Cranes are among the most useful equipment and machinery in construction sites, precisely when it comes to moving materials. Therefore, if you have an upcoming construction project that will involve moving or lifting, loading and unloading of materials, you should think about hiring a crane. Something you are likely to overlook when using a crane hire service is the crane operator. Hiring crane labour can be quite challenging. There are many crane operators available for hire, which means you will have to narrow down your options to find the best for your project. Here are the key components to think about when doing this.
Crane Labour Companies vs. Independent Crane Operators
One of the choices you will have to make when hiring crane labour is between going for a crane labour company or hiring an independent crane operator. There are pros and cons to each option. First, hiring crane labour from a crane labour company gives you better assurance that you will be dealing with highly trained and experienced operators. Many companies seek to maintain their reputation and quality of service, which is why operators will often be vetted first to assess their skill level and experience in crane operation.
This is important because the safety of those on site is critical, and the operators should be skilled enough not to endanger any of the workers. While independent crane operators will usually be licensed and have the training and experience needed to operate a crane, not all of them do. That means you will need to pay a little extra attention when hiring one. Also, you may need to rely on referrals and other means to verify the credibility of the operator.
Nevertheless, independent crane operators tend to be cheaper. Therefore, if you have budgetary concerns, they would be the ideal option. Unfortunately, they can be quite inconveniencing, especially if the operator falls ill or has other obligations and won't make it to work. That means your project will delay because finding a replacement may not be that easy. You won't have to deal with such when hiring from a crane labour company because replacements are often made quickly in such situations.
Insurance
You should also think about insurance when hiring crane labour. Whether you are using an independent crane operator or a crane labour company/agency, it's important to understand who will be responsible for the work cover as well as insurance. If the operator or company won't handle that part, you will have to arrange with your insurance provider early enough.
