Even in the best of circumstances – when architects and planners consult with maintenance and engineering managers about the design of a new building – some areas of facilities are difficult to reach. Such discussions do not occur often, though, and adding the ever-changing nature of operations within facilities to the situation results in a host of awkward and difficult-to-reach areas.
But maintenance and engineering technicians still need to reach these areas, so aerial lift rental comes into play. Equipment options in this area have expanded over the years to meet the needs of end users.
Among the issues for managers is identifying department needs for lift equipment, determining whether to buy or rent lifts, and keeping workers safe on and around the equipment.
Owning lift equipment might be the best option if workers use it frequently, which can justify the initial cost, as well as ongoing costs for insurance, maintenance and storage. Aerial lift rental is the most common strategy, even in organizations that use the equipment fairly frequently but with periods of idleness between projects. Another factor in the aerial lift rental decision is the variety of tasks maintenance workers perform. If some jobs are inside and others outside, for example, workers will require different types of lifts.
Some lifts might be designed to operate on rougher terrain and steeper grades, while others feature hard tires for use on smooth and level floors inside a building. If workers need to use the lift fairly frequently but managers are still hesitant about purchasing, the best strategy might be to group several lift jobs together, rent a lift, and get them all done at the same time.
Aerial lift rental is an expense, so organizations can write it off as a tax deduction for the year during which the rental occurred. This strategy gives managers the chance to evaluate lift equipment and features on specific job-site conditions without having to make a long-term commitment or maintain the unit.
If a few short-term experiences confirm the lift equipment meets the
department’s needs, and if the finance department concurs it makes
sense to purchase a unit, a manager then can make the decision to
purchase and depreciate the unit over several years. But managers also
need to remember that with the decision to purchase comes the owner’s
responsibility for equipment maintenance and insurance.
RELATED LINKS:
Managing Equipment: Rent or Buy?
Scissor Lifts and Telescopic Booms: Know the Difference
