Originally posted on https://atlassafetysolutions.com/how-to-avoid-5-common-construction-safety-equipment-rental-problems/
As nearly 100 people a week die on construction sites or from construction-related accidents, managing safety on work sites is vital. When you’re seeking out a construction safety equipment rental company, you need to find a company that meets your project’s criteria. You also need to ensure that you have everything you need from this provider to get the job done.
Here are five important things to keep in mind when you’re looking for a rental company to work with.
1. Bad Customer Service
No matter what industry you’re working with, bad customer service should be the red flag to end all red flags. Before you start working with any rental company, you need to know that you’re working beside a company that’s focused on your needs. The way to understand this is how they treat you when you have an issue or when you need more information.
You can do some research to find out what kind of customer service a company offers. The companies that you rent from should be knowledgeable about what they offer. There should be comprehensive information available on their website and through their catalog.
They should also have good reviews online. Look at Yelp, Google, and other review sites to see what kind of things people are saying about this rental company. A company that’s reliable rents great products, and cares about their customers is going to get reviews that make it clear how good they are.
Often with safety equipment, you might need 24/7 help or maintenance. If they offer that, you know you’ve found the right service provider.
2. No Training Available
When you’re getting safety equipment from a rental company, it’s pretty useless if you don’t know what you’re doing. Think of all of those bikers you see out every summer with their helmets on, riding with it unclipped. They clearly haven’t received adequate training on how to use what they have.
You need every employee to know how to use every piece of equipment relevant to their job. Handing them a manual is pretty useless. They won’t even look at it.
Instead, you need people who are willing to come to your job site and give training to your staff. They should show you how each piece of equipment can help protect them and give concrete examples. This will lead to your staff using that safety equipment better.
If they want your business, they’ll realize this is good for them as well. When you know what to do with the tools at your disposal, you’re more likely to stay dedicated to that construction safety equipment rental company.
3. They Don’t Do Maintenance
When you’re working on a construction project, it can take years to finish it. In the meantime, the equipment on the site is going to go through a lot of changes and could weather many storms, literally and figuratively. During that period, you need to monitor and have your equipment maintained.
While some safety equipment rental companies make this a top priority, others don’t. Check that the company you’re renting from will provide regular maintenance. Reliable machinery is vital to your safety and the safety of everyone around you, so make this clear before you rent.
Technology also changes very quickly and sometimes there are new and upgraded versions of the equipment that you have on site. This equipment should be able to be upgraded when that happens. This means everyone will be kept safe with the latest and safest technology.
4. They Need a Return Policy
When you’re trying out different equipment, some things seem perfect and others end up being less than ideal. Rather than struggling with something that doesn’t fit or work on your construction site, you need to know that you can return things quickly and easily.
They should have a clear policy laid out when you first order your equipment. Make you sure ask what type of deposit is required from you and how returns will impact your deposit. You should be able to get the whole deposit returned when things don’t quite fit or work.
If the safety equipment that you rent actually causes an accident, they should have a way to back you up. You need some assurance that even if the equipment is used perfectly by properly trained people, you shouldn’t be held responsible for what happens.
5. Are They Nearby?
When searching for any kind of service provider, you should find someone who is nearby where your site is located. If you need to go far out of your way to pick up equipment, that means every time you need service, you’ll have to go out of your way.
It also means that you can rely on faster delivery when your service provider is closer to your worksite. Before you sign a safety equipment rental contract, make sure that you’ve found someone who services your area on a regular basis. Waiting weeks for repairs, service, or any kind of replenishing can cause your project to suffer serious consequences.
Time is money and when you’re dealing with downtime, not only are you stuck with the job that you’re working on, but you’re also not able to move on to other jobs. Waiting on your safety equipment company can cause workers or contractors to become antsy and start making some poor decisions on a work site.
Construction Safety Equipment Rental Saves Lives
When you’re seeking out a construction safety equipment rental company to work with, take your time in choosing. Finding the right company is literally a life or death issue for you and the people on your project. When you show your investors and your staff that you care about safety, you’ll win their trust and commitment to your projects.
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