EXECUTIVE POST
Dear Sir
Other than how to set something up, what use are the manufacturer’s instructions? There are various reasons why reading and following these
instructions are important. First and foremost, there is safety legislation that provides a duty for all manufacturers to provide suitable information and instructions on safe use. This is covered in the Health and Safety at Work Act, particularly section 6. Following the manufacturer’s instructions makes it easier to
understand how a piece of equipment operates. Manufacturers produce their instructions based on the knowledge they have acquired through the design and testing of their equipment. Using a manufacturer’s guide not only reduces the risk of accidents and injury, but can also extend the life of the product. At Euro Towers, we ensure that all products we manufacture
have an instruction manual in the language of the country we are selling to. These guides are available on our website,
www.eurotowers.co.uk, or we can send a copy by email or post upon request. Our instruction guide is also provided with every product we sell. Even so, we still receive telephone calls from users telling us, “I can’t put the tower together,” or “I have got the wrong parts.” When this happens, our first question is always:
“Do you have the instruction guide?” Invariably, the answer is no. Recently, a qualified trainer telephoned me and complained that he
was presenting a course on stairway towers but the trainees could not put the tower up because they did not have the right parts. I asked him if he was using the instruction guide and his response was: “I have done this hundreds of times before, so why do I need a manual?” I sent him an email link so that he could download the instructions. Following that I heard no more. I expect he then used the manual and completed his course. As incoming Chairman of PASMA, this emphasises to me, more
than ever, that we must continue to highlight the importance of using the manufacturer’s instructions. Remember, if an accident happens on a site, it’s likely that the
first question asked by the Health and Safety Executive is to see the manufacturer’s guide to ensure the equipment has been built correctly. If this is not available and was not provided when the product was hired out, then the hire company could potentially be held accountable. My advice to all hire firms is to ensure that you provide an instruction guide with all of the equipment you supply.
Roger Verallo, MD, Euro Towers Ltd
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