Site security is a top priority on a construction site. Intrusions and thefts affect up to 92% of the industry and can lead to severe setbacks when equipment needs replacing and damage needs fixing. Tools, equipment, and machinery are costly, making them both a keen target for thieves and an expensive thing to replace/repair.
This significant threat of intrusion is continuously present. However, opportunistic trespassers have taken the two lockdowns that we have experienced this year as an even better chance to break into quiet and inactive sites. It has meant that this year, the construction industry has seen a 50% surge in intrusions, meaning significantly more damage and more theft and loss. What precautions can you take to ensure your site is protected as best as possible against the threat of intrusion and maintain the best safety and security for both the site and those working on it? First and foremost, it's necessary to begin with a risk assessment to understand what risks are present on a specific site so that measures can be put in place.
What are the risks?
Evaluating a particular site is a critical aspect to consider when undertaking a risk assessment. There are a number of things that can increase the risk of intrusion on a site, such as a lack of barriers, insecure entrances, or inadequate storage.
What/who is at risk and how?
Firstly, it is essential to consider what products are at risk of theft and what issues may arise if these risks are unprevented. Another vital factor to consider is who might be affected by the threat of intrusion, from a physical and mental perspective.
List the risks in order of severity.
Simply understanding which of your established risks is of the highest importance allows you to effectively and productively address the stakes. For instance, you might have issues with insecure access points and also blind spots on CCTV. By assessing which of these two issues will have the biggest risks to your site will allow you to make the next actions you take the most productive when it comes to securing your site and protecting it against intrusion.
Address existing measures, and measure that need to be implemented.
Some of your existing measures against the identified risks might be perfectly fit for purpose; others might need replacing or improving. Addressing the current standards helps your risk management to be pragmatic and as cost-effective as possible.
Regularly review the risks.
It's crucial that you review your risk assessment regularly. Threats may change and evolve, and your measures must develop with them to ensure the level of security and site protection is maintained.
Process auditing is another way to reduce risk; ensuring health and safety procedures are updated plays a critical factor in mitigating risk.
There is a set of stages to consider in the process of avoiding and dealing with intrusion, the following two are of upmost important to site staff. Following these stages, important factors include response time from police and
Stage 1. Deterrents & Security - Having specific measures in place is shown to prevent criminal activity significantly. Impediments such as barriers, fencing, and visual blockers can make it harder for intruders to enter the site. By reducing the number of visible areas, criminals are less likely to see a financial opportunity. Furthermore, the strategic positioning of CCTV [Security Cameras], alongside other security solutions [Pad Locks], is another way to prevent intrusion.
Securely containing high-value tools, consumables, and machinery is another way to deter thieves. Chests, cages, and padlocks are just a few different products known to keep consumables secure, and if seen to be too much trouble by thieves, are less likely to be tampered with.
Stage 2. Detection - having made all efforts to deter intruders, and if still met with an intrusion nonetheless, the next key stage is to detect the intrusion. This is where CCTV/security cameras are especially important, along with other detection measures such as alarms and other security systems. They not only help you detect and intervene with intrusions before there is loss or damage, but can also help the police identify perpetrators after the fact.
After these stages, important factors include the response time of security and police and following on from that, the long-term response to the event such as amending the issue that caused the intrusion and looking to prevent the same thing from happening again.
The process of protecting your site is simple and vital to keeping your business running safely and effectively. By considering the things addressed here you can easily make important steps to securing your site and reducing the risk of intrusion and theft.
In these winter months, ensure that your site is kept safe and secure by making sure that you have adequately assessed the risks and made the necessary changes to your security. Keep things covered, locked in, and watched where possible, and reduce the risk of loss to your project, protecting both your equipment and your people.
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