Keeping a construction site secure can be difficult. They have long been considered an easy target by criminals. Construction sites are often located near residential areas, where compounds can be easily accessed by intruders. The common problems of tool, diesel and material theft are a constant issue on building sites.

On top of this, many construction companies are also concerned with safety and liability issues. Mounting costs of legal pay-outs and insurance premiums hurt the bottom line of any project.

 

What are the traditional security issues on construction sites?

Theft of tools

The threat of theft of tools stored in compounds at night, or even from vans during the day is a constant headache. Tools are valued by thieves because of their ease of transport and resale.

Copper theft

Copper theft has seen a massive increase in the last 10 years. Eagle-eyed criminals are waiting for builders to install boilers or other copper-based materials before they target the site at night. This is a high-value item to thieves and there is a market for it.

Proximity of intruders

Many construction sites are in close proximity to residential areas. This can increase the risk of youths attempting to access the site to “hang-out” or to steal and vandalise assets on site. If a construction site is within view of nearby houses, it can be relatively easy for someone to identify weak points in the security system currently in place e.g. static guard.

 

Why is liability is a major concern on construction sites?

With the increasing numbers of fatalities on building sites, health and safety concerns are of paramount importance when choosing a security provider. Traditionally theft and vandalism were the primary concern, we now see the focus shifting towards ensuring safety, and preventing accidents on site.

Insurance costs

If a business is found liable for an accident on the site, they may be forced to pay a large settlement sum or face an increased insurance premium.

Many construction site managers fear this unexpected cost, above the cost of tool or diesel theft. A monitored CCTV system not only mitigates the risk of intruders entering the site, but also provides evidence of intruder actions based on the recorded footage.

Reputation damage

 

The often-overlooked fallout from an incident on-site can be the reputational and brand damage. This can be the public perception of a construction company’s failure to meet safety standards or provide adequate security measures, which resulted in an onsite fatality.

CCTV is often the key piece of evidence used when proving a company’s innocence. After a major incident CCTV footage can be downloaded, distributed and reviewed as evidence of liability preventing damage to a company’s reputation.

A proactive CCTV system will not only record the footage for viewing but if someone attempts to enter a protected area, the system will send an alert to the Communications Hub and therefore avoid any unnecessary accidents, intervening before the damage is done.

 

Why monitored CCTV is the best option for construction sites?

Workplace theft

Workplace theft is a concern for building sites. Unfortunately, there can sometimes be issues with staff stealing tools and materials during work hours. During the day a proactively monitored CCTV system is unarmed to ensure it is not sending unnecessary alerts of movement onsite into the Communication Hubs. However, the cameras are still recording footage 24/7, which can be very useful in cases of theft by employees. This means should a theft occur during the hours of the system being unarmed, the site manager can still review the camera footage to establish the cause.

Remote viewing

The CCTV cameras can be remotely viewed via an app. This means they can ensure work is being carried out on-site, safety procedures are being followed and they can view the site live should an incident occur.

Recording and logging of workplace accidents

Traditionally, building sites used a fixed CCTV system to record crime and vandalism taking place on the site. However, many sites are now focusing on using proactive CCTV to prevent crime and to ensure safety procedures are being adhered to. If a workplace accident does occur, footage can be examined to identify the cause, and used to decide on liability.

 

What is the latest piece of CCTV technology benefiting the construction sector?

Often we see construction sites without internet connectivity or onsite electrical infrastructure in place. It can be challenging to provide a CCTV security system to keep sites like this secure. Some CCTV companies provide a temporary solution for building sites that are powered by a generator or battery pack. At Netwatch, we also have a temporary, standalone system known as our Commander unit that can be connected to the mains or a generator. This temporary unit can be installed without the need for electricity, construction, cabling or communication works. This self-powered CCTV system offers the full benefits of the Netwatch service in a mobile format.

Why is temporary CCTV an efficient option?

Where common temporary CCTV systems require power from a generator onsite or battery packs, the Netwatch Commander Unit has a gas-powered option. Other systems require a generator to continuously run to keep the system live and actively monitoring. Refuelling generators constantly and recharging battery packs can be a costly and time-consuming task. The gas-powered commander unit is extremely efficient and can operate for up to one month independently before a refill is required. Netwatch will receive an alert once the gas pressure drops and will refill the unit so that no downtime or additional cost is experienced by the customer.

Keeping your site secure and quiet

Many sites face noise restrictions past a certain time of day. A diesel generator can be used to keep the onsite CCTV system operating, but they create noise, so use can be restricted. The gas-powered commander unit runs silently and is perfectly suited for sites with this type of noise restriction.

 

What makes monitored CCTV a cost-effective option on construction sites?

Utilising the latest technology, Netwatch provides a cost-effective, accountable monitored security system for any premises on a managed service basis. A monitored CCTV system offers substantial cost savings compared to security guards or traditional CCTV system that simply records crime.

A proactive CCTV system will protect the perimeter of your site, acting as a security guard, but watching all areas of the site simultaneously. Many foremen or site managers find the true value in a Netwatch system is the peace of mind it brings, knowing that the site is protected from crime and that the footage recordings can prevent costly liability claims.

 

How does Netwatch compare to a traditional manned guard?

Some site managers are sceptical of what a Proactive CCTV system like Netwatch is capable of versus a more traditional security guard. They feel the presence of an onsite guard is more of a deterrent, even though that one person cannot monitor everywhere at once and can be subject to intimidation by others.

It can take time to realise the system is working quietly in the background, even if it appears no incidents are occurring. Clients receive incident reports of alarms caused by staff entering the site while the system is armed, or site power loss notifications indicating the system has switched to backup power. These indications show that the system is fully operational and actively deterring intruders.

 

Netwatch Background

At Netwatch, we understand the challenges faced by the Construction industry. Our mission is to improve the efficiency of your business while giving you confidence that your workers and site are protected to the highest possible standard. Netwatch has been providing proactive video monitoring services to the Construction industry for almost 20 years. Our experienced team can build you a tailor-made solution to meet and exceed your security needs.

Setting trends in Construction Security

For almost 20 years, Netwatch has continually reinvested in research and development. This has resulted in the creation of a world-class alarm handling software called Cratos, allowing Netwatch to distinguish itself as the industry leader in construction security. The technology employed behind each high definition camera enables Netwatch Intervention Specialists to immediately intervene in the event of unauthorised movement. Our exceptional team of developers are constantly innovating this intelligent software powering the system.

Netwatch has remained the chosen partner for security companies due to its consistent delivery of our core vision “to lead the world, in safeguarding what our customers value most through our culture of care, innovation and passion for people”.