Which industries need welfare van hire?

Mess van hire, or welfare van hire, is a valuable asset for many sectors. But don’t just take our word for it! In this blog, we’ve examined how these vehicles can benefit three major industries…

Electrical services

Electrical engineers often work to repair power lines in remote regions across Britain, at the mercy of the natural elements and far from home comforts.

However, basic needs can be met by providing teams with specially-adapted vans. A welfare van can provide a base for taking breaks, changing at the end of a working day, and serving as a meeting point for staff working in different areas.

Electrical construction services company Voltcom Group recently acquired 10 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters converted for use as mess vans. This van model was chosen on the basis of its outstanding reliability, durability and competitive running cost (it’s one of our favourite commercial vehicles too).

“These vehicles are used on site by operatives who often find themselves working in very inhospitable areas far away from any recognised amenities,” John Nash, group director at Voltcom explained to Fleet Van.

“These vehicles are a vital support mechanism for operatives working in the field”.

Road workers

Road workers, or highways operatives, build and repair our national road network. These teams lay drains, dig trenches, build kerbs and paint road markings, often working during evenings and weekends to avoid the work rush hour.

Road maintenance is a physically demanding job and comes with significant risks. Work is conducted in all weather conditions, and evening shifts can mean operatives are working in the dark and the cold, making them more vulnerable to the elements and to drivers.

Welfare vans play an important role by offering a safe and comfortable place in which road workers caneat and rest. Roadworks are usually a very temporary operation, so a mess van allows employers to meet their Duty of Care while wasting no time setting up rest areas or static welfare cabins. Road maintenance work is also noisy and dirty, so workers need somewhere to store and change into safety gear which can include tough clothing and hearing protection.

In order to comply with health and safety regulations, welfare vehicles used for highways maintenance applications need to have particular livery. Chapter 8 high-visibility chevrons are easily recognised and highly visible to oncoming traffic, helping to protect road workers on duty.

Construction companies

Construction sites can often be without water and power for significant lengths of time, especially those in remote rural areas. Contractors are therefore legally required to provide and maintain welfare facilities for all employees throughout the life of the construction project.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, welfare facilities must include toilets, washing amenities, drinking water and food preparation areas. Construction workers also need areas in which to change and rest, as well as places to dry and store clothing and protective equipment.

Welfare vans enable these facilities to be moved around on a daily basis, which is useful if construction is taking place in a remote area or is split over several sites. It also removes the effort of installing a static welfare cabin, so is the perfect choice for short term construction jobs.

Why not read our blog: Mess-vans-mobile-welfare-everything-you-need-to-know

Meeting workplace compliance

Failure to meet health and safety obligations can spell disaster for any employer. That’s why welfare van hire is so important, allowing small companies with limited resources the opportunity to acquire an essential fleet vehicle. We at Flex-E-Rent offer vehicles on flexible hire and short-term hire terms which meet a range of industry specifications, and can even customise vans to meet your unique needs. We also provide all our contract hire customers with comprehensive repair and maintenance services to ensure that you don’t pay over the odds to keep your vehicles running.