Surprising facts concerning construction site security
Construction site security is a highly developed industry using state of the art camera and related tech to try and combat the huge losses – over £800 million worth a year – the construction industry suffers.
Some facts you may not be aware of:
- Theft by employees and contractors the biggest expense
Theft is the largest overall crime experienced on construction sites; an amazingly high 92% of construction industry professionals experienced thefts at least yearly if not more frequently according to a survey conducted a few years ago.
Another remarkable (and worrying) statistic is that over half of thefts are committed by site employees or contractors.
- Basic mistakes and lax standards responsible for many losses
In general, the standards of basic precaution taking and thoroughness aren’t as good as they could be. Some common mistakes affecting good security:
Not enforcing ID policy – sometimes even though ID badges are mandatory, some personnel are allowed access without the necessary accreditation.
Not securing entrances and exits – a basic security measure especially when various entry points are used and temporarily created such as, for example, fencing being moved aside to allow a large machine access to the site.
Unfortunately, procedures are sometimes very lax and recognised entry points don’t observe high enough standards of construction site security in having CCTV covering them.
- Using CCTV means companies have to be GDPR compliant
In May 2018 new legislation came into force concerning the collection and use of data: GDPR (General Data Protection Register).
Filming of people by CCTV is a form of personal data so those likely to be filmed should be warned. This is accomplished by clearly worded signage and, because warnings usually appear in areas where CCTV is in use, is likely happening at most sites.
That said, people being filmed are entitled to information about how their data is being used in the same way someone, for example, joining a mailing list is: therefore a contact number should appear on the signage to enable people to check if they wish to.
- CCTV subject to government regulation
Similar to GDPR above, the balance between security and privacy is being tackled by the government in the form of a surveillance strategy.
This is prompted by the developments in surveillance tech such as facial recognition and the use of drones. The general idea is that people should be reassured that the surveillance equipment is in use to keep them safe and for companies to effectively guard their property but not to invade privacy.
This is an area that will likely develop further, so construction companies should ensure they work with security providers who understand the legislation as it unfolds in the years to come.
- Construction site security not just for theft and vandalism
Since they’re a hazardous environment, construction site owners have to adhere to stringent Health and Safety practices.
Monitoring activity and controlling site access are two ways in which good Health and Safety can be implemented and monitored so CCTV and access control systems – part of site security – play an important part.
