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Executive summary

At its best, the construction industry in the UK can be outstanding but it could be even better! The problem is that it suffers from almost indeterminate losses and a large proportion of these are due to either inefficient or non-existent site security.

The purpose of this report is to consider where some of these losses occur and how to prevent them. The staggering figures presented in the report are only indicative but nevertheless illustrate the size of the problem. One of the biggest problems with site losses is probably the lack of evidence. It can be extremely difficult specifically to identify what has been lost and why. The report considers three areas of tangible losses: plant, material and fire. This immediately poses two significant problems:

• determining material losses is virtually impossible, and

• the largest area of loss is none of the above — it is time.

Time is the common thread that ties the tangibles together and is the most difficult, if not impossible, to replace.

The report is based on the evidence of existing data that set the context and give a concept of the enormity of the problem. The in-depth analysis is provided by a series of representative case studies. These case studies have produced invaluable information from face-to-face interviews with experienced employees who have a thorough knowledge of the ways of the industry. Without exception, there was unbridled enthusiasm for sharing thoughts, ideas and suggestions. It was also evident that those committed to improving safety and security on site were finding it a struggle.

An ever-present factor in the discussions was the emphasis on the culture and the ‘that's the way it is' ethos that pervades the industry. The evidence suggests the false economy of such an approach, and best practice guidance on how to manage and reduce losses is provided at the end of this report. It is interesting to note that although there are regular Health & Safety and fire audits, there are no established procedures for security, despite the fact that almost incalculable amounts are lost due to poor security each year. This suggests that what is required is not a new list of initiatives but a determination to implement and manage a new procedure that focuses on security.