SCP Group UK donates £10K to NHS fundraiser

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SCP Group UK donates £10K to NHS fundraiser

The Scaffolding industry comes together to support the NHS to help fight COVID-19

Wolverhampton based SCP Forgeco along with generous support from the UK scaffolding industry are raising much-needed funds against the fight on Covid-19. PPE Equipment, high specification face masks and computer tablets are on the way – but more is required. Main contributors include Actavo Hire and Sales, George Roberts NW and Norscaff.

A recent family bereavement along with witnessing the dire lack PPE available to NHS staff has prompted SCP Forgeco, Group Chairman Dale to initiate a Just Giving fundraising drive. The Wolverhampton based group have secured an agreement to create, manufacture and supply large numbers of PPE equipment working closely with their colleagues at SCP China.

Dale said: “On 9th April, I said my final goodbyes to my Uncle. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to visit the hospital, I was grieving, but at the same time, I could not come to terms with the lack of PPE available to the staff. I just wanted to help.

Luckily, I am in the fortunate position of having a business network that could facilitate a plan very quickly. We have teamed up with a local charity and have started the process of raising as much money as we can with the sole aim of providing a safe working environment for NHS staff, patients, carers, and frontline workers.

With help from our industry colleagues, let us show the NHS just how much we think of them. Let us do the right thing, let’s help save lives together. If everyone were to donate as little as £5.00, I personally promise it will make a genuine difference.”

In the first 48 hours of the fundraising campaign, SCP has received committed donations of over £25,000. Follow the story, please donate on JustGiving, visit by clicking HERE.

SCP Group UK – consisting of Scaffold & Construction Products and Forgeco are industry leaders with long-standing global manufacturing partners. The group have been supplying quality construction products for over 25 Years with bases in the UK, India, and China.

Scaffolders ‘ScaffShirt’ set to Launch

Grahame Anderson
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Scaffolders ‘ScaffShirt’ set to Launch

A Bradford company is about to launch a new innovative product set to revolutionise the scaffolding and allied construction industries.

Gaaard Protection Ltd has developed ‘The Scaffshirt’, offering extra protection for scaffolders carrying loads on their shoulders, while meeting current Health and Safety visibility requirements needed for safe site work.

The ScaffShirt is a versatile specialist high quality hi-vis protective work-wear shirt with weight-bearing padded shoulders for supporting shoulder joints for example, when carrying heavy items such as bricks and scaffolding tubes.

Benefiting The NHS

What’s more, the company is hoping their ever growing list of safety products will benefit the NHS, by reducing shoulder injuries and associated posture ailments. To this end they are currently working with the University of Bradford’s bio-mechanics department to research the positive effects on posture and gaits.

The Scaffshirt is European design right protected, carefully developed over a number of years to meet the highest safety standards. Able to withstand heavy weights the garment reduces impact and compression stress on shoulder joints. Padding sits inside a pocket stitched securely to the top of the shoulder. It’s manufactured from three dimensional sculptured EVA compression padding and can be supplied with a pad on each shoulder or a singular pad for the dominant shoulder.

Man carrying a scaffold tube wearing a ScaffShirt

From their in-house department, using state of the art equipment, the team can apply the logo or corporate identity of any complexity to orders of any quantity, large or small to all the garments, within the Gaaard Protection range.

ScaffShirt 21st Century Work-Wear

Company founder and designer of the Gaaard protection range Brian Farmer told us: “I wish this product was available when I was an Electrical Apprentice, carrying all the heavy wooden ladders, maybe I wouldn’t have the shoulder pain I currently endure now. 

“Our specialist protective work-wear products can be tailor-made to meet the very specific needs of any industry. We have a solution to many of the regular health issues associated with persistent manual handling.

“James Bond 007 has been delayed in the launch of the new film and like Gaaard Protection we will have to wait until later in the year due to the Coronavirus.”

This particular form of product is also available as a Sweatshirt, Hoody and Hi-Vis Vest. Each product has been rigorously tested

A Variety Of Industries

Gaaard Protection products covers an array of industries including many levels of manual handling. From construction, the utilities, rail, telecoms, gas & oil their clothing offers a range of benefits. They not only alleviate discomfort and increase productivity, but also meet the stringent Health & safety criteria now set by many countries covering manual handling.

Popular Catchphrase

The firm’s popular catchphrase is ‘work hard – work Gaaard’, and as the launch gets ever nearer, interest in the ScaffShirt is starting to increase. Their website shows all the products in the range from the Scaffshirt and work-wear range to Skidoddle and FlinchArrester aimed specifically at the leisure industry.

Scaffshirt is another British designed product helping to raise safety standards right across the world.

www.gaaardprotection.com

COVID-19 Construction Guidance is Unsafe, Warns Unite

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COVID-19 Construction Guidance is Unsafe, Warns Unite

The UK’s construction union, Unite, has warned the government that the latest guidance on how construction sites should operate during the COVID-19 pandemic is unsafe and puts workers at risk.

Unite has said in a statement, the site operating procedures version three published by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has been ‘watered-down’ as opposed to previous versions.

Its main concern is the reduction in the requirement for workers to socially distance on-site.

The new guidance from the CLC says that where workers are required to work within two metres of each other they should: “work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face”. When its not possible to do this and workers have to work ‘face to face’ within two meters of each other, the guidance states it should be limited to 15 minutes or less where possible.

The union has written to Alok Sharma, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, stating in clear terms that the new watered-down guidance is endangering the lives of construction workers, their families and the general public. The letter says: “We would go as far as to say it undermines the safety of workers on construction sites and may even become a contributory factor to the spread of Covid-19 in our communities.”

Due to the growing concerns that construction workers are needlessly being exposed to dangerous situations in the workplace Unite has launched a hotline: 0207 622 2442 so that workers can report concerns and provide evidence of unsafe working practices.

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain said: “Construction workers’ health is being threatened by watered-down advice. Alok Sharma must step in immediately and have these defective procedures withdrawn.

“We sincerely hope that this is not a case of the economy being put before the health of construction workers and their families.

“Unite’s position remains unchanged; no site should be working unless it can do so safely and that means two-metre social distancing must be maintained at all times.

“Contractors and clients also have a moral duty of care for workers from when they leave their home to when they return.  Construction workers should not be forced to use overcrowded public transport, potentially endangering their health and that of our key workers.

“If our members believe their health is being directly compromised, they should stop work and seek the assistance of Unite.

“Workers on sites need to be our eyes and ears.  If they are concerned about a lack of social distancing, a lack of cleaning or any other issue of compromised safety,  please contact Unite via the hotline.  Your identity will never be revealed to your employer.

“The current site operating procedures need to be withdrawn immediately and tougher safer guidance must be adopted and then vigorously enforced.

“Unite is absolutely committed to assist in drawing up new safer procedures and helping enforce safer working on sites.”

SMART Scaffolder Modelling For The Future

Grahame Anderson
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SMART Scaffolder Modelling For The Future

Dorset based SMART Scaffolder has announced a host of new 3D modelling features to boost their impressive BIM Toolbox module for the market-leading SMART Estimator package. 

3D BIM modelling has been of huge assistance to those in structural engineering, architecture and building services for several years. Accepted as the new way of doing things, this universal system facilitates lean construction and cross disciplinary usability.

The versatile toolbox module already includes a host of productivity features such as site plan import for easy take-offs of house types and dimensions, Google Maps integration to reduce the need for site visits and the ability to impose realistic elevation images on to your model.

The newest release of this cutting edge software will enable the importing of 3D BIM models in IFC format, to draw scaffolds directly onto customer’s BIM models. It will also be able to add 3D models from the software to a variety of formats including IFC, 3D PDF and HTML links.

Quality Quoting

What’s more, scaffolders will have their quoting process taken to a higher level,  incorporating 3D interactive models in the tender pack along with the automatic branded price quotation and detailed kit list. Exported models can be viewed on various mobile devices as well as PC’s allowing anyone to share interactive models with colleagues on-site as well as clients. The company claims it’s an excellent tool to help present a more professional company image and help win more work.

https://youtu.be/WA3WQGyteHA

Smart Message

Ian Chambers, Sales and Marketing Director at SMART Scaffolder told us: “We are always looking for innovative ways to help our customers adapt to this fast-moving industry. We know that our customers are working to minimise the number of visits to site at this difficult time. 

“BIM Toolbox already helps with this by allowing measuring and take-off for existing buildings online from your home or office.  This new wave of features means you can do this even for new builds from your customer’s BIM model.” 

SMART Scaffolder is the industry’s leading professional software solution benefiting owners, estimators, contract managers and designers. Launched in 2008 its goal was to provide scaffolders with the ability to model, create material lists, produce drawings and much more.

Open To Everyone

Firms of any size can use SMART Scaffolder with tube and fitting as well as the popular scaffolding systems.

For more information go to: www.smartscaffolder.com

NASC publishes detailed COVID-19 guidance for scaffolding operations

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NASC publishes detailed COVID-19 guidance for scaffolding operations

Scaffolding trade body the NASC has published detailed COVID-19 guidance to assist the scaffolding industry during the pandemic.

The twelve paged emergency document, titled Guidance for Scaffolding Operations During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, provides a broad range of advice scaffolding contractors can adopt to help safeguard the health and welfare of their workforce.

New/revised risk assessments may involve enhanced site cleaning measures, changes to site organisation, new working arrangements and regular staff briefings, are all included.

It is available for free download via the NASC website by clicking HERE.

Robin James, NASC Managing Director, said: “Scaffolding contractors – as part of the construction industry – have faced a significant challenge in recent weeks; continuing to operate where possible, as per the UK Government’s instruction, but also adhere to the Construction Leadership Council’s Site Operating Procedures (SOP) document.

“This latest NASC guidance is intended to help scaffolding contractors overcome this challenge. I’d like to thank NASC Council members and NASC staff for their hard work in producing this fluid guidance – taking it from an initial concept to publication in less than a fortnight. 

“We expect this document will need to be revised in line with any alterations made to the SOP document, Government advice or Public Health England guidance. As such, scaffolding contractors are advised to regularly check the NASC website or social media channels for any updates.”

Brogan Group Wins The Queen’s Award for Enterprise

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Brogan Group Wins The Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Specialist access company grows international trade by 158% to receive the coveted business award

One of the UK’s largest specialist access companies is today celebrating the news that it has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – the highest royal accolade for success in business.  The formal announcement was issued today from Her Majesty the Queen’s office to mark her 94th birthday.

Brogan Group, a specialist access contractor to the construction industry, operates in the UK, Ireland, UAE and Saudi Arabia and employs over 700 staff. The company has today joined an exclusive group by winning Britain’s most coveted royal business prize for its significant growth in international trade. Brogan Group is one of a few specialist access companies to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and one of only 128 companies this year to win an award in the International Trade category.

The esteemed award recognises the company’s significant performance in international trade and the contribution of that performance to the company’s impressive growth. During the period 2016-2018, the company experienced a staggering 158% international growth spurt, and by 2018, 37% of Brogan Group sales came from overseas markets.  Innovation powers the ongoing success of the company, which, by 2023, expects to see international sales account for almost 50% of the Group’s total activity. 

More recently, the company has secured a number of prestigious contracts to help build part of the World Expo, the largest construction project in the UAE.  It has also commenced work on the UK’s largest regeneration project since the London 2012 Olympic Games (Old Oak in North Acton).  It is currently working on the largest construction project in Europe at Battersea Power Station, where the company has supplied 70 construction hoists, four common towers, scaffolding and mast climbers across the first three phases of the development. 

Brogan Group has always been an early adopter of new technology and pioneering methods. It was one of the first companies in the UK to switch to system scaffold and to invest heavily in powered access, both of which created time and cost-effective alternatives to traditional scaffolding access, along with infinite possibilities for the evolving world of construction and faster, safer builds.

The Queen’s Award tops a plethora of industry accreditations for the company, including The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 in 2019 and 2020, Finalist in the 2019 Construction News Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the Year category, and Balfour Beatty’s 2019 Safety Award. 

Wayne Smith, Brogan Group Director said, “Naturally, we are delighted to have been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.  Kudos to our international teams, which have all contributed to both our success and our position as the market leader.  Brogan Group is proof that whilst innovation drives success, it is a company’s principles that will ensure sustainable growth.   Brogan Group places huge value on its staff’s training and safety, which bolsters our reputation for excellence.”

The company’s entry for the Queen’s Award was personally supported by the Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps, MP (Secretary of State for Transport). 

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise include a remarkable and impressive alumni of previous winners e.g. J.P Morgan, iCandy, Veolia and Willmott Dixon. 

The next ceremonial steps for the company include coverage in a special edition of the London Gazette, published in April, which will carry the names of all 220 winners.  The London Gazette is the oldest English newspaper and is an official journal of record of the British Government.  A Grant of Appointment ceremony will take place at Brogan’s headquarters later this year with the County’s Lord Lieutenant and local VIPs. The Lord Lieutenant is Her Majesty The Queen’s local representative and will present the Brogan team with a crystal trophy and the Grant of Appointment (personally signed by Her Majesty The Queen).

Following the Grant of Appointment ceremony, Brogan’s Directors will visit Buckingham Palace for a celebratory reception, which is usually hosted by HRH Prince Charles.

NASC Set To Publish New Scaffolding Operations Guidance During Pandemic

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NASC Set To Publish New Scaffolding Operations Guidance During Pandemic

The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) is working on detailed guidance to assist the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic

It’s understood the new emergency guidance will be scaffolding specific and will assist its members and the wider industry to comply with the current safety guidelines.

The document named ‘General Operating Procedure for Scaffolding Operations During the Coronavirus (COVID 19) Pandemic’ is expected to be published on Monday 20 April.

It comes after the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published the third version of the Site Operating Procedures for the construction sector on Tuesday. In the document, controversially it recommended if the 2m distance rule could not be obeyed on a project then contact between workers should be limited to 15 minutes. And workers should be side by side as opposed to being face to face.

Coronavirus site operating guidance updated for third time

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Coronavirus site operating guidance updated for third time

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published its third version of coronavirus guidance for construction workers in the space of three weeks.

The new guidance comes after version 2 was withdrawn within a matter of hours after it was heavily criticised as being too harsh and unworkable.

The latest guidance from the CLC which was published yesterday has set out risk reduction measures were the 2m distance rules cannot be obeyed. It allows workers to be closer than 2m in special circumstances essential to a project.

It recommends that where close working cannot be avoided it should be limited to less than 15 minutes with workers side by side as opposed to being face to face.

The new Site Operating Procedures follows Public Health England guidance which states: “Where it is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines in full in relation to a particular activity, you should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the site to continue to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission”.

Click here to view the full Site Operating Procedures Version 3

Admiral Scaffolding donates £20K into the community

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Admiral Scaffolding donates £20K into the community

Admiral Scaffolding has donated £20,000 to organisations in need during the coronavirus outbreak

Through its charitable trust, the Wimbledon based firm asked MP’s Stephen Hammond and Siobhain McDonagh on causes which would benefit from donations.

The trust donated a total of £20,000 to three causes in need:

St George’s Hospital received £5,000 to fund 50 blood pressure monitors that can be used from home. And 25 tablet computers that will allow patients in isolation the chance to talk to their loved ones.

The Commonside Trust, received £5,860 to help cover their food bank, meals and telephone calls for a month.

Christian Care received £7,650 to cover all of their family meals for two weeks.

Speaking to Wimbledon Times, chairman of Admiral Trust, Terry Withers, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported us in raising these funds. They can be proud of supporting these great charities who are doing so much in this time of great need.”

Avontus to Offer Free Access to Scaffold Designer During COVID-19 Disruption

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Avontus to Offer Free Access to Scaffold Designer During COVID-19 Disruption

Scaffolding software company Avontus is helping scaffolding businesses to upskill employees, build new technology capabilities, and come back stronger 

As part of its ongoing commitment to the scaffolding industry, Avontus Software is providing free access to the company’s industry-leading Scaffold Designer software, along with comprehensive training and support. The firm has said the initiative aims to help scaffolding businesses upskill employees, build new competitive advantages, and come back from the COVID-19 disruption stronger than ever.

Scaffold Designer brings powerful advantages to scaffold businesses. The software dramatically accelerates the design process with a simple drag-and-drop interface and time-saving features like an instant, accurate bill of materials. In these times of virtual meetings, scaffold businesses will appreciate the ability to perform remote walkthroughs and handovers using Scaffold Designer’s advanced 3D, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technology.

Starting from today, businesses can use Scaffold Designer for free for 60 days, with no commitment, and enjoy the following benefits:

  • No startup cost
  • 60-day free Scaffold Designer Professional license
  • Free training and webinars

For businesses that have had to shutdown operations, this program offers a chance to upskill employees during downtime. Scaffold Designer makes this easy with a complete library of training videos accessible within the app itself.

To strengthen the learning path, the Avontus team is launching a special Training and Webinars series for all interested customers. The company will release the training schedule through its website, covering essential scaffold design techniques along with exciting new capabilities. Readers can subscribe to the Avontus newsletter to get the latest training updates and materials.

Andrew Smith, Avontus VP of Operations said “The construction industry in general and scaffolding businesses, in particular, are now placed in a tough position. We know that we must take action. With our tools and expertise, we can help our customers reduce operational costs so they can focus on protecting their employees,”

“That’s why we want to dedicate our resources to enabling scaffolding businesses to come back from this disruption stronger than ever.”

At Avontus, supporting the industry and customers remains a top priority. With the free Scaffold Designer, scaffolding businesses are empowered to build new strengths and get ready to come back stronger than ever.

To sign up for your 60-day free Scaffold Designer license, please visit: https://www.avontus.com/comebackstronger/

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