The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008 | U.K. Edition
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
GKR Scaffolding unveils their groundbreaking immersive Virtual Reality safety training.
At a swish launch event held in London last week, scaffolding specialists GKR Scaffolding showcased to the industry, their first-of-it’s kind VR safety at height training. The multi award-winning firm GKR aims to influence behavioral and attitudinal change using a Virtual Reality world and a set of real-life scaffolding scenarios. Working in partnership with eLearning Studios, GKR have created an amazing virtual reality environment using real scaffold designs from scaffolds GKR have installed in the past. GKR’s Health and Safety Director Peter Cullen explained that the fully immersive live scenarios, set over three modules are played out through VR headset googles and headphones. In each module, GKR operatives have to stop a dangerous situation from developing. Failure to stop and intervene leads to the GKR operative witnessing a fellow scaffolder or member of the public getting seriously hurt.Wood bags Bluewater North Sea contract
Wood to provide industrial services for a Bluewater floating production storage and offloading facility in the North Sea.
Global industrial services giant Wood has been awarded a new contract with Bluewater to provide industrial services to the Haewene Brim floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility in the UK North Sea. Effective immediately, the contract is for two years with three one-year extension options and includes the provision of rigging and scaffolding services on the facility, currently operating in the Pierce field. Dave Stewart, CEO of Wood’s Asset Solutions business in Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia, comments: “Wood has more than 40 years’ experience of working across a diverse asset portfolio in the North Sea. “We will bring our knowledge and experience of delivering innovative, value-adding solutions to this new contract and look forward to working with Bluewater, leveraging our broad industrial services capabilities to maximise the productivity of the Haewene Brim FPSO.”First female apprentice scaffolder in New Zealand
Mother of two becomes the first ever female apprentice scaffolder in New Zealand.
Maggie Myocevich, a 28-year-old mother of two, has become the first woman in New Zealand to sign on to the new scaffolding apprenticeship. Myocevich, who is from the Northland region of New Zealand in Whangarei, will be the highest qualified female scaffolder in the country once she completes the apprenticeship. She is thought to be one of only three women in New Zealand working in the industry. It is the first time the apprenticeship, which has been developed in close consultation with industry, has been offered to trainees. It is part of the Government plans to train 50,000 trade apprentices by 2020. Myocevich, a self-confessed ‘tomboy’ previously worked at the Marsden Point Oil Refinery as a safety watch person. On occasions, she was offered the opportunity to do a bit of overtime with the scaffolders and soon came to realise this was what she wanted to do. Once decided, that was it – she ‘pestered’ her current employer, South Pacific Scaffolding, until they gave her a job. She has been juggling being a mum with a ‘tradie’ life since last May and has already passed her elementary trade certificate.
Northgrant Scaffolding help bring back the Welsh Streets
