Site security firm stresses blackout protection urgency

Specialists protecting construction sites have advised owners to secure their premises through a dedicated service if winter blackouts occur.

The nation has been cautioned by energy companies that power cuts are a possibility on very cold winter weekdays from 4pm to 7pm if gas supplies to the United Kingdom are further restricted.

While the National Grid has maintained that this scenario is unlikely, they have not ruled out the prospect of three-hour blackouts to achieve a five per cent reduction in total power consumption.

Darkness naturally aids criminal activity, with construction and commercial sites proving prime targets for the theft of expensive machinery. So how can site owners prepare for this eventuality?

Fence is the best defence

Professional perimeter fencing is an excellent method of securing entry to a location, and it can – if necessary – block access outright.

SafeSite Facilities, a leading site security firm, advises owners to take action by installing professional hoarding around their sites and adding sufficient security systems.

Timber, steel, and uPVC hoardings not only prevent entry but restrict visibility into a site. These hoardings can always be extended in height when necessary, making this fencing a robust but agile perimeter defence.

Hoardings can be complemented with anti-climb elements acting as visual and physical deterrents. The most robust perimeter protection is pointless if burglars and vandals can easily scale it – spiked fencing and barbed wire can help prevent this.

Capture them remotely

CCTV monitoring is pivotal in safeguarding your premises against potential intrusions. The police use it to great effect, but businesses and landowners can use it to look after their own premises too. Modern CCTV systems will prove extremely useful during blackouts thanks to their ability to operate on a back-up battery.

SafeSite Facilities offer a weatherproof portable CCTV tower that delivers round-the-clock surveillance, audio broadcasts and high-definition video. Their mobile CCTV tower features a dedicated battery back-up to ensure it stays operational during power outages.

The company even offers an eco-friendly CCTV unit in the form of a solar-powered camera tower which is best operated as a hybrid solution to ensure continuity.

The cameras’ police-inspired livery is an effective deterrent against thieves and vandals at all times and will work as an essential element during a blackout.

Mobile CCTV towers prove very useful in rural areas or other places where there is limited access to the electricity grid. Their manoeuvrability makes these cameras ideal for positioning in areas of perceived risk.

SafeSite Facilities adds that its Solar CCTV can be operated remotely, supplementing a monitored security presence with alarms that activate the deployment of staff.

Building and commercial premises have never been safer thanks to site security firms whose products will be particularly useful should the lights go out.

Protect your livelihood

Commercial Director at SafeSite Facilities, Phil Evans, says: “We don’t know if there will be blackouts, but we do know it makes sense to be prepared. Criminals take advantage of the cover that darkness brings, but fencing and technology like ours will stop them.

“Solar powered CCTV in particular offers site owners peace of mind and the advantages of reduced energy usage, sustainability and wireless operation. And, with the inclusion of battery backup, the solution provides the continuity required for operation throughout any power cuts.”

For more information visit: https://www.safesitefacilities.co.uk/products/security-alarms-cctv