Creating a security strategy can help keep your tools, equipment, and employees safe.
You know that lost materials, equipment, and tools can delay your projects and hurt your company, but securing a construction site can be challenging because everything there is temporary. You don’t have access to the same security devices and measures you use at your construction yard. There aren’t any permanent buildings for storing tools and smaller equipment. And you probably don’t have a high-end security system to deter trespassers.
However, it is possible to secure your construction site by following some industry best practices. Incorporating these ideas as you create a plan for your sites can lead to better results. Here are the top 6 ways to secure your property and reduce theft at job sites.
1) Develop a strategy
Every construction site is different. The layout, neighborhood, entry points, materials, equipment, tools, and timelines can all influence your security strategy, so developing a unique plan for each site is essential.
For example, erecting fences around a large rural property could be next to impossible, while these fences would be essential additions to an urban construction site. You’ll need to consider all of these variables while creating your strategy to ensure that your construction site is safe.
Remember that you can create a security template that you use as a starting point for each security strategy. You’ll just have to adjust the details based on the variables you encounter in each particular location.
2) Protect the perimeter
Protecting the perimeter of a construction site is vital because you’ll experience less crime if you can keep trespassers off the property in the first place. That’s often easier said than done, however, because motivated thieves and vandals will do everything in their power to get into your site.
Temporary fencing is a good starting point for any construction site because it creates a physical barrier between your property and potential thieves. This fence could help encourage unwanted visitors to move onto an easier target, keeping your valuables safe.
Fencing alone isn’t always enough, however, because criminals can bypass your barriers with enough time and the right tools. Installing bright lights with motion detectors can assist with that problem by making trespassers more visible and uncomfortable as they approach the site or attempt to climb a fence or break a lock. Alarm systems are another way to protect the perimeter of your construction site, creating a noisy deterrent if anyone breaches the property after hours.
3) Register your equipment
One of the easiest – and least expensive – ways to protect your property is to take the time to register your tools and equipment. All items on your site have serial numbers or other identifying digits you can use to enter them into the National Equipment Register.
This registry keeps a database of equipment information, making it more challenging for thieves to resell stolen goods. You can also check equipment history before purchasing it through this service, so you don’t make the mistake of buying stolen items.
Registering your equipment isn’t foolproof, but it can help you recover stolen equipment in the future. As a bonus, it can also help you get a break on your insurance rates.
4) Train your staff
You could spend countless hours meticulously planning your security strategy, but if your employees slip up, it won’t do you much good. If just one worker leaves a gate open or fails to set the alarm, your construction site becomes an easy target. So providing security training for every person who works for you is vital.
Regular training ensures that your employees know how you will implement your security strategy and their role in helping maintain it. You’ll also want your staff to let you know if they see something that could lead to a breach on the property. After all, they’ll probably spend more time on the construction site than you.
Of course, hiring trustworthy staff can be a challenge. But having even a few workers you can trust to keep an eye on things will make it far easier to keep your construction site safe and secure.
5) Control access
Implementing an access control system is one of the best ways to protect your construction site. This system ensures that you know who’s on the site at all times, so you don’t have to worry about anyone without the necessary credentials wandering onto the property.
Access control systems work best when the site has only one entry point and one exit point. You can then have every visitor and employee sign in and sign out manually or equip them with security cards they’ll need to open the doors or gates.
An automated system will cost more up front, but you won’t have to pay someone to stand at the entrance checking IDs and credentials. As a result, installing these controls at multiple sites per year could save you money in the long term.
6) Install a security system
A construction site security system can take many forms, depending on your needs and how secure you wish to keep your equipment. Some company owners find a time-lapse video system perfectly acceptable, as it shows them the project’s progress and alerts them if a large piece of equipment disappears. The main problem with this type of system is that it doesn’t allow a real-time response to theft.
Another option is installing wireless cameras throughout the construction site and having trained security personnel monitor them off-site. Remote video monitoring offers some of the most efficient construction site security because it puts eyes on the live feed 24/7 and also allows you to go back and review footage later, so nothing slips through the cracks.
While all of the above-mentioned construction site security best practices will help protect your valuable property, a video monitoring service is perhaps the most thorough option on the market. But no matter what kind of security plan you decide to put in place, it pays to call in the experts when it comes to implementation.
Investing in a surveillance system
Correctly installing your surveillance system is crucial because you’ll need to place the cameras in the spots that provide the best coverage. This can get tricky on a construction site because there are countless variables to consider based on the layout and lines of sight.
Mobile Video Guard offers monitored video surveillance systems for construction sites. We can also offer tips on installing your cameras, so you end up with the best coverage possible. Contact Mobile Video Guard for more information on construction site security best practices or to get a quote.
