A contractor has been fined after an employee fell to his death from a ladder while exiting a scaffold at Jute Street, Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that on 21 September 2016, Joseph Kane, an employee of roofing contractor Henderson and Aitken Limited fell from the top rungs of a ladder when it slipped sideways on the scaffold. Mr Kane died of multiple injuries.
The scaffolding had been erected by the roofing firm and the ladder was tied, using a blue nylon cord, to the scaffold ledger at only the left stile.
An HSE inspector that carried out the investigation estimated the lateral movement of the ladder due to the lack of fixings was approximately 20cm.
HSE found that Henderson and Aitken Limited employee had erected the scaffold even though he was not a qualified or competent scaffolder. He had been asked to do this by the company director who was aware he was unqualified. The director then allowed three people to access the scaffold. The scaffold was not erected to the correct standard.
Henderson and Aitken Limited, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Sections of HSWA and was fined £53,000.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Niall Miller said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.
“This tragic and preventable death highlights the need for those undertaking work at height to ensure that it is carried out safely, that industry guidance is followed and that the relevant regulations are complied with. It is vitally important that those planning and arranging for such work give sufficient regard to the risks posed to workers and members of the public through their actions.”
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has issued an update on its scaffolding training reform progress.
The CITB has highlighted its commitment to ensuring that the construction sector maintains access to a good supply of skilled scaffolders in the wake of the transfer of its training establishment to alternative training providers, as part of its reform programme, Vision 2020.
CITB’s reform program ‘Vision 2020’ aims to streamline the business, it included the closure of the Bircham Newton Construction College in Norfolk which trained thousands of scaffolders over its 50-year history.
Graham McPhail, CITB Head of Education and Training, said: “CITB has been working with the training sector to secure alternative scaffolding training providers for the National Construction College.
“We are fully committed to ensuring the continuity of scaffolding training while we negotiate agreements that will be for the good of the wider construction industry. We have been working closely with CISRS to provide reassurance that no scaffolding training capacity or quality will be lost in delivering this commitment as part of our reform programme.”
David Mosley, NASC Training Director and CISRS Managing Director, said: “Both NASC and CISRS have been working closely with CITB over the last 12 months to ensure the scaffolding provision at NCC continues as normal. We would like to reassure the Scaffolding sector that CITB has made a commitment to us – and the wider industry – that no training capacity or quality would be lost as a result of their Vision 2020 programme and we are certain that remains the case.
“It is essential to ensure the existing high standards are maintained throughout and training courses continue to be available until the alternative provision has been established.”
‘Big Carl’ The world biggest crane has been shipped over from Belgium to help build the new power station.
Construction work at Hinkley Point in Somerset is now well underway, with thousands of workers building a new EDF power station at the site.
But amongst the people, vehicles and machines at the site, one structure is dominating the Somerset skyline.
The worlds biggest crane, the Sarens SGC-250 (or ‘big Carl’ as it has affectionately been called) was shipped over to the site from Ghent in Belgium to assist in the construction.
Although it it does not have the traditional look of a crane, Big Carl is a monster of a machine.
Image Credit: Sarens
The epic piece of machinery had to be transported on more than 250 lorries and can operate at up to 250m high – taller than One Canada Square – the second highest building in the UK.
Big Carl will be able to move, whilst it is “fully rigged” from one place on the site, to another, with the company behind the structure saying it is an industry first.
More than six kilometres of rail has been laid for the crane, so it traverse the sprawling Somerset site.
It will also be able to move 360 degrees on its axis, meaning it can travel freely around the construction area.
As well as its sky-rocketing height, it also has a huge reach and can be extended to be given a 275m radius – more than the length of two football pitches.
Because of its size, it is easy to forget that it can lift a huge amount of material, with it being able to carry up to 3,000 tonnes in one go.
Sarens, the team behind the crane say that whilst it is at Hinkley Point, it will be used to install prefab concrete elements, steel structures and even reactor equipment for the power station.
Big Carl will be part of a fleet of 53 cranes at the site, and be mostly used at night – in order to minimise disruption during the day.
EDF are constructing a nuclear power plant at the site near Bridgwater in Somerset and began building in December 2018, with the aim of it being completed by 2025.
The project will cost an estimated £20.3 billion and is the first new nuclear plant to be built in the UK in 30 years.
Both partners of a roofing firm have been sentenced after working unsafely on a Bowls Club in Salisbury.
Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard how between April and May 2018 employees of CB Roofing were seen working on the roof with unsafe access, no edge protection and nothing to prevent falls through the fragile roof material.
An investigation by the HSE found that the partners failed to ensure that the work at height was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely.
Philip Robert Stanley Spring of Blyth Way, Salisbury pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, in which time he must undertake 250 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1836.31.
Christopher James Barham of Hughendon Manor, Salisbury also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, in which time he must undertake 250 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1836.31.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Sue Adsett said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Building wraps are becoming big business which scaffolding contractors like yourselves are perfectly positioned to take advantage of. By teaming up withLavastar, you can begin offering building wraps to all of your clients, making their lives easier and earning you more money.
We offer an attractive commission rate and do all of the work ourselves, all you need to do is plug our figures into your tenders and reap the rewards.
What is a building wrap?
A building wrap is a large printed banner which covers the exterior a scaffolding. The banner is fixed into position and then stretched tight around the scaffold, creating an impressive drum-skin-like finish. Building wraps fix to an additional framework which can be installed onto any type of scaffolding. The banners are printed on a mesh or solid PVC material, depending on the application, and have an endless range of design possibilities.
There are a number of reasons that your client may want to install a building wrap onto their scaffolding. To list only a few advantages, building wraps:
Hide ongoing works behind the scaffolding
Improve the presentation of the site
Reduce noise coming from within the site
Reduce dust escaping from inside the site
Create space for advertisement and branding
Improve considerate contractor scheme rating
Protect the site from harsh weather conditions
Our method
Lavastar offers a simple pricing structure based on the size of the building wrap, meaning you can provide accurate estimates right from the word go. Should your client be interested in a building wrap based on these estimates, we can conduct an unbranded site survey completely free of charge. This allows us to take all the necessary measurements and calculate the exact cost for you to present to your client. At this point, we can also make suggestions on how to maximise the visual impact of your building wrap should you wish to pass this information on.
Once costs are approved, Lavastar take care of everything in house. To give you an idea of what goes into a building wrap, we would typically:
Produce a design for the additional framework which will house the banner
Provide wind loading calculations to ensure the scaffold can support the banner
Install the framework to the existing scaffolding
Liaise with marketing departments to produce designs free of charge
Print the banner in-house using ultra UV-resistant inks
Provide detailed risk assessments and method statements
Install the banner
Make more from your projects by offering the services of Lavastar
It is becoming increasingly popular for contractors to combine their services in order to boost each others businesses. By offering our services, you are able to upsell your product and make each project more profitable.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a project you would like us to get involved in, call 01252 850818 or email [email protected]. You can also visit our website, www.lavastar.co.uk, where you can view some of our previous building wraps.
Palmers Scaffolding UK has been awarded a Balfour Beatty Design & Quality Award for its complex work at Heathrow Airport T4 roof lights project.
Palmers Airport Divisional Manager, Tony Mileham was presented with the award by Balfour Beatty’s Aviation Framework Director, Paul Woodhams (& Steve Collinson, Head of Integrated Services Heathrow), at a supply chain event with 70+ delegates recently.
Tony Mileham said: “We are very pleased to receive such a great award in a sea of quality sub contractors and amongst many top projects at T4 – and especially as the award is for design quality, which is something we pride ourselves on at Palmers.
“The project was 18 months in the making with our engineering and design teams and working collaboratively with Balfour Beatty. It has challenged us technically and operationally (with it being a live airport, with temporary works done in night shifts), but our experience and expertise has shone through.
“This highly technical and impressive roof lights job – or the ‘mobile factory’ as the client called it due to its highly functional interface with all trades – has attracted a lot of positive attention from everyone on site. It’s clearly something Balfour is proud of… almost as much as we are.”
Palmers CEO Colin Butt added: “Very well done to everyone who’s worked on this superb project at Heathrow. This award is very good news for us.”
The Government’s decision to delay by one year the implementation of potentially damaging VAT changes for construction companies is a victory for common sense, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Reverse charge VAT was due to come into force from 1st October 2019 but the Government today announced its decision to delay implementation until 1st October 2020 after a coalition of construction organisations, led by the FMB, wrote to the Government to point out the damaging impact this badly-timed policy would have on the sector.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “I’m pleased that the Government has made this sensible and pragmatic decision to delay reverse charge VAT until a time when it will have less of a negative impact on the tens of thousands of construction companies across the UK. To plough on with the October 2019 implementation could have been disastrous given that the changes were due to be made just before the UK is expected to leave the EU, quite possibly on ‘no-deal’ terms.
The situation hasn’t been helped by the poor communication and guidance produced by HMRC. Despite the best efforts of construction trade associations to communicate the changes to their members, it’s concerning that so few employers have even heard of reverse charge VAT. Indeed, according to research by the FMB published in July, more than two-thirds had not heard of the VAT changes and of those who had, around the same number hadn’t prepared.”
Berry concluded: “It is reassuring that the Government has listened to the construction industry, which has come together to make clear to the Government that sticking to the October 2019 timetable could lead to a loss of productivity, reduced cashflow and in the worst cases, lead to a hit on jobs, tipping some companies over the edge. What’s required now is for the Government and industry to work together to deliver a sector-wide communications campaign, which must include plain English guidance on the changes. We also want to work with the Government to deliver workshops aimed at construction employers, held in locations across the country, to explain what’s happening and why.”
A scaffolder from Lancashire has been left paralysed from the chest down after a terrible motocross accident.
Josh Holmes, who recently set up his own scaffolding company was thrown off his motocross bike and landed in a ditch after the throttle on his bike got stuck on Sunday, August 25.
The 29-year-old father of three was airlifted to hospital where doctors confirmed he had broken his back and his sternum and had to have two ribs removed.
Following an eight-hour operation to straighten his spine back into position and put a protective cage around it, it was discovered that Mr Holmes had been left paralysed from the chest down.
The amount of damage done to his spinal cord is currently unknown.
His family has set up a fundraising campaign via a Go Fund Me page to help him while he receives medical treatment.
Writing on the page his aunt Lisa Grieg-Holmes said: “Josh had started his own company in recent years scaffolding around Lancashire. With the accident he can no longer work for the foreseeable future, but will still have bills and children to pay for this is obviously a worry for him.
“We would like to raise money for Josh so he can concentrate on getting back to full fitness without the stress of how he will get money for the essentials in life.”
GKR Scaffolding has successfully completed the build of what is currently the highest scaffolding in Europe on the construction of the UK’s second highest skyscraper.
Construction of 22 Bishopsgate in the heart of the City of London, will complete this year. GKR has been working with principal contractor, Multiplex, at every phase of its construction.
Now, 62 floors high, measuring 278m (912ft), GKR are currently supplying scaffolding to access the top ring beam, roof steels and façade brackets to be welded on level 61 and 62.
After GKR successfully developed safe methods for working at extreme height when working on The Shard, these operational processes are now industry standard and applied to the work at 22 Bishopsgate.
Located in the busy financial district, the challenge at this height is to guarantee the safety of the general public as well as those working on the project. Additionally, weather conditions and restrictions from the Civil Aviation Authority at this height needed to be taken into account.
GKR’s 100% tethering methodology using the Elimin8 tethered fitting, although time-consuming, was necessary during the construction. All materials and tools were fully tethered until secured, minimising the risk of falling objects.
The scaffolding had to also withstand turbulent weather with wind speeds 4 times stronger than on the ground.
GKR Project Manager, Vincent Turner has led the programme of works without incident. He said: “Our experience is in complex and high risk works, and we have the right calibre of operatives to safely deliver a project at this level. Working at the upper levels has to be painstaking, but when the client can see not only an incident free job, but also the quality of work that is delivered despite the constraints of the environment, its work that we are proud to deliver.”
Peter Cullen, GKR Health & Safety Director added: “Due to the processes we have developed for working at height on these specialist projects, we have zero incidents due to the use of Elimin8 tethered fittings and 100% tethering policy. Our operatives are trained to perceive the risks in this environment and work to mitigate them.
When we developed these processes for The Shard, many in the industry thought they were damaging to our sector as they impacted on our pace of works operationally. However, as the number of high rise, higher risk construction projects in London has grown, these process have become industry standard and benefitted the safety and reputation of the scaffolding industry as a whole.”
The finished building will house a gym and wellness centre, London’s biggest bike park, a market, viewing gallery and event space. As well as restaurants and bars there will be 1.275 million sq. ft of high specification office zones.
TRAD Deck is a lightweight working platform specifically designed for the house building industry and is the UK’s market-leading product of its type. TRAD Deck provides internal fall prevention during the house building process, essentially replacing a birdcage scaffold. Just like a birdcage scaffold, TRAD Deck, can be loaded out with a capacity of 2kN per m2.
The major benefits of TRAD Deck over a birdcage scaffold is that you don’t need to be a scaffolder to install it – TRAD Deck can be installed by any competent person with the correct training. Furthermore it is significantly quicker to install than a birdcage scaffold; 60 m2 can easily be installed by two trained operatives. This means that there are significant labour and time savings when using TRAD Deck compared to a birdcage scaffold.
Features & Benefits
High Quality Fall Prevention Working Platform
Load Capacity of 2kN per m2
Various platform heights up to 3 meters available
Can be installed by 2 people and comfortably erect 60m2 per hour
Three main components
Various panel sizes available
Improves your productivity
Installation service available
Hire or Sale product
Full competence training available for installers
Compliance: Testing independently carried out by Loughborough University
Roof non fragility test in accordance with ACR (M) 001:2000
BS EN 12811-1 Part 3 for structural integrity and safety factor for use as a General Purpose Working and Safety Platform
TRAD Deck is available nationally from any of our 6 UK depots. It is available to purchase, hire or on a fully installed contract basis.
Testimonials
Richard David Lee – Scaffold Manager at Taylor Wimpey
TRAD Safety Deck is the way Forward. It is better in everyway to other fall prevention systems that I have used in the past. It is cleaner – sounds a strange thing to say but it makes it safer. It’s so much easier to handle and transport around the site: a win win for us. Threre are no drawbacks with the system, We just have to get more familiar with the system but with the help of Nick from TRAD Safety Systems Manchester we are quickly adapting.
Dan Reed – Scaffolder at Taylor Wimpey
Dan is an experienced Scaffolder working with Richard and was asked what he thought of the Safety Deck system.
It has so many benefits. Working on the scaffolding knowing the decking is there is massively reassuring, knowing your safer. We can walk across the decking with the gear rather than around the perimeter, making the whole process quicker and safer. It’s a plus in every way to anything else I have used in the past, airbags, bird cages and such.The time saving aspect of the system is massive. Its quicker to get on site and move to each plot and with the excellent training provided erecting the deck could not be simpler. Storage is another huge beneficial factor. The fork lift can pick it up and move it to storage until its needed. Bean bags need special storage, dry and covered, The decking is robust and all weather so ideal for site use. It stacks so easily it makes the job so quick and easy, its excellent. We are here to make money and with this system we can do that. With the knowledge that we are improving site safety as well is rewarding.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Henderson and Aitken Limited, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Sections of HSWA and was fined £53,000.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Niall Miller said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.
“This tragic and preventable death highlights the need for those undertaking work at height to ensure that it is carried out safely, that industry guidance is followed and that the relevant regulations are complied with. It is vitally important that those planning and arranging for such work give sufficient regard to the risks posed to workers and members of the public through their actions.” 
