Four ways to secure your construction site effectively

Here in the UK, construction sites are often an attractive target for thieves and vandals. In this article, Lauren O’Connor, from tool and site security supplier Zoro, takes a closer look at what can be done.

Around £400 million worth of thefts and damage from vandalism are carried out on construction sites each year in the UK, and one in five experience a break-in on a weekly basis, according to research by VPS. What’s more, the same report found a very small amount of stolen goods and materials were ever recovered, marking construction sites as a low-risk target for criminals. So, what’s the solution?

There are a variety of measures you can take: from being more cautious when hiring, to kitting your site out with the right security equipment. Below, I’ve listed four of the most important steps to take when protecting your site from theft, so read on to find out more.

1. Start with your recruitment process
It’s unfortunate, but many thefts are the result of an inside job. Before you start upping security, review the way you recruit, as there’s no point instigating new measures if an insider can bypass them. Take the time to thoroughly vet any new employees, and be sure to only hire security personnel that are Security Industry Authority (SIA) registered.

If you are likely to have a number of unfamiliar contractors working on site, you should introduce a registration system and retrain your current staff to recognise any suspicious behaviour.

2. Invest in preventative security

There are a number of preventative measures you can take to make your site more intimidating to opportunistic thieves. One such method is installing clearly visible CCTV cameras around your site, which will put off some criminals, as well as providing evidence should a theft occur.

Pair CCTV with extensive lighting throughout to make sure that any intruder has no room to go about their business in the dark. You may also wish to invest in an alarm system that will sound to disturb any would-be thieves. Be sure to display signs saying you have CCTV and alarms in place for an extra level of intimidation.

3. Lock up your equipment and supplies securely
Choose a strong storage location that will prove difficult to access, and secure it with high-quality locks and chains that will take much more effort to break through.

When you don’t have access to a permanent location, consider hiring some shipping containers to provide solid, temporary storage for your gear. If it’s practical, move your most valuable items off-site each night to remove the possibility of a theft.
4. Keep an inventory of equipment and materials

It’s important that you keep an up-to-date inventory of all your equipment and materials, so you will know something is missing as soon as possible.

Keep a log of all the details about each item, including its make, model, colour, serial number and any registration information, so you can immediately make an accurate crime report. You may also want to consider making your equipment distinguishable with branding or an ownership stamp.

Consider these four tips if you want to make your site as secure as possible. Finally, remember to report any theft that occurs as soon as you can, as it will increase your chances of getting it back.