We’re living in challenging times, and many of us have had to make changes in how we live and work. If you’re considering renting equipment for your construction projects, you may have some safety concerns. The last thing you want is to put your crews in harm’s way and jeopardize their health.

Is It Safe to Rent Construction Equipment?

The colder months do increase the risk of exposure to viruses that can lead to serious illnesses, but you can still rent the heavy equipment you need to keep your projects on schedule. The Cat® Rental Store is open for business and ready to help. You’ll find a tremendous selection of construction machines and much more from Caterpillar and more than 70 other leading manufacturers.

Rest assured that every store adheres to stringent safety protocols in our work processes and how we interact with our clients. You can count on receiving a clean, sanitized piece of equipment you can use with confidence at your job sites.

How to Create a Safer Equipment Operating Environment for Your Crews

You can help support your employees’ safety when using rental equipment this fall and winter by following these tips:

• Educate your workforce: Make sure every worker understands the risks and the steps they should take to avoid getting sick and transmitting diseases to others.
• Sanitize the machinery: Keeping the equipment clean is essential for stopping the spread of illness, especially if your rentals will have multiple users. Operators or your maintenance crews should wipe interior cab surfaces with disinfectant wipes after each use.
• Promote personal hygiene: Whenever operators take a break, encourage them to wash their hands before getting back on the machine. Set up hand-sanitizing stations throughout the site to make it easier for your crews.
• Require masks: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and other health organizations recommend wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of disease. Construction personnel that work in dusty environments may already opt to wear masks. Regardless, make sure that face masks are mandatory for all workers while at your facility or the job site when operating heavy equipment.
• Practice social distancing: If possible, arrange work processes so that workers can remain at least six feet apart. Consider dividing your staff into separate crews that do not interact with each other. Set up a staggered work schedule to keep the site less crowded throughout the day.

Contact The Cat® Rental Store to Learn More

At The Cat Rental Store, your safety is always our top priority, whether you’re operating our rental equipment or implementing practices to prevent the spread of disease. If you have questions or would like more information about how to keep your crews safe this fall — or any other time — give us a call at 1-800-RENT-CAT.

If you’re in the market for an equipment rental, submit our online form to request a fast quote today.

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