Resolving the problem of construction theft has proven to be a frustrating task for many construction companies, but it’s all the more important with how many tools, materials, and equipment are kept on site. Accordingly, the construction industry suffers from $1 billion of lost revenue annually due to theft.
Theft can drain a company’s capacity, resulting in excessive spending to replenish lost resources. Missing resources can also result in delays and jeopardize the project’s completion.
While prevention may seem difficult to achieve, following some important tips can help protect your company from theft. Here are some key measures to take, as well as how the SmartBarrel device can help prevent stealing.
Measures to prevent construction site theft
Here are some basic measures that you can take to prevent theft on your job site.
1. Implement access control
In recent years, technology has become a game changer for reducing theft on site.
Access control devices like the SmartBarrel device can verify the identity of visitors, whether they’re workers or guests. As such, trespassers are completely barred from entering—and if theft does occur due to an employee, you know exactly who was on site at what time.
Combining access control with on-site security is the best preventative measure to achieve real results if this is something your company is currently struggling with.
2. Store tools used on site in a secure location
Construction tools are often stolen due to easy accessibility. From workers to trespassers, anyone with access can easily steal a drill, a hammer, or a wrench here or there if they’re not secured at the end of the day. The best way to protect tools is to lock them inside a mobile container or storehouse after use.
3. Ensure proper accountability for all expenses incurred
Another effective way to prevent theft is to record all the equipment purchased and used for a project. This can effectively prevent workers from stealing equipment, as they’ll know that everything is being logged and accounted for.
It’s also useful for when something has been stolen. A proper record not only assists with conducting audits, but acts as recorded evidence to simplify claims.
4. Switch off equipment circuit breakers
Equipment can only be stolen when you’re able to start up and move it. Switching all circuit breakers off at the end of the day can prevent construction equipment theft by restricting access.
5. Install secure fencing
Even though fences can be climbed, installing a secure fence can discourage thieves, as they’re less likely to go through the inconvenience of making it past a giant wall twice. Large fencing can also bar off areas, preventing thieves from making away with expensive, heavy-duty equipment.
6. Lock vehicles with equipment
Vehicles containing equipment should always be properly locked to ensure they’re kept safe. An additional measure that you can take is parking vehicles to block storage unit entrances where other equipment is kept.
7. Keep an on-site security system
Having security guards patrolling and monitoring the construction site can dissuade stealing. Consider implementing, too, security cameras and monitoring systems that alert guards to trespassers. If something is stolen, recovery becomes much easier with concrete proof.
8. Ensure that the job site has sufficient lighting
It’s not uncommon for construction sites to operate in the early morning before there’s sufficient sunlight or well into the evening. However, part of construction site theft prevention is ensuring that there’s sufficient lighting for greater visibility. This not only increases safety, but prevents theft in the darkness and will help catch occurrences of theft when they do happen.
9. Mark trailer exteriors or frames with a unique business decal or paint
When left unattended, utility trailers are prone to construction site theft. You can prevent theft by marking trailers with business decals. Include information like the company’s logo and phone number in fluorescent paint, or have the information welded onto the surface. This makes removal difficult and will deter stealing.
10. Install a GPS tracking device
While installing a GPS tracking device does not stop anyone from stealing the equipment, it does allow you to track its location immediately after it’s been taken. From there, you can report this information to the police for quick recovery.
The SmartBarrel device prevents theft and improves security
Prevention is always better than trying to find a cure. Combining the tips mentioned in this article is the best way to prevent theft. Where you fail at preventing construction site theft, keeping an accurate record of your tools, materials, and equipment allows for easier reporting and recovery. Labor tracking and access control play a huge role in this.
Check out the SmartBarrel device, a plug-and-play box that’s magnetic, solar-powered, weatherproof, and LTE-connected. It’s intuitive, easy to set up, and is suitable for every job site, no matter how big or small.
Our device’s access control system allows you to admit only verified workers through a facial recognition scan. Benefit from easy-to-use biometric access control and rest easy knowing that your job site will remain secure.
Need to know who was on your job site at the time of a theft? With the SmartBarrel device and its accompanying technologies, get access to a list of all workers on the job, including when they’ve signed in. This feature also eliminates long and inefficient manual headcounts, making your job easier.
Make manpower tracking accurate and hassle-free, managing your job site from any location with our dashboard. All information is centralized in a database, so you don’t have to shuffle through papers or pore over long spreadsheets for important data.
Plus, construction ID badges are generated automatically and instantly to make the onboarding process faster and more efficient.
And if you’re worried about someone taking the device, rest assured knowing that the SmartBarrel device is theft-proof, equipped with GPS tracking so you know where it’s gone once it’s moved from its designated location.
Need to monitor and control who accesses your job site? SmartBarrel is a next-level solution for construction labor management. Book a demo with SmartBarrel today!
