Protecting construction sites from theft and vandalism is crucial. Implementing security measures like surveillance cameras, access control, and perimeter security can safeguard valuable assets and maintain project integrity.
Construction sites are valuable, yet vulnerable. It’s incredibly important to protect your site against damage and tampering; not only will it maintain the safety of your site’s condition and workers and cut down on repair and replacement costs, but the reputation of your construction company and the project at hand is at stake. When a construction site is tampered with, the surrounding community and your client can easily lose faith in your name and in the end result of your construction.
Being temporary, exposed to the open air, and often unmonitored at night, construction sites are all too often the targets of certain types of crime by a myriad of offenders. These types of crimes usually fall under the umbrella of vandalism and theft.
Security is paramount on construction sites, because the equipment and materials thereon are essential to the project at hand and expensive to replace. Many costs plague construction companies when theft or vandalism occurs; direct costs, meaning the price to replace said equipment or materials, are self-explanatory. Indirect costs, however, can sneak in and cause unexpected financial distress. These can include delays in the project, damage to the reputation of your company (especially within the community in which the site is located), increases in insurance premiums, and many more. Assessing Your Site
Before you begin creating your site’s security plan, it’s vital to conduct an assessment of its needs. Carefully identify areas of vulnerability, past incidents, their causes, and changes that need to be made. Once you’ve given your site a comprehensive evaluation (looping in professionals where needed), it’s time to create a plan to prevent crime on your construction site.
There are plenty of ways you can prevent damage, theft, and vandalism on your construction site. Below are some helpful jumping-off points you can use in crafting a comprehensive security plan for your site.
Help limit access to your site with a solid fence, and lock entry points when not in use. Where possible, use an electronic lock system that’s more difficult to break into. This tip may seem simple and obvious, but there’s a reason a tall, solid, secure fence is a tried-and-true standby in security across industries.
Continuously monitoring cameras with smart analytics features and floodlights, such as those offered by LiveView Technologies, are your best bet in keeping your site safe, especially in the off-hours.
There are a few ways whereby you can protect your equipment from theft. One particularly effective method is to label equipment with identifiable markings, so they can be spotted and reported on if stolen. Then, invest in GPS tracking software for key equipment and machinery, and keep an inventory during day-to-day operations of equipment and its whereabouts.
Use technological systems to control and log entry into your construction site, and consider installing alarms that sound, alert you, and call emergency services when locks are broken and the site’s perimeter is breached. Access control technology may use keycards, passcodes, or biometric recognition to allow entry, and can be modified to even further restrict access to more sensitive areas (i.e., where equipment and machinery are stored). Alarms can alert management of a security breach in the site’s perimeter, or in the perimeter of other sensitive areas. LVT cameras can be fully integrated with these technologies, for a united security effort.
Enlist the help of local law enforcement and neighborhood watch programs. Ask them to help identify and report suspicious activity; communities want to protect the integrity of construction projects in their area, and will likely be supportive of your company and vigilant in looking out for suspicious happenings. Be proactive in promoting positive relationships with local citizens and leaders; this rapport will be beneficial not only to your project but to your company in the long run.
Conduct regular audits of your site’s security, and be on the lookout for new vulnerabilities, wear-and-tear in security equipment and fencing, and any other areas of concern. The more frequently you conduct these checks, the safer your site and its resources will be. Additionally, check in to make sure that safety protocols are being properly followed, and conduct updated employee training if needed.
As with any other aspect of business, your personnel are your best assets. Train your team thoroughly and effectively on safety protocols, and equip each team member with the knowledge and confidence to be able to spot, deter, and report suspicious activity.
In addition to basic security training, conduct regular emergency response drills with your employees and any other regulars on the site. Engage your team in educational drills for events such as vandalism, break-ins, and violence. This practice will go a long way in minimizing damage and your response time to an incident.
In today’s world, you don’t need to rely on grainy CCTV footage, that’s only useful after the fact to identify threats. Modern data analytics are a lifesaver for construction sites; often involving artificial intelligence and other motion detection services, analytic software pairs with your camera system, as well as access control, alarms, and other security systems to help monitor and identify threats, and differentiate them from benign distractors.
Another seeming no-brainer in the world of security is the power of a strong light source. Floodlights are a simple, yet effective method of security, both deterring crime and enhancing the effectiveness of the cameras that capture offenses.
As was mentioned before, a strong fence goes a long way in securing a site. Beyond a simple fence, however, there are other ways to increase the security of your site’s perimeter. Surveillance cameras, motion detection technology, and physical deterrents (e.g., barbed wire, electrified fencing, etc.) can all be extremely effective in boosting perimeter security.
For an added layer of security, hire private security to patrol your site during the off-hours. Guards are often effective at both deterring and detecting threats.
LiveView Technologies is your solution for excellent, integrable security solutions. LVT units employ highly accurate motion detection and video analysis, deterrent floodlights, live feeds, real-time alerts, and many more features that make security a breeze. Easy to integrate with access control systems, alarm systems, and other security measures on your site, LVT cameras are your one-stop shop for peace of mind and decreased crime.
