Homebuilders are facing a big threat: construction site theft. Cases continue to soar, which is highly attributed to the skyrocketing prices of construction materials. If you have an ongoing construction project, it’s important to take safety precautions to keep the thieves at bay.

The problem with most construction sites is their poor security. Since construction isn’t finished yet, project managers often overlook the security aspect. But in the eyes of thieves, construction equipment is gold.

This makes construction site theft a low-risk but high-reward pursuit for burglars. Once the workers are out, it’s a piece of cake to funnel out expensive construction equipment and materials.

For big projects, the losses can rise to millions. As much as the numbers are daunting, you can do something to stop the burglary. Here are a few quick steps you can take:

Keep your construction site secured.

Construction site safety should be more than just putting up a ‘No Trespassing’ sign. You have to lock up your tools, secure heavy equipment, and don’t leave construction materials lying around.

Many construction sites take weeks to realize that something has been stolen because of poor supplies inventory. Therefore, it’s essential to keep tabs on your supplies. This will let you report theft once something has been stolen.

Also, manufacturers have since adapted a standard, a 17-digit identification number for the equipment they produce. Ensure that this PIN is embedded on two parts of the equipment, with one hidden to prevent tampering.

Register your equipment

The National Equipment Register allows contractors to register their heavy equipment so law enforcers can easily recover the item once stolen. It’s also solid proof that you own the equipment should other contractors raise their own claim.

Hire a watch guard

Keeping the construction manned will deter burglars. This isn’t the sole solution, but it will make a big difference in preventing construction site theft. You can also work with local authorities in securing your construction site.

Moreover, it’s important to impose a zero-tolerance policy for employees and contractors who will play a part in the theft.

Install a security system

Aside from hiring security personnel, you should also invest in top-of-the-line security cameras. This will be your additional eyes on the construction site. And should anyone steals, you can easily present video evidence to the authorities.

The good thing about having security cameras is you can easily check the construction site anywhere. In addition, it will let you spot burglary attempts, vandalism, and accidents.

Perform an employee background check

You should be careful who you trust on the construction site. Take the time to perform a rigorous background check on each employee to ensure they have a clean record.

Past theft records should raise a red flag. This will allow you to hire smarter, especially for expensive construction jobs where prized equipment will be used.

Conclusion

Construction site theft should never be put on the sidelines. Property managers and construction companies should invest in construction site security as much as they do on the actual project. This will help them save large sums from stolen equipment and the hassle of litigation.

No one would want to wake up to the news that their construction site has turned to ashes. Whatever you’re building, a 24-hour fire watch guard should be your first line of defense against fire hazards. These professionals will patrol and secure your property before a fire breaks out.

The truth is that only a few business owners and construction managers hire fire watch guards. While their role isn’t widely known, these watch guards can save property, money and lives.

Here are the top reasons why you should consider hiring a fire watch guard for your property:

Saving lives and preventing injuries

The ultimate role of fire watch guards is to prevent fires that would compromise the safety of the people and property. A potential fire hazard will be mitigated through their proactive services before it turns into a deadly catastrophe.

These watch guards will also prevent the occurrence of fire-related injuries across industries. This protection applies to the occupants, workers, and visitors of the property.

Preventing expensive property damage

A fire can ravage millions’ worth of assets within hours. Flames don’t spare anything, no matter how costly the damage will be.

This major financial loss can be prevented with the help of fire watch guards. They are on duty 24/7 to ensure that your property, equipment, and facilities are free from major fire hazards.

The difference between the cost of hiring fire watch guards and recovering from a fire is astronomical.

Abiding by the OSHA Fire Prevention Guidelines

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) imposes strict guidelines to minimize fire hazards. Business owners and property managers are obliged to abide by these rules. Otherwise, you’ll be slapped with a massive penalty and potential jail time.

Instead of defying the law, you should consider hiring a fire watch guard. They are trained to comply with the OSHA guidelines to ensure that the law won’t come after you.

Complying with insurance company requirements

Insurance companies often require property owners to provide a regular maintenance log. This is to prove that the insured has preventive measures in place to avoid fire accidents.

Fire watch guards can produce such maintenance logs to keep you compliant with your insurer’s terms.  You can sleep soundly at night knowing that your property’s fire safety is at par with the industry standards.

Receiving professional fire management

Above all, fire watch guards provide professional fire management services. They are trained to respond to fire accidents and mitigate hazards. The watch guards also adhere to strict protocol to prevent lapses that could result in a fire.

Aside from meeting regulations, fire watch guards can help save you hard-earned investments. It’s something you can’t put a price on, especially for multi-million dollar properties.

Conclusion

A fire can happen anytime and anywhere. Instead of exposing your construction site to such risk, it’s best to hire fire watch guards. These professionals are an investment to secure your property, employees, tenants, and visitors.

The benefit will also trickle down to your insurance premiums and reputation as a business owner. In the long run, fire watch guard services will pay for themselves.

The threat of fire on building and construction sites presents a huge risk to people and property, including the surrounding community. To that end, the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections issued new code requirements in September of 2020 for fire watches regarding construction and demolition sites. The new code states that all active building and construction sites in the city of Philadelphia must comply with the outlined requirements by November 1, 2020. Below are the new policy requirements directly from the City’s website.

POLICY

A Fire Watch shall be required under the following circumstances:

• A building’s fire alarm, fire sprinkler, or fire suppression system is impaired, including planned impairments as required by Code Bulletin F-1601;
• Hot work activity occurs within the building;
• Combustible, new construction exceeds 40’ in height or includes an aggregate area exceeding 50,000 square feet;
• Other hazardous activity occurs, as determined by the Site Safety Manager, Fire Code Official, or the courts.

At a minimum, a Fire Watch shall be maintained at the following times:

• During an emergency or planned impairment of a fire protection system;
• During and at least 30 minutes after the conclusion of hot work activity;
• During non-working hours from the time that combustible construction reaches a height above 40’ or an area of 50,000 square feet until the fire alarm or fire suppression system has been certified.

A Fire Watch shall meet the following criteria:

• The primary duty of fire watch personnel shall be to perform constant patrols and watch for the occurrence of fire. The combination of fire watch duties and security duties is acceptable.
• Fire watch personnel shall be trained in all duties and responsibilities outlined in the Site Safety Plan.
• Fire watch personnel shall be provided with at least one approved means for notification to the Fire Department, including but not limited to a cellular phone.
• An adequate number of fire watch personnel shall be on duty to ensure that all areas of a property are inspected every 30 minutes. In multi-story buildings there shall be at least one fire watch for every five floors.
• In the event that the fire watch observes smoke or fire, the Fire Department shall be notified immediately.
• Maintain a record of all time periods of duty, including the log entry each time the site was patrolled, and each time a structure was entered and inspected. Records shall be made available for review by the Fire Code Official upon request.

The Site Safety Plan shall be reviewed during the initial meeting with the building inspector. Any changes to the plan shall be documented and made available for review by the building inspector or fire code official upon request.

Add value to your fire watch by taking a more comprehensive approach to the overall site security and safety of your property and people. Security guards on patrol should have clear general protocols in addition to the specific and mandated fire watch directives. Your guards should act as a strong, highly visible deterrent against illegal or unwanted activity. This includes awareness of any unsafe or unusual activity at adjacent structures or lots that could affect your property.

With over 45 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter, I personally developed Echelon’s fire watch protocols and processes. Since 2001, we’ve kept fire watches of every size and duration – from 1-day special projects to years-long remediations. Our fire watch services are responsive, well organized, and carefully managed in tandem with the local Fire Marshal and authorities.

Echelon uses decades of high-level fire watch experience combined with the latest technology in order to guarantee a safe and effective fire watch. Contact Echelon Protection & Surveillance for your next fire watch. Call 610-831-0277 or email sales@epsagents.com today to learn more.

Building & construction firms have a long list of responsibilities, worries and challenges. Many times, security planning falls low on the priority list. However, a simple calculation of prospective losses, liability and reputation-crushing costly delays shows that partnering with the right security company is a wise return on investment. Indeed, in many states, a security presence is now mandatory during certain phases of construction. In this blog installment, we’ve collected a few of our most relevant tips for performing a “smarter” construction site patrol.

1) “S” stands for… Stay aware of onsite assets

Security guards are often patrolling job sites that contain millions of dollars worth of construction vehicles, machinery, tools and building materials. During these phases, it’s vital that security officers stay fully informed of all subcontractors, visitors, deliveries and where the more costly assets are stored. This is best achieved through a consistent access control plan featuring daily logs, reporting and signage. High-value assets of interest to prospective vandals and thieves should be kept in a well-lit, fully fenced area and patrolled more often.

2) “M” stands for… Maintain a safe distance

Security guards must exercise extreme caution when addressing unknown visitors and trespassers. Any verbal engagement with unauthorized visitors should be done in a confident, authoritative tone at a safe distance. We train Echelon guards to provide a stern verbal warning, informing the offender(s) that they’re unlawfully trespassing and must leave the property immediately. Additionally, a guard may choose to let the perpetrator know that they’re under camera surveillance and the local police have already been notified. To avoid liability, a security guard should never put hands-on a trespasser unless it is in self-defense. The best overall security strategy is to deter — warn — call the police — and keep eyes on the offender until authorities arrive.

3) “A” stands for… Arrive prepared for anything

To protect your job site against common and unexpected challenges — your onsite security guards must come prepared with the proper equipment. If the job site is not in a high crime area, there is no need for construction site guards to carry a weapon while on patrol. However, whether your guards are armed or unarmed, be sure they have the tools they need to contend with unwanted or illegal activity such as trespass, vandalism, union issues, fire or hazard. Basic equipment should include a smartphone, flashlight, emergency call-down list, site map, and a working knowledge of any emergency shut-off switches, sprinkler or alarm systems. Knowing what to do in an emergency will improve response time in case of injury. There are many other defensive items that may be an option as allowable within your state jurisdiction.

4) “R” stands for… Random patrol schedules are a great strategy

Security guards are typically asked to inspect various checkpoints while on patrol to ensure key points are being watched. We use technology in which the guards scan the checkpoint with a smartphone application to verify their rounds. However, if patrol duties are not done properly, they can create unintended opportunities for criminal activity. If guards become complacent by taking the same route to their checkpoints, their movements become easy to track. Altering your patrols also can create the appearance of more robust security coverage. Being predictable makes your job site vulnerable, so smart security companies direct their guards to vary their patrol schedule by day, route and time, including backtracking their route at random.

5) “T” stands for…Tactical uniforms improve performance

Make certain that your guards are outfitted for peak performance. A highly visible security presence is the best deterrent, so it’s important that your guards are outfitted with a tactical, seasonally appropriate, branded, professional and comfortable uniform that includes; ID badge, safety vest and hard hat. Security guards are among the top occupations where long periods of standing, walking and running are required. All guards should have footwear that is comfortable during a long shift, protects their feet from harmful debris and keeps them from slipping. A poorly considered choice of uniform may restrict movement and put guards at a disadvantage during unexpected or critical situations.

6) “E” stands for… Expect the unexpected

Something unexpected can happen any moment a guard is on security patrol duty. The best security firms train their guard’s to be vigilant. Professional security guards are always mindful while performing their patrols. They make it a point to periodically stop, look around, and carefully listen to their surroundings. Although it sounds obvious, these planned engaged pauses are part of the situational awareness needed for optimum security performance.

7) “R” stands for… Remember lawful limits

Know which situations require specialized support or assistance. Remember, your guards are trained to observe, report, deescalate, and call the proper authorities. Although many security guards have state-certified training such as ACT 235, SORA or NASRO, do not expect them to be trained to handle civil unrest, public safety hazards, bomb scares, engineering issues or personal injuries. Be certain you know what your guards can and cannot do under the law, and determine the proper protocol to deal with extraordinary circumstances — always have emergency numbers ready and contact the trained professionals best suited to handle a situation.

Since 2001, successful building & construction companies have chosen Echelon Protection & Surveillance to secure and protect their job site from unwanted and illegal activity, including theft, fire, vandalism, trespassing and safety hazards that can cause costly delays. Call 610-831-0277 or email sales@epsagents.com today!

By: Stuart J. Visnov, Chief Executive Officer, Echelon Protection & Surveillance

In the wake of the tragic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in October of this year, there has been an increased debate on the merit of installing armed security guards at Synagogues and other places of worship.

It is an unfortunate fact that acts of violence and hate crimes in places of worship are on the rise in this country, regardless of whether that place of worship is a church, a synagogue or a mosque. Yet unlike schools and other public institutions, religious organizations have been the slowest to adopt increased security measures.

For many, installing armed or unarmed security officers at religious institutions has become a serious consideration. Many worshippers would rather be slightly slowed down by increased security checks than have no professional security measures in place whatsoever. Others, however, feel that the presence of security guards may feel intimidating and threatening.

That being said, professionally trained security guards are one of the most effective ways that religious organizations can protect their congregation and minimize or prevent future attacks on their place of worship. Not only will highly trained professionals be able to respond to an attacker quickly and safely, the visual presence of security guards — even if they aren’t armed — is often enough to deter would-be attackers because you are no longer viewed as an easy target.

These professional security guards don’t have to be intimidating to worshippers, either. There are several steps that both professional security companies and religious leaders can take to make worshippers feel safe and secure during services. This can include dressing officers down so that they don’t look intimidating. Religious leaders can also introduce officers to their congregation so that they know the people protecting them and stand with security officers at the entrance to the place of worship so that worshippers see a friendly face at the door.

Even if you aren’t ready to commit to armed security officers, there are steps that every religious institution should take to maximize their security. For instance, installing a modern, comprehensive security camera and access control system can help to prevent vandalism, robbery and active shooters. Locking the doors while service is in progress may slow down or ward off would-be attackers. Having an evacuation plan, whether in the event of a fire or an active shooter, is also a must-have.

It is clear that however they feel about armed guards, every religious organization should educate themselves by having a discussion and security threat assessment with industry experts about how they can increase the level of security at their place of worship. The cost of security will understandably be a big factor for religious organizations, but this figure will depend on several factors such as the type and number of structures as well as the size of your congregation and the level of protection that you desire. What’s more, a professional security company can help you build a custom security plan for your budget.

If you’d like to speak to a leading security provider in your area, call Echelon Protection & Surveillance at 610 831 0277 for your free consultation today.