According to a recent construction site security report, thefts at construction sites have surpassed convenience store thefts, with over 11,000 incidents happening in a single year. Items targeted can be as small as scrap metal, copper wire, and tools and as large as backhoes and bobcats.
For this, and other reasons, many contractors are now implementing a construction site security plan, leveraging physical security and technology to keep their construction sites protected and their projects on-schedule and on-budget.
But what kind of plan is right for you? Many sites can meet most or even all of their security needs with a fixed surveillance system. However, there are some construction jobs that require an on-site security presence around the clock, not just to prevent theft, but to ensure safety.
When to use live on-site security guards
Security guards are necessary for site access control, as well as temporary fire and flood watch duties during construction. Human intelligence and presence are needed to vet vendors and check visitor credentials, and to do things machines cannot, like make subjective decisions about suspicious activity or be on hand to quickly intervene in case of a fire or water emergency.
Once the building is enclosed or the fire protection system is installed, those responsibilities usually can be transitioned to a live remote monitoring system.
Construction Site Security: Remote Monitoring Vs. Live Guards
Are live security officers worth the cost? It depends. If the objective is purely jobsite theft prevention, an overwhelming majority of Titan construction site security clients opt for live remote monitoring systems, with some adding a temporary physical presence for a blended solution.
However, some clients are simply old-fashioned and prefer a live security officer. Other construction projects like a pipeline or highway that spans miles may require too much equipment to monitor remotely and are better served by a live guard on patrol.
Live security monitoring offers key advantages over on-site security officers
First, it’s much less expensive to remotely monitor a construction site with strategically placed cameras versus the cost of physically patrolling the premises, especially large sites where multiple guards would be needed.
Second, the cameras are all-seeing, never sleep, and are motion-activated, whereas a guard’s vision is limited to direct line of sight and whose alertness may impacted by long, mundane overnight shifts.
Consider Going Mobile: Titan Virtual Officer
A portable surveillance solution, such as Titan’s Virtual Officer, has become a very popular option for construction projects, which don’t require a fixed security system. Its mobility allows you to cover more ground, while still enjoying high-end, live video monitoring. It can also be quickly deployed—often within one or two days—which is a huge benefit, given how costly downtime on a construction job can be!
The Titan Difference: Tailoring Your Construction Site Security
At Titan, we offer a blended security solution, combining security patrol services with cutting-edge virtual security guards that are monitored by a dedicated staff at Titan’s Five Diamond Award-winning Command Center.
Whatever your security goals are, Titan is ready to work with you to build a tailored plan to meet the needs of your budget. Contact us today to get a quote to secure your construction site and pave the way for the successful completion of your projects.
