Our branches remain open nationally with no change in hours of operation and all departments fully functional, including:

Service

• Field service technicians will continue to attend breakdowns and preventative maintenance calls supported by Branch administration. 
• Workshops are fully functional and available for repairs, maintenance and overhauls and will also continue our off and on hire requirements of rental equipment.

Rental

• Equipment is available for hire from all branches and our friendly rental team and Business Development Managers can be contacted as normal.

Sales              

• Existing orders are still on track to be delivered and new enquiries taken.
• Sales Business Development Managers are available as normal to assist your business.
• We have special offers available for your business to take advantage of the recent tax incentives offered by the Government for this Financial Year.

Spare Parts

• Spare Parts counters at all branches remain open to customers and taking necessary precautions such as social distancing and hygiene.

Head Office

• Support functions including Customer Care, Accounts (creditor and debtor functions) and Sale Support will also continue unchanged along with Senior Management support.

Should there be any changes to the above, United will continue to provide updates to our customers and stakeholders accordingly and should you have any concerns or queries, please contact our Customer Care Team via customercare@unitedequipment.com.au

Regards,

David Maxwell – Managing Director

Previous Releases

• COVID-19 Response Plan – 19th March 2020

The post United COVID-19 Response Plan Update – 26th March 2020 appeared first on United Equipment.

We are all aware of the current events surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) here in Australia and
abroad. United would like to let you know that we have taken a very proactive approach in the way we
are dealing with the situation. Furthermore, we would like to stress that the health and safety of our
staff, families, customers and the community is, and will continue to be, our highest priority as we move
through these unprecedented times.

Our Current Strategy

At United we are committed to supporting our customers, so we would like to assure you that United’s
business will continue to operate as per normal at this time. This includes but not limited to;

• Business operations and services will continue to operate with no changes, and all points of
  contact including business phone, email and online services will be available.
• Other support functions including Accounts (creditor and debtor functions), Customer Care and
  Sale Support will also continue unchanged.
• Field service operations (metropolitan and regional) will continue to operate from remote, and
  all United local metropolitan areas.

Planning Ahead

As the situation is evolving daily, United is continually updating our Business Continuity Plan in
response to COVID-19 to ensure the continuity of our services. We will also continue to monitor, plan,
review and make decisions as necessary and based on the guidance of Federal and State authorities.

Part of our preparedness is to ensure in the event of a COVID-19 health emergency, we as a business
are ready to effectively respond and manage any impacts this may have on our staff working from our
various branches. Our planning ensures we are prepared to minimise disruption in such events to
ensure the continuity of our services. This includes the ability of our staff to work remotely where
appropriate.

Furthermore, with regards to Parts Supply, we are currently experiencing some delays from
international suppliers due to the impact of the global COVID-19 crisis. However, we would like to
assure customers that United has already developed a Parts Contingency Plan. We don’t see any
significant impact in the short term; however, we are working on appropriate measures now to minimise
any subsequent stock shortages in the next 6-12 months.

Precautionary Measures

As mentioned above, the health and safety of our staff, families, customers and the community are of
the upmost importance. In order to mitigate health risks and minimise the impact to staff and everyone
associated with United, we ask that all staff, visitors, customers and suppliers that have traveled outside
of Australia in the last 14 days, or who have been in contact with anyone who has, do not attend our
offices.

United has also;

• Ceased non-critical travel,
• Cancelled attendance at large events and gatherings,
• Developed appropriate social distancing measures, where practical, and
• Introduced important personal hygiene recommendations for staff and visitors (as advised by
  the health department).

We can all agree that the current situation is something that we have never experienced before. At
United we are confident that our preparation and constant reviewing of our strategies, ensures we are
in the best position to minimise the impact associated with COVID-19, and the continuity of our
business. As the situation changes United will continue to provide updates to our customers and
stakeholders as necessary.

United would like to also wish you and your family the very best of health and safety during this time.
Stay safe and take care of one another.

Kind regards,

David Maxwell – Managing Director

The post United’s COVID-19 Response Plan appeared first on United Equipment.

A Moment is All it Takes

The theme for this years National Safe Work Month is “A moment is all it takes”. While a safety incident can happen in a moment and in any workplace, a moment’s forethought is all it takes to help prevent harm.

According to historical data from 2013-2017 outlined by Safe Work Australia, 198 workers are killed and a further 111,200 serious claims are put through each year. This number is too high and it’s up to workplaces to educate and work with their staff to create a safer work environment.

 National Safety Data

National Safety Data by Industry

Workplace injury does not discriminate based on age, sex or by industry, it affects everyone. No matter what the job at hand, taking the time to assess possible risks in your work environment can play a big part in safety in your workplace.

Life Saving Rules

At United, just like any business we are not immune to workplace injury. From the technicians working in the workshops to staff visiting customer sites. Hazards and risks are everywhere that could cause harm. To manage and prevent workplace injury, United has developed 4 Life Saving Rules. These rules aim to increase awareness of safety among our staff and visitors about the possible safety hazards in our industry.

How do We Reduce or Prevent Workplace Injuries?

There are some important strategies that can be employed by businesses to help prevent possible injury in the workplace. This includes;

• Create a Safety Culture

Make workplace safety a priority by ensuring that staff are always thinking about safety as a positive change to making a difference.

• Provide Training

Ensure staff have the correct training and awareness so they have a better chance of avoiding injuries and less likely to take chances. This also includes that staff have the correct license and training to operate machinery like forklifts or access equipment.

• Monitor

Make sure everyone, regardless of their title or position, is following safety procedures and using equipment correctly. If you see someone not doing the right thing, bring it to their attention. Lets help each other to work safely.

• Discuss

Talk about safety all the time with your staff. Make it part of daily staff meetings and interactions, as well as provide the right channels for staff to communicate ideas on how to improve safety.

• Provide the Right Safety Equipment

Ensure all staff are supplied with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their jobs. Also provide signage to remind staff and visitors staff about the correct PPE that must be worn in designated areas. PPE is designed to prevent a serious injury or fatality.

• Review Injuries

If there is an injury in the workplace, identify what went wrong, and try to address possible weaknesses. Businesses can then develop strategies to address them and minimise the risk or repeat incidents.

• Review Workplace Practices

Look at all your work practices. Can they be improved? Are there better, safer ways to do the tasks we do every day? If you believe so, get involved, speak up and let someone know.

• Reward

Businesses should recognise and reward workers and teams who assist or initiate new safety ideas and improvements. If people are rewarded for speaking up and getting involved in improving safety, then more people are more likely to do so.

Everyone has the right to go home at the end of every shift. Spending a moment before a shift to outline possible hazards or risks is all it takes to improve safety. Furthermore, if you spot a hazard or risk that could potentially cause harm, tell someone so the risk can be prevented. Remember safety is everyone’s responsibility. As we say at United, “It’s All About You”.

Safety Websites

For further information regarding safety in your specific industry or state, please visit one of the following government safety sites.

Safe Work Australia: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

WorkSafe WA: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe

WorkSafe VIC: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/

The post There has Never Been a Better Time for Safety appeared first on United Equipment.

ACTIV’Shield© anti-crush bar is available on all new Haulotte articulating and telescopic boom lifts. A retrofit kit is also available that can be fitted to older Haulotte boom lifts from 2008 onwards. Typically any boom lift involved in installation, inspection and maintenance tasks as well as general access to elevated areas and machinery, should have an anti-crush bar fitted..

Activ’Shield Anti-crush Bar Features

The Activ’Shield safety system works through a few key features.

Activ’Shield Bar©

The ACTIV’Shield Bar is located directly in front of the operator. This bar automatically stops the boom lift when leaned on by the operator and activates an alarm.

Safety Gap

The Safety Gap is the space created between an object and the boom lift. This gap provides operators with enough space to safely place themselves out of danger.

How the Activ’Shield Works

The Activ’Shield system has been designed to maintain easy access and visibility to the controls. This is important as it means that there is no change in working practice or comfort for the operator.

The Activ’Shield works through the following steps.

1. The ACTIV’Shield Bar automatically stops the boom lift when activated at an angle of 18 degrees. An alarm then sounds and alerts the operator and others nearby. If the bar angle does not reach the full 18 degrees, only the alarm will sound to warn the operator of danger.
2. The Safety Gap allows operators to place themselves out of danger. This gives the operator the opportunity to safely rescue themselves before serious situations arise.
3. Once the system’s safety alert is activated, only reverse and lowering movements are permitted. This can allow a panicked operator to get out of trouble without making the situation worse.

After the Activ’Shield system has been triggered, it is easy to reset and reactivate from the basket. This means there is no machine downtime as the operator does not require a person on the ground to bring the boom lift.

Improving Industry Standards and Safety

With the innovative ACTIV’Shield system, Haulotte has gone much further than current industry requirements in Australia and worldwide. The safety system gives the operator the opportunity to not only potentially prevent a full entrapment situation, but also the means to self-rescue should one occur.

Introduction of the anti-crush bar on both new and retrofitted booms, is an initiative of United to improve operator safety in the workplace.  The unique system affirms United and Haulotte’s commitment to leadership in working at height safety when using elevated work platforms.

Contact United to learn more about the Activ’Shield anti-crush bar or to get a quote to have one fitted to your Haulotte boom lift.

The post Anti-crush bar for boom lifts boosts safety appeared first on United Equipment.