Have you ever experienced theft, vandalism, or other crime on your construction site?
If so, you are not alone.
As per Moduloc, every year, theft costs Canadian construction companies about $46 million, which they report to their insurance companies.
Here, we will explain how to get optimal construction site security using these live video surveillance tips.
Sirix has clients all over North America in the construction industry for whom they do remote video monitoring.
If you want to keep your worksite safe, follow these three straightforward steps.
Let’s jump right into it.
Tip 1: Maximize video surveillance advantages and reduce costs by answering these 9 key questions
By answering the important questions your security installer asks, you can improve your site security and avoid paying for services you do not need.
Here are the 9 most important questions you should answer and why:
1. What are the required hours of remote video surveillance?
Most construction sites have variable hours.
If this is the case, you may require a means of arming and disarming that you can handle on your own.
A “no detection corridor” is a useful way to let the first employee on the premises to disarm the zones using a keypad or reader.
Another alternative is a mobile app that lets managers arm and disarms the site remotely.
It is also feasible to have a solution that forces arming at a specific time. If no one remembers to do it, it will arm itself when the last person leaves the site.
The goal is to optimize your construction site security as much as possible by reducing the number of exceptions.
Many construction site access control options are available. We can help you pick the best one for your business. Just check out our 8 Easy Video Surveillance Tips to Boost Your Business Security blogpost.
2. Will subcontractors be going on-site?
If subcontractors frequently visit your site during monitoring hours, it is essential to advise them of the security measures in place.
For example, cleaning crews, delivery personnel, and construction site security guards should all know how to arm and disarm your site.
This way, they do not cause false alarms.
If a subcontractor shows up unannounced, you can put up big signs near the entrance with a phone number they can call to let you know they are there.
You or one of your trusted managers can disarm the site for them in this case.
3. Will there be adequate lighting?
There should be multiple light sources for optimal construction site security.
This way, the AI in your security cameras will be able to spot threats correctly, and the security operators will be able to make decisions based on clear images.
If there is insufficient lighting, you should choose thermal cameras over infrared ones.
In fact, analytics typically perform poorly with infrared cameras during extreme weather such as rain, snow, fog, etc.
4. Will there be electricity when the project starts?
Your security installer needs to know if there will be electricity on the site as soon as the project starts.
If there is no electricity, they will plan for self-powered security equipment.
This ensures that your site is never subject to security breaches.
5. Is it possible to add poles on the site?
Since the building’s structure will change over the course of the project, it does not make sense to put the construction site security equipment on it.
The security devices should be put on poles that can be strategically placed across the site to provide top perimeter protection.
6. What is the project timeline?
Construction site security and surveillance cameras are very important for keeping your site safe.
But at the end of the project, they will need to be taken down.
Then, you must know when they will be removed.
The installer should tell you the removal date.
7. Which areas require video surveillance?
Some portions of your site may not require active video surveillance.
You can save money on construction site security services if you only protect the parts that need to be secured.
8. Is there going to be a lot of dust on the construction site?
The security installer needs to know if there will be a lot of dust on the job site so they can come up with a cleaning strategy.
In fact, for construction site security cameras to work well, the lenses must always be clean.
9. Is it required to verify a person’s credentials when they arrive?
Some construction sites, like those on military bases, require the individual control of each worker.
If this is the case, you need to tell your security installer so that he can set up the right construction site security access control solution.
Hattrix by Kantech is a great cloud solution for access control on construction sites.
Tip 2: Leave no weak spots unprotected with a design plan
Insist that your security installer gives you a security design plan.
This way, you can make sure that no area on your construction site remains vulnerable to security breaches.
The design plan should include:
- Surveillance cameras
- Detection angles
- Selected lenses
- Speakers and sound dispersion direction
- Server
- Switch/POE switch
- Wireless antenna
- UPS/battery backup
- Conduit/overhead cable
- Added poles
- Electrical outlets
Tip 3: Keep criminals away with these 4 best perimeter security practices for construction sites
To supplement construction site video surveillance and ensure your site is effectively protected from trespassers, good perimeter security practices are essential.
Here are 4 on-site protection techniques we strongly recommend to all our clients:
1. Secure your valuable items
Never leave tools, equipment, supplies, or other valuable materials lying around on your site.
Put them in cases that can be locked.
You can use containers with strong locks, such as padlocks, electronic locks, or smart locks for larger items.
2. Keep the lights on at all times
Set up lights on your site that will stay on even when it is closed.
When the light is bright, thieves will find it embarrassing to come near your property.
3. Put up live surveillance warning signs
Putting up signs saying that security cameras are protecting the construction site makes people less likely to break in.
Install signs on the construction site security gates, around the perimeter, and inside the site.
Make sure the message can be seen from a far distance and in the dark.
4. Leave your business truck on the site
If your business has a truck with lettering on it, leave it at the building site.
Make it a daily habit to move it.
This makes it look like someone is working on the site, which will keep thieves away.
Sirix’s solutions
Sirix specializes in building site security.
We provide strong remote video surveillance tailored exclusively for the construction industry.
The Autonomous Security Box
This innovative box has a loud horn speaker for voice talk-down, a battery backup, autonomous LTE communication, and cameras with analytics detection ranging from 60 to 1000 meters.
It is easy to put in place and move around on a construction site.
Sirix’s Mobile App
You can arm and disarm your site from any Internet-connected device using the Sirix mobile app.
You can add and manage users, see reports in real-time, and look at the time and video records.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap-up!
You now know the three easy steps to use video surveillance to make your construction site as safe as possible.
Which step are you more likely to take first?
Tell us in the comments section below.
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