The construction industry is acclimating to an ever-digitizing workflow and ecosystem, alongside the growing importance of protecting equipment in sectors related to critical infrastructure. Construction companies and their employees must all be aware of digital safety concerns just as much as they are physical ones to establish confidence among staff in deterring cybercriminals.
THE MOST PROMINENT EQUIPMENT THREATS
Physical
Mechanical failures are the first significant umbrella of safety incidents, encompassing things like tipped-over cranes, falling loads from faulty pallet jacks and collisions with autonomous guided vehicles. These arise from neglecting regular maintenance or inspections.
Even with the appropriate precautions in place, one accidental position shift or button press in heavy machinery could lead to an unintentionally catastrophic safety issue. Confusion may also occur as contractors switch from company to company and work with various brands.
Environmental hazards also impact the way heavy machinery operates. Excess dust, humidity and wind are a few threats that could make a construction job precarious. Other influences like uneven terrain or low visibility may lead to trips or falls. If employees work in these conditions without personal protective equipment, additional mitigation measures are necessary.
Digital
More and more pieces of construction equipment now connect to smart systems or software solutions. Even trash chutes can record the types of waste heading into a collection area. Because of this online connection, cyber threats are practically inevitable, primarily as these assets become more laden with valuable data. Malware attacks, ransomware and social engineering attacks are several ways hackers exploit programs and people.
Cybercriminals are one type of threat to data integrity, but so are employees. Accuracy issues could pose threats. It is easy for bad actors to falsify inspection results or bug a sensor to stop reading safety mechanisms accurately.
Employee training is crucial for safe machinery operation. Teams need to know how to use digital tools to maintain proper functioning of their equipment.
THE DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES
Training
The most comprehensive defense tactic is proper training, including hands-on equipment education, general safety classes and instruction on digital systems. Contractors must also incorporate how they perform inspections and routine checks into their employee training. They should know every possible safety failure and learn how to document and report reviews and maintenance as it is executed.
Some educational resources include:
- OSHA safety training
- Certified Safety Professionals
- National Center for Construction Education and Research
- Certified Ethical Hacker
- CompTIA Security+
- Vendor-Specific Training
Emergency Response
Learning emergency protocols is just as important as daily safety training. Business continuity plans should detail how to respond if a worker or a hacker compromises equipment, instructing staff step-by-step on how to identify, isolate and recover from digital and/or equipment hazards.
Sitewide Security
Site operators and project managers should also consider sitewide security measures, like surveillance systems integrated with sensor-based technologies to provide additional eyes when manual inspections are impossible. Cameras with motion sensors permit equipment monitoring and stop unauthorized employees from operating when they should not, or deter suspicious parties from tampering with equipment. It’s also important to consider tailoring security measures to each jobsite, as different environments, like an urban jobsite versus a remote jobsite, will have different vulnerabilities.
Collaborative Cybersecurity
Organizations must also consider having a robust IT team with cybersecurity analysts ready. Their efforts are a collaboration between equipment vendors and the construction enterprise. Sometimes, this effort involves partnerships with insurance companies for cyber insurance.
Equipment security depends not only on the training of the contractor and employee using the equipment, but also on the manufacturer’s integrity and the brand behind the product. Knowing how the original company established security and cybersecurity measures will inform operating staff on how to defend against its most noteworthy vulnerabilities. This may include strategies like:
- Encryption
- Advanced firewalls
- Multifactor authentication
- Antivirus software
- Penetration testing
- Role-based access controls
- Data backups and redundancy
DRILLS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MINDSET
For any of these measures to be successful, equipment owners and operators must run drills to test their training. Construction companies can simulate digital and physical threats to reinforce equipment safety training for employees who have received certifications. This allows companies to determine the most glaring oversights and prominent improvement areas.
Strides in Safety
Falls and musculoskeletal problems are some of the most classic threats to the construction workforce, but potential pain points have expanded into equipment with broadening digital assets. These assets pose as much of a safety risk to staff as conventional concerns. Defending against equipment threats with equal priority as workforce threats is crucial for changing the industry’s mindset about the severity and rise of cybercriminals’ impacts.
SEE ALSO: FLEET MANAGERS SHOULD CONSTRUCT A ROBUST CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE
