Hire and Rental News - May 2019

KEEPING YOU COVERED & ADDING STYLE TO YOUR OUTDOOR EVENTS Fete 3mx3m  3mx6m  4mx4m  4mx8m  5mx5m  5mx10m  6mx6m  6mx12m Liners Transforming any event from ordinary to spectacular, available in all sizes for all uses. Call Baytex on 02 4340 4144 or email us at info@baytex.com.au or visit www.baytex.com.au Earth Anchors Increase your productivity with screw in screw out reusable earth anchors. Lightweight alloy. Alispan spans from 10m to 18m and extends to any length. Available in Hip and Gable ends. Clipframe spans 5m, 6m, 9m or 10m and extends to any length. Available in Hip and Gable ends. Electron spans from 6m to 30m and extends to any length. The leading cause of EWP incidents is operator error or, rather, lack of understanding around the need for risk assessment prior to use. This is one area that needs industry focus and attention... “A customer hired a rotary hoe, got it home having assumed he knew how to use it. He started it up but it took off down the incline straight into the backyard swimming pool. Since I was on field service at the time I was called to retrieve the machine.” Chris said the biggest issues facing the access industry today are challenges around lack of operator knowledge. “Also, the ability of government standards when keeping up with rapid changes in height and the increasing complexity of machines to ensure safe operation and operators.” In a career that has spanned over 40 years many significant changes have occurred. “Machines are becoming more sophisticated; they are reaching greater heights and performing more complex tasks. The installation of on-board computers ensures greater safety and reliability while also requiring greater knowledge to fix, repair and maintain the machines. The mechanic has travelled from spanners to lap tops,” Chris said. The industry is also facing some significant challenges and there are some things that need to be addressed Chris said. Risk assessments for operators is Chris’ leading concern. “The leading cause of EWP incidents is operator error or, rather, lack of understanding around the need for risk assessment prior to use. This is one area that needs industry focus and attention.” One of Chris’ career role models was Gwyn Richardson from JLG. “He was the technical trainer for JLG and he mentored my establishment as a trainer in the early 90s. He was such an inspiration and firmly established my love of the job.” While Chris said the EWPA Yellow and Gold card training is definitely a winner for the industry, he worries about operator ability to keep up completely with changing technology. “For example, there is lack of understanding around platform weighing systems and machines locking the operator out because a machine is overloaded. The assumption then is the machine is at fault. “I see a potential solution with principal contractors stepping up their duty of care and gaining a greater working knowledge of the machinery. There is still a lack of cognisance surrounding not only safe machinery operation but safe operator knowledge across machinery variation,” Chris said. “Back at day one of my time in the industry, I saw the need to provide operator training. I was involved very early in my career with providing training and support to both customers and colleagues. I worked with Coates Hire and the EWPA. From the beginning it was a natural progression to work towards accreditation en route. I have always found the EWPA team a professional and easy group of people to work with. They have helped to not only raise awareness but also the standards with in the industry, and that is a great thing for our industry. “I hope in a small way I have helped to raise not only EWP awareness and safety but also the standard of EWP safety and awareness.” For the future? “I would like to see a standard log book all operators use to record training and safe use on brand and model specific machines. “I am a Genie man through and through. I have blue blood in my veins and happily Genie has offered me the role of casual technical support for as long as I am able. I have two grand babies on the way and will be a proud grandfather for the first time in 2019. The future looks bright.” n HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS MAY 2019 P53 INDUSTRY IN FOCUS