Three Injured In Major Scaffolding Collapse In Reading

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Three Injured In Major Scaffolding Collapse In Reading

Three people have been hurt after a large section of scaffolding collapsed in the main shopping area of Reading.

Emergency services and search and rescue teams are currently looking for injured people after the section of scaffold fell on Garrard Street. The site was being demolished in a major redevelopment of Reading town centre.

A site worker has been treated for a head injury, while a man and a woman were treated for suspected shock and an ankle injury.

It is not known if any more people were in or around the building when it collapsed.

Tony Heselton, incident commander for SCA, said: “Our emergency operations control room team took upwards of 10 emergency calls from around 11.15am all reporting a scaffolding collapse at the former Friars Walk Shopping Centre.

“We have assessed three patients who sustained minor injuries as a result of the collapse.

“We are remaining on scene to support colleagues from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

Saudi Arabia CISRS Training Centre Success

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Saudi Arabia CISRS Training Centre Success

CISRS has announced its approved training facility in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has passed its first annual accreditation audit with flying colours. 

The centre, launched by TAFE Arabia (Technical and Further Education) in 2018 and operated with the support of established UK provider Simian Skill, offers a wide portfolio of scaffolding programmes including CISRS Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) Level 1 and 2, Scaffolding Inspection, Scaffolding Supervisor and CPD courses.

OSTS is mapped to and mirrors the CISRS UK scheme, including established guidance notes such as TG20, SG4, SG6 and using the same structural drawings as the UK courses. 

Despite CISRS UK qualifications being well established in the region, take-up of CISRS OSTS locally has been slower than anticipated. Surprisingly, some Supervisors and Inspectors currently working in Saudi Arabia are still travelling to the UK to complete courses.      

Dave Mosley CISRS Scheme Manager said “TAFE have an excellent facility here in Saudi Arabia the practical training area and classrooms are all finished to a very high standard. The scaffolding materials and PPE etc are all brand new and meet International industry recognised specifications.

“I feel that we need to work more with clients, contractors and training providers locally to ensure that everyone is aware programmes available in Saudi Arabia are delivered under the same strict criteria as the UK scheme. CISRS is here, it’s just a case of getting the message out there.”

Abdulghani Alrumaih, CEO of TAFE Arabia, said: “TAFE has existing relationships with both clients and contractors across the Arabian Peninsula and we are confident that given time OSTS will improve the skills of the sector from scaffolders to Supervisors and become the recognised qualification for the industry in this region.”    

Several UK and KSA training providers are watching the situation with interest having already expressed an interest in seeking CISRS OSTS approval.

Study reveals the Most Ludicrous Health & Safety Rules in Trades

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Study reveals the Most Ludicrous Health & Safety Rules in Trades

A recent study by Dickies Workwear has found a top 10 list of unexpected health and safety rules. It was found that more than 61% of participants experienced a ban on shorts on a construction site, even in the sweltering heat of summer.

The workwear brand, established in 1922, asked and polled their loyal social media followers for the most ludicrous health and safety rules they had come across and took to the masses to vote on which ones they had also experienced.

Following an interesting range of results, Dickies Workwear made it their mission to mythbust some of the most dubious rules.

Mark Tapper, Head of Ecommerce at Dickies Europe Ltd comments, “over the years we have seen the number of seemingly bizarre rules on sites increase for sure. However, on some occasions, these are perfectly legitimate policies, for example, rules on sleeves may be in a place where high visibility is required to ensure the employees have the correct surface area of reflective material to comply with specific EN ISO regulations for the dangerous surroundings.”

  1. The ban of shorts (even during summer)

61% of participants experienced a ban on shorts in their site/workplace in the past. Whether workers can wear shorts on a site depends on the site’s policy. If the site policy states that workers must not wear shorts to work, then it’s expected that everyone adheres to the ruling – even if in the sweltering heat of summer.

2. Must wash hands after toilet or risk removal from site

14% of participants said that they have been told to wash their hands after going to the toilet or risk removal from site/workplace. Perhaps one of the strangest responses, workers had to wash their hands after the use of the toilet or risk removal from site. (Dickies Workwear are unsure of how this is monitored, nor whose job it is to keep watch on the lavatory usage and hand cleanliness thereafter.)

3. Wearing a harness which isn’t attached to anything

Across all industries planning to work at height, the regulation is a maximum of 4 feet before wearing a harness. In construction work, the threshold height is 6 feet above a lower level. Fall protection on scaffolding is required at 10 feet, although a Twitter user offered up this rather ludicrous rule that they experienced often in the ‘90s.

4. A ban on short sleeves

31% of participants have been banned from wearing short sleeves on site. In recent times, more and more construction sites and companies are adopting the “long sleeve PPE” safety policy. This generally refers to the requirement to have all members of the workforce wearing long sleeve shirts when working on site.

5. The ban on radios

63% of participants said that they’ve experienced a ban on listening to the radio on site. A highly debated rule in the trades industries, and whilst environment must be taken in to context (building site vs. domestic property), having a radio (or other devices) is now considered to be unsafe, given that it distracts the workers from the task at hand, which often involves them having to concentrate on doing the job properly and safely.

6. Hard Hats Aren’t Compulsory

In the construction industry in the UK, 3% of workers sustain a work-related injury and 11% of these injuries are from being struck by an object. In fact, another 66,000 injuries are estimated to go unreported every year.

While it isn’t 100% compulsory by law to wear a safety helmet on a construction site if there is no risk of head injuries, however, on most construction sites there are dangers so wearing hard hats are necessary.

7. The ban of heavy lifting

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), handling, lifting or carrying makes up 20% of non-fatal injuries to employees.

These factors can create excessive stresses and strains on the body. This can cause immediate damage to muscles and tendons such as sprains and pains but can also lead to longer-term or recurrent problems. Therefore, it’s in everyone’s best interest to not exceed weight restrictions.

8. The ban on stepladders and ladders

It’s a common myth that stepladders and ladders are a health and safety risk. According to HSE, this is a myth and stepladders and ladders are not banned, merely a precautionary measure.

9. The way hi-vis clothing is worn

One of the respondents was not allowed onsite until his hi-vis vest was completely fastened at the front. According to HSE, around seven workers die and 93 are seriously injured annually by vehicles or mobile plant on construction sites.

And just when you thought you’ve seen it all, perhaps not a legal regulation, but it must’ve been an enforced rule in this workplace…

10. Having to deal with bizarre client requests

Perhaps not as much a rule as a standard protocol, but we’ve heard of the term “the client is always right” and so, especially when working in housing sites, it often happens that tenants like to get involved.

Mark Tapper mentions, “If you’re unsure as to why a particular rule may be in place at your place of work I’d recommend speaking to the H&S team, as it is likely that there is a logical explanation.”

For further information on the research conducted, please see Dickies Workwear’s full guide here.

VIDEO: NASA’s Valkyrie Robot Can Erect Scaffolding

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VIDEO: NASA’s Valkyrie Robot Can Erect Scaffolding

NASA’s Valkyrie robot is able to use human tools to erect scaffolding and plot itself a path across difficult terrain.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking, so Valkyrie is a little slow at erecting a scaffold as seen in the NASA demonstration video above. But this semi-autonomous robot has been designed to hopefully one day build structures for habitual life on the Moon or Mars.

As Valkyrie was initially designed to work in disaster zones the robot could also be used on Earth in places which cannot safely be reached by humans.

Could this be a very early glimpse of a real humanoid scaffolding robot?

TRAD Safety System’s unique Mini Catch Fan “flexible and time-saving”

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TRAD Safety System’s unique Mini Catch Fan “flexible and time-saving”

The new, innovative system from TRAD Safety Systems – a market leader in providing fall safety solutions – the TRAD Mini Catch Fan offers greater protection to site workers and the public during erection and dismantling of a scaffold. 

Since the introduction of the Mini Catch Fan to the scaffolding industry, TRAD Safety System’s has seen increased take-up across the country as both scaffolding contractors and developers see the benefits. Part of the company’s fall prevention range, the Mini Catchfan has significant advantages over the traditional boarded fan during scaffold erection and dismantling:

  • Manual installation – each lightweight netting unit can be installed manually alongside the scaffolding, with no need for cranes or additional lifting equipment.
  • No tools or fittings are required, removing the potential fall risk of these items
  • Energy-absorbing netting – each unit has a 100 x 100mm net with a 20 x 20mm net overlay. This absorbs the energy from anything dropping onto the netting, creating a safer working environment.
  • Safer site access – particularly useful for sites with limited or busy access, as accessways can be kept clear and accessible even while the scaffold is being erected.

One of the places where the Mini Catchfan has been used effectively is on the GSA development in Exeter. The site access runs perpendicular to the scaffolding, which gave the contractors, Apex Scaffolding, a challenge.

“We could have used traditional boarded fans,” says Chris Black, Supervisor at Apex, “but this would have had a knock-on effect in terms of time, cost and access. The Mini Catch Fan is more flexible and adaptable, and we can move them up the scaffold as it’s erected, keeping them within 4m of the working area. Using them meant that there was no down-time to site, because we didn’t have to stop their works to erect protection decks underneath the scaffold. This meant as a priority we were able to maintain open site access for the developer, other contractors and keep the entrance pathway clear”.

Easy to install – safer for contractors

The Mini Catch Fan has been specifically designed to be easy to fit as the scaffolding goes up. The netting unit connects to the ledger, rather than the standards, so there is no need to make any adaptations to the scaffolding in order to make it fit. When not in use, each netting unit simply folds up for easy storage and transportation.

“I’m already recommending this system to other clients,” commented Matthew Cousins, Commercial Director at Apex Scaffolding. “We’re getting increased enquiries from clients who want more speed and flexibility whilst making sure that the site is safe, and this product works so much better in that regard.”

And it’s not just the contractors that are impressed. Developers can also see the immediate benefits of bringing this innovative netting system on site.

“It has an immediate visual impact,” agrees Steve Booth, Project Manager with Kier. “People see the floating netting system and they feel safer – and that’s really important on sites where the public is walking or driving right next to the site. It’s also critical for our site workers that they are confident in the safety systems we are using. We want to make sure that every single person working on our site is safe during their working hours and able to go home to their families at the end of the day. The benefit of systems like this is that it gives you time and cost savings and additional protection.

UK construction activity moves out of the capital

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UK construction activity moves out of the capital

The value of all construction contract awards in June 2019 was £5.2 billion based on a three-month rolling average, which is an increase of 5.5% on May. Regional analysis shows that the North West was the leading region for contract awards in June with a 36.6% value share.

The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain.

The overall outlook for June contract awards increased by 5.5% on May 2019. The infrastructure sector accounted for 37.2% of total value of contract awards, due to the SPRS Construction Programme at the Sellafield Site – valued at £1.5 billion, which boosted the North West’s project share. 

London dominated in only two of the eight sectors for June 2019 – residential with a 26.2% share and commercial & retail with a 23.7% share of total contract awards. Construction activity has moved out of the capital for June, with a more even spread of contract awards across the UK.

The East Midlands dominated the industrial sector, largely due to investment in warehousing and storage. The South West took the top spot for hotel, leisure & sport and Scotland took the lion’s share of projects in the medical & health and education sectors. 

Commenting on the figures, Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI said, “London has dominated project awards every month in 2019. However, for the first time this year, we see a shift in the spread of project awards across the country. Likewise, for the first time this year, we see infrastructure investment overtake the residential sector which has been the most active sector of construction for over 6 months.” 

Download the full report here: https://ubm.io/2OjVWwX

Simian’s Director Announces Retirement

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Simian’s Director Announces Retirement

A founder Director of the international scaffolding training firm Simian has announced his retirement.

Simian’s founder Directors Ian Fyall and Simon Hughes established the company in 2005. Their names combined created the business name SIMIAN and has become a leading international scaffolding and work at height safety consultancy and training provider.

According to the Simian website, ‘Ian has spent a lifetime in the industry and has made the decision to retire from the UK business to take on new challenges both in the UK and abroad.’

Ian’s last day with Simian will be 31 July 2019.

Ian Fyall said: “It’s been an honour and a pleasure to have been a part Simian since its inception in November 2005, and particularly to watch the business grow from an idea into a thriving employer and of the world’s premier providers of scaffolding consultancy services and training. The Simian brand has come such a long way in the past fourteen years or so, it is now recognised in most corners of the globe, and is synonymous with quality safety advice and training provision – of that I am immensely proud.  

“The age of 55 was always my cut off point, and as I reach this personal milestone – now is the right time for me to be more of a Husband, Dad and Grandad. 

“I would like to wish my fellow Shareholders, Directors and colleagues at Simian every success in the future and wish them well in keeping the Simian flag flying high. Last but no means least, I would like to thank my wife Joanne and our grown-up children for never complaining when I left to travel the world at the drop of a hat.”

CISRS Launches New Scaffolding Awareness Training

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CISRS Launches New Scaffolding Awareness Training

A new one-day scaffolding awareness course aimed at non-scaffolding personnel and other construction workers is now being offered at a range of CISRS training centres across the country.

The course is open to anybody who has cause to work on scaffolding such as painters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers etc, or those wanting to gain a better understanding of scaffolding operations which could include site supervisors, engineers, procurement and health and safety professionals and principal contractors.  

The course, created by the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS), will provide attendees with a greater understanding and appreciation of the potential dangers of working at height on scaffolds and enable them to identify the core components of a safe scaffold.

It is being delivered by CISRS accredited centres nationwide. Delegates will be issued with a CISRS Scaffolding Awareness certificate upon successful completion of the course.

Laura Weekes, CISRS Administrator, said: “This classroom-based course provides learners with a basic understanding of what compliant scaffolding looks like and guidance on how they can work at height safely. 

“It comes in response to the publication of the NASC Safety Report 2019 and broader construction industry accident statistics published by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). 

“The latest NASC Safety Report shows that NASC full contracting members continue to erect and dismantle scaffolds of all shapes and sizes in an extremely safe and legally compliant manner, resulting in zero operative fatalities for the sixth year in succession.

“However, a recent HSE report revealed that 40 people died as a result of a fall from height during 2018/2019, making this the biggest cause of workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain. 

“Clearly there is a need for greater awareness of the dangers of working at height. We hope our new course will contribute to this effort.” 

Cumbrian Scaffolding Firm Goes Bust

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Cumbrian Scaffolding Firm Goes Bust

Focus Scaffolding Ltd based in Whitehaven, Cumbria has gone into liquidation, putting dozens of jobs at risk.

The company was established in 1995 by Brian Scott and Carl O’Fee. It began trading in July 1995 at an office in Whitehaven with only a small number of employees.

Focus Scaffolding began working as scaffold erectors on the Sellafield site in 1998, then in 2009 branched out into other trades, including joinery, fire protection, painting and thermal insulation. The company had a number of clients at Sellafield.

A Sellafield Ltd spokesman said to the News & Star a number of workers from Focus Scaffolding, had been made redundant from roles on site.

He said: “We are disappointed and saddened to hear that local business Focus Scaffolding Ltd has gone into liquidation. As a result, we understand a number of workers employed on projects on the Sellafield site have been made redundant.

“We are currently assessing the implications and impact on the Sellafield site and on our portfolio of major construction projects.”

Focus provided a service to various clients in and around Cumbria (including South Scotland, Lancashire and the North East), as well as on the Sellafield Site and was the only member of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) in West Cumbria.

Rilmac Scaffolding Expand In To New Premises

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Rilmac Scaffolding Expand In To New Premises

Since opening their Northampton branch in mid-2015 Rilmac Scaffolding have seen impressive growth over their first four years in the region and have recently expanded to larger premises due to demand.

The decision to open a Northampton branch on the back of winning a number of prestigious contracts in the area is paying dividends for Rilmac Scaffolding.  Turnover at their Northampton business grew by over 80% in just three years, and they have more than doubled their local workforce!  

Northampton’s ideal location and transport links has allowed them to not only work on projects across Northamptonshire but also on such prestigious projects as an F1 motorsport factory in Milton Keynes, university accommodation in Warwick, schools, infrastructure work, new build housing units across the region and the DNRC (Defence & National Rehabilitation Centre) near Loughborough.  It has also given the company a strong base from which to expand into the West Midlands, London and the South East.

The growth of Rilmac Scaffolding in Northampton has seen an expansion in senior management as well, with Paul Wallis being taken on as Operations Director at the new depot, working alongside Contracts Director Sam McSpadden and nationwide Managing Director Des Booth.

Rilmac Scaffolding has plans in place for further, managed growth across the region, and as part of this moved into a larger depot at Round Spinney in earlier this year.  The new premises cover over 60% more area than their previous yard and offers greater opportunities for success.

“We knew that Northampton would be a great location for us,” said Sam McSpadden, “and the growth we have seen here backs that up.  It was always our aim to bring employment to the area and we are pleased to have more than doubled our workforce here.”

“The larger premises give us the opportunity to service larger customers and more complex projects across the region.” added Des Booth, “We already feel like part of the community and will be growing here in the long term.  This is just the next step of our journey in Northampton.”

“Having previously worked with Des at Rilmac’s Lincoln Depot I am pleased to be able to re-establish our working relationship after 12 years,” commented Paul Wallis, “and I am looking forward to achieving further growth across the Northampton region.”

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