Company fined £270K after MEWP fatality
A Lincolnshire-based company that specialises in lifting and handling equipment has been fined after an employee died after falling with a work platform onto the M25 motorway.
Reading Crown Court heard that Rick Jeager-Fozard, an employee of Kimberly Access Limited, was carrying out a routine pre-delivery inspection on a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) in June 2013.
The MEWP extended to an unsafe angle, resulting in the MEWP falling onto the M25 motorway. Mr Jeager-Fozard was working in the platform of the MEWP, falling with the device.
An investigation by the HSE found that the device had become unsafe because a miscalibration of its secondary boom angle sensor, which started to extend even though the boom had not been raised to the necessary angle. It was found that the MEWPs secondary boom had raised to an angle around 6-degrees lower that required, the boom then extended beyond its safe working limit and tipped over.
The miscalibration occurred through incorrect data being manually manipulated and uploaded onto the machine via a laptop using password protected WebGPI software. The carrying out of warranty repairs on the machine during this period, including granting access to the WebGPI software, fell within the conduct of Genie UK Ltd’s undertaking.
Genie UK Limited of The Maltings, Wharf Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £270,000 and ordered to pay costs of £165,175.
HSE inspector Stephen Faulkner said: “This was a tragic and harrowing incident. Modern high reach MEWPs rely on accurate data to ensure they extend and operate safely, and steps should be taken to ensure the process of calibrating sensors is correctly followed.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Hadrian’s Wall Charity Walk Raises £20k for BoB
A group of 13 volunteers have taken on and completed the iconic Hadrian’s Wall Walk to raise money for UK construction charity Band of Builders (BoB).
The team tackled the Hadrian’s Wall Path – an 84 mile (135 km) from Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria on the west coast – adding on a few miles along the way to hit a total of 90 miles across four days.
The team, backed by two support drivers, walked over 20 miles a day, braving sweltering heat, downpours, blisters and injuries to raise more than £20,000 for Band of Builders, a registered charity set up to help members of the UK construction industry battling illness or injury.
The charity is about to start work on its 26th project, which takes place in northern Ireland, and has more in the pipeline throughout 2022 plus a mental health initiative dubbed The Big Brew.
Martin O’Donnell, fundraising coordinator at Band of Builders, led the team on the challenge. He said: “Most people take on Hadrian’s Wall across six or seven days, so to complete it in four days was no mean feat.
“We had plenty of highs and lows along the way, but everyone agreed that blisters, injuries and long days are worth it to do our bit to help others when they need it. There’s still time to sponsor us as we aim to make this the biggest fundraiser from BoB to date.”
BoB is not only backed by tradespeople from across the UK, but is also supported by major names within the construction industry, including DEWALT, Jewson, Gibbs & Dandy, V12 Footwear, Talasey, Resideo and Haemmerlin.
The Hadrian’s Wall team included a group of eight volunteers from DEWALT, which is matching their fundraising to add even more money to the pot, and four volunteers from Talasey also joined the group for one day of the challenge.
So far the group as a whole has raised just over £20,000 and is keen to boost that total, which will go to future Band of Builders projects to help tradespeople in their hour of need.
Aimee Cooper, Senior eCommerce & Digital Manager from DEWALT, said: “Our team are always inspired by the incredible people at BoB and the work they do to support members of the construction community. When we shared the opportunity to participate in the Hadrians Wall Walk with our teams, we received a fantastic response!”
“As a group we all came together and supported one another through the challenges & toughest moments, with the ambition to make this BoB’s biggest fundraising event yet!”
To sponsor the Band of Builders Hadrian’s Wall Walk, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/band-of-builders-hadrians-wall-challenge
PERI UP Easy scaffolding makes industry awards shortlist again
PERI UP Easy scaffolding has been shortlisted for the British Construction Industry Awards in the ‘Product Innovation of the Year’ category after recently making the shortlist for the Construction News Specialist Awards.
Since its launch and introduction to the UK market on the Blake Tower project last year, the scaffolding system – designed for façade applications – has contributed to improved construction programmes on recladding and refurbishment projects in London.
End-user requirements are at the core of the system’s design. Its low-weight components like the 7.2kg standard and fast connections such as the innovative advanced guardrail have accelerated build times, with a typical scaffolding bay taking just two minutes to construct.
Mark Holmes, Industrial Manager at PERI, said: “It’s a great achievement for PERI UP Easy to be recognised and shortlisted in these categories. The system has come a long way since its launch, and we are excited to work alongside our customers to demonstrate its benefits on future projects.”
The BCI Awards recognise and reward excellence in project delivery and, crucially, delivering positive outcomes for society. More specifically, the ‘Product Innovation of the Year’ award recognizes innovation in product design and how it improves overall project outcomes. The winners will be announced on 12th October 2022.
Bilfinger UK sets five-year apprenticeship commitment to deliver future talent
Engineering and maintenance provider Bilfinger UK, has pledged to hire 400 apprentices over the next five years to deliver future growth and attract and retain more young people across the sector.
The new commitment will see the firm hire 86 new trainees this year across its network in England and Scotland, with the majority of the positions created within its maintenance, modifications and operations (MMO) business.
Bilfinger UK, which is headquartered in Warrington in Cheshire, is one of Britain’s largest tier one contractors with 4,500 employees and 13 locations across the UK’s key industrial hubs.
Each apprentice will undertake either a three or four-year programme of work experience and appropriate off the job training relevant to the discipline being worked towards, which will be certified by a recognised awarding body.
Damian Redmond, HR Director at Bilfinger UK, said: “It is common knowledge that there is a skills shortage in the UK engineering industry and as a major contractor and employer, we recognise the importance of our role in attracting new talent into the sector and providing them with the skills and opportunities to build successful careers.
“This is an exciting time to come into engineering. The sectors we operate in are changing rapidly as the UK accelerates towards the energy transition, from our traditional markets of oil and gas and utilities, through to major renewables in onshore and offshore wind, nuclear, hydrogen and carbon capture.
“Our scheme represents a significant opportunity for those with a curiosity of how we make and maintain the infrastructure that makes the world turn. And it’s this proposition that the industry collectively needs to embrace to attract tomorrow’s generation of engineers.”
Molly Fox from Minehead, Somerset, started her apprenticeship with Bilfinger UK in November 2019, with on-site training at Hinkley Point C, where the company is delivering inspection work and maintenance services for NSSS (Nuclear Steam Supply System), BNI (Balance of Nuclear Island) and BoP (Balance of Plant).
Molly said: “My apprenticeship has been such a valuable experience. Not many people my age will have had the same opportunities that I’ve had: getting hands on experience on one of the UK’s biggest engineering projects of the century.
“I’d really encourage anyone with an interest of science and engineering, who’s uncertain of what career path to take, to see how they could build a bright future as a Bilfinger UK apprentice.”
To apply for the roles, please visit: www.jobs.bilfinger.com
Masons Scaffolding sponsors Millwall FC
Millwall Football Club has announced that Masons Scaffolding has become the club’s back-of-shirt sponsor for the 2022/23 campaign.
The firm’s company logo will adorn the home, away and third kit shirts across the course of the new season. London-based Masons Scaffolding established in 1993 offers a specialist scaffolding and access service across the capital, South East and Home Counties. Masons Scaffolding Managing Director, Grant Mason said, “As a Millwall supporter, I’m delighted to sponsor the shirt, It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do it, but it’s a privilege and I’m proud to do it.“To see your name on the shirt is every supporter’s dream. I’m delighted to get behind the club in any way I can. I’m looking forward to a good season.”
Andrew Stead, Millwall FC’s Hospitality & Partnerships Manager, added, “We’re delighted to be working with Grant and Masons Scaffolding. Grant has supported the club for a number of years now and it’s great to be able to have his logo on the back of the shirt for the upcoming season. I want to thank him for his support.”Site workers to get 5% pay increase
The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) have agreed on a below-inflation pay rise for site workers covered by the working rule agreement.
The deal follows months of talks between the CIJC, construction unions and contractors under the CIJC pay framework. The one-year pay deal, will start from Monday 25th July 2022 and includes a 5% pay increase across all rates and a two-stage increase in non-taxable allowances. The CIJC sets minimum wages for more than 500,000 workers. The National Federation of Builders was happy with the outcome of the deal, “This agreement is in line with the mandate given to the NFB’s negotiators by the membership survey, so we are pleased to be achieving the increases members asked for,” it said in a press release.Lighthouse Construction Charity Urges “Talk to Us”
July is Talk to Us month and the Lighthouse Construction industry Charity is raising awareness of the importance of talking about wellbeing issues with friends, colleagues and professionals to prevent situations from spiralling to crisis point.
Working in construction can be extremely rewarding but has its challenges. Over 87% of the workforce are male which means they are less likely to talk about and share their problems. In addition to this, long hours, tight deadlines and lack of job security can contribute significantly to poor mental health. Many contracts mean working away from home without the normal support network of family and friends, so trying to keep everyone happy including family, their boss, the main contractor and the client, can simply be too much.
Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while and just being listened to can help you feel supported. You never know who might be struggling so don’t forget to check up on your friends, family and colleagues to see how they are coping.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction industry Charity said: “Last month, we saw a record 300 calls to our 24/7 construction industry helpline, but the positive message is that people are feeling more able to reach out and talk to someone. No problem is too large or too small and if they’re not comfortable with talking on the phone, they can use our text support service to chat. They can even visit one of our Lighthouse Beacons to meet and talk face to face in a safe environment.
Talking can make us feel vulnerable, but it shouldn’t be seen as a sign of weakness. We know that all the work we are doing, together with efforts of the industry is helping to reduce the stigma of talking about feelings and problems.”
One such initiative is the charity’s partnership with National Grid at its interconnector site in Kent. A wellbeing facility encourages a positive wellbeing environment where people can share their issues and signposts workers to information on how to reach out for support.
Nicola Medalova, Managing Director of interconnectors for National Grid said: “We need to ensure that wellbeing initiatives are reaching the most vulnerable and more needs to be done to improve support and services offered within the sector. That is why we have partnered with mental health professionals from the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity to provide support to all of our workers and provide easy access to a huge range of wellbeing support. As well as this, there are lots of informal ways to connect with workers and build relationships, particularly for those who feel intimidated by professional help. Sometimes just talking to a friend or colleague can help”.
The Construction News ‘Mind Matters’ survey published last week identified a significant shift in construction’s mental health journey due to a change in attitudes about talking openly. 53 per cent of survey respondents said that they felt comfortable talking about their mental health with colleagues, compared with 33 per cent in 2019.
Colin Marrs, Editor of Construction News said: “These findings are positive and many companies have their own initiatives to help their employees start a conversation about whatever is troubling them. The industry has a collective moral responsibility to ensure that construction is a safe and healthy place to work, both mentally and physically. There is still much work to be done and we cannot take our eye off the ball, but it is encouraging to see this positive shift in attitudes”.
The charity’s current campaign, ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ aims to raise awareness of all the support available to both companies and individuals and highlights the importance of reaching out.
The ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ campaign is also visiting construction sites and builders’ trade outlets across the country to meet and talk to the trades and raise awareness of the support available to them. The team are all fully trained mental health first aiders with first hand life experiences in construction, so are able to identify and relate easily with the issues being raised.
Find out more about the charity’s Talk to Us campaign
Read the full findings of the Construction News Mind matters survey
If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can reach out for 25/7 free and confidential support via;
24/7 Construction Industry Helplines; 0345 605 1956, (UK) 1800 939 122 (ROI)
Text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) 50808 (ROI)
Via their website
Rope Access Training Provider joins Safety & Access in Grimsby
MCL has joined scaffolding training provider Safety & Access in a new state-of-the-art Rope Access training facility at CATCH in Stallingborough.
MCL also based in London was formed in 2008 and is a specialist working at height/rope access and difficult access training provider.
The new facility based at CATCH (Centre for the Assessment of Technical Competence) is situated in the industrially-rich region of the Humber that provides a safe and authentic site environment with full-scale equipment for experiential learning and development.From these world-class training facilities, MCL will deliver practical, onsite-based training to members of the oil, gas and renewable industries, construction, stage and theatre rigging, theme parks and many more.
Classrooms and simulated industrial environments make for the perfect setting in which to undertake their accredited qualifications. Rope access can be applied to so many difficult or unusual scenarios. Martin Castle, Managing Director of MCL said: “With all of the diverse industry sectors which are situated in and around Lincolnshire, the decision was taken to open our new training facility at CATCH, in Grimsby.
Not only do we offer the internationally accredited IRATA rope access courses, our highly skilled and knowledgable team also deliver a range of Height Safety oriented courses such as Work at Height, Rescue, Harness & Lanyard Use, Fixed Ladder Inspection, Anchor Bolt Installation & Testing courses are also offered as well PFPE (Personal Fall Protection Equipment) Inspection courses which will be a great service for those in this area.”
More information can be found on the MCL website www.mcl-uk.com
International Scaffolding Expo to be held next year
The 7th International Scaffolding, Formwork, Moving Platforms and Industrial Building Technologies Exhibition (Scafform Expo) will be held in 2023.
The event organised by Demos Fairs will be held in Istanbul, Turkey at the Yenikapi Exhibition Center between 18-22 March 2023.
Thousands of visitors from around the world are expected to attend the event with a wide selection of international previous exhibitors including Doka, Peri, Layher, Altrad, MJ Gerust plus many other international scaffolding brands attending.
Many scaffolding systems and accessories will be on show but visitors can also view formwork systems and accessories, plywood products, construction work and worker safety equipment, telescopic erecting poles and platforms, as well as towers, cranes and risers.
Event organisers said: “The Scaffolding and Formwork Istanbul Expo has found an important place in the rapidly developing construction sector that brings together the companies engaged in project design, production, sales and leasing, and the professional target audience, which is in restructuring abroad, on a commercial platform.
The venue city – Istanbul also draws attention since it is accepted as one of the best trade fair locations in the world with direct flights from over 120 countries and 300 destinations.”
The fair can be visited between 10.30 and 18.00 hours for 5 days.
For more information, visit http://scafformexpoistanbul.com/en/home/
Mace Group Chairman and CEO chosen as new CLC Co-Chair
One of UK construction’s most recognised executives has been chosen to succeed Andy Mitchell as the new Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council.
Following an open recruitment process, an independent panel comprising industry, members of the CLC’s Senior Advisors Group and Government officials have recommended Mark Reynolds (Mace Group Chairman and CEO) to lead the CLC in partnership with Lee Rowley MP (BEIS Minister for Industry).
Mr Reynolds who took on the role yesterday (23 June) will be building on the four CLC priorities.
Mr Reynolds commented: “I am delighted to take on this exciting co-chair role following the great work by Andy over the last four years. During that time, I have seen first-hand how the CLC can make a real difference for companies across the whole of the industry”.
“We have faced – and continue to face – challenges that no one organisation can tackle on its own, such as the cost of inflation and impact of rising energy prices; global supply chain pressures and ensuring our collective progression to Net Zero. I am also very pleased to be working with Richard Robinson, CEO for Atkins UK and Europe, on this agenda; who will strengthen our collective leadership and capacity in his role as Deputy Co-Chair.”
“The CLC, working in partnership with Government, provides crucial leadership to the sector. We do this most effectively where we speak to, and for, all parts of industry. Whilst I will continue the CLC’s focus on its four priorities, I would like to engage and listen to the wider industry over the summer to ensure we continue to deliver on the issues that matter most to us as a sector. I want to take this opportunity to encourage organisations across construction to get involved with the CLC’s work.”
Commenting on the appointment, Construction Minister Lee Rowley MP said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Mark as the new chair of the CLC. He’s been a key part of the Council in recent years, helping coordinate the industry’s Covid response, as well as supporting job creation in his role with the Construction Skills Delivery Group.
Mark will play a vital role in the months and years ahead as we work to decarbonise the industry through Construct Zero, support it through the Building Safety Act’s introduction, and deliver the first sector-wide skills plan for construction. I would also like to pay tribute to Andy Mitchell for his outstanding leadership to date, which puts the CLC in a strong position to keep delivering for the sector.”
Outgoing chair Andy Mitchell said: “The CLC is in a great position to lead industry transformation, working together to overcome any issues that may affect companies nationwide. I am delighted that Mark will be driving forward the Council’s agenda, and look forward to seeing the outputs of its work in the future”.
