His safety summit in February made it clear that employers who failed to improve standards would be held to account. Mr Prescott demanded a 40% cut in deaths and injuries over the next four years, rising to a reduction of two-thirds by 2010.
A large number of accidents are caused by operatives working at high levels on insecure platforms and many construction firms are concentrating their efforts in this area to bring about rapid improvements to the statistics.
Large scaffolding is becoming less popular as contractors seek more flexible and robust alternatives that are also easier and quicker to erect. This is leading to massive demand for powered access equipment on all types of projects, including: cleaning and repairing masonry; the installation of air conditioning and electrical equipment; building inspections; roofing; steel erection; flue repairs; painting; lighting and maintenance.
There is also a bewildering choice of equipment available to the market, such as scissor-lifts and booms that can be either self-propelled or mounted on lorries and trailers, making equipment selection a complex process. Ensuring the site is suitable for the chosen piece of plant is also critical to safe deployment and depends on expert guidance.
Users also have to select from the many suppliers offering this equipment for hire and few of these firms have specific experience of the m&e sector.
London-based specialist hire company Mr Plant Hire has been supplying plant to the m&e industry for 20 years and it tailors its offering to the specific needs of contractors engaged in the installation of hvac and electrical plant.
It has also developed a free site survey service, so that customers are guided by experts as to which equipment is best for the task in hand and how it can be used safely, before they order it. The survey establishes, for example, that there is enough clearance on the site to deploy the equipment and that ground gradients do not make it awkward or hazardous.
Managing director David Elsdon says that the powered access side of the business is developing so quickly that the company has decided to open a dedicated site to house its range of equipment and to administer the service. Located close to the M25 motorway at Enfield, Access at Mr Plant Hire now offers complete site inspections and deliveries within 24 hours of an enquiry being received.
"More and more of our traditional customers are asking for this service to improve their safety and also their productivity," says Elsdon. "Powered access equipment can cut time on site dramatically.
"The importance of getting your plant hire strategy right is often undervalued, but on some of the more complex projects plant accounts for up to 5% of the total cost so it is important to get it right," he adds. "The availability of the right equipment at the right time and in the right place is absolutely critical. There is nothing more expensive and frustrating than having operatives, who are paid by the hour, sitting around waiting for that essential piece of equipment to arrive on site."
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
