How Do Construction Site Security Guards Manage Access Control?

Construction site security guards manage access control by monitoring entry points and perimeters, verifying identification, and keeping detailed records of everyone who enters or exits the site. Access control is one of the most important parts of construction site security, thanks to its efficiency in helping prevent theft, protect materials, and maintain safety.

Throughout our decade of experience in providing construction site security services, we’ve seen how a lack of proper access management makes it easy to lose track of who’s on site and when. If you’re a decision-maker at a construction site, this guide will cover how guards control entry, manage personnel movement, and maintain secure access to your site.

Key Takeaways

• Access control mitigates theft, vandalism, and safety risks.

• Site managers gain insight into who accesses the site and when through visitor logging and credential verifications conducted by security guards. 

• Guards monitor for trespassers, supervise deliveries, and facilitate vehicle access to construction sites. 

Why Do Construction Sites Need Access Control?

Your construction site contains valuable materials, tools, and equipment that are attractive targets for theft and vandalism. It also likely sees a high volume of contractors, workers, and suppliers. With new faces entering your site daily, it can be difficult to spot anyone out of the ordinary, leaving your site vulnerable to trespassing and theft during the day. 

Theft and vandalism aren’t the only risks increased by a lack of access control. If any individual makes their way onto your site, it can lead to safety issues and legal concerns. It can also be dangerous for untrained construction workers to handle unauthorized access on their own. 

All of these reasons make access control necessary on construction sites. In the next section, we’ll discuss how guards manage access points to keep your site secure. 

How Guards Secure Construction Site Access Points

The exact method guards use to maintain access point security varies from site to site, as every site has a unique layout and different security needs. However, most sites have a primary access point accessible from street level, secondary access points, and a fence around the perimeter. 

Depending on the site, a guard may stand watch at the primary entrance or near areas that experience heavy foot traffic (such as near busy streets, intersections, or transit hubs) to prevent unauthorized access attempts. When the primary entrance is open, such as for deliveries or to allow vehicle access, guards will stand guard to ensure no unauthorized pedestrians make their way into the site.

Guards will patrol the perimeter, monitoring for weak points or gaps in fencing caused by workers or trespassing pedestrians taking shortcuts and will address any unauthorized access or unsafe behaviour. Additionally, guards will also verify and log each visitor who arrives on site.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at the typical access control-related duties that construction site security guards perform. 

Site Access Control Procedures

Access control looks different from one construction site to another, depending on the scale, number of access points, and type of construction work. Here’s an overview of the most common access control procedures we utilize at our clients’ construction sites:

1. Entrance Management

Many sites are located in busy areas on streets that experience a high volume of foot traffic. Guards must monitor all site entrances carefully to ensure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. They also regularly patrol the perimeter to ensure the fence remains secure. 

2. Badge and ID Verification

Following the previous point, guards determine who is authorized and who isn’t by checking visitor identification. This could include ID cards, badges, or lists of contractors. Confirming the identities of personnel on site, in combination with visitor logging, helps greatly reduce security risks. 

3. Visitor Logging

Site visitors, including inspectors, contractors, and clients, often need temporary access to your site. Security guards record the names, arrival times, and companies of your visitors to provide a record of who was on site when. This also streamlines follow-ups in the event of an incident, as you’ll have access to a complete and organized list of site visitors. 

4. Delivery Supervision

Your site likely experiences a high volume of deliveries throughout the week, which may pose a threat to your site’s security. Security guards can supervise and check in delivery workers to ensure they’re authorized to be on site, monitor the area for trespassers while the delivery is in progress, and watch delivery workers to ensure they don’t walk away with any materials or tools they’re not supposed to. They can inspect vehicles upon arrival and make sure deliveries match what was ordered. 

5. Trespasser Management

If and when a trespasser does enter the site, having a security guard present to handle the situation is a significant benefit. Unprotected sites where workers must handle trespassers themselves or call police can lead to unsafe situations that put them at risk. 

Meanwhile, guards are trained to handle these situations calmly and professionally, utilizing de-escalation, conflict resolution, and crisis management skills. Depending on the nature of the incident, guards may contact law enforcement in addition to writing an incident report. 

6. Gatehouse Access Control

Large construction sites often feature a gatehouse along with a fenced perimeter to organize access. Gatehouse security guards verify driver credentials, log visitors, and direct drivers once they enter the site. This enables the site to have a single access point for vehicles, allowing for better organization and increased visibility for management teams. 

Construction Site Access Control Best Practices

While guards are a significant benefit to construction sites, security is everyone’s responsibility. The following best practices help maintain secure, efficient, and safe operations on your site: 

1. Set Clear Entry Policies

Your site should have written entry rules that detail when workers are allowed access and entrance protocols. You should outline appropriate lockup procedures for the last workers to leave the site, discourage the use of non-designated entrances (such as gaps in fencing), and implement a “see something, say something” policy for unauthorized access.

2. Keep Updated Access Lists

Subcontractors change regularly. You should regularly update lists of approved companies, the number of workers on their teams, and their roles on site. Similarly, you should regularly update your list of delivery companies. 

3. Review Logs Regularly

Access logs, visitor records, and delivery reports should be reviewed on a regular basis. This helps identify patterns, address gaps, and improve security strategies. 

While these best practices can be implemented independently, partnering with a construction site security company allows your security team to address these practices and handle much of the work on your behalf. 

Choosing a Security Partner with Construction Site Access Control Expertise

Finding a reliable security partner can significantly impact the effectiveness of your access control system on a daily basis. Look for a company with proven experience managing access for construction projects of various sizes, guards that receive advanced training, and established protocols for handling access control-related incidents.

For instance, at Blackbird Security, our teams receive comprehensive training in key areas, including fire safety, first aid, peaceful de-escalation, and more, enabling them to provide a high level of service on construction sites. We conduct all of our reporting through the industry-standard reporting software, TrackTik, giving our clients real-time insight into security at their site. Our guards are access control experts who understand the importance of maintaining secure entrances on your site. 

For more insight on how to evaluate providers, see our article, How to Choose the Right Construction Site Security Company. 

Partner with Canada’s Trusted Construction Site Security Provider

Access control is an important part of protecting your project, your workers, and your investment. With trained guards, organized procedures, and reliable communication, your site stays secure from unauthorized entry and theft. At Blackbird Security, we have a decade of experience protecting high-value construction sites in all of Canada’s major cities. We’re proud to provide comprehensive services tailored to our clients’ exact needs.

Contact us today to learn how we can help protect your site, or explore our full suite of construction site security services.