With the country unlocking and basic freedoms being restored, the importance of employing stringent security measures has never been so paramount. The increase in human activity often signifies an increase in potential threat and if actualised, can cause irreparable damage in terms of cost, time and perception for businesses.
The Problem
It’s clear construction sites have a lot to offer knowledgeable perpetrators, with the industrial use/quantities of expensive materials that are often left unguarded for many hours increasing their vulnerability.
The constant progression of construction sites call for holistic security measures which are responsive in meeting the security demands. There are four key developmental stages which need to be assessed by security experts to guarantee minimal risk, these include: empty plots, demolition, new builds/refurbishment, new fittings and completed projects. All run the risk of theft, vandalism, arson and can have implications on health and safety.
Construction Site Protection Options
Employing a strategic and calculated defence against unwanted intrusion requires expert security knowledge. There are two main avenues when ensuring the safeguarding of the construction site and its contents: manned and technological solutions.
Manned Security Advantages and Disadvantages
Hiring a workforce specifically to guard a construction site outside of operational hours from potential risks is known to benefit from:
– Reduced likelihood of intrusion being a visual deterrent
– Real time solutions in the event of a threat occurring.
– Quicker response times in the event of an alarm.
– Early detection and notification of building faults such as water pipe ruptures/electrical problems.
– Unlikely to give false alarms.
However, despite the benefits, employing a manned force alone does have drawbacks such as:
– It can be very expensive.
– Humans cannot be alert 24/7, tiredness will impede on concentration and therefore the quality of surveillance.
– Quality control and a high level of trust is needed to ensure the security measures are being met and actioned unsupervised.
Technological Solutions Advantages and Disadvantages
Another avenue to exploring effective safeguarding measures for construction sites are technological solutions. These include CCTV towers, intruder alarms, access control and HD Security systems. By using technology your site will benefit from:
– Low costs.
– Resilient 24/7 securing active measures.
– 360 degree vision with the capability to see in the dark.
– Provide authorities with perpetrator identity images.
– Alarms create loud sirens to scare off intruders and draw attention.
In this digital age, technology overtly tends to be at the forefront of the minds of companies looking to introduce cost effective security measures. Though they clearly have strong advantages their drawbacks can also be noticeable:
– Slower response time when a threat does occur as a response team will have to travel to the site.
– Not as much of a visual deterrent as a manned site.
– Faulty equipment and false alarms.
The Solution
The best approach is often a combination of both manned and unmanned security solutions. By applying both measures, construction sites will benefit from an all-round protection as the two means complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
At Macaw Security Solutions, we believe the best approach includes a multi-layered approach to help defence off unwanted threats. To learn more about our ex-elite British military inspired method click here.