Joint police and HSE investigation into the death of a Manchester scaffold worker is still ongoing.
Michael Harrison, 42, worked as a HGV/Hiab driver for Manchester based 3D Scaffolding Ltd was tragically killed after an ‘incident’ in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire on February 26th.
A joint police and Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident that killed the popular and much loved father-of-two.
His employers described the incident as an ‘accident’, Dwayne Seymour, Managing Director at 3D Scaffolding Ltd told Scaffmag: “The recent accident is subject to an ongoing investigation and we are therefore unable to make any comment on events at present. As you can imagine our thoughts and wishes are very much with Michael’s family and friends at this time.”
A HSE spokesman said: “HSE is aware of the incident and a joint investigation with Cheshire Constabulary is underway.”
Hundreds of tributes for the popular scaffold worker have been paid online since his death with over £7,000 donated via a GoFundMe set up by family and friends.
Leading the tributes to him, his sister Michelle said : “He was such a hard-working lad with a massive heart and he’d always manage to find his way to a party on a weekend!“He lived and breathed for for his two girls, Katie and Abbie.”The GoFundMe page is still available for donations and tributes by clicking here.
Maintenance and asset integrity contractor Bilfinger Salamis UK has appointed Adam Mason as General Manager for its Southern North Sea business.
Adam has over 20 years of operational leadership experience in the Oil & Gas service industry, the last 12 of which have been served with Petrofac.Bilfinger Salamis, which supports customers in northwest Europe in the oil, gas and renewable energy industries, has been servicing Southern North Sea operations from Great Yarmouth since 1981, moving into a new facility at South Denes Business Park in 2018.“As an experienced and versatile team leader with a proven track record in managing complex, fast moving operational scenarios in the energy sector, Adam brings experience in delivering safe and efficient operations, continuous improvement and modernisation of the operations and maintenance model,” said Mike Henderson, Commercial and Business Development Director at Bilfinger Salamis UK.“We are evolving and growing our service provision, and Adam will drive an innovative approach to digitalisation and support our energy transition strategy, leading our southern operations across all service lines and energy sectors.”Starting his career offshore in Instrument and Control, Adam had rotational assignments overseas and in the UK North sea where he developed his front line, maintenance leadership skills. He completed his OIM management and major emergencies training with Petrofac before moving onshore into an Operations and Maintenance Manager role, managing multiple client contracts and the modernisation of the O&M and campaign models.“Bilfinger Salamis is a well-established industrial service provider and I’m delighted to be heading up our efforts in the south to diversify into alternative energy sectors and to innovate our offerings,” said Adam. “Key to our client focussed strategy is using our agility to support operators with cost saving and efficiency gaining initiatives in what is clearly a very challenging time for our industry.”Originally from Caister, near Great Yarmouth where he grew up, Adam has many links with the local community in a range of sporting, charity and CSR activities. In 2020, he was appointed Norfolk and Waveney Ambassador for mental health charity, Mind.Bilfinger Salamis is one of the UK’s leading providers of integrated services to the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry and energy sectors, providing partners with modifications, maintenance and operations support across the asset lifecycleThe business, which has supported the energy industry for almost 50 years, employs 1,500 people from bases in Aberdeen, Groningen, Esbjerg and Great Yarmouth. It is part of international industrial services provider Bilfinger.
PASMA has released a free guide on the revised BS EN 1004 European product standards for tower scaffolds.
With changes to BS EN 1004 taking full effect later in 2021, PASMA is urging all businesses using mobile access towers to use the transition period wisely.
The not-for-profit body has released comprehensive guidance to help organisations understand the updates included in the new standard and most importantly, how it affects them. The free document is aimed at anyone who buys, hires, owns or uses mobile access towers, or is responsible for height safety in the workplace.
“The new standard brings a wider range of towers into scope, along with a raft of new measures to make them safer than ever, so it’s essential that safety-conscious organisations are up to speed,” PASMA said.
The revision of BS EN 1004 (now known as BS EN 1004 Part 1) took 10 years from start to finish, and PASMA participated extensively, with the support of its members, to help shape the updates. The association is now using its experience and inside knowledge to help the whole industry prepare.
Don Aers, Technical Director at PASMA, commented: “The old standard won’t be withdrawn until November, so you have time. The first step is to assess your current situation – does your purchasing policy include guidance on selecting quality equipment? If you own towers, are they certified to the right standard? Are they in good working condition? These are the things organisations should be focused on now and PASMA’s guidance talks them through this audit process, step by step.”
The guidance is available at https://pasma.co.uk/faqs/en-1004-revision/
A blossoming partnership between Leach’s and Beerenberg has ensured increased tool safety for offshore scaffolders.
Oil & Gas Industrial services firm Beerenberg and Leach’s have partnered to create and deliver an all-new high-spec scaffolder’s tool kit, with all tools uniquely tethered to prevent drops from height.
The specialist kit has now been delivered to almost 300 offshore oil and gas scaffolders, with plans for further distribution in the future.
Choosing quality tools for the kit was of utmost importance. Each new tool kit consists of:
A heavy-duty leather belt with tool holders
Nipping pliers
Podger ratchet
Double-ended open spanner
Magnetic level
Stainless steel tape measure
Leach’s say each tool is tethered to protect other workers on site with ultra-strong tool safety ropes and swivel locking carabinas. Beerenberg also required detailed labelling to ensure ultimate safety during use, including the fall from height distance when tethered, the safe working load of each tool, and the serial number.
Overcoming the safety challenge
This specification proved a real challenge. Beerenberg had intricate needs to improve the safety of scaffolders, and approached a vast range of suppliers. However, it was soon clear that many would struggle to adapt in the face of these detailed needs.
Adrian Tennant, Global Sales Manager at Leach’s, said: “I believe we stood out as our approach to product supply is different. We are solutions-orientated, meaning our aim first and foremost is to solve a customer’s problem. Not only does this help us form strong, longstanding relationships, but it also helps us evolve our services for businesses ever-evolving needs.”
Raymond Teigland, Technical Responsible Scaffolding at Beerenberg added: “This project has been a real success. Leach’s solution-orientated team helped us solve a complex challenge that other suppliers simply couldn’t. We’re thrilled with the results.”
Modular scaffolding giants Layher have developed a new hybrid advanced guardrail system that combines the versatility of its leading Allround System with the speed of its STAR system.
Without tools and without any additional work steps the two-part Allround Guardrail System (ARGS) allows a single person to safely create advancing side protection simply and efficiently.
The system can be used for both the outer and inner sides of the scaffolding and around corners. External scaffolds like stair towers can also be erected with ARGS without any problem.
“Utilising the ARGS 2m lightweight standards, with integrated rosette and the ARGS Guardrails, available in all the usual Layher bay lengths, users can create façade scaffolding using Allround Scaffolding with two-part advancing side protection,” says Layher UK Managing Director, Sean Pike.
The ARGS standards have two innovative quick releasing and highly visible locking levers that secure the additional guardrails into position. Once positioned the post is elevated by hand from the lower lift and swung upwards into position onto the next following standard. Thus, creating an advanced guardrail for the next lift.
Like Layher’s Allround lightweight ARGS is of course made of its high tensile steel to take higher loads yet lighter which Layher is renowned for globally. According to the world’s largest system scaffolding manufacturer, the ARGS 2m standards have the same load-bearing capacity as normal 2m Allround standards.
The ARGS standardsSean added: “Bracing components, such as Allround Ledgers, or diagonals, as well as U-transoms can be fitted in the normal way, due to the ARGS standard having rosettes that will line up at the decked level.This of course allows the system to maintain the expected versatility of the Allround system, and so the functionality, flexibility, safety and build speed is maintained throughout.”
This new bold innovation from Layher has already gained much attention in Europe after ARGS won a MAT D’OR award after a short release in France.
The Allround Guardrail System is available now nationwide across all Layher UK depots.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday unveiled the government’s latest budget in a bid to steer the country out of lockdown and onto a road to recovery.
Rishi revealed that the government will be pumping an additional £65 billion into the economy to aid recovery.
Many were happy to hear that the furlough scheme will be extended until September with no change of any terms. However, after July, employers will be asked to make a 10% contribution, which will then rise to 20% in August and September.
Self-employed income support will also be extended until September, with 600,000 more being eligible for government help as the grants become more accessible.
Rishi announced that Corporation tax will rise to 25% but the increase has been delayed until April 2023 to allow businesses time to recover from the covid-19 pandemic.
However, firms making a profit of £50,000 or less will continue to pay the current 19% rate, while rates for businesses with profits more than this figure will be tapered.
Those who make annual profits of £250,000 or more will pay the full 25% rate when it is introduced.
Another highlight of the budget statement saw Rishi announce beginning in April 2021, a new super-deduction will cut companies’ tax bill by 25p for every pound they invest in new equipment, meaning they can reduce their taxable profits by 130% of the cost.
Read the full budget statement here
Industry Reaction
This morning we spoke to some leaders and members of the scaffolding and access industry on yesterday’s budget statement.
Des Moore“Overall I think it was a good Budget delivered by the Chancellor given what are obviously exceptional times,” said Des Moore, TRAD Group CEO.“Taxes, in general, had to rise but the 95% Mortgages available to everyone, not just first-time buyers will give confidence and a real boost to the housebuilding industry. The introduction of Freeport’s nationally again will lead to real opportunities for investors which again can only be good news for the Construction Industry. In general, overall, the initiatives do seem to confirm the governments is sincere in its leveling up agenda and their previous statement that we are going to Build Build Build our way out of the recession caused primarily by COVID,” he added.
Helen GaworHelen Gawor, Business Strategy Director at GKR Scaffolding Ltd gave her reaction: “The increase in Corporation Tax from 2023 to 25% for the 30% of businesses with higher profits is no surprise. Businesses will need to be prepared for this unphased increase which will hopefully be introduced at a time of greater stability in the construction market.Optimistically, however, the message in this year’s budget is clearly an investment for economic growth. The tax breaks for investment, further support for funding of apprenticeships and traineeships, and the backing of regeneration projects will benefit our businesses and the construction industry in general.”Matthew CousinsMatthew Cousins, Director of Apex Scaffolding (Exeter) Ltd and NASC Contracts Committee Chair said:“All in all, the budget was not as doom and gloom as many people feared, and on the face of it appears to support construction business and industry to survive to the end of the pandemic, come out fighting and help to grow the industry to where it was before COVID-19. There is a slight bit of trepidation that the problems and borrowing are all being kicked down the road a bit, but hopefully things will have improved sufficiently by then that the sector will be robust enough to take it.”CITB Policy Director Steve Radley said: “With the recovery from the crisis in sight, this welcome investment in infrastructure, traineeships and the new flexible apprenticeships, similar to our own shared apprenticeships scheme, will help support thousands of people into the construction industry just as employers are looking to hire them. Many employers reluctantly opted out of taking on an apprentice last autumn and extending the incentive to employ them is the right support at the right time.“Extending traineeships will build stronger links with Further Education and build a bridge into apprenticeships and jobs for many young people. Our work with FE and employers on construction traineeships has demonstrated that both groups are committed to making this work.“Government should build on this by quickly delivering on its pledge to help Apprenticeship Levy payers transfer their unspent funds to where they are needed, giving many smaller firms the firepower to drive the acceleration in apprenticeships to deliver the jobs-led growth the PM has promised.”
System scaffolding manufacturer HAKI has acquired Vertemax a UK-based global workzone safety company.
HAKI headquartered in Sweden has announced the purchase of all business shares in Vertemax the UK firm that designs and manufactures workzone safety products and provides access solutions around the world.
“We have been in contact with Vertemax for a long time and it is very satisfying that we have been able to reach an agreement under the current circumstances,” said Thomas Schüller, Haki’s CEO.
Vertemax has a strong product portfolio says HAKI, that fits well into the global trends in the form of stricter legislation on occupational safety and meets the increased demand for fall protection and protective screens.
The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Aylesham, United Kingdom. It has around 35 employees, with a development facility in nearby Canterbury and sales offices in Toronto, Canada and Bratislava, Slovakia.
Vertemax designs, develops and markets workzone safety products and access solutions. Its largest market is here in the UK, with London being the main focus for new construction projects.
In recent years, Vertemax has seen strong growth in Canada and their sales office in Bratislava was recently opened to cover the Eastern European market.
The firm has seen its sales increase to approximately £15million in 2020.
Gary Taylor founder and CEO of Vertemax said: “We look forward to becoming a part of the Midway Holding group of companies. We see this as a strategically important step for us to be able to create more value for our customers. With our consolidated capabilities and resources, we are convinced that we will generate a stronger platform for future growth.”
Thomas Schüller added: “We see excellent opportunities for synergies between Vertemax and HAKI, including developing our common markets together and jointly utilizing our logistical capabilities.”“In the long-term, the acquisition creates opportunities for us to participate in consolidating a fragmented niche market.”
The acquisition also strengthens the opportunities for organic growth by being able to offer Vertemax’s products to HAKI’s customers in Scandinavia, and HAKI’s products to Vertemax’s customers in the U.K. And in Eastern Europe, by marketing our offerings.
Group aims to raise £75k across the year, starting with a ‘50k for 50 Years’ campaign in March.
TRAD Group (‘TRAD’), one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access companies, has announced that it will be supporting three national charities during 2021, as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations.
The Royal British Legion, MIND and the Multiple Sclerosis Society have been chosen by TRAD’s staff members across the UK, and the group has committed to raising at least £75,000 over the year, which will be equally split between the charities.
TRAD’s first big fundraising campaign was launched recently. The ‘50k for 50 Years’ campaign is encouraging staff members to complete a 50-kilometre challenge during March – they can do it in any way that works for them – walking, swimming, cycling, running – and over the whole month.
TRAD’s target for this campaign is £15,000, and it has set up a dedicated account for supporters and sponsors to pay into.
The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. It is best-known for its annual poppy appeal, but offers day-to-day support to serving and veteran armed forces personnel and is active in campaigning for their care and rights. You can learn more here: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
MIND supports better mental health. It is a nationwide charity that offers a wide range of information and support to those with mental health issues and the people who care for them, and is an active campaigner for a better understanding of mental health and greater support for it. Find out more at: https://www.mind.org.uk/
The Multiple Sclerosis Society supports people with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition that affects the brain and the spinal cord, resulting in a wide range of symptoms.
More than 130,000 people in the UK have MS. The charity runs a helpline and offers a wide range of support for everything from managing finances to supporting carers. Their website is: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/“We have already raised just under £10,000 for our anniversary appeal,” said Paige Matthews, CFO at TRAD Group, and part of the employee group managing the fundraising for 2021.
“Six thousand of that has been donated directly by TRAD, and the rest has been raised through company events including a pyjama day and a Christmas raffle. That’s a great start, and we’re now encouraging staff members to step up to this challenge in March to help us make significant inroads into our target for the year.”
TRAD has a range of other plans for its year of fundraising, including individual challenges and internal challenges between its six depots around the UK.
You can help support all these charities by donating to TRAD’s appeal at https://paypal.me/pools/campaign/115558736507729847.
Last year, to help businesses who were suffering with cashflow difficulties due to Covid-19, the Government announced that they would defer VAT payments for 12 months.
Now, nearly 12 months later, businesses that did defer their VAT payments need to start planning, as these payments will be due by 31st March 2021. However, businesses don’t need to worry about being hit with one massive VAT bill. They are able to spread the payments over the year by paying it in 11 interest-free instalments.
If you want to pay by instalments, you need to meet the following criteria:
Have deferred VAT to pay
Be up to date with VAT returns
Opt-in before 1 March 2021 (this is not currently open, but will be soon!)
Pay the first instalment before the end of March 2021
Be able to pay the deferred VAT by direct debit
It is worth remembering to register for VAT at the appropriate time.
AIMS MD Henry EjdelbaumAIMS MD Henry Ejdelbaum said of the changes “Clearly these are welcomed changes to ease financial pressure, especially on businesses which have been forced to close for yet another lockdown. However, the requirements are specific and need to be followed properly for businesses to qualify – it’s easy for businesses to get it wrong without meaning to.”
Businesses must opt into the instalment plan to participate and will be able to do so until 21 June 2021. Clearly, as the instalment payments start from 19 March, the sooner that a business opts in the smaller each instalment payment will be: i.e. spread over 11 months if you opt-in immediately but only 8 months if you don’t opt-in until June. Each business will need to think about what works best for them.
Additionally, an online service opened on 23 February 2021 and closes on 21 June 2021.
Some more positive news – Many businesses probably have applied for a Bounce Back Loan (BBL). For those that did, there is now a six-month delay for repayments, and loans are now able to be extended from six to ten years to reduce monthly repayments by nearly 50% – Payments can be tailored to individual circumstances.
Henry Ejdelbaum is MD of AIMS Accountants for Business, who have 200 local accountants based all across the UK and specialise in helping small business owners with their tax affairs.
Scaffolding training establishments have now been given the green light to reopen following the national lockdown restrictions imposed in January.
Around half of the CISRS registered scaffolding training centres across the UK have been temporarily closed due to the national lockdown.
But thanks to the recent Government’s roadmap out of lockdown announcement those centres that had to close are preparing to reopen on 8th March.
As previously reported the lockdown closures had caused a number of issues for many scaffolders renewing cards and booking CPD courses due to the lack of capacity.
We reached out to SIMIAN the UK’s largest privately-owned scaffolding training provider to get their reaction to the reopening news.
Dave Randles Operations Director at SIMIAN said: “We’re delighted to get the green light for the reopening of our training centres. From the outset of the pandemic, we have resolved to follow Government guidance and although it was disappointing that we had to close our doors again back in January, we were happy to play our part in getting the UK on top of the pandemic.We have constantly updated our COVID Security measures over the past 12 months, and will continue to do so moving forward. In the short term, we are currently exploring options for lateral flow testing at our centres and we expect this to be implemented in all locations within the next four weeks or so.
Backlog
Closing our doors temporarily has created a backlog of displaced learners and we are working hard to get them back on track. Demand for future training is high, and we recommend that anyone considering scaffolding training in the future, books early to avoid disappointment.Our customers have been incredibly patient over the past 12 months and we would like to thank them for that, and we’d also like to thank our Apprenticeship employers for keeping their Apprentices engaged and in learning.”
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