Scaffolding boss wins tribunal claim

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Scaffolding boss wins tribunal claim

An ex scaffolding boss has won an employment tribunal claim after he missed out on a £20,000 bonus when he took his son to hospital for an operation.

Network Scaffolding Contractors, part of Taziker Industrial in Horwich accused Will Webb of failing to work his notice at the firm.

A Manchester employment tribunal was told that management at Network Scaffolding claimed he had left work early on March 22 last year and then failed to attend work the following day. However, Mr Webb insisted he was allowed to leave work as he was accompanying his son while he had surgery to remove his appendix.

The scaffolding firm told him he was not entitled to a £20,000 bonus for the year, as he had failed to complete his full notice period. Mr Webb told the hearing he believed he had been placed on gardening leave, as he was asked to hand in his company car and site keys.

According to the Bolton News the manager was in charge of the company’s Salford branch before being moved to Bolton, in October 2017, where was made responsible for one of their regions.

His salary rose from £45,000 to £55,000 but he argued, as he had to take on the duties of a departing commercial manager, he should be paid more.

Though the parties disputed this, he says they agreed to eventually pay him £60,000, with a £20,000 bonus.

Ruling in Mr Webb’s favour, employment judge Pauline Feeney said he was a “credible witness”, who had produced Facebook messages supporting his claim he was placed on gardening leave before he left.

Major Edinburgh Development Approved by Local Council

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Major Edinburgh Development Approved by Local Council

Plans for the future supply of homes in Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead by Councillors at a hearing.

The 655-home development at Cammo Estate is a consortium project by CALA Homes and David Wilson Homes and includes 164 much-needed affordable homes. The development will provide a unique mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, terraced homes, colonies as well as detached family homes. A spokesperson on behalf of the consortium, said: “We must thank the local community first and foremost for engaging with us throughout, helping us to shape the final proposals which have evolved over the past two years. “We fully understand how important the junctions at Maybury and Barnton are and traffic was a key concern for many people at the outset. “We feel the improvements made through Planning Gain contributions will benefit the wider community and those commuting in or out the city. “Following yesterday’s decision our focus now turns to assisting the City of Edinburgh Council to ensure a timely delivery of these improvements” A key component of the site is the extent of publicly accessible green space – which totals over a third of the entire development and includes linear parks, a seven-hectare park, and over 700 new specimen trees. In addition, a half kilometre 20-metre wide green corridor at Maybury Avenue will feature a much-needed cycle and footpath detached from Maybury Road. Further improvements to the walking and cycling network will be made from Planning Gain contributions the developments will make. In line with the Local Development Plan these routes will connect to the land at West Craigs, and as part of that development connect onwards to the Gyle and Edinburgh Park. The spokesperson added: “At the heart of the design solution has been the delivery of an outstanding landscape environment along with significant investment to improve public transport, education and health care and the delivery of an excellent pedestrian and cycle network. “Within the development site we will deliver new bus infrastructure in addition to making contributions to public transport connections to the site. “In addition, there is an exceptionally wide range of homes that will help to ease the supply shortfall that features throughout the market.” As part of the 655 homes, 25% of the development units will be of affordable tenure delivered with our Registered Social Landlord partner; comprising a wide range of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and terraced homes. The affordable housing will commence as part of the initial phase of development.

Trade body partners up with SMAS Worksafe

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Trade body partners up with SMAS Worksafe

SMAS Worksafe (Safety Management Advisory Service) has formally joined in a professional partnership with scaffolding trade body The Scaffolding Association with members of both organisations set to benefit.

With the aim to improve health and safety within the scaffolding industry, both SMAS and The Scaffolding Association bring years of experience to the partnership which formally began in May 2019. With SMAS Worksafe becoming the SSIP scheme of choice for The Scaffolding Association, members will be able to benefit from a 20% discount off SMAS Worksafe full assessment* as well as a Health and Safety helpline and increased visibility to the SMAS Worksafe client base, which includes of over 45 of the biggest house builders in the UK as well as many other organisations in construction. Likewise, scaffolding companies that are members of SMAS Worksafe will be able to benefit from a discounted fee of 20% for membership of The Scaffolding Association at Assessed and Audited Level. Head of Client Relations at SMAS Worksafe Hollie Baxter said of the partnership, “It’s great news to be able to formalise a partnership with another organisation that promotes the safety and wellbeing of workers, in this case the scaffolding industry. I look forward to a long last relationship between us.” The Scaffolding Association Chief Executive Robert Candy says “This new partnership with SMAS Worksafe supports our efforts to drive standards across the industry, enabling us to help develop a business framework that scaffolding contractors and clients of all sizes can benefit from, and help us all in our quest for a safer, stronger and more professional industry.”

HAKI grows training portfolio with CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS)

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HAKI grows training portfolio with CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS)

System scaffolding and temporary access provider, HAKI, will start delivering the popular 1- day CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS) to customers from June 2019 onwards.

The COTS course, accredited by CISRS, enables people who are new to scaffolding to learn about basics of the industry and how to work safely with scaffolding and access equipment. Knowledge is then assessed at the end of the course through a short test paper. All delegates who successfully complete the practical & theory assessments of the scheme will receive a CISRS Certificate. HAKI will also apply on their behalf for the CISRS Scaffolder Trainee or CISRS Scaffolder Labourer card, allowing them to take further training and progress their scaffolding career. HAKI technician and trainer, Chris Partridge said: “The addition of the COTS course to our training portfolio is just another example of HAKI’s dedication to providing safe working conditions, by helping train scaffolders to high standards at an early stage of their career. “It’s also great that we can help get more people working in the scaffolding industry by delivering entry-level courses, like COTS, too.” The COTS course will be delivered at HAKI’s CITB-accredited training centre in Milton Keynes. For more information or bookings, please visit HAKI.com or call 01908 580420.

NASC & TWF to hold Temporary Works seminar

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NASC & TWF to hold Temporary Works seminar

The NASC and Temporary Works Forum (TWF) are co-hosting a free Temporary Works seminar in Birmingham next month.

The half-day event will cover a broad range of temporary works topics, with a particular focus on scaffolding, and is aimed at both contractors and clients.

Speakers include John Underwood, HSE Inspector, Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Simian Risk, Duncan Reed, Digital Construction Process Manager at Trimble Solutions Limited, and Robin James, NASC Managing Director.

Simon Robinson, NASC Marketing Manager, said: “The purpose of this seminar is to bring all interested parties together in one room to learn more about temporary works, particularly how we can all work more efficiently and collaboratively to ensure works are carried out as safely as possible and to the highest possible standards.

“We hope scaffolding contractors and anyone involved in the procurement and management of scaffolding contractors will join us in Birmingham for this informal half-day event.”

The Temporary Works seminar will take place at the Crowne Plaza NEC on Wednesday 26 June from 9am to 1pm. Spaces are limited.

For more information and to reserve your seat please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/temporary-works-seminar-scaffolding-tickets-62135243185?aff=ebdssbeac

Seminar speakers

Robin James, Managing Director, NASC

Title: Raising safety standards in scaffolding

Synopsis: The NASC is the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK, established in 1945 with the aim of promoting high standards of safety within the industry. Nearly 80 years later, raising and maintaining safety standards remains at the heart of the NASC’s objectives – driving every activity it undertakes. How is the NASC continuing to raise safety standards in the industry in 2019?

Simon Hughes, Managing Director, Simian Risk

Title: TG20:13 – what it does and why it’s such a useful tool

Synopsis: Scaffolding in the context of Temporary Works and how TG20:13 fits into a BS 5975 management system.

John Underwood, Inspector, HSE

Title: You are not alone – scaffolding is an important part of the temporary works family

Synopsis: Temporary works don’t manage themselves do they? What does HSE expect to see when work is being planned and carried out?  And why is this important?

Duncan Reed, Digital Construction Process Manager, Trimble Solutions Limited

Title: Integrated Digital Temporary Works

Synopsis: Building Information Modelling (BIM) has long been seen as a design and construction process for permanent works. So what are the digital solutions for the temporary works industry? In this presentation Duncan will outline what’s available and why businesses should consider them.

Welsh firm reaches new heights with mental health pledge

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Welsh firm reaches new heights with mental health pledge

Absolute Scaffolding Wales (ASW), a Neath-based business, last week pledged its commitment to Time to Change Wales, a social movement that aims to improve attitudes and change behaviour towards mental health in society in Wales.

Some 30 guests including Wales & Ospreys player Paul James and representatives from Hafal and Mind Cymru, the two mental health charities behind the campaign, attended the event which saw ASW’s MD Carl Hendy make and sign his pledge on behalf of the company.

ASW joins Neath Port Talbot Council and scores of other businesses around Wales in announcing their commitment to the initiative which is funded by Welsh Government alongside Big Lottery and Comic Relief.

According to Time to Change Wales, mental health problems are extremely common with one in four of us affected at any one time; yet they are often misunderstood and people with mental health problems can be subjected to stigmatising attitudes and discriminatory behaviour.

Karen Roberts, Programme Manager for Time to Change Wales says: “We are delighted that ASW have signed our organisation pledge and are taking positive steps to help tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. Our campaign message is simple; we want to get people talking about mental health in order to normalise conversations with friends, family and in the workplace. We have worked with ASW to develop a comprehensive action plan which we hope will help give everyone in the organisation the confidence to talk about mental health in the workplace, and are very much looking forward to engaging with their Employee Champions in the coming months.”

ASW is one of south Wales’ leading scaffolding businesses and part of the Welsh Government’s Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) which supports high growth businesses in Wales.

With its HQ in Resolven and employing around 15 staff, it is the principal contractor for a number of high-profile companies and organisations including SSE (Rail Works), Tai Tarian, Trivallis, Cadw and Trinity House.

“I am proud to make our pledge to Time to Change Wales and pleased so many people were able to join us today,” says Hendy.

“Changing the way we think and act about mental health problems is extremely important especially in the workplace where without empathy and understanding from employers, the problems are unlikely to go away and may even get worse.”

Hendy explains that mental health issues are particularly prevalent within the construction industry where men, predominantly young, can find themselves struggling to cope with family and relationship issues as well as financial concerns.

“At ASW we regard good mental health just as important as good physical health and so without prejudice or discrimination, encourage openness and make it clear that help is available,” he adds.

“We are delighted to welcome ASW Scaffolding on board and thankful to Carl and his team for making this commitment which is particularly timely as it coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week,” comments Roberts.

For more information on Time to Change Wales visit:

www.timetochangewales.org.uk/

Vicky Welch becomes the first UK female offshore scaffolder for Stork

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Vicky Welch becomes the first UK female offshore scaffolder for Stork

Scaffolder Vicky Welch has become the first UK female offshore scaffolder for Stork after completing her first trip in the North Sea.

Vicky, aged 29, is one of just six qualified female scaffolders in the UK. We reported a few months ago that Vicky had completed her offshore training in February with her sights set on an offshore career. With all the relevant certification and offshore training, industrial services firm Stork was delighted to welcome Vicky as their first female scaffolder, setting a new precedent for other females to follow. Vicky has now completed her first trip offshore on CNOOC International’s Scott platform and has already been mobilised on her next scope to company’s Buzzard asset. Vicky explained her thoughts on her first trip: “I was nervous as to how I would be accepted in the offshore environment and worried that people may change their behaviour around me. As the only female scaffolder offshore, I knew people may be intrigued about my skills and experience but I am no different to any other scaffolder. Nobody I worked with made my gender an issue. I proved I am capable of carrying out the job so they treated me the same as every other scaffolder on-board. You will always have people with more technical knowledge, others with more physical strength but the industry itself is a mix of different people and I just felt like part of the mix, regardless of my gender.” While on her first trip offshore Vicky mentioned that she was pleased and encouraged to encounter other females on-board undertaking such roles as geologists, chemists and stewardesses. “The offshore industry is changing and Vicky is an excellent example that gender does not dictate position”, a spokesperson from Stork said. Vicky truly believes gender is irrelevant and it is about the right person for the job, she added: “I would only recommend a male or female to join the offshore industry if they are the right type of person. You have to be used to working in a harsh environment where the weather can change quickly and you can be working in confined and restricted spaces. The job is demanding but very rewarding and I would encourage anyone who is right for the job to choose a career in scaffolding offshore.”  

Scaffteq West acquired by Safe Rise Scaffolding Group

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Scaffteq West acquired by Safe Rise Scaffolding Group

Leading Bristol based scaffolding company, Scaffteq West Limited was recently sold to the Safe Rise Scaffolding Group, with the aim of growing Scaffteq’s services to clients in Bristol and the wider West Country.

Scaffteq West is the largest provider of scaffolding services to the house building market in Bristol and the West Country serving a strong blue-chip client base of residential house building construction companies. Adèle McLay, Director of Safe Rise Scaffolding Group led the transaction for the acquirer drawing on her significant business advisory, accountancy and investment banking experience. Adèle’s business partner and husband, David Hayde, also a Director of Safe Rise Scaffolding Group was involved with the acquisition, drawing on his significant commercial construction projects experience and expertise in corporate finance and management consulting as a former Partner, KPMG in New Zealand. Adèle from Safe Rise Scaffolding Group commented, “We are thrilled to have acquired Scaffteq West. It has a proud history of serving leading construction companies in Bristol and the wider West Country area, and we look forward to continuing to provide excellence in scaffolding services to our existing and new clients, building on the phenomenal success the company has enjoyed to date under the ownership of Nigel Harris.” Nigel Harris, Scaffteq West’s Founder will remain as Chief Executive with Scaffteq West. Nigel said, “I am really pleased to have sold the company to the Safe Rise Scaffolding Group, as this gives us the ability to further grow Scaffteq in the local market, the West Country and Wales. We will also be able to draw on the expertise of Safe Rise Scaffolding’s member companies to develop the services we offer in our region, including providing scaffolding for the commercial market. I am very excited about all the new opportunities the sale has provided us.” Primary Asset Finance acted as lead finance broker to Safe Rise Scaffolding Group in its acquisition of Scaffteq West Limited. Phil Betts, Managing Director at Primary Asset Finance said: “Primary Asset Finance was very pleased to have facilitated the acquisition of Scaffteq West by the Safe Rise Scaffolding Group, and we wish the new owners and Nigel Harris tremendous success”. Safe Rise Scaffolding Group was also advised by Stephanie Kleyman and Nick McEwen at Kleyman & Co. Solicitors. The vendor was advised by Clive Farquhar of Farquhar Partnership Chartered Accountants and Ros Miller of Keystone Law. This sale offers some good news for the house building and commercial construction market in Bristol and the West Country, and is a thumbs up for the construction sector.

PERI’s CISRS Inspection course is a success, says firm

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PERI’s CISRS Inspection course is a success, says firm
Developing skills in an industry where time and health and safety standards are continually under scrutiny is essential. By attending such courses that provide upskilling opportunities, Scaffolding Inspectors can maintain the highest standards on any project site. In April, PERI’s Scaffolding Instructor, Mark Holmes, delivered the company’s first PERI UP system scaffold Inspection course. The 1-day course, which is suitable for Scaffolders Part 2 & Advanced or candidates who have already qualified for the CISRS BSI (Basic Scaffolding Inspection) or ASI (Advanced Scaffolding Inspection) Card, took place at NETA’s training facility in Stockton-On-Tees. During the training, attendees learned how to inspect PERI UP scaffold structures in accordance with the product’s user manual, ensuring they were safe and secure. To meet course and attendee requirements, the instructor delivered a balance between theoretical and practical content, giving attendees the chance to put the skills they had learned into practice. Geoffrey Hill, Scaffolding Operative at Sky Scaffolding (Whitby) Ltd., said: “I have been in the industry a long time and usually work with tube and fitting scaffolding. After completing the inspection training and working with PERI UP, I was really impressed by the system scaffold and course. The delivery of theory and practical content has been excellent. Being able to gain the necessary inspection skills and knowledge has been very beneficial for me in my role. I would definitely recommend the course to Scaffolders looking to enhance their knowledge of scaffold inspections.” Brian Ward, Lead Instructor at NETA, said: “As an instructor, I can see the different courses such as this make during system application and how the correct inspection procedures can be applied. The training will certainly help me in my role when I am teaching the course in the future. There is no doubt this is a great course, but it is the instructor’s responsibility to impart all of the additional information, such as the detailed product knowledge, and I feel PERI’s Scaffolding Instructor has gone above and beyond my expectations.” After receiving a high demand for the training, PERI delivered the same course earlier this month, where attendees benefitted from learning more about the PERI UP system in addition to inspecting system scaffolding. Martyn Jones, Managing Director at Best Price Scaffolding, said: “The course provides the right information for the specified level and also leaves you wanting more. It is great for people that have not used the product before, as you get an insight into how to inspect PERI UP scaffolding and also what the benefits of the system are. I was quite surprised to learn about what you could do with the system, especially PERI UP’s integration with formwork. I feel I can take back the knowledge I have gained and relay that PERI UP is more than just a system scaffold; it is more diverse.” Advanced Scaffolding Inspector at KierBam, HPC, Wayne Fletcher commented: “We are currently using PERI UP for tidal work on the Hinkley Point C. What I like most is how you can improvise using the system. Scaffolders are reluctant to use new or different systems, but courses like this, which enable attendees to try the system, help them to understand its benefits.”

The Evolution of Scaffold Design

Brian Webb
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The Evolution of Scaffold Design
People will always need access to hard-to-reach places, and we will always need scaffolding. To do scaffolding properly and safely involves numerous people: engineers, designers, estimators, and scaffolders – as well as the building owners. Communicating what a scaffold structure will look like to all these people can be a challenge, particularly when what seems like a simple structure requires complex drawings. Until recently, the most common communication medium has been a set of printed drawings. But visualizing what the actual three-dimensional scaffold will look like when viewing a printed page is difficult. Even more difficult is ensuring everyone (including the building owner) understands the structure to be built. Neglecting to do so costs valuable time and money. So, what does the world look like when we don’t have to rely on printed drawings?

Augmented Reality

Imagine a world where you look at a building façade and see the proposed scaffolding appear. The jobsite becomes the construction site right before your eyes. You walk around and through the scaffold to verify everything will work, before it’s built. As the scaffold is built and handed over as-is; there is no need for printed drawings. This is augmented reality, or AR, scaled at actual size.

Augmented Reality On The Drawing

You’ve traveled far for a big sales meeting and have a spectacular scaffold design to show your customer. The requirements are complex, but you’ve thought outside the box and created an elegant design that’s cost effective and easier to build. But you’re giving a presentation to a customer who doesn’t know scaffolding well and visualizing your design is a big concern. You lay out a large printed drawing of the plan view, and the drawing comes to life. The scaffold structure appears on top of the drawing for everyone to see. As your customer walks around and scrutinizes your design, you know right then that you’re going to get the job. This is also AR, but it’s scaled down to a smaller model for everyone to see.

Virtual Reality

You’d like to get a full idea of the scale of a scaffold once it’s built so you hold up a headset to your eyes. Now you’re flying up the stair tower and floating right at the overhang to make sure the painters can access the other side of the pipe for painting. This is virtual reality or VR.

Interactive 3D

While out of the office, you suddenly remember that you needed to add a cantilever to a scaffold that you’re designing but can’t recall if you already have. Using an app on your phone, you fly up to outside the 6th level and confirm that you did indeed add the cantilever and there’s a double layer of bracing, just like you expected. This is an interactive 3D view.

Shared Designs

Your scaffolders have your drawings, but there’s a complex area that in the past would have required a lot of section cuts and elevations. You’ve made modifications to this area while working closely with your foreman, and the job is ready to go. At the construction site during the toolbox talk, the scaffolders view the job on a tablet and fly around the scaffold while listening to the foreman go through the details. There are no more questions as to what they’re going to build, since they can see the scaffold right before their eyes.

An Evolutionary Leap In Scaffold Design

With Scaffold Designer and Scaffold Viewer by Avontus, the printed, interactive 3D, virtual, and the augmented world is possible right now. Scaffold Viewer transforms the work you’ve done in Scaffold Designer and makes it available in the cloud. Now your scaffold designs are in your pocket, ready to be viewed and shared with whomever you like. Download Scaffold Viewer from https://www.scaffoldvr.com (for free) and see for yourself. Ready for more? Contact us at [email protected] for a free demonstration today.
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