CCTV Cameras For Construction Sites

What started as a means to observe the launch of rockets in World War II has now evolved into one of the best crime prevention measures around the world.

CCTV (Close-Circuit Television) cameras have seen a massive boost in popularity due to the advancement in technology and lower costs of equipment.

With advanced features such as live video streaming, remote monitoring, and facial recognition, you are likely to find CCTV cameras installed in both residential and commercial properties, including construction sites.

Construction sites are considered low-risk, high-opportunity targets for criminals looking to steal items of value in exchange for quick cash.

Due to the open nature of construction sites and the constant foot traffic, even during the night time, it is mandatory to come up with solutions to deter thieves and petty criminals.

In addition to theft and vandalism, construction sites are also susceptible to injuries and accidents if the right safety measures are not taken.

CCTV cameras don’t just protect against security threats but also help minimise safety threats to both workers and passers-by. Read on to find out how:

WHY ARE CCTV CAMERAS USED IN CONSTRUCTION SITES?

CCTV cameras can be beneficial to construction sites for several reasons. They can be used to:

Prevent crime

Crime has no limit and can affect all kinds of businesses. When it comes to construction sites, security threats may be in the form of theft, vandalism, and terrorism.

Commercial burglaries can act as major hindrances causing losses in terms of damages, increasing the project’s costs by putting it on hold for several weeks, reducing business growth, and creating an overall poor work and customer experience.

The presence of CCTV cameras on site may prevent criminals from inflicting harm and vandals from destroying valuable property “just for fun”.

Supervise the construction workers

There are two kinds of security threats: external and internal. External threats are from the outside while internal threats stem from the inside.

For any business owner or manager, it is important to supervise their workforce and to keep a check on their activities.

Disgruntled employees wanting to steal spare parts and equipment is a serious challenge faced by construction site managers, which is where CCTV cameras come in.

Instead of the managers having to be personally present in every corner of the site, which is physically impossible, using CCTV cameras gives them the ability to get a better view of the site and go through the recorded footage to stay on top of the workers’ performance.

Keep a check on how the resources are being used

In addition to keeping a check on the security threats, CCTV cameras can be used to help determine the site’s resource usage.

Construction sites are bustling with activity with workers working on more than one job simultaneously, making resource management a challenge.

Some of the most common resources that might need monitoring include cement, hardware tools, and employee gear and gadgets.

Analyse the project’s progress

CCTV cameras don’t just provide a great security solution for construction managers but can also be used as an extremely useful project management tool.

The systems can help you keep a close eye on the site and effectively respond to any issues that might come up. They can come in handy when you can’t be physically present at the site to personally monitor the situation.

Instead of relying on employee reports and accounts, you can see the live or recorded footage for yourself to see how the project is progressing and whether any additional resources are required to finish the job in time.

Remote viewing

Being able to remotely manage your construction site saves valuable resources and allow project managers to determine what is taking place on the construction site in real-time.

With modern CCTV models, you can access the footage through a smartphone app and take a peek at your site at any time.

Professional CCTV monitoring is ideal for construction sites, especially those that are large-scale and located in isolated areas.

Monitored alarms provide the highest level of construction site security and involve the sensors being linked to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) manned by professionals where the alarms are first verified and, depending on the type of contract – keyholder or police response – the relevant people or authorities are contacted right away.

Gain feedback in real-time

A major benefit of CCTV cameras is that they not only let you record footage to be viewed later but also allow you to view events in real-time.

With one-way or two-way communication, you can also communicate with the construction site workers when monitoring their work and also use it to scare away potential intruders from trying to commit a crime.

When you can see what is going on at the site at any given moment, it becomes easier to spot and rectify issues before they become major problems.

As discussed above, you can also opt for professional monitoring services where your site will be monitored day in and day out by experts trained to do the job.

Provide evidence for a criminal case

CCTV cameras don’t do anything to actively stop a crime from happening. Then what makes them such powerful deterrents against crimes and acts of violence?

It is their ability to not just monitor a situation but also record the events that happened, along with the identities of the perpetrators.

CCTV footage can be used as legitimate evidence in the court of law and help the perpetrators get caught quickly and easily.

Promote worker safety

Given the hazardous nature of construction sites, the workers are susceptible to accidents such as falls, slips and trips, electrocutions, fires, explosions, and crane, forklift, and elevator shaft accidents.

As a manager, it is your responsibility to prevent them from happening and ensure worker safety by staying on top of things.

You need to know who is at the site, where each individual is, and whether the correct safety and security measures are being implemented or not.

One convenient way to do that is to use CCTV cameras to monitor all aspects of the site and assess whether safety and security measures need to be improved to promote worker safety.

CCTV footage may not only be used for preventing accidents but also providing valuable insight related to worker disputes, bullying, and aggressive behaviour.

Record injuries and accidents

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, accidents and injuries can still happen. They may be caused due to worker negligence or machinery malfunctioning.

With recorded CCTV footage, you can analyse the situation frame by frame and prevent it from happening again by finding out its root cause.

You may also use the recorded footage to support a lawsuit or legal dispute filed by an individual (worker or member of the public) injured during the accident.

Help with insurance

Since CCTV cameras help prevent and minimise criminal activity, their presence on your property makes you less likely to be targeted, lowering your risk of such threats.

This not just helps keep your construction site and its assets safe but also reduces your insurance premiums. However, to be eligible for that, you need to ensure that your CCTV security system has been properly maintained and is free of faults.

In addition to that, in the unfortunate event of you falling victim to a burglary, your insurance provider may consider your claim to be more legitimate if you have recorded footage to back it with.

Maintain peace of mind

Being anxious about safety and security all the time doesn’t just affect your health but has adverse effects on your productivity as well.

Crime and accidents can happen anywhere and construction sites are no exemption. It is advised to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the site and invest in security systems such as CCTV cameras to help minimise such setbacks.

In addition to providing a sense of safety and security to you and your workers, it will also lead to a better work-related quality of life.

WHERE ARE CCTV CAMERAS USED IN CONSTRUCTION SITES?

No two construction sites will ever be the same and will have a different set of security and safety threats to manage and minimise.

Also, since construction sites are constantly changing as the project progresses, the security and safety vulnerabilities keep changing.

Therefore, there is no one right answer for where to use CCTV cameras in construction sites. It all depends on the individual requirements and the nature of threats that the site and its workers face.

Fortunately, modern CCTV cameras can be easily uninstalled and reinstalled in new locations as the project progresses, ensuring complete coverage at all times.

Regardless of the environment and risk level, every construction site can benefit from the use of CCTV cameras to provide comprehensive coverage and a powerful security solution against all kinds of threats.

To help you choose the best CCTV camera for your construction site and to assess your security and safety requirements better, there are a few important questions that you need to consider:

What is your main security threat?

Each construction project is unique and carries its own particular set of issues depending on the size, nature, and location of the project.

There are, however, certain security threats that all construction sites have to face that include threat to property and equipment, to operations, and to human life.

You need to determine what challenges your construction site faces by conducting a thorough risk assessment and choose the best CCTV security system accordingly.

What kind of security do you currently have in place?

The current security measures you have in place will play a crucial role in helping you decide on the best surveillance systems for your property.

Other security systems include intruder alarms, perimeter protection, access control systems, and fire alarms.

Do you want your CCTV cameras to be discreet or visual deterrents?

CCTV cameras can work as both discreet and visual deterrents, depending on the shape and size of the system. Some are compact and easily hidden away from plain view while others are bigger and more obvious deterrents.

Where you install the system and what you want to monitor will play a huge part in determining which type you go with.

Do you want to place it indoors or outdoors?

There are specific types of CCTV cameras to be used for indoor and outdoor surveillance, with the main distinguishing factor being the outdoor camera’s resistance to extreme weather.

Outdoor CCTV cameras must also be able to work with glares and reflections because if not, they won’t be able to function to their maximum capacity leaving loopholes in the security system.

Also, since CCTV cameras installed on a construction site are more susceptible to being damaged than in any other place, and the amount of dust, dirt, and debris at the site may act as obstructions limiting the camera’s view, they need to be well-protected, preferably by being installed inside a damage-resistant and vandal-proof protective casing.

Is the area to monitor small or large?

There are specific cameras used to monitor small and large areas with the primary difference being the field of view that the camera offers along with the distance that they cover.

If the construction site is large, the best option is to go with either a PTZ or C-Mount CCTV camera since they allow you to view a large area and zoom in on particular objects that you wish to focus on.

For additional help in choosing the best construction site security, you may also refer to our CCTV camera buying guide here.

CCTV LAWS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS

When installing CCTV cameras in a commercial space such as a construction site, there are a few laws and regulations that you must adhere to. According to the Data Protection Laws, all property owners must:

Have a legitimate reason for using CCTV cameras,
Register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a CCTV operator,
Establish clear responsibilities and procedures for the effective administration of the surveillance system,
Ensure that the data is stored securely and can only be accessed by authorised personnel,
Inform everyone in the area that they are being recorded, which can best be achieved by putting up clear signage or communicating with the people involved,
Monitor staff as long as they have been made aware of it in writing and explained the reasons behind it,
Not installing CCTV cameras in private areas of the workplace such as toilets and changing rooms,
Ensure that the recorded data is provided, within one month, to individuals who have been recorded on the system if they request to access it,
Store the data only for as long as it is needed,
Share recorded images and video footage with the authorities, such as the police, if they ask for them, and
Regularly maintain and review the system to ensure that it’s working as it should and is compliant with all the CCTV laws.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we deal with only state-of-the-art CCTV systems from the most popular brands and offer a comprehensive range of services for all kinds of construction sites ranging from professional installation to monitoring, maintenance, and repairs.

CCTV installation is a specialist trade and one that is best reserved for security industry professionals. We know the market better than anyone and can make informed recommendations on the specifications of the system according to your individual security needs.

During a maintenance visit, our specialist engineers will conduct a visual assessment of all the equipment, check all connections and cabling, clean the cameras, lenses and housing, check the positioning of the cameras, assess playback and recording quality, and even re-familiarise users on proper operation of the system.

We also offer CCTV maintenance contracts that include a regularly maintained system by professionals, 24-hour coverage, reduced call-out and labour charges, and a reduction in insurance premiums.

We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.

All our engineers are security industry specialists and carry a comprehensive range of parts, equipment, and service kits on their vans to ensure that fixes are dealt with efficiently because burglars don’t wait until the repairs are done.

Photo by Mark Potterton on Unsplash