CPD: Fighting crime the high-tech way

Today’s security devices not only deter crime, but can help in other tasks such as energy monitoring, asset tracking and personnel management, says Gary Sullivan

Security is paid for grudgingly by many organisations and that is true of construction firms too. It’s often purchased as a single service with little thought about how it can add value or aid productivity.

In a tougher-than-normal market it is a difficult call to pay blue chip company security rates, especially in an industry that has a reputation for buying at the lowest price.

But crime has not gone away. In fact, many would argue it has become worse during the recession. The 2009 Equipment Theft Report, published by the National Plant & Equipment Register, revealed that there were more than 3,600 reported thefts of registered plant at a cost of £38m. Less than 5% of the stolen equipment was recovered.

It is not only plant that is at risk. As the market value of metals has increased, so has the number of metals-related thefts.

Non-ferrous metals such as copper and lead are particularly at risk with many losses involving the theft of copper cabling, pipework, sanitary fittings and lead from roofs.

Large, high-profile projects are inherently at risk from crime, terrorism and protestors. Those same large projects usually have large budgets to pay for security. But what about the smaller projects that don’t have a significant security budget?

Like a lot of industries we can look at our richer cousins — the car industry, aviation, for example — and we can learn from projects such as T5 and the Olympic Park to learn about and adapt technology to suit our pockets.

Our children are the PlayStation generation, and most of us love a gadget. So perhaps it’s time to explore how the latest developments in security technology can help deter the criminals, help keep us safe, help us manage our projects and improve productivity.

The security technology market is well developed thanks to the aforementioned blue chips wanting to protect their assets. But there are a
few issues facing construction that makes using technology that little bit harder. There is the lack of knowledge and while the design team would not hesitate to consult experts, construction managers are more reticent and rarely have security professionals in their organisation.

Another issue is that technology that is a permanent fixture is easier to manage; when you have the moveable feast of a live construction site it is considerably more difficult and expensive to continually re-site equipment, and the technology needs to be more robust, and builder-proof!

But there is technology out there that is tried and tested and is already making a difference to site security, safety and productivity.

Access control

It has long been a requirement to know who is on your site and restrict access only to authorised persons. As such, access control systems using swipe card or proximity technology have been available for some time. These not only allow access to those who you want on site, but can record time and attendance data, personnel information, deal with various permissions and permits to work linked to competencies, and record data such as CSCS details.

Equipment such as that supplied by Datascope Systems can control access at the site’s perimeter and internal doors via swipe card readers. These systems are managed by an online database and can also be used to record time and attendance on site.

Hand-held systems are also available that offer mobile access control where fixed card readers are not present.

The mobile hand-held reader can be deployed to any position on the site which does not have a fixed card reader to control and record access and egress. Once programmed the reader will record all personnel exiting and allow access only to authorised staff. The information on the reader must be periodically uploaded via a wireless link.

Biometric access control/human recognition systems

A number of projects are now using human recognition systems technology to manage access to site. Using biometric palm readers and retina eye scanners, these systems are managed by a centralised database. The hand scanners memorise a 3D image of the hand, measuring 200 different points. The sensitivity can be altered, so that either an exact match is required when the hand is scanned, or the scanned hand merely needs to be the same shape.

Retina scanners, where individuals may not be able to utilise the hand scanners due to injury or disability, can also be used. The system measures numerous points on the retina similar to the hand. This function must be configured when the ID pass is issued.

When combined with full height turnstiles, biometric scanning can provide a very effective security perimeter. 

CCTV

It is estimated that there are more than 4m CCTV cameras installed around the UK. CCTV can be problematic if it needs to be hard wired or frequently moved to allow construction. But the new generation of network accessible surveillance battery-powered systems could provide a solution. One such is the remote video response system, a fully deployable camera that can record and send pictures LAN, WAN via Wi-Fi and 3G direct to your PDA, laptop or remote monitoring station. It can be linked to intruder alarms and give you audio access to intruders.

Cameras can also be used to monitor progress, provide evidence in claims disputes and log materials on to site.

They can also play their part in changing safety culture — workers are less inclined to take short cuts if they know their actions are being monitored.

Other applications are fire safety and flood alert. It is common for CCTV cameras to have smoke and heat detection or movement detection features.

Patrol management devices

A vast range of information can be captured from carrying out routine patrols. The key is to make that information work harder for you. The hand-held m-Power is a PDA reporting device designed to enhance on-site patrols. The device captures all patrolling activity on-site without the use of manual recording. By using the inbuilt GPRS capability, the PDA will provide real-time reporting which constantly updates your supervision.

The full range of features includes:

• interactive patrolling

• lone worker protection

• critical incident reporting

• asset tracking

• security and safety alerts

• carbon aware patrolling

• productivity measurement

Incident reporting is made quick and easy, whether it is a critical matter requiring a security or safety response, or an issue for the construction team. Voice recording and image capture allow the collection of supporting evidence and satellite mapping provides proof of location, time and date.

Controlling the whereabouts of your assets is made easier by making asset checking an integral part of each security patrol. Material storage areas or high-value FF&E can be monitored. The device also allows security staff to monitor out-of-hours electricity usage and record the savings made by switching off equipment that is not in use.

Security is about reducing the opportunity for crime, making it harder for the criminal to break in and increasing the chance of being caught. It is about building layers, having a secure perimeter that is difficult to breach, using light to deter and cameras to provide evidence.

It is about knowing what will attract a criminal and using the appropriate measures proportionate to the risk. Remember that risk is usually more than the cost of replacement — it’s the delay to the project too.

But security is as much about safety, efficiency and the bureaucracy of 21st century living as it is about crime. Robust security systems can aid productivity by reducing the hours lost by having to wait for replacement tools and eliminating the knock-on effects to other trades of downtime due to stolen equipment. And many systems can assist in record keeping, provide a first reporting system of incidents and give you the flexibility to multi-skill your security officers to assist with administration, logistics and safety. You will be able to respond to incidents through alerts, rather than remaining in a static unproductive role

Technology is not a panacea or a complete replacement for security officers. You will always need someone to respond and a licensed and trained security officer should be that person. The key to success is building integrated solutions, combining the latest security technology with human intuition and knowhow to make it work for you.

Gary Sullivan is managing director of Wilson James’ Construction Logistics business

Humans vs machines: flexibility over reliability

Making the case for investment in security can be hard, especially to a hard-nosed QS who may suggest it is the subbie who should secure their works and materials. Some may say a penny of protection may be worth several pounds of remedy. But that penny needs to be spent wisely too.

The solution must be commensurate with the threat — security is, after all, risk management. Using technology to keep lone workers safe is without doubt a good use, for example.

When it comes to investing in technology, you need to consider what the pros and cons are to choosing machines over people. People can be more flexible. Are there other tasks you can ask your security staff to carry out to improve productivity without degrading the security function?

The benefit of technology is that it can give you irrefutable evidence of an event. It will act as a deterrent but also collect the information to help identify the villains. In a world where litigation is more and more common security guards need protection too. We have a duty of care that says they cannot be asked to apprehend criminals without appropriate training and support.

Decisions around security spend need to be balanced against the threat, the cost of security failure and the relative capabilities and weaknesses of people and machines.