Construction Site Security

Construction sites are often a target due to:

• High-value assets, equipment and tools.
• Open access points and easy vehicular entry.
• Vacant sites out of hours and during weekends.

Trespassers and intruders can cause costs and damage that have a long-lasting impact.

Many construction businesses have experienced tens of thousands of pounds worth of expenses to replace stolen assets and repair damage, and delays of months while repairs are carried out, due to insufficient security safeguards. Whilst cameras are great for providing evidence after a crime has been committed, by then, the damage is done and the construction project has been delayed until the equipment can be replaced or the damage repaired.

The severe and sometimes business-critical impact of security limitations is far-reaching, and therefore it is crucial to work with an experienced and proficient construction site security partner who can protect your site during every stage of the project.

Construction site security threats are not limited to the theft of tools. In fact, the consequences of a security threat can result in loss of human life so it’s extremely important that all risk are considered to prevent that outcome.  Some of the primary risk factors include:

• High-value equipment, machine, plant and tools left unguarded overnight.
• Vehicles left vulnerable to fuel theft when the site is empty.
• Vandalism and site damage caused by intruders where site access is exposed.
• Workforce risks where security provisions are not sufficient to provide staff safety.
• Site risks in controversial areas where protests or demonstrations can disrupt the flow of work, or restrict access to the site.
• Environmental risks such as fire, flooding and weather damage.

A risk assessment is more than a checklist exercise or an insurance requirement – it is an essential tool to assist construction site managers in clearly identifying key risks, and being able to make informed decisions about the best mitigation strategy.

The risk assessment process typically follows these predefined steps:

1. Carry out a comprehensive site inspection and identify risks – both primary and secondary.
2. Record how serious that risk is, and what issues it potentially presents.
3. Decide which risks are crucial to site operations, to establish a list of priorities.
4. Work with a security professional to identify the best security safeguards available to eliminate or mitigate that risk and compare alternative options.
5. Put in place security strategies, and review regularly and whenever site operations change.

One of the most common concerns for construction site managers is in the costs of protecting their premises, and how to balance a tight budget while avoiding critical risks. Therefore, a cost analysis is an integral part of the risk assessment process, where every aspect of the building site security options should be considered:

• Potential costs of not mitigating the risk factor.
• Security options and the respective costs of each.
• Anticipated effectiveness of the security solutions.
• The element of workforce risk where employee protection is a top priority.

Your risk assessment is also a powerful communication tool, and by sharing these with your workforces, you help all employees remain diligent, understand where risk factors are present, and work with site security to prevent any breaches from occurring.

Your building site security will depend on multiple factors such as hours of work, points of entry, the storage and location of valuable assets, and the flow of traffic around your site.

Generally we advise the following, broken down into three categories: deterrents, detection and response.

Intruder Deterrents:

There should be a number of construction site security measures in place to make opportunistic thieves think twice about attempting a breach. These should include products such as unclimbable perimeter security fencing as well as electronic security features such as CCTV. Consider the following:

• Visible security presence and signage.
• Robust perimeter fencing and security access points.
• CCTV monitoring and maintenance.
• Manned guarding and construction site access control.
• Concrete barrier hire to prevent unauthorised vehicular access.
• Security lighting, alarms and sensors.

You may also want to consider:

• Restricting the number of vehicles on site and having a sign in / sign out authorisation process in place. This would help to identify non scheduled deliveries or unmarked vehicles with malicious intent.
• Preventing vehicle access altogether – by implementing turnstiles and restricting access points, you can get a clear picture of who is on the site and when whilst granting access to authorised personnel only.
• Full and wide reaching lighting – having floodlights or timed lighting not only ensures that staff can work safely, but can prevent vandalism and break ins.

Efficient Detection Systems:

Should your first line of construction site security not deter the offender, there should be a number of detection systems in place to identify a threat as quickly as possible and to provide evidence if needed if a police investigation ensues.

Detection systems are often broken down into operational solutions (those that require human response) and physical detection systems (usually electronic such as CCTV). Whilst operational activities such as manned guarding and patrols increase the level of deterrence, they can be expensive. Physical detection systems such as the solutions outlined below often come at a reduced ongoing cost and prevent any threat to human life. Physical detection systems include:

• CCTV solutions, infra-red monitoring and wireless sensors to immediately detect activity.
• Remote monitoring services – this activity is then fed directly to an alarm receiving centre. Those manning the system will immediately review the intrusion and alert those on site (or deploy a rapid response security team to investigate).
• Construction site access control to vet and approve each visitor.
• Advanced alarm systems to detect breaches, smoke, or fire.

Response systems

Whilst detecting a threat is the first step in dealing with a security breach on a building site, the response is critical to limiting the amount of damage incurred. By utilising a remote monitoring system, operators can very quickly respond to security breaches, alerting emergency services if needed. Your response solutions should include:

• Instant intruder alerts with appropriate personnel informed.
• Intruder detection warning systems.
• Automatic lock and unlock facilities.
• Keyholding services to respond to alarm activations and call-outs.
• Live CCTV imaging, monitoring, and high-quality video retention.