The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) is funding a third round of subsidised CPD courses.
The new funding will enable approved training centres to deliver the CPD course for only £50 per delegate.
CISRS has now fulfilled the funding pledge it made earlier in the year. In total, the training scheme has provided in excess of £150,000 in subsidised CPD training in 2021.
In a news statement CISRS said that ‘Covid-19 has caused disruption and additional expense to scaffolders, employers and training centres alike, these subsidised courses are a gesture from CISRS to those who have worked hard to keep the industry going in the last year or so.
The scaffolders training scheme is a not-for-profit organisation and wherever possible aims to give something back to its stakeholders, the Scaffolders, they said.
Previously CISRS worked with training providers In March and June offering similar subsidised CPD courses.
“We have reinvested over £150k back to our cardholders, there are very few training schemes that could say the same.”
CISRS Managing Director David Mosely said: “Over 500 individuals will have benefitted from these three programmes, we have reinvested over £150k back to our cardholders, there are very few training schemes that could say the same.”
Neil Gray Managing Director of LTC Training Services added: “LTC Training Services are delighted to be able to facilitate additional CISRS subsidised CPD courses in our Plymouth & Cullompton training centres and wish to thank CISRS for the opportunity.”
The subsidised CPD courses will be held at the following centres:
AIS (Aberdeen) 6-7 November 2021
AIS (North Shields) 20-21 November 2021
CWIC Swansea 20-21 December 2021
Construction College Midlands 1-2 November 2021
LTC (Cullompton) 20-21 December 2021
LTC (Plymouth) 9-10 December 2021
NCC East (Bircham Newton) 10-11 November 2021
NCC Scotland (Inchinnan) 13-14 December 2021
NCC (Erith) 6-7 November 2021
NETA (Stockton) 13-14 December 2021
Safety and Access (Nottingham) 20-21 December 2021
Safety and Access (Immingham) 20-21 December 2021
Simian (Warrington) 13-14 December 2021
Simian (Waltham Forest) 2-3 December 2021
Simian (Weston Super Mare) 13-14 December 2021
Simian (Menai) 24-25 November 2021
Simian Aspects (Coventry) 20-21 December 2021
Simian CIST (Anglesey) 8th-9th September 2021
Training 2000 (Blackburn) 6-7 December 2021
Delegates will need to contact the training centres directly to check availability. CISRS centre contact details can be found on the CISRS website here.
The latest statistics from the HSE reveal that, although falls from height are reducing, they are still one of the most common causes of injuries to employees and account for 29% of fatalities in the workplace.
EMPLOYERS should take their responsibilities very seriously, not least because of the risks to a business, but also the number of lost working days every year as a result of injuries from falls from height.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 was introduced in a bid to prevent death and injury caused by falls from height, therefore minimising risks to workers. Therefore, one of the best ways for a business to minimise its risks from Work at Height activities is to remain compliant with the legislation.
In 2007 an amendment came into force, applying to those who work at height providing instruction or leadership to one or more people engaged in caving or climbing by way of sport, recreation, team building or similar activities in the UK. The regulations also recommend that, where possible, all methods to complete a task must be investigated so working at height can be avoided.
However, this is not always practical. Therefore, as part of the regulations where work at height can’t be avoided, duty holders must ensure:
All work at height is properly planned and organised.
Those involved in the work (including the planning, organising, supervising, and undertaking of the work) are competent – meaning they have the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the job, or are supervised by a competent person if they are being trained.
The risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used.
The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled.
The surface/access equipment in use is stable and strong enough to support the worker’s weight and that of any equipment. Any edge protection should be wide enough and strong enough to prevent a fall
As much work as possible from the ground or partly from the ground, for example assemble structures on the ground and lift them into position with lifting equipment
Workers can get safely to and from where they want to work at height and also consider emergency evacuation and rescue procedures
That anyone who is not competent (someone who doesn’t have the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the job) undertake work at height
Where a risk of falling can’t be eliminated, use work equipment, training, and other measures to minimise the distance and consequence of any fall as much as possible.
Employees are aware they must report any safety hazards to their employer.
Inspection of fall protection equipment
Regulation 12 and 13 of the regulations deals specifically with the inspection of fall protection equipment. Here, the responsibility lies with the employer to have Work at Height equipment properly tested and inspected on a regular basis.
As a result, many businesses choose to outsource their testing and inspection requirements for fall protection equipment to specialist Work at Height companies in order to ensure that their systems and PPE are fit for purpose. This gives them the reassurance that Work at Height equipment is compliant, and they are minimising their risks to employees and to the business.”
Working at height training
Undertaking safety training is an excellent way to help companies and employees stay safe. A good working at heights training course will provide adequate information including:
An overview of working activities involving risk of injury from working at height and typical injuries
Legal responsibilities including an overview of the Working at Height Regulations
Basic hazards and risks affecting risk
Main precautions to prevent falls and falling materials
Safe working practices for common forms of access equipment
Inspection requirements for scaffolds.
You can make your employees aware of their exposure to risk through educating and re-educating them. By completing working at height training employees will have a greater understanding of the Working at Height Regulations and general precautions, and how to safely work at height.
We can help
Alcumus offers Working at Height training courses which will teach attendees about legislation, management, selecting the right equipment, and working safely on ladders and roofs. If you have any queries or concerns about how to manage your risk then please do not hesitate to contact the Alcumus’ Health and Safety team for assistance either by email at [email protected] or call us on 01484 439930.
WELLMAX SCAFFOLDING has won Project of the Year at the Construction News Specialist Awards 2021 for its impressive work at the British Museum.Chelmsford-based Wellmax Scaffolding scooped the award at the glitzy annual London event held yesterday (19 October 2021) by the Construction News.
Wellmax was awarded Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor (subcontract up to £1m) for its work on the British Museum in central London.
The vital conservation project at the British Museum saw Wellmax provide numerous challenging access solutions for its client that set strict constraints in place.
Wellmax had to create a scaffolding structure that would not affect or disturb the building whilst at the same time reducing the visual impact of the scaffold as much as possible.
The company had to also achieve the same level of access whilst the Museum continued to remain open to the public.
Its client needed to install a new copper roof which meant a temporary roof scaffold was also needed, but the building could only bear weight in highly specific locations.
This led to solutions including the cantilevering of one elevation of the roof from the existing soffit scaffold and the installation of a temporary roof that was able to move up and down in high winds.
Finally, the client wanted to wrap the scaffold, to mask the construction work going on. WellMax supplied and installed a mesh, using a high-resolution digital image of its famous portico, to seamlessly match the building’s facade.
The CN Specialists Awards judges said: “This was a unique project and were particularly taken by the drive to provide the best solution to the client, the museum and the public, enabling others to be able to do what was needed.“This complex project was full of innovation, was delivered safely and is a project of which they are deservedly proud.”
A unique floating access solution on the River Severn has allowed contractors to install much-needed Eel Screens.
Midlands-based Attridge Scaffolding has just completed an industry first by providing one of it’s long-standing clients, Integrated Water Solutions (IWS), with a unique access package that combined traditional land-based scaffold with the innovative floating ScaffFloat system to lift and install a set of eel screens afloat.
The scope of works was to provide full access to the vertical concrete penstock face of the riverside water works using traditional scaffold, and then to also to provide two large floating scaffold pontoons for storing and lifting the new eel screens, weighing 2.2t each, into position afloat.
For the land-based scaffold, Attridge used shear plates fixed with anchors into the concrete to enable the saddle to be erected. Once the saddle was in place the design scaffold was erected.
James Attridge said: “This project was almost 12 months in the planning. After an initial site visit with the client, it was a case of putting together a scheme utilising past experience from other projects. The exception being the floating lift rig. This is where our professional working relationship with ScaffFloat enabled both parties to work together to develop a solution.”
As one of the main UK Approved Installers of the floating scaffold system they worked with the ScaffFloat team to design a custom design that met the very site-specific client requirements. Access to the water was very limited and so both pontoons were built shoreside as a skeleton framework, this kept the weight for the crane lift down to 1t. Once afloat additional tubes, fittings and boards were craned down and both pontoons were completed afloat bringing their weight up to around 3t each.
The scaffold structure in the pontoons was floated using ScaffFloats patented plastic floats with each one supporting 0.5t – in total over 60 floats were used for both pontoons.
The first pontoon was used as a storage pontoon, with a 6t payload it was used to store components afloat before they were fitted by the team from Edwards Diving.
The second pontoon was fitted with a custom lifting A-frame, this was designed specifically to lift the 2.2t, 6m x 3m Eel Screens. Designed and built to Eurocode standard with a suitable dynamic application and safety factor, it was also proof tested on-site to over 3t. In addition, Richter provided an independent Cat 3 check to provide further safety assurances.
“It was a great project and we are proud that we achieved the six lifts ahead of time and without any accidents.”
Toby Budd, MD of ScaffFloat said: “One of the challenges for this lift was water depth. The eel screens were installed just below the surface so there was not enough draft or water depth to have the pontoon above. This meant the 2.2t lifts had to be done over the bow of the pontoon at a distance of 3m.
It was a great project and we are proud that we achieved the six lifts ahead of time and without any accidents. This is another example of how quickly the ScaffFloat system is developing, customers love the versatility and we have a number of other trick lifting jobs in the pipeline.”
Benchmark Scaffolding has scooped the Construction News Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the year award.
THE WINNERS of the Construction News Specialists Awards were revealed at The Brewery in London yesterday (Tuesday 19 October 2021.)
Hundreds of people from the UK’s leading specialist contractors, clients and suppliers gathered to celebrate the best of construction at the glitzy London live event.
From our sector, London and Barnsley based Benchmark Scaffolding were announced winners of the Access & Scaffolding Specialist 2021 category.
Founded in 1995 the firm had chosen to focus on “the more technically challenging type of projects”, where it aims to differentiate itself through technical expertise and the application of the latest design technology.
Benchmark’s current projects include the Palace of Westminster, where it has worked for the past eight years to provide access for specialist engineers working on roof replacement, observing strict security and noise restrictions. Scaffolding works also enabled the removal and replacement of cast iron roof panels weighing 1.8 tonnes apiece.
The firm is also on the Battersea Power Station project, delivering access for contractor Mace including the expansion of the scope to support the construction of a glass elevator attraction, rising 109 metres to chimney-top height.
According to The CN Specialists Awards judges they said Benchmark displayed “clear technical excellence” as well as a “commitment to sustainability”. They added: “Benchmark showed a clear focus on core values and people. It was great to see such vision regarding net-zero carbon, and the demonstrable use of innovative digital techniques.”
Highly Commended
Millcroft
CN judges said that Millcroft provided stiff competition for the winner in this category. They praised Millcroft’s investment in low-carbon and electric vehicles as part of its push to reach net-zero carbon.
Access & Scaffolding Specialists of the Year 2021 Finalists
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.
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 
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.” 
