SCP Forgeco’s fundraising exploits and business know-how has provided vital safety equipment for Wolverhampton NHS Trust to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scaffolding and Construction Products and Forgeco (SCP Group UK) based in Coseley, near Wolverhampton, launched a Just Giving page in April to appeal for donations for the NHS.
The page was started when Ranjit Dale, SCP Forgeco’s Managing Director, visited a family member in hospital and saw the demand for PPE.
The firm kickstarted the campaign with a generous donation of £10,000. Now seven months later their customers and members of the public have helped raise over £25,000.
The donations have been used to purchase vital PPE including 1,600 work coveralls and 2,000 hand sanitisers and dispensers.
Mr Dale said: “Personally it was an eye-opening experience seeing frontline staff at new cross hospital without some crucial PPE.
“At that point I felt it was my duty using our UK connections to source the necessary PPE and this led to our very successful just giving fundraiser.
“I would like to personally say thank you to everyone in my company, associated companies, family, friends and everyone that donated to our cause.”
Rachel Robinson, NHS Community and Events Fundraiser, said: “We are very grateful for SCP Group’s generosity and for helping us to keep our patients and staff safe.”
Two New Zealand based businesses have been sentenced for health and safety failings after a scaffolder suffered serious chemical burns to his hands.
A court in New Zealand heard how in April 2018, a steel galvanising plant based in Hamilton contracted Total Access Limited to erect and dismantle scaffolding above one of its covered galvanising tanks next to a tank of caustic soda.
While dismantling the scaffolding the scaffolder noticed the guard rails were slippery. By the time the job was complete the worker’s hands were swollen, shaking and throbbing. There were also black marks on them from chemical burns.
As a result, the scaffolder spent two months with his hands in bandages while another worker also suffered burns to his right arm, neck and shoulder.
A WorkSafe investigation found that hazardous vapour from the adjacent tank had condensed on the scaffolding causing the chemical burns when contacted by the workers.
WorkSafe’s Head of Specialist Interventions Simon Humphries said neither company had discussed risks posed by these hazardous chemicals thoroughly.
“Other than the risks of falling into the tanks or inhaling fumes from the tanks neither company considered the risk of these toxic vapours.“This is a hazardous substance that is extremely harmful when it comes into contact with skin.“It is extremely disappointing that neither company had the foresight to consider the effects these chemicals may have on workers. Businesses must engage with one another to ensure all health and safety risks are recognised before work on any job takes place.”
In a decision released on October 21, Total Access Limited was ordered to pay a fine of $165,000, while Perry Metal Protection Limited was ordered to pay a fine of $227,500.
UK System Scaffold Hire has announced the acquisition of the former HAKI UK Head Office and logistics hub in Tamworth.
The acquisition completed this month, with the undisclosed deal also including the purchase of £1.5 million of HAKI systems and allowed the firm to create seven new jobs.
It is a “return home” for UKSSH Managing Director Gary Griffiths, who started his scaffold career as a yard hand at the Tamworth site some 35 years ago and who explains that UKSSH’s strategic plan always included a Midlands operation.UKSSH said that many of its senior team reside in the area so the Tamworth facility presented the ideal opportunity.The Tamworth site will operate in addition to the company’s current site in Chesterfield, with the purchase reflecting both UKSSH’s impressive growth over the last few years and its ambitions for the future.“The acquisition further cements our relationship with Haki as their preferred Hire Partner and will obviously make it easier for us to service our existing customers in the Midlands and the South, but it is also a strategic move which will put us in a prime position to support major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the construction programme leading up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022,” Gary explained.A full report on the acquisition will be available in the forthcoming Scaffmag magazine issue 11
Three unemployed learners have walked straight into jobs, and five more equipped with the skills to find work, thanks to a short pilot course offering a step-up into the scaffolding industry.
The short programme, delivered by NETA Training, was funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority’s devolved Adult Education Budget, with the aim of helping get people back into work.
Working alongside Stockton-based employer, JMAC Scaffolding Ltd, the eight-day programme came with an interview, with three jobs up for grabs. Liam Bates, 29, Dean Bishop, 31, and Dylan Frost, 21, have now started work in JMAC’s yard as trainee scaffolders.
NETA’s managing director Phil Blewitt said: “We are proud to have supported these learners with the help of JMAC Scaffolding and Tees Valley Combined Authority in gaining valuable skills and industry-recognised qualifications to help them build their careers. To have three students go straight into employment is a positive outcome and we aim to build on this success.”
The bespoke Access to Scaffolding programme offered the chance to pick up a selection of industry qualifications and skills including the CCNSG National Safety Passport, Scaffolding COTS, Scaffolding Appreciation, Scaffolding Mobile Towers, Confined Space (Entry, Awareness and Escape), Mental Health First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work.
Trainee Scaffolder Liam Bates
Liam Bates, from Stockton, signed up to the course after being made redundant due to the impact of Covid 19. It was a friend who suggested he try scaffolding.
He said: “I had never considered it before, but I have worked in heavy industry, so it appealed to me.”
Signing up to the NETA course in the hope of getting his site safety cards, he said: “I never expected to get a job out of it, especially in these times.”
Dean Bishop from Middlesbrough said: “The jobcentre put me forward for the course. I have a lot of friends who work in scaffolding. This is something I should have done years ago, but better late than never!”
Dylan Frost, also from Middlesbrough, said: “I didn’t know about the interviews until I started the course but even then, I didn’t think I would be chosen. I have never had luck like that.”
Trainee Scaffolder Dean Bishop
Luis McCarthy, managing director of JMAC, said: “To be able to take on staff in the middle of a pandemic is fantastic both for us as a company and for the wider area. Hopefully, these are roles that will progress with the opportunity to become fully trained scaffolders. With the support of the Tees Valley Combined Authority and programmes like the government’s Kickstart scheme we hope there may be further opportunities.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “This course and its outcome shows that our devolved adult education budget – that we’ve got as a result of our deal with Government and having an elected mayor – is making a direct impact on people’s lives.
“It’s always great to hear about the people who these schemes have helped, and I wish Liam, Dean and Dylan all the best for the future!”
Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB, has handed in her resignation which will come into effect from September 2021.
She has served as CEO since January 2017, having previously held a range of senior leadership positions at the organisation over the past 16 years.
Sarah, CITB’s first female CEO, led the training body through a major, transformation programme, Vision 2020. It saw CITB shift from direct provision of a range of commercial services towards delivering strategic outcomes for the whole construction industry.
This was achieved through improving influence at government level, introducing a new governance structure and increasing the return and impact from the Levy.
To ensure delivery of CITB’s current plans, provide leadership and stability through these challenging times and make sure that the organisation is in the strongest possible position to move forward, Sarah will be staying on until September 2021, CITB said.
In a statement, Sarah Beale said: “It’s been an honour to lead CITB. A part of me will always stay in this great organisation, which is full of brilliant people making a real difference to people’s lives and careers, as well as supporting construction employers across Great Britain.“I’m proud of the work we have done together, and our record of delivery. It will be tough to leave after 16 fantastic years, but right now I’m focused on delivering our Skills Stability Plan, including seeing through internal changes and setting up CITB to deliver beyond that, before taking a breather and identifying a new career challenge.”
Peter Lauener, Chair of CITB, said: “Sarah has been a superb Chief Executive for CITB, serving industry’s skills needs with dedication, and making us a stronger and more effective organisation in the process. “Thanks to Sarah’s work, and that of her senior team, the Board and I can remain confident in CITB’s commitment and ability to deliver the new strategic plan and to achieve industry endorsement of our approach in the consensus process we expect to run next year.”
Four workers have been killed in a scaffolding collapse in Southern Germany.
The German government has said the incident happened on a building site during work on a concrete ceiling in Denklingen, a small town in Bavaria, on Friday.
Two men aged 37, one 34 and a 16-year-old were named as the victims of the tragic incident. All four came from the region.
The workers were buried under rubble after falling from the collapsed structure. Police said that another worker was also slightly injured in the incident.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the accident but Bavaria’s State Criminal Police Office has requested that engineering and construction specialists be deployed to the site to investigate.
Mayor Andreas Braunegger said he was “simply shocked” by the incident as he arrived at the local town hall for talks with the victims’ families.
TRAD Scaffolding Co, part of the TRAD Group, has announced that one of its apprentices, Stephanie Betts, has been shortlisted for the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award, part of the Construction News 2020 awards.
Stephanie, who is halfway through the five-year apprentice programme and is due to complete her apprenticeship in 2022, has been shortlisted for her outstanding attitude to her work and for achieving great results. Scaffmag asked Stephanie a bit about her time with TRAD and her thoughts on the award and on life as a woman in the construction industry.
What made you apply for the apprenticeship scheme at TRAD?
“Coming from a financial background, I wanted something completely different from my previous roles as well as hopefully being taken out of my comfort zone. The trainee management scheme looked exciting, and TRAD is an ever-growing company with nearly 50 years of history, which is something I couldn’t wait to be a part of.”
What has surprised you or been unexpected about the scheme?
“The Trainee Management apprenticeship has several modules and the first one I experienced was out on-site working alongside the TRAD team and learning the basics of contract scaffolding, I thought going into a male-dominated role would be incredibly intimidating, but everyone has been so friendly and supportive and it was a real help to see how scaffolding works in a live environment.”
Have you found TRAD to be supportive of your training and career?
“TRAD has been very supportive of my training. All of the modules I’ve carried out so far including estimating, surveying, management and supervision have interlinked smoothly. My colleagues in each module have many years of experience and it’s been interesting to see how our customers receive a service from concept design and advice, safe erection and dismantle and meeting programme needs all the way through to final account.”
What’s great about being shortlisted for this award?
“I feel excited to have been nominated for this award because being female in a traditionally male-dominated environment on site is quite a challenge. Even though TRAD has a strong female representation within the company, most sites do not – and to have been recognised for my effort and hard work feels like a massive achievement.”
It sounds like it’s been a challenge – what has been the best bit of your training so far?
“I really enjoyed my time on site: my previous roles have been office based so I have never experienced working on a construction project. It was really interesting to have a change of scenery from the office and I was completely taken out of my comfort zone, which excites me. Having walked past many construction sites in my previous employment without giving them a second thought, now I’m actively looking at what’s going on inside!”
What do you think about opportunities for women in the construction industry?
“I feel that women in construction are becoming more recognised – that’s certainly what I’ve found within the TRAD Group and it’s a great industry for any female to get involved with. There are so many different opportunities and it’s honestly not as scary as we first think!”The winners of the Construction News awards will be announced on November 17th at a virtual ceremony.
Turner Access has pulled out of the system scaffolding market after selling its system scaffolding production and sales arm.
The Glasgow based firm will now focus on its rapidly expanding contract scaffolding business activities in the construction, infrastructure and other industry sectors.The company has said today that Sunshine Enterprises has successfully purchased the production and sales arm of OCTO® System Scaffolding from the scaffolding supplier.
OCTO will now be traded via StepUp Scaffolding UK Ltd which is owned by North American business Sunshine Enterprises.
Sunshine Enterprises is one of North America’s largest scaffolding importing and manufacturing brands. This new deal puts the company further into the UK and European markets, boosting the existing scaffold and access sales operation of StepUp Scaffolding UK.StepUp Scaffolding UK (Ltd) will continue to serve its existing UK and European customer base, via a newly formed brand, Sunshine Enterprises Group Europe – crucially now with the addition of the highly regarded OCTO® System Scaffolding range to its expanding portfolio.New Sunshine Enterprises Group Europe Managing Director, Knud Højland Pedersen said: “This deal is fantastic news for the UK scaffolding sector – allowing existing StepUp Scaffolding UK (Ltd) and new British and European customers to slickly and efficiently benefit from the safety and productivity-boosting gains of the fantastic OCTO® System Scaffolding, at a time where safety and speed in scaffolding has never been more critical. Having the scale, speed and quality of a brand like Sunshine Enterprises behind the StepUp UK business is going to put OCTO® System Scaffolding on the map here in the UK and beyond.” Turner Access new Managing Director, Simon Russell said: “This is great news for Turner Access as a brand and our Scottish and UK-wide construction customer base. The shift of emphasis here from production of scaffolding to contract activity and the huge investment and growth this deal will help to support will help us in our vision to be the leading scaffold contractor in Scotland, offering clients a first class scaffolding service in accordance with our #WorkSafeHomeSafe culture – ideally suited to the current situation.” StepUp Scaffolding UK (Ltd) are now taking orders for the entire OCTO® System Scaffolding product range and Turner Access are available to quote for contract scaffolding.
Scaffolding and brickwork business Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB) has opened a Leeds Office which forms part of a National Expansion Plan.
The firm says the company has chosen Leeds as its base in the North of England because of its good transport links and highly skilled labour pool.
With offices already in London, Reading and Glasgow, Leeds is the next step in their national expansion plan.
The multi-million-pound nationwide enterprise was formed in 1997 by founder Lee Marley who was just 24-years-old at the time.
His business is now a major integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone subcontractor, and it turned over £47.1m in 2019.
Read our magazine interview with Lee Marley from issue 10
Its new regional office based in Thorpe Park, Leeds is set to be head by Mike Hampton who has been appointed Commercial Director.
Mike is a seasoned industry executive who brings 20 years of masonry experience in the north and midlands to the business.
He added: “The opportunity to join one of the leading masonry companies in the UK was too good an opportunity to miss. There is huge potential in the north as masonry packages grow bigger and bigger and it shows great confidence in the region that LMB wants to become part of the Northern Power House story”
LMB Director Dan Clarkson said: “Mike is a great addition to our team. Many of our clients have been asking us to work in the region for some time but we have been waiting to recruit individuals that share our drive, commitment to quality and customer focus”
LMB Managing Director Lee Marley said: “We have worked all over the country on major projects but it has always been an ambition of mine to have a permanent base in the region to create a bridge between our work in Scotland and the South and offer a comprehensive national masonry solution to our customers”
Lee Marley Brickwork’s team includes operational and commercial management and will be focussing on large scale schemes that have become the company’s hallmark in Southern England and Scotland.
Future business plans include working in partnership with local colleges and universities in the North of England to further develop LMB’s apprenticeship and graduate programmes.
Organised crime is cashing in on pent-up demand for construction testing, and the CITB needs your help to stop it.
Criminals in London, the Midlands and in the North West are charging candidates more than £1,000 for assisted one-day Site Safety Plus (SSP) courses and the CITB Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test – the true cost of the HS&E test is just £21!
The CITB say that training providers in the capital, as well as areas in and around major British cities, are being approached by individual facilitators allegedly offering to bring in large numbers of candidates and asking to use the provider’s facilities and registrations.
Some of these facilitators offer large amounts of cash as an incentive, but after the courses are run the cash is not forthcoming and the centre finds their standards may have been compromised.
CITB is currently conducting investigations and involving law enforcement agencies including the National Crime Agency, police, Home Office Immigration Enforcement and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority as appropriate. Quality assurance audits are being provided to training centres, and CITB’s fraud team also identifies and targets offenders, including through unannounced audit visits.
Ian Sidney, CITB Fraud Manager, said: “The intelligence we are receiving is that the fraudsters are trying hard to capitalise in on a surge in demand caused by the lockdown. We know that organised crime infiltrates the testing process to get unskilled, illegal or trafficked people genuine qualifications so they can work in conditions of modern slavery on construction sites.“This generates vast sums of money, some of which is known to help to finance terrorism and other organised criminality. You can help put a stop to it by getting in touch.”
If you are approached by unknown facilitators please let CITB know and help prevent fraud at [email protected]
