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36 Winter 2022 SAFEHIRE A t the latest count 491 audits have been performed so far this year. On average our busy SafeHire team is completing around 50 audits a month. SafeHire is not a goal for the faint-hearted as standards are challenging, but once attained, the benefits of the scheme are plentiful. Displaying the orange SafeHire logo demonstrates continual business improvement. It allows construction firms, local authorities, event organisers, and members of the public to approach tool and equipment, plant hire and event hire companies with confidence, as certification proves a firm’s competence in upholding high standards in health, safety, environment, and quality of equipment as well as a well-trained workforce. Many organisations now Look for the logo as it provides real peace of mind. As part of SafeHire, businesses are inspected yearly and everything from workplace health and safety arrangements to sampling the safety of hire equipment is checked for compliance with the scheme’s rigorous standards. In order to raise the bar, even when a business passes certification a few elements can often be found, providing guidance, and encouraging continual improvement. This strenuous validation process is also aligned with relevant modules of the construction industry’s SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) certification. This provides an enhanced benefit for those members who can not only meet the requirements of the SafeHire Private Standard but also confirms members who have achieved compliance with the SSIP core criteria. This helps hire businesses secure more opportunities and assists in reducing health and safety assessment costs and bureaucracy in the supply chain through cross-recognition between SSIP member schemes. Anyone hiring equipment is being urged to look for the bright orange logo. SafeHire Certification sets the benchmark for hire businesses to reach the highest quality standards, reduce risk and improve customer service. CATERING HIRE MD: ‘CORE FEATURE OF SAFETY FRAMEWORK’ Stuart Slaughter, Managing Director of Plato Catering Hire, believes the SafeHire scheme is a core feature of the safety framework for the sector. “I’m proud to say that Plato was the first equipment hire business in the West Midlands to achieve SafeHire Certification back in 2015. Supported by trade bodies Hire Association Europe (HAE) and Event Hire Association (EHA), we feel that being part of the scheme has contributed to the company’s success which has seen 100% growth over the last seven years,” he said. “Safety should be a given in the events hire industry. We see SafeHire as not just a certification tool but as a philosophy. It proves a firm’s competence in upholding high standards in health, safety, environment and quality of equipment as well as a highly- trained workforce. It is not a goal for the faint-hearted, as standards are challenging. But achieving the unmistakeable bright orange SafeHire logo means a lot. He believes the log sets businesses apart from competitors who don’t have and provides a continuous improvement tool to enhance the company’s brand. Stuart said having the SafeHire logo shows commitment that a company takes the safety of the workforce and its customers very seriously and his company is now secure in the knowledge that when it sends anything out on hire, everything possible has been done to ensure that item is safe. “Would you book a cruise without ABTA or ATOL protection? I guess not,” he said. “Anyone looking to hire catering equipment should always ask their supplier if they are SafeHire certified. It’s really important to us as a business and should be the number one question you ask a supplier before getting a quote.” Take-up of HAE EHA’s SafeHire Certification Scheme is picking up pace following the relaxing of restrictions to manage the covid pandemic. LOOK FOR THE LOGO THE FUTURE’S ORANGE! For more information on how SafeHire Certification can be obtained visit www.hae.org.uk or call 0121 380 4600 .