Simian Risk continues to expand their training reach after signing a memorandum of understanding with Anglesey-based Grwp Llandrillo Menai.
The signed agreement which was made at the Anglesey Agricultural Show will enable Simian’s scaffolding training courses rolled out at Grwp Llandrillo Menai new world-class training facility. The Construction Infrastructure Skills Training Centre (CIST) will be fully operational and running by early 2019, the centre represents a £2m investment by Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Welsh Government.
Established in 2012, Grwp Llandrillo Menai was formed following the merge of Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. With over 27,000 students across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd.
CEO of Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Dafydd Evans, said of the agreement, “I’m delighted to be working closely with Simian to develop the provision of Scaffolding and Rigging courses at Llangefni, this can only be good news for the local construction industry”.
Managing Director of Simian, Simon Hughes, added: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Grwp Llandrillo Menai, who are constructing a world-class scaffolding training facility as part of the CIST at the Llangefni campus.
Image credit: Simian Risk
This new facility will not only serve the skills requirements of the region for the planned major infrastructure projects and the local community needs, but we hope will become recognised as a national centre of excellence for specialist construction skills training and qualifications in Wales.
The signing of the MOU at the Anglesey Show is the culmination of over two years planning and hard work by all of the parties involved to bring this exciting project to fruition. We are already able to offer entry-level qualifications in Llangefni and welcome interest from individuals interested in a career in the access industry.”
Taiwan News has reported that two people have died and one person was severely injured after being hit by falling scaffolding from a 20-story-tall building under construction in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The incident happened as strong winds were buffeting the area amid a tropical storm which has caused flooding and traffic disruption across the region.
According to reports at around 3 p.m., a strong gust of wind hit the scaffolding structure pulling it away from the building and falling to the ground, burying three people in the street.
Police cordoned off the area while a rescue team removed the wreckage from the scene. Underneath they found one man and two women who showed no signs of life, local media reported.
After they were transferred to hospital, one woman was reported in a serious condition, while another woman and her son were pronounced dead. All three had reportedly been passing by the site on motorcycles.
Dramatic images show scaffolders running for their lives after a fireball explosion at an oil refinery in Cheshire.
Massive plumes of thick black smoke could be seen for several miles after a large fire broke out at the Stanlow oil refinery on Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in Oil Site Road, Ellesmere Port at 2.16pm on Wednesday.
Images sent to ScaffMag from inside the oil refinery show the terrifying fireball coming from the SHOP chemical plant area of the refinery site. Bilfinger and Cape pre-shutdown scaffolders on site had been working in the area but were fortunately cabined up when the explosion happened.
Scaffolder running from onsite cabins at Stanlow Refinery
All staff and contractors had been accounted for and evacuated from the affected area.
The Stanlow refinery owned by Essar Oil UK employs more than 900 staff and 500 contractors on site and supplies 16% of all road transport fuels.
A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service told local media: “Shortly after 2pm today emergency services received reports of a fire within the SHOP chemical plant at the Stanlow site in Ellesmere Port.
“Crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service along with onsite firefighters from Essar quickly brought the fire under control and it was fully extinguished within three hours.
“The fire caused a large plume of smoke above the site, which has now dispersed.
“The incident was confined to the manufacturing area of the site and did not affect the refinery. All staff within the affected area were evacuated as a precaution and there were no reports of any injuries.”
Investigations are now underway for what caused the fire.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has published a new safety guidance note SG5:18 Overhead Power Sources and Earthing of Scaffold Structures.
The industry trade body has also recently updated it’s guide to the Design and Construction of Tempory Roofs and Buildings TG9:18. The flurry of updates comes as part of the NASC’s ongoing efforts to ensure all reference materials are both current and streamlined.
SG5:18 Overhead Power Sources and Earthing of Scaffold Structures includes updated content derived from SG3:14 Earthing of Scaffolding Structures and SG5:11 Overhead Power Sources, both of which have been discontinued NASC say.
Both guidance notes are available to download for free or purchased through the NASC website.
Commenting on the updates Adrian Rooney, Chair of the NASC Health and Safety Committee and Managing Director of Midland Scaffolding Services Ltd, said:
“SG5:18 combines two existing guidance notes covering similar topics into one, making it easier for contractors to source information relating to electrical issues.
“We’re constantly looking at ways to improve and expand the range of safety guidance notes and plan to publish two further notes in the coming months.”
A Health & Safety alert has been issued jointly by construction firms Kier | BAM (KBJV) over defective double coupler scaffold fittings.
The KBJV safety alert has pointed out an incident when scaffolders were erecting a handrail using tube and fittings that a drop forged double coupler failed when tightened. The coupler was immediately replaced, quarantined and reported by a member of the Kier BAM scaffold team.
The alert continues to read that on initial inspection the coupler had sheared at the gate hinge pin lug. Further inspections took place on random couplers contained in their recent batch delivered to site and it was identified that a number of similar and additional defects were present that included incorrectly positioned lug holes, incorrectly tapped nut threads, incorrectly dyed bolts threads and missing and bent washers.
KBJV claim the couplers were supplied by Altrad Beaver84 and manufactured in China. Markings on the couplers seem to be correct stating EN74-1 Class BL. An investigation is now underway by both KBJV and the supplier.
Click here view and download the warning
KBJV Suggested Immediate Actions
Quarantine all tube and fitting scaffold pending visual inspection.
Upon visual inspection remove and replace all double couplers with batch number BM0218G
Re-inspect the scaffold and confirm with scaffold foreman.
Generation Cardiff was tasked by their client to provide a solution to carry out vital repairs on a utility pipe located at the bottom of an astonishing 50m deep valley in Newbridge, Wales. The client required a staircase to be built to allow workers to reach down into the valley easily, safely and efficiently. Generation Cardiff was delighted to take on the challenge!
Generation Cardiff knew that because of the sheer scale of this project, it would require a system scaffold that was quick and fully adaptable to suit the shape and form of a staircase; to follow the slope of the valley 50 metres deep and 70metres long.
Futuro System Scaffold was the clear winner. With its 8 connection points, it allowed complete versatile and adaptable connections to create a very impressive and unique staircase. The Futuro staircase took 3 weeks to build, and used an extraordinary 40 tonnes of equipment! Generations Cardiff’s 3-acre site has vast amounts of stock holding ensuring projects are fulfilled efficiently.
Generation’s location in Cardiff and dedicated fleet made sure it was possible to get the large amount of stock to the valley in a timely manner so that works could begin. The staircase was on hire for a period of 3 months. Generation Cardiff shows yet again that whatever the project, big or small, Futuro works for all.
To find out how Generation Scaffolding can help with your project plans, big or small, get in touch today!
Welcome to our Live stream of scaffolding related news from around the world in real-time. Got a tip? drop us a line at [email protected] on or off the record.
As tech powers on, we ask ourselves, where is it going to fit into the scaffold world? Of course, we understand the role it takes in the pre-tendering/pre-planning of our work, in transport and communication, but where is the future for our operatives? What’s the application to the practical world of scaffolding?
System scaffolding is now so widely used in Europe and around the world that our continued use of tube and fitting seems to baffle most people I speak to from other European countries. British contractors choose system so infrequently, the likelihood of you having used it will depend on the companies you have worked for. Geographic location also seems to influence which system you use.
I first encountered system scaffolding whilst working for Tone Scaffolding back in 2007. Their system of choice was Layher Allround and I’ll admit, my first impressions were underwhelming. I couldn’t see the point, or the advantage it gave over tube and fitting. Until, that is, I witnessed the erection of an event scaffold at ExCel London, ready for a ski show. The entire thing went up in a weekend and the result was flawless.
Things have moved on since my Tone Scaffold days. Then, the system future didn’t quite seem like reality. Now, a new player arrives on the market every year, heralding a seismic shift in attitudes and the beginning of an industry-wide adoption of system scaffold.
For those new to system, here’s my shortlist of the key players and a nuts-and-bolts snapshot of each brand based on my experience of working with them. All options include their own roofing systems.
Layher
Image credit: Layher UK
Layher wears its German Engineering with pride. There is little this system hasn’t considered, and it’s backed up by stellar technical support both here and in Germany. Completing the scaffold using all Layher components gives an unbeatable finish – it will leave your client extremely happy with the result.
The one issue I’ve heard voiced about Layher is that, to achieve the perfect fit around a building, you either have to be very lucky or use an adjustable bay. An adjustable bay is exactly what it sounds like: a component that flexes for various sized buildings in order for the scaffolds to join correctly. Once you’ve identified the need for an adjustable, you’d require one on all elevations.
The downside here isn’t the component, it’s that it falls under the category of “non-standard” or “special.” Specials are made to order and come at a higher cost.
On a personal note, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr George Layher at the product launch of Layher Allround Lightweight Components. I was looking at the Layher roofing system when the man himself came over and spoke to me. I am a simple man, and I believe that relationships and passion are the key to success. Mr Layher displays these qualities in spades; he is a true gent. If you have the opportunity to attend a Layher open day or visit them at their warehouse, do it. You won’t be disappointed.
www.layher.co.uk
Haki
Image credit: Haki Scaffolding (FB)
We Hoover (but we don’t Dyson). We Google (but we don’t Bing). Some of us apparently “Netflix and Chill” (which is potentially not safe for work, so please Google it if you don’t know what it means). Some brands are so synonymous with getting the job done, we verbify them. Which explains why just about everyone in this industry has been on site when the project manager asks for a Haki (and not just a staircase).
Haki’s climb to the top of the site staircase world – pardon the pun – is well earned. The staircase of choice for access and egress on low-volume traffic areas, it feels reassuringly rigid when in use and there are few out there that give the same level of comfort. The other jewel in the Haki crown lies in their roofing system. In a market saturated by copycat systems, so not much stands out, the consensus is that Haki has that extra capability.
The one challenge Haki faces as it eyes the big league, is that its access independence is completely underused compared with its beams, roofing system and staircases. Most people I have spoken to don’t realise that Haki, like Layher, provide a complete product range of components. As such, they remain completely loyal to Layher and haven’t considered purchasing Haki stock for an independent.
www.haki.com
Cuplok
Image credit: SGB
Cuplok is as famous as the company that created it. SGB’s flagship system scaffold was once widely used across the U.K. and popular amongst scaffold contractors for its incredible ability to work with tube and fitting. Unlike other systems that are all-or-nothing, you could erect the scaffold with the time-and-material savings that system offers, while retaining the flexibility that tube and fitting offers. To my mind, that’s a major win.
Over the past 17 years, I have watched the use of Cuplok decline to the point where it continues only through the hands of die-hard loyalists. The question is, will SGB return this once flourishing system to its former glory?
www.sgb.co.uk/products/scaffolding/cuplok-scaffold
Plattec Metrix
Image credit: Altrad Group
The new kid on the system block, Plattec is quickly making waves. It’s owned by the Altrad group and with the power of TRAD hire and sales behind it, along with the flexible finance they offer clients, I reckon the company is onto a winner.
Plattec looks almost identical to Layher but don’t let that put you off – it’s no copycat. Rather, the system carries its identity well with different applications of components and roofing systems. Being so young, there are still some problems to overcome. Plattec is not quite there yet with the full product range and they’ll have to build their component suite up quickly if they’re going to grab market share. I reckon this is one to watch.
www.tradhireandsales.co.uk/product-range/plettac-metrix/about/
Kwikstage
Image credit: Access Training Services
One of the original system access solutions, Kwikstage continues to benefit from RMD’s formidable presence in the temporary works arena and maintains a strong reputation with its staging, formwork and system scaffold. It has cracked a number of geographies and is widely used around the world. Except, interestingly, in England.
Despite the reputation, off all the systems, my experience is that Kwikstage needs a lot of improvements. It seems to be popular in Scotland and Ireland but in my 12 years of engineering and design, I have only completed five designs using this system.
www.rmdkwikform.com/products/
Against these strengths and weaknesses, how do you choose a system? As always, it’s in the individuality that you can find the best fit for you, your team and your business. All the major companies hold regular open days. Whether you are in the market for system or not, I would urge you to do some research and have the conversations that will help you to make an informed choice.
The Future is System
I sit in a lot of pre-tender meetings with main contractors and the same question keeps popping up: can we build this in system? My answer is always yes, although some projects lend themselves to tube and fit better. The conversation that inevitably follows is the shrinking of the tender pool. The reality is, not all scaffold contractors will carry system …. yet.
Like most things in business, innovation starts with a whisper, then progresses to a shout. For all us diehard tube and fitting supporters, there’s an uneasy transition ahead. System scaffolding is coming faster than you think and it’s not a question of “if” but “when.” Are you ready to crack the system?
This article was first published in the Summer 2018 issue of the ScaffMag magazine.
As dramatic as it is innovative, the scaffolding access installed during the renovation of Lindisfarne Castle in the north east of England is impressive by any measure. It is also a demonstration of the benefits associated with Layher’s modular scaffolding system and the skills of contractor John Laidlaw and Sons Ltd.
The need to address a long history of water ingress related issues – the structure, which in part dates back to the 1400’s, sits at the end of a tidal causeway some three miles from the mainland – was clear-cut. With the focus on conservation works to stonework, windows and roofing, this major project has been designed both to halt further damage and to secure the building’s long-term future.
“The work presented a series of challenges which have seen Layher’s on-site support services and our own design team combining to fulfil specific objectives, not least to provide access to virtually every part of the external structure for the specialist conservation teams,” says Alan Laidlaw, Managing Director at John Laidlaw and Sons, who were appointed by main contractor Datim Building Contractors, working for The National Trust, which cares for Lindisfarne Castle.
Image credit: Layher UK
The three-phase programme is scheduled to run over a period of some 18 months. Sitting high on a volcanic extrusion, it is characterised by a steep south-facing cliff-face against the North Sea with a further slope on its northern side. This variation in terrain had to be reflected by the scaffolding designs, as Alan Laidlaw continues –
“We were unable to tie-in into the cliff-face as this would have caused permanent damage to the rock so we used a combination of buttresses and kentledge,” he says. “This allowed us to build a firm base to a height of 24 metres up to the walls of the castle itself upon which the access lifts could then be erected. On the opposite side, we pushed the scaffold further back from the walls to provide sufficient room for an installation that sloped gradually upwards towards the castle. Again, buttresses were used.”
The latter face is also adjacent to the access road along which scaffolding components were transported. With no crane access possible, the lightweight design of Layher’s Allround systems proved highly beneficial as components were manually loaded on to two platforms, positioned at key locations in the structure. Layher’s staircase systems were also used to simplify worker access and movement around the fully decked scaffold design.
Image credit: Layher UK
“This is a highly impressive installation and we are delighted to have contributed to the majority of the access scaffolding solution,” says Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director. “Our temporary roofing system has also been a key part of the project. With a span of almost 19 metres and a length of 40 metres, the Keder Classic roof was designed in a rolling configuration in phase one and then fixed in position for the remaining two phases.” He points out that the company’s equipment was also used to create a temporary viewing platform for public use within the castle grounds.
With tidal issues to accommodate and inclement weather for much of the project period – wind speeds could vary by 40mph between the ground and the temporary roof some 48 metres higher – the Lindisfarne restoration work pays credit to all concerned. During the winter, the high level site weather station recorded winds in excess of 90 miles per hour. At one time a military fort before becoming a somewhat unique holiday home and now cared for by The National Trust, it has a long, varied and dramatic history.
Image credit: Layher UK
“It is an important part of both local and national heritage, and one that is now gaining from the combination of our own installation skills and Layher’s scaffold systems which, in my opinion, fully prove their versatility and quality with a project such as this,” concludes Alan Laidlaw.
Generation’s location in Cardiff and dedicated fleet made sure it was possible to get the large amount of stock to the valley in a timely manner so that works could begin. The staircase was on hire for a period of 3 months. Generation Cardiff shows yet again that whatever the project, big or small, Futuro works for all.
To find out how Generation Scaffolding can help with your project plans, big or small, get in touch today! 
