We're committed to Health & Safety. Yours, and ours
We work to three principles - co-operation, communication and competence. All three are applied consistently, in everything we do.
As part of our commitment to H&S, we've extended our range to improve working at height safety.
There are six main issues that affect us - and you as customers and users of our equipment. Our approach to each is set out below.
If you've any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
Falls from height remain the single biggest workplace killer, and one of the main causes of major injury (Health & Safety Executive).
In a bid to reduce this distressing, costly and preventable suffering, new legislation was introduced in 2005. This promotes safe working practice by clearly defining work at height and the employer's responsibility for proper risk assessment, product selection, usage, supervision and training.
As part of our commitment to H&S, we've extended our range to improve working at height safety.
Dust is a more sinister problem than you might think.
The term covers all 'airborne particles' such as stone, wood and asbestos fibres, plus airborne materials like fumes from welding and vapours from chemicals.
Particles vary in size. Those too small to see pose the greatest danger to health.
Where employees could be exposed to dust or fumes, an employer must control or minimise these risks. Failure to do so could lead to bronchial problems, skin conditions and, potentially, cancer.
We offer dust suppression kits, fume extractor units, Respiratory Protection Equipment and more.
Remember: Personal Protective Equipment (see below) is NOT an alternative to equipment that eliminates the hazard of dust.
Whether it's lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying - incorrect handling can result in fractures, strains and backpain.
Collectively known as musculo-skeletal disorders, they're the most common form of work related ill health in the UK.
Our range can minimise, assist with or eliminate the hazards in manual handling operations. Where manual handling can't be avoided, employers must assess their operations and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level that's reasonably practicable.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to:
All employers have duties around PPE at work. The main one is that PPE must be supplied and used wherever there's no other way of adequately controlling health and safety risks.
PPE is defined as 'all equipment' (including clothing protecting against the weather) intended to be worn or held by a person at work, that protects them against health and safety risk(s).
Examples include:
All, and more, are available at Martin Plant Hire.
According to the HSE, hearing loss caused by exposure to noise at work remains a major problem. Other difficulties include deafness, tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears) and other ear conditions.
Noise can also be a safety hazard, interrupting communication and making warnings harder to hear.
You must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise.
Look for silenced equipment which can greatly reduce noise.
In addition, we sell a wide range of PPE (including ear defenders and ear plugs) at all our depots.
In addition to our existing procedures we have incorporated the Hire Association Europe HAV control system, which will provide the hirer with comprehensive information needed to control the end user's exposure to vibration. It will provide the following:
We believe that this control system represents a major step forward in the fight to protect our customers from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.