Sometimes you have to say No to a client.
As a specialist small company we get to price many difficult tasks using our spiders which does create huge savings for clients if they can be completed in that way.
To this day I have a 100% strike rate of completing safely over 3000 lifts.
There was a number of issues I picked up once I got to site to carry out a survey.
Our number one priority is safety.
We have to make informed decisions with all information that we can see or glean from clients.
I did lots of investigations to find out information including contacting the River Trust about a canal path.
Our set up area was very tight and very close to a canal edge.
After discussions it came to light that the section in question was not maintained by the canal & river trust but was owned by the building owners.
No maintenance had been carried out on this section for many years and TBH I felt it was in poor condition to take a 6.8t platform after carrying out detailed investigations.
I even managed to take some underwater photos of the stonework/sets in place.
Yep we lose money/time/effort but I have to make an informed decision based on my H&S experience.
In my eyes it’s another win as I think we have averted a potentially huge hazard.
Our business is not about making money it’s about keeping people safe with our knowledge of where and where not to site spiders to complete tasks safely.
I had already put a plan B together for client as I don’t like having to say No.
We will use a completely different machine (bigger) , from a different area that will complete the work safely ensuring everybody gets home safe.
The contractor who I met onsite to discuss with was very happy with how/why we arrived at our decision once I had showed him our detailed investigations and very happy to pay the additional cost for a bigger machine.
We will make nothing but I take away so much more – Experience!
You can get your IPAF 1b licence in one day BUT it takes years to gain the experience required to be deemed a good operator.
How companies quote jobs from Google is beyond me as I’m sure it creates huge issues with things missed