It’s widely known that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous to work in and that can be seen in the Health and Safety Executive’s statistics from last year. This revealed that 45 construction workers died at work, making it the industry with the most deaths in the entire country.
One part of the construction industry where safety can easily be forgotten about is the transport of equipment to the building sites. This is still a very high-risk area and the courier may be in danger if you don’t put the correct steps in place before delivery. Plus, this should increase the chances of the equipment arriving in good working condition, so it can be used right away.
If you want to know how you can keep equipment integrity high during transit, our guide below is filled with tips and tricks for you to follow, so read on to find out more.
Assess the move
The first stage of moving equipment is to assess the move. This means considering the route you’ll take to get there, how big the machinery is and whether it has any special requirements. This should help you decide what vehicle is needed, giving it the best chance of arriving on time and in the condition expected.
This is a good time to also write up a risk assessment of the move, so you can find ways to mitigate the risk to both your driver, vehicle and members of the public.
Plan the move
Now that you’ve assessed the delivery, it’s time to come up with a plan. Start by finalising your route then acquire the necessary permit to move the machinery if it’s classed as an abnormal load. You will then find a suitable vehicle and driver, then make sure you’ve got the necessary business insurance in place to protect your assets in the event of an accident.
Load your vehicle with the equipment
Your equipment or machinery must be secure during transit or it could get damaged or damage the vehicle, which may be extremely costly. You can secure these items in place using products like ratchet straps from RS, which prevent them from moving around during transit. These tend to be easy to fit and remove too, making them a convenient solution for whoever is dealing with the move.
Transport the equipment
Next, you’ll need to take the equipment to its destination. Encourage your drivers to take it slow and not put the vehicle at risk during transit to reduce the chance of an accident occurring, which could damage the construction equipment being moved.
Once you arrive, use the necessary equipment to remove the machinery and place it on the construction site, so it can be used right away.