AAA SECURITY GUARD PROTECTION & SAFETY COMPANY
FALL 2010
CONSTRUCTION
Comprehensive Plan for protection of your equipment and site...
Keeping your equipment and site
SAFE
Introduction
Loss of construction equipment
from theft makes construction projects
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more expensive. Contractors get hit with
the loss but eventually incorporate it into
their cost of doing business. When the
lowest bidder includes a cost for
equipment and construction-material
loss, who actually pays for the loss? Public
entities!
This chapter will help public entities
(towns, cities, counties, school districts,
etc.) ensure that contractors and
subcontractors maintain a complete
security and loss- control program while
constructing buildings for public entities.
Public-entity representatives who
oversee contractors and subcontractors
include public works directors, utilities
directors, city engineers, county
engineers, project engineers, project
coordinators, project managers, and
construction managers. These
representatives are responsible for
ensuring that all security and loss-control
measures are in place and working
correctly during construction projects.
implementing
Security & Loss
Control
Security and Loss Control
Equipment theft is a major source of
loss to all contractors. While insurance
may offset some of the financial costs of
this loss, many uninsured costs are paid
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by all contractors (general and
subcontractors). These costs include
insurance deductibles, replacing
depreciated items with new equipment,
and production delays, paperwork and
time in reporting and replacing stolen
equipment.
Uninsured costs often exceed the
cost paid by insurance and add to
contractors’ overall operating expenses.
These costs must be offset by increased
pricing. The bottom line is that
equipment theft costs contractors money
and impairs their ability to offer
competitive pricing for various
construction projects. More importantly,
some contractor equipment is worth tens
of thousands of dollars. Large
contractors can have equipment worth
hundreds of thousands of dollars. Secure
equipment means secure business.
Contractors with inadequate
equipment security are easy theft targets.
Their major concern is to protect against
tool and equipment theft. In some cases,
the difference between profit and loss on
construction projects depends on
successfully preventing theft losses.
Good planning and programming
are essential to construction-site security.
This is important to control loss by
preventing theft of valuable construction
materials and tools. Contractors can
prevent theft from a construction site
through several areas of ensuring security
and loss control.
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Equipment theft has many potential
sources, but the two main sources are: 1)
the public or 2) workers (present and
former) at job sites, during transportation,
or at contractors’ home office.
pre-test questions
What Public Entities
Need to Know...
1) What time of day is most
common for thieves to steal equipment?
2) What are the two sources of
equipment theft?
3) What three forms of identification
should a contractor require from people
who deliver packages, materials, and
equipment to a job site?
4) When double-stamping tools and
equipment with an identification number,
what do you use as a numbering system?
5) How wide should a “clear zone”
be around fencing that protects
equipment and tools at a job site?
6) Name four types of anti-theft
devices that should be used on all
equipment.
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FALL
7) What type of paint should be
used on all tools used at a construction
site?
8) Give two reasons why a public
entity should hold a pre-construction
meeting with contractors.
9) What is the average time for
thieves to enter a job site, load a piece of
equipment, and steal the equipment?
10) What type of incentives should a
contractor offer workers to prevent
equipment theft from job sites?
pre-construction
When to address
these problems?
Public-entity representatives should
address contractors’ security and loss-
control policy during a preconstruction
meeting to discuss all requirements that
contractors must meet during a building
project. Before a preconstruction
meeting, contractors will be required to
submit a variety of documents for review
by a public-entity representative.
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2009
ABOUT US
OUR COMPANY
Our Security Company assists
private clients and corporations
with a large selection of security
guard services and security
solutions. Extensive training
combined with our experience
from our Miami Security Company
is why our company delivers
effective security services in
Miami-Dade, Broward County and
South Florida. Our Miami Security
Company provides clients with
customized security guard services
as may be requested. Our
Company is fully licensed, insured
and bonded to perform an array of
security services
Public Entity Preconstruction
Submittal Requirements1
Before starting any work at a site,
contractors for building projects must
submit successful bids and be accepted.
Contractors must submit the following:
1) preliminary work schedule;
2) list of subcontractors;
3) schedule of values;
4) proposed schedule to submit shop
drawing;
5) staff forecast;
6) cash-flow projections for the
project; and
7) a copy of written security and
loss-control policy.
Requiring contractors to submit
these items before a preconstruction
meeting will: 1) ensure that they have
realistic plans, including security and loss-
control policies, to perform a
construction project; 2) ensure that
contractors understand the scope of a
project; 3) show that contractors are
committed to a project; 4) cause
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contractors to take early action obtaining
subcontractors and ensuring each
subcontractor has a written security and
loss-control policy; 5) ensure that
contractors have realistically planned
their labor force; 6) ensure that their
billing items are related to the scheduled
work activities; 7) ensure that expected
cash flow corresponds with the work
schedule.
Once public-entity representatives
review the submitted documents, they
can schedule a preconstruction meeting.
Preconstruction
Meeting
Public-entity representatives notify
contractors and all parties involved with
the building project of the time and place
of a preconstruction meeting within 30
days of the agreement approval and
before work begins. The notice to
proceed should be accompanied with an
agenda of the preconstruction meeting.
A preconstruction meeting will:
1) establish that contractors should
communicate officially only with public-
entity representatives;
2) ensure that contractors
understand procedures required by public
entities to execute contract and project
work;
3) acquaint contractors with all
participating parties;
4) ensure that contractors
understand a public entity’s rules and
regulations in the day-to-day operation at
the site; and
5) review the preconstruction
submittals, including security and loss-
control policy for contractors and
subcontractors.
Public-entity representatives should
prepare an agenda for the
preconstruction meeting.
Common Characteristics of
Equipment Theft Situations
Thieves are fairly lazy people
looking for an easy way to make a few
dollars. The more difficult it is to steal
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equipment, the more likely it is that
thieves will look for easier targets. A Monitor and analyze equipment-
potential thief may case premises or theft losses to identify patterns and to
equipment-storage areas often and at measure the effectiveness of overall
different times to determine a routine and efforts and periodically visit work crews to
identify any security measures in place. review their theft- prevention practices.
Most thefts occur in the evening, usually Ways to Minimize
within an hour after the workday has
ended, or on weekends. Most thieves will
Theft of Contractor
not try to steal if they cannot enter the Equipment
site, load the equipment, and be clear of Establish an inventory-control
the site in less than 10 minutes. A buyer system for all equipment and tools. Assign
for specific equipment is usually identified equipment by serial number to work
before a theft is perpetrated. teams or supervisors and hold supervisors
and team members accountable for its
Theft Prevention safe return.
Measures: Ways to Plan
Implement a documented check-
and Manage Theft out/check-in system for all tools and
Prevention Efforts equipment. Assign work crews with the
equipment they will need for the day. Do
Effective theft prevention requires
not oversupply crews with equipment.
commitment. If contractors do not make
it a priority, nobody else will either.
Theft-prevention plans are essential
Establish theft-prevention policies and
to protecting construction equipment.
clearly communicate it to all workers
Follow a checklist – don’t leave
including all subcontractors and their
prevention to chance. Take the following
workers. Hold all supervisors and workers
checklist on a tour of a construction site –
accountable for their part in a theft-
especially after non-working hours in the
prevention program.
evening or early in the morning before
workers arrive.
Offer financial incentives to
supervisors and workers for practicing
Theft-Prevention Walkabout
theft prevention, including prompt
Checklist
reporting of suspicious activity or persons
1) Lock and immobilize equipment
around a work area. Offer rewards to
during non-working hours. Attach anti-
workers and the public with information
theft devices, such as steering-wheel locks;
about theft and regularly reinforce a
kill switches, tire and wheel/axle locks,
theft-prevention policy with frequent
locked hood side plates, and locking fuel
verbal and written reminders.
caps. Where practical, all operating
levers, handles, etc., should be locked in
Develop a system to verify the
place or placed under securely locked
identity of people who deliver packages,
covers or lids.
materials, and equipment. The best way
is to require three forms of identification:
2) Lock and protect with an alarm
a driver’s license, a company
system all major pieces of equipment and
identification card with a photograph,
trailers containing tools. Install padlock
and a credit card. With these forms of
shields on storage trailers or converted
identification, one can be reasonably
shipping containers to make padlocks
certain someone is who he says he is. If in
more tamper resistant and inaccessible to
doubt, call that person’s company and
verify employment.
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bolt cutters. Install trailer-wheel and hitch
locks.
3) Double stamp all tools,
equipment, and attachments with an
identification number, one conspicuous
and the other hidden. For example,
engrave the last four digits of the
contractor-license number or driver’s
license on equipment. Warning signs on
equipment should indicate that
identification and serial numbers are
recorded.
4) Put reward decals on equipment.
5) Paint tools and equipment with
bright, easily recognizable colors to
identify them from a distance. Use
aerosol-applied “microtagger” thermostat
plastic coatings that contain coded
pigments or metal particles.
6) Stencil or bead-weld the company
logo or other identifying marks on
equipment.
Ways to Maximize Theft Protection
of Storage Areas
In some cases, theft happens with
parties interested in specialized material,
such as copper piping and electrical
wiring. In other cases, it is petty theft of
equipment left on site by subcontractors.
That makes storage areas easy targets for
thieves. But several things can deter theft.
1) Avoid storing equipment off
premises overnight unless it is in a
secured area. If equipment must be
stored overnight, consider leasing or
renting space at a secure self-storage
facility.
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2) Store equipment on premises in a SAFETY FIRST
locked building equipped with double-
Our security company offers
cylinder dead bolts and monitored
unarmed and armed security
security alarm. Some contractors store
officers and mobile patrol
equipment in converted overseas shipping
services to corporate, industrial
containers. Make sure they are padlocked
facilities, warehouse property,
and protected by padlock shields.7
commercial properties, residential
communities, retail stores and
3) In high-crime areas, consider
other establishments. Our Miami
hiring a security guard or use closed-
Security Company is the finest
circuit television surveillance systems.
Watch dogs can be used when
choice for security services in
accompanied by a trained handler.
Miami and south Florida. Most of
our security consultants, security
4) Enclose each equipment storage
guards and security officers have
area with a security fence. Good fencing
prior military or law enforcement
is an essential element in good site experience or training.
security, and all construction sites should
be securely fenced. But remember, good
fencing requires constant monitoring and
maintenance. The fence should be Contributors
installed to nationally recognized The Risk Institute
standards (ASTM F567-93, Standard for riskinstitute.org
the installation of Chain-Link Fence). A
clear zone of at least 5 feet should be Subscription
maintained around all fencing. info@aaasecurityguard.com
5) Restrict access to equipment AAA Security Guard
storage areas to designated workers. Protection & Safety
Provide security keys stamped “do not Company
duplicate” to these workers.
6) Keep equipment storage buildings
and surrounding areas well lit and free of
hiding places, such as shrubbery, trees or
other visual obstructions. Nighttime
lighting is essential. Lighting should be
elevated to eliminate dark areas and
should be visible from adjacent streets.
Where possible, position lighting so that it
does not limit the view or create glare
problems to persons who routinely check
the area.
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FALL
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2009

7) During large projects, have tool- theft losses to investigating police and
and-stores depots permanently staffed. request their input to prevent future
Require workers to sign in and out when losses. Determine if stolen equipment

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tools are required. Use an identification
pass card to identify people working on
and visiting the site.
Ways Contractors Should
Investigate All Theft Losses
Don’t wait until an equipment theft
occurs before establishing reporting
procedures. These should include
immediate contact with area police and
key personnel within a contractor’s
organization. Train supervisors and team
leaders in the steps to take when a theft is
suspected. Contact local police for
training assistance. Establish a list of
names and telephone numbers of key
personnel and area police and provide it
to each work crew.
recovered by area police is available for
examination. Periodically visit police
impound or evidence compounds to
identify your stolen equipment.
Equipment stolen from a
construction site might be found at
informal sales locations in the region.
Periodically spot check area swap meets
or auction houses for items fitting the
description of stolen equipment. If any
stolen equipment is recognized, contact
law enforcement immediately. Prosecute
thieves apprehended by police to the
fullest extent possible. Set an example
and send a message that equipment theft
will not be tolerated.

Good relationships with law-

enforcement agencies are very important.
Provide information regarding previous

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