SafeHire
What Does Being a SafeHire Auditor Mean?
SafeHire is a private industry standard created and written for the hire industry with the help and guidance of the British Standards Institute (BSI), hire industry professionals and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). SafeHire is a continual business Improvement programme that both sets and helps maintain the standards of operation for HAE members, and the standard itself is the guarantee of consistency of approach during assessment. It also provides a greater degree of transparency and reassurance to members and their clients and customers, and to trading standards. Its purpose is to ensure support for all HAE EHA members to both achieve and maintain the highest industry standards, reducing risk, and improving service delivery levels for customers and end users.
Achieving SafeHire Certification is dependent upon successful assessment. Unlike other quality standards, SafeHire is based on onsite verification of members' policies and management systems which include; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Health, Safety and Welfare, Occupational Health, Environment and Sustainability, Quality Management, Insurance Arrangements, Financial Control, Document Control, Data Protection, HR and Employment Law compliance.
SafeHire Auditors are trained to review documents on site and more importantly, to test the impact/effectiveness of these including:
- Conversing with employees at all levels to ensure the company policy is truly ‘built in'
- Sampling key process documentation for accuracy and effective data management e.g. hire contracts, customer service management systems and training records
- Inspecting and testing 'ready for hire' equipment from ranges of product categories
What does being a SafeHire Auditor mean? HAE EHA's Mark Forsyth talks about his experience in the hire industry and what led him to join the team of expert SafeHire auditors.
WHAT IS YOUR HIRE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE?
After finishing school I started my career on a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) as a trainee HGV mechanic. My first introduction into the hire industry was servicing a STIHL TS 350 for an independent builder's merchant, and I caught the bug from there. 2023 marks my 27th year around plant equipment, small tools, and mobile tower systems, which includes working within small independent and national hire organisations in Health and Safety training roles.
WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A SAFEHIRE AUDITOR?
I've been associated with HAE EHA for many years and attended Technical Health and Safety Committee meetings for a number of years. I found the whole HAE EHA team were very inviting and down to earth people, who passionately work for all members. I wanted to join as a SafeHire Auditor to share best practice and help members with the experiences, information and knowledge I'd gained over the last 20 years.
HOW DO YOU SEE SAFEHIRE BENEFITING COMPANIES?
SafeHire is a beneficial Private Industry Standard created to help all members, from small to large organisations, develop and maintain safe working environments, equipment and standards. The audit process is a great way to identify improvements which could help maintain a good quality service and increase sales to clients who have achieved the SafeHire accreditation, much like an ISO accreditation, Gas Safe Registered company or LEEA for Lifting Equipment Engineers.
WHAT USEFUL INFORMATION CAN WE GIVE TO POTENTIAL OR CURRENT SAFEHIRE MEMBERS THAT WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL?
All SafeHire Auditors are understanding, approachable, knowledgeable, conscientious and have worked within the hire industry prior to working with HAE EHA. Some members allocate hours or even days for preparation of a site visit which may be seen as far from ideal but this is not necessary from an auditor's perspective. 
SafeHire auditors would rather work with members during their normal working day; this allows the auditor to ensure a safe plan of action is created for any level of non-conformance.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SEE HAE EHA SUPPORTING SMALL HIRE COMPANIES?
HAE EHA supports its members by sharing best practice, supplying regular industry updates, alongside helping promote the hire business. The membership logo along with the SafeHire orange logo is displayed on company literature, vehicles and buildings. HAE EHA offers invaluable services including industry training, documentation, safety guidance, which are all supported with expert advice.
If you would like any information about SafeHire, please email safehire@hae.org.uk.