Looking after sports equipment –How to reduce risk and save money

For over 12 years, Mark Harrod Ltd has been manufacturing and supplying a wide range of sports products to clubs, associations and schools with quality football goals and sporting equipment.

As well as manufacturing and supplying the equipment, the team offers installation, maintenance and servicing support for its customers to help them ensure that the equipment remains safe in use for years to come.

Mike Bugajski, has been visiting customers for 10 years to check that the products are being installed and maintained correctly and is concerned to find that, more often than not, basic guidelines are not being followed which could result in injury or damage to the product. Taking goal posts as an example, injuries are completely preventable if they are installed correctly, inspected regularly and used appropriately. Mike said: “All of our products are supplied with a general maintenance and safety guide outlining how products should be installed and checked. Health and safety is of upmost importance to any club, school or association offering fit for purpose and maintained to the required standard. None of the customers that I visit would refute this but they don’t always realise that by regularly checking their equipment, not only keeps it safe and in good working order, it saves them money too. I often go on site visits to find football posts that have been installed incorrectly to start with. Not only could this create a health and safety hazard, it could put pressure on the component parts and damage them requiring them to be replaced – an expense that could have been simply avoided by following the installation guide correctly. Similarly, I sometimes find that posts have been dragged along the ground instead of dropping down the wheels that have been specifically designed to make moving large, heavy equipment easier – again resulting in parts needing replacing. The examples are endless. Of course, it is sometimes difficult for equipment to be monitored 24/7, especially if it is used out of hours by third parties and may be misused resulting in damage. However, these instances make the need for regular inspections group/individual allowing their equipment to be used could be liable for any injuries sustained. Lack of respect for the equipment is out of our customers’ control but ultimately it will have implications for the ongoing safety of the products in question.”

Mark Harrod Ltd can ease the burden of keeping an eye on equipment and provide customers with peace of mind, ensuring that goal posts and other equipment remain fit for purpose and safe to use.

The general maintenance and safety guide provided with all Mark Harrod Ltd goal post products covers assembly, dismantling, checking, anchoring, moving and storage as well as inspection sheets for recording all observations made and for keeping as evidence of best practice.

Service and Maintenance Contracts are available at an additional cost which ensure sports equipment at customers’ premises conforms to the BS8461:2012 Code of Practice, BS748:2004 AND BS8462:2012. Visit www.markharrod.com to download a copy of the maintenance and safety guide and to view the product range or call 01502 710039