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How Can Tradesmen Keep Their Tools Safer?

Tool theft in the UK has been on the increase in the last year, with a value of approximately £30,000,000 in equipment stolen. Thieves have become more sophisticated, stealing anything from a few tools to a whole van. Many of the tools are usually stolen from construction sites, equipment lock ups and tradesmen’s vans.

Apart form trade skills and experience, tools are one of the most important asset a tradesman owns. To begin with they cost a lot to buy, and without them a tradesman can’t earn any income. Replacing them can be very expensive so keeping them safe is a must. Even if you are in a position financially to replace stolen tools, the time taken to do so is inconvenient and may result in loss of income. So here are a few ideas to help protect your tools from theft.

 

Van:

Most of the time your tools will be in your van, so the first step is to make your van secure. You can increase your vans security by investing in additional safety locks to make it harder for potential thieves – these can range from deadlocks to slam-locks to plate locks.

It also goes without saying that the van should be fitted with an immobiliser if it does not come with one installed. Make sure you have a fully functional alarm installed, preferably one that is wireless, and remember to install a small CCTV camera in the van to keep watch.

 

On Site:

When you are on-site, try to make sure that you keep your van parked in a busy area. Only take out the tools you need for a particular task, keeping the rest of your tools in your van. If you have to store tools on site, make sure they are kept in a secure toolbox and placed in a safe designated place.

 

At Home:

Don’t leave your tools in your van overnight, because they will be vulnerable. Try to take them out when you arrive home and put them in a secure place till you need them. If you have to leave them in the van overnight, then make sure they are locked up in a secure tool storage box and kept out of sight.

Place a warning sticker on the van to deter potential thieves that says “no tools stored in van overnight”. You can also cover all the van windows so no one can see what’s inside the van. Be sure to check that all your van doors and windows are locked before you leave it, and try to keep it parked in a secured garage overnight. If that’s not possible, then make sure it is parked in a well lit busy area.

 

Other Ways To Protect Your Tools & Equipment From Tool Theft:

There are a few other things that can be done to protect your tools and equipment. First of all, mark all your tools with a UV pen or have them engraved. This can help in two ways, by serving as a deterrent, and by helping to identify any tools. Another way is to put a list of all your tools on a national valuables and property register, and also mark them as registered.

Finally take out motor insurance to cover your van, and tool insurance to cover your tools. Get to know the terms of your policies, so that you know you are storing your van and tools in line with what is expected. Keep an inventory list of all your tools including photos, and receipts, in case you need to make a claim.

 

By becoming a bit more proactive, you can take steps to reduce the chances of your equipment getting stolen. Many of thefts are opportunistic, in that they tend to go for the easy targets, so any thing you can do to make your tools less attractive to thieves will help keep them safer.

 

 

Safety Tips For Roofers and Scaffolders Working At Heights

As a roofer and or scaffolder the majority of your work involves working at high elevations, and working from heights represents one of the biggest safety challenges in the construction industry. Slipping and falling from heights or objects falling from heights cause serious and fatal injuries every year. So it is very important to follow a strict code of practice with regards to health and safety, in order to minimise the chances of workplace accidents.

All roofers and scaffolders in the UK are required by law to hold a valid CSCS card as proof that you have obtained the required training. This involves passing the CITB Health, safety & environment (HS&E) test, which demonstrates that you have a minimum level of health, safety and environmental awareness before going onto any site.

Risk Assessment:

Before undertaking any work at height, a proper risk assessment must be carried out to highlight measures that need to be taken in order to prevent any potential accidents. The recommended health and safety risk management approach involves five steps, first check for any potential hazards that are commonly associated with falls, then decide who could be injured and how. Next consider whether there are already measures in place to deal with the risks, then record your findings. Finally perform a regular review to account for any significant changes that may take place, and ensure that precautions are in place to deal with any new risks.

Basic Safety Tips:

In addition to performing risk assessments, there are some basic safety tips that can be adopted to prevent injuries on the job. All Roofers and scaffolders must use the required PPE equipment when on site, and this equipment should be kept in good working order at all times. Hard hats must be worn at all times when working on site, and non slip shoes should be used when working on ladders or scaffolds to improve grip. When the weather is not good, such as when it is very windy, or raining or snowing, it can be dangerous to work at heights, and so it should be avoided at these times.

To stop objects falling onto people below, heavy equipment should be hoisted up as opposed to being carried by hand. Ladders and scaffolds should always be secured to prevent them moving. Don’t move scaffolds or ladders when others are working on it. Scaffolds should be fitted with guard rails to protect from falls, and toe boards to prevent falling debris, tools or building materials.

Scaffolding & Roofs:

Scaffolds and roofs should be cleaned at the end of shifts so as to remove any debris that might cause slipping. Also, it is essential to remove any equipment that is not in use from working surfaces so as to prevent people tripping on it. Loads on scaffolding and ladders should be kept well below the maximum weight capacity. When working on fragile roofs, safe access must be provided and a platform combined with safety nets should be used beneath the roof. Some form of safety harness should be worn so as to protect in the event of any falls.

Health & Safety Regulations:

It is your duty to protect yourself, your employees and members of the public from potential hazards. Therefore it is important to understand and practice the regulatory requirements that apply to your industry. The ‘Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations’ (1992) covers all aspect of the workplace while the ‘Work at Height Regulations’ (2005) covers all aspect of working at heights. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to fines and charges.

For roofers and scaffolders, working at height and the risks that come with it are a part of the job. However many of the situations that lead to accidents can be avoided by following the appropriate health and safety practices. In the end it comes down to assessing the workplace for potential hazards, and using the appropriate safety equipment and practices.

4 Tools every Tradesman needs

Here at Nova Insurance we have helped numerous plumbers, roofers, plasterers and builders protect their businesses with tradesman liability insurance, and over the years we have noticed that even though these are different professions nearly everyone who works in them has the same essential tools. Here, we look at these tools in more detail and explain how all types of tradesmen use them to keep their businesses running smoothly: Continue reading “4 Tools every Tradesman needs”

4 Ways Tradesmen can make the most out of their Vehicles

Most tradesmen rely heavily on their vehicles on a day to day basis, as not only do they transport them from one job to another but they also carry everything they need to complete each job. This means that the value of their vehicles is usually much more than those who just use them for commuting, and therefore they need to be treated as such.

As tradesmen are required to put extra effort into the care and maintenance of their vehicles it’s a wise idea for them to also get as much value out of them as possible. Investing in your vehicle can not only improve your business but also attract new customers, and here we look at four ways this can be achieved: Continue reading “4 Ways Tradesmen can make the most out of their Vehicles”

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