5 equipment considerations for safer working

Whether it's a weekend DIY project in the backyard, or the construction of a new home in the suburbs, safety should always rank as the top priority.

It's not just about making safety a consideration either, especially if you're managing a team group of workers. Down Under, you're responsible for the safety of your staff under Workplace Health and Safety Laws, which require a suitable working environment and facilities for workers. Safe machinery and tools are also required.

That's why we've put together this list of five pieces of equipment you can use to make any project safer - whether it's professional or casual.

1) Lighting

Most project managers and weekend DIYers will try to avoid it, but night projects can often be unavoidable when time is an issue. This is where lighting solutions are essential, as working in the dark raises the risk of accidents - and project mishaps - substantially.

Thankfully, there many great lighting solutions available, suitable for home and commercial use.

Balloon light towers, for example, project light in all directions, making them useful on outdoor winter DIY projects. Light stands, on the other hand, can be easily directed to wherever the work is taking place.

2) Trestles

According to Safe Work Australia, from 2010-11, 29 workers died following a fall from height. It's no small number, and one that's easily preventable with the right equipment.

They're an invaluable piece of equipment on major construction jobs, providing a safe platform for workers to operate off. While you may think that trestles are only really useful on larger construction projects, you may want to think again. Aluminium trestles are easily manoeuvrable to wherever they're required, so if you're painting a wall or ceiling at home by yourself, moving it around isn't an issue.

3) Waste bins

Rubbish and refuse on a work site can be a pretty serious hazard, especially if it's unsafe material (for example, glass or metal). Waste bins can ensure all potentially dangerous waste is quickly placed in an appropriate location. This also makes it easier to identify what needs to be removed from the site at the end of the day, or the project.

Waste bins can also be used for home construction (or deconstruction) projects, when a lot of material is being removed.

4) Barricades and fences

While barricades and fencing aren't entirely useful on home DIY projects, they're essential on any project that's likely to be in close proximity to pedestrians. Why? A curious person wandering onto a construction site without proper protection could be in serious danger.

With temporary fence solutions, it's easy to direct foot traffic around a construction project (or even a home project in some cases), keeping pedestrians safe. Barricades, on the other hand, are great for preventing vehicular traffic from potentially entering a dangerous area - for example a car or truck.

We have a number of solutions available at Kennards Hire, ranging from water-filled options to standard fences mounted on concrete blocks.

5) Heating

Some parts of the country will need this more than others, especially cities like Melbourne, but heating is always going to be important in winter. By taking advantage of standing electric heaters and diesel alternatives, keeping workers warm will never be an issue.

Space heaters can prove extremely effective when large areas need to be warmed up quickly, for example at the start of the working day or near the end when the temperature starts to drop.

With safety so important, and the equipment readily available, there's no excuse for not keeping a work site safe. Get in touch with Kennards Hire today if you'd like to learn more about the range of equipment we've got on offer.