Do you know the security weak spots on your construction site? Well, you need to. Find out the most popular targeted access points by thieves and how to reduce these risks.
89% of tradespeople and contractors have been victims of theft, with over a third of tradespeople revealing that the theft of their tools and equipment impacts their mental health.
However, the mental health impacts are not the only consequence of construction crime. Unfortunately, there are numerous knock on effects created from this.
Understanding the Impact of Construction Site Crime
Financially, construction crime can have devastating impacts on construction sites with it being estimated that it costs the industry around £800 million annually.
There are many contributing factors towards this. Firstly, construction materials, equipment, tools, and machinery are expensive, making them enticing to thieves based on the potential profit that can be gained.
Secondly, metal prices are on the rise including aluminium and copper, which are two common metal types utilised in construction sites. This poses construction sites at greater security risks as thieves will focus on locations where metal is more prevalent.
Thirdly, world conflicts are being suggested to be involved with driving the demand for stolen goods as supply chains strain.
As construction sites grow to become even bigger targets for thieves, the impact of such crime is beginning to create further concern for those within the industry.
Crime including copper theft and machinery damage can cause project delays as construction sites will need to acquire replacements or repairs to resolve the matter.
Those delays create financial losses which can impact the overall business, its employees and the project purpose. For example, when you build a block of offices, delays will impact those who have brought or will be renting them as they will be unable to move in on time.
It can also impact employees morale as theft, especially repeated instances of it will create uncertainty with work for them and the effects can be debilitating.
Especially for smaller construction businesses where financial losses can make construction sites harder, potentially leading to job losses and business closure in the worst case scenario.
Why is Identifying Your Weak Spots Important for Security?
All construction sites should complete a security assessment to understand the risks and dangers that could be a challenge to them.
Although you may think that all construction sites have similar risks associated with them, each project is unique and therefore some risks may be greater for some sites than others.
Access points can vary depending on the size, space, and type of construction site, however, with these often come the greatest risks of intrusion. Criminals will utilise access points and ‘blind spots’ to gain entry to the site and this is when it is at its highest risk to theft, equipment damage, and vandalism.
Therefore, preparing for those risks and identifying weak spots regarding your access points will help you get in the headspace of a criminal and imagine what routes they may take. It allows you to plan ahead and ensure you have the correct security in place to manage those risks.
Access Our Ultimate Construction Site Safety and Security Toolkit - https://www.wcctv.co.uk/the-ultimate-construction-site-safety-and-security-toolkit/
7 Weak Access Points to Watch Out For at Your Construction Site
Each construction site will differ with their layout and potential access points, however, there are some common weak spots to look out for.
At WCCTV, we have supported the security of several construction sites and have formed a list of 7 weak access point you should be aware of:
Dark Spaces
Criminals rely on the concealment of their identity for their personal safety, therefore dark spaces are extremely attractive to them for this exact reason.
In general, darker nights tend to place construction sites at higher risk, however, spaces that consistently remain dark are those most vulnerable to unauthorised access. This could be a shaded area created by an outbuilding or piece of machinery.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
We would recommend that with any construction site that you install security lighting, particularly in those areas where there are consistent dark spots.
Motion-sensored lighting is best as it ensures that valuable items remain concealed then when movement is detected the lights should work as a criminal deterrent by stripping them of their hiding place.
However, an additional security measure of CCTV cameras should be used alongside this to provide further deterrence and to record any incidents that take place.
Although fixed CCTV systems require electricity on-site, other temporary security solutions including our CCTV Towers offer wireless options that have complete power autonomy, making them more suitable for construction sites.
Additionally, our security cameras use IR PTZ technology that allows you to get a 360-view of your construction site day and night, with no drop in quality.
Scaffolding
Many construction sites will require scaffolding for health and safety purposes and to support the structural integrity of the building project. However, with their benefits comes vulnerabilities.
Scaffolding can be valuable for thieves due to their metal content and can also be utilised to gain entry onto your construction site.
Criminals may use ladders to elevate themselves onto the scaffolding or simply climb up the metal structure which will then provide them with their desired access.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Protective beams are often offered as an additional feature for scaffolding and these can be used to prevent opportunistic thieves from taking advantage of your site or stealing the scaffolding itself.
This feature will be an extra expense in most instances, but could save you from the financial loss of theft which is likely to be much more.
Gates
Any gates often stand tall and use secure locks at construction sites to help ensure unauthorised individuals cannot gain access, so you may be left wondering, what are their vulnerabilities?
Well in some cases, criminals may still be able to climb gates and enter your construction site through this method. For others, their design may be able to prevent this, however, this does not void them of their risks.
Thieves will go to great lengths for financial gain and that includes identity theft. High vis jackets and hardhats are easy to get ahold of, and once acquired, thieves can walk straight through the gate posing as a worker.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Where criminals use the tactic of identity theft to gain access to a construction site you may wish to consider security guards during the day that can monitor any unauthorised individuals. This provides reassurance to workers and reduces the chance of theft.
You can also install a turnstile system and supply passes to your workers, however, with this option criminals are still able to potentially jump over such a system.
Overall, for day to night protection with your gates and full construction site perimeter, a mobile CCTV system is the best option, especially ones backed by a remote monitoring service.
Our CCTV Towers utilise remote monitoring services to provide a proactive and reactive response to security.
With the use of high-quality video monitoring and human support, our security cameras quickly detect, assess, and respond to threats. This helps avoid false alarms and provides you with the best chance of intercepting the crime whilst active.
Outbuildings
Unsecured outbuildings can be taken advantage of by criminals for various benefits, including:
- To gain access to the construction site through a conjoining building.
- Conceal their identity whilst on site.
- To steal equipment and other valuable materials that could be held there.
- Help to scope out the construction site and assess the valuable items.
With any construction site you need to consider all buildings in and around the surrounding area, not just the construction site itself that criminals could access and use for their benefit.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Your first response to this should be to check any outbuildings and if there are any entry points that could be accessed, these should be locked or blocked immediately.
Following this, outbuildings should be monitored 24/7, whether they are holding valuable items or could be used to access the property.
CCTV systems can normally fulfil this requirement, but deciding on the right mobile unit could be the deciding factor in the strength of protection your construction site receives.
Our CCTV Towers offer a fully-managed service that works both as a criminal deterrent, but also as a live monitoring service that lets you be as hands-free or hands-on as you wish with your security.
The Construction Site Perimeter
Most construction sites will have clearly defined perimeters, but without any security this leaves them completely vulnerable to criminals.
Keeping equipment and valuable material in an outbuilding in a hard-to-reach location may seem smart, however, if the perimeter is left with open access, intruders can simply wander onto the premises to that outbuilding.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Full site perimeter security is vital to the protection of your construction site and any valuable materials, equipment, and machinery held there.
There are many security solutions designed for this including perimeter fencing and security guards, however, the most effective security solution is considered to be mobile CCTV cameras.
This is due to various reasons such as, its cost-effectiveness, 24/7 monitoring, and reduced chance of errors.
Find Out the 13 Benefits of Using CCTV Towers on Your Construction Site - https://www.wcctv.co.uk/benefits-of-using-a-cctv-system-on-your-construction-site/
Large, Open Construction Sites
Generally, the larger the space, the higher the number of access points for criminals and security can be more difficult to manage.
This makes them a big target for crime as criminals will be aware of the security struggles they are faced with and find the weak spots in the perimeter for them to access.
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Construction sites will often expand over large, open spaces and this does present increased security risks as there are more access points for criminals to gain entry via.
Similarly to construction site perimeters, the best security measure for large, open spaces is mobile CCTV cameras. They can be placed around various parts of the site, ensuring they cover all of the construction site’s perimeter.
All of our CCTV Towers are mobile and can be moved around various locations on-site, and with our Smart Tower in particular, this can be repositioned by yourself.
This allows you to adjust focus to a location if you face particular challenges at an access point, helping to boost criminal deterrence and prevention in that area.
Perimeter Fencing
Perimeter fencing provides a physical barrier against criminals, but this does not guarantee full security of your construction site.
There have been multiple instances, including ones captured by ourselves where criminals have scaled fencing or moved it, in turn accessing the site with ease.
Watch how our cameras captured and responded to intruders accessing a construction site via the perimeter fencing:
WCCTV’s Security Suggestions:
Although perimeter fencing can be an effective security measure for construction sites by preventing view of any valuable items on-site and creating a physical barrier against criminals, it does still have its own weak spots.
Fencing can still be scaled over and therefore if using this at your construction site you should have further security measures in place such as CCTV to capture any criminals that manage to overcome it.
It may be a cheaper option, however, choosing the less expensive option may end up costing you more in the long-run.
Worried About Your Weak Spots? Speak with WCCTV
Unsure what your weak spots may be or concerned about them? WCCTV have supported various construction sites to improve their security and protect against the threats presented to them.
Get ahead on your next construction project’s security by getting in touch today with one of our CCTV Tower experts.
