28 Sep 2026

"IT'LL BE ALRIGHT" - WHAT TO DO WHEN EQUIPMENT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT

Spend enough years supplying equipment and you'll hear one phrase almost as often as "it was fine yesterday."

And that's... "it'll be alright."

Usually, it comes after somebody has noticed something that isn't quite right.

Perhaps there's a small hydraulic leak. A cable has been damaged. A tyre looks worn. Something feels loose. There's a warning light that wasn't there yesterday, or the machine has started making a noise that nobody remembers hearing before.

The problem has been spotted. The operators knows about it.

But the job needs doing.

"It'll be alright. I'm only using it for 10 minutes."

We've heard variations of that exact story more times than we can count, and sometimes the operator is right. They finish the job, nothing happens, and the equipment goes back into the yard.

Unfortunately, sometimes they are wrong.

SMALL PROBLEMS DON'T ALWAYS STAY SMALL

One of the reasons we encourage pre-use equipment checks is to catch problems while they're still small.

A slight leak might be the first indication of a failing hose or connection. A damaged cable might deteriorate further. A loose component can become a detached one. A tyre that looks questionable at the beginning of the shift isn't going to improve after another eight hours of work.

Spotting these things early gives you the opportunity to do something about them.

The important part is actually doing it.

There's little point in carefully inspecting a machine, finding a problem, and then deciding to use it away.

DON'T PASS ON THE PROBLEM

Another scenario we hear involves somebody noticing the fault, finishing their job, and putting the equipment away without telling anyone.

That's particularly frustrating, and down right dangerous, because the next operator has absolutely no idea there is a problem.

They walk up to the machine the following morning and, quite reasonably, assume it was put away in a serviceable condition.

Hopefully, their own pre-use inspection catches the defect.

But what if it doesn't?

Reporting a problem isn't just about protecting yourself. It's about protecting the next person who uses the equipment too

If you've noticed something unusual, always make sure the right person knows about it.

KNOW WHEN TO STOP

Of course, not every mark, scratch, or unusual sound means a machine is unsafe.

Equipment works in tough environments and it isn't going to look brand new forever. Experienced operators often become very familiar with the machines they use and can recognise what's normal and what isn't.

The important thing is knowing when something needs further investigation.

If you're unsure whether a defect could affect the safe operation of equipment, don't guess.

Stop and ask.

Depending on the equipment and the problem, that might mean speaking to a supervisor, contacting the equipment supplier, or having the machine inspected by a competent person.

A few minutes spent asking the question is preferable to discovering the answer halfway through the job.

BE CAREFUL WITH THE "QUICK FIX"

There's another temptation when somebody discovers a problem: fixing it themselves.

Sometimes that's perfectly appropriate. There are routine adjustments and maintenance tasks that trained and authorised operators can carry out safely.

But we've also heard about some fairly imaginative temporary repairs over the years.

Cable ties, tape, bits of wire, and the occasional strategically placed piece of timber have all be used to keep equipment working for "just one more job."

The problem is that a temporary fix can hide the original fault or introduce a completely new one.

Operators should understand what they're authorised and competent to deal with, and when the equipment needs to be taken out of service for proper attention.

FIVE MINUTES OR FIVE HOURS?

Nobody likes stopping a job.

When deadlines are tight and people are waiting, taking a machine out of service can feel like the worst possible option.

But it's worth putting that inconvenience into perspective.

Stopping for five minutes to report something might prevent hours of downtime later. Taking a machine our of service for an inspection might prevent a much larger repair bill.

More importantly, it might prevent somebody from getting hurt.

So, after years of supplying equipment, we'd suggest a simple approach whenever something doesn't look right.

See It. Stop. Report It.

Don't assume it'll be aright. And don't leave the problem for the next person to discover.