It is nice to be back after a short absence. Did anyone notice I was gone? A few months ago I was involved, through no fault of my own, in a rather serious car accident.

My poor car, that I have looked after and maintained for many years, was smashed beyond economical repair and unfortunately had to be ‘written-off’.

I was only a few days away from making a presentation to a local ISOH group on selecting and monitoring air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors.

After witnessing the tail lights of the lorry driver who hit me disappear over the horizon, a few people did stop their cars to check see if I could get out. Some even offered to chase the lorry driver for me.

As I phoned the police and was told there wasn't much more they could do since the lorry driver hadn't stopped to give details, one man pulled up to ask me if it was my smashed glass on the road. As I nodded glumly, he reached behind him to pull out a broom which he helpfully suggested I use to sweep up the mess!

The insurance company I called next didn't have any good news for me either. Whether it was for this reason or whether is was due to the bump on my head, I am not sure but for some reason, while I was hanging upside down, still strapped inside my car waiting for some kind of help to arrive, I thought about the importance of selecting the right service providers to look after your ACR plant.

Strange as it may seem now, I saw a similarity between my own predicament and that faced by a site operator of refrigeration or air-conditioning plant.

Accidents do and can happen to the best maintained systems and it is at those times when there is an emergency that all the procedures and systems are tested.

For me, the accident required a call to the emergency services and the insurance company. For the site engineer or plant owner/operator, it will probably mean a call to his maintenance company or service provider. It is, at that moment, that they will be either pleased or deeply regret their choice of service company, and possibly even the original selection of the equipment.

If the service company does not respond, or responds slowly, if the health and safety systems that they have put in place are not effective, or worse still, if they don’t have any health and safety procedures, and if they do not have suitable standby arrangements, the consequences can be serious both in the immediate short-term, and in the long term.

If an incident occurs that requires notification to the HSE, any short-comings in safety procedures will be exposed.

For me, the car proved to have been a good choice, as it saved my life and protected me from serious injury and a few days later I had a replacement vehicle.

For ACR plant owners involved in serious plant failures, I hope that their preparations are as secure and that the response to their call for help is all that they hope for.

It is often not until something serious happens that emergency procedures are tested, but we should all be prepared for the eventuality.

Careful selection and monitoring of contractors and service providers is important because you really don’t want to be left wanting in your moment of need.

Just to let you know how my personal story ended... eventually... a woman living within walking distance of the accident came by to suggest I get out of the car and come to her house for a cup of tea. But I found myself waiting a little longer for much-needed help and hospitality -while she nipped back to the house to load the dishwasher.