Your construction site deserves as much security as you can give it. Construction site theft means more than the loss of heavy equipment or expensive materials. It can set your construction schedule back several days, weeks, or even months while you wait for replacements or for damage repair.
You can avoid costly delays, expensive replacements, and time-consuming insurance claims by securing your site. Follow the basic tips in our blog below to start yourself on the path to safeguarding your construction site.
1. Increase Your Lighting
Most thieves want to avoid being seen at all costs, which is why a well-lit area tends to deter theft. Do what you can to light your construction site after hours. Walk around your site to find poorly lit areas, and then focus on lighting those locations and eliminating shadows. If you don't want to leave lights on from dawn until dusk, install motion-activated floodlights.
2. Employ a Security Guard
Another person's presence can scare thieves off. Make sure to work with a reputable security guard company; only employ a person or company you can trust. Ask the security guard to keep a log of his or her activities during the night. Set ground rules for behaviour, such as no smoking while on duty. Security guards should always wear uniforms.
You can also talk to local law enforcement. Ask them to keep an eye on the site during their nightly patrols. Local law enforcement can also advise you on crime rates in the site's location, which can give you a better idea of what to expect.
If you are working on a smaller construction site, like a home, talk to the neighbours. Make sure they know about a security guard's presence on the property, and ask if they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity after hours. They don't need to walk around the construction site or put themselves in danger. They can help by calling you or the police if they see something suspicious.
3. Add Security Cameras
Visible security cameras let potential thieves know they are being watched, which makes them less likely to steal in the first place. Consider placing a security camera offsite, such as on a building across the street, to keep an eye on the entrance and exit. When installing cameras, consider how your site will change over time; install the cameras in an area that will be largely undisturbed throughout the constructing process. Put signs up notifying people that there are cameras watching them.
4. Create a Delivery Schedule
Take the time to meticulously plan your delivery schedule. In a best-case scenario, you will schedule items and materials for delivery right before you need to install them. For instance, you should not have windows delivered before you are ready to install them. Try to never schedule a delivery on a Friday evening—the last thing you want to do is leave expensive materials out for an entire weekend.
Of course, this delivery method doesn't always work depending on the shipping company or the construction site's deadlines. But the fewer extra materials you leave out waiting for installation, the safer your site will be.
If you must leave materials out, do what you can to secure them. Lock them up instead of leaving them out, and advise your security guard of the recent delivery.
5. Install Fencing
Determined thieves can cut through fences, but even a cut fence can prevent thieves from removing large, expensive machines and equipment. Invest in sturdy fencing that completely surrounds your construction site.
6. Talk to Your Local Security Systems Company
Each construction site has different needs and requirements. A local locksmith and security system company can give you advice specific to your situation. He or she can also make recommendations on where to place security cameras for maximum effect.
Contact BABB SECURITY in Newfoundland today to talk to a professional about commercial security systems.