Employing a Collaborative Approach to Site Theft Prevention

By Dan Boivin

Fluctuations in pricing, market conditions and a variety of other external factors often create uncertainties for construction contractors and suppliers. However, one thing remains consistent throughout the ups and downs: project teams must remain flexible and innovative to stay ahead of potential challenges, particularly site theft.

While current economic conditions, such as supply chain disruption, increased taxes or parts manufacturing issues affect the types of materials and equipment that would-be thieves target, the threat of both internal and external theft is always present. Building materials, hand tools and heavy equipment are among the most stolen items, and there are steps owners, contractors and equipment manufacturers can each proactively take to help mitigate the risk of costly theft — to the bottom line and project schedules.

Laying the groundwork
Combining physical tools with technology lays the groundwork needed to prevent site theft throughout a project. Physical site control methods are most successful when paired with the implementation of processes and procedures used by the entire project team. These include:

• Closing off and physically securing the site. It’s no surprise the first thing contractors should do is physically secure the site with fencing and install locked gates, proper lighting and clear access signage to deter potential thieves. The more difficult it is to breach the jobsite, the less attempts will occur.
• Implementing inventory control procedures. The key to successful inventory control is organization, standardization and training. Having an organized — yet simple — inventory management system that includes labeling items, conducting audits and monitoring inventory levels creates a streamlined process that will keep the project team running efficiently. This also includes training staff and leveraging technology such as automated replenishment systems and QR codes to maximize productivity.
• Using highly visible equipment tags and a consistent tagging system. Part of tracking and taking inventory on equipment is appropriately tagging each machine and tool. Placing highly visible tags or logos and using a consistent tagging system not only deters theft, but the markings also make it easy for the project team to identify and track tools they use each day.

Many of the traditional methods used to secure jobsites of every project size can be enhanced by integrating technology for both monitoring and controlling the site. Ways to integrate technology to mitigate site theft risks include:

• Upping surveillance of the site and equipment. Visibility to each piece of equipment is critical to ensuring none of them leave the jobsite. Installing surveillance systems to watch and record the equipment or sound alarms to suspicious activity outside active jobsite hours is one piece of it; utilizing equipment tracking software to monitor activity of those machines and tools is the other.
• Assessing access needs. Not every team member requires unlimited access to a jobsite. Construction teams can control access in a couple of ways. The first is a badging system that would only allow authorized personnel in a certain area based on need, clearance level, etc. The second is using geofencing, which creates virtual perimeters around designated areas to track the movement of workers, equipment and vehicles.  Geofences are a great way to create restricted zones around heavy machinery, highly sought-after materials such as lumber, and tool storage areas, adding another layer of site security to prevent theft.

Keeping up-to-date with advancements
Equipment selection is an integral part of every job, and many manufacturers are leveraging technology to not only advance the efficiency of their equipment, but also to make it more difficult to steal. Two tech tools commonly found in heavy equipment are:

• GPS trackers to monitor movement and location of a machine
• Radio-frequency identification tags attached to the equipment to show real-time tracking and help with inventory management
  Due to the cost, it is not feasible to upgrade fleets every year, so retrofitting existing large equipment can be a good option to improve monitoring and security technology without purchasing new. Most equipment can be retrofitted with GPS trackers, remote-activated fuel kill switches to stop a machine from starting or moving by cutting off fuel supply and even immobilizers, which require access codes to start and move a piece of equipment.

Embracing a team effort approach
Engaged and responsive owners who collaborate with contractors and the larger project team can make a huge impact on overall project success. Owners willing to invest in the technology and security to better protect their site —or allot for high-tech equipment in the project budget — should see a reduction in security breaches, site theft attempts and missing equipment. Communication between the project team and owners is crucial, as well, to determine which team members and subcontractors require access, what clearance level they need and where each person is allowed to go.

Agreeing on those logistics and how they will be communicated at the outset of the project sets clear expectations and helps alleviate potential risks of a breach.

The biggest mistakes project teams make are lack of surveillance, inadequate security such as fencing and having open access to the public — but those can all be corrected using a multi-pronged approach that leverages traditional methods, technology and advances in equipment to both prevent and deter theft. Ultimately, it takes communication, collaboration and a commitment from all team members to ensure a successful project, and securing the site and equipment is the first step to achieving one.

Dan Boivin is market research specialist at TVH Parts Co.

Photo courtesy of Associated Builders and Contractors