Construction sites are often targeted by criminals looking for an easy score. If security precautions aren’t taken, thieves can do a lot of damage and steal important equipment. The most up-to-date figures from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and National Equipment Register suggest that construction site crime costs between $300 million and $1 billion yearly. Stolen building materials are rarely recovered, and less than 25% of stolen construction material is found.
This calls for a high level of security to protect the equipment and workers on-site. The overall security will give construction companies a great return on their investment by preventing future losses. Here are five ways to protect your construction site:
Install Video Surveillance
Some of the problems if your building has no surveillance cameras are:
- There is no record of what happened if something goes wrong on the site.
- It can be difficult to prosecute criminals without footage of the crime.
- Surveillance footage can also help with accident prevention by providing a record of events.
Security cameras are a great way to deter crime and help law enforcement identify criminals. On the other hand, a video monitoring system with sophisticated analytics can spot intrusions, theft, vandalism, and fire, and it delivers alerts to promptly address any problem. Cameras should be strategically positioned to cover the whole perimeter of the work site and critical interior areas.
Also, consider using license plate recognition cameras to track any vehicles on or leaving the property. This information can help law enforcement identify potential suspects.
Hire Construction Site Security
Often, if your construction site has no visible security, it can be an easy target for criminals. Also, not hiring a professional security team to protect your building site can be more costly if something happens.
Hiring building site security guards can greatly deter crime because of their visible presence on the property. Certified and trained security officers will have the experience and knowledge to do their job well. They will also have the proper equipment to do their jobs, such as two-way radios, flashlights, and batons. They can patrol the premises, monitor surveillance cameras, and provide a visible presence that will deter criminals.
In addition, they can also perform regular inspections of the building and grounds to look for any potential security risks. Security guards can also act as a liaison with law enforcement in the event of an incident.
Use Access Control Measures
Access control measures are a great way to protect your construction site because they allow you to control who has access to the property. This can be done using technology, such as key cards, or traditional methods, such as security guards.
These control measures can be customized to fit your construction site’s needs. For example, you can choose to have a system that only allows certain people to access certain areas of the property. This is a great way to protect sensitive areas, such as the office or the construction site itself.
In addition, this will make it more difficult for criminals to steal equipment or vandalize property. You can also use access control measures to track who is coming and going from the building site. This information can be helpful if there is an incident because you can provide law enforcement with a list of potential suspects.
Establish a Security Protocol and Enforce It
It is vital to have a security protocol and enforce it. This will help ensure that everyone on the building site is aware of the security measures that are in place. It is also important to ensure that all visitors to the building site sign in and out. By doing this, you can track who is on the property. This information can be helpful if there is an incident because you can provide law enforcement with a list of potential suspects.
Ensure all employees and contractors are aware of the security protocol and that it is being enforced. It will be difficult to secure your building site if you do not implement the security protocol.
Invest in Physical Security Barriers
Fences, gates, and bollards are some of the most effective physical security barriers. They deter criminals and make it more difficult for them to gain access to the building site. If you are using these types of security barriers, it is crucial to make sure that they are well-maintained.
You may invest in steel storage containers to safeguard your building materials, tools, and equipment. These containers can be locked and are tough to break into. They can also be stacked, which makes them more difficult to steal.
In addition, it is also a good idea to use lighting to deter criminals. By illuminating the building site, you can make it more difficult for criminals to hide and make it easier for security guards to see potential threats.
Key Takeaways
Taking the necessary precautions can help protect your whole building site from criminals, look after your employees, and prevent costly damages. Remember that there’s no waste in being too cautious- it’s always better to be safe than sorry. These five security measures can give you peace of mind and help you sleep soundly at night, knowing that your building site is well-protected.
