site and its surroundings, monitor all nearby activities and respond effectively, which helps avoid theft.
Surveillance Systems
Along with deploying guards, CCTV cameras are also beneficial in limiting harmful activities. These cameras installed at strategic points help you keep an eye on the site and provide reliable proof in case of any theft.
Alarms
Alarm systems are also beneficial in protecting your construction site. Acting as a technological guard, they immediately alert you regarding any trespassing activity.
Lighting
No doubt, ample light assists you in making all the essential site points clear during the night and making surveillance easy for the guards. Hence, lighting is another critical parameter to deter doubtful activities at your site.
Access Control Systems
Installing coded access controls allows only authorised individuals to enter the site. Also, these systems track everyone entering the building premises at the right time and date.
Fencing and Barriers
Fencing and barriers are other ways to protect your site from trespassers. As per the recommendations of the RICS, you should install a fence of at least 2.4 metres high. You can also install barriers at certain points within the site to keep all operations organised. To limit the entry of a vehicle, you can use kerbs and bollards.
Ensuring Safe Usage of Scaffolding
Thieves commonly use scaffoldings to reach your towers and access necessary machinery and equipment placed on your roofs. Make sure to lock your scaffoldings after usage to avoid non-reliable usage.
Locks
Apart from the entrance gate and vehicles, all other items should be stored or placed safely through locks. Vaults having tools, equipment, metals, etc, should be locked. Likewise, your fuel storage and other essential access points should be locked.
Cybersecurity Measures
Like protecting your physical assets, keeping your digital data safe is also pertinent. In this regard, you should consider firewalls, software updates, and secure logins to protect your sensitive data from any breaches.
Employee Training
Lastly, do not forget to train your employees on the construction site. Teaching them about regulatory and safety protocols helps ensure your site’s security.
