ISL Scaffolders In Life Saving Drama
The quick actions of two ISL scaffolders almost certainly saved the life of a contracted welder who suffered a bleed on the brain.
Both Interlink Scaffolding Ltd (ISL) employees Ryan Lane, 24 and Anthony Robinson, 35, were getting changed in the locker room ready to start their shift at the Teesrep Biomass Power Station Project, back on 4th September. The lads began to converse with a contracted welder and all seemed fine. Within seconds, however, the welder who works for Buttimers Engineering based in Ireland suddenly sat down saying he didn’t feel well. Moments later the family man collapsed to the floor. What made things worse was the fact the scaffolders realised he was both bleeding from the mouth along with swallowing and biting his tongue. Though not trained first aiders, they remembered how to place someone in the recovery position and quickly cleared the welder’s airways. The first-aid post wasn’t too far away and on calling for help it arrived speedily in the form of a site medic. The man in his early 40’s was given first aid until the emergency services arrived, taking him straight to the James Cook hospital on Teesside. Doctors confirmed the man had suffered a bleed on the brain and consequently, a stroke. It emerged the actions of the scaffolders had certainly saved the welder’s life, and he’d be able to make a full recovery. It’s been confirmed he is indeed recovering well and is extremely appreciative of the help he received. ISL specialises in tube and fitting scaffolding due to its flexibility and cost advantages on medium to long term projects. ISL Safety Manager Stuart Kidner told me: “Everyone is extremely proud of what Ryan and Anthony did, and the way they reacted to a very difficult situation. Medics confirmed they were responsible for saving the man’s life, and the great news is he’s recovering well. The lads have been given a special reward from the company and received lots of praise. The first-aid post wasn’t too far away, but their quick thinking made such a difference. It’s good to know there’s a real sense of teamwork and togetherness on site. They deserve all the praise in the world for their efforts.”PASMA offers free tower training for the unemployed
PASMA is helping people get back to work with a new free training initiative called ‘Handup’.
PASMA, the leading organisation for the mobile access tower industry is set to help upskill job seekers and improve their chances of finding employment during the current Covid crisis, which has seen thousands lose their jobs up and down the country. The Handup Initiative offers free PASMA training to any unemployed person who believes a PASMA card would improve their chances of finding further employment. If an unemployed person is claiming Universal Credit or Job Seekers’ Allowance they can apply for a free place on a number of selected training courses at participating UK centres. Courses are running from 22 September 2020 until 31 December 2020. Training centres offering free places: HSS Training, Ridgeway Online, Skyward Training, Davis Access Ltd, One Call Training Ltd, Harris Safety Training Services Ltd, Anglesey Safety Training and Kentec Training Ltd. PASMA said on it’s Linkedin page: “It’s a tough time for so many people and our fantastic members were keen to help. We all hope this opportunity to upskill makes the job search a little easier.” For more information on the HandUp Initiative click hereGovernment launches biggest upgrade of nation’s buildings in a generation
Homes, schools and hospitals across England are set to be greener and cheaper to run thanks to a £3 billion plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings
Around 120,000 construction jobs are expected to be supported by the new government funding schemes launched today. Homeowners can sign up for big savings on upgrades to their homes under the government’s £2 billion Green Homes Grant. And an additional £1 billion was announced to improve the energy efficiency of publicly owned buildings. Many scaffolding businesses could see an influx of new enquiries as grants offered will cover green home improvements ranging from the insulation of walls, floors and roofs, to the installation of double or triple glazing. The launch of the Green Homes Grant forms part of a wider plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings which also includes:- £1 billion to boost the energy efficiency of public buildings, including schools and hospitals through a Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund
- new measures to ensure nearly 3 million privately rented homes are upgraded to modern energy efficiency standards by 2028
- £50 million to improve the energy efficiency of social housing
“I urge everyone to visit the Green Home Grants website to see how they can make the most of this fantastic scheme.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “We promised to support jobs and protect the environment – and the Green Homes Grant delivers on this. We’re giving homeowners, landlords and local authorities the funding they need to hire local tradespeople and make our homes more energy-efficient. By supporting the green van men and women, we’ll save money, save jobs and save the planet.”Innovative TRAD Mini Catch Fan delivers better site safety
TRAD UK, the new brand for the combined TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems companies, has seen increased demand for its Mini Catch Fan product, which removes the need for additional lifting equipment and increases site safety – particularly in areas where scaffolding is near or on public areas used by the general public.
The TRAD Mini Catch Fan is designed to catch falling objects during the erection and dismantle processes of scaffolding, traditional or systems, helping to improve site safety for workers, visitors and the general public. Easy to install, the fans clip directly to the scaffold, meaning that no additional tooling is required. The fan is a 60mm x 60mm net with a 20mm x 20mm net overlay, which enhances the energy-absorbing properties of the product.
The Mini Catch Fan also offers significant savings to scaffolding and construction companies. Its manual installation means there is no need to hire a crane or lifting equipment to fix it into place – workers can simply move the catch fans as they go, resulting in lower labour requirements and safer operation.
For this reason, the Mini Catch Fan is ideal for highly urban settings where scaffolding often overhangs roads and pavement areas, or where it is difficult and expensive to get large equipment on site.
“TRAD’s Mini Catch Fan has proved extremely popular with a wide range of customers,” says Alan Slater, Head of Technical and Product Support. “The simple manual installation means there is no need for expensive permits for cranes or other equipment, and the product allows sites to remain safe even in very constrained environments.”
The simple-to-install system protects site workers, visitors and general public
- Manual installation means no cranes or lifting gear needed
- Ideal for urban or challenging sites
- Complies with BS EN 12811-4 classifications
- Connects to the scaffold with proprietary scaffold claws
- No tooling required
- Designed for strength and flexibility
- Lightweight aluminium design
“TRAD’s Mini Catch Fan has proved extremely popular with a wide range of customers,” says Alan Slater, Head of Technical and Product Support. “The simple manual installation means there is no need for expensive permits for cranes or other equipment, and the product allows sites to remain safe even in very constrained environments.” Construction site face mask guidance updated
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published new guidance on the use of face coverings on construction sites.
In response to the latest government guidance, the CLC now recommends that where workers on site are not required to wear Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) and their workplace (which may include welfare and changing facilities, site offices or site meeting rooms) meets all of the criteria below, their employer should make face coverings available and they should be worn in:- an enclosed space;
- where social distancing isn’t always possible;
- where they come into contact with others they do not normally meet.
Scaffolding around Big Ben roof to be removed
The roof of the Elizabeth Tower (also known as Big Ben) will slowly become visible again from this week, as part of the scaffolding is removed.
The newly restored roof of one of the worlds most iconic structures will be revealed to the world after three years of extensive restoration. Organisers say it is a significant moment in the timeline of the complex conservation project since scaffolders started to erected the huge scaffold in 2017. Over the course of the next six weeks, an expert team of scaffolders from PHD Modular Access will work to take down the scaffolding in the restricted space around the Tower, revealing the intricate conservation work that has been taking place. At this stage, scaffolding will only be removed from the roof, while work continues to the rest of the Tower. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “Like everyone else, I have been looking forward to seeing the scaffolding come down on Elizabeth Tower – so the unveiling of the roof will be a memorable moment. “We could all do with some good news in this Covid world, so it is very exciting to actually see some more of this great icon. “I am hoping the conservation work that has taken place on the tower – an important symbol of our democracy – will assure its place in London’s skyline for generations to come.” Extensive work has restored both the inside and the outside of the Elizabeth Tower, including the 3,433 roof tiles and the spire with its intricate flowers, cross and orb. The conservation work addresses crucial problems in the tower, including crumbling stone and a leaky roof. Each of the 3,433 cast iron roof tiles was removed and taken to a specialist workshop in northern England. Those that could be repaired were stripped of the old finishing and any weaknesses and faults were mended before the tiles were repainted with weatherproof grey paint. The Tower’s signature metal cross and orb, which sits proudly 96 meters above ground level, has also been repaired at the workshop. After the roof tiles and the cross and orb were put back in place, a team of gilders spent weeks gilding the ornate details to match the original design from 1859. Despite the challenge brought about by the pandemic, the small 12m square footprint of the site and the Tower’s position in the middle of a working Parliament, progress continues to be made. The worksite has been made fully covid-secure, allowing work to continue. The Ayrton Light housing has been restored and reinstalled and now only awaits its new energy-efficient electrical light fittings. In the belfry, the internal scaffolding has been removed and the work to the floor is underway.HSE to run month-long inspection blitz in construction
HSE inspectors are set to target construction sites in Great Britain to check that their health standards are up to scratch.
Starting on Monday 5 October the month-long inspection blitz will focus on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease. The HSE will be looking at the measures firms have in place to protect their workers’ lungs from the likes of asbestos, silica and wood dust.It’s part of HSE’s longer-term health and work strategy to improve health within the construction industry.
While the primary focus will be on health during this programme of inspections, if an HSE inspector identifies any other areas of concern, they will take the necessary enforcement action to deal with them.
This will include making sure that businesses are doing all they can to protect their workers from the risk of coronavirus and make workplaces COVID-secure.
The HSE says inspectors will also be looking for evidence of employers and workers knowing the risks, planning their work and using the right controls. If necessary, they will use enforcement to make sure people are protected.
The construction initiative will be supported by HSE’s ‘Dustbuster’ campaign, aimed to influence employer behaviour by encouraging builders to download free guidance and advice, increasing knowledge and capability to protect workers’ health.
More than 3,500 builders die each year from cancers related to their work, with thousands of more cases of ill-health and working days lost.
HSE’s chief inspector of construction, Sarah Jardine, said: “Around 100 times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents.
“Our inspection initiatives ensure that inspectors are able to speak to dutyholders and visit sites to look at the kind of action businesses in the construction industry are taking right now to protect their workers’ health, particularly when it comes to exposure to dust and damage to lungs.
“There are a few simple things that everyone can do to make sure they are protecting their health and their future. Be aware of the risks associated with activities you do every day, recognise the dangers of hazardous dust and consider how it can affect your health. We want businesses and their workers to think of the job from start to finish and avoid creating dust by working in different ways to keep dust down and wear the right mask and clothing.”
Industry urged to adopt new NHS Covid-19 app
Industry leaders have urged all firms in UK construction to lead the way in ensuring the widest possible uptake of the NHS COVID-19 app.
The app which launched today (24 Sep) in England and Wales, will enable QR check-in at venues and sites. And will be an important way for NHS Test and Trace in England and NHS Test, Trace, Protect in Wales to contact multiple people when coronavirus outbreaks are identified. Commenting, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Andy Mitchell CBE said: “We believe the construction industry can lead the way in encouraging the widest possible rollout of this app, which will be vital in our national fight against COVID-19 in the weeks and months ahead. “Construction is uniquely placed in that we have been operating throughout the pandemic using Site Operating Procedures to ensure COVID-secure environments, a model of safety best practice that has been taken up in other sectors and across the world. “In addition, as well as employing some 2.3 million people, our industry is highly visible to the public in all parts of England and Wales. “That’s why we are urging all employers in our sector to ensure QR codes are displayed prominently on sites and in workplaces, and that steps are taken to encourage employees to download the app and use it regularly on a daily basis. “Throughout this emergency, the construction industry has risen to the challenge of keeping the economy going while protecting the safety of our workforce. “The NHS COVID-19 app will be another weapon in our armoury to ensure that where coronavirus outbreaks do occur, those who have been exposed are able to contacted and told to isolate, which will be key to suppressing this disease over the next six months.” The contact tracing element of the app works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time you spend near other app users, and the distance between you, so it can alert you if someone you have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19, even if you don’t know each other. The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results.Download the app now by clicking here.
Australia calls for improved scaffolding safety standards
An NSW government Minister has called on the industry to improve safety standards in the country or risk heavy fines after a number of deaths and serious injuries have occurred.
A scaffolding safety blitz is now underway in New South Wales after three people have died and 25 have been seriously injured after falling from a height on NSW construction sites this year.
A recent round of inspections saw more than 800 notices issued for significant safety breaches, NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson said recently.
He called on the industry to improve its standards or risk heavy fines after the countries SafeWork’s inspectors found missing scaffold parts, unlicensed workers and substandard safety measures for those working from heights.
“This is no joke – this year alone three people have died and 25 have been seriously injured due to falling from a height,” Mr Anderson said in a statement.
In a three-month blitz SafeWork inspectors issued 26 penalty notices, 232 prohibition notices and 580 improvement notices, 500 of which were for risks associated with falling from heights.
“We will not tolerate poor safety and workers lives being placed at risk on our worksites, and from today we are kicking off a new three-month blitz, focusing on these risks,” Mr Anderson said.
Under the recently amended Work Health and Safety Act 2011, non-compliant businesses could face heavy fines or up to five years in jail.
“NSW is proud to be leading the way with the strongest work health and safety legislation in the country and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who disregards the safety of others,” Mr Anderson said.
