Lyndon SGB is providing hybrid access solutions on the Sidgwick College Lecture Theatres at Cambridge University, which is undergoing extensive building refurbishment and re-roofing.
Working closely with main contractor SDC Builders Ltd, Lyndon SGB have designed and installed an external Cuplok access scaffold and temporary roof solution to facilitate the refurbishment works.
Due to the tight timescale, up to 14 scaffolders worked on-site to install in a six week period, working alongside Taylor’s Hoists, who have expertly installed two hoists to service the roof levels.
Lyndon SGB Regional Manager, Mark Regan said: “This has been another superb collaboration to produce the optimum in-house designed, hybrid access solution – working scaffolding and hoists simultaneously together for the client. “We have had to overcome underground services, working safely in the college during COVID and all within a tight erection period to facilitate completion of works by Christmas. It’s a great example of what we can do, quickly, efficiently and safely for our clients in this region and beyond.”
Steven Yanusauskas, SDC Site Manager added: “Designed and installed in quick time to meet customers requirements… to celebrate the handover of the scaffold and start of the re-roofing works here at Sidgwick, we took some drone photos to mark the occasion. In what feels like a rare moment to reflect on this project, I’d like to thank everyone who has played a part, big or small, in getting to this milestone.Collectively we have managed to appoint, design, plan and deliver a large amount of work in a very short period, overcoming an array of issues along the way. We are also very close to completing the asbestos removal, which given the challenges we have faced, is brilliant news.”
Power tool manufacturer Makita UK has announced its October collection that includes a new powerful 18v Impact Wrench
The new 18V LXT DTW302 Brushless Impact Wrench features a fresh design on its previous counterparts.
Compact, with an overall length of 138mm and 3/8-inch square driving shank, the DTW302 brushless motor provides high power with a fastening torque of up to 300Nm and maximum nut-busting torque of 500Nm.
Featuring a variable speed trigger, the DTW302Z provides the user with more control, with 4-stage impact selection, enabling the user to set the appropriate torque for the application at hand.
For greater control and convenience, the tool also features Forward / Reverse function, with 6 modes for customised applications.
Speaking on the new products, Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “With over 275 cordless solutions within our LXT platform, we are delighted to further expand the possibilities for professionals with these new additions. Designed with purpose-built motors, innovative battery technology and enhanced communications, all our cordless tools work together to deliver reliable power, speed and run times that provide the trade with a cordless solution for every type of application.”
The highly celebrated Royal Premiere of the new James Bond film at London’s Royal Albert Hall marks one of the most exciting cinematic events in recent times.
Remarkably, It has also been a key focus for Layher’s modular event system, the Letchworth based firm said today.
Layher’s popular Allround scaffolding system helped to create the central red-carpet facility at the event and to deliver major project objectives.
“We installed the Layher system to create a structure for panels that provided both masking and branding opportunities, together with an LED screen support structure and an extensive frame to support lighting equipment,” says James Mason, Managing Director at IPS, who brought their specialist event structure skills to the project for client Limited Edition Event Design.
“The use of concrete kentledge at key points enabled the structure to be free-standing – with even a traffic island, lamp posts and beacons incorporated into the layout.”
He points out that the lighting installations were fully accessible via clear walkways constructed using Layher’s steel decks.
Limitations in terms of build time and road closures were two important considerations that had to be accommodated, both of which gained from the speed with which the Layher system was erected.
In-built rosette connections and a wide bay configuration minimised the handling needs while helping to optimise safety. “The efficiency of the installation was significant and enabled us to meet the client’s specific layout and performance needs,” continues James Mason, “even down to black powder coating on visible steel elements to optimise the structure’s appearance.”
Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director, was quick to endorse the comments from IPS. “We are obviously very happy to have been able to work with IPS on this highly prestigious project and that our modular event system has helped to deliver clear customer objectives,” he says.
“Everybody was delighted to see James Bond back on screen and the event at the Royal Albert Hall clearly helped to launch the new film in a highly dramatic and exciting way. We are thrilled to have given it our support – in every sense.”
A scaffolding company has been fined after a worker was fatally electrocuted whilst operating a lorry mounted crane.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how on 17 May 2016, ASL Access Scaffold Limited employee Martin Tilby was fatally electrocuted when the crane he was operating struck an overhead powerline whilst he was unloading materials in a field at Cowbridge, South Glamorgan.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that no risk assessment had been carried out in the field where the incident happened, and no control measures were put in place to prevent contact with the overhead powerlines.
ASL Access Scaffold Limited of Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and LOLER Regulation. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £45,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Damian Corbett said: “This death was easily preventable, and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from striking overhead powerlines. This death would have been preventable had an effective system for managing unloading materials been in place.”
A celebration took place on Thursday (14 October) to mark formerly unemployed Medway residents completing a programme to enter the booming construction industry.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Dalefield Way Industrial Park base of building contractors O’Halloran & O’Brien (OHOB), which saw group members receive certificates and job offers.
The Get Into Construction scheme, funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) with support from Medway Council, saw a fortnight of intense training for the eleven residents in a variety of skills including in scaffolding, site safety, asbestos, steel fixing, practice job interviews and vehicle marshalling.
The programme has led to qualifications for the residents enabling them to work on a construction site straight away, or undertake an apprenticeship, or specialise in further training for an in-demand trade such as scaffolding.
Logan Murfitt, 23, was offered a job with Alltask Scaffolding after completing the course. He said: “I have done lots of different jobs but wanted to get into construction because of the chance to progress. I have a five-year plan and construction gives me a structured way to progress. This course was really good and has given me a chance to get a job.”
Logan Murfitt receiving his certificate
Taylor Curle, 21, graduated from the training course and has also been offered employment, with OHOB. He said: “This course has been so unlike anything I have done before. Nothing like school or even college. I have been treated like an adult and been given respect. I have been able to try different jobs and to see what I like to do.”
Celine McGeown, CITB Customer Engagement Manager, said: “Medway, and Kent, are set to see several major developments in housing and infrastructure in the coming years, and it’s great that with Get Into Construction people in the area have the opportunity to take advantage of this.
“With the industry booming this is exactly the right time for local residents looking for a new career to train up and embark on an exciting and rewarding career.”
Construction in the South East has bounced back strongly from COVID-19 meaning 16,750 additional jobs have to be created by 2025, according to research from CITB.
The industry in the region is expected to grow by an annual average rate of 4.4%, and recovering to pre-pandemic growth levels by 2022.
To be eligible for Get Into Construction training, delivered by OHOB and Medway Adult Education, you must be a Medway resident aged over 16 not in education, employment or training.
Around 60 scaffolders based on British Steel in Scunthorpe held a march on Monday demanding fair pay for the work as their long-running dispute continues.
The scaffolders employed by Actavo held the early morning march around the British Steel Scunthorpe site on Monday (11 October). The workers went from the site main gate and picket line to the administration offices and then into Scunthorpe town centre.
As previously reported the scaffolders who began an all-out strike over a week ago are in dispute with bosses over pay.
The workers want to be paid in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The rates for the workforce are currently 10 to 15 per cent below these rates, according to UNITE the union.
The row began back in 2019 when their former employers Brand Energy had the maintenance contract on the site. Actavo took over the contract in February 2021 but the dispute continues.
Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party said: “So far the bosses haven’t shifted because they know that hundreds of other trades and contractors on site are paid less than the Blue Book rates, and a victory for the scaffolders would breach the dam to a flood of claims.But the strikers are determined and confident, as many of the inspection tags on their scaffolding are starting to expire, and most other firms’ scaffolders are not crossing the picket lines or won’t do Actavo work.”
It’s understood the workers are set to hold further protests in a bid to win the dispute with their employers.
Working on the Forth Road Bridge I-Scaff Access Solutions Ltd have installed the UK’s largest suspended scaffold that uses Layher’s cutting edge ‘FlexBeam’.
The most recent innovation from system scaffolding, access and weather protection specialist, Layher Ltd. is now central to major maintenance work being undertaken by I-Scaff on one of Scotland’s most iconic structures.
The Layher FlexBeam is helping to create an extensive work area underneath the road deck of the Forth Road Bridge which, at more than 2.5 km in length, has connected North and South Queensferry since 1964. Significantly, it is bringing clear advantages in terms of efficiency and time savings to the project.
Ross Brown is Director of I-Scaff Access Solutions Ltd. who have installed the Layher system for main contractor Millar Callaghan Engineering Services Ltd. – working for BEAR Scotland, appointed principal contractor by bridge owners, Transport Scotland. He highlights key elements of the access project.
“The underside of the bridge deck features a series of parallel walkways, totalling some 10 km in length, which were installed in the 1980’s to provide Suspended Span Underdeck Access (SSUDA) to help facilitate engineering, maintenance and inspection activities,” he says.
“These gantries are now undergoing their own programme of maintenance which has called for a full width suspended scaffold to be installed as a means of access. We have been brought in to meet this need on the sixth phase – some 120 metres in length across the full 36 metres width of the bridge – and our use of the Layher FlexBeam has brought major advantages to the work.”
Importantly, the Layher system has required far less equipment than had been experienced in earlier phases where tube and fitting scaffold was used. This has created significantly fewer obstructions enabling Millar Callaghan Engineering Services to undertake their work most efficiently.
“The walkways are being removed for offsite refurbishment before being returned to and refitted on the bridge to continue their SSUDA role for, it is anticipated, a further 25 years,” continues Ross Brown.
“With some sections measuring up to 9 metres in length, the handling equipment is gaining significantly from the relatively unobstructed platform.” He says that the standards from which the temporary decking is suspended are located at an average of 4.5 metre intervals rather than the 1.6 metres typically required by tube and fitting.
“Overall, we have been able to install 80 square metres of suspended decking per day on average – twice as fast as was originally the case.”
The Layher installation features standards linked in clusters of three using wedge-head swivel couplers which, in turn, are clamped to, and suspended from, the bridge’s own steelwork using girder couplers.
These standards then drop down to connect directly to the Layher FlexBeams installed at up to 5.5 metre intervals, and onto which Layher’s Allround Lightweight steel decking is then located. A choice of decking lengths has enabled I-Scaff to accommodate the diagonal steel sections that form part of the bridge structure, while longitudinal bracing is only required every fourth bay.
Guardrails and edge protection have also been installed, where appropriate, while dropped object netting has been located under the full working area by another Millar Callaghan Engineering Services subcontractor to protect the waterway below.
“The fact that the design, which has been undertaken by Kenneth Redman, Technical Manager at our Livingston depot in Scotland, enables the scaffold to be suspended from the bridge’s own steel structure is extremely beneficial,” adds Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director.
Layher Scaffold Information Modelling
He points out that by using the Layher Scaffold Information Modelling (SIM®) software, a clear visual demonstration of the advantages of the FlexBeam system was available to the client in VR format, directly from the company’s LayPLAN CAD design model.
“The lightweight material has also helped with manual handling procedures, while the greatly reduced number of components has not only played a key role in optimising installation efficiency, it has also made a significant contribution to minimising transport and storage needs,” continues Sean Pike.
As a result, Ross Brown and his team have made full use of the system to deliver the saving in installation time that was an important project target, enabling Millar Callaghan Engineering Services to undertake the gantry removal, repair and reinstallation process more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.
largest suspended scaffold
To date, the largest suspended scaffold installed in the UK to use Layher’s FlexBeam, the Forth Road Bridge also represents I-Scaff first application of the equipment, with the contractor undertaking familiarisation training nearby at the Livingston facility.
“We are delighted to be able to demonstrate to our customer that the benefits and savings on paper were recreated, and sometimes exceeded, when brought to life,” adds Ross Brown.
“The fact that we have been able to show clear gains by comparing our approach to that used on the previous five phases to date has been extremely beneficial, and points us towards more extensive use of the Layher FlexBeam in the future.”
With traffic on the road deck continuing uninterrupted, the Forth Road Bridge project has had to meet challenging needs. If efficiency and safety can be defined as key project features, then the use of the Layher FlexBeam at the heart of this sixth phase of the work, means innovation can justifiably be added to the list.
This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 14
Just like a football club making its way up the leagues Scaffolders can also work their way through the ranks winning a higher standing in the industry as Grahame Anderson found out when he spoke to Scaffolder and Author John McNicoll.
Given the right formation of abilities, there’s every chance they can score a few precious victories along the way in terms of the end product. And if you think the sporting analogy doesn’t ring true take a closer look at scaffolder turned author John McNicoll who has three magic numbers on the brain – Four, four, two.
He explained: “I’ve been in the scaffolding industry for 25 years now, having started out as an apprentice on the YTS scheme in 1996. I now work as a contracts-manager at QFS Scaffolding Ltd, having worked my way up through various scaffolding abilities. I’m a keen football fan and was one day given the opportunity to write a few articles by a website on Twitter called By Far the Greatest Team. I did this for around six to 12 months, casually writing in my spare time. I also contributed to outlets such as From the Stands, Give Me Sport, We Are the Busby Boys and Manunited.uk. “When we were about to go into the initial lockdown in March 2020, I thought I may have a little free time on my hands and decided to start designing a web page to blog on. I wrote a couple of articles and then decided maybe instead I could write a dozen or so articles and join them together to make a book. And off I went. Trouble was, we never went into lockdown as Construction carried on. I had to try and write in the evenings after work and on a Saturday or Sunday morning, often spending hours sat at the dining room table typing away. “I had made contacts on Twitter with an author and ended up sending some work for publication on his football website. He advised me to contact Pitch Publishing, who specialise in sports literature. I offered my submission and was completely shocked when they replied with a thumbs up to get it done and sent over.”
The result is a book called ‘Ode to Four Four Two’, examining how the game’s simplest and finest formation was used by coaches in Europe and particularly England, to build iconic teams able to dominate both domestically and in Europe.
He added: “Formations have continually evolved since the birth of the game in the mid-19th century. From teams playing with four or five forwards, to the modern era of teams with just the one, arguably the greatest formation has been 4-4-2. Some of the greatest teams have lined up in this multi-functional system. “Flick through the football history books and it is filled with teams like AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Leeds United and Barcelona, all enjoying glorious eras playing 4-4-2. But it isn’t just the elite end of the game.
You can purchase John’s book on Amazon by following this link.
This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 14
Data suggests that the industry’s post-Covid recovery now looks to be over.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that in August 2021 construction output in England had fallen for the fifth month in a row.
Graphs compiled by the ONS show a near-vertical decline with the arrival of Covid-19 virus in the UK in early 2020 and the subsequent national lockdown in spring. Then from May 2020 to April 2021 there was an almost equally dramatic rise to return to near ‘normal’ levels of output.
However, since April this year, there has been a steady decline in construction output.
The ONS said in a bulletin that anecdotal evidence from businesses continued to suggest that product shortages caused by supply chain issues and subsequent price rises were the main reasons for the decline.
The rising prices of raw materials such as steel, concrete, timber and glass, along with the difficulty in sourcing these materials for jobs was a contributing factor to the monthly fall, says the ONS.
Monthly construction output fell 0.2% in volume terms in August 2021 compared with July 2021, to £14,243 million, and follows the upwardly revised (by 0.6 percentage points) 1.0% monthly decline in July 2021.
Many contractors have stated that their order books were healthy however, availability of products was impacting on construction projects currently underway.
Billy Jones, Managing Director of scaffolding specialist, Millcroft, discusses why the right training and collaborative approach are critical to the efficient delivery of rail projects.
In the scaffolding sector, we’re all used to managing hazards and assessing risk. Working at height and controlling risks such as unstable structures and serious wind loadings is all an integral part of what we do. In the rail sector, the hazards involved are even greater, which is why rail projects require a specialist level of expertise, industry-specific knowledge and a commitment to training.
It’s a sector Millcroft knows very well. A TfL-approved scaffolding contractor, the company has also worked for Network Rail, Crossrail, HS2 Ltd and a wide variety of contractors and civil engineering providers in the industry for decades. It means our team understands the complexities of working in a rail environment, including the increased safety requirements, along with challenges such as reaching programme milestones when working hours are restricted, to overnight possessions and maintaining business as usual operations for passengers without compromising safety or security.
But even for an experienced contractor like us, recently shortlisted in the Construction News Awards and CN Specialist Awards for our work on the HS2 terminus at Euston Station and our involvement with on the Elizabeth Line terminus project at Paddington, there is never any room for complacency. Each rail project brings its own complexities, safety risks and operational challenges and it is only through close collaboration – internally and with our delivery partners – and appropriate training, that we can ensure smooth project delivery.
Understanding the risks and mission-critical requirements
The journey to a safer and more efficient project begins with the briefing process. Both the Euston HS2 and Paddington projects are huge infrastructure improvements taking years to deliver and requiring existing rail services to operate safely and efficiently throughout.
It’s essential that developing the solution is a collaborative process, which looks beyond the brief to provide the most effective and safe response to the project. This includes considering the phasing of the project, safety factors such as live lines, public access and segregation of the work area and, of course, the flexibility of the scaffolding to enable both planned and unplanned adaptations. It would be naïve to think that a complex project delivered over a period of years would not involve a change of scope at some stage, and the communication across the scaffolding and client teams needs to be candid and effective to ensure an agile response when required.
At Millcroft, our in-house design engineers and our considerable rail experience enable us to offer creative and innovative solutions for projects in the sector, which consider the sequencing required for safety and programme continuity at every stage.
Training and compliance
All scaffolding sites require safety best practice and reporting to be embedded in site routines and the right mix of skills on site; that’s a given. But in the rail sector, training related to the specific risks of the environment and toolbox talks to maintain a clear focus on health and safety are even more important.
For example, on our recent Elizabeth Line terminus project at Paddington station, all Millcroft supervisors had to attend a frontline supervisor appraisal, which involved continuous assessment and an interview with the client’s management team. The continual assessment element of this process included observations of our supervision delivering toolbox talks, completing harness inspections, carrying out work equipment inspections, and delivering safe systems of work. Our supervisors were also assessed on the way in which they nurtured a safety culture across the team on site.
We delivered TQUK Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work training to the appointed site managers and supervisors, along with Site Management Safety Training Scheme Training and Site Supervisor Safety Scheme Training, at our Site Safety Plus CITB centre in Greenwich. Manual Handling and Preventing Falls training Levels One and Two, and VTQ Mental Health in the Workplace training were also delivered on site by Millcroft’s Head of Group HSEQ, while regular, site-specific toolbox talks were part of the site routine.
The project involved working in live, high-voltage environments, tunnels, and confined spaces, resulting in the need for rescue at height training and safety training for operatives working close to the live line too. We ensured that there was a SSSTS or SMSTS member of the team on site at all times, along with six rescue at height trained members of staff. Thanks to our high standard of training and competency, our operatives became part of the rescue team for the entire site.
Beyond Compliance
While much of the training and accreditation across the team for the Paddington project and other recent Millcroft rail projects forms part of contractual obligations, the bottom line is that scaffolding companies that want to work on transport infrastructure should expect to go above and beyond. For Millcroft, it’s not just about ticking boxes, it’s about keeping people safe and minimising risk, for us and the client.
This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 14
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Speaking on the new products, Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “With over 275 cordless solutions within our LXT platform, we are delighted to further expand the possibilities for professionals with these new additions.
Designed with purpose-built motors, innovative battery technology and enhanced communications, all our cordless tools work together to deliver reliable power, speed and run times that provide the trade with a cordless solution for every type of application.” 
He points out that the lighting installations were fully accessible via clear walkways constructed using Layher’s steel decks.
Limitations in terms of build time and road closures were two important considerations that had to be accommodated, both of which gained from the speed with which the Layher system was erected.
In-built rosette connections and a wide bay configuration minimised the handling needs while helping to optimise safety. “The efficiency of the installation was significant and enabled us to meet the client’s specific layout and performance needs,” continues James Mason, “even down to black powder coating on visible steel elements to optimise the structure’s appearance.”
Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director, was quick to endorse the comments from IPS. “We are obviously very happy to have been able to work with IPS on this highly prestigious project and that our modular event system has helped to deliver clear customer objectives,” he says.
“Everybody was delighted to see James Bond back on screen and the event at the Royal Albert Hall clearly helped to launch the new film in a highly dramatic and exciting way. We are thrilled to have given it our support – in every sense.” 
The Layher installation features standards linked in clusters of three using wedge-head swivel couplers which, in turn, are clamped to, and suspended from, the bridge’s own steelwork using girder couplers.
These standards then drop down to connect directly to the Layher FlexBeams installed at up to 5.5 metre intervals, and onto which Layher’s Allround Lightweight steel decking is then located. A choice of decking lengths has enabled I-Scaff to accommodate the diagonal steel sections that form part of the bridge structure, while longitudinal bracing is only required every fourth bay.
Guardrails and edge protection have also been installed, where appropriate, while dropped object netting has been located under the full working area by another Millar Callaghan Engineering Services subcontractor to protect the waterway below.
“The fact that the design, which has been undertaken by Kenneth Redman, Technical Manager at our Livingston depot in Scotland, enables the scaffold to be suspended from the bridge’s own steel structure is extremely beneficial,” adds Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director.
“The lightweight material has also helped with manual handling procedures, while the greatly reduced number of components has not only played a key role in optimising installation efficiency, it has also made a significant contribution to minimising transport and storage needs,” continues Sean Pike.
As a result, Ross Brown and his team have made full use of the system to deliver the saving in installation time that was an important project target, enabling Millar Callaghan Engineering Services to undertake the gantry removal, repair and reinstallation process more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.
