In the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, construction cranes are the ultimate symbol of growth. Construction sites range from high-rise skyscrapers in city centers to large residential developments and commercial projects, all of which are huge capital ventures. But these open-air storehouses of high-value materials, equipment and machinery are inherently insecure. Not whether project managers and developers need shelter, but how sturdy it should be. Let’s face it, effective security for construction sites is a critical aspect of managing risk, maintaining budget and sticking to project deadlines.
At Dragon Eye Security, we are experts on job site construction security and offer strong and flexible job-site fit solutions for challenging, dynamic projects. In this guide, we break down the important question, why do construction sites need security, give a comprehensive overview of the types of construction sites security, and list out an action plan in our free and easy-to-use construction site security checklist to help you protect your job.
Why Do Construction Sites Need Security?
A construction site is a moving, high value target. They have no walls to stop people from stealing, valuable assets everywhere, and remote monitoring most of the time, it’s a recipe for disaster. The dangers only increase in dense urban and suburban fabric.
The primary threats include:
- Material and Equipment Theft: From copper wiring to lumber, appliances, tools, and heavy equipment, valuable construction materials are often stolen and fenced. And the loss is not just replacement cost but lost time, project delays, and an increase in insurance premiums along with wasted labor.
- Vandalism and Arson: Unsecured premises invite the attentions of those looking to vandalise or, worse still, set fire to, your site with all the costs and delays that re-insuring against such unwanted events can bring.
- Unauthorized Entry and Liability: In case of insufficient site security, ‘trespassers’ are liable to occupy the site. This creates an incredibly high risk to safety and a huge potential liability to the company should an injury occur.
- Data and Fuel Theft: There is a lot of fuel theft too from generators and equipment. Further, the trailers may contain proprietary blueprints, project information or employee data.
- Copper and Metal Stripping: Organized bands of thieves are originating going around to targeted spots seeking high-value metals such as copper, invariably causing thousands in damage for a few hundred dollars in scrap.
Using professional security construction site services is not a cost, it is an investment in keeping your construction project’s bottom line, timeline and local good name.
Types of Construction Sites Security: A Layered Defense Strategy
Efficient construction site security must utilize multi-layered prevention, combining human awareness and modern technology. Dragon Eye Security has the expertise to build tailor-made structure that integrates these components into your systems perfectly.
Tier 1: The Layer of Strong Physical Security & Presence
This is the deterrent most directly at hand. A well trained security guard corps acts as a dynamic, defensive shield.
- Mobile Patrols: Offered for larger or multiple construction sites, roving patrols in clearly marked vehicles act as a deterrent with regular but random checks made available. After officers walk the perimeter of establishments, check for locked doors and evidence of forced entry. And it’s a great value!
- Guards On The Premises: Full-time guards at the doors or making rounds provides a maximum deterrent. Their duties include:
- Access Control of Construction Sites: Ensuring workers’, subcontractors’ and deliveries’ identity.
- Perimeter Watch: Monitoring for unauthorized access.
- Real-Time Incident Response: Intervening in trespassing, theft, or safety violations and serving as the primary contact for law enforcement.
- Asset Protection Officers: At facilities with an abundance of high priced equipment, officers could be assigned to specifically watch over this valuable equipment.
The deterrent presence of highly visible uniformed construction security guards make criminals run the other way and go to an easier target.
Layer 2: Advanced Electronic Surveillance and Detection
Technology offers force-multiplying eyes and ears, particularly in off-hours. Temporary construction site security for building sites is increasingly provided by quick-to-install systems.
- Mobile Surveillance Systems (MSS): These are standalone, solar-powered or trailer-mounted units equipped with high-definition cameras, motion sensors, and infrared capability. They offer video uploads that stream in real-time to a remote monitoring center and our clients. Ideal for securing a construction site that is in an early stage or remote place without stable power.
- Permanent Surveillance Systems: Long-term projects may be ideal for deploying a fixed network of cameras across strategic choke points, such as entry gates, material lay down areas and yards.
- Motion-Activated Lighting & Alarms: Sudden bright lighting and loud noise are strong deterrents to late-night intruders. They record and alert in what is known as an integrated security surveillance systems.
- Access Control Systems: Electronic keypads or card readers are useful for larger, gated sites which report every person who has entered or exited (hoofs on the ground) and logging this to create an audit trail to dog their step in case of any nefarious activity.
Layer 3: Physical Security Hardening
This layer includes steps that make intruders uncomfortable, slow them down and exasperate.
- Fortified Perimeter: Tall, strong fence usually with anti-climb screening or features, locked gates that are reinforced to prevent forced entry, and “No Trespassing” signs.
- Asset Management: Fit locking fuel caps, remove batteries from machinery overnight and invest in heavy-duty chains/cables and GPS trackers for high-value kit.
- Lighting: Even, bright perimeter light removes shadows where burglars can hide.
All three of these layers working in conjunction with one another, security guards responding to motion sensors alerts that have been verified by surveillance systems, provides an impenetrable fortress for your job site.
What is The Dragon Eye Security Edge ?
Unique threats exist in every region and for each individual project. A property in a dense city core has different challenges from one located at the center of a sprawling suburban development. Your tactics are our strategy.
- Hyper-Local Threat: Intel We know the kind of criminal activity common to your region, including everything from material theft rings to patterns of vandalism. Our tactics are based on experience local, real-time data and context.
- Regulatory Savvy: We make sure security measures adhere to city codes, such as noise ordinances, and that we’re lighting up in the right spot with the proper permit for a temporary location.
- Custom, Flexible Solutions: Deliver temporary construction site security that grows with your project, from the first shovel to the final nail. Our mobile security systems for construction sites go up in hours and can be moved as the project changes.
- Integrated Command Center: Our control center gives you real-time monitoring and acts as a force multiplier for the in place personnel by dispatching guards or police proactively from sensor activation.
Construction Site Security Checklist
Follow this checklist, based on our years of field experience, to evaluate and keep your site secure.
Pre-Project Planning:
- Have a local security construction professional do a risk assessment of your site.
- Identify what types of construction sites security is necessary (guards, patrols or cameras).
- Establish clear lines of authority between project managers and security.
- Include security and safety provisions in all subcontractor contracts.
Physical & Technological Measures:
- Erect a solid boundary fence (minimum 8′ high) with latching gates.
- Establish construction site access control at the construction area.
- Install bright lighting throughout the entire premises and in storage areas.
- Strategically place mobile security systems for construction sites with motion sensors and real-time alerts.
- Take advantage of locking cages, and GPS trackers and fuel caps on all high-value equipment.
- Display “24-Hour Video Surveillance” and “No Trespassing” signs.
Operational & Personnel Protocols:
- Hire trained security personnel from a licensed, insured provider like Dragon Eye Security.
- Implement a rigid system of signing in and out for all your tools and equipment.
- Stage materials as close to the installation time as possible; limit overnight staging.
- Conduct daily security briefings for managers and security leads.
- Demand a clean site: No clutter, no reading material at end of day (so the worker will not be tempted).
Response & Review:
- Keep a thorough record of all occurrences in an incident log.
- Set a policy of how to notify the law enforcement.
- Review video from surveillance systems for abnormal trends in activity.
- Hold monthly security reviews to modify security measures as the phase of the project change.
Beyond Theft Prevention: The Broader Benefits of Professional Security
Although securing assets is the main objective, professional secure building site security offers other very real advantages:
- Increased safety: Guards protect non-workers from accessing machinery, and are the first line of defense against severe injury and costly liability.
- Insurance Premium Reduction: A proactive risk management whereby professional security used for building sites can realise substantial savings on builder’s risk and liability insurance.
- Schedule Assurance: By deterring theft / vandalism / sabotage, you eliminate the impact associated with costs and lost time of replacing materials or repairing any damage caused, which can hold up your project.
- Workforce Safety: Workers and subcontractors will feel safer working on a site that is properly protected, leading to higher morale and potential productivity gains.
- Public Relations: A safe, well-managed area reduces noise and shows consideration for the local community.
Reach Out to One of the Best in The Field
In construction, where the stakes are high and every dollar counts, relying on your worksite to not be hit is a risky bet with severe payday implications. Proactive site security is the answer.
Dragon Eye Security is not just a supplier, we are experts in your project’s success. We offer the people, technology and know-how to maintain a security stack so you can focus on building.
If you are a project manager, general contractor or builder ready to take steps against theft and crime with security that starts at the core of your hard work, Contact Dragon Eye Security today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What’s the best security to have for a temporary site?
The best option is layered: mobile surveillance trailers with cameras and motion sensors for instant alerts, partnered with random security patrols gives you the strongest deterrent that also is adaptable.
Q2: How do you handle logins when you have lots of sub-contractors?
We have introduced a credentialed-based access control mechanism. Authenticated users are given a special badge or code, which our on-site guards check at entryways to deny unauthorized access and keep an accurate log.
Q3: Is Video Surveillance Sufficient Or Do I Need More?
No. But cameras are after all for evidence and surveillance, not physical interaction. Good security combines surveillance with trained guards to respond and deter.
Q4: What are the “low hanging fruit” for security in a new project?
Begin with a solid foundation: put up strong fencing with locks and gates, post clear video surveillance signs, and add movable cameras to cover the entire site; ramp up to include overnight patrols from Day One.
Q5: How does security mitigate insurance and liability exposure?
If the applicant indicates that they employ best practice security, this represents a proactive approach to managing risk, and can reduce insurance premiums. And it stops unauthorized access (so is also reducing injury liability) and provides documented evidence (video, logs) if someone does.
