Matt, I would have thought those in the financial sector would have a more enlightened approach to spending money! First consideration: "why buy when you can hire" and second: "why provide specialist kit to the third party contractor when they can provide it for themselves"!? The bank would appear to be taking on expenditure and responsibilities that are wholly uncessary. As "owner" and purchaser, the Bank cannot escape responsibility for ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose and remains safe in use, and this will necessarily involve inspection and maintenance (PUWER duties) and considerations around HAVS, noise levels, PAT etc. Providing this equipment (presumably insisting that it is used?) only increases liability in the event of an incident involving third parties, it certainly does not diminish any duty on the Bank as an employer. My advice is to negotiate the sale of this mobile and hand-held plant and equipment to trusted contractors and to lean on those in charge to change the overall approach. There are simple arguments of costs and reduced liability that should make this an easy task!

Yes you're kind of right - the bank is obviously a permanent resident of the property, whereas the contractor is a temporary entity and is therefore unwilling to purchase high value items. Selling items to the contractor is not an option and hiring would be OK for some items but not for others - due to size, frequency of use and access. How do hire companies deal with this issue if not through a 'contract' that passes responsibility to the hirer for how the equipmet is used while in their posession?

I can see the advantages of having all of the equipment permanently on site. Get a 'man with a van' into the square mile, park up, unload, do the job and the reverse or get a man turn up off the tube with his hands in his pockets. It wouldn't take long before those tools were paid off.

Matt, Has the Bank considered leasing the equipment to the contractor for the term of the contract (with a stipulation in the lease that the kit remains at a particular address). That way control of the equipment passes to the contractor, as does liability under health and safety law. The equipment however remains the property of the Bank as it stays on site and full ownership transfers back to the Bank at the end of the contract. There are enough City solicitors who will be able to draft up an equipment lease quickly enough. I hope this helps. Regards. DJ