When working in the construction industry, there are various steps you must take to keep your business building environment safe. For example, this could include investing in both employee training and PPE, which will help you to better care for the health and safety of your team.
Of course, it’s important to note that construction businesses are also at threat from other incidents, such as theft and crime. In fact, these sites are often described as easy targets for criminals as:
- They are often left unattended at night.
- Expensive equipment is stored on-site/at warehouses.
- Vehicles and equipment used on site are hired, making them difficult to track.
- Construction sites are easy to access.
With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can improve security at your construction business or construction site.
Install fences. Installing a fence on your construction site is an easy way to restrict access, ensuring that no authorised personnel can get onto your premises. This will also help you to abide by government health and safety standards, protecting you from further legal troubles.
Use intercoms to allow access. If you’re working on a long-term project and have some kind of office set-up on site, you may also want to install business intercoms at all access points. This once again will reduce the chance of unauthorized personnel entering the site, and gaining access to your expensive tools and equipment. This is because you will be able to remotely control who enters the site and keep stricter logs of who is present and when. This can also be useful in hectic workplaces, as you can control access remotely.
Install lights throughout the site. Workplace health and safety regulations often dictate that construction work cannot be carried out at night, due to poor visibility. This means that you may mistakenly believe that lights are not a necessary purchase. However, they can act as a deterrent for crime as if the area is well-lit, they are more likely to be caught on security cameras. As a result, they are facing a greater risk of prosecution than they would be should they enter the building/construction site under the cover of darkness.
Rely on security cameras. Much like bright lights, security cameras work by acting as a deterrent against all forms of crime, such as vandalism and theft. This is because they will capture vital evidence of whatever transpires. As a result, their presence alone often deters criminals. Ideally, you should place them internally and externally, so that you can capture as much evidence as possible should an incident occur.
Include security in employee training. When it comes to employee training, it’s easy to focus on helping them develop career-related skills. For example, you should spend some time instructing employees on how to properly (and safely) use any on-site equipment. However, you should also use this as an opportunity to make clear the importance of good on-site security too. For example, you should ensure that employees know how to lock up equipment and tools at the end of the shift and that any keys are stored in a secure location.
Hire security personnel. As mentioned previously, one of the key reasons why construction sites are vulnerable to crimes is because they are often left unattended at the end of the day. This gives potential offenders plenty of time to access the site, damage property or steal equipment. However, the chances of such an event occurring are much lower should you have security personnel, such as security guards on-site. While this may be an additional expense, it’s definitely worthwhile due to the extra level of protection (and peace of mind) they provide. You can also order ID cards online and have your security team monitor visitors and ensure that people are wearing them when on the premises. Security really does matter and identification is one of the first steps toward better security.
Don’t forget cybersecurity. When working on a construction project, you might not spend much time online. However, this does not mean that cybersecurity is unimportant. After all, your computers likely house a range of private information from your customers, such as their contact or banking details. If this information is leaked, not only will you face significant legal and financial consequences, but your reputation will also take a considerable hit. This means you’ll find it harder and harder to keep your business appealing to customers, or bring in enough custom to keep your business afloat. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can reduce the chances of cybersecurity breaches occurring. For example, you could install cybersecurity software on all devices, and ensure that you use strong passwords throughout your business. Passwords should also be changed every few months.
Join the conversation: