Integrating Security and Traffic Management Plans for Construction Sites

Construction sites are dangerous environments. In Australia, almost one in four workplace deaths occurs on a construction site. Serious injuries are even more widespread: 61% of workers’ compensation claims occur in just six industries, and construction is one of them. The many potential hazards in the construction industry include falls from heights, exposure to hazardous chemicals and dust, plant and machinery accidents, and traffic hazards.

Construction work frequently takes place around traffic, with cars, cyclists, pedestrians, workers, and plant machinery to contend with. Factors such as poor planning, inadequate signage and blind spots raise the risk of collisions and other accidents. As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), your role is to eliminate the risks associated with working around traffic or, if that’s not possible, minimise them as much as you can. A traffic management plan for construction sites is a necessary starting point for implementing this approach.

Construction sites are enticing targets for thieves, with valuable materials, equipment and machinery for the taking. Security guards, roving patrols, guard dogs, and security consultancy can help keep intruders at bay. A site security construction plan outlines the steps you need to take to protect the premises.

For a comprehensive and efficient approach, you can integrate traffic management and site security in construction into a single plan. This unified approach addresses shared risks and maximises resources. With only one document rather than two to refer to, it streamlines the process of ensuring safety on your site.

SSTC is extensively equipped to provide traffic control and security services in various work environments, including construction sites. Here’s our guide to how to combine these two kinds of plans for an even more effective approach.

Traffic Management Plans for Construction Sites

Whenever you have a construction project that’s due to disrupt the regular flow of traffic, it’s essential to make a traffic management plan for your construction site.

Any work that takes place on or near a public road is classified as ‘high-risk construction work’ and also requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) in place.

Risky traffic-related activities on a construction site include moving heavy materials, operating large plant vehicles and redirecting public traffic. Lack of training and inadequate signage can be deadly, and hazards can lurk in your site’s blind spots.

Traffic management plans outline how you intend to manage traffic risks. They take several factors into account, such as the likelihood of pedestrian and vehicle interactions, the location of blind spots, and areas where loading and unloading occur. Once you’ve identified the risks, it’s time to conceive and implement control measures. Can you substitute the hazards for safer options or equip machines with safety devices? A detailed traffic management plan (TMP) explores all of these options and more.

Security Plans for Construction Sites

Security risks on construction sites vary according to details such as location, project type, and the particular characteristics of the location. Security assessments should be dynamic, taking into account all changes that are likely to occur during the project's phases. The main threats that can impact a construction site include theft, vandalism, robbery and trespassing. Construction sites are often left unattended at night, providing opportunistic thieves with the chance to steal valuable items.

Once you conduct the security assessment for your site, you may find that you don’t have the necessary capacity “in-house” to address the risks. A third-party security company, such as SSTC, can be your best option for protecting your site.

CCTV, alarms, lighting and physical barriers are all worthwhile measures for enhancing construction site security, while security guards of all kinds can provide a comprehensive form of proper protection. Static security guards can safeguard entry to your site, roving mobile security patrols can cover a lot of ground, and canine security provides both early deterrence and immediate responsiveness.

Integrating Security & Traffic Management Plans

For a faster and more efficient approach, you can integrate traffic control and site security construction into a single, detailed, and unified plan. In practice, this will appear as a document that incorporates both general security and traffic measures, as well as their interconnection when relevant. This approach addresses the shared risks that would otherwise be separately addressed in each plan, and conceives of cohesive and complementary solutions.

Here’s a basic step-by-step guide to putting together a combined traffic control and site security plan for construction:

Conduct a detailed risk assessment

Identify all the potential risks associated with your construction project, including but not limited to the risks that relate to traffic.

Develop a unified plan

This detailed plan includes security measures for site access control, traffic control measures such as the placement of signs and barriers, and emergency procedures in the event of incidents.

Implement the plan

Implementing your security plan is often a multifaceted process that involves considering various elements. Measures can include physical controls, such as temporary fencing and protective barriers, as well as having trained security personnel on-site and establishing clear channels of communication.

Monitor and review

Your safety plan should be flexible and adaptable, allowing you to update it as new challenges arise.  

Guarantee compliance

Ensure that your safety plan complies with all local, state, and national regulations and that your workers are adequately trained to implement it.

Keep Your Construction Site Secure With SSTC

A construction site security and traffic management plan is a significant undertaking, and it requires specialised knowledge to cover all your bases. With over 50 years of combined experience in the industry, SSTC is a team of site safety and traffic management experts trusted by some of Australia’s largest construction companies. Our dedication to safety is paramount, and we take pride in alleviating the stress of the companies we work with.

We’ll help you comply with all relevant legal regulations and liaise with various authorities to obtain the plans, permits, approvals, and licences you need. Our in-house planning division provides clients with detailed traffic control plans, construction traffic management plans, traffic management plans, vehicle management plans, dilapidation reports and swept path diagrams.

As a leading provider of traffic management services in Sydney's construction sector, we possess all the necessary skills and tools to ensure the safety of both workers and motorists on these busy city streets. Our traffic management plans are tailored to the unique needs of each construction project and include measures such as detours, road closures, and state-of-the-art equipment. Our traffic controllers are both trained in emergency response procedures and equipped with the latest gear to ensure the smooth and efficient management of the traffic flow.

When it comes to protecting your worksite, SSTC can offer you the biggest and most effective range of construction site security services you’re likely to find in Sydney. SSTC guards undergo military-level security training, enabling them to act quickly and with discipline. Our security services for construction sites include static security guards, mobile security patrols, checkpoint security, canine security dogs and handlers, as well as temperature screening to prevent the spread of disease. If you’re unsure where to start with your strategy, our security consultants can assess your needs, optimise your existing solutions and integrate a fresh strategy into your site security plan.

To find out more about our safety-focused approach, contact the SSTC team online for a free quote.