Construction Industry Charity Publishes Annual Impact Report

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Construction Industry Charity Publishes Annual Impact Report

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity Club has just published its third annual impact report. The report communicates to the industry, supporters and stakeholders, the impact that the charity is making and how it is helping to make a difference to the lives of our construction workforce and their families.  

The total spent on charitable services was £1.482M, which includes £1,229.288 on the charity’s 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline, £228,882 on education and training and £19,740 on health and safety innovation.  

In 2018, 1662 cases were presented to its free helpline, with 629 of these needing emergency financial assistance and 1,033 receiving advice on welfare and mental wellbeing. The total spent on supporting the helpline increased from £736,625 in 2017 to £1.48M in 2018, an increase of over 70%. 

As in 2017, the top three reported illnesses and causes of death were cancer (56%), mental health, (32%) and respiratory issues (4%). Sarah Bolton, Head of Charitable Services said, “We continue to work with other charitable organisations including MacMillan, MIND and the Samaritans to provide specialist support. We also utilise our referral pathways to ensure that our construction workers have access to all the possible support that is available to help them on their road to recovery.” 

The report also details the huge strides the charity is making to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our construction workforce and for the first time, includes information about the most exciting developments of 2018, their involvement in the Building Mental Health programme and the recently launched Construction Industry Helpline mobile app.

The Building Mental Health working group is led by volunteer industry experts, who have developed an online portal of resources to support employers in developing a positive mental health culture in their organisation. It includes a five step plan to better mental health and offers free resources including a tool box talk and information on how to access mental health training. 

The Construction Industry mobile app was launched in December 2018 and has been downloaded over 10,000 times. The app is aimed at people who may not feel ready or comfortable talking about their situation and provides expert advice, self-help tools and easy to use coping strategies. 

The Charity was also chosen to manage a two year, £1.1M CITB funded project to train 300 construction focussed mental health first aiders for the industry. The project is ongoing, but to date, £233,822 has been spent resulting in the training of 144 mental health first aid instructors, who in turn have trained 752 Mental Health First Aiders. The programme also delivered 812 half-day mental health awareness courses to members of the construction industry, and over 300 organisations have signed the charity’s Building Mental Health Charter, demonstrating their commitment to improving their mental health culture. 

Bill Hill

Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “Demand in our charitable services continues to grow, but by delivering pro-active resources and training at the front end we are helping organisations and individuals to prevent situations reaching crisis point. We want to develop more of these resources but can only do so with the industry’s support. Fundraising was at an all time high last year but the significant escalation in families needing our support has put considerable pressure on finances.  We need predictable and sustainable income to ensure that we achieve our mission in ensuring that no worker feels alone in a crisis and that is why we launched our Company Supporters initiative. We need organisations to commit to an annual donation so that we can plan ahead and provide even more support to our industry. For more information about the Company Supporters programme, visit www.Lighthouseclub.org/savealife

The full impact report is available to read here 

Scaffolder Seriously Injured After Fall In London

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Scaffolder Seriously Injured After Fall In London

A scaffolder is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after a fall from height in London’s West End.

Emergency services were called to Denmark Street, London on Friday (16 August) after reports of a man had fallen around 30ft – 50ft from scaffolding on a construction site.

The London Ambulance Service and Fire Brigade attended the scene near Tottenham Court Road tube station. London’s Air Ambulance was also dispatched.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson told ScaffMag: “We were called at 8:39am on 16 August to reports of a fall on Denmark Street, WC2H. We sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, a medic in a car and a medic on a motorbike to the scene. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance and our hazardous area response team (HART).”

“We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”

The Part 2 scaffolder who we believe to be called Farai with a young family is said to sustained multiple broken bones however, the full extent of his injuries is still unknown.

Scaffolder, Farai is in a stable condition in Hospital.

A spokesperson from the scaffolders employer said: “Our primary concern is to ensure his welfare and support his family in any way we can, there is live investigation on-going and we cannot comment during this time.”

HSE Investigation

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) along with the Metropolitan Police attended the incident on Friday morning. A spokesperson from the HSE said: “The HSE is carrying out an investigation into matters arising from the incident. The investigation is ongoing.”

Donate

Farai’s friend, Jack Styles has organised and set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise money for the injured scaffolder. £1,935 has already been raised with a £5,000 target. If you would like to donate please click here.

Scaffolding Association Partners With Mental Health Charity Mates in Mind

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Scaffolding Association Partners With Mental Health Charity Mates in Mind

Scaffolding trade body the Scaffolding Association (SA) has joined the mental health charity Mates in Mind to drive awareness across the scaffolding and access industry

The SA has announced it’s become a supporter of Mates in Mind, where they will be joining a growing community of more than 270 other organisations across the UK working in partnership to help to tackle the important issue of Mental Health.

Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity supporting employers to improve mental health by providing the skills, clarity and confidence on how to create supportive and mentally healthy workplaces for workers. James Rudoni, Managing Director of Mates in Mind said:

“We are delighted that The Scaffolding Association has now joined us in raising awareness and understanding on this important issue. It is increasingly recognised that mental ill-health is a widespread issue across UK workplaces, with the Health and Safety Executive reporting that 44% of work-related ill health cases in 2017 were attributed to stress, depression or anxiety.

Working alongside our partners, sector leaders and growing community of Supporters, Mates in Mind is delivering support to organisations of all sizes, to enable them to not only raise awareness but importantly improve the way they are working to address this issue in their workplaces. Importantly, through our work with employers and partners, our approach enables individuals within workforces to understand how, when and where they can get support.”

The SA is the UK’s largest independent trade organisation for the scaffolding and access sector. The organisation is campaigning to raise the standard of safety, quality and skills across the industry which also includes the health and wellbeing of its workforce. Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the SA said:

Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association
Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the SA

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Mates in Mind to highlight this important area of welfare to all our members. Such issues can go unrecognised and can have an impact on the business directly, so a change in culture must be activated for the benefit of both the worker and the employer.”

The SA concluded: Through this partnership, Mates in Mind will be engaging with the Association and its member companies who can also individually become Mates in Mind Supporters. Each organisation will then receive support and a range of benefits from the charity such as the development of a tailored action plan, campaign materials and access to a suite of communication. Advice as well as a range of training opportunities and more, are there to enable these organisations to drive long-lasting and meaningful change. 

More details on Mates in Mind is available at: www.matesinmind.org

Fast-flowing River Demolishes Scaffolding

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Fast-flowing River Demolishes Scaffolding

Scaffolding erected on a bridge for maintenance in Wales has been ruined after the high levels of water ripped the structure from the bridge on Saturday.

The scaffold had been placed on a bridge over the Rhondda River in Pontypridd. The structure had been in place while the bridge was under construction according to Wales Online.

Dramatic CCTV footage from a nearby Church captured the moment the scaffold is ripped away from the bridge sending twisted metal and boards downriver.

Video Credit: Bethany Baptist Church

A flood incident duty officer for Natural Resources Wales said: “One of our officers was alerted to this last night and we have looked into it. Protecting people from flooding and keeping them safe is one of our biggest priorities.

“We have assessed it and, because of the area it’s in which we know well, the blockage at present is not causing a risk of flooding for local people.”

It’s understood that contractors are set to begin the task of re-erecting the scaffold today (Monday 19th).

Employees of Family-Owned Business Are To Help Create Lasting Change For Young People

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Employees of Family-Owned Business Are To Help Create Lasting Change For Young People

Young people’s charity The Prince’s Trust and diversified family-owned business The Denholm Group have announced a new partnership designed to create lasting change for young people.

The Denholm Group has confirmed its commitment to supporting young people by becoming a patron of The Prince’s Trust and is encouraging its employees to take part in fundraising activities to support The Trust’s work of creating brighter futures for young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Partnering with The Prince’s Trust also provides volunteering opportunities for employees at Denholm. As well as helping young people to develop their skills and raise their aspirations, volunteering with The Trust will give Denholm employees the opportunity to gain new skills and to challenge themselves beyond their regular job responsibilities.

The Denholm Group is head-quartered in Glasgow, and the locations of its offices and sites throughout the UK complement the network of Prince’s Trust Centres.  Denholm also operates in areas that do not currently have a local Prince’s Trust Centre, but in which the Trust is extending its reach by working with schools, colleges and other partners.

John Denholm, Chairman and CEO of The Denholm Group, said: “Our partnership with The Prince’s Trust marks the first time Denholm has nominated a Group-wide charity partner.  The Group has been expanding through organic growth and acquisition, and with 50 offices and over 1,000 employees across the UK, it now feels appropriate to partner with a UK charity that gives all our employees similar opportunities to support young people in their local communities.”

Mr. Denholm continues: “The Group currently supports a number of young people through apprenticeships, which combine work experience or on-the-job training with studying towards a formal qualification.  Our partnership with The Prince’s Trust is the natural next step in supporting many more young people by helping them to build their confidence and gain the skills they need to thrive in the world of work.”

Kate Still, Director, The Prince’s Trust Scotland said: “It is essential that we do everything we can to ensure young people have an increasing stake in our economy and society. We do this by improving their confidence, boosting their skills and ensuring they have the knowledge of potential career paths. The private sector plays a key role in offering young people in our country real opportunities so they can live, learn and earn. By establishing relationships with corporate partners, we can ensure that all young people who need help receive it. That’s why we are delighted that The Denholm Group has become a patron of The Prince’s Trust. 

“By working closely with Denholm and, with their support and commitment, we will make a real difference and transform the lives of many young people. Together we will support and empower young people to build a better future for themselves, their communities and our country as a whole.”

Formation of the partnership was formally recognised at an event on last week at The Prince’s Trust’s Wolfson Centre in Glasgow.

NASC Launches Safe Scaffolding Charter

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NASC Launches Safe Scaffolding Charter

The NASC has launched a Safe Scaffolding Charter to recognise the ever-growing number of organisations that place NASC membership at the heart of their scaffolding contractor procurement policies.

The Charter is open to any organisation that has specified ‘NASC-only’ in their scaffolding-related tender documents and/or has had an established commercial relationship with a full NASC member for at least a year. Signatories already include Nuclear New Build Generation – the company behind the development and eventual operation of Hinkley Point C – construction specialists DE Construct and principal contractors Knight Harwood. These organisations are featured on the NASC website’s dedicated Safe Scaffolding Charter webpage. Robin James, NASC Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to launch our Safe Scaffolding Charter. We feel it’s incredibly important to celebrate the various organisations that recognise the value of specifying NASC-only for their scaffolding requirements. “Signatories clearly understand that NASC members are demonstrably safe, compliant and independently audited every year to ensure the high standards demanded in order to gain NASC full-contracting membership are maintained. “They also understand how this benefits their business; including the reassurance and peace of mind gained by using experienced and expert scaffolding contractors.” Ashley Daniels, Head of Temporary Works & Lifting at Hinkley Point C, said: “I am delighted with our membership and look forward to working together with an organisation that proactively contributes to the safety of the construction industry. “Building on our own project values of humility, positivity, respect, clarity and solidarity, I also recognise the very significant contribution NASC provides to the scaffolding community. It’s clear that membership has a significant and long-standing positive effect in delivering safe and secure scaffolding across the largest project in Europe.” For more on the NASC’s Safe Scaffolding Charter click here.

Apex Logistics Bags Contract With Archis Scaffolding

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Apex Logistics Bags Contract With Archis Scaffolding

Apex Logistics Solutions, the Essex based Logistics provider, has signed a deal with Archis Scaffolding to manage the companies supply chain.

The deal is expected to be worth an estimated £5,000,000 over the next 5-years and will involve the storage and distribution of scaffolding equipment.

“We are delighted to begin our partnership with Archis Scaffolding,” says David Perry, Managing Director of Apex Logistics Solutions. “We are looking to work with clients that are open to innovation, and Archis Scaffolding is a perfect match.  They, like us, have a lot of drive to disrupt their industry, and we can’t wait to work with that energy”. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Apex Logistics on board as a critical supplier to our business,” says Matthew Warner, CEO of Archis Scaffolding Solutions.

“We needed a supplier with the technical expertise to manage the flow of materials across our supply chain. We have complex requirements, such as the need to manage visually identical hired and purchased materials often travelling on the same vehicle; recovery and refurbishment of damaged equipment; and the stock control of hundreds of thousands of articles between dozens of sites.

We are confident that Apex Logistics understands our strategic vision and can deliver savings across our business. We look forward to what we expect to be a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Trade Body Offers International Membership

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Trade Body Offers International Membership

The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has launched an international information membership category in response to a growing demand from firms based overseas. 

The scaffolding trade body has said the new category recently launched is open to any non-contracting scaffolding industry organisation trading outside of the UK.

The new category is open to training providers, health and safety consultants, scaffold designers, insurers and other service providers to the access and scaffolding industry. 

The new category of membership has been created for companies outside of the UK who work within the scaffolding industry but do not carry out contract scaffolding.

Robin James, NASC Managing Director, said: “In recent years we have found that more and more businesses involved in the scaffolding industry overseas have been looking to forge closer relationships with the NASC and enjoy the wide range of benefits already afforded to their UK-based counterparts through the NASC Information Membership.

“We are delighted to address this demand and look forward to welcoming international information members from across the globe into the NASC fold.”

For more information on the new International Membership please visit the NASC website

Expansion at TRAD Hire & Sales

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Expansion at TRAD Hire & Sales

TRAD Hire & Sales, one of the UK’s largest provider of non-mechanical scaffold products, are currently active in expanding their sales and operational teams.  

Founded in 1998, TRAD Hire & Sales’ UK-wide network of depots have the resources and capabilities to meet every demand. They offer innovative products and a first-class service to their strong client base, and their team has an attention to detail that makes the company stand out from the rest. Their unrivalled commitment to service includes extensive User Guides, Nationwide Training, Technical / Product Support, Estimating Software, and an on-site support service. TRAD Hire & Sales pride themselves on the quality of their client assistance and after-sales service; their aim is to aid customers throughout the entire duration of their projects, and beyond.

In 2013, TRAD Hire & Sales joined the Altrad Group – a global leader in the construction sector. Since this acquisition, TRAD Hire & Sales have benefitted from significant investment and subsequent growth as a result. This growth makes it a necessary requirement to complement the existing, highly successful sales teams at their six nationwide depots, and currently TRAD Hire & Sales are looking to employ Sales Representatives in Stockport, Glasgow and Leeds. 

Operationally, an additional Technical Sales Manager and Health and Safety Representative have also recently been employed to cover the South of the UK, to support the sales teams in that area.  

If you would like to join the sales team at TRAD Hire & Sales, please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected], stating which location from Stockport, Glasgow and Leeds you are interested in. 

Union Demands Urgent Inquiry Into Reading Demolition Site Incident

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Union Demands Urgent Inquiry Into Reading Demolition Site Incident

Unite, the UK’s construction union is calling for an urgent investigation into the Reading scaffolding collapse that left three people in hospital. (Thursday 1 August)

The trade union, which represents construction workers, believes in order to learn lessons from the collapse, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) “must swiftly undertake an open and transparent inquiry into the incident.”

The collapse that happened on a demolition site in Reading at around 11:15am on Thursday 1 August left three people injured. Many believe a large section of the old shopping centre currently being demolished fell against the scaffold bringing the structure down onto Garrard Street.

A site worker at the former Friars Walk Shopping Centre was treated for a head injury, while a man and a woman were treated for suspected shock and an ankle injury.

Scaffold Collapse Reading

Unite national officer Jerry Swain said: “Everyone must be very grateful that the injuries reported so far have not been serious.

“A full inquiry must not just include the immediate reasons for the scaffolding collapse but also examine whether the work had been sub-let, were all workers on site properly employed, and did they all have the appropriate skills and training.

“It is essential that we learn the lessons from this accident to prevent similar serious incidents in the future.”

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