Hire and Rental News - May 2018

54 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • MAY 2018 HIRE18 PREVIEW Rory said a recent report by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in WA, highlighted an increased focus fromWorkSafe Australia on staff in the hire industry who are responsible for lifting, carrying and unloading heavy equipment. Rory quoted Work Safe Director, Joe Attard: “The statistics tell us the injuries being suffered in the industry mostly involve muscular stress from lifting, carrying and putting down objects.” “Working in hire can be heavy work and having the right tools is essential. It makes sense to invest in machinery that enables one person to move materials in and around a workplace safely and efficiently,” Rory said. Makinex Construction Products recognised the increasing need for a product that could reduce the incidence of back strain within the hire industry and developed the Powered Hand Truck. The Powered Hand Truck is a universal materials handling solution that enables one person to safely lift and load up to 140kg. Multiple attachments are available with the hook attachment as standard. Other attachments include the Fork Attachment, Strap Frame, Sling Safety compliance not a problem with Makinex equipment Safety compliance is a major responsibility and organisations need to feel confident they can guarantee the health and safety of employees as well as customers who hire from them, CEO of Makinex, Rory Kennard said. Attachment and Glass Sucker which can easily be attached to the PHT making it a great asset in any lifting environment. Plus, no licence is required, Rory said. The contribution of the Makinex Powered Hand Truck towards making workplaces safer was recognised with the SafeWork Australia Good Design Award. “A focus on health and safety in design helps eliminate hazards and risks before they enter the workplace. Good design can radically transform the workplace in ways that benefit the business, workers, clients and others in the supply chain,” Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Baxter said. Suppressing Silica Dust Another issue becoming more prominent in Australia is Silica Dust, Rory said. WorkSafe Queensland defines it as: “Silica is present in the aggregate added to concrete, in asphalt, bricks, concrete, concrete and terracotta tiles and pavers, in sandstone and in granite. Small amounts are present in cement. Silica can be released if using power tools to cut fibre cement sheeting. During the cutting, grinding or drilling process, the mineral is broken into fine dust which is referred to as silica dust.” SafeWork Australia has identified 69% of reported hazards are from airborne irritants and over half of these directly relate to dust, making it one of the most significant threats to workers on today’s construction sites, Rory said. “If dust is breathed in day after day, the person exposed is at an increased risk of contracting a disease which can include anything from asthma to lung cancer. This risk increases over time, so we need to implement measures to restrict dust and a reliable water source is vital. “Yet, sometimes getting access to water on a jobsite can be difficult. There may be only one of you which means using a traditional water source such as a pump is time consuming and inefficient. Battery or electrical operated water sources also have their own set of issues with batteries going flat or electrical devices potentially breaking down.” Rory said he saw a need in the market for a highly portable and reliable water supply unit. He designed the Hose 2 Go; a constant pressure water supply unit that doesn’t require the use of a pump, battery or electronics. It can be filled from a tap, attached to tools and it is ready to go. Makinex – www.makinex.com.au – Stand 60 The deal will see the mainly rough terrain forklifts ranging from 2.5–5tonne with the addition of a new standard 10tonne and 16tonne forklift go to Prime Rentals to supply rental units on new solar farm projects in the region. According to Managing Director Steve Cunliffe, Prime Rentals’ business growth saw the need for more rough terrain forklift options and Forkforce had the best value for money fit for purpose solution. “Prime Rentals were mainly looking for Enforcer rough terrain forklifts but needed a few regular forklifts as well,” Steve said. Solar farming benefits from rough terrain forklifts Solar farms in central and north QLD will benefit from a new deal between forklift solutions provider, Forkforce and Prime Rentals for the supply of 11 rough terrain forklifts and one 16T forklift. “Our Enforcer rough terrain 2.5tonne forklifts have the ability to unload containers and travel great distances at speed comfortably on uneven surfaces in extreme conditions which we face in Queensland on a daily basis.” A long term customer of Forkforce, Prime Rentals, like Forkforce, has very large hire fleets, sales, servicing, and parts departments across Australia and have both been in business for a long time. The new forklifts will fill a gap for the hire company and the application. “Telehandlers are probably too expensive and less efficient on extremely busy solar farms. Regular counterbalance forklifts will get bogged at the first drop of rain but the Enforcer rough terrain forklifts are made for that environment,” Steve said. For Prime Rentals the new forklifts offer a reliable equipment choice with good return on investment, Steve said. With a 12 month warranty and parts supply as part of the deal, Steve said the Forkforce after sales customer care follows up on all sales transactions to make sure new customers are aware of how to access warranty, servicing and parts enquiries. Forkforce – www.forkforce.com – Stand 74