Security For Building Sites
Construction is one of the biggest industries in the UK. There is always a need for construction – in fact it’s hard to find a city without multiple major construction projects going on.
However, construction is commonly faced by issues of security; theft and vandalism are incredibly common, and it’s estimated around £800 million is lost annually as a result. This is huge.
Construction sites are typically chosen as targets by criminals due to the presence of expensive ‘plant equipment’, construction materials, and other valuable goods. Coupled with the large, open nature of construction sites often makes them seem to be easy targets. Thieves often repeatedly target the same site multiple times – creating serious issues for a project.
This means it’s vital to provide security for construction sites – as failure to do so leaves them open to criminals and puts the whole project at serious risk.
Construction security can be difficult to get right – the size of a project and the complex layout means that organising security measures can be tough. But there are effective and modern options for keeping a construction site safe. Read on to learn how you can properly secure your construction site.
Why is Construction Site Security So Important?
A construction project is always a unique challenge which comes with its own set of important issues based around its size, location, and the actual nature of the project. At the same time, there are important security threats to consider. These include,
- Threat to operations
- Threats of human health and life
- Threats to the property itself any equipment or plant machinery
Vandalism is a particularly serious problem for the British construction industry; it is estimated around £800 million is lost every year because of theft and vandalism. These loses are the result not only of the direct cost of damages, but also because the project is put on hold by damages. Construction site theft is commonplace too; the large amount of valuable material and equipment makes construction sites an appealing target to would-be thieves. Copper and metal are often the typical target, but tools are also frequently stolen.
A new common target of thieves is fuel. This is taken from vehicles and power generators on sites and is one of the hardest to trace and can cause serious delays to a project. Fuel theft is also liable to cause damage to fuel tanks or the machinery involved – further delaying the project.
Vandalism isn’t always the result of or linked to theft; people simply looking to cause damage or destruction may inflict deliberate damage or arson for fun. Other people may do so for commercial or political reasons. The result, no matter what, is a loss of money and often serious damage to the morale of a team.
There are other problems for construction site security too. One major problem is people breaking into security sites to commit suicide – or seeking to disrupt the project as part of a campaign. Criminals may also break into a construction site in hopes of accessing nearby buildings.
Keeping a Building Site Safe
The best way to keep a building site safe is dedicated security measures.
Manned guarding services are a traditional option. Security guards are a physical presence on a property and will ward off any potential intruders, as criminals are not interested in conflict. Furthermore, in the case of a fire or weather damage occurring, manned guarding services can alert the authorities. They can also ensure unauthorised people do not wander onto the site.
Alarms are another good option when it comes to Building Site Security. Alarm systems are often a major worry for criminals, as triggering the alarm system will alert the police or any manned guarding service on the property.
CCTV Towers – a Modern Approach
The best way to protect a property is through a comprehensive security system. CCTV Towers are one of the best comprehensive security systems you can make use of. 60% of former criminals have said they will avoid properties equipped with CCTV – and for good reason.
The imposing size and profile of the CCTV Tower is another benefit. Criminals who know a site is even potentially being watched or monitored by a CCTV system are likely to avoid it – as if they’re caught on camera the chances of prosecution increase significantly. The obvious presence of the tower is often enough to ward off thieves and vandals because they know the chances of it being used in court are much, much higher.
Criminals are not interested in confrontation – especially not petty thieves or vandals – because this massively increases the chances of prosecution.
Modern CCTV systems do not require external generators and have long-life fuel cells which mean they can easily be fitted in places with limited utilities or infrastructure. This is fantastic for building sites, as it reduces additional costs.
