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How to Ensure Your Construction Site Is Secure Over the Holiday Break

On December 21, 2018, In Uncategorized,

If you’re involved in overseeing a construction site, you know what a hassle it is to keep that site safe. Construction sites are typically wide open, protected by little more than a chain link fence and some tarp, if that, and while some may look at a construction site and see a wide-open space of little value, enterprising thieves see it as a place where they can freely lift raw materials like steel or cement for resale, not to mention expensive construction equipment that may be left unattended on-site.

That’s to say nothing of vandals who may see a construction site as their playground, somewhere they are free to do all sorts of damage that could hinder the timely completion of your project. Those individuals might even injure themselves on your site and try to hold you responsible. For these reasons and more, the need for good construction site security monitoring is clear.

How to Keep Construction Sites Safe in the Winter

When winter comes, the problem of keeping your construction site safe from theft can be even more significant. One study found that one-third of thefts are reported on Monday mornings. The obvious conclusion would be that thieves take advantage of the fact that the construction site is abandoned over the weekend, and when the workers arrive to resume operations Monday morning, they discover the theft.

Now think about what will happen during the winter. If your construction site is in the northeast or another area that can be severely affected by cold climate shifts in the winter months, there’s a good chance that you will slow down or cease operations entirely during this time of year. At the very least, you will probably want to reduce hours rather than subject your workers to excessive, biting cold.

The criminals won’t be taking any time off, though. For them, it’s the perfect opportunity to poke through your construction site without being bothered, taking their time, secure in the knowledge that no one is going to show up to stop them or ask exactly what they are doing.

So what can you do about it? Here are a few ideas.

Visit the Site

Just because you’re not working doesn’t mean you can’t stop by. Visiting the site on a daily or weekly basis, or having someone you trust stop by, can be a good way to let thieves know that it is not open season on your site, as well as give you a chance to see if any suspicious activity may be going on.

Keep Track of the Inventory

Make sure you know exactly what you have left at the site when you go on hiatus. Keep track of the amount and type of anything of any value in your inventory, and lock up everything you can, as best you can.

Enlist the Community

If possible, let neighbors know that construction is being halted for the winter and you would appreciate being clued in if anyone notices anything amiss.

Employ Video Surveillance and Other Security Alarm Solutions

The best thing you can do to protect your construction site during the winter is to set up a high-quality video surveillance system. While this is an added cost, it can easily pay for itself in the amount of time-consuming and expensive theft or vandalism it can deter.

A good video surveillance system starts with great cameras. These should be highly visible, high-definition cameras that let any passersby know they are being watched. Knowing that their attempts at intrusion will be captured on video is usually all that is needed to deter a criminal and convince them to look elsewhere. Remember: they are singling out your construction site in the first place because they are looking for an easy target.

For the best protection, connect your video cameras to 24/7 monitoring. This will allow someone to see immediately if anyone is attempting to break into your site, so that they can alert you and the proper authorities right away. Not only can this allow you to separate the real criminal activity from false alarms, but it also lets you act that much faster to mitigate any damage.

You can also enhance your video surveillance with motion sensors and burglar alarms. These devices activate to alert you and scare off thieves as soon as they approach an area where they don’t belong.

For help designing and setting up the perfect video surveillance and burglar alarm construction site protection system in the New England area, call Wayne Alarm Systems at 781-595-0000 or contact us online today.

Massachusetts Department of Professional Licensure
License No. C-1111

Massachusetts Department of Public Safety
S-License No. SS CO 0160

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