Dealing With Emergencies While Using Rental Equipment
Accidents, natural disasters and equipment breakdowns are common across industries from construction to roadwork, and having a plan to manage these emergencies is critical for minimizing downtime. You can rely on your local The Cat® Rental Store dealership to help you get your operations back up and running quickly.
The Importance of Planning for Emergencies
Conditions can change rapidly in emergencies, and having contingency plans in place is essential for keeping operations running. For example, you might rent auxiliary equipment so you have a readily accessible backup in case your main equipment goes down. Or you might have a second job site prepared in case a natural disaster strikes.
A well-designed action plan gives you and your crew a clear set of steps to take to mitigate the disaster and keep costs low. Before beginning any project, anticipate any disaster that could happen and clearly document the actions your crew should take. Make this plan easily accessible to everyone working on your job site.
Clear and consistent communication is critical for ensuring everyone is on the same page. Some of the parties you'll need to keep informed include:
- Customers: Providing consistent updates of your response to an emergency shows your customers that they can trust you to perform well under stress.
- Employees: Your crew needs to have a solid understanding of what to expect in an emergency as well as how they should proceed. Training sessions with qualified instructors can help them gain experience and memorize what they need to do.
- Insurance providers: You will need to clearly demonstrate that you have done your due diligence in mitigating risk before and during the emergency to avoid potential premium hikes.
- Equipment vendors: Building a relationship with a reliable equipment rental provider can help you secure access to the equipment you need to recover when disaster strikes.
It's also important to establish a clear chain of command so everyone knows who they will need to respond to in an emergency situation. The sooner they can notify their superior of an emergency, the faster you can get back to work.
How to Respond to Accidents or Breakdowns
Here are some tips for putting your emergency response plans in action when incidents happen.
Equipment Breakdowns
If your equipment malfunctions, the best thing you can do is get in touch with your rental equipment provider. They'll be able to provide a replacement until you can get your original machine running again, and they can work with you to create a rental contract that works for your situation.
Your rental provider may also be able to transport the equipment to your job site as part of the rental agreement, which can help you reduce costs and save even more time.
Workplace Accidents and Injuries
If an accident happens, the first thing you need to do is stay calm. The more clearly you can evaluate the situation, the better. Once you know the extent of the damage, you can begin putting your emergency plan into action.
Next, follow these steps:
- Call emergency responders: Your crew should contact the appropriate emergency response team as soon as something happens. The faster they can get to your site, the better.
- Begin first aid: If an employee is hurt on the job, other personnel who are qualified in first aid should begin treating them.
- Document the incident: Clearly describe what happened, what caused the incident and how you responded. This documentation will be critical for any Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations.
- Take preventive action: In the case of equipment malfunctions and workplace accidents, you can take action to reduce the risk of the emergency happening again.
Choose Emergency Rentals From The Cat® Rental Store
The Cat Rental Store is your partner for emergency preparedness. Our extensive inventory of rental equipment includes models from Caterpillar as well as equipment from more than 70 other brands. Whether you need an emergency backhoe or a backup generator, you're sure to find the equipment you need to resume operations in any situation.
Get Back to Business With The Cat Rental Store
We're dedicated to standing by your side through it all. That's why The Cat Rental Store's network of dealers provides a one-stop shop for everything you need — when disaster strikes, you'll know exactly where to turn. With more than 1,300 locations worldwide, you won't have to go far.
For more information about using rental equipment for emergencies, you can contact us online or call us at 1-800-RENT-CAT.
