Construction sites lose millions of dollars’ worth of supplies and equipment each year to theft, and only a small percentage of the items stolen are recovered. Protecting a construction site with a construction site security plan is sometimes overlooked in favor of concerns about the project’s timeline and budget, but if theft or vandalism occurs, it could lead to serious delays and add considerable expense to the project.
How Will A Construction Site Security Plan Help?
A construction site security plan that addresses all of the property’s potential vulnerabilities and unique requirements is a great way to protect the materials, equipment and people on the site. This may include unauthorized visitors, theft of materials, damage to equipment and safety hazards on site.
What To Include In Your Plan
A construction site security plan should be outlined in writing and reviewed by the parties involved. It should be comprehensive, including a map of the site and the surrounding area with the site’s boundaries, access points and offices clearly indicated. The locations of equipment and material storage should also appear on the map, along with any construction site security officer stations that will be used.
The plan should include the security measures that will be employed, along with the quantity measures of lights, security officers and cameras. It should also include a backup plan for how lights and cameras will function if the site’s power is compromised. Here is what your construction site security plan should include:
Durable Fences And Locks
One of the more affordable ways to deter theft is by installing fences around the perimeter of the site which are equipped with a solid locking system. Selecting a durable fence will aid in the prevention of unauthorized access by scaling or other breach. Digital access control systems that lock fences electronically and require code locks or key cards for access increase construction site security significantly.
Increased Lighting On Site
Construction sites that are not well-lit at night are very attractive to thieves trespassing onto project sites after hours. A study conducted by the University of Chicago’s Urban Labs found a significant drop in crime in areas that were well-lit compared to those with poor lighting, illustrating the value of investing in adequate lighting for construction sites.
Construction site managers should install additional lighting at entrances and around expensive machinery and materials to deter criminal activity and eliminate hiding places. Motion-activated lights using sensors to turn on automatically in response to motion are also beneficial. Construction site security services have the expertise to advise on the most strategic locations for lighting placement.
Trained Construction Site Security Officers
Hiring trained construction site security officers to be present on the site around the clock is one of the most effective ways of deterring thieves. Depending on the size of the construction site, multiple security officers may be needed to ensure a strong security presence.
To verify that officers are completing their routes regularly and thoroughly, some services will employ QR or bar codes that must be scanned at various locations along the route to ensure compliance.
Perimeter Security
Securing the perimeter of the site is vital. The site should largely be closed off, with minimal clear entrances to prevent people from being able to walk onto the site undetected. This also makes it easier for security officers to secure the job site during the evening.
Security officers should control the access points during the day to ensure only approved personnel are on site. This should be supplemented with signage that indicates to all who pass by that the property is private and that trespassing is forbidden. In addition, signs warning that the site is being monitored by security officers and cameras are a good deterrent for potential thieves.
Remote Surveillance
Although traditional security cameras that record the activity on a construction site are helpful for providing evidence following a theft, cameras alone are not able to stop vandalism or theft that is already in progress.
Remote video surveillance provides an additional layer of security. Trained security operators will monitor construction sites in real time via the cameras and take appropriate action if they detect suspicious activity. For example, a security operator on remote surveillance may use a speaker warning to deter thieves and call the local police if the situation escalates.
Inventory Audits
Inventory audits should be carried out regularly. GPS tracking and permanently marking high-value assets with Owner Applied Numbers (OAN) are reliable methods for tracking equipment or supplies that are missing or stolen. They also help law enforcement to identify recovered assets.
Reach Out To Our Construction Site Security Experts About A Construction Site Security Plan
To prevent loss and vandalism at your construction site, reach out to the construction site security experts at APG for assistance drafting a construction site security plan. Their highly trained security officers and broad range of high-tech security resources will protect your assets and employees from potential threats and liabilities.