As technology advances, the quality of options available for your construction site security provision advances, too. Despite this, ‘next generation’ security-related efficiencies are still relatively unknown in some quarters – or underutilised – resulting in a higher risk of unauthorised access, vandalism and theft.
As we all adjust, post-coronavirus, it’s clear that criminal activity on construction sites is very much a problem and some would argue it has only been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic.
Additional challenges – such as COVID-19 compliance – have also forced us all to think, and work, differently.
In this post, we take a deeper look into access control technologies, giving you an overview of what new tech is available; helping you to save costs by reducing theft, vandalism and unauthorised access – as well as managing the impact that COVID-19 is having on the construction industry.
Read on to find out what new efficiencies are ready and waiting to be gained…
#1 Turnstiles With Contactless Face Recognition
The industry has become accustomed to turnstiles that are accessible via an ID card, and those that are a little more advanced may have fingerprint scanning technology.
However, both features are not without their drawbacks.
ID cards can easily be misplaced, damaged or stolen, and can therefore present opportunities for unauthorised persons to access construction sites.
To overcome this, you may consider access control via fingerprint recognition, which may appear a reasonable solution to the problems presented with ID card access. However, multiple people touching the same surface can unknowingly enable the transmission of infection, since viruses (for example, the coronavirus) can reside on surfaces for hours, even days.
And that’s why contactless face recognition is the most effective solution for access control on your construction site. Without getting too technical, turnstiles that are equipped with face recognition technology such as FaceStation F2 will benefit from:
- Exceptional authentication accuracy that is achieved by the fusion matching of visual and infrared face recognition.
Meaning it scans your face using both infrared and visual face recognition technology, eliminating the need for workers to scan an access card or place their fingerprint on a potentially contaminated surface.
#2 Face Mask Detection & Authentication
The FaceStation F2 also recognises when a worker is (or isn’t) wearing a face mask, limiting access when necessary. This is possible via unique facial feature scanning which recognises faces with masks – without sacrificing accuracy.
It’s uncertain whether these features will remain as relevant once all traces of the coronavirus pandemic are eradicated. However, we can say with certainty that, irrespective of the need to help with COVID-19 compliance, face recognition scanning technology will remain at the forefront of access control due to the added accuracy and efficiency it delivers (and it will undoubtedly be advanced even further by providers such as Suprema).
#3 Thermal Cameras
Another feature that lends itself well to COVID-19 compliance is thermal technology. The FaceStation F2 can be equipped with a thermal camera and temperature detection software, which recognises when an individual displays an elevated skin temperature.
Whilst this doesn’t directly formulate an official diagnosis, it can detect an early symptom of the virus, effectively mitigating the risk of an infected person entering the site.
#4 Pre-Enrolment
With new technologies comes increased efficiencies, and pre-enrolment is a benefit that managers should be taking advantage of on their construction sites.
Considering on-site inductions may take at least an hour a day on construction sites, wouldn’t it be great to save that time to focus on the work at hand?
Imagine: You’re potentially saving 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month and around 240 hours a year!
Secure Site’s in-line or pod turnstile systems can include a pre-enrolment facility, enabling contractors to register their details and complete their H&S induction process online, prior to attending site for the first time. This begins with an email from the site management team which contains a link to the enrolment page. It can be accessed by a user’s smartphone, tablet or PC.
To find out more about Secure Site’s pre-enrolment software, click here.
#5 Space Saving Access Control Turnstiles
As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’ and some would argue that this is the case on construction sites – where every square metre is valuable.
Many criticise that turnstiles are big, bulky and obtrusive, so maximising your access control could mean as little as opting for a smaller turnstile pod, whilst still allowing you to benefit from the unique efficiencies highlighted throughout this post. At Secure Site, our turnstile pods can boast a 2.5m2 footprint.
Conclusion
By maximising the access control provisions on your construction site, you are enabling a more efficient workforce, reduced risk of unauthorised access, theft and vandalism – and you’ll be making significant cost savings in the long run, too.
To recap:
- Access control turnstiles with face recognition and temperature detection are a must
- Contactless entry will help you to remain COVID-19 compliant and speed up your processes
- Pre-enrolment will save you a significant amount of time
For further information, or to discuss your current construction site, don’t hesitate to speak to an expert today. Simply fill out the form below to get in touch.
