Active work sites and construction zones have a lot going on at once. The manager(s) will pretty much always have something on their plates, no matter how much they prepare beforehand and how much they work to prevent that sort of thing. It’s just sort of a part of the job, unfortunately.
That said, there are plenty of ways to make the job easier. Here in the UK, that’s probably quite a relief – the weather isn’t always going to cooperate, after all. So, when we have the opportunity to get things done on a warm, sunny day, best to capitalize on that as much as we can.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about one of those methods, that being crane hires, then you’ve come to the right place. Although you can check out some resources like this one in terms of how the equipment itself is operated, you won’t always need to know that stuff for hiring or renting them.
What Does it Mean to “Hire” a Crane?
Depending on where you’re from, the terminology here might look a bit different. Obviously, for folks in the United Kingdom, you probably already know what this means. However, we’ll cover it briefly anyhow just to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
“Hiring” is pretty much the same as renting if you’re more familiar with that phrase in this context. The important thing is that it’s not the same as purchasing. Rather, you’re paying to temporarily obtain the crane (or whatever you’re hiring) for a pre-determined amount of time. Then, it will be returned at the end of the agreement.
Of course, the actual length of time will be rather dependent on what you arrange with the rental company. You’ll probably want to figure out what you’re aiming for before you consult with them, at least to a certain degree. Of course, most of the time things can be adjusted if you set up a certain amount of time and then realize there needs to be a change.
How it Works: Crane Hire In The UK
Now that we’ve got the basics covered, let’s go ahead and shift our focus to how it actually works in practice. Naturally, a lot of it really will come down to what company or brand that you’re working with. For instance, something like Lifts Crane Hire will have some different services to offer and even types of cranes compared to other ones.
One of the first things that you’ll want to think about in terms of finding a crane hire is where the project is being completed. The United Kingdom is a decently big place, after all, and not all of them will be willing to travel anywhere in the country. If that’s a concern for you, or you have multiple sites, that sort of service could be something to prioritize.
Thankfully, there are plenty that do that sort of thing, so it shouldn’t be too stressful for you. The next thing to consider is what sort of thing you need out of the transaction. For instance, will you need both the crane itself and an operator, or do you have trained personnel on hand already?
The answer to that question will of course influence what hire company you’ll want to work with, so that’s just something small to take into consideration. Remember that either way, the person who ends up operating the equipment should be well-trained and able to do so without serious risk of injury.
Unfortunately, that’s a constant no matter what sort of thing you’re looking to get accomplished in your zone. Safety is a top priority, so don’t brush it aside to try to get things done quickly. Beyond that, what’s next in terms of how a hire works?
Once you’ve figured out the terms of the agreement, the crane will be shipped to the location designated by you and the company. If an operator is dispatched alongside it, this can go pretty smoothly (though that tends to be the case either way, realistically speaking). Just make sure that the equipment gets to where it needs to be in a timely manner.
Picking a Hire Company
As with most things in the construction industry, this is where the process gets a bit more difficult. How can we make such a high-pressure decision without a lot of careful planning, right? Well, pages like this one, http://www.jjmie.hu.edu.jo/fidf#page=44, might offer some insights in specific relation to cranes on sites.
There are going to be a lot of things to take into account when you’re planning to use heavy and somewhat-dangerous equipment like this in your work zone. Again, it’s sort of inevitable when you’re working on a big project. What are some of the things to be on the lookout for from a hire company, then?
Safety protocols are a huge one, as you can probably imagine. If they have that sort of information clearly outlined on their website, then it’s probably somewhere to be trusted. Additionally, if they offer details about their expertise and previous experience, that’s another green flag.
Remember that you can also ask fellow construction site managers and co-workers if they have any recommendations about who to work with. That’s feasible especially in the United Kingdom, considering the networking opportunities available in general. Just something to think about, of course.
Generally speaking, it isn’t too difficult to find companies to hire construction equipment from. Where it gets challenging is finding a high-quality one that offers safety and experience as well as the piece of machinery itself. Although not everyone will also need to hire an operator as well, it’s nice to have that option available to us when we need it.
Since there are so many options, do your best to research each of them. Check out reviews, and see who might be able to best cater to the needs of your site as well as your workers and the professionals that you’ve already got on your team.