Suggested question to ask

What to look for

Is the equipment in good working order?

• Inspections and maintenance are conducted periodically.
• Appropriately qualified staff conduct equipment inspections and testing.
• Between-hiring inspection and maintenance is conducted to ensure that re-hired items are provided in a serviceable condition, and that unserviceable or obsolete items are removed from hire stock.
• Where items are to be hired out for an extended period, arrangements are made with the customer for inspection and maintenance at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer or the applicable Australian Standard.

What advice are customers provided with about the items they intend to hire?

Customer service staff:

• Confirm the suitability of requested items for the customer’s needs and working environment.
• Inform the customer of any certification requirements or appropriate qualifications for the operation or use of the item.
• Inform the customer of personal protective equipment when operating the item.
• Respond to enquiries about the safe operation, use and maintenance of the item.

Is adequate written safe-use information provided to customers?

Written safe-use information for each specific make and model is provided to the customer. This can include:

• Data sheets, brochures and/or user’s checklists.
• Erection or assembly instructions.
• Description of skills or qualifications required for operation or use, including certificates of competency, specialist training or other qualifications.
• Operator’s manuals.
• Description of personal protective equipment necessary for its safe use or operation.
• Any other health or safety information relevant to the particular item.

How to comply

Does the hire item comply with Victorian health and safety requirements?

•        Items have been designed, constructed and tested in compliance with applicable health and safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards.

•        Items are supplied with the necessary safe-use information.

Is safe-use information kept up to date?

• Obsolete or superseded information from stock normally accessed by customer service staff is removed.
• On becoming aware of new or revised safe-use information or product recalls, customers who have hired affected items are promptly notified, and records are maintained of such notifications.

Are safety design faults appropriately dealt with?

• When customers, staff or servicing contractors advise hirers of a potential safety design fault in a particular item, the hirer promptly notifies the designer, manufacturer, importer or supplier wherever possible and seeks advice on how to deal with the issue. Where none of these are contactable, a suitably qualified person is engaged to advise on the issue and what needs to be done.

Are items adequately inspected and maintained between each hiring and at appropriate frequencies?

• Between-hiring inspection and maintenance is necessary to ensure that re-hired items are provided in a serviceable condition, and that unserviceable or obsolete items are removed from hire stock.
• Where items are to be hired out for an extended period, arrangements are made with the customer for inspection and maintenance at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer or the applicable Australian Standard.
• Inspections and maintenance are conducted on-site where conditions are appropriate and the necessary equipment is available.
• Inspection, testing and servicing staff or contractors are suitably instructed, trained and, where appropriate, qualified.
• Inspection and maintenance records are kept up to date and are readily accessible.

Are unserviceable or obsolete items adequately segregated and correctly disposed of?

• Items which have not been inspected since returning to the hire depot are not re-hired.
• Items due for inspection or maintenance and unserviceable items are segregated from ready-to-hire stock.