Blog; How HAE EHA’s SafeHire Certification Is Improving the Hire Industry
Written by:
Carl Bartlett, Director
HAE EHA Hire Certification Services
. 9th January 2026
Discover how SafeHire improves industry standards, and why your hire business should invest today.
The hire industry supports a wide range of sectors, from construction and infrastructure to events and utilities. With equipment reliability and safe working practices so closely linked to the public and a workforce’s safety, the need for recognised standards has never been greater. HAE EHA’s SafeHire Certification Scheme plays a crucial role in raising standards across the industry, helping hire businesses operate more safely, efficiently and professionally.
A recognised mark of trust and professionalism
SafeHire is more than a certificate, it is a recognised mark of quality that demonstrates a commitment to best practice. Developed by HAE EHA in conjunction with industry specialists, support from the Health and Safety Executive and the British Standards Institution, the scheme sets a clear benchmark for excellence within the hire sector. For customers and contractors, SafeHire certification provides confidence that a hire company has been independently assessed and operates to consistent, industry-approved standards rather than simply meeting minimum legal requirements.
Putting safety at the centre of hire operations
Safety sits at the heart of the SafeHire scheme. The certification scheme focuses on how safety is managed in real working environments, not just how it is documented. Independent audits examine areas such as equipment inspection and maintenance, staff training and competence, risk management processes and environmental responsibility. This thorough approach helps businesses identify potential risks early, reduce accidents and downtime, and build a stronger safety culture where safe behaviour becomes part of everyday operations.
A supportive and practical audit process
One of the key strengths of SafeHire is the way the audit process is delivered. Rather than being a long, drawn out exercise, audits are designed to be constructive and proportionate. Auditors work closely with businesses to understand how they operate and provide practical feedback that reflects the size and complexity of the organisation. This supportive approach makes SafeHire achievable for both large national companies and smaller independent hire firms, while still maintaining high standards.
Driving efficiency and continuous improvement
SafeHire certification also brings clear operational benefits. By aligning systems and procedures with recognised standards, businesses often find they can streamline compliance, improve consistency across depots and reduce duplication of effort. Clearer processes lead to better asset management, improved communication and fewer operational disruptions. Through ongoing audits and regular review cycles, SafeHire encourages continuous improvement rather than one-off compliance, helping businesses remain resilient and adaptable.
Ongoing support from Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association
Throughout the SafeHire journey, HAE EHA provides guidance, tools and practical support to help businesses prepare for audits and understand expectations. For organisations that already hold other management system certifications, SafeHire can complement existing frameworks and reduce unnecessary repetition. Once certified, businesses continue to benefit from HAE EHA support, ensuring standards are maintained and developed over time rather than allowed to drift.
Strengthening market position and customer confidence
The UK’s plant and tool hire market is currently valued at around £3.56 billion, up 24% from 2020. So, in an increasingly competitive marketplace, SafeHire provides a valuable commercial advantage. Many clients now expect clear evidence of safety management and professional competence as part of tendering and supplier selection. SafeHire offers a trusted, industry-recognised way to demonstrate this commitment, helping businesses stand out, build customer confidence and strengthen long-term relationships.
Raising standards across the hire industry
Ultimately, HAE EHA’s SafeHire certification is helping to professionalise the hire industry as a whole. By setting consistent expectations, embedding safety into everyday operations and promoting continuous improvement, the scheme benefits hire companies, their customers and the wider supply chain. SafeHire is not about ticking boxes, it is about building safer, more efficient and more reliable hire businesses for the future.
What our members say
“We first achieved SafeHire in 2003 and, since then, we have seen the scheme develop in both scope and ambition to its current BSi Private Standard format.
“SafeHire is now an integral part of our quality control process, demonstrating our commitment to the maintenance of high standards of health, safety and wellbeing throughout the business for both our staff and customers alike.
“The helpful, practical and professional guidance and advice provided to our depot managers during the audit process has always been very well received and has assisted us with improving standards across the business.”
Mark Wilson, Director, CW Plant Hire
“SafeHire certification has been our backbone, a crucial framework in setting the benchmark for excellence in the hire and rental industry. We workday in and day out, year-round every year to ensure we always meet our client’s demands for exceptional standards of health & safety and quality.
“The rigorous annual audit is an invaluable opportunity to independently and thoroughly assess our existing policies, processes, and procedures and put them to the test to ensure they are robust.”
Stuart Slaughter Co-founder and Managing Director, Plato Catering Hire
Level up your safety standards today.
