November/December 2022

Tool Safety
A 'LAYERED APPROACH'
Total Installer hears from Julian Free, National Accounts Manager, Site Security at DeterTech,
who gives his top tips to help prevent installers from becoming victims of tool theft...
The theft of tools and materials is a prevalent
problem for installers, including within the
glazing sector. In fact, new data reveals
that almost four in five (78%) tradespeople have
experienced tool theft, at an estimated £2.8
billion cost to the industry.
Site security professionals have a duty of care
to the people and property on the work sites for
which they are responsible.
That’s particularly true outside of regular working
hours when sites are at their most vulnerable.
Equally, there’s a lot that installers can do to
prevent themselves from becoming victims of
theft.
The below steps go a long way to ensuring
everybody is playing their part to mitigate the
risks;
Stay abreast of crime trends
Most criminals are predictable in their behaviour.
It is therefore helpful to keep an ear to the ground
for the types of sites that are being targeted in
the area and the items that are commonly being
pilfered.
Site security professionals can then begin to
allocate their resources more effectively in
recognition of these risks.
In most cases it’s not about making a site
impenetrable.
It’s about making a site secure enough that
an opportunist decides to go and seek out an
alternative target.
For example, if theft from work vehicles is a
known issue then adopting hardened security
measures in the parking area may be advisable.
Secure the surrounding environment
Physical deterrents such as gates and barriers
should be a no-brainer for those storing high
value materials or tools on a work site.
These act as an initial deterrent for thieves
looking for an easy win.
If high-value materials are due to be delivered
to the site before the day of installation, then
a secure storage area, with closely controlled
access, should be found for them.
Equally, if high-value items are kept in a vehicle it
should be securely locked and parked in a well-lit
location.
Deploy monitoring and surveillance
Just as criminals will monitor sites for a lack
of protection, tradespeople and glazers might
consider rapidly deployable self-monitored
camera systems and intrusion detection units for
24/7 site surveillance.
These systems should be placed clearly in
strategic locations, such as the entrance to a site
or property. Aside from their daunting physical
presence, these units provide vocal warning
systems that will scare off any criminal that
encroaches on site.
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78 T I NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST