How to keep your worksite safe over Christmas

Is your worksite properly secured and ready for the holidays? Keep reading for five top tips on how to keep your worksite safe whilst you enjoy a hard-earned break!

Summer is here and many contractors are counting down the days to the holidays. To ensure you can completely relax and enjoy a well-deserved break, it’s time to get your site security in order.

To avoid worrying about your site whilst you’re not around, there are a few proactive things you can do to get your security sorted.

Apart from reducing the chance of theft and vandalism, you’ll also be keeping the public safer by ensuring everything is squared away at your site.

What are the risks?

The Australian Institute of Criminology did a study on theft and vandalism at residential building sites. Their findings show a sobering number of criminal incidents on site happen around the end of the year.

“49% of thefts and 45% of vandalism occur between October and December. This might reflect a time when the premises were more likely to have been unattended due to the Christmas holidays.”

Plus, if you’ve fallen prey to thieves in the past, you’re more likely to experience another theft, and the bigger your business, the bigger the risk.

So how do you keep your site safe?

Ways to ensure your construction site is secure

Secure the perimeter

Check your temporary fencing and other perimeter fences such as hoarding or chain link fences. It’s a good idea to check potential weak spots and potential entry points for vandals. Make sure you replace any damaged fence panels or call your hire company to order replacements if any panels have been stolen or broken.

Lock up your equipment

Ensure you lock away any loose equipment that could potentially be stolen, such as plant and equipment, site boxes, tools and building supplies. Heavy vehicles and earthmoving equipment that needs to remain on site can be parked or positioned in such a way that it is difficult for thieves to manoeuvre them.

Use light towers to illuminate your site

Many thefts and vandalism incidents happen at night, so lighting up your worksite can act as a deterrent to criminals. Combine portable light towers with simple motion-activated sensor lights for additional lighting in shadowy areas. With a range of different security lights and larger portable worksite lights, you can ensure thieves won’t be able to hide in the dark spots on your site.

Invest in the services of a security guard

Having security guards keeping an eye on your site can help you rest easy whilst you’re on holidays or overseeing another project. A guard who is on-site patrolling the perimeter and checking on equipment and assets, especially after hours, is a wise investment for larger sites.

Sort out your hire equipment and be ready to jump into 2021

Now is the time to firm up or adjust any hire and off-hire dates to ensure everything is squared away before the break. If your plans have changed and you’re working through, or if you’re finishing up earlier than expected, check in with your rental company to make sure your earthmoving equipment hire is locked in for the remainder of December, and that you’re ready to go again immediately when you return in the new year.

Hire site security supplies and temporary fencing from Orange Hire

If you need to hire temporary fencing, barriers or light towers – or you just need to sort out equipment hire over the Christmas period – get in touch with our friendly team today and get the job done right.

For more information about our complete range of shoring services and equipment, visit your nearest branch, email [email protected], or call our friendly team of experts at 1800 UR HIRE.