Big name hire firms have removed tools from their shelves after a Which? investigation revealed safety faults.

Which? hired a selection of DIY equipment from major and independent hire companies and found that half of the tools failed laboratory tests. The problems included unearthed plugs, worn and broken blades, kitchen foil used as a fuse and damaged wires – all of which could lead to injury.

The only company to provide equipment with no safety faults was HSS Hire. All the other companies hired out equipment which failed our safety tests, such as:

• Speedy (3/3 tools with faults) A split hose in the wallpaper stripper was discovered - this could leak hot steam which could scald the user
• Jewson (2/4 tools with faults) With a loose earth screw on a tile cutter's transformer, electric shock was a risk
• Hire station (2/4 tools with faults) A blown fuse was repaired with foil in a tile cutter transformer, this kept the current flowing but increased the risk of fire
• Brandon Hire (3/3 tools with faults) A cut in an extension lead cable left only basic insulation and could expose users to increased risk of electric shock
• Travis Perkins (2/4 tools with faults) A petrol hedge trimmer had a broken blade extension – the very part designed to reduce the risk of injury
• Independents (2/4 tools with faults) Faults included a circular saw without a riving knife - with this missing the blade could snag and kick back at the user

There were also concerns about the lack of safety equipment on offer at the point of hire by some shops.


Peter Vicary-Smith, Chief Executive, Which?, said: "DIY enthusiasts trust these stores to provide safe, reliable equipment, but half the tools we tested failed our rigorous tests and some could have caused serious injury.

"We expect higher standards from hire companies. They need to consistently check tools - if the shops we visited had carried out effective basic checks, they would never have loaned out half of the equipment."

Most companies agreed to remove the tools on test from their shelves to investigate further and Which? reported the products of greatest concern to trading standards officers.

(CD/GK)