b'CHAPTER 02OCCY STRAPS AND NEW BLOOD | 13In 1973, Nev pinched the best idea yetself-storage.an e-commerce website, QR codes on equipment, He built ten storage garages at the back of the lotafter-hours drop-off, or using GPS tracking devices at Kennards Hires Moorebank premises, kicking offto get real-time data on equipment, Kennards Hire is Easi-Stor, the earliest incarnation of Kennards Self Storage. always on the lookout for ways of taking hire higher.LIKE-MINDED BLOKES: THE HIRE ASSOCIATION SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT Andy says the trips they took opened their eyes to newOne of Andy Kennards earliest memories is putting and different ways of operating. We found peopletogether those occy straps at the kitchen table; in the US hire industry so open and ready to sharethese days, those treacherous pieces of elastic and information and ideas, he says. Inspired, the brotherseye-gouging hooks are emblazoned with warnings called together all the local competitors to convinceagainst use by children. Things were different then, them of the mutual benefit in coming together. ThoseAndy laughs.meetings became the foundation of the Hire Association of NSW (more about that later). Things certainly have changed, and safety forms the core of nearly every workplace policy at the company, PLAGIARISING FROM EVERYWHERE both for customers and their own staff. In the 1970s But they didnt just look to other hire companies forand 1980s, the prevailing Australian attitude was shell fresh ideas. In the US, Neville saw some Radisson hotelbe right when it came to workplace safety, whereas employees wearing badges declaring YES I CAN, andthe US, Europe and the UK had already begun to take decided that it was the sort of positive message thatoccupational health and safety much more seriously. resonated with Kennards. Inspired by successful franchiseRealising the casual Aussie approach would hurt or kill models such as McDonalds, the brothers standardisedpeople, Andy and Nev made equipment maintenance their store layouts and operations, so customers alwaysand workplace safety a top priority. We were very early knew exactly what to expect at any Kennards branch.adopters of taking safety seriously, Andy says.From Japan, they poached total quality management principles that identified wastea key element ofIts a philosophy that makes Kennards Hires current lean manufacturingwhich improved and streamlinedchairman, Brendan Fleiter, proud. For me, one of procedures. They created a shift in the hire industry,the major achievements in the business has been the elevating it from shady backyard operations into thereduction in injuries to our people, he says. You hear organised industry it is today. To this day, Kennards Hirethat its a dangerous industry and accidents will happen. executives travel the world scouting for the best ideasWell, we wont stop improving our practices until nobody and innovations, giving them a Kennards spin.gets hurt, ever.This constant drive for innovation, excellent customerThat commitment to safety is enshrined in another of service and collaboration to enlarge and improve thethe four core company values, One Family. Weve got industry eventually became one of the core companyeach others backs to make sure were all heading home values: Taking Hire Higher. Whether thats being thesafely at the end of the day.first Australasian equipment-hire company to launch'