Here's the sense

A NUMBER of British Waterways small tools have been auctioned off in the second of two nationwide sales. In future, the tools required to look after the canals will be hired in as and when needed, writes Dean Davis, Waterway Manager, West Midlands.

The sense of the move was questioned here on narrowboatworld, however the long and short of it is that hiring, rather than owning and maintaining, is cheaper and more efficient over the longer term.

Regular maintenance

Buying the tool is only part of the cost of owning the tool. Not only is it good practice, it is also the law that employers ensure their kit complies with Health & Safety requirements and is thus fit for purpose. Small tools need a regular maintenance regime with documented service and repair, Portable Appliance Testing records and noise assessments. Drills, circular saws, breakers, chainsaws, strimmers and pole saws all need to be maintained to ensure minimum vibration levels.

Hiring instead of owning passes all the costly maintenance onto the hirer rather than lying with the waterways. It also means that in future, tools used ‘now and again' are only hired when needed rather than expensively purchased and possibly left aside for periods of time.

Any equipment that doesn't work or breaks-down is replaced by the hire firm as soon as possible without waterway staff having to spend valuable time making repairs.

A considered move

The decision to take a national approach to hiring rather than owning and maintaining was taken after a trial on the Leeds & Liverpool and Lancaster canals which over time saved costs, and importantly, ensured good standards of equipment. Taking a national approach means that the waterways were able to negotiate favourable terms with HSS Hire. It is generally accepted by many big companies that operating in this way is the most efficient way to go.

Give it away to canal societies

If a canal society has a specific need for equipment then they often get in touch with the local waterway manager. This was the case in the South West, North West, North East, North Wales & Borders and East Midlands where equipment has been recently gifted to volunteers working on the cut.

For all the same reasons as above, the equipment is of course, still required to be maintained to the same high standards for volunteers as members of staff. So once again, it may be that canal societies working with, and for the benefit of, the Canal & River Trust are best supplied with the same hire equipment as British Waterways employees. Get in touch with your waterway manager.