As nights draw in and opportunistic theft rises, companies must not wait until it’s too late to take action on construction site security
The rising costs of inflation, wages, building materials and the energy crises have led many construction companies to explore cost-cutting measures.
Commercial and residential property markets are slowing down and the construction industry is seeing increased pressure on profits.
Contractors often find themselves compromising on essential construction site security measures, but they cannot afford to sit back and let more and more equipment be snatched from under their noses.
Statistics indicate that the cost of theft in the UK’s construction industry each year is between £600m and £1bn, of which only 2% is recovered, according to a review conducted by leading insurer Allianz Cornhill.
As the saying goes, “better safe than sorry,” this still holds true because crimes can strike anywhere, at any time.
Opportunistic theft is on the rise
The UK’s shift from red to white diesel has inadvertently led to a surge in opportunity theft.
Companies now face a new set of construction site security concerns as thieves target their sites to steal valuable white diesel, a commodity made even more valuable due to soaring fuel prices.
Furthermore, with winter’s onset meaning longer nights and fewer staff presence onsite,
the construction industry is once again bracing itself against a period of heightened
theft: the nightmare during Christmas!
With years of experience, Millennium Security has defined three simple steps that
will increase protection on your premises without breaking the bank.
How to increase construction site security on your premises
1. Illuminate the site
If you can’t afford expensive lighting systems then a few spotlights with motion sensors in
targeted areas will make a huge difference as a deterrent.
Also, they are only be activated when there is a trespasser, so they save energy and therefore costs. These spotlights can also be incorporated into Millennium’s Wireless Intruder Detection Camera Systems, as well as fire monitoring such as heat sensors.
2. Bolstering security around access points
Perimeter protection such as hoarding rather than heras fencing will reduce trespassing.
Deploying cameras around the perimeter will act as a major deterrent and will, of course, also assist in any insurance claims after a break-in.
Adding visible obstacles such as padlocks, Digi locks, physical barriers, sirens, rapid deployment towers and signs warning CCTV is in operation will all help to deter the trespasser.
3. Monitoring your construction site
Good neighbours count for a lot. The same goes for the construction sites or vacant properties: if you have a site in a residential area, why not pass on contact details for emergencies? Naturally, when it comes to the early hours of the morning, the neighbourhood cannot assist.
So, 24/7 monitoring through camera systems or manned guarding is still the optimal choice.
Does “green” mean “pricey”?
Apart from increased theft and inflation related costs, there is a third major challenge faced by the industry: sustainability.
From ESG scores to net zero plans, principal contractors and their subcontractors have been working fervently in optimising procedures, innovating products and sourcing alternative suppliers in a bid to assure clients and stakeholders on the environmental responsibilities taken on by the company.
The generalised perception is that this comes at a cost. Although once that may have been true, of late, markets have evolved to provide competitive yet “clean” solutions.
The increase in choice and supply has created a buyer’s market again. With regards to security, there is no doubt that the solar-powered CCTV towers is a must-have for any concerned with green alternatives: no wiring (which usually gets thrown away at the end of the project – more waste!), no “dirty” fuel to power the cameras and total flexibility in locating and moving around site.
And best of all, price wise, it comes in at a fraction of the cost of a patrol guard or even wired CCTV systems.
At Millennium Security, we took sustainability one step further: we don’t even have methanol fuel cells in our Rapid Deployment CCTV Towers as back up. Furthermore, we contracted third-party auditors to ascertain our emissions and carbon footprint, which we
accurately and totally offset on sustainable projects approved by the United Nations.
By being accredited as Carbon Neutral, we assist our clients in reducing red tape arising from sustainability commitments and provide a solid security provider in a greener supply chain. We are also a member of the supply chain sustainability school.
With a comprehensive range of construction site security solutions and sustainable alternatives, we can help you navigate the industry’s demands and ensure the safety
and security of your premises.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to take action.
Contact Millennium Security for peace of mind.
Maya Seys
Head of Sales and Marketing
Millennium Security
Tel: 00441234 825522
