Dave Mosley, CISRS Managing Director has urged cardholders not to panic following CSCS’ “Grandfather Rights” withdrawal announcement.
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has recently announced plans to phase out issuing cards under Industry Accreditation or ‘Grandfather Rights’. The decision was been made to ensure all CSCS card applicants can demonstrate the achievement of a nationally-recognised construction-related qualification – either NVQ/SVQ or as a minimum registration to a vocational qualification (VQ) by 2024.
In a press release, CISRS has said that the CSCS proposal will have very little impact on CISRS cardholders as those who hold current valid Scaffolder/Advanced cards but have not completed VQ (as it was not a requirement at the time of qualification into the scheme) will not be required to complete the qualification retrospectively.
CISRS withdrew Industry Accreditation over 30 years ago. NVQ/SVQ was introduced to the CISRS Scheme in 1996. All those commencing training after this date have been required to complete a VQ. This would apply for those who achieved through Assessed Route of Entry as a VQ was already a requirement.
The press release continues to read, The National Occupational Standard (NOS), which makes up the units of the VQ is based upon the practical and theoretical content of CISRS Scheme Part 1 and Part 2 for Level 2 VQ e.g. Health and Safety, Independents, Birdcage, Tower scaffolds etc and Advanced course content for Level 3 e.g. Organising of Equipment, Health and Safety, Suspended Scaffolds, Temporary roofs etc.
The course content has remained fairly stable since the formal introduction of the scheme in 1979, as such those who completed training prior to the introduction of a VQ have already covered the content of the NOS.
The introduction of CPD for scaffolders has also allowed the scheme to be viewed favourably as it can ensure that its workforce is kept up to date with the most recent guidance and regulation.
The formwork and scaffolding specialist Peri has announced the opening of its Irish head office in Dublin in June 2019.
Peri products have been available in Ireland for 18 years from an external agent, but the firm has said on its website that by establishing a base in west Dublin, they will be able to work directly with customers and can offer a higher level of service.
By establishing a business in Ireland, PERI has said they can meet the ever-growing needs of its customers in Ireland through its extensive product range, technical expertise and project support services. Its Customers will have access to the high-quality product range it always has, but this will be enhanced with the latest products and support services, such as 3D design, the DUO polymer lightweight formwork system, and the latest MAXIMO wall panel system.
Colm McHugh, Peri Ireland’s Managing Director, said: “We are very excited to be able to offer directly to customers in Ireland our full range of products and services. Investing in a new facility in Ireland will enable us to build strong partnerships with our customers and create employment opportunities in the local economy.
PERI products have been proven the world over, allowing customers to work more safely, efficiently and reduce overall costs on their construction projects. We are sure that the construction sector in Ireland will also be able to enjoy the same benefits”.
Working on height safety certainly hasn’t been a tall order for proud Glaswegian and Managing Director of the Prefabricated Access Suppliers & Manufacturers Association, Peter Bennett. In fact, it was a small case of bending slightly, as he prepared to receive an Order Of The British Empire medal for contributions to the access and work at height sector. And naturally, the highly regarded and modest 59-year-old was more than happy to be invested by HM the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, in early July.
Dedicated work
This marked the apex of Peter’s lifelong career in the work at height sector, and many in the industry believe it was thoroughly deserved. After studying at the University of Glasgow, he joined the Glasgow office of national scaffolding company Stephens & Carter in 1983, before moving to Turner Access. During this time, he was an active Council member and latterly Chair of PASMA, also serving as a Council member, Training Committee Chairman and President of IPAF, the International Powered Access Federation
It was the beginning of Peter’s passion for improving safety for those who work at height – often without realising it – in many different sectors across the UK and internationally.
His drive upwards pushed this innovator to where he is today, leading three not-for-profit membership associations which all share a common purpose – making it safer for people to work at height. Safety standards, regulation and workplace culture have improved hugely over the years to protect workers and as a leading expert and champion for progress, Peter has consistently been at the forefront of change.
Leading Standard Change
PASMA, is the only organisation in the world dedicated to advancing safety, standards and best practice in the mobile access tower industry. When Peter first took on the role in 2006, he ran the organisation from his garage at home with the help of his first employee, Karen O’Neill. Under his leadership, PASMA now has a presence in 11 countries worldwide. More than 350 members and almost 75,000 people take its training courses on the safe use of towers every year. And Karen is now part of a 22-strong secretariat!
In 2007 Peter was appointed Executive Director of The Ladder Association, recently named Business of the Year 2019 by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. This followed a successful campaign encouraging people to ‘get a grip’ on ladder safety.
He’s also Chair of the Access Industry Forum or AIF, bringing together the principal trade associations involved in work at height to foster codes of good practice, equipment standards, training, education and knowledge. He serves on several national and international standards-setting committees, sitting on various advisory groups at the Health and Safety Executive. What’s more Peter contributes to the work of the Better Regulation Panel at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy or BEIS.
Safety Always Paramount
On average 36 people die every year and thousands more are injured following a fall from height at work, according to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive. With all this in mind he told us: “If you work at height, I want you to go home safely at the end of the day. From speaking to survivors of a fall from height, I know that the consequences are often life-changing and affect not just the victim but also their family, friends and colleagues. It’s so important that we continually strive to improve our understanding of why falls happen and strengthen the measures that keep people safe. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by knowledgeable, dedicated colleagues – both in my own organisations and in the wider work at height community – who share my passion. I want to use this occasion to raise awareness of the work that they do and to share one message: if you work at height, or are responsible for those who do, please, please take safety seriously.”
Westminster Working Group
It’s important to remember Peter was instrumental in the creation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Work at Height in 2017, chaired by Alison Thewliss MP, which is pushing for improved regulation to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. He is also a founding trustee of the No Falls Foundation, the only charity dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the consequences of a fall.
Altrad Services UK has welcomed new employees to join their existing team to deliver the new maintenance projects contract for work with the firm’s long-term partner SABIC on its Teesside site.
To mark the start of the contract Altrad Services brought the entire team together for an onboarding day where they received an introduction to Altrad, collected new PPE and got to meet the wider management team.
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The multi-discipline maintenance contract sees Altrad helping SABIC maintain their critical assets by undertaking mechanical, access, insulation and painting works over a four-year term on the petrochemical site. The contract sits with Altrad Services’ Maintenance, Modifications and Overhauls business and is expected employ over 120 people at peak.
Altrad Services Managing Director, Tony Jester said: “We’re well known for industry-leading excellence in maintaining our customers assets. Winning this contract is recognition by SABIC that Altrad excels in project maintenance delivery. Our innovative approach to delivering solutions means customers can expect new, smarter ways of working rather than the more traditional methods other suppliers use.”
Altrad Services is an industrial services company steeped in over 120 years of experience, formed from the well-established brands of Cape and Hertel. This combined experience, together with a larger and more efficient business, means greater access to resources enabling the delivery of critical services its customers demand. Altrad employs over 7,200 people delivering services across the UK’s critical industries and can offer whole life asset management from design to decommissioning.
48.3, a market leader in the design and management of scaffolding, has proudly announced today that it is to move forward as part of the Richter Associates group.
The acquisition is a strategic development in 48.3’s drive to transform the scaffolding industry with fully-integrated service offerings in temporary and permanent works.
Founded in 2010, the Surrey-based company has long maintained its vision of driving the evolution of scaffolding – something which is to be accelerated with this latest development. To date, the focus of 48.3’s service offering has specifically been on the design, planning and management of scaffolding; providing commercially viable, efficient and risk reduced scaffolding solutions across the UK.
Now incorporating the wider experience, expertise and resources of Richter Associates, the business will further support client projects with a fully-integrated approach to design, including both temporary and permanent works. Included in this is the management of multiple interfaces between temporary and permanent works, which will create a working environment which is safer, more time and cost efficient, and, ultimately, more effective for construction projects across the country. The extensive and versatile service offering that 48.3 will be able to provide as a Richter Associates Company promises to add significant value to clients’ projects.
“This is a really exciting time for 48.3 – it’s the start of a new chapter in our development and growth. I believe this is the future of scaffold design – bringing it in line with other aspects of temporary works,” comments Ben Beaumont, Founder of 48.3. “48.3 and Richter Associates share many common views on the development of the industry. Our companies offer complementary temporary works, permanent works and geotechnical services that, when combined, create a unique service offering available nowhere else in the industry.”
Not only do the services and expertise from each company seamlessly complement the other, but the values in which each company commits to are also of a complementary nature. Absolute quality, commitment to promises and exceeding expectations are all non-negotiables in both 48.3 and Richter Associates’ approach to clients and their projects – something that will be even more intensified with 48.3 as a Richter Associates Company.
“There’s no doubt in our minds that 48.3 is the most reputable scaffolding design firm in the country,” comments Abouzar Jahanshahi, Richter Associates Director. “Combined with Richter Associates’ decades of experience in temporary works design, structural and geotechnical engineering, 48.3 is now able to provide a full set of services that includes all aspects of scaffolding design and assessments of any interface with permanent works or supporting ground as well as any impact on nearby buried services, voids, basements, vaults, open excavations and more.
Roger Tice, Richter Associates Managing Director further adds: “Richter Associates remain ‘contractor’ friendly and continue to provide consultancy services throughout the whole life of a project, from conception, pre-construction, construction, maintenance, demolition and re-enable. Our company provides collaborative design services throughout all these stages, and with the unrivalled level of scaffolding design and installation expertise that 48.3 provides, it strengthens the specialist technical services offered to our clients, old and new. It is an exciting time for the scaffolding market, which now has a consultancy offering a ‘one stop shop’ solution to all scaffolding contractors.”
This exciting acquisition and the extended, versatile services which 48.3, a Richter Associates Company, can provide clients moving forward, will hugely add value to construction projects and shape the construction design industry as it is known today.
Turner Access has announced its winding down the manufacture and supply of aluminium towers and low-level access ranges.
The Glasgow based firm has said ‘as part of a wider strategic decision they intend to cease manufacture later in the year’. This includes the OCTO and BETA Aluminium Towers, BetaGuard, Alphastep, Sigmadeck and Omegadeck. In addition to scaling down aluminium manufacturing, the business has closed its Training Centre and Aluminium Tower Rental Division. Turner Access has however signed an agreement with Pop Up Products Ltd to take over its Deltadeck business. The Deltadeck will now be available through Pop Up Products, which specialises in aluminium access equipment and low-level powered access.
The Future Of Turner Access
ScaffMag understands that Turner Access aims to grow its Contract Scaffolding operation and Steel System Scaffolding Sales. It’s been said that their factory will continue to manufacture Turner OCTO® and ancillary scaffolding products.
Turner Access’ Contract Scaffolding business has seen significant growth over the last 18 months; a trend in which the Company aims to continue. An additional £2million has been invested since the start of the 2019/2020 budget year to support its continued expansion throughout the Central Belt, Fife and Angus areas. This recent investment has been necessary to support some recent major project wins, worth approximately £4million, as well as the development and improvement of existing depots and establishment of a Small Works division.
Turner Access Managing Director, Knud Højland Pedersen, spoke about the changes happening in Turner Access. He said: “We are delighted to announce that Pop Up Products are taking on the Deltadeck. It is an innovative product that will sit well with its access solution range. This new direction signals an exciting new chapter for Turner Access as we grow Contracts and Turner OCTO sales, and provides us an opportunity to focus on this as the core of our business moving forward.”
As a Northamptonshire based scaffolder Steve Wood is the epitome of courage and determination.
Still running his business despite a major series of setbacks from an injury sustained more than eight years ago, he’s in final preparations for his own personal Everest – to climb, summit and descend the UK’s three highest peaks in consecutive days – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
Asking For Support
Steve is asking for support in helping to raise £10,000 for the Oxford bone infection unit at the NHS Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. In February 2011 Consultants specialising in treating life threatening infections of the bone and in major limb re-construction, saved both his life and a leg, ravaged by an infection not diagnosed and treated early enough. He takes up the story: “It all started back in November 2010 when, a running and exercise ‘junkie’ like me was training hard for my next half marathon in Spain. Apart from a ‘jock rash’ where the seam of my training trousers had been rubbing against my right thigh, I was race fit and raring to go in the Benidorm half marathon, having had a steroid injection the week before to help protect my knee during the race. Unbeknown to anyone the jock rash was infected and the surgeon who injected me managed to pick up the infection and inject it, along with the steroid, into my knee! I then became poorly during the race and felt very ‘flu like’, ending up with a very poor time. I flew back home urgently to urgently consult the surgeon with my extremely painful and swollen knee.
Tough days Ahead
“Catastrophically my infection was not picked up and with my health deteriorating rapidly, I was admitted as an emergency five days later. The surgeon then got me on the correct treatment and sought to clear the infection but by this time I now also had a blood clot (DVT) behind the same knee, meaning the treatment had to proceed with caution. Things continued to deteriorate and by now I was fighting for my life! At one point the hospitals pastor came and asked me if I wanted him to give me my last rites? You can perhaps imagine my response …. the second word of which was a polite but firm no thank you.”
Steve fought on in his usual determined way, but was still acutely ill over the next couple of months. By Valentine’s day 2011 his leg had deteriorated to such an extent he again had to be admitted on an emergency basis and put back on IV anti-biotics. In fact, the infection had now gone into his bones, ravaging both his knee and lower leg.
Out Of the Darkness
He added: “Eight years and more than 20 operations including four right knee replacements and revisions later, my leg is as good as it will ever be. I can at last bend my knee sufficiently so that, with a special short pedal crank I can ride a bike again and, whilst trekking up and down steep hills and mountains remains a huge challenge for me with the constant pain I am in, it is that big challenge that I have set myself and need your help with.”
At one point Steve had 75 staples holding his leg together, whilst it took months to heal and settle. That was 18 months ago and it has taken him until now to be fit enough to attempt this big challenge.
Saying Thanks
“I have a huge debt of gratitude I am desperate to repay to the Bone infection unit – to Oliver Byren, Roger Gundle, Alex Ramsden and Ashok Handa at the JR, for saving my life and my leg and starting me on my very very long road to recovery. Also helping me on this long road was Mark Booth and his team of therapists at Body Limits. I also owe a massive debt of gratitude to a very special and talented revision surgeon in Wales – Rhidian Morgan-Jones, for taking on the challenge of re-building me with the support of his colleagues at The Spire Hospital Cardiff…. between 2012 and now.”
The upcoming challenge will be particularly tough for Stephen as his leg swells up after any significant walking as he explained: “The constant pain affects my ability to push through and carry on without icing, and resting my leg between periods of activity. You could honestly say that this is my own ‘Everest summit’!
Food For Thought
So the next time you may be feeling a bit down, just think of what Steve Wood has endured in the past decade, and how he’ll be breaking the pain barrier to help others. So far, more than £1,000 has been raised.
Colchester United are delighted to have joined up with Essex based company TEXO Scaffolding as they begin to build a successful future partnership together.
TEXO Scaffolding, who have a strong history of sports sponsorships, have penned a three year deal with the League Two side to appear on the front of their home shirts from the 2019/20 campaign onwards.
They have in the past sponsored World Champion Boxers, Anthony Joshua, Anthony Crolla, Tony Bellew and Kell Brook, and also have previous experience of sponsorship in football with Bostik North side Heybridge Swifts, as well as supporting numerous local good causes.
And Managing Director Robert Hayward is looking forward to getting started, saying: “We as a company are always looking to get involved and support local sports teams and individuals, and are delighted to be part of what is no doubt going to be an exciting few years.
“As we respect and appreciate the drive and dedication it takes to succeed, be it in a sporting or business capacity, we are very much looking forward to an exciting future in association with Colchester United, growing together both on and off of the pitch.”
TEXO Scaffolding, who were founded in 2010, work on a wide range of building projects across the UK and has built a hugely successful business in supporting construction across the country.
With over 200 years of combined experience in the scaffolding industry, the Texo team has the know-how and skills to deliver the highest quality work every time.
The TEXO Scaffolding logo will be on the new look 2019/20 home shirt produced once again by Macron, which is due to be released soon and on sale on the club’s Open Day on Sunday 14th July.
U’s General Manager Tim Waddington is excited to be working with a new club partner and added: “TEXO Scaffolding are an excellent local business and have been involved in sports sponsorships at varying levels for a number of years. We’re delighted that they have made this commitment to the club.
We look forward to seeing the TEXO Scaffolding logo on Colchester United home shirts and developing our mutually beneficial partnership over the term of the sponsorship.”
A former soldier has launched a new scaffolding firm in North Yorkshire.
Dan Smith, 32, from Richmond joined the Royal Irish Regiment aged 16 he served for four years with a tour in Iraq. In 2010, he started training as a scaffolder after leaving the military and qualified in 2012.
Dan established his new firm UK Scaffold in April this year.
The veteran has worked across the UK and abroad, as well as offshore. He moved to London in 2016 but returned to Richmondshire two years later to be closer to his daughter.
Speaking to Richmondshire Today Dan said: “After going from job to job I decided to set up my own company in April.
“The company is growing at a good rate and we are hoping to take on apprentice at the back end of this year.
“I will be actively looking to give something back to the community and looking for veterans who want to learn a good trade in civvy street..
“Moving forward my aim is for UK Scaffold to be a leading scaffolding contractor in the North Yorkshire and North-East area.”
The NASC has created a £50,000 funding pot to help its members bring 400 new recruits into the scaffolding industry.
The training fund will enable NASC full contracting members to apply for £125 funding for each new employee that completes the CISRS Operatives Training Scheme (COTS).
This initiative, which will help bring 400 operatives into the industry, complements a similar CISRS CPD funding scheme launched by the NASC in 2017. To date, NASC members have claimed more than 500 payments of £125 to help cover the costs of their operatives undertaking mandatory CPD training – a total of £64K.
The new COTS funding initiative is the first scheme to be launched from a dedicated £500k training fund set up by the NASC in 2018 to assist its members with recruitment and training. A range of training initiatives are due to follow in the coming months.
David Mosley, NASC Training Director, said: “Through the £500k training fund, the NASC is giving tangible, bottom-line benefits to its members. This starts with the COTS funding scheme, which bookends existing NASC funding for CISRS CPD training.
“It means members will be able to apply for funding to help bring new people into the industry as well as defraying the costs of mandatory CPD training for their experienced operatives.
“This is just the beginning. It is envisaged that the £500k training fund will also provide members with the opportunity to apply for funding for a range of wider training, such as first aid and mental health training.
“It will also support ongoing NASC efforts to improve recruitment and careers opportunities in the scaffolding industry by producing a scaffolding careers website, working regionally with pre-employment training programmes, linking potential trainees with local approved providers and employers offering work experience placements and employment.
“The NASC has ringfenced a substantial sum of money in order to fund incoming NASC President Lynn Way’s initiative to work with the armed forces and provide career pathways for those coming out of the services”
The COTS funding scheme goes live on 1 July 2019. Members may also claim retrospectively for employees that have completed the COTS course and gained either the CISRS Labourer or Initial Trainee card since 1 January 2019. Members may claim funding for up to 10 operatives.
