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Every single construction site is different with the location and nature of each site carrying its own unique security and safety requirements.

Every year in the UK, millions of pounds are lost as a result of criminal activity on construction sites, with theft in particular having a major impact on a project’s costs and time scale.

For this reason, putting in place effective security measures is essential to running a successful business in the construction industry.

Some of the main threats that construction site security is put in place to prevent include:

Theft

Theft is one of the biggest threats to UK construction, with the industry losing over £800 million worth of materials and tools in 2020 alone.

Unprotected sites are prime targets for criminals with thieves seeing the equipment left on site overnight as an easy route to a quick profit.

Fuel is another major attraction for thieves with vehicles and generators becoming a more and more valuable commodity, and being almost impossible to track once having left the site.

Vandalism

There may be some criminals who carefully plan their intrusion onto your site, specifically targeting goods to steal, but this is uncommon.

The vast majority of crimes, especially vandalism, are conducted by opportunistic intruders often under the influence of drink or drugs.

Given that the cost of dealing with property or vehicle damage could quickly escalate into thousands of pounds, having security to keep a close eye on the perimeter and ensuring that only authorised individuals are able to gain access is essential.

Workplace injuries

Workplace injuries are a dreadful thing to deal with, not only causing trauma and harm to your valued staff but also leaving you facing large compensation payments if you cannot prove you were not at fault.

Through the use of security measures such as CCTV, or by employing highly trained SIA accredited security officers, you will be able to reduce the risk of accidents occurring on your site, by identifying and resolving potential safety hazards before they become an issue.

Arson/Fire

Every year there are hundreds of fires on construction sites across the country, started both intentionally and accidentally.

Construction site fires put the lives of workers and visitors at serious risk, so it is essential that you put effective fire safety measures in the place.

Construction site security measures

Creating an effective security system on a construction site can be difficult, due to the high levels of everyday activity and the need to have a large quantity of expensive materials and equipment on location.

Construction sites serious about their security must adopt strict security measures to ensure that their site does not become yet another victim of crime, deterring criminals and allowing for a swift and effective response to any incidents that take place.

Here are some of the most effective measures you can take to maximise the security of your construction site:

Conduct a risk assessment

The first step in designing the perfect security system for your construction site is to understand exactly what the main risks are.

To do this, you should conduct a thorough risk assessment, analysing the threats that you need to address.

A risk assessment should include the following steps to ensure that it is done in the best possible manner:

1. Identifying the security risks to your site
2. Identifying who is most affected by these risks
3. Identifying the security measures that would be most effective
4. Reviewing the implementation of such methods to ensure they are working.

Installing CCTV

CCTV is one of the most effective ways to protect your construction site.

The sight of a visible V360 mobile CCTV camera system alone will deter most criminals from attempting to target your site, and even if they do, the footage can be used to quickly identify and deal with them.

CCTV footage can also be crucial evidence in court and in helping the police to find those who manage to get away.

Hiring Security Officers

Having SIA accredited security officers on your site will give peace of mind to your workers, using their expertise and experience to create a safe and secure atmosphere on site.

Security guards will protect the perimeter of your site, control access, deal with conflicts between staff, and identify any potential fire or safety hazards that need to be resolved during their regular patrols.

Installing Lighting

Lighting is one of the simplest security methods to install, as well as being one of the most effective at preventing crime.

Keeping a construction site well lit during the night will significantly reduce the chances of an intruder entering and exiting the premises undetected, helping your security staff to keep the site secure and minimising the risk of theft and vandalism.

It is best to choose lights that are bright and provide good colour differentiation to make it easy to identify objects and individuals from a distance.