A Say in Keeping History Alive

Grahame Anderson
-
0
A Say in Keeping History Alive

With imposing views across the city, York’s Clifford Tower will remain a breath-taking North Yorkshire landmark long into the future thanks to some loving restoration and repair work helped along with a little help from one of the counties finest scaffolding exponents.

Whichever way you look the City of York makes for a dramatic vista with its sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and many other spectacular properties. Look closely at the castle close to the River Foss and you’ll spot the now-ruined keep of the medieval Norman castle commonly referred to as Clifford’s Tower. More than nine centuries of history have roots in this world-famous place, so any scaffolder would surely be proud to play a part in helping restore a past, so important to York’s future. The original mound of Clifford’s Tower, with a timber structure at the top, was constructed by William the Conqueror in 1068 as a statement of his power over the whole area. The passage of time however along with huge numbers of visitors meant restoration work was urgently needed to both conserve and repair the tower for future generations to enjoy. English Heritage has told us: “In June 2020, City of York Council granted planning permission to enable conservation and improvements to visitor infrastructure at Clifford’s Tower, following our consultation which showed clear support among the people of York for the plans. “Following this, separate Scheduled Monument Consent was granted in September 2020, meaning that all the necessary permissions were now in place for work to start. Work started on our project to undertake specialist care of the tower’s historic fabric in November 2020. Though the tower is now likely to have to remain closed to visitors until the project is completed in summer 2021.” Wetherby based Say Scaffolding was charged with the task of erecting a scaffolding design strong and safe enough to be set in place for 30 weeks, while the work was carried out by Simpson of York. Say offer bespoke and innovative scaffolding solutions using a combination of traditional tube and fitting, and Layher system scaffolding. And with Managing Director Philip Wetten both pricing up the job and also playing a leading role in its creation with Scot Nicholas, director of Raptor Scaffolding Design, English Heritage were in good hands throughout. They chose a free-standing barrow run scaffold fully buttressed on both sides with an attached Layher system stair tower. A 2000kg goods hoist was attached to the end of the scaffold to help with the project. The fully external perimeter scaffold has a neat and efficient look having seen five fully boarded lifts. In short, everything required for restoration and repair work. In fact, previous experience is invaluable on such a challenge – Say could fall back on the knowledge gained from lifts fully boarded in 2019. It’s also important to note the work involved in putting three temporary roof sections in place – one over the main entrance and another over stair cores one and two. And when it comes to a safe and secure working platform for a new roof structure the company weren’t found wanting. Enter a birdcage scaffold bridged two ways from a central independent to the internal perimeter scaffold. The view looking up from the bottom of those well-trodden steps is certainly impressive. Most scaffolders would agree any project of historical importance should blend in with the surroundings as best as possible, and this is certainly the case with the Clifford Tower. It’s scaffolding guaranteed to do any castle proud. But then this isn’t surprising given the history of the company involved. Established in 2004, SAY Group of Companies / SAY Scaffolding (Northern) Ltd has established itself as a key player within the scaffolding industry, providing access, protection and support scaffolding for a broad range of infrastructure, building and refurbishment projects. A Say in keeping history alive is worth its weight in Yorkshire Gold. www.sayltd.co.uk This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 12  

Massive fine given after lifting operation goes wrong

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
Massive fine given after lifting operation goes wrong

Two construction companies have been fined more than £350,000 after a worker was seriously injured when a part of an air conditioning plant fell on him while it was being lowered from a roof.

Southwark Crown Court heard that in November 2017 three roofers had been working on Bromley High Street in London, finishing off a large roof refurbishment project. The workers were instructed to dismantle a decommissioned air conditioning plant and remove it from the roof in high winds. As part of the plant was being lowered, it became detached from the rope and hook.  It fell and struck one of the workers on the pavement below, fracturing his left femur. An investigation by the HSE found that only a basic manual gin wheel was provided to lower the parts, no one was assigned to supervise and none of the workers had any formal training on carrying out lifting operations or slinging loads. There were also other failings at the site relating to working at height, control of asbestos, emergency arrangements, manual handling and a total lack of any welfare facilities for the workers. NMC Surfacing Limited (NMC) who operate nationally, had subcontracted the roof refurbishment work to a smaller local business, Fraden Contracts Limited. The client was unaware NMC had subcontracted the construction work. The Court heard NMC provided them with modified versions of Fraden’s risk assessment records with all references to Fraden erased. NMC Surfacing Limited of  Railway Court, Reading Bridge House, Reading, who had been the Principal Contractor for the project, was found guilty after a trial of a breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £350,000 and ordered to pay £45,122.36 in costs. Fraden Contracts Limited of Barnet who had been contracted by NMC Surfacing Limited to carry out the work, had already pleaded guilty to a breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This company was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £6,015.26 in costs. HSE inspector, Andrew Verrall-Withers, commented after the hearing: “Little thought was giving to planning the lifting operation by the companies and it was the workers who identified passing members of the public were at risk and borrowed some barriers to try and protect them. “It is vital construction companies do not assume that because workers have been in an industry for years, that they automatically know everything about how to safely use equipment. “A worker suffered an injury which means he can no longer work as a roofer despite three decades of previous experience. He, or a passing member of the public, could have been killed.”

George Roberts Ltd Posts Record Turnover and Strong Growth

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
George Roberts Ltd Posts Record Turnover and Strong Growth

Latest results for George Roberts Ltd, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of scaffolding and access equipment shows a rise in both sales and profits after an ‘exceptional’ year.

The Liverpool based scaffolding hire and sales company is now eyeing further development as it looks to continue to build on the strength of its well-known industry brand. Financial results just posted for the year to 31 October 2020 shows the company reported a record turnover of £40.5m compared to £39.8m in 2019, despite delays in Q2 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm’s pre-tax profits were also up from £2.6m to £2.85m. Working with many leading scaffolding contractors the business supplies materials across a wide range of sectors such as the Construction, Industrial, Rail, Oil & Gas and Marine industries.  George Roberts directors wrote in a strategic report that accompanied the figures, directors said the 2020 results had been “exceptional, and the brand remains strong and is influential in the continuous growth of the business. Its core strengths are service, quality and stock availability.” In November 2020 the company unveiled its global rebrand, the fresh new look was to signify George Roberts progressive direction and its expansion plans. The company has also seen its export division increase its turnover by 10% as compared to 2019. George Roberts supplies many regions now across the globe including Africa, USA, Europe, Middle East and Australasia.

Artel Scaffolding leads the way by going Carbon Negative

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
Artel Scaffolding leads the way by going Carbon Negative

Artel, a leading independent scaffolding company in London, has made the bold pledge to become the first in its industry in the UK to go carbon negative.

The company behind some of the biggest projects in the capital, including Sea Containers House, Royal  Wharf, and Embassy Gardens, will be carbon negative by 2030. Further to the success, the company has enjoyed over the past 15 years, establishing itself as one of the highest quality scaffolding companies around, it is now set to embark upon one of its most ambitious and important projects yet. The construction industry knows better than most the increasing problems posed by climate change, and so, Artel has decided to show its commitment to the future by promising a range of measures to help the environment. Artel has revealed to Scaffmag that It has bought 100 acres of land in the UK, Ireland and Bulgaria – equivalent to more than 50 football pitches – specifically to protect it and keep it free from development, making sure it can be enjoyed by people today and generations in the future. Artel will also plant 12,000 trees on the land it has brought in the three countries, more than 100 trees in every acre. But as well as the European-wide rewilding, the company has also pledged to make a difference in its day-to-day operations. Artel will also make its vehicle fleet – currently 12 lorries, 10 vans and 5 cars – fully electric by 2030. The North London based company joins the growing fight to clean up the capital’s air. Artel, however, do not want to stop there with the planting of new trees, if you are involved in or you know a local community project that would benefit from planting trees, please contact Artel. They would love to get involved.

Construction sees bumper month as contract awards increase by 58%

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
Construction sees bumper month as contract awards increase by 58%

In April 2021, contract awards increased by 58% compared to March to £9.1 billion. A level not seen since January 2020, says industry experts.

Sector analysis by Barbour ABI shows that residential contract awards increased again in April to £2.5 billion, up from £2.0 billion in March. Data analysts have seen a strong performance for infrastructure, with a total value of contract awards reaching £2.1 billion, the first monthly value over £2.0 billion since January 2020. The industry experts also say the industrial sector activity has seen the second-highest monthly value on record of £1.2 billion in April, driven once again by warehousing. Commenting on the figures, Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI and AMA Research said, “Building on the improvements in the planning environment we reported in March, April saw a bumper month for contract awards of £9.1bn. This is the highest value since January last year. All sectors apart from healthcare saw sizeable monthly increases to well above their long-term average values, particularly the infrastructure and commercial sectors.  A year on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic we have finally seen a value that starts to recover some of the lost ground. However, a fall in April’s planning approvals back to previous levels seen over the second half of 2020 may demonstrate that the uncertainty plaguing the sector has not fully cleared. We require a sustained increase over a  period of time to fill the weak construction pipeline.”  Download the full report here: https://www.barbour-abi.com/zones/2103032-Snap-Analysis-May-Output-File-v2.pdf 

Makita launches latest promotion offering a free XGT radio

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
Makita launches latest promotion offering a free XGT radio

Makita UK has announced a new redemption scheme for end-users to claim a free XGT ‘Bluetooth Jobsite Radio’ with the purchase of qualifying XGT products.

Tough and durable, the radio is a perfect addition to any construction site or project (if allowed) and is redeemable on purchases of qualifying XGT 40VMax or 80VMax products (2-battery models) from the 1st May 2021 through to the 30th September 2021. The Makita 40VMax XGT Bluetooth Radio is compatible with Makita XGT, LXT and CXT batteries making it easy to slot into an existing family of Makita tools. The radio can access both AM and FM radio as well as Bluetooth that can play audio from a mobile device up to 10 meters away. According to Makita, the radio is built to withstand the demands of site work, and features elastomer bumpers to protect the radio from knocks and rough handling and the robust IP65-rated design protects it from dust and showers. To claim the free 40VMax XGT Bluetooth Radio (MR002GZ01) via a dedicated microsite, customers will need to provide an invoice or receipt within 28-days of purchasing any of the qualifying products between 1st May and 30th September 2021. Once the application is confirmed, their free gift will arrive within 30 days. “Our radios are the perfect accompaniment to any workplace and are especially appealing as they utilise batteries that many Makita users will already own,” says Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK. “We are delighted to offer this exciting promotion to professionals who want an entertaining backdrop to their working day.” Makita is a global manufacturer of power tools and related accessories with over 100 years of experience. Its range of 40VMax and 80VMax XGT products combine innovative tool design with higher output batteries to offer professionals a genuine solution for high demand, and industrial applications. To find out more about Makita’s Radio Redemption Promotion, including the full list of qualifying XGT products and terms and conditions visit: https://makitauk.com/freexgtradio.

TRAD’s Blackhat Supervisors are Core to its South-East London Project

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
TRAD’s Blackhat Supervisors are Core to its South-East London Project

TRAD Scaffolding has shared an update on its South-East London project for Wates Residential where its senior onsite Blackhat supervisors are core to their service offering.

TRAD Scaffolding was appointed by the client Wates Residential to provide the scaffolding access solution on their Park East, Erith project late last year. The scope was identified through collaborative early planning during 2019 and has provided an excellent showcase for its Plettac Metrix equipment, the company said. In fact, 1,500 tons of it will have passed through the site upon completion! TRAD scaffold said their client was particularly keen to use the very adaptable & aesthetically impressive modular system on Park East after successfully using it on several previous projects with TRAD. The Park East regeneration is a £95 million development in Erith, being delivered with housing association Orbit, in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley. The project will see 320 new homes built, of which 80% will be for affordable rent and the remaining 20% for shared ownership in order to accommodate a mixed tenure community. TRAD Scaffolding Managing Director Peter McShane commented “With Trad Scaffolding HQ being only a couple of miles away, it is particularly pleasing to be able to contribute in the great regeneration work being carried out by Wates and its partners within the local area.”  Peter added, “We have also been keen to take the opportunity to support Wates along the way in several charitable events during the build and very pleased with their help & support to place some of our young apprentices and upcoming black hats of the future on this organised & well-run site under the supervision of our onsite team.” The project which is almost at the conclusion of the scaffold erection phase is being very ably led & supervised by Trad’s very experienced and long-standing onsite BlackHat foreman John Gardner.
TRAD's Blackhat Supervisor John Gardner
TRAD’s Blackhat Supervisor John Gardner
TRAD has told Scaffmag, John has been with the company for 17 years and has managed a large team of operatives throughout the build, he has also collaborated very closely with the Wates site team to ensure safety, quality & build programmes are met with equal importance. TRAD Senior Operations Manager Darren Clinton commented “The Client specifically requested John our lead Foreman to supervise this project on behalf of TRAD having worked with him in the past.” Darren added, “John is one of a number of long-standing TRAD Blackhat site supervisors with well over 10 years’ service & form a seamless extension of our office-based management teams, they have been integral to the companies’ professional output for many years.” With a scaffold package value in excess of £2m the project is well on the way to completion which is expected in 2023, the entire Trad team involved are very proud to be a part of the local residential regeneration. You can find out more about our Plettac Metrix system scaffolding or other scaffolding & safety products by visiting the Trad UK website – www.traduk.co.uk

HALF of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
HALF of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work

Nearly half (49%) of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study has found.

The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10th-16th) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, at least once a week. Money worries cause the most stress, with 38% of tradespeople blaming financial situations for giving them anxiety. Other issues, such as tensions with customers (31%) and suppliers (29%), are also major causes of concern for tradespeople. The 10 issues which cause the most stress for tradespeople: 
  1. Finances (38%)
  2. Tensions with customers (31%)
  3. Tensions with suppliers (29%)
  4. High workload (26%)
  5. Tensions with business partners (26%)
  6. Job security (21%)
  7. Doing the best job for customers (12%)
  8. Making mistakes (11%)
  9. Abuse from customers (6%)
  10. Lack of work (5%)
Female tradespeople (57%) are significantly more likely to experience work-related mental health problems than their male counterparts (41%). Additionally, the main causes of stress and anxiety differ between the genders, with women more likely to feel stressed due to finances (39%) and tensions with business partners (29%), whilst men are more affected by high workloads (39%) and tensions with suppliers (37%). When it comes to age, middle-aged tradespeople experience the most work-related related mental health issues. Nearly three in five (57%) tradies aged between 45-54 report stress and anxiety due to work. Bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to experience mental health problems, with a shocking 73% admitting to dealing with issues such as stress and anxiety. In contrast, surveyors (18%) are the trade least likely to have poor mental health. The trades which are most and least likely to have mental health issues are: 
  1. Bricklayer (73% say they have them)
  2. Joiner (62%)
  3. Builder (57%)
  4. Electrician (51%)
  5. Plumber (50%)
  6. Carpenter (49%)
  7. Landscaper (42%)
  8. Painter/decorator (36%)
  9. Plasterer (22%)
  10. Surveyor (18%)
When dealing with mental health problems, nearly half (48%) of tradespeople said they choose to talk to friends and families about their issues. Less than a third (32%) choose to seek counselling, while more than a quarter (28%) take medication. The research also found that a similar number (29%) do not feel comfortable talking to people close to them about their mental health. Furthermore, more than a third (34%) do not know how to access support services. As part of the attempt to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Mind, and will also donate £5,000 to the charity for its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “We know that issues like stress, anxiety and depression are common in all workplaces, but that there are some sectors where poor mental health is even more prevalent, including construction.   “Because men generally find it more difficult to talk about how they’re feeling, in male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.  “We’re pleased to be working with IronmongeryDirect during Mental Health Awareness Week to launch our ‘Mental Health in the Trades’ report highlighting the scale of poor mental health across the sector, and urging employers within construction to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”  Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s shocking and saddening to see that mental health problems are so widespread in the industry.  “We feel that it’s vital for the stigma of mental health to be removed from the industry, and whilst we understand it can be difficult to open up, we encourage all tradespeople to talk about their problems. Whether this is with friends and family, your employer, or professional counsellors, speaking about your problems can often be the first step to addressing them.”  For the 2021 report of mental health in the trades industry, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/

New rope access training facility opens

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
New rope access training facility opens

TIS (NGA) Ltd, have opened a new Rope Access Training School in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees.

The new bespoke training facility has been designed to ensure that all aspects of rope access techniques required to complete works in the field can be trialled in a life-like environment, as well as offering a quality classroom environment. The training centre is fully IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) approved and all individuals successfully completing the training courses will receive the appropriate IRATA certification. The company hopes to train eight learners every week, and have welcomed its first learners this week at the new facility. Speaking to the Northern Echo, TIS Operations Director Kevin Heilbron said: “The first 18 months of trading has been predominantly as a rope access company. However, In September last year, I teamed back up with an old partner Gary King with a view to extend the portfolio of services provided to current and new clients to incorporate multi-discipline services. “Now we provide rope access, scaffolding, painting, insulation, fire protection and rescue services. “The strategy is to replicate a company we were previously involved in that was highly successful, Opus Industrial Services. “We have taken the core service of rope access and expanded because it’s what clients want. Clients don’t want a single discipline company any more they want a contractor who offers a portfolio of services.” Managing Director Gary King said: “With all my years’ experience in the industry, and with the knowledge I have gained through building previous training centres, we have been able to produce by far the best facility I have ever been associated with or seen.”

Lighthouse Club launches ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ campaign

Scaffmag Newsdesk
-
0
Lighthouse Club launches ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ campaign

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is launching their hard-hitting and poignant ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ campaign to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental wellbeing issues in our industry and more importantly, how our workforce can reach out for help. This is a campaign to get construction talking and it addresses the perception that construction workers are often seen as being ‘hard’ on the outside; always ready with a quip or keeping up with the alpha male image on-site or at work. But research shows that simply isn’t true and the charity deals first hand with the results of not addressing issues ‘inside the hard hat’. The vibrant posters and hoardings deliver four thought-provoking quotes; “He was our big mouth – he’d always have an answer for everything, except for why he should still be here” “He was the last off-site every day, then one night he left us way too early” “He was such a polite lad; it didn’t make sense when he left without saying goodbye” “He was the joker. The one who made everyone on-site cry with laughter and then one morning, we just cried” All of the campaign resources are available to download free of charge from the charity’s website so that everyone can get involved with helping inside the hard hat.  There are a variety of poster sizes to choose from and companies can add their logo to show they are proudly supporting the campaign. For those companies that want to ‘go large’ with their support, artwork suitable for hoardings and site buildings can also be provided free of charge. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is launching their hard-hitting and poignant ‘Help Inside the Hard Hat’ campaign to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week. The Help Inside the Hard Hat campaign was created by London agency And Rising who stepped forward to support the charity after hearing about mental health issues in the industry. Darius Rodrigues, Creative at And Rising said, “We were staggered by the statistic that every single working day, a construction worker takes their own life and this really pulled at the team’s heartstrings. We wanted to do everything that we could, to not only help the Lighthouse Club raise awareness and address the enormity of the issue, but also to showcase all the fantastic work that is being done by the charity to support construction workers in crisis.”   The campaign is also being supported by the Considerate Constructor’s Scheme who are despatching free posters to all registered sites and also including free posters with all of the charity’s Construction Industry Helpline Packs. Bill Hill said, “We want to deliver a message of hope and reassure our construction community that ‘we’ve got their back’ and that we are working tirelessly to ensure that no construction worker or their family is alone in a crisis.  We really want the industry to get behind this campaign so that our workforce knows about all of the resources we have available to help inside the hard hat. If construction workers don’t know we are here then we can’t help them. This is all about removing the stigma of talking openly about emotional wellbeing and encouraging people to start a conversation by checking that their workmates are OK.  This one simple action could make all the difference to someone and could even save a life.  We also want to say a huge thank you to the fantastic team at And Rising who worked so hard to pull this campaign together for us, we would not have been able to achieve this without their help. A big thank you also goes out to the team at CCS who are helping us get this important message out to construction sites.”  Bill Hill added ”For the first time ever we’re also encouraging the industry to share our messaging, not just within the boundaries of a site but on external hoardings too, Covid-19 has brought the mental health agenda to the fore and so the timing is right to share our important message with a wider audience and create a sense of community with the general public; the same public that uses the schools, hospitals, roads etc that our construction workforce work hard to deliver in often very difficult circumstances.
1...143144145...344Page 144 of 344