Before Anyone Enters The Site
Access starts with clear permission. Before a valuer, buyer, driver or collection crew arrives, the site contact should confirm the date, time, entry point and any house rules that apply to the yard, workshop or warehouse. If the property is on a shared industrial park or near municipal access control, please make sure the gate team knows who is expected. This avoids hold-ups at the boom gate and keeps traffic moving.
We also ask that the site be ready for a normal safety check. Walkways should be clear, overhead hazards should be identified, and any live power areas should be marked. In older plants around Germiston or Johannesburg, that often means checking mezzanines, pits and narrow passages before anyone steps in.
What A Safe Inspection Area Should Look Like
Inspections are easier when the equipment can be seen from a safe distance and touched only where allowed. If a machine has moving parts, stored energy, hot surfaces or sharp edges, it should be isolated first. Where possible, keep guards in place. If guards have been removed for maintenance, tell the team before the visit starts.
- Switch off and isolate power sources where the site allows it.
- Keep floors dry and free of loose cable, scrap and packaging.
- Make sure lighting is good, especially during load-shedding or in darker bays.
- Keep forklifts, trolleys and other traffic away from the inspection path.
- Mark out any area with low beams, steps, pits or uneven concrete.
Coastal humidity in Durban or Gqeberha can also leave floors slick and metal surfaces damp, so extra care is worth it.
Viewing Days And Buyer Movement
Viewing days work best when the site is organised and movement is controlled. Buyers should only move through the areas that have been approved for viewing. If several visitors are on site at once, one person should direct flow so that no one stands too close to a running machine or a lifting operation.
We recommend a simple sign-in and sign-out process at the entrance. That helps with access control, keeps records of who was on site and gives the site team a quick way to contact visitors if needed. For busy locations in Midrand or Pretoria, this also helps prevent confusion between buyer groups and delivery vehicles.
- Wear closed shoes and suitable clothing for an industrial site.
- Do not climb onto equipment unless the site team has approved it.
- Do not touch controls, switches or panels unless asked to do so.
- Stay with the guided route and respect taped-off or locked areas.
Collection Access For Trucks And Lifting Gear
Machine collections need space, timing and clear instructions. If a truck, trailer, crane or forklift is coming in, the route to the loading point must be open and strong enough for the load. Tight corners, low wires, soft ground and narrow gates can slow the job down or make it unsafe. In Kempton Park and Johannesburg, we often see sites where yard markings look fine on paper but need a quick check before collection day.
Please confirm where vehicles may park, where loading may happen and who has the authority to release the machine. If a machine needs dismantling, make sure the site knows which panels, pipework or cables may need to be removed first. The more accurate the handover, the smoother the removal.
Documents, Keys And Release Instructions
Good access is not only about gates and floors. It is also about having the right people and the right paperwork at hand. The site contact should be able to confirm which items are included, what stays behind and whether any keys, manuals, tool kits or loose parts need to go with the machine. If there are asset tags or internal labels, keep them visible until the inspection or collection is done.
Where a release note, signed instruction or other site approval is needed, have it ready before the crew arrives. This keeps the process clear and helps avoid confusion between the seller, buyer and transport team. It also helps if the machine is moving between branches or yards in different parts of South Africa.
What To Do If Access Changes On The Day
Sometimes a gate is blocked, a machine is still in use or weather changes the plan. If access changes on the day, please tell us as soon as possible through the enquiry form on our contact page so the schedule can be adjusted. A short delay is often easier to manage than a rushed or unsafe entry.
If rain, power interruption or site work affects the visit, we will work with the available window and update the plan where needed. The main aim is to keep people safe, protect the machinery and complete the inspection, viewing or collection in an orderly way.
- Keep one site contact available during the booked time.
- Tell us about any new hazards before entry.
- Hold back moving vehicles until the route is clear.
- Do not start lifting until everyone is briefed.
