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Two men seriously injured in London steelwork and scaffolding collapse

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Two men seriously injured in London steelwork and scaffolding collapse
Two men have been seriously injured after steelwork collapsed onto scaffolding erected on a town hall at a construction site in West London. Dozens of police, fire and ambulance vehicles attended Hammersmith town hall in King Street after the incident at around 5.30pm on Wednesday. According to reports, both men had suffered ‘life-threatening injuries and were rushed to a major trauma centre “as a priority”. The Metropolitan police have said the men were taken to a central London hospital, and the Health and Safety Executive had been informed. A source told Scaffmag: “The steelwork collapsed and took the scaffolding down with it, when the steelwork failed it knocked over the cherry picker the steelworkers were working on.” It is believed that one of the steel erectors was thrown 30m from the cherry picker and the other was still attached by his harness.

The London ambulance service said: “An investigation has been launched after two men were injured after scaffolding attached to Hammersmith town hall collapsed late on Wednesday afternoon.

“Officers from the Metropolitan police attended along with firefighters.”

How can Tube-Lock benefit your company?

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How can Tube-Lock benefit your company?

Tube-Lock® can revolutionize the way you are designing and erecting scaffolds. By combining simplicity and strength, Tube-Lock holds many benefits over traditional tube and fitting scaffolding.

Tube-Lock® tubes are regular 48,3mm scaffolding tubes, fitted with two cast iron Tube-Lock pieces. Because of the Tube-Lock ends, tubes can be connected with each other by a twisting motion, visibly locking them in place. No tools nor additional parts are required to make or secure the connection. 

This provides many advantages.

Because the two tubes can be joined by a twisting motion, it is a fast and easy way to connect tubes together. This leads to faster erection and dismantling times for the entire scaffold. 

Furthermore, no additional parts nor tools are needed. No longer needing sleeve couplers and joint pins means that there are no spare parts that need to be transported. Additionally, you don’t have to invest in sleeve couplers and joint pins as you no longer need them.

This also eliminates the risk of sleeve couplers breaking, getting lost or getting stolen. And you don’t have to service the sleeve couplers anymore. Tube-Lock connections are completely maintenance-free. 

Another logistical advantage is that Tube-Lock comes in standard lengths from 1 meter or 4ft up to 4 meters or 13ft. Because of this flexibility, it prevents the necessity of cutting the tubes to length. 

The maximum length of 4 meters means the maximum weight of a Tube-Lock tube is 16 kg. This leads to less strain on scaffolders, which is essential because of the strict Occupational Health and Safety regulations. 

Additionally, there is no need to stagger joints, Tube-Lock is as strong as a continuous tube. The connection may even be submitted to pull force. Using Tube-Lock tubes leads to a smooth tube connection over the full length of the tube. This makes it possible to use couplers anywhere on the tube. Even on the Tube-Lock connection. 

Van Thiel United Ltd. can make Tube-Lock tubes out of your (used) scaffolding tube!

In their innovative production facility, they can turn your (used) scaffolding tube to Tube-Lock tubes! This means you can update your own material without enormous investments. Even the repair of existing Tube-Lock stock is possible. And they now offer a special discount on the conversion of your scaffolding tube!

Have a look at www.thielscaffolding.com for more information, or contact [email protected] to hear more about all possibilities!

HAKI opens new Swiss subsidiary to support regional growth

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HAKI opens new Swiss subsidiary to support regional growth
The HAKI Group has launched HAKI Safety SA, based in Thônex in the canton of Geneva, marking a further step in its expansion across Switzerland. The move follows several years of activity in French-speaking Switzerland, where HAKI says demand for its safety solutions has grown steadily. The company points to Switzerland’s stringent regulatory environment as a key driver for continued investment, particularly in construction site safety. HAKI said the new subsidiary would allow it to take a more structured approach to growth in the country, while improving customer support and strengthening relationships with local clients. Plans include the gradual development of a dedicated field team, local offices, and a logistics warehouse to serve the wider Swiss market. Thomas Garcia, Managing Director of HAKI France, said the company’s Swiss presence had developed consistently over the past eight years. “For the past eight years, HAKI has been able to develop its presence in Switzerland, thanks to its clients who have given us a privileged place on their construction sites,” he said. “Turnover has been steadily increasing year after year.” He added that establishing a local subsidiary would help the business remain closer to customers. “Opening this subsidiary in Switzerland is an opportunity to pursue our growth across the country in a more structured way. Being close to our customers to support them remains a priority for us.” As part of the expansion, Julien Cru, who has been responsible for the Swiss market to date, will take on commercial management of HAKI Safety SA. The company said the new operation would support its long-term ambitions in Switzerland, as demand for compliant and reliable safety systems continues to increase across the construction sector.

China joins IASA as global membership continues to expand

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China joins IASA as global membership continues to expand
China has become the latest country to join the International Access and Scaffolding Association (IASA), following the China Formwork and Scaffold Association’s decision to become a member of the global body. The move brings the China Formwork and Scaffold Association (CFSA) into IASA’s growing international membership, further extending the organisation’s reach into Asia. CFSA is a national industry association representing China’s formwork, scaffolding and related construction engineering sectors. The association is involved in the development of technical standards, safety improvement, innovation and the wider sustainability of the sector across the country. IASA said the addition reflects its continued focus on expanding global membership and strengthening links between regional and international industry bodies. An IASA representative said, “IASA is delighted to welcome the China Formwork and Scaffold Association as a member. CFSA’s experience and perspective will add significant value to our international network.” The association added that it expects close cooperation between IASA and CFSA, with a focus on sharing knowledge, exchanging best practice and supporting the development of safe and efficient access and scaffolding solutions worldwide. The International Access and Scaffolding Association has said it views international collaboration as central to improving standards and consistency across the global access and scaffolding industry.

UK construction growth cut to 1.7% as housing sector weakens

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UK construction growth cut to 1.7% as housing sector weakens
Growth in the UK construction industry has been downgraded to 1.7% for 2026, almost half the figure predicted three months ago. The Construction Products Association said the revision reflected continued weakness in housing and commercial building, as well as broader economic uncertainty. Firms across the industry have reported subdued activity. Sluggish economic growth and weak confidence are delaying investment decisions. The industry body said recovery would depend on improved confidence among homebuyers and investors.

Housing sector struggles

Private housing is the largest part of the construction sector. It is now expected to grow by just 1.5% in 2026, down from a 4.0% forecast in October. The CPA said housebuilders were facing difficult choices. They must balance keeping homes affordable for buyers while maintaining viable profit margins on developments. Rising costs are squeezing margins for smaller builders in areas where demand has remained steady. Where prices have been increased to protect viability, affordability is limiting sales. A significant increase in housebuilding would require strong demand during the spring selling season. The CPA said this was unlikely without government support for buyers.

Home improvements falling

The home repairs and improvements sector is expected to contract by 1.0% in 2026. It marks a second consecutive annual decline. Activity remained weak throughout 2025. This was despite falling interest rates and growth in real household incomes. The CPA said homeowners lacked confidence to commit to major improvement work. The sector also faces the end of the government’s ECO energy efficiency programme in March 2026. Replacement measures under the Warm Homes Plan are not expected to boost activity significantly in the near term.

Infrastructure sustains growth

Infrastructure is forecast to grow by 3.9% in 2026, matching the previous forecast. Investment in energy generation, power distribution and water infrastructure continues to drive the sector. There has been increased spending at the start of a new regulatory period for water companies. However, some major projects are scaling down or facing uncertainty. Work at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is passing its peak. Concerns remain over potential delays to the HS2 rail project. A gap in the roads building programme is also expected.

‘Another difficult year’

Rebecca Larkin is the CPA’s head of construction research. She said conditions that had constrained the industry showed little sign of improving. Firms were preparing for “another difficult year” with ongoing uncertainty, she said. Growth was expected to come from more resilient areas. These include commercial refurbishment, energy and water infrastructure, and public building programmes for schools, hospitals and prisons, the CPA said.

Rainham, Zenith and TEi join new industrial services group Coriant

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Rainham, Zenith and TEi join new industrial services group Coriant
Rainham, Zenith and TEi have announced they are joining Coriant, a newly established UK-based industrial and infrastructure maintenance services group. The launch of Coriant follows the acquisition of Rainham by global private equity firm H.I.G. Capital in 2024, and the subsequent addition of Zenith and TEi to create a group of specialist industrial services businesses. Coriant has been formed in response to changing conditions across the UK’s industrial and infrastructure sectors. Asset owners are facing pressures linked to the energy transition, ageing plant, rising safety and regulatory requirements, skills shortages, and the need to extend asset life. Against this backdrop, customers are increasingly seeking fewer, more accountable partners with the capability to deliver specialist services at scale. The three businesses will continue to operate independently in their respective markets. Their brands, management teams, technical expertise and customer relationships will be retained. Coriant will act as a group-level platform to support growth, investment and closer alignment across the businesses. The group’s strategy is focused on the maintenance, repair and optimisation of critical industrial and infrastructure assets. This includes investment in specialist capability, systems and people, enabling collaboration across operating companies to meet complex, multi-disciplinary customer requirements, and pursuing a selective buy-and-build strategy to add further specialist businesses. Coriant aims to combine operational agility at company level with the scale and financial resilience of a larger group structure. The existing management teams at Rainham, Zenith and TEi will remain in place and will continue as shareholders, supported by a central leadership team within the group. Tom Walsh, Chairman of Coriant, said the launch reflected a shift in how industrial services are being delivered in the UK. “This launch recognises the changing nature of the UK industrial services market and marks an important milestone in the evolution of these businesses,” he said. “Coriant brings together our shared strengths and promotes deeper collaboration, while preserving the distinct identities that make Rainham, Zenith and TEi unique.” He added that the group structure would allow the businesses to continue delivering specialist, responsive services, while benefiting from greater investment capacity and scale. Coriant also plans to extend its service offering through further acquisitions as part of its long-term growth strategy. Coriant will operate across a range of industrial and infrastructure sectors, providing installation, maintenance, refurbishment and decommissioning services across the full asset lifecycle, with safety positioned as a central priority.

Lawyer doubles salary after switching to scaffolding career

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Lawyer doubles salary after switching to scaffolding career
A former solicitor has nearly doubled her income after leaving the legal profession to work in scaffolding. Mollie Pollard, 33, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, joined Attridge Scaffolding in January 2024 after seven years in the legal industry, where she had been earning £42,000 annually, according to The Sun. The career change resulted in a 75 per cent pay increase for Pollard, who said she struggled to live on her previous salary whilst paying off a £45,000 student debt. “I was putting blood, sweat and tears into my job as a solicitor and getting nothing,” Pollard told The Sun. “I’m so much happier now. I haven’t looked back. I’ve got more flexibility and free time too.” Pollard, who joined her husband Tom at the scaffolding company, said her previous legal salary of £32,000 to £42,000 made it difficult to achieve financial independence. “If I wasn’t with Tom, I couldn’t have moved out from my parents’ house,” she said. Pollard said she hopes her career change will encourage others, particularly women, to consider opportunities in scaffolding and construction.

Scaffold Resource claims back-to-back victory at US Championship

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Scaffold Resource claims back-to-back victory at US Championship
A Maryland-based scaffolding company has successfully defended its championship title at the United States’ most prestigious scaffold building competition, held at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas. Scaffold Resource, from Lanham, Maryland, completed the timed challenge in one hour, 20 minutes and 55 seconds to claim their second consecutive victory at the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) competition on 20 January. The annual event, under SAIA’s organisation, saw 13 teams from across the United States and the United Kingdom compete in a timed build-and-dismantle challenge, testing their technical skill, safety protocols and teamwork under real-world conditions.

International Competition

Turn Key Scaffold from California finished second with a time of one hour, 34 minutes and 20 seconds, whilst fellow Californian firm Scaffold Solutions claimed third place at one hour, 35 minutes and 40 seconds. AK Scaffolding from Manchester represented the UK contingent, finishing fourth overall with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 38 seconds. The competition, sponsored by German scaffolding manufacturer Layher, attracted considerable attention from the estimated sixty thousand of construction professionals attending the World of Concrete exhibition. In a separate public vote, Atlas Sales from Hawaii won the Crowd Favourite Award, securing 234 votes in an online poll—significantly ahead of other competitors. SAIA President Mike Bredl presented the awards, including the coveted Championship Belt which has become a symbol of excellence within the American scaffolding industry.

Industry Recognition

The competition was judged by a panel of 19 industry experts, including representatives from major scaffolding firms and engineering consultancies across North America. Beyond the competitive element, SAIA used the event to deliver safety demonstrations, with their Fall Protection Council highlighting the critical importance of rescue planning following falls, a factor often overlooked in workplace safety protocols. “Fall protection is only half the story—what happens after a fall matters just as much,” organisers emphasised during Wednesday’s educational sessions, which examined suspension trauma risks and anchor testing.

JR Scaffold Services supports restoration of 19th-century church in Houston

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JR Scaffold Services supports restoration of 19th-century church in Houston
One of Scotland’s largest scaffolding contractors, JR Scaffold Services, has completed a specialist access installation to support restoration works at St Fillan’s Church. The 19th-century church, built in 1841 and located at the entrance to the village of Houston, is undergoing essential roof repairs. The scaffolding solution was designed to allow full removal and replacement of the existing slate roof, helping the project continue through winter weather conditions. JR Scaffold Services installed a custom temporary roof and access scaffold over a two-week period. The project was led by contracts director John Jack and in-house temporary roof adviser Owen Stoney, supported by a team of three scaffolders. The scaffold design was developed in collaboration with Gallery Access Solutions and incorporated a combination of Cuplok scaffolding and the Uni Roof system supplied by Altrad Dessa. The approach allowed the structure to be erected at roof level, rather than from ground level, due to limited space around the church. The building’s proximity to the main road presented additional challenges. JR Scaffold Services worked closely with designers to ensure the scaffold complied with road and pavement regulations. Additional beam work was also introduced to manage restricted access at the rear of the site. Owen Stoney said the project required careful planning due to the age and location of the building. “This was an exciting and complex project to be involved with, as it allowed us to showcase our adaptability and expertise for our client,” he said. “We worked closely with the designers to ensure the scaffold provided safe access for the restoration team, while also protecting pedestrians and road users around the site.”

NASC and CISRS to launch new digital platform and mobile app

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NASC and CISRS to launch new digital platform and mobile app
The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme are set to move to a new digital infrastructure on Monday, 26 January 2026, marking a significant change in how members and cardholders access services. Revealed in its latest newsletter, the new platform is designed to bring NASC and CISRS systems together into a single, integrated digital environment. It will link existing online tools, including the ePortal, and is intended to improve usability while strengthening cybersecurity. Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC, said the move reflects the organisation’s aim to provide a more streamlined and secure experience for users. He said the goal was to create “a better user experience with a single, joined-up digital ecosystem”, adding that the new system has been built in a purpose-designed environment offering a higher level of cyber security. Cyber security requirements have become increasingly important for NASC members, particularly those tendering for government or public sector work, where standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus are often required. NASC said the new digital ecosystem will support members in meeting those expectations. Alongside improved security, the platform will allow users to personalise news updates and messages, making information more relevant to their roles and interests. A new NASC and CISRS mobile app is also due to launch in the Apple and Android app stores from 14 February. From March, the app will include a digital CISRS card.
A Scaffmag mock-up of how the app might look
The digital card will display current training records and qualifications and will update automatically as new achievements are added. NASC said this will reduce the risk of outdated information and make card checks quicker and more reliable for contractors and site managers.

AT-PAC Ringlock supports Qatar’s longest zipline installation

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AT-PAC Ringlock supports Qatar’s longest zipline installation
AT-PAC Ringlock has been used to support what the project team described as the longest zipline installation ever constructed in Qatar, spanning approximately 200 metres at a desert events site near Dukhan. Delivered for Swiss Open Air International as part of the Brouq Desert Festival, the temporary installation required a scaffold solution capable of managing elevated cable tensions and dynamic loads, while also accommodating public access around the base of the structure. The scale of the zipline set this project apart from typical event installations. A 200-metre span introduced significantly higher forces at the launch point, placing greater demands on stability, load transfer, and overall structural control.

Engineered support for a two-tower configuration

The scaffold formed the primary support for a two-tower zipline arrangement, consisting of a 20-metre-high launch tower and a 5-metre-high landing tower. Each tower had distinct performance requirements, with the launch structure designed to resist the highest cable tensions and associated overturning forces. AT-PAC Ringlock was selected for its modular flexibility and structural capacity, allowing both towers to be configured efficiently while maintaining a controlled footprint suited to a live event environment. Counterweighting was integrated into the scaffold design to manage applied forces and ensure overall stability throughout operation. Ringlock’s rosette connections enabled accurate alignment and rapid assembly, supporting the tight installation programme typically associated with large-scale events.

Managing public access and trip risk

In addition to structural performance, public safety around the base of the installation was a key design consideration. High footfall in close proximity to the towers required clear circulation routes and the removal of low-level obstructions wherever possible. AT-PAC’s Raised Ledger System (RLS) was deployed specifically in public walkway areas around the structure. By elevating ledger connections, the system removed low-level components from pedestrian zones, significantly reducing trip hazards without compromising the integrity of the scaffold. Trip hazard reduction was the primary driver for the use of RLS on this project, reflecting the additional safety demands of a people-facing events environment.
 
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Installation on a live event site

Installation of the two towers was completed over five days, requiring close coordination between engineering, logistics, and site teams. The scaffold solution incorporated a combination of rental and purchased material, demonstrating the flexibility of system scaffolding in temporary event applications. At the time of reporting, the structure remains in place, with dismantling scheduled following the conclusion of the event programme.

Adapting system scaffolding for events

Supporting the longest zipline installation in Qatar required Ringlock to perform beyond its conventional role as access scaffolding. The project illustrates how engineered system solutions can be adapted for temporary structures subject to dynamic loading, public interface, and programme-driven installation constraints. It also highlights how targeted system features, such as raised ledger configurations, can play a decisive role in managing specific safety challenges unique to event environments.

Inner City Scaffolding appoints new managing director

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Inner City Scaffolding appoints new managing director
Inner City Scaffolding, a London-based scaffolding contractor working across commercial and urban construction projects, has appointed Ben Ramsey as its new managing director. The appointment marks a leadership change as the company enters 2026 and follows a period of development under Sean Phillips, who will remain a director and co-owner of the business. Inner City Scaffolding delivers access and temporary works solutions across London and the surrounding regions, supporting commercial developments, refurbishment projects and complex inner-city sites. The business is known for operating in constrained urban environments where logistics, safety and coordination are critical. Ramsey steps into the role during a wider transition for the company, which includes a planned change of operational premises and a continued focus on strengthening internal capability. Commenting on the appointment, Ramsey said the change represented a new phase for the business, with an emphasis on developing people, maintaining high safety standards and building long-term client relationships. He added that the workforce remained central to the company’s performance, with project quality and consistency driven by skilled teams on site. Inner City Scaffolding said the leadership handover was designed to provide continuity while positioning the business for its next stage of growth, with Phillips continuing to contribute his experience to the company’s long-term strategy.
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