National construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) is gearing up for an increase in use of its new mental health text service during the festive period – following new figures that indicate that 5,583 people died by suicide in Britain during the last year.
The charity launched the service in October as part of its annual Big Brew campaign so that tradespeople, contractors and their families can text BOB to 85258 at any time to get much-needed help. BoB is expecting to see a spike in usage over Christmas and into the new year – and it wants to encourage people from across the construction community not to suffer in silence.
Peter Cape, the Big Brew lead at Band of Builders, says that Christmas is always a stressful period at the best of times – but this year it is compounded by additional pressures such as the cost-of-living crisis and sky-high energy bills.
“Band of Builders is making a simple appeal this Christmas to everyone involved in the construction industry to ask for help if they are suffering with mental health issues,” he said. “We’re asking scaffolders, roofers, electricians, builders and everyone else in construction, or their families, who are concerned about their mental health to take that all-important first step and text BOB to 85258.“Our text service team are trained to respond to the full spectrum of mental health issues, including abuse, addiction, anger issues, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, depression, loneliness, personality disorders, relationship issues, self-harm, trauma, work-related stress and even suicidal thoughts.“ONS figures used as part of the Big Brew campaign – which is sponsored by Big Red Construction – suggest that UK construction sector workers are nearly three times as likely to die by suicide than their counterparts in other industries, and the suicide rate of UK construction workers is estimated to be as high as two people every day.”
The appeal is especially important, as figures being reported in The Times newspaper suggest that last year, 5,583 people died by suicide in Britain.
Peter added that the sole aim of the Big Brew has been to make it as easy as possible for tradespeople and contractors to take the first step and reach out. Last year’s campaign raised enough money to fund a counselling service specifically for the construction industry for two years.
“The new text service has been a welcome addition to the counselling service – which means we can offer different routes by which tradespeople can get much-needed help and support.”
This year, CITB has paid out over £5m more in grants and supported nearly 700 more employers compared to the same period in 2021.
CITB data has revealed that almost 12,500 businesses have been supported in the form of grants, with £54.6m paid out to date (Apr – Nov 2022), and more than half paid to small or micro businesses.
The CITB Grants Scheme provides grants for employers in the construction industry that deliver day-to-day training for their workforce. There are several areas whereby businesses can apply for grants, including apprenticeships, short courses, and qualifications.
The data also shows early signs of a pattern forming, as apprenticeships continue to be the highest-used area of grants so far. Following a boost in grant funding for apprenticeships, £37.4m has been paid out since April, amounting to 68.5% of the total grant spend this year.
CITB’s Construction Skills Network (CSN) report, released earlier this year, revealed that approximately 50,000 additional workers will be required every year to meet demand by 2026. This highlights how recruitment and developing a highly skilled workforce will be by far the construction industry’s biggest challenges moving forward.
As a response to employer feedback, CITB has been working on simplifying the grant application process, with the aim of supporting even more businesses through the Grants Scheme in the new year. As part of this, a new one-page PDF form is now available on the CITB website.
Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “The impact the Grant Scheme has been able to provide in just the last six months is fantastic! Looking at the comparison to last year’s grant spend shows just how valuable the funding is to employers, and we’re incredibly proud to continue supporting the industry to make sure they are equipped with the right skills and people to meet demand.“The scheme is in place for all eligible employers who are registered with CITB, and we hope that the new application approach will encourage even more people to come forward and benefit from the funding. If you would like more information about becoming registered and claiming a grant, please do get in touch and speak to one of our advisers.”
To find out more about how you can receive support, visit the Grants and Funding page.
Mohed Altrad the billionaire owner of the Altrad Group has been handed an 18-month suspended jail term after he was found guilty of rugby-related corruption.
Mohed the French scaffolding giant who according to Forbes is worth 3.3 billion was found guilty along with French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte of corruption in the award of rugby shirt sponsorship deals to Altrad.
It was alleged that Mohed had conspired with Bernard Laporte to make his company the official front-of-shirt sponsor for the French national rugby team in exchange for a €180,000 payment in 2017.
Judges in Paris found the pair guilty and gave Mohed an 18-month suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine, Laporte received a two-year suspended prison sentence and €75,000 fine.
Both men have denied any wrongdoing, while Mr Altrad’s lawyer said his client will consider whether to appeal the verdict over the coming days.
“Mohed Altrad never intended to illegally obtain any favours from Bernard Laporte,” Altrad’s lawyer said in a statement published by Bloomberg.
“The Altrad group is neither concerned nor impacted by this ruling and Mohed Altrad will continue to invest his time and energy in management missions for his group, its employees and partners.”
Altrad sponsors both the French rugby union national team and the All Blacks, and also owns Montpellier rugby club. In 2015 Mohed Altrad became the first Frenchman to win the World Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Mohed was born into a Syrian tribe he moved to France as a 17-year-old with little money and studied hard to secure a PhD in Computer Sciences. He took the plunge with a partner in 1985 to buy a scaffolding manufacturer close to bankruptcy founding Altrad.
Over the years and following a string of acquisitions, the Altrad Group has become a huge player in construction, scaffolding and industrial services which has grown into a €4.5bn-turnover international group employing 62,000 people worldwide.
The NASC has launched SG4:22: Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations. This long-awaited, core NASC safety guidance document provides industry best practice for fall prevention when erecting tube & fitting and now also includes system scaffolding.
SG4:22 features 60 pages of detailed scaffolding sector analysis and safety guidance, with 95 key figures and illustrations, to bring it to life.
Initially the document is available to download as a PDF from the NASC ePortal, but handy A6 SG4 user guide booklets are in the pipeline. For now, the NASC states that current SG4:15YOU booklets can still be issued to scaffolders – alongside a briefing on the main changes to SG4 – until SG4:22 booklets become available in early 2023.
The key changes to SG4:22 are:
The removal of obsolete technology.
The inclusion of case studies highlighting accident and enforcement learning.
The embracing of new technology (e.g., drones and 3D modelling).
Updates to reflect changes brought in with TG20:21 (such a TG20 loading bays).
The inclusion of modular system scaffolding as well as traditional tube and fitting.
Additional safety guidance on working on beams.
Hazards, risks and control measures required when working on fragile roofs.
Improved Safe System of Work (SSOW) for temporary roofs and the prevention of falls.
Speaking about the launch of SG4:22, Acting NASC Managing Director, Dave Mosley said: “SG4 has long been one of the most important documents in the access industry, as such it is imperative that it receives a thorough review every 5 years. Since its introduction it has went a very long way in helping make our industry a safer place – for NASC members and non-members alike. It is a must-have document for anyone involved in working at height, scaffolding and access.”
SG4:22 Technical Author and Simian Managing Director, Simon Hughes added: “Having been involved with NASC for over 25 years, I am proud to be associated with NASC and particularly in the development of their flagship safety guidance.“Since the first edition of SG4, which was published well over two decades ago, the scaffolding industry and the standards that support it have seen significant development, as they seek to reflect technological advancements, modern working practices, and the lessons learned by industry.“NASC’s publications are widely respected as industry best practice the world over, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be involved in the review and production of this edition, which will hopefully to yield improved standards of safety.”
Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive Build UK provided the following foreword to the newly released SG4:22, which says: “The application of consistently high standards is key to both safety and productivity on construction projects. Scaffolding professionals provide temporary working platforms and other structures that are used throughout the construction sector and they often face significant risks in establishing safe temporary access and work environments for other workers. Specialist construction trades, such as scaffolders, perform a vital role in our supply-chain and we all rely upon current industry guidance to establish, and maintain, safe working practices that have become the benchmark for our members’ projects.
“Written by NASC and industry experts, over the years this guidance has challenged industry practices and has clearly demonstrated an impact in saving lives and preventing serious injury. All scaffolding operatives should hold a current CISRS card and be trained to SG4:22 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations which sets the standard across the UK.”
SG4:22 Management Guide is available to download as a PDF from the NASC e-Portal now. Contact the NASC office for more details: Phone (+44) 20 7822 7400 or email [email protected].
The HSE is reminding employers of their responsibilities to keep workers safe as cold weather continues to affect large parts of the country.
Great Britain’s workplace regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, is stressing the importance of protecting workers during the cold weather. It comes as the Met Office has issued a level three cold weather alert until Thursday 15 December for large areas of the UK.
John Rowe, Head of Operational Strategy, said: “We’re calling on all employers to take a sensible approach during the cold weather we are experiencing. There are lots of jobs that will be more difficult in the current conditions. Most employers will recognise this and make appropriate accommodations for their staff. That is the right thing to do.“It’s also important employers ensure staff are working in a reasonable temperature. People working in uncomfortably cold environments are less likely to perform well and more likely to behave unsafely because their ability to make good decisions deteriorates.”
Temperatures in indoor workplaces are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a “reasonable” temperature in the workplace.
All employers are expected to ensure indoor workplaces are kept at a reasonable temperature. The Approved Code of Practice suggests the minimum temperature should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius. If the work involves rigorous physical effort, the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius.
John Rowe added: “Complying with the code of practice is the right thing for an employer to do. By maintaining a reasonable temperature, employers are likely to maintain the morale and productivity of their staff as well as improving health and safety.”
In a bid to boost capacity and increase the number of new scaffolders, CISRS has been awarded a CITB commission to help fund the development and training of 16 new scaffolding instructors within England and Wales.
CISRS hopes to make the job of a scaffolding instructor an attractive potential change of career for 16 qualified Scaffolders, to enable them to pass on their knowledge and experience to the next generation.
In particular, the training body is seeking scaffolders in the following UK regions, which have been identified as being most in need of support:
Wales
Southwest
Northwest
Midlands
Northeast – (Humber/North Yorkshire)
South Central (Hampshire, IOW, Berkshire, West Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,
Surrey)
The 16 new scaffolding instructors will undoubtedly help new NASC President David Brown’s mission to boost numbers and upskill operatives within the scaffolding sector.
CISRS Scheme Manager and NASC Managing Director, David Mosley said: “CISRS will be making all efforts to ensure that these regions get the additional instructor numbers that they need. We have already met with several centres that are fully on board, looking to recruit, train and retain the potential new instructors. Qualifying a new scaffolding instructor can take a considerable time. We are very grateful to CITB for offering this support. CISRS will work closely with the providers to ensure that all relevant training, experience and assessment is given to new recruits to get them up to at least Part 1 approval status.”
“Scaffolding instruction is a great career option for those who love their work in the industry but are considering a change of direction. You can continue to be involved within the sector by sharing skills and experience and maintaining high standards of training and skills to the upcoming workforce.”
Interested scaffolding instructor applicants should, in the first instance contact CISRS by emailing [email protected] with details of where they are based and the regions, they would be interested in working in.
Please note that all applicants need to have held a CISRS Advanced or Scaffolder card for 10+ years.
Scaffolder and rising MMA star, Bradley Rice is raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
The Teal Scaffold employee who works as a PASMA Scaffolding Operative at the company recently undertook an eight-week intensive MMA Bootcamp in preparation of Ultra MMA, a charity fundraiser.
The event which takes places on Friday 16th December at Liverpool’s iconic Olympia is supporting Bradley in raising much-needed funds for Cancer Research UK.
After competing in MMA competitions for over a decade, Bradley is set to take on one of his most challenging and important fights to date.
“Cancer Research UK is a charity that is very close to my heart, so I wanted to raise funds for the cause. The work they do to support not just those who are affected by cancer but also their families is priceless,” Bradley said.
Bradley’s Manager at Teal Scaffold, Kevin Williams added: “We are incredibly proud of Bradley. We have seen first-hand how hard he has worked in training in preparation for the big event and cause. The team at Teal Scaffold will be backing Bradley as he fights for a great cause. Good luck and well done to all those involved in the event.”
You can follow Bradley’s fight on LinkedIn and Twitter.
There’s still time to donate via the MMA stars Just Giving page or by purchasing a ticket for the fundraising event here.
The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to be expanded to cover the whole of London from August 2023.
Many drivers in London will be charged an extra daily fee of £12.50 when new plans to expand the ULEZ come into force.
In a bid to boost air quality for its residents, the zone will be expanded to cover the whole capital from August 29 2023.
All vehicles entering London must meet the ULEZ standard (Euro VI/6 for diesel and Euro IV/4 for petrol) or pay the daily charge. HGVs over 3.5 tonnes have had to meet tougher London-wide Low Emission Zone standards since March 2021.
The scheme, which operates every day apart from Christmas Day, is currently limited to the area within the North and South Circular roads but will soon cover all of Greater London.
Transport for London (TfL) estimates that on an average day about 160,000 cars and 42,000 vans that use London’s roads would be liable for the £12.50 ULEZ fee.
Officials hope the scheme will encourage tens of thousands of those drivers to switch to vehicles that comply with the minimum emissions standards or use other modes of getting around such as walking, cycling or public transport.
To see if your vehicle meets the ULEZ emission standards, use the TfL vehicle checker.
Scaffolders at a Hertfordshire-based scaffolding firm have begun erecting a large free-standing scaffold that will soon encapsulate the Queens Tower at the Imperial College London.
The scaffolders working for JDC Scaffolding are said to be proud to be working on such an iconic monument after the firm was contracted by Russell Cawberry Ltd to supply access and a temporary roof to the 287ft tower.
Builders are set to refurbish the exterior of the stonework and make vital repairs to the copper roof covering.
Opened in 1893 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee the tower is all that remains of the Imperial Institute. The Institute which was not a great success was partially demolished between 1957-1967. From 1966-1968 work was carried out to enable the tower to be a standalone structure.
JDC will be erecting an 83.00m high free-standing scaffold formed of an inner access scaffold, an outer scaffold exoskeleton and a bespoke, circular temporary roof covering. The main external scaffolding will encapsulate a 2 Tonne passenger/goods hoist supplied by Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland and a full-height Haki staircase supplied by UK System Scaffold Hire Ltd. The scaffold has been designed by RDG Engineering.
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has raised a staggering £224,000 for families in construction at its annual Christmas lunch in London.
Construction’s top networking event and lunch was once again a highlight in this year’s calendar and over 900 guests were welcomed through the doors of the Westminster Park Plaza on Friday 2nd December for the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity’s event in London.
Radio and television presenter Pete Graves, was MC for the day and opened proceedings with a warm welcome and a hint of the excitement to come with the day’s special guests. Then it was on to a hotly contested ‘heads and tails’ competition to get everyone in the mood for the entertainment to come.
Each year the Charity awards the ‘Peter Capel’ Cup to recognise outstanding achievement and contributions from organisations that support the charity. Competition for the coveted award is always fierce, but this year the judges were simply unable to select a clear winner. Three companies were announced as joint winners; Gallagher Group, Glencar Construction and Coinford, all of who received resounding cheers and applause from the appreciative audience. The award was in recognition of Gallagher Group and Glencar Construction for organising and sponsoring the charity’s ‘On Yer Bike’ challenge across Ireland in May, and to Gallagher Group and Coinford for organising the charity’s White Collar Boxing event.
A special mention was also given to Logan Price from O’Halloran and O’Brien for his individual achievement, raising almost £15,000 scaling Mont Blanc and the UK and Ireland’s 4 highest peaks.
All the winners of the lotto very generously donated their prize money straight back to the charity, so a special thank you goes to Dermot O’Grady from Ardent Tide, Kathy Marsden from MasterMac Surfacing, and James from J O’Doherty Haulage Ltd.
Guests enjoyed a gourmet three-course meal and auctioneer Addison Gelpey, prompted some frantic bidding for some unique lots and opportunities.
Top celebrities from the sporting world then graced the stage and football legends, Glen Hoddle and Paul Merson, were joined by ex rugby player and presenter, David Flatman. Along with boxing hard hitter David Haye ‘the Hayemaker’ to form an all star line up,
They all shared their own experiences with poor mental health, addiction, injury and near fatal heart attacks, with each adding plenty of humour to how these events had impacted on their lives and shaped how they dealt with the challenges of daily life. The audience were very appreciative of the remarkably candid and witty responses to some tricky questions and the celebrities received a standing ovation..
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “We are always amazed at the generosity of our supporters, particularly during these difficult times. Thank you never seems enough, but that support means that we can literally change and save people’s lives and that is truly humbling. Next year we have big plans to ensure that everyone can reach out for support through our ‘Make it Visible’ campaign and our on site team will be visiting more locations to help spread the word about out vital services. Each year we do more and more for our community but that is only possible with the dedicated and unerring support we receive and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers that helped on the day and our sponsors who make these events possible.”
The afternoon was wrapped up by opera singers, Damian Carter and Alexander Wall who treated the audience to rousing renditions of Nessun dorma and Sweet Caroline,prompting synchronised swaying and napkin waving. The festivities continued well into the evening with guests embracing the Christmas spirit and making the most of the networking opportunities.
