A Guide To Site Security For Principal Contractors

As the principal contractor for your construction site, you’ve got a range of different responsibilities under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Underpinning all of those is the duty of care you have to all other contractors and visitors to your site, and there’s no understating the role that effective, professional security solutions play in that.

What Is A Principal Contractor & How Do I Know If It’s Me?

As defined by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations of 2015 (the CDM) issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the principal contractor on a site “controls the construction phase of any project involving more than one contractor”. They act as a central point of contact for the site, and take responsibility for a wide range of site-critical duties.

If you work in a senior or managerial role as part of a construction project, you’ll have already been told if you’re acting as the principal contractor. If you’re a small business (a plumber, electrician, or landscape gardener, for instance) that operates independently on predominantly domestic properties, you’ll automatically be the principal contractor.

That revolves centrally around planning, health and safety, management, and coordination of what’s happening at the site, and the mitigation of issues so often synonymous with common threats to the project (like construction site theft). They’ll achieve that through a range of different factors, including:

• Liaising with the client and principal designer to ensure that all risks are managed
• Preparing, implementing and reviewing a written construction phase plan
• Arranging all relevant health and safety measures throughout the contract duration
• Checking that all appointed staff have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience
• Ensuring that all workers have site-specific inductions
• Taking steps to prevent unauthorised access to the site

That final point in the list is the one that’s most often up for interpretation. While many of the above points can be achieved through relevant and well-kept documentation (like site-specific inductions and the written construction phase plan), how a principal contractor secures the site can be a difficult one to understand.

Areas Principal Contractors Should Consider For Site Security

All your security measures should be built to suit your project and its footfall, but a good starting point is a blend of both physical security measures (whether that’s manned guarding, vehicular patrols, or Heras fencing) and more digitised options for access (like coded locks for temporary doors, or AI-augmented CCTV solutions).

In terms of the main considerations for where these will be best implemented, that’s dependent on the nature, size and scope of your site. Here’s what we’d advise looking at as a priority to ensure that you’re fully compliant with your duties as a principal contractor.

Ingress (Entrance) & Egress (Exit) Points

The main access points and routes onto and off your site are one of the biggest considerations for a principal contractor when it comes to site security. They’ll be the area where you see the most concentrated footfall, and where there’s arguably the greatest vulnerability (especially with vehicle-based crime).

On a new build estate, for example, you’ll have delivery trucks and flatbeds, site contractor vehicles and vans, independent contractors and visitors, and the occasional lost resident. Every one of those is a possible security vulnerability, and one that you, as the principal contractor, need to address.

An optimal solution here is to implement effective access controls. This could come in a more affordable format (like access fobs or keycards), but it’s becoming more and more common to see biometrics utilised as part of those access controls.

Not only does this protect vital (and often expensive) site assets, it’s also an essential part of maintaining compliance with CDM 2015 and its security requirements. Keeping those main routes in and out of site protected is essential for building the foundations of a successful security solution as the principal contractor.

Storage Areas, Lock-Ups & Toolsheds

Modern construction projects are on tight budgets and even tighter timelines. It’s no surprise, then, that construction sites often opt to keep tools stored in the vicinity. These are often kept in locked containers, purpose-built toolsheds or lock-ups, or secured cabins, but the presence of tools on site does mean an increased risk.

According to asset management company ABAX, there are over 11,000 reported thefts of construction equipment every year, equating to an average cost to the tradesperson of over £4,400. It’s not just bigger businesses at risk, either, with an estimated 92% of construction companies experiencing theft at sites nationwide. 

That’s the root cause behind toolsheds and storage areas being integral parts of a principal contractor’s security responsibilities. Here, we’d advise investing in more robust measures than the traditional lock-and-key – these aren’t enough to stop the organised criminals who are targeting more remote construction sites, nor are they enough of a deterrent for those who know the value of tools.

This could come in the form of routine mobile patrols, which not only shaves down the cost of a more permanent presence (which we’d advise for larger plant or machinery) but can function as an unexpected disruption for criminals who think the site isn’t occupied. 

For sites operating with minimal budget or that want a more “hands-off” approach, automated solutions like the VPOD intruder alarms offer autonomous yet robust and rapid protection and response services.

Vehicles, Plant & Equipment

As the highly sought-after items that characterise larger builds, these are often the target for criminals. For principal contractors and those for whom construction is their career and livelihood, stories like this from Kent Police spark substantial concerns. It’s far from an isolated incident, and statistics point towards this being a rising trend.

The common pitfall for principal contractors when deciding on site security measures is to assume that bigger vehicles (excavators, bulldozers, telehandlers, compactors, articulated haulers, etc.) aren’t a target. For organised gangs, they rank among the most desirable targets, and for opportunistic thieves and criminals, they’re a costly oversight.

The natural solution is to keep keys separate from the machinery. It’s a surprisingly effective option, but it’s so often overlooked by contractors and site supervisors due to time constraints or improper training. This is a great starting point for site security, and represents an easy win for you as the principal contractor. 

For more protracted concerns (large-scale builds and remote projects where machinery is in situ overnight), the ideal option is to invest in a more proactive approach to site security. That can come in a range of different forms, ranging from perimeter fencing with gated access (unlocked through coded locks or ID cards) to manned security guarding positioned at important points on the site.

Ongoing Projects & Active Builds

For multi-phase sites and building projects (infrastructure, for example, or large-scale new build estates), any ongoing work or active building sites are a major concern for a conscientious principal contractor. Whether that’s foundations, timberwork, or unoccupied homes, these are all massive potential liabilities.

Trespassing on construction sites is one of the most common breaches, and while many assume this is harmless, there’s a range of different issues that could stem from it, including major fines, delays and even jail time in the event of issues under the Occupier’s Liability Act. That’s not even touching on the more obvious effects of vandalism or illegal squatting.

Ultimately, active projects or sites are the biggest target. They often combine the above pointers alongside the hard work of your client and contractors, creating a volatile environment that demands a greater focus in terms of security. That’s where static guarding plays its most importantrole, especially on sites that have a gatehouse or entrance area that acts as the main thoroughfare onto the site.

It may also be a good idea to install more autonomous options around the outskirts of active projects, too. Mobile CCTV towers act as one of the most effective ways to implement that guidance, functioning as both an autonomous, solar-powered monitoring method and a proven deterrent to trespassing and criminality.

What Should A Principal Contractor Look For In Their Security Provider?

Any principal contractor should consider the credentials of their chosen security provider, the range of services they can provide, and their existing and past portfolio of clients in the industry. Construction is a nuanced industry, and you need to know you can trust your security to comply with both the CDM’s requirements and the changing tides of the sector.

At ProFM Group, we tick every single one of those boxes. We’re a security partner of choice with SIKA Everbuild, one of the sector’s most well-established and reputable providers, alongside a proven track record of work with multiple construction companies like Bowmer + Kirkland, Provectus, Amec Foster Wheeler, and Keble Homes.

What sets us apart from the crowd, though, is our bespoke approach. No two projects have the same path to completion, and we’re firm believers that that needs to be reflected in the way your project is secured. We’ll do all we can, conducting site surveys and strategic analysis to ensure that we’re delivering the right level of protection to suit you.

Whether that’s in more affordable options for security technologies that never compromise on quality, or the more visible, direct approach you’ll see in our manned security presence, ProFM Group make a commitment to quality, continuity, and purpose-built solutions designed around your project.