If you own or manage a construction site, you’ll know how important it is that you keep all on-site property, equipment and assets safe.
Unfortunately, construction sites are an extremely popular target for thieves and criminals. This is because, all too often, construction sites are not properly protected, and the value of the assets stored on them can be incredibly high.
In the battle between construction site owners and criminals, sadly, it’s often the criminals who come out on top. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building:
Our security staff offer a huge skill set, including:
- 92% building site operators have been negatively affected by crime
- And 21% claim that their site is burgled once a week
Luckily, there are many measures construction site owners can implement to protect their property.
Here are our tips for achieving first-rate construction and building site security in 2020.
Keep An Up-To-Date Inventory
If you lack an up-to-date inventory, it’s possible that criminals may be stealing from you without you even realising it. Small items which disappear – such as tools, hardware and even data may not be missed straight away. However, the value of these items can be excessive.
The faster you’re able to respond to a theft, the more likely you are to get your possessions back. And the best way to keep track of what’s on site, is to maintain an up-to-date inventory and regularly cross reference its contents with what’s actually on site.
Create A “Clear Zone”
By making it as difficult as possible for thieves to steal from your site, you will go a long way to reducing the chances of your site being targeted. One of the simplest ways to do this is to create a “clear zone” around your perimeter fence.
A clear zone is an area in which no tools, equipment or other assets are stored. Ideally, your clear zone will be between 5 – 10 metres wide. If your site is too small to support a clear zone of this size, simply make is as big as you can.
Thieves want to commit their crimes as quickly as possible. However, the presence of a clear zone will force any thieves further into your site, in order to commit an offence. And this can be enough to put many opportunistic criminals off.
Brand Equipment
Most people aren’t looking to buy stolen goods and those that are, may be doing so primarily to sell them on. By marking your equipment, thieves will be far less likely to be able to sell anything they steal from you – which can be enough to put them of taking anything in the first place.
In order to brand metal equipment, engraving is often the most permanent and cost-effective method. Engraving machines are relatively cheap and easy-to-use. Make sure you engrave each item in multiple places – and engrave any removable parts.
Another method is to paint your equipment a distinctive colour. This will lower its value without impacting its functionality – and will make it obvious that they’ve been stolen.
Minimise Access Points
In order to achieve good construction security, your site should be completely surrounded by robust perimeter fencing. Access should only be possible via designated access points, in order to allow staff to enter and exit your site. You may consider increasing the number of access point although in terms of site security, this is not a good idea. Access points are inherently vulnerable – which means the more of them you have the less secure your site is.
To make unlawful entry as difficult as possible, minimalise the number of access points your site has – ideally, just one. Position manned security guards, CCTV cameras and security lighting at this point.
Hire Professionals
While adhering to the tips provided above will improve your site security, the very best levels of security can only be achieved when you hire a professional construction security company.
Professional security companies have access to a wide range of technologies as well as the necessary expertise and experience to create and implement an effective construction security plan.
When choosing a good construction security provider, this process will involve assessing your individual needs and creating a unique security solution to match.
Construction security services include:
Our security staff offer a huge skill set, including:
- Manned guarding
- Regular and unscheduled mobile patrols
- CCTV installation and monitoring
- Alarm system installation and monitoring
- Security lighting installation
- Perimeter fencing and professional signage
- Security consultancy and provisioning
- Dog handling
- Emergency service liaison
- Rapid 24/7 alarm response
- Health & safety and first aid trained security officers
Looking For Professional Construction Security?
Secure On Site Security is a nation-wide security provider. We are able to deliver expert security solutions wherever your site is located.
Since its foundation in 2012, Secure On Site Security has established itself as one of the UK’s leading private security companies. All of our security officers are SIA-licensed and we belong to the top percent of all UK security companies – making us a top-tier member of the ACS.
We also have ConstructionLine membership – which ensures our services are fit for private and public sector security work – and are SafeContractor approved.
In order to grow into the security provider we are today, our company has been through plenty of changes. That said, our ambition has always been the same: to provide first-class, cross-industry security services to companies of all sizes.
We have a 95% percent customer retention rate, maintain an average of 350 active sites and have an average alarm response time of 30 minutes.
Secure On Site Security provides comprehensive construction security solutions for companies all over London. We can help your business achieve the very best levels of protection.
