Wearable tech improves employee wellbeing at HAKI
HAKI Denmark has obtained pioneering wearable equipment from Danish company EXOWEAR to assure employee wellbeing and safety across its two departments.
Two of EXOWEAR’s BackX harnesses have been purchased by HAKI to relieve and reduce fatigue and wear in the lumbar spine. On an hourly basis, HAKI’s operatives are lifting many components weighing between 0.5kg to 15kg. To reduce impact to the lower back workers can wear the one-size-fits-all BackX harness, which helps operatives lift loads of up to 15kg. EXOWEAR is a pioneer of this type of equipment and has a range of harnesses on offer – including ShoulderX and LegX – to ensure workers can lift heavy scaffolding safely and securely. HAKI Denmark is one of the first companies to trial the BackX harness. Henrik G. Christensen, CCO Denmark/Export Manager at HAKI Denmark said: “Employee safety and wellbeing are essential to our strategy at HAKI. Obtaining two of EXOWEAR’s BackX skeleton harnesses was a natural step for us and is part of our ongoing pursuit to assure our operatives are safe at work. Their security is extremely important to us. Responding to their needs was a top priority.” “The BackX harness fits so well that it feels like a second skin,” continued Henrik. “From a wellbeing point of view, workers can lift up to 15kg with little impact to the lumbar spine. It’s having a noticeable, beneficial effect on morale and is enabling them to work better and more safely.”
Once HAKI has trialled the harness it is expected the equipment will be rolled out across the industry and to scaffolding companies. “We will definitely encourage fellow organisations to follow suit,” said Henrik. “Safety is absolutely paramount and BackX is a fine example of a wearable technology that centres worker wellbeing.” A Career in Scaffolding, from Apprentice to Scaffold Director
Scaffolding and Brickwork contractor Lee Marley is aiming to encourage more young people to join the scaffolding industry after highlighting the successes of some of its own apprentices.
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB), is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. Their scaffolding division is made up of 130 scaffolders, plus drivers, yard operatives, apprentices and other office-based staff. The company currently offers both brickwork and scaffolding apprenticeships in order to bring the next generation of tradesmen into the construction industry.
Swedish anti-vibration glove wins UK best in test
A range of 24 vibration protection gloves were put through their paces recently in a British-wide safety survey that pitted some of the most respected brands and gloves on the market against each other.
Swedish firm Ejendals that produces the popular TEGERA® 9180 was awarded Best All-round Anti-vibration Glove. The review measured performance in real-life situations, comfort and fit, and suitability for a broad range of industry applications. Therese Engvall, Head of Glove Research and Development at Ejendals said: “This is very exciting news for us at Ejendals. It shows us we’re very much on the right path with our thinking and highlights the importance of both our research and development, and our close collaboration with our customers. Our products not only need to provide leading protection but also be comfortable to wear – everything we do at Ejendals is directed towards safety.” The TEGERA® 9180 features Vibrothan@ in the construction of the inner hand, its their own specially designed foam material that provides industry-leading protection from extended periods of vibration from tools such as jackhammers; the kind of vibration that can lead to devastating muscle and nerve damage in the long run. On the ergonomic side, pre-curved fingers and reinforced index finger and fingertips, coupled with Microthan® for better grip, means the TEGERA® 9180 is built for better protection and comfort.
Ejendals for generations has specialized in developing, manufacturing and marketing high-quality products that protect hands and feet. In close collaboration with researchers and their customers, they design products that deliver the highest standard of protection, durability and ergonomics.
Latest Scaffolding Guidance TG20:21 Now On Sale
The NASC has today announced the launch of its updated and expanded scaffolding compliance software TG20:21 and is now on sale.
The new TG20:21 eGuide allows users to produce a wide range of standard scaffolding structures, without the need for bespoke design. As with TG20:13, development of the new guidance has been carried out in conjunction with CADS (Computer and Design Services Limited), an international specialist in structural engineering design and technical authors of the TG20 eGuide software. The latest version builds upon TG20:13, retaining its user-friendly look and feel, but includes a number of revisions to make the process of producing compliant scaffolding – in accordance with the European standard BS EN 12811 – even simpler, and incorporates a wider range of scaffolding types. Additions include exterior birdcages, tube and fitting mobile towers, tube and fitting loading bays without beams, and tied independent scaffolds with three inside boards. TG20 compliance sheets are now double-sided, with an illustration and principal compliance criteria on the front, and detailed compliance criteria listed on the reverse. Users can access TG20:21 – including the associated and updated Operational and Design Guides – via the new NASC ePortal. NASC has said the updated User Guide booklet will be published in May, and printed versions of the Operational and Design guides will follow.Price
The new TG20:21 is available on an annual subscription basis, costing £300 + VAT per login per year, which is discounted to £75 for their full members. However the trade body has said, to ensure the transition from TG20:13 to TG20:21 is as fair as possible, there is a period of free use of the new software for existing users, which can be accessed using the TG20:13 serial number. Speaking about the launch of TG20:21 NASC President Lynn Way said: “We’re delighted to launch TG20:21. We’ve been working on this update for 18 months, and I’d like to thank every single person that has played a part in its development. “We’re confident that users of TG20:21 will recognise how we’ve taken the best parts of TG20:13, made it better and easier to use, but also kept the original mission statement in the front of our minds – creating a tool that scaffolding contractors can use to produce compliant structures for day- to-day scaffolding, and ensure that their scaffolding projects are safe and conform to legal requirements.” Dennis Braithwaite, NASC Technical Advisor, added: “With the introduction of TG20:21, we are entering a ‘transition period’ to give the industry adequate time to adjust to the new requirements, in a planned and controlled way. Existing scaffolds constructed in compliance with TG20:13 and associated compliance sheets remain acceptable and do not require modification. TG20:13 compliance sheets are still valid and may continue to be used for the next few months. It is anticipated that TG20:13 will be formally withdrawn, in favour of fully adopting TG20:21 in the Autumn.” TG20:21 will be supported by a comprehensive maintenance and development agreement, ensuring that updates and improvements are made on a regular basis. For more information visit www.nasc.org.ukScaffolding falls from Glasgow apartment site
Scaffolding from the top floor of an apartment block under construction in Glasgow collapsed in high winds yesterday.
Police quickly closed roads around the construction site following the incident that happened around 2pm. The site was evacuated while workers scrambled to make the structure safe. It’s understood that no person was injury in the collapse. A spokesperson for the main contractor told The Herald: “A section of scaffolding on our Park District development has sustained damage from high winds this afternoon. “No one has been injured and all health and safety protocols are being followed, with the construction site and road at Lynedoch Place currently closed. “The safety of all residents and our workforce is our main priority, both HSE and Police Scotland have been informed.”Altrad appoints new director to support its upstream growth agenda
Altrad has announced the appointment of John Welsh, Client Services Director, to accelerate its upstream growth strategy for the UK continental shelf (UKCS).
John Welsh, returns back to his roots to join the enlarged Altrad business, some nine years after leaving Cape plc, a company that was acquired by Altrad back in 2017, wherein he grew the business to be one of the major providers of support services to the oil & gas industry. Upon joining Altrad, John said “I am delighted to be returning to the business where I started my career almost 49 years ago – and to support Altrad’s repositioning strategy to become a major contributor to the offshore oil and gas industry in the UK. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be joining at Altrad at such a growth-driven stage in its development and I look forward to using my skills and connectivity to support Altrad’s growth ambitions.” Chris Garland, Altrad’s Director of Upstream Operations commented “John’s experience and track-record in the sector is unparalleled and I have no doubt he will contribute enormously in supporting our new growth-driven objectives”. This appointment builds on a number of investments Altrad are making to support the delivery of its 2026 strategy – ‘It all begins with a desire to create a better tomorrow’ – which will see it transform into a business that is 75% larger in 2026 than it is today. “I am pleased to welcome John into Altrad, wherein he will play a leading role in accelerating our progress to reclaim our position as the leading provider of support services to the upstream oil and gas sector in the UK” added Peter Hughes, Altrad’s Director of Business Development & Strategy.CITB publishes its plan for England
Helping employers with their immediate skills needs, clear information to attract new recruits including from FE, and tackling long-term challenges underpin CITB’s England Plan, published today (7 April).
Across Britain, some £140million of industry Levy will be invested in 2021/22 for employers to train, and in support and services, meaning 94p of every pound of Levy CITB receives will be targeted at industry’s priorities to ensure Levy in means skills out.
The England Plan was shaped by input from England Council members on the priority outcomes to target in 2021/22. It also aligns with Government and Construction Leadership Council initiatives like the CITB GB Business Plan published last week. Key priorities include:
- Helping people to gain valuable work experience and providing resources and materials to help with this.
- Increasing the level of FE learners progressing by working closely with colleges with a strong construction offer or who are centres of excellence in particular roles
- Working with colleges to drive high quality, relevant training and link industry into sponsored programmes
- Working with industry to agree needs and providing support and coordination on standards development to ensure industry needs are met and gaps filled
- Supporting new and emerging areas of need such as digital skills and sustainability skills (including retrofit work).
- Targeting enhanced support on the most in-demand skills required to deliver accelerated homebuilding and infrastructure and wider challenges such as boosting productivity, building safely post-Grenfell and Net Zero carbon emissions.
Careers
The levy will support making construction careers more accessible, from inspiring schools through STEM Ambassadors and skills competitions, to providing information via Go Construct on where to go next, whether training, one of the 3,700 taster experiences in England this year, or where to find a job.
Nine new onsite training hubs will provide 2,314 work experience places, and 1,889 new entrants ready to work onsite, CITB will also help develop an industry-wide Talent Management system to support early career opportunities in addition to the Construction Talent Retention Scheme.
Training and development
CITB reacted to the pandemic by enabling and providing more e-learning, including a new COVID-19 e-course, and will further develop this approach to e-learning this year.
CITB will phase in a new wider apprenticeship offer to employers, providing direct support where it will most impact on longer term achievements. This will support apprenticeship recruitment and employers to find the right Apprenticeship Standard and to access quality provision. It will build on the progress made in the pandemic, which saw 99% of furloughed apprentices supported in England remain in the industry, and by boosting apprenticeship achievement rates from 64% to 66%.
The England Plan will also support the development and delivery of a new construction traineeship that will create a bridge between FE and new accelerated apprenticeship that will recognise prior learning. Starting with bricklaying, other occupations will follow, including carpentry, joinery, and painting and decorating. Between now and 2025, this will boost apprenticeship starts in England by 1,600.
The National Construction Colleges will continue to help employers access training they need, including specialist areas such as scaffolding and plant. Across Britain, CITB will invest £1m in specialist skills which is vital to ensure those skills survive.
Standards and qualifications
CITB will support just under 1,300 skills and training fund projects for smaller firms in England and provide employers with a tool to analyse their training needs.
CITB will work closely with employers, colleges and awarding bodies to review five National Occupational Standards suites to establish whether and how working practices have changed and how their content needs updating.
Responding to new building safety requirements post-Grenfell, the development of ten Competence Frameworks to define the skills required for priority ‘Installer’ occupations will also be supported.
Chris Carr, Managing Director of Carr & Carr Builders, Federation of Master Builders Management Board member, and CITB England Council member said: “After a year like no other, we can see the recovery ahead with construction set to play a leading role. But with growth comes greater skill needs.
Employers, particularly the many small firms that make up construction, want to attract new workers, invest in apprenticeships and grow the skills of their current workforce. This isn’t easy but by drawing on the support set out in the England Nation Plan and working closely with government, we will be better placed to meet these challenges.”
CITB England Engagement Director Deborah Madden said: “Construction is set to be a key sector leading recovery this year, increasing employers’ skill needs. The England Plan, shaped by our England Nation Council, will focus on the key areas to help employers meet them.
This includes providing better information on construction opportunities, supporting more effective routes into the industry, boosting apprenticeship completion rates and the number of FE learners joining construction. We will also work closely with employers to address key training needs and to make training more accessible.”
Enigma bags Sellafield SRP Project
Enigma Industrial Services has been awarded a high-profile nuclear project by Kier.
The Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) project is part of a £1bn-£1.5bn project funded by the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) to provide safe storage of special nuclear material for at least 100 years. Delivered through the Programme and Project Partners (PPP) model, the project involves the construction of a seismically designed reinforced concrete structure which will act as an annexe to an existing facility. Enigma’s project scope includes the provision of access to facilitate the formwork, reinforcement and concreting by Kier. Having worked together previously on significant projects at Sellafield, Kier, selected Enigma to provide an innovative and cost-effective access solution. Commenting on the project award, Kayvon Azadi, Enigma General Manager, said: “Our site team have worked diligently to determine the requirements of the project and provide an innovative solution. This award is a testament to their efforts and ability to create a cost-effective solution that combines safety and operational excellence. We are looking forward to delivering another world-class major project on-site at Sellafield with Kier”. Enigma has been trusted to deliver complex projects on-site at Sellafield for over a decade and have taken advantage of the partnership with HAKI to provide an innovative solution using system scaffold. The HAKI system incorporates efficiency and adaptability benefits, coupled with an unrivalled safe system of work. When compared to implementing a conventional scaffold solution, Enigma’s system scaffolding proposal helped reduce estimated access costs by 20% over a 2-year period. Designed by Enigma’s in-house Design & Engineering Team, the scaffold structures will require up to 800 tonnes of equipment and reach a height of 29 metres. The project is expected to run until 2023.CHAS partners with Nottingham Uni to tackle modern slavery in construction
