Three Keys to Access Equipment Safety

At Force we care about your safety. We take maintaining and exceeding industry standards very seriously which is why we have internal programs and procedures such as our risk and hazard assessment to ensure we meet and exceed safety regulations. This is just part of the reason why we were the first access equipment rental company in Australia to be granted National Health and Safety Accreditation in 2011.

We think it’s essential to spread the word on responsible management and handling of access equipment, so today we are sharing our three keys to safely use access equipment.

Training

This one is a no-brainer. Being properly trained to use access equipment is not only crucial to handling it safely, but is a legal requirement. You need to do more than just read a manual; thorough training from an expert is the only way to gain your Yellow Card certification and guarantee safety. All of Force’s trainers are Workplace Training and Assessment certified (Certificate IV) and hold their yellow card. We recommend you seek out training from experts that is specific to the machine you are planning to use.

Many accidents can occur due to a user error, these accidents could be reduced through correct training on specific access equipment.

Health and Safety Rules

All of our equipment comes with specific user instructions. These are not suggestions or guidelines—they are firm rules that must be followed to ensure safety. For example, we have a wide range of scissor lifts, but only the diesel 4x4s are appropriate for rough outdoor terrain.

We are BSI certified, and we know it’s critical to follow all of their health and safety rules when using access equipment. Their rules include what protective wear is essential and methods for identifying workplace hazards. Make sure you are familiar with their standards before taking advantage of our huge selection of access equipment for hire.

Alertness

This should go without saying, but we know how easy it is to ‘zone out’ when you are performing the same job repeatedly and how even a little fatigue can affect your response time. When operating access equipment, everyone nearby must be 100% alert. For example our boom lifts, which reach towering heights and have a high level of manoeuvrability, can be very deadly if any operator is not focused on the job at hand, they can easily and quickly cause plenty of damage not only the user, but to the people below or anyone in the driving path.

Take frequent breaks to make sure you are not fading on the job. Put signals in place so everyone on the site knows when and where a machine is moving, and never move access equipment until you are completely certain everyone is aware and alert.

Scissor lifts, Boom lifts, Cherry pickers and all access equipment are wonderful but powerful tools. Make sure you are using your machinery safely.