Construction sites are often at risk to many security threats such as theft and vandalism. So it is important to have good construction security. In this article, we will be discussing why your construction site needs security, what construction site security measures will be in place at the site, and who needs construction site security.

1. Do Construction Sites Have Security?
2. What Is Construction Site Security?
3. Who Needs Construction Site Security?
4. Why Does A Construction Site Need To Be Secured?
   
5. What Safety Regulations Or Rules Need To Be Followed On A Construction Site?
6. What Are The Most Important Safety Rules In Construction?
7. How To Improve Construction Site Security?
8. Challenges With Protecting A Construction Site
9. Conclusion

Do Construction Sites Have Security?

Yes. Construction sites will have security in place to help protect the site away from any security threats such as theft or vandalism. The most common type of security on a construction site would be security guards, CCTV cameras, risk assessments, and a construction site security plan.

What Is Construction Site Security?

Construction site security ensures that these goods are protected, saving construction companies thousands of pounds, and giving them peace of mind. Site security can include the installation of CCTV cameras and physical guard patrols. Security companies can attend the construction site and carry out a risk assessment where they can identify the areas of your construction site that are vulnerable to break-ins and safety issues.

Who Needs Construction Site Security?

Construction site security is vital for any site as they keep workers and members of the public safe. With such high instances of theft on construction sites, any site is a target. Security can include a number of different approaches, and security companies can advise on the best security plan for your particular site.

CCTV is a great way to monitor movements in and around your construction site and can also catch criminals on camera if a crime is committed. CCTV can be monitored by a security team, who can respond to any suspicious circumstances. Regular patrols can deter criminals from targeting the construction site in the first place, saving site owners money as they will not have to replace stolen items or repair any damage.

Construction sites should also consider hiring a security company to assess their on-site security, allowing them to identify any potential security breaches. This will then allow businesses to improve their security procedures.

In 2021, when sites may be quieter due to lockdowns or social distancing measures, security could not be more important as empty sites are more of a target than busy ones.

Why Does A Construction Site Need To Be Secured?

One reason as to why your construction site needs security is that construction sites are often at risk to many security threats. It is known that criminals will often target construction sites as they contain expensive equipment and materials. A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building found that over 21% of sites were affected by theft on a weekly basis, while over 90% of sites had been impacted by petty theft.

What Safety Regulations Or Rules Need To Be Followed On A Construction Site?

When having security on a site there may be safety regulations and security rules that you will need to follow. Below, we have listed these different types of regulations.

Construction Site Security Requirements

Owners of construction sites should ensure that a strict list of rules is followed to ensure the safety of workers, contractors, and visitors to the site, as well as members of the public. Rules should be clear and easy to understand. They should range from essential health and safety advice such as no smoking and wearing personal protective equipment to more significant operations such as traffic management systems and emergency arrangements. When it comes to site security, some areas of the construction site may be restricted, and it is important to enforce this in order to keep staff safe.

It is vital that any health and safety rules or security rules and warning signs are translated into different languages if the site employs non-speaking English workers to make sure there is an understanding across the whole site. There should also be a secure check-in and check-out process on construction sites so that the company is aware of who is on the building site at all points. This is essential in case of emergencies such as fire evacuations.

Construction Site Security Laws

The Government’s Health and Safety Executive states that all building site security require measures to manage access across defined boundaries and steps to exclude unauthorised people. The reason for this is that each year vulnerable members of the public such as children gain access to construction sites which can result in severe injury or even death. Construction sites, therefore, are required by law to keep their boundaries secure.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations Act from 2007 focused on making construction sites safe for both members of the public and site workers. It indicated that sites needed fencing or similar structures around their boundary to ensure public safety and an organised site to reduce worker accidents. Security for the site to protect this perimeter should also be considered.

What Are the Most Important Safety Rules in Construction?

The most important safety rules are rules which protect people. For construction workers, this may mean wearing protective equipment and hard hats to try and reduce the likelihood of injury if an accident does happen.

To protect the public, the most important safety rules are linked to the laws listed above and should focus on keeping the public out of the construction site. This is where construction site security comes in.

How To Improve Construction Site Security?

The best way to improve construction site security would be to follow construction safety tips such as site theft prevention tips. Another way to improve the safety of your construction site security would be to complete regular risk assessments. Risk assessments are useful as they help businesses identify if there are any weaknesses in their company.

While another way to improve your construction site would be to hire security guards – as guards have been known to be an excellent visual deterrent against thieves. Guards will also be able to patrol around your site and keep a watchful eye out for any security threats.

Challenges With Protecting A Construction Site 

Protecting a security site comes with its own set of unique challenges, being able to effectively secure all areas of a building site takes a lot of planning to do and this is down to 3 key factors that differ in comparison to something like a retail store.

Constant Movement

Construction sites are inherently busy, with the hustle and bustle of potentially hundreds of workers it is difficult to keep track of the ones that should be there, and those who have ill intent.

A Large Amount Of Access Points

With construction sites requiring large amounts of heavy materials and tools, not only are a lot of different ways to access the site necessary but also the access points have to be very easy for larger trucks to enter and exit at will.

Vehicles

A lot of larger-scale construction projects require vehicles to be stored on-site and as such, it can be difficult finding the capability to secure these vehicles in a cost-effective manner.

Conclusion

When you are considering on how you can secure your construction site, it is best to speak to a security company. Although investing in security services for a construction site does come with an initial cost, it can actually end up saving the company money in the long run as they do not have to replace expensive stolen goods or repair any damages due to vandalism.  Security services give businesses peace of mind as they can be confident that their construction site is well protected, and CCTV can capture evidence of any incidents that do occur. Ultimately, the most crucial aspect of site security is safety – the safety of the construction works and the safety of members of the public.

To keep up to date with all the latest construction news, head over to our news page where you can find articles about how to keep safe on construction sites and how you can get security for your construction site. We also offer many security tips, tricks, and facts over on our official Region Security Youtube Channel.