The jib of a tower crane snapped in the wind last night on a construction site in Surrey.
The crane was positioned on a James Taylor Homes construction site in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey.
According to reports work had finished for the day when the jib snapped. There were no reported injuries from the collapse.
Residents nearby were temporarily evacuated while the fire brigade attended the scene.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We were called at 16.15 to reports of a tower crane collapsing into a building under construction on Beaufort Road.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Police were called shortly after 4pm on Tuesday December 10 to reports of a partially collapsed crane on a building site on Fassett Road in Kingston. Emergency services on the scene. At this early stage, there are no reported injuries. A number of local residents have been evacuated as a precaution.”
System scaffolding provider, HAKI, has added a new CISRS course to its expanding training portfolio, starting January 2020.
Following the successful launch of the CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS) at the company’s Milton Keynes-based training facility earlier in 2019, the business has now decided to introduce the CISRS BASE course for HAKI systems.
The company says the course aligns itself with the organisation’s mission to encourage scaffolding careers, improve skills in the industry, and ensure maximum safety of workers using simple HAKI structures.
HAKI course, accredited by CISRS for non-scaffolders
The HAKI BASE course, accredited by CISRS, provides industry-recognised training for non-scaffolders who erect, alter and dismantle very basic and routine scaffolding structures using the HAKI Universal scaffolding system.
Over 5-days, delegates will be familiarised with HAKI products and learn to safely construct simple structures through a series of theory and practical assessments, including a 4m high static tower, free-standing independent scaffold, loading tower and stair tower.
Delegates who successfully complete course including the theory test at the end of training will receive a CISRS BASE certificate and HAKI will apply on their behalf for a CISRS BASE card.
The card permits non-scaffolders to construct HAKI structures up to a maximum height of 6m, providing they are not in an environment with a general public interface.
Introductory offer
The standard price for the CISRS BASE course at HAKI is £725, however courses booked in January 2020 will be eligible for a 10% discount.
A record-breaking quarter of a million pounds was raised at the Lighthouse Construction Industry’s Charity lunch, held at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel in London on Friday 6th December.
The cash was raised through table sales, live and silent auctions, heads and tails, a raffle and event sponsorship.
All of the money will directly benefit construction families in crisis and help the charity to provide even more support to the construction industry, including mental health training, development of their helpline app and an increased portfolio of charitable services available through their 24/7 construction industry helpline.
Guests were welcomed in by live music from 1852 whose band members all work for Willmott Dixon interiors. They were awarded best fundraisers at this year’s Construction Rocks battle of the bands event and they certainly got the day off to a lively start.
Each year, the Charity awards the ‘Peter Capel’ Cup to recognise organisations that have made a substantial contribution to the Charity’s work and this year the highly coveted award was presented to two companies: Canary Wharf Contractors Fund and Heathrow Airport. Money donated by the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund was used to deliver construction focussed mental health first aid training to SME’s across the UK whilst Heathrow Airport and their supply chain, (Team Heathrow) donated funds from their hard hat recycling scheme, a dragon boat day and a hugely successful rugby day. Congratulations to both for their amazing efforts.
Lynn Way, President of the NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) and Peter Capel Cup nominees, also presented the Charity with a cheque for £25,000 which was raised by members at the annual NASC awards event that was held a few weeks earlier.
Sky Sports presenters Vicky Gomersall and Julian Warren hosted the proceedings for the day and introduced top class sporting celebrities from the world of boxing and rugby.
First on stage was boxing legend and the hugely popular Frank Bruno who talked very honestly and openly about life when he was growing up and his determination to avoid a life of crime. He also spoke frankly about his struggle with mental health, how he copes with anxiety on a daily basis and his views of boxing today. Chants of ‘Bruno, Bruno’ were still ringing long after he’d left the stage.
Next up was a quartet of rugby lions legends, Brian O’Driscoll, Matt Dawson, Phil Bennett and Willie John McBride. Brian and Matt entertained the audience with ‘behind the scenes’ stories about fellow lion Austin Healey and the brutality of the South African ruts. Phil and Willie went on to remember with glee the famous 1974 lions tour of South Africa where Willie’s now famous ‘99’ call ensured a ‘one in – all in’ retaliation policy. Willie, who turns 80 next year was also treated to an early rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ by an appreciative audience.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “This has been a great day. We just can’t believe how hugely generous everyone has been because every year, our expectations are surpassed. This means that we can reach out to more construction families in crisis and continue to provide even more support at the ‘front end’ so that we can achieve our mission of ensuring that no worker should feel alone in a crisis.
Thank you too, to all the volunteers who work so hard behind the scenes to make sure that this day goes well and of course to our event sponsors and supporters.
The money raised will go towards continuing our vital helpline services and developing our Building Mental Health programme so that we can continue to support our construction families in need and make a real difference to people who have nowhere else to turn.”
The festivities continued well into the evening with guests reluctant to leave and making the most of the networking opportunities.
Event sponsors and supporters: DRS Bonds, RIFT, Gallagher Group, EEBS, Coinford Wonderland Memorabilia, Ardent Tide, GKR Scaffolding and CPA
Willmott Dixon has added to its extensive track-record of education projects in Birmingham by being awarded the £19m contract to deliver a new three-story secondary academy school in Yardley Wood.
Christ Church, Church of England, Secondary Academy – which is due to open in 2021 – is being built by the Department for Education (DfE) to create a further 1,150 school places in the region.
Designed by architecture firm CPMG Architects, the new school will comprise of a pick-up and drop-off area for pupils, a sports hall, two full-size football pitches and one FA standard 3G pitch.
When complete the school will accommodate 900 pupils and a further 250 students in the sixth form.
The contract extends Willmott Dixon’s track record in Birmingham building places where people can learn life-long skills. Other schemes include University of Birmingham’s School of Engineering and its Teaching and Learning Building as well as projects for Birmingham City University and the creation of the National College of High Speed Rail. The company’s focus on Midlands growth also saw it recently open two Birmingham-based offices in Snowhill for its construction and interior fit-out teams.
Dan Doyle, Operations Director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are pleased to be working with the DfE to create a new contemporary building which will meet the needs of the local community. This new building will enhance the current area, provide state of the art facilities for students and create an outstanding school for Yardley Wood.”
A quick-thinking scaffolder has been hailed as a hero after saving the life of a toddler who was choking on a 2p coin.
Plymouth scaffolder Lewis Everson who was erecting scaffolding on a block of flats in the town, ‘sprang into action’ when he heard a mum screaming for help and saw two-year-old Isabelle Hill choking.
Isabelle’s mum, Jordane Hersey had run out of her block of flats screaming after Isabelle had got hold of some loose change and tried to swallow a coin, reports Plymouth Live.
Lewis quickly climbed down from the scaffold, undid his tool belt and took Isabelle into his lap, where he hit her back several times, dislodging the coin. Lewis’ workmate Mathew rang for an ambulance and both waited for paramedics to attend.
Jordane Hersey told local journalists: “We were making cakes in the kitchen and Isabelle got hold of some loose change. She put a coin in her mouth and tried to swallow it. I tried hitting her back and my older child couldn’t find my phone so I started panicking. I went to the door screaming for help.
“Lewis and Matthew were there. Lewis gave her a good hit on the back while Matthew rang for an ambulance. I am so thankful they were there and did what they did. They said they did nothing but I know Lewis was shaken up afterwards. He was very modest.”
“I lost a son at 17 months old six years ago and it brought it all back,” she added.
Scaffolder, Lewis, has said he was ‘shaken’ after the incident but was glad he had completed his first aid training.
He said: “There were a few of us. We heard some screaming and didn’t know where it was coming from. We ran over and saw the baby choking. I grabbed her and put her on my lap and whacked her back hard a couple of times. She was choking on a 2p coin.
“It all happened so quickly. The baby was okay – she just had a big hand-print on her back!”
“I was a bit shaken up. I had to sit in my car afterwards. I just thought it could have been my own son – he’s only a few months older than this baby. I’ve done first aid training and you don’t forget it.” he added.
Lewis’ boss at Drake Scaffolding, Shane Radmore said: “Lewis has done First Aid with us and other companies. He’s a nice lad. Lots of people would have panicked. He has a young child himself so it was probably instinct to help out.”
The NASC and SIMIAN have come together to help a former soldier take the next step in his career in the scaffolding industry.
The two organisations teamed up after scaffolder Liam Gibbons reached out for assistance via the NASC’s Facebook account.
In his message, he wrote: “I read with interest that the NASC is keen to encourage more ex-Forces personnel to take up positions in the scaffolding industry and had launched a fund to help them with training. Just wondered if there was anything you could do for me?
“I left the army two years ago, have been struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and am living in a veterans care home. I became a scaffolder, starting at the bottom and have worked my way up from a labourer to a qualified part one scaffolder.
“My second trainee card is close to expiring so I need to complete the Part 2 scaffolder course as soon as possible. I was wondering if there is any help available towards this next step.”
The NASC has stated, Liam’s appeal struck a chord with the NASC’s new President Lynn Way, who has made greater engagement with the Armed Forces and creating more career opportunities for former military personnel core objectives of her presidency.
The NASC and Simian have agreed to co-fund Liam’s Part 2 and VQ training. He will now complete his Part 2 training at Simian’s Waltham Forest training centre in January 2020.
NASC President Lynn Way said in a press release: “I am passionate about helping former Armed Forces servicemen enter the scaffolding industry and then progress through the training stages wherever I can. This is why we decided to help Liam on a strictly one-off basis.
“We’ll soon be in a position to help many more ex-military personnel achieve the same progress as Liam through the NASC’s dedicated £150,000 training pot. We’re also working hard to further strengthen our ties with the Armed Forces, ensuring that current servicemen are aware of the varied scaffolding industry careers that are available to them – many of which complement their skill sets – and can put their repatriation funding allowance towards scaffolding training.
“We hope to have more news on this front in the coming weeks”
The news comes after when last month, the NASC signed the Armed Forces Covenant, where they made a formal commitment to promote career and training opportunities in the scaffolding industry to ex-military personnel.
Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Simian, added: “Simian are very happy to work with NASC to support Liam’s progress in the sector. We are also fully behind the ex-military initiative and wish NASC the best of luck with this worthy project.”
Through the NASC’s dedicated Armed Forces training pot, it’s members can claim up to £1,000 towards the retraining or upskilling of an ex-forces employee or employees.
The NASC has also been developing relationships with various charitable partners linked with the Ministry of Defence, including Buildforce UK, After the Military and the Careers Transition Partnership.
JECS Offshore Wind Farm Services has bagged a contract to provide support to Hellenic Cables during termination works on the export cables at the SeaMade offshore wind farm in Belgium.
UK-based JECS Offshore Wind Farm will design, supply and erect the scaffolding access platforms required for technicians to prepare and position the cables and carry out the terminations of the cables to the project’s two offshore platforms and connections into Elia’s Modular Offshore Grid (MOG) platform.
JECS is also in charge of reconstructing the cable containment systems on both offshore platforms and the MOG for all cable connections. They recently completed the same scope of work for the Rentel and Northwester 2 offshore wind projects, also both connected to Elia’s MOG.
According to OffshoreWIND.biz, a few days ago, DEME’s cable-laying vessel Living Stone picked up the export cables for SeaMade at Hellenic Cables’ facility in Soussaki, Greece, and began its trip towards Vlissingen, the Netherlands.
SeaMade comprises the 252MW Seastar and the 235MW Mermaid offshore wind projects which will feature 58 Siemens Gamesa 8.0-167 DD turbines installed some 40-50km off the coast of Ostend
The 487MW offshore wind farm will be Belgium’s largest once commissioned in 2020.
The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) is running a number of subsidised CPD courses across the UK this December.
CISRS working in partnership with several of the approved training providers will deliver the 2 Day CPD course for £50 per delegate. CISRS will also waive the usual associated costs of training folders and card application fees for these delegates.
CISRS has said it is a not for profit organisation and is committed to redistributing funds back into the industry. Success with its CISRS OSTS (Overseas) Scheme has allowed them to fund two programmes of this subsidised training across the UK in 2019.
Scaffolders will benefit from the training
Around 275 Scaffoldering jobs will benefit from this reduced rate training, renewing their CISRS cards through CPD course and keeping up with industry best practice for only £50.
CISRS is hoping to offer more in the way of subsidised training in 2020.
The subsidised CPD courses will be held at the following centres this December:
The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation after a scaffolder fell 30ft from a roof in Morecambe on Monday.
As previously reported the man named Zac Strong who is in his early 20s was working on the roof of the Masonic Hall building on Victoria Street in Morecambe. At around 8.30 am on Monday 25 November he fell 30ft from a scaffold erected around the chimney on the roof.
It is still unknown if the scaffold was being erected or dismantled at the time of the incident.
North West Ambulance Service said Mr Strong suffered serious back and leg injuries and was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital.
Scaffolder Zac Strong fell 30ft in Morecambe. Image Credit: Lancashire Post
ScaffMag has learned from a source close to the family that Mr Strong was now in a stable condition in the hospital. He suffered multiple broken bones that included the legs, pelvis and spine from the fall.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said: “We can confirm HSE is aware of the incident and is investigating.”
Lancaster City Council said it had passed details of the incident on to the HSE, and would assist with further information if required.
A brand-new, purpose-built training centre in Vietnam has become the world’s first place ready to offer CISRS Level 4 Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) – the most advanced level scaffolding qualification.
The state-of-the-art centre in Vung Tau City in Southern Vietnam has been built by Black Cat Insulation Technical JSC in partnership with UK training provider, AIS Training to service the training requirements of the lucrative Indo-China oil and gas and construction markets.
This new centre replaces the previous AIS Training / Black Cat training centre, which was launched in 2017, and will help to raise standards for experienced scaffolders across South East Asia and beyond.
It is the latest in a long list of achievements for the Black Cat and AIS Training partnership. Since their joint training centre opened, it has proved overwhelming successful attracting hundreds of delegates from the Indo-China region. CISRS has consistency given excellent feedback on the facilities and the centre recently passed another yearly audit with flying colours.
As well as preparing for the new Level 4 OSTS qualification, the new centre is accredited to deliver OSTS Level 1 and 2, Basic Scaffold Inspection and Advanced Scaffold Inspection and Supervisors courses.
David John Adams, scaffolding manager at AIS Training said: “Our overseas partner, Black Cat, has put an enormous amount of dedication and investment into this outstanding facility.
“We are delighted our centre has become the very first place ready and waiting for approval to deliver the CISRS Level 4 OSTS qualification. It is a credit to both the region and the people for its dedication and determination to adopt new training standards so quickly. AIS Training and Black Cat have worked very hard over the last few years to bring a world class standard of scaffolding training to the region and this new facility will help to raise the bar further.”
Trevor Donoghue, CISRS accreditation auditor, said: “Black Cat and AIS Training have developed a fantastic facility here in Vietnam which is boosting scaffolding skills across the whole of South East Asia. An immense amount of thought and hard work has gone into creating this new centre and the high-quality facilities are capable of housing Level 3&4 courses. Once the centre moves through the CISRS OSTS progression routes it will be ready to achieve further accreditation.”
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