Site security is an important part of the construction industry. In Australia, the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 state that the person who manages or controls a workplace where construction work is carried out has a legal obligation to secure it from unauthorised access as far as practically possible. Site security stops individuals from accessing your site and stealing materials, damaging the project or injuring themselves.
Construction work is a dangerous business, and it’s essential to carry out a risk assessment before construction work begins. A risk assessment helps you identify the potential hazards in your workplace and either remove or mitigate them as much as possible.
There are challenges to securing construction sites of all types, but one of the factors influencing the difficulties you may face is where the site is located. Securing remote construction sites often involves different challenges than protecting city locations, with differences in accessibility, infrastructure, labour availability and other variables.
At SSTC, your safety is paramount, and our experience securing construction sites in all kinds of areas is extensive. Here’s our guide on how to secure construction sites in both remote areas and major cities like Sydney.
Construction sites are a common occurrence in major cities, where new developments occur frequently. Running a construction project in the city has its own challenges, and the busier and higher-density the location of your site, the more unique challenges you need to account for. City construction difficulties that aren’t as common in less congested environments include:
In tightly packed environments, damage to neighbouring buildings and structures can occur in more ways than one. Deep excavations can destabilise adjacent buildings, vibrations from activities like demolition can damage nearby structures, and construction dust can not only damage nearby buildings but also affect the health of people in the vicinity.
Using certain machinery is always going to be noisy, which can cause conflict in high-density areas among people in their homes or offices. Construction noise can negatively affect human health and wellbeing, increasing people’s stress levels, disturbing their sleep and potentially causing hearing damage.
In Australia, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a responsibility to provide facilities on a construction site, such as bathrooms, first aid equipment and locations to store personal belongings. In a city environment, construction sites can be tightly packed into compact areas and have limited external space available for these facilities, although they still need to be provided. The resulting congestion can increase the risk of accidents and make providing emergency care more difficult.
Cities obviously have higher volumes of traffic than rural and regional locations. Construction work has its own traffic safety risks: vehicle collisions, cars striking workers or pedestrians. If you’re carrying out construction work on or near a public road, you need a construction traffic management plan (CTMP) to ensure the safe movement of traffic around construction sites.
Remote construction sites are sites that are located a long way away from cities and major population centres. In Australia, well-known examples include mining sites, transport infrastructure between outback towns, solar and wind projects in remote areas, and housing for remote communities.
These sites can be even riskier than regular construction sites due to their remote locations. The biggest challenges on a remote construction site include:
Rural and outback areas typically lack the services and facilities found in cities, making it more difficult to establish strong security measures..
Rural construction projects are often spread out across large areas in isolated locations, making it difficult to guard every access point and prevent unauthorised entry.
It can be a lot harder to survey your construction site in rural areas, which may lack internet access, digital connectivity and even electricity.
Construction sites can have lots of valuable tools and equipment. With opportunities for surveillance and access control significantly reduced, it can be much easier for thieves to take advantage of the situation.
In the event of a crisis, emergency services are a lot further away, and you typically have to wait a lot longer for police, paramedics or firefighters to arrive on the scene.
The geographically isolated nature of rural construction sites means a longer wait for materials and other deliveries. Roads may also be unpaved or unstable, posing problems for delivery and heavy vehicles.
Due to their decreased populations, rural areas can sometimes lack skilled or properly trained workers, increasing the risk of accidents.
Despite the challenges both pose, it’s entirely possible to secure construction sites in both the country and the city. Some of the most productive methods include:
Gates, fencing and other physical barriers are an effective first step to keeping intruders out of your restricted area.
Security guards can check the identification cards of visitors and patrol the premises for intruders. They can be static security guards that monitor entrances and access ways, or mobile security guards that can monitor different areas.
Video surveillance systems can monitor construction sites 24/7, including late at night when the site is unstaffed. Surveillance systems can alert security to potential threats and suspicious behaviour, as well as provide evidence of vandalism or theft when necessary.
An intimidating canine patrol provides a strong deterrent to criminals looking to target construction sites. They can also move faster than human guards, and their strong sense of smell allows them to detect potential threats early.
Roving security guards are also an effective option for spread-out areas or locations without fixed infrastructure. These guards can cover large areas effectively, catching intruders who may try to sneak through vulnerable openings on the site.
Urban or remote, having on-site security personnel for your construction site is never a bad strategy. They can provide all the usual services in remote locations, such as securing a construction site’s access points, patrolling the premises and responding to alarms.
Developing emergency response plans tailored to the needs of regional construction sites can help you prepare for the biggest challenges well in advance. This includes establishing protocols and dealing with limitations for first aid and coordination with emergency services, among other factors.
If you’re in Sydney or its surrounds, SSTC can make sure your construction site is secure and well-protected. Our options for security hire Sydney wide include static security guards, mobile patrols, K9 patrols and even security consultancy. We’ll use whatever methods we can to protect your construction site and your tools and equipment, and to keep intruders at bay.
SSTC is a company with over 50 years of combined experience, trusted by some of the country’s biggest names in construction. Our commitment to safety is matched by our ability to fulfil legal requirements and procure the right plans and permits. Contact the SSTC team to get your free quote on construction site security services.