Construction sites are vulnerable to a wide range of crimes. Theft, vandalism, and arson are estimated to cost the British construction industry over £800 million every year – not to mention pushing up insurance premiums, delaying work, and damaging staff morale. The size of construction sites and the large number of raw materials, fuel, and equipment in them makes them very appealing to thieves. Vandals and arsonists see construction sites as easy targets due to their large size. 

This means it is vital that you protect your construction site. One of the best choices is manned guarding services – security guards. In this article we’ll discuss the benefits you can reap by going with security guards to keep your property safe.

Deterring Theft and Vandalism

Theft and vandalism are very common on construction sites. Unprotected construction sites are huge environments with many potential access points, so if there is no one there to prevent entry, a dedicated criminal can very easily enter unopposed. The large amount of specialised equipment, raw materials, expensive tools, vehicles, and fuels on the site are more than likely going to attract attention from criminals eager to steal and resell them. The loses that can result from theft can be huge, delaying work and significantly increasing insurance premiums. Fuel theft can also damage expensive vehicles.

There is also a danger of vandals entering the property. Vandals can damage and destroy equipment as well as vehicles. Graffiti is another common problem, but a major issue is arson. Fires can result in serious damage that can be impossible to repair – significantly setting back the work on a project.

The best way to handle thieves and vandals are security guards. Manned guarding services mean a physical presence on the property – the one thing thieves and vandals have no interest in dealing with. Intruders know if they are caught by security that the chance of prosecution rises massively – so the presence of security guards is often enough alone to prevent a crime. If a crime does occur, the security guards can handle what could be a particularly difficult situation on your behalf.

Furthermore, if there are any other accidents that occur on the site the manned guarding services can alert the authorities.

Prevent Unauthorised Access

It’s not only thieves and vandals who pose a problem; unauthorised access by members of the public, ‘urban explorers’, and other individuals can cause serious problems. People frequently wander onto construction sites due to their open nature, and these people can injure themselves, or distract workers. Security guard services can ensure that unauthorised access is prevented – saving a worksite from a massive headache.

Reducing Liabilities

Hiring security guards on your construction site will significantly reduce liabilities.

If people end up injured or ill because of work on a construction site, the owner or manager may end up being considered responsible and required to pay for any damages. Because security guards monitoring the site can prevent these incidents from occurring, they can save managers and owners from significant liabilities costs.

Conflict Resolution

It isn’t uncommon for conflicts or disputes to occur between workers on a construction site; the demanding nature of the work and the complexities of a job can result in conflicts, and these can slow down work significantly. Security guards are trained in conflict resolution and management, so these problems can be shut down quickly, allowing work to resume in a smooth manner.

Stopping Emergencies and Mitigating Disaster

Construction sites are busy environments with a huge amount of heavy machinery, equipment, and the movement of raw material can easily result in injuries if people aren’t careful. This isn’t to mention the digging of trenches or ditches, which people (if not careful) can fall into – or the misuse of equipment. While workforces are trained to be alert, there is always the chance they will miss something and suffer an injury as a result.

Construction security guards are trained to spot risks and hazards early on – helping to prevent these accidents from occurring.

Ensuring the Site is Safe

Security guards are trained not just to keep a site safe, but also to ensure people on the site are also kept safe.

Manned guarding and security guard services are trained to identify safety hazards and prevent accidents before they happen. Not only is this an amazing boon for your workforce as it keeps them safe from potentially serious incidents, but it saves a project from serious interruptions.

Security guards are trained to provide first aid – which means in the case of any accidents, they can help people until proper assistance arrives. If someone is injured, they are also superb witnesses – which can keep site managers safe in the event of any lawsuits or litigation.