Creating A Construction Site Security Checklist

by BestWORLD | Security Guard Company | Hire Same Day Guard Services

construction

Construction sites are prime targets for theft and vandalism. Assessing how much risk your job site is in is a vital first step toward making improvements to 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 that it all goes well. Proper construction site security requires proper planning and management. The construction industry loses millions of dollars every year 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 make sure that they get back to their proper place at the end of the day? Once you have these systems in place, you can start planning your project timeline.

2. Create a Safe Environment
A lot of the risk associated with construction sites can be mitigated by creating a secure environment. Before there’s even anything to protect, ask yourself: is the construction site itself as safe and protected a space as it can be?

Is it properly enclosed with a sturdy fence? Is it a space that requires keyed access, or can anyone walk on through? Do you have generators to power lights during the 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 might be able to use to drive out equipment? There’s a lot you can do to provide better construction site security starting with the very blueprint of the job site.

Ensuring there’s 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. Had an armed guard been there with proper security measures in place, the events may have played out differently.

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 either on-site or remotely, video surveillance offers you a lot of flexibility in figuring out what methods work best for your site. With the convenience of modern technology, you can even watch the footage and control the cameras through a mobile phone with the use of a wireless internet connection.

4. Make Site Security a Priority for Your Workers
Making a construction site security plan is a strong first step to protecting the property, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t communicate that plan to those who will actually be working on the site. Once you have your plan set in place, make sure you share it with the construction staff.

Whether they be managers, house staff, or contractors, everyone who works with your equipment on your job site should be well-acquainted with what safeguards are in place to protect them. It’s not enough to just communicate the plan once, either; protocols should be reviewed regularly, especially if there any changes, and you should inspect the construction site at least once a month to make sure employees are adhering to security regulations.

5. Network in the Community
If you’re spending the time and resources to construct a new building, hopefully you will have already done your homework and have a solid understanding of the neighborhood in which you’re working. Crime rates, median incomes, and ethnic makeups of communities can all have a significant effect on 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 make connections in the community. Befriend local police and fire departments, and neighborhood watch committees if they exist. Even going door-to-door and speaking with residents can do a lot to garner local 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 both 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 on site regulations and how to respond to and report on 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 properly 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