Construction sites are prime targets for theft and vandalism. Assessing the risk to your job site is a vital first step toward improving its safety. Creating a checklist for your construction site security will start your enterprise on the right foot and help ensure that your construction project goes off without a hitch.
Your Construction Site Security Checklist
- Make a plan
- Create a safe environment
- Invest in surveillance
- Make site security a priority for your workers
- Network in the community
- Hire guards
1. Make a Plan
You cannot just leap into a new construction project and hope it all goes well. Proper construction site security requires adequate planning and management. The construction industry loses millions of dollars yearly to theft; what steps are you taking to mitigate that?
You need to be able to keep track of where your tools and equipment are and who has been using them. How are workers going to check tools out? Who will ensure they return to their proper place at the end of the day? Once you have these systems, you can start planning your project timeline.
2. Create a Safe Environment
Creating a secure environment can mitigate many of the risks associated with construction sites. Before there’s anything to protect, ask yourself: Is the construction site as safe and protected space as it can be?
Is it adequately enclosed with a sturdy fence? Is it a space that requires keyed access, or can anyone walk through? Do you have generators to power lights at night to deter thieves who might try to slip in under the cover of darkness? What about vehicles? Are there multiple vehicle access points a burglar could use to drive out equipment? You can do a lot to provide better construction site security, starting with the blueprint of the job site.
Ensuring a secure perimeter that lets the right people in and keeps the wrong people out is imperative. At a Manhattan job site in 2017, a disgruntled construction worker who was recently fired fatally shot his former boss and himself in a senseless murder-suicide. The events may have played out differently if an armed guard had been there with proper security measures.
3. Invest in Surveillance
It doesn’t take much to make a potential thief think twice. CCTV cameras are powerful deterrents to crime anywhere, and construction sites are no exception. Since CCTV can be monitored on-site or remotely, video surveillance offers much flexibility in determining the best methods for your site. With the convenience of modern technology, you can even watch the footage and control the cameras through a mobile phone with a wireless internet connection.
4. Make Site Security a Priority for Your Workers
Making a construction site security plan is a solid first step to protecting the property, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t communicate that plan to those working on the site. Once you have your plan set in place, make sure you share it with the construction staff.
Whether managers, house staff, or contractors, everyone who works with your equipment on your job site should be well-acquainted with the safeguards in place to protect it. It’s not enough to communicate the plan once, either; protocols should be reviewed regularly, especially if there are any changes, and you should inspect the construction site at least once a month to ensure employees adhere to security regulations.
5. Network in the Community
Suppose you’re spending the time and resources to construct a new building. In that case, hopefully, you will have already done your homework and have a solid understanding of the neighbourhood in which you’re working. Crime rates, median incomes, and ethnic makeups of communities can all significantly affect the project’s success. But you can take your research a step further—after all, you don’t build a building unless you expect it to stick around for a while, so it pays to think about the sustainability of your project.
When you announce a new construction site, do your due diligence and connect with the community. Befriend local police and fire departments and neighbourhood watch committees if they exist. Even going door-to-door and speaking with residents can do a lot to garner regional support, especially if your project is controversial or perceived as interloping. The more people you can get on your side, the more eyes you will have to ensure the security of your project site.
6. Hire Guards
It’s imperative to find a company that specializes in construction site security. Security guards provide construction sites with a physical and procedural deterrent to trespassers and vandals. They act as visible defensive units and can enforce your security protocols so your workers can concentrate on the jobs they need to complete. Like the other members of your staff, armed guards should be trained in on-site regulations and how to respond to and report any incidents that do occur.
Different construction sites will have different security needs, and you may need help figuring out what kind of security staff will adequately protect your property. For more information and to schedule a free on-site inspection, give us a call at 604 282 3733 or email at MyService@BWSinc.ca. or fill out the form
