There is no question that maintaining a clean, safe and productive construction site can be challenging for many. Buildings sites generally create a lot of construction debris which can increase the chance of accidents, thus endangering the safety of workers. Besides this, construction sites also house plenty of expensive tools, materials and equipment, all of which present an attractive target for thieves and other intruders.

Therefore, it is the main responsibility of every construction manager to keep their building site clean at all times while also taking appropriate measures to protect their equipment. Doing so can bring them a lot of benefits including improved safety for their employees, increased protection from theft and vandalism and higher productivity.

From keeping your construction site and gear sparkly clean to installing a good surveillance security system, here are five steps you should take to significantly reduce the risk of accidents on the job site as well as the likelihood of crime.

Keep your job site clean and tidy

Keeping your job site clean and tidy is imperative to prevent accidents while boosting productivity in the process. You should always keep all walking and working surfaces clean and clear of debris to enable workers to focus on getting the job done rather than hunting for the equipment they need in a messy building site. Make sure you eliminate hazards by clearing away any materials that could cause injury.

Also, consider adding a mud mat on harsh terrains to provide adequate area for load distribution and prevent foundation sinking. This will further help keep your construction site clean and mud-free.

Safely store your equipment away

Instead of leaving all of your tools, materials and equipment lying around on your construction site, you should put everything away at the end of every workday. This will help keep your building site tidy as your workers won’t wander around searching for the tools they need to do their jobs.

It will also improve their safety as all of the equipment will be securely stored in on-site storage that will significantly minimize slips, trips and falls. This will further protect your equipment from potential thieves and intruders as well as from serious damage costs that come from such criminal activity.

Install a surveillance system

Because of the high risk of theft and vandalism, you should also consider installing a good surveillance system to protect your building site and equipment. A video monitoring system with advanced features can detect intrusions of all kinds and send immediate alerts to professional security monitoring companies to come and address any situation.

No matter which type of on-site surveillance system you choose to install, make sure you let intruders know that you are watching them. One way of doing so is to post warning signs and other signage throughout the property to warn potential imposters not to trespass.

Use appropriate lighting

Well-lit construction sites can also help reduce the risk of theft and vandalism. Out of the many options available, motion-activated lighting is probably the most effective deterrent. These lights can discourage and scare away potential intruders by lighting up when they detect movement. You can install them around the perimeter fence of your construction site as well as on every building entrance, site office and high-value storage areas.  

If such lights seem a bit pricey for you, inexpensive industrial lights can be a great alternative which you can use to light up small sites or areas within the site. 

Put up physical barriers

Putting up physical barriers such as perimeter fencing and locked access gates can also help protect your equipment on your construction site. Installing strong walls and high fences can make it difficult for intruders to enter your construction site as well as keep nosy people from getting a clear view of the equipment and materials you keep on-site.

As you post fences around your site, make sure you also put up signs that no trespassing is allowed and that a security company is watching the premises. This will further help deter intruders from probing your construction site.

Final thoughts

Maintaining a construction site may be challenging, but it certainly brings plenty of benefits for both company managers and their employees. A clean and tidy building site reduces the risk of potential accidents while also improving the productivity and engagement of construction workers. It also lowers the risk of theft and vandalism of construction tools, materials and equipment and protects companies from great loss in the future.

To ensure you are maintaining your construction site properly, make sure you follow the tips from our post to keep your job site clean and best secure at all times.