Scaffolder Loses Battle With Brain Tumour
A well-liked scaffolder has died after a long battle with a brain tumour.
Wayne Evans, 42 from Barnsley sadly died in a Neurology hospice in the town on Monday 11th May. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, his family was not with him when he died. Evans had worked in the scaffolding industry since the age of 17. Beginning his career as a labourer, Wayne had worked his way up to become an Advanced Scaffolder and Supervisor. Over the years the well-liked scaffolder had worked for many companies including Benchmark Northern, Cape, Interserve and SGS. As previously reported Evans had suffered for four weeks from constant headaches prior to visiting the Opticians in 2017 where his tumour was found by chance. He underwent emergency brain surgery at Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital to remove the golf ball-sized tumour. While recovering he subsequently made a plea using ScaffMag to warn others to get checked out. A close family friend told ScaffMag that over the course of the two difficult years after his surgery, Evans fought the ultimate battle with his condition until December 2019. He no longer responded to treatment and was admitted into hospital for the final time. Tributes from family and friends within the scaffolding industry have poured in over social media after the news of his death spread. A close friend and scaffolder who is a semi-professional DJ, Paul Orwin organised a full tribute set streamed live over Facebook on Monday. Paul said: “After hearing the sad news about Wayne’s passing in such strange times there was only one thing to do in my mind bring all our friends together with a Facebook live DJ set in tribute to Wayne. I played the music he loved replacing the upset with happiness to all our friends to celebrate his life the way he would have wanted it.”Steve Gregory, Scaffold Instructor, and Health & Safety Consultant at ScaffSafe Ltd said: “The last couple of years since the operation has not been the easiest for Wayne. He has fought throughout and all his friends have been given so much support.
Once we were informed late last year that another tumour had formed which could not be operated on. We were told to make provisions for the end of life. During the final months of his life, the care team and his closest friend Mark Hale have been fantastic and a massive rock to the rest of us.”
As we prepare to say goodbye to another ScaffBrother this one will be difficult bearing in mind the current COVID 19 Situation. Wayne gave me one final request and he wanted the biggest party ever. I hope we can at some point in the not so distant future we are able to complete it and let everyone fulfil his legacy in his honour by dancing their legs off.”
“We both previously laughed at the word WayneFest. Time will tell if dreams can become a reality.”
ScaffMag would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Wayne’s family, friends and work colleagues. RIP Wayne Evans!Godiva Group Falls Into Administration
Godiva Group has gone into administration leaving around 35 staff jobless.
The Coventry based business with offices also in Manchester and Leeds called in the administrators on Thursday 7th May. Work on all ongoing projects has stopped the company has said.
The award-winning firm which was established in 2014 recently completed works on Coventry’s tallest new build and at peak trading employed more than 100 people. The business offered a full range of access, scaffolding and temporary works solutions in the West Midlands.
In 2019 they turned over £6 million in revenue and scooped two Coventry Business Excellence Awards.
ScaffMag understands that in recent months the scaffold contractor had suffered from challenging trading conditions resulting in reduced margins and contract disputes with slow or non paying clients. And the onset of the current Covid-19 crisis has delayed the commencement of a number of significant projects for the firm has subsequently sent Godiva to the wall.
Colin Taylor, Group Managing Director at Godiva said: “The already problematic trading conditions we faced has been greatly exacerbated by the Coronavirus lockdown which has made our financial position unsustainable.
“It’s with great regret we have been forced to close the business. I would like to thank all our loyal employees that remained with us until the end for their hard work and dedication.
“I will be providing any assistance to all our employees during this exceptionally difficult time.”
Avontus Enhances Scaffold Viewer with YouTube Export Feature
Scaffolding businesses can now share virtual walkthroughs with anyone, anywhere, thanks to a new feature
Avontus Software has announced that the company has enhanced its Scaffold Viewer software with a one-click YouTube export feature. This new feature gives users the power to record a video walkthrough of their scaffold design, export it to YouTube, and easily share it via email or other marketing channels.
Avontus Scaffold Viewer brings powerful advantages to scaffold businesses. This free app seamlessly integrates with Avontus Scaffold Designer, enabling customers to visualize their scaffold designs in advanced 3D, augmented and virtual realities (AR/VR). Packed with state-of-the-art visualization features, Scaffold Viewer enables Avontus customers to differentiate their proposals during bid presentations, communicate designs during planning reviews, and make hand-overs safe and easier to understand.
The new YouTube export feature enables sharing of 3D scaffold walkthroughs to people who don’t even have the Scaffold Viewer app. YouTube videos also provide for a more structured tour versus a self-controlled one in the app. A predetermined path can be taken and recorded for on-the-spot communication or review later, whether for a specific project or as part of a business development/marketing portfolio.
“Miscommunication, inaccuracies, and unidentified obstructions aren’t just costly—they can create safety hazards for crews,” stated Andrew Smith, Avontus VP of Operations. “Scaffold Viewer avoids these problems—and delivers new competitive advantages to Avontus customers—through the use of advanced AR/VR technology. With this new release, our customers now have the ability to share their virtual walkthroughs with anyone, anywhere, with just a click of a mouse.”
Avontus Scaffold Viewer is available as a free download for desktop PCs, mobile devices, and supported VR devices.
Visit the Avontus website today to learn more, view sample virtual walkthrough videos, and download your free Scaffold Viewer app.
PM tells construction to get back to work
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced to the nation last night it was time to re-open construction sites.
He said in the televised address that members of the construction and manufacturing industries must be ‘actively encouraged’ to go back to work. Johnson also relaxed some lockdown restrictions including allowing us to do unlimited outside exercise, sunbathe in parks, drive to the countryside and play sports with members of our own household. He said: “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead, we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures. And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.” He said: “We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must. We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance, those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.” “And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will, therefore, be limited. “So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home. “And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces covid-secure. On the other hand, the Scottish Government has not changed its advice that all but essential construction sites should remain closed.Scaffolders Now Eligible for Coronavirus Test
Scaffolders and other construction site workers in England with virus symptoms are now able to get tested.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday announced that all workers in England that have to leave their home to work will be offered the tests.
The Coronavirus tests will also be offered to the workers families and those that are over 65.
Matt Hancock said: ”Any worker who needs to leave their home in order to go to work, and their households, if any of them have symptoms can also get a test. This means construction workers to emergency plumbers, research scientists to those in manufacturing – can now be tested. All they need to do is go on the internet and apply for a test.”
If you have virus symptoms and want to apply for a test CLICK HERE
The government’s shift on testing came just hours after the Unite union wrote a letter to the Health Secretary calling for testing for construction workers. Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Many construction workers continued to work through the lockdown and furloughed workers are being phased back ahead of other sectors.
“The recently relaxed guidance from the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) on social distancing whilst at work is undermining efforts to get agreement on safe working practices.
“Operating advice for building sites based on CLC guidance states that construction workers can work face to face within two metres of each other as long as it is for ‘15 minutes or less where possible’.
“Unite believes with good practice social distancing can be maintained for most tasks and where this is not possible the task should not be undertaken. However, to date there is evidence of confusion and if the 15-minute relaxation persists it will heighten concerns about spreading Covid19 into communities and workers’ homes.“
Cartman concluded: “Unite believes construction workers should be included within the sectors designated for Covid19 testing as one of a number of measures necessary to prevent the spread of Covid19.“
NASC 2020 Safety Report Shows Record Low Accidents
The number of accidents and injuries recorded by NASC members fell to an all-time low in 2019, with just 74 incidents to operatives throughout the year.
The figure has been revealed in the NASC 2020 Safety Report, which documents and analyses accident and injury statistics for its full contracting members – representing more than 17,000 scaffolding operatives across the UK – in the previous calendar year.
The 74 incidents equate to one injury for every 230 operatives, a significant improvement on last year’s one injury for every 150 operatives.
Furthermore, this figure means that 99% of NASC member-employed operatives went through 2019 accident and injury-free. There were also no operative fatalities last year, for the seventh consecutive year.
Of the 74 incidents, 13 were recorded as major, requiring hospital treatment, with the remaining 61 recorded as over 7-days. These figures are both the lowest on record.
Slips, Trips and Falls on the same level (STFs) accounts for the majority of the reported incidents – 28. This is 15th consecutive year that STFs have been the predominant cause of injury to operatives, accounting for 21% of all injuries reported in 2019.
Operative falls from height decreased from 22 in 2018 to 12 in 2019, with only one operative falling a distance over 4m, however, material falls from height rose from 4 to 9 year-on-year.
To read the digital version of the NASC 2020 Safety Report click HERE.
Lynn Way, NASC President, said: “The top-line figures make for great reading; with record low accidents recorded despite a record-high number of NASC members and NASC operatives, and year-on-year reductions in most accident categories.
“These achievements are only made possible by the commitment of the NASC and its members to put in place the highest standards of safety procedures and practices and make improvements whenever and wherever possible.
“The 2020 Safety Report demonstrates in no uncertain terms that NASC members are incredibly safe, and justifies the decision taken by an increasing number of main contractors to specify NASC-only for their scaffolding requirements.”
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “We are delighted to have recorded such encouraging figures. This sends out a clear message to the wider construction industry that the NASC and its members place safety at the heart of its working practices and endeavour to make further improvements whenever possible.
“This report is much more than just a record of last year’s achievements. It’s also an opportunity to analyse the causes behind each and every one of the 74 incidents recorded and see what can be done to stop these types of accidents from happening again.
“A number of key findings and next steps have already been identified and included in the Report. I am sure the NASC and its various standing committees, including the Health & Safety and Current Affairs committees, will be exploring ways to drive these incidents down further.”
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
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.
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.
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.”
