14/11/2016
Many building owners and facility managers face the same dilemma: should height safety compliance be kept in-house or outsourced? Here we explore the pros and cons of each approach.
In-house
At an initial glance, keeping height safety compliance in house can look attractive. There are no out of pocket expenses and you’ll always know exactly what’s happening, right? In reality, it’s not always this clear cut.
Questions you should ask:
- Is height safety a key competency for the business?
- How much staff time will it take to get trained and become familiar with the relevant standards?
- What are the risks of the designated staff member leaving and having to incur this cost and delay again?
- What are the risks of having the work done by a non-specialist?
- What could be done with this time instead?
- How would we manage and track height safety – would we need specialist systems?
- What discounts will I miss out on by purchasing height safety equipment directly from the manufacturers as a one-off customer, rather than from a specialist supplier that purchases in bulk?
Outsourced
If you can get past the investment you need to make in outsourcing height safety, there are many benefits to consider. These include:
- Guaranteed safety and compliance because you’re using a professional.
- Reduced distractions – get on with the main focus of your organisation.
- Reduced liabilities and risks for employees and contractors working at height and peace of mind knowing that height safety is taken care of.
- Professional management systems that keep you fully informed about the status of height safety certifications and provide easy reporting.
- Added efficiencies using an industry specialist who can provide the fastest, most cost effective solutions.