The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008 | U.K. Edition
Scaffolder training firm partners with HAKI
Safety & Access have announced a further partnership with HAKI to enable delivery of the HAKITEC 750 system from their training facility in Humberside.
The partnership will enable Safety & Access to offer a range of HAKITEC weather protection temporary roof courses.
Safety and Access say the available course will be of two days duration and successful candidates will receive certification branded by Safety & Access Ltd and HAKI. The training facilities in Humberside also offer HAKI CISRS two day SSPTS Training.
On the new partnership Rick Statham, Joint Managing Director of Safety & Access said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with HAKI to deliver the bespoke training on the HAKITEC 750 roof system. We would like to thank all of the team at HAKI also for providing this opportunity and for the excellent and ongoing support”
“As we see in industry the progressive replacement of traditional tube and fitting roofs we feel that this support service on this safe and quality roof system will be a welcome addition for our existing and new customers.
Scaffolding firm fined 100K after apprentice joiner falls from loading bay
A scaffolding company has been fined £100,000 for safety breaches after a 16-year-old apprentice joiner fell four metres from a scaffold.
Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 6 September 2016, the apprentice was passing roof tiles from the loading bay to a colleague on the scaffold when he caught his foot in a gap between the scaffold platform and the loading bay.
The apprentice fell backwards under a single guard rail to the ground below, sustaining injuries including a fractured cheekbone, broken wrist and injuries to his ribs.
The apprentice also required 13 stitches for a deep cut above his left eye.
An investigation by the HSE found the loading bay edge protection did not include an intermediate guard-rail or toe board.
Bland Scaffolding Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £920 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Trisha Elvy commented: “This case highlights the importance of following well known industry guidance to design and erect scaffolding in a safe manner, a fall from this height could have easily been fatal.”
Worker falls from scaffolding on Surrey Quays development
An operative is currently recovering in hospital after falling 4m from scaffolding erected on a mixed-used development site.
A Health and Safety investigation is today underway at the Surrey Quays, Galliard Homes development. According to sources, on Monday (26th February) a contractor fitting glass panels fell from scaffolding approximately 4m to the ground below. The contractor sustained serious injuries and has received medical treatment in hospital.
Sources close to the incident say a signed off scaffold onsite had been subjected to unauthorised adaption by contractors resulting in the fall.
Galliard Homes declined to comment any further on the incident.
The 46-acre Galliard Homes Surrey Quays site is situated within the London Borough of Southwark it is composed of the former Harmsworth Quays printworks and the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, these will be transformed into a distinctive mixed-used, community-centred leisure hub, comprising more than 5.5 million sq. ft. of office, retail, entertainment and educational space.
The HSE investigation continues.
Plans unveiled for new scaffolder training scheme
The Scaffolding Association (SA) has unveiled plans to increase training and skills delivery capacity for access and scaffolding contractors by setting up the Access Industry Training Scheme (AITS).
SA say the scheme will be an employer-led training solution that will help to expand the training and skills development capacity in the access and scaffolding industry. Speaking to ScaffMag Robert Candy, chief executive of the Scaffolding Association, said: “The Association has established the Access Industry Training Scheme to increase training capacity and offer new opportunities for both our members and the wider industry. Our members have had serious concerns about the nature and availability of training in our sector. Last year we commissioned research into the availability of training for new entrants in the access and scaffolding sector and found that one-fifth of training centres were either unreachable or unable to offer training dates. The survey also found that only six courses out of 30 were scheduled to be run in London – an area that represents 40 percent of total construction demand.“ AITS is said to be currently creating a dedicated training programme for specialist access and scaffolding contractors and will hold courses either at their client premises or at its own training centre. SA have told ScaffMag the new scheme will Initially focus on; working at height; risk management; safety training for site managers, supervisors and operatives; and managing a scaffolding transport fleet. Plans are also progressing to extend skills training to cover scaffold inspection and workplace safety and wellbeing. Scaffolding training courses are being designed to suit all levels, from apprentices to advanced level scaffolders, inspectors and supervisors. Candy also added: “Clearly there are concerns around training capacity, especially when CITB has plans to exit direct training at the National Construction College, the main provider of scaffold and access training. We see the Access Industry Training Scheme will create much-needed training capacity that will help to fill the skills gap in our sector and raise standards.”MG Scaffolding expand into Birmingham
Contract scaffolding company MG Scaffolding has announced the opening of a third depot in Rowley Regis, Birmingham. Opening today (26th February 2018) the new depot will run alongside their existing operating centres in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
The firm was established in 2002 and became NASC members in 2008, they have grown to be recognised as one of the largest independent suppliers of scaffold services in the regions they operate in.
“With our existing local workforce and buoyant business opportunities in the area, it is a logical step and fits in perfectly with our thriving established business,” the firm explained.
Managing Director Carl Fallon commented: “We were not actively looking to expand the business but the opportunity arose just by chance and came along at just the right time.”
“When the opportunity came it was too difficult to ignore and once we assessed our current market position with existing clients/projects in the area and crunched the numbers we felt that we could make it work,” he said.
Fallon added: “We wish the management team every success in driving the business forward and delivering the professional services and brand that has become expected from MG Scaffolding Ltd.”
Palmers provide bespoke scaffolding service to Devonshire Park project
Palmers Scaffolding UK is supplying a bespoke scaffolding service and modern access solutions at the prestigious, £34.5 million VINCI Construction UK Devonshire Park re-development project in Eastbourne.
The project is creating a nationally important cultural and tennis destination and includes internal refurbishment repairs to the Congress and Devonshire Park Theatres and the famous Winter Garden, as well as a remodeling of its front entrance and a renovation and redecoration of the historic tennis pavilion. And a new show court is also being created as part of the development.
The large-scale construction contract will span a two-year period and Palmers have initially been drafted in to provide scaffolding and access to the Devonshire Park Theatres.
Palmers Scaffolding UK Ltd Director, Lindsay Harle said: “Palmers are pleased to be providing a range of conventional tube and fitting scaffolding and other modern access solutions to part of this prestigious large-scale project and working alongside client VINCI Construction UK. We hope to be there for the duration of the job, offering a full range of services and expert access support.”
Ian McFarlane, Business & Project Development Director added: “Being pre-qualified as a second tier sub-contractor enables us to quickly (and safely) be able to meet the needs of the UK’s top principal contractors and suppliers on top fast-track construction projects like this UK Devonshire Park job in Eastbourne. It another fabulous flagship project to be involved with VINCI Construction UK.”
Scaffolder who was not clipped on is sentenced
A scaffolder has been sentenced after being caught on camera erecting scaffolding 60ft in the air without clipping on.
Scaffolder Terrance Murry has been handed a 26-week suspended jail sentence for his dangerous actions. He admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Appearing today for sentencing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court Murray was told his actions had not only put his own safety at risk but that of others also. As we previously reported Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court heard how on the 30 June 2017 Murray was erecting scaffolding at the rear of a Grade II-listed building on Quay Street in Manchester as part of works to renovate the windows. The court was told Murray was spotted and photographed by a retired Health & Safety inspector wearing a harness but wasn’t clipped on, he was at least 60ft up on the top lift of the scaffolding. In the image below, the experienced scaffolder can be seen standing on the top lift without first erecting a SG4 guardrail.
Simian International launch online training website
Scaffolding training experts, Simian International, have launched their next venture in the world of health and safety training, with a brand new online training website.
Already a big name in the educational scaffolding industry, Simian told us the inspiration behind creating an e-learning site came from countless requests by individuals within the scaffolding industry to bring their expert training courses to their location. Whilst Simian International have a number of locations across the globe, the logistics of carrying out courses in every location requested is near impossible, therefore the team at Simian worked on a solution to make their training courses more accessible.
The site has been designed with those working in developing countries in mind and will benefit those who may find it difficult to attend a course in person at one of Simian’s training centres because of their location or the cost of traveling. It also aims to provide training for those who may not be able to facilitate the construction site downtime that physically attending a course will ultimately result in.
Simian e-learning consists of six main modules, covering various aspects of scaffolding safety best practice these cover: Birdcage scaffolds, Scaffold components, Independent scaffolds Working at height, Manual handling and Scaffold towers.
Simian told us that currently, the site is only available in English, however, over the coming months, a further five languages will become available, these include Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Nepalese and Urdu.
Modules will consist of tutorials, animations, mock exams and final exams, with trainees subsequently receiving a certificate from Simian International as proof that they have taken part in and passed scaffolding health and safety training.
Overseas Operations Director, Ian Fyall, has said: “We feel by providing this service, we are leaving a legacy to the worldwide scaffold industry and ultimately providing an opportunity to improve the levels of safety for those who may not otherwise receive any training of note.”
View Simian International’s e-learning site by visiting – www.simianelearning.com Scaffolding firm fined after fitting hits pedestrian
A scaffolding company has been sentenced after a scaffold fitting fell approximately 60ft and hit a member of the public walking below.
Westminster Magistrates Court heard that on 20 March 2017, the injured person was walking along Upper Street in Islington, London when he was hit on the head by the fitting. He sustained numerous cuts to his head and face, a broken nose and a severely bruised skull. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm over the incident. Alandale Plant & Scaffolding Ltd of Beckenham, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,059.08 and a victim surcharge of £170. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Robinson commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. “On this occasion the company did not follow their own risk assessments or method statements.”GKR Scaffolding launch groundbreaking Virtual Reality scaffolder training
