Ainscough gets tough

Ainscough Crane Hire is getting tough on hirers who do not hold adequate insurance for equipment hired. Companies which cannot prove they hold such insurance will have to take insurance out from Ainscough.

"The Construction Plant-hire Association says that the responsibility for insurance lies with the company hiring the equipment. But many people presume they have adequate insurance cover when it comes to machinery and operatives because many hire companies supply it but on an ad hoc basis," said Martin Ainscough, managing director of Ainscough Crane Hire.

"If equipment is damaged we have to claim from our insurers, who in turn will claim from the company responsible. If they do not hold sufficient cover, it means our premiums will go up. And we don't want that. We can't afford it. We have several claims going through at the moment," he told CJ. Ainscough is charging companies 15 per cent of the hire price of the equipment as insurance cover.