Four Strategies for Effective Construction Site Security

Have you ever started a workday and discovered that equipment or material was stolen, broken, or vandalized overnight? This is a lesson that only takes once to learn from… 

A construction site is a high-value target for someone with a criminal mind. Often, once workers go home, construction site security is nearly non-existent. Tools may be locked up and the area fenced off, but that isn’t enough to stop someone intent on an easy score. You’ll need to up your security game. 

You aren’t alone. Commercial Construction equipment theft is a big business. Estimates from the National Equipment Register state that construction site crime costs up to $1,000,000,000 per year. Individual damages on a site can quickly exceed $15,000 if heavy equipment is involved. 

There are cost-effective ways to minimize your risk. They involve passive and active security measures that blend technology with human elements. The best part is that it’s an investment worth making. When you have a secure site, your projects finish faster, your stress level decreases, and your bottom line looks better. 

The consequences of poor construction site security

Poor construction site security leads to more than missing tools and materials or vandalism. Your equipment can even be used for other crimes. There are four important ways unlawful activity on your site can have a real cost. 

1. Delaying Project Completion

Missing materials and tools can cause construction delays. These could cause you to miss out on performance bonuses earned by getting the job done quickly. The opposite may happen, too, if there is a penalty for finishing behind schedule. 

Your workers on-site may end up standing around as well. Paying people their hourly wage while they don’t have enough work to do is a direct hit to the project’s profitability.

2. Financial Loss

Replacing and fixing stolen equipment is a hassle at best. Likely, it’s going to cost you money, too. You may have to pay out of pocket to purchase replacements or incur increased insurance costs once you submit a claim. 

The cost of replacing equipment and materials takes away resources you could be investing in your company. This is just wasted money that could be put to better use. 

3. Cost overruns

Who is responsible for cost overruns in your contracts? Chances are, it’s you. Who has to cover broken windows and stolen or damaged materials? Again, it’s probably you.  This all adds up and can lead to cost overruns which cut into your bottom line. 

4. Damage to your reputation

Putting your name on signage around your construction site is a great way to advertise your business. But what message are you sending to potential clients when your site is in the news for a big-ticket item being stolen? What message does it send when your worksites are tagged with graffiti before the job is completed? 

Having a site that looks safe, clean, and secure can improve your image. Who would you rather hire? The company with vandalism and graffiti all over their project, or the one that looks neat, tidy, and efficient? 

Of course, each site is different and will have unique challenges. That’s why it’s important to fully understand the security needs of your projects. 

Assessing construction security needs and risks

Some challenges to construction site security are going to be obvious. If you have a large open site, with many points of entry, it will be difficult to secure it. Shadows and blind spots make it easy for people to creep around the property without being seen. 

Remedies for the obvious issues might be simple. But to fully secure a site, you should consult a professional security company. They should conduct a walk-through of the site with you. Then you can discuss with them potential problems. 

Get a walkthrough from a couple of security companies to compare their recommendations.  They will identify vulnerabilities and potent threats you hadn’t thought of and will have solutions for you. 

You will find four basic strategies that can be employed.

Making your construction site more secure

To create a more secure environment at your construction site, there are strategies that you can use. Just keep in mind that the best results come from using a combination of security tactics. 

1. Make sure you have effective perimeter security

Your site should be completely fenced off, with entry restricted to only a few gates. Each gate should be locked when the site is not attended, too. Periodic inspection of your fence will identify gaps and holes that may have been made by natural causes or people trying to gain entry. 

Keep your construction site well-lit at night, too. Corners and obstructions create shadows, so try to take that into account as you set up your fencing. A well-lit site with few places to hide will make your site less attractive to unwanted visitors. 

2. Use remote camera systems

Cameras are a great line of defense. When visible, they work as a deterrent. For them to be effective as a security measure, though, they need to be monitored. This can be done on or off-site, depending on the security service you work with. When the person watching the feed sees something suspicious, they can react. 

Unattended feeds are only useful if the image helps identify or prosecute an offender. They will not stop someone intent on illegal activity at your site. And you will have no way to respond in a timely fashion, either. 

3. Hire on-site security  

Having a person (or people) on-site during off hours is one of the best ways to protect your property. Construction security guards can develop a routine that checks all the dark spots, the perimeter, and equipment. They can also check the locks on places where valuable materials and tools are stored. On-site security can alert authorities or intervene in real time if they spot a crime in progress. 

You can even task them with monitoring video cameras. This is the best of both worlds as the cameras can protect a much larger area than any person. When security follows random routes at random times, they make trespassing difficult. 

4. Security Patrols

On-site construction security guards can become costly. One way to gain the benefits of on-site personnel, while reducing some of your costs, is to hire a security patrol. While this won’t keep people on your site all the time, the security patrol will arrive at random times. They can also enter the site to have a look around on foot and check the perimeter. 

You may even be able to share the costs of a security patrol. You may have other projects nearby. The security company could have clients in the area, too. A patrol can visit multiple locations, so ask if there is an opportunity to share costs. 

The key is to couple the right security strategy with the right security company. That’s the best way to reduce your risks. 

Get the most of your construction site security

Construction site security is a necessary cost. It is a proactive way to protect your time, materials, and company name. It reduces the worry and stress of wondering if your site is ok. 

But how do you know you’re working with the right security partner? 

One of the best ways to ensure you find the right partner is to spend time with them. Talk to them in person. Have them come out and do the walkthrough with you. Ask a lot of questions based on any experiences you have had, good or bad. 

Ask about additional or specialized training that the company offers its security personnel. Possessing a security guard license is a minimum requirement! A strong company provides advanced training to strengthen its people in the field. 

If you have a positive history with a security company, consider exploring a long-term relationship with them. They may develop a retainer if you have multiple sites they can secure. This will make costs predictable and spread them out over several projects. 

At KT Protection Services, our leadership has over 60 years of combined experience. Securing Hawaii’s construction sites is something we do on a regular basis. Our security professionals have undergone background checks and our custom training program. 

Working together, we can devise a security plan that protects your construction site, but still fits your budget. 

To find out how we can help you, check our construction site security information.