Brisk demand for risk advice
8 October 2020
Tony Pilkington is a busy man. As well as being managing director of TAG Tool Hire in Halifax, he’s providing health and safety risk assessments for businesses that need to ensure they comply with coronavirus regulations.
A year ago Tony sold a sister business, TAG Safety, and absorbed its consultancy services into the Hire Trade Alliance (HTA), acquired in 2015, offering a range of services to independent hirers such as Ts & Cs, training, finance, insurance and information bulletins. There are three levels membership with different degrees of additional support.
Obviously the pandemic has created a widespread need for advice in ensuring safe working practices. Through the HTA, Tony can provide a checklist for managers to follow or a site visit can be arranged as a bespoke solution. Advice can also be given via internet services such as Zoom or Teams.
“Demand has rocketed and every time there has been a change in the coronavirus guidelines, many businesses have needed to update their procedures,” Tony told me while he was parked up at a client’s premises near Birmingham. He had visited another customer earlier in Bristol before heading back to Yorkshire.
“I’ve done assessments for independent tool hirers and have gained more business through word-of-mouth recommendations for their customers and other suppliers. A major kitchen manufacturer has asked me to check each of their stores and transport facilities.
“It’s really taken off. We’re offering advice on things like PPE, masks, screens, hand sanitising agents, wipes, and the deep cleaning of premises,” said Tony.
“I never thought that I’d be so busy doing coronavirus assessments. If someone had mentioned social distancing six months ago, nobody would have known what they were talking about.”
TAG Tool Hire celebrated its tenth anniversary recently and is “steaming ahead and shaping up for its best year yet,” according to Tony. “We’ve recruited another driver and an apprentice, as well as adding another delivery vehicle and we’ve kept buying equipment for the fleet across the board to meet demand.
“An unusual item that we added recently was a portable hot tub! We’ve been hiring it to people staying at home rather than going away on holiday. We supply all the sanitising chemicals, a gazebo to put it in - and, even, luminous rubber ducks.”
