{"id":10713,"date":"2023-10-21T10:16:31","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T10:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/?p=8551"},"modified":"2024-04-05T11:11:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T11:11:44","slug":"how-secure-is-your-empty-site-or-vacant-property-over-the-festive-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/news\/how-secure-is-your-empty-site-or-vacant-property-over-the-festive-period\/","title":{"rendered":"How secure is your empty site or vacant property in the winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the clocks being turned back, daylight hours getting shorter and the shops starting to stock Christmas decorations – the winter is nearly upon us. But have you thought about your security?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The winter months bring several safety concerns and security risks to empty sites, vacant properties and building sites due to the darker nights and absence of staff during holidays. Typically, we see more buildings and sites being left unoccupied or unprotected during the dark hours leading to theft and very costly delays as a result.<\/p>\n\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you thought about your winter security strategy?<\/h2>\n

Whilst domestically, it\u2019s the season of boiler maintenance, fixing less than adequate roofing and \u2013 spurred by the darker evenings \u2013 getting your home security in order, the preparation for winter isn\u2019t just limited to households.<\/p>\n

Construction site owners, vacant property owners \u2013 or anyone who manages property of any description for that matter \u2013 need to be extra vigilant at this time of year.<\/p>\n

Heading into November, the clocks go back, meaning longer, colder and darker nights. Whilst some theft is spontaneous and opportunistic (such as unattended vans being broken into or machinery left unattended), there are increased reports of machinery being stolen under the cover of darkness. When the lights are off, thieves and other criminals can operate under the cover of darkness, making it harder to notice them \u2013 especially during winter.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead to Christmas, we would expect to see construction sites shut down for the holiday period. Traditionally, businesses involved in the construction industry close from Christmas eve through to the 1st week of January.<\/p>\n

Construction firms simply cannot afford to be complacent during this time. According to\u00a0BFM magazine<\/a>, construction site theft costs companies around \u00a3800 million per year \u2013 a substantial sum.<\/p>\n

To compound this statistic, the propertyreporter.co.uk says that \u201cbusiness data from The Insurer reveals that\u00a0the number of theft claims increases by 35% in the months following the clocks going back, with<\/em>\u00a0November being the month when most burglaries take place.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\"Construction\n

What are the biggest risks to empty sites during the winter?<\/h2>\n

Site and property owners face a number of winter risks, many of which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic in recent years. Empty sites\/properties face four main threats during winter:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Squatters moving in due to the colder weather and the need to find accommodation quickly as temperatures drop.<\/li>\n
  2. Theft due to darker nights (and the fact that\u00a0more theft happens under the cover of darkness<\/a>). Vacant properties and sites are often targeted by vandals and thieves, who may steal materials, equipment, or copper wiring, leading to financial losses and potential damage to the property<\/li>\n
  3. Adverse weather that could affect security systems and prevent them from functioning correctly, or lead to flooding or wind damage<\/li>\n
  4. Safety threats to staff due to adverse weather conditions<\/li>\n
  5. Insurance issues – Vacant properties and sites often have specific insurance requirements, and inadequate coverage can leave property owners vulnerable to financial losses and liability claims<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There is a lot at stake on a construction site, with risks ranging from theft of plant machinery and vandalism through to fires being lit by squatters. Further to this, in the current climate, materials and\u00a0vehicles are particularly difficult to replace<\/a>, so the need for tight security measures has never been more vital.<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ve put together 5 tips to help mitigate these risks and ensure your construction site \/ empty property is prepared for a long winter.<\/p>\n

    1. Remove the cover of darkness<\/h2>\n

    Don\u2019t allow criminals to enter your site unseen. Set up flood lights that operate throughout the hours of darkness, illuminating your access points as well as high-value items, such as supply stores.<\/p>\n

    If you are worried about the cost of site lighting, you can reduce it by using LEDs. These require\u00a075 percent less energy<\/a>\u00a0than conventional incandescent counterparts.<\/p>\n

    You can further reduce costs by combining lights with motion sensors. Lights will only illuminate your site if they detect movement, saving energy and eliminating any false alarms should you have an alarm system set up.<\/p>\n

    Also, check any environmental features that could cast shadows that might hide the movement of thieves, such as hedgerows or trees. Prune back overgrown plants or add additional directional lighting to prevent dark spots.\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

    2. Store valuables off-site<\/h2>\n

    Thieves know that the majority of construction companies (and vacant property owners), keep valuables on-site. It\u2019s the main incentive for breaking into your site.<\/p>\n

    Fortunately, the solution is simple: if there are valuables on your site, store them elsewhere. When thieves find nothing at your premises they can steal, they will soon move on.<\/p>\n

    3. Review your health and safety protocols<\/h2>\n

    Naturally, the darker days \/ mornings result in more accidents, with trip hazards becoming less visible and surface conditions becoming slippery or even icy. There are two main safety issues in the winter for construction workers:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Cold stress \u2013 The cold itself can cause skin and internal body temperatures to drop resulting in conditions such as trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia if construction site workers are not properly protected from the elements when working outside.<\/li>\n
    2. Falls \u2013 Ice can build up on surfaces such as scaffolding, ladders, walkways, stairs and work platforms. It\u2019s highly likely that these areas will remain untouched during vacant periods, so it\u2019s important to deal with this build up as soon as possible to prevent any falls from height.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Remember, that pedestrians often have some access to construction sites so their safety is at risk also.<\/p>\n

      Identify the outdoor areas that are most likely to be affected by ice, for example: scaffolding poles, access points, car parks and roads, pedestrian walkways and shortcuts. Use signs, cones and grit to mitigate any accident risks. Don\u2019t forget to review your procedures in the event of an accident.<\/p>\n

      4. Secure entry and exit points<\/h2>\n

      During winter, you\u2019ll also need to secure both your entry and exit points, as opportunistic thieves will seek these points as a means of easy entry.<\/p>\n

      You can do this in several ways. The first is to deploy comprehensive\u00a0CCTV coverage<\/a>. Cameras act as a major deterrent and allow you to catch perpetrators in the act to pursue prosecutions.<\/p>\n

      You should also protect access points with\u00a0window and door screens<\/a>. These are made of perforated, prefabricated steel and fit over your building\u2019s points of entry, preventing thieves from accessing it easily. Clearway\u2019s steel doors and screens can be hand-cut to size to fit simple and complex shapes.<\/p>\n\"Clearway\n

       <\/p>\n

      5. Keep an eye on your properties<\/h2>\n

      Combining cameras with\u00a0active alarm monitoring<\/a>\u00a0offers an even higher level of protection. At Clearway we monitor your property for you, sending out trained responders in the event of any intrusion. Operators watch sites day and night, seven days a week, ensuring that criminals and squatters cannot enter.<\/p>\n

      There are only a handful of such monitoring centres in the UK. However, they offer site owners peace of mind, knowing that their premises are being guarded 24\/7 by trained professionals, protecting their assets.<\/p>\n\"station\n

       <\/p>\n

      Contact Clearway Today<\/h2>\n

      If you\u2019re looking for more information on how to\u00a0secure a vacant property<\/a>\u00a0or construction site during the winter months, get in touch with Clearway. We have delivered rapid, effective and robust\u00a0construction site security<\/a>\u00a0solutions for several sites in the UK, ensuring workers and equipment are protected. We can provide a site risk assessment\/void property inspection<\/a>\u00a0and assemble a list of recommendations to secure your site\u2019s most vulnerable areas. Learn more about\u00a0vacant property management services<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      With the clocks being turned back, daylight hours getting shorter and the shops starting to stock Christmas decorations – the winter is nearly upon us. But have you thought about your security? The winter months bring several safety concerns and security risks to empty sites, vacant properties and building sites due to the darker nights…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":19959,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,7],"tags":[],"area":[52,53],"class_list":["post-10713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-news","area-site-security","area-vacant-property-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWinter risks for construction sites and vacant properties and how to protect against them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winter is a risky time for empty sites and vacant property owners. 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