Snake bite kills Scaffolder
Mr Aaron Bryant died after a 1.5m long juvenile eastern brown snake bit him on Thursday evening, as he tried to remove the snake from his property, fearing for the safety of his family and pets. Despite the CPR efforts of his partner, a neighbour and paramedics who worked on him for about 20 minutes, Mr Bryant could not be revived. The Eastern Brown is the second most toxic land snake in the world and accounts for more fatalities than any other snake deaths in Australia. It can be found across most of eastern Australia, commonly found in open grasslands, pastures and woodland.
A 46-year-old scaffolder has been killed by an eastern brown snake in Queensland, Australia.430 people evacuated from Hong Kong hospital after scaffolding catches fire
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of a blaze on a bamboo scaffold surrounding a hospital in Hong Kong.
More than 400 people had to be evacuated from Yan Chai Hospital Multi-services Complex in Hong Kong. The hospital houses an elderly care center, nursery, rehabilitation centre and other facilities. Local fire crews were called when flames broke out on part of the bamboo scaffolding outside the second and third floor of the building. A water jet was used to battle the blaze and flames were extinguished within 30 minutes. Local authorities say no injuries were reported. Although a fire risk in itself, Bamboo scaffolding is still widely used in major construction projects in Hong Kong.New HAKI.com website goes live
Global scaffolding manufacturer HAKI unveil a brand new website HAKI.com
The multi-language website launched yesterday (April 17th) replacing the old websites, which featured separate HAKI domains in different languages for different markets within the HAKI sales network. Now these are all housed under one user friendly .com site, with translations into English, French, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish easily available from a menu on the website’s header.
Featuring advanced functionality and fully optimised for an enhanced user experience regardless of the choice of desktop, mobile or tablet viewing device, HAKI.com showcases the growth of the HAKI brand, its proud 60+ year heritage, the latest business news, fascinating project reports from across the globe and a plethora of product information.
Brand new system scaffolding products like the HAKI Bridge System (HBS), Public Access Staircase (PAS), UTV slim stair tower and the MK2 of the brand’s world-famous HAKI Stair Tower system take pride of place in the products section of the website.
And the busy HAKI #Gethooked social media streams and films are integrated into a central ‘social hub’ on the home page – allowing HAKI clients, new and old, to stay up to speed with the many developments within the global Swedish brand in one place.
The all-new website also features a packed downloads section – offering a wealth of useful user material, technical data and product information for HAKI clients and prospective buyers alike. And there is a simple to operate contact section, allowing users to locate the HAKI sales, training and technical/product support networks nearest them.
Chris Stokes, VP Marketing and Business Development for HAKI said: “Developed across the HAKI network and marketing team, the website has been over a year in construction and offers the very latest in website design and we’re thrilled to be able to unveil the new site. It’s a superb ‘shop window’ into the expanding HAKI product range and worldwide brand.
“We are confident the new site will be a great asset for the business and to the HAKI brand, as well as receiving wide use across our global sales network as a useful, modern sales tool. Most of all, we are sure it will help people understand why HAKI Scaffolding, weather protection and stair tower systems are the safest, fastest and most productive and adaptable choice for all their access needs, whatever and wherever the job.”
The HAKI website can be viewed now at www.HAKI.com.
Scaffold Training and Certification to be introduced in Sri Lanka
Reports suggest Sri Lanka is about to introduce proper scaffolding training for the first time.
The methods and techniques for erecting scaffolding in Sri Lanka have scarcely changed for hundreds of years. Timber and, in most instances, bamboo is still used, even during the construction of high rise buildings. According to the Chairman of the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) of Sri Lanka, Eng. Dr. Lionel Pinto, over 50 scaffolding related deaths were recorded over the last 2 years. “This is mainly due to the unscientific and unprofessional construction and use of scaffoldings. With the rapidly growing construction industry in Sri Lanka which widely includes high-rise buildings, scaffolding becomes the most required mechanism that is and will be used,” he said. To tackle this, the VTA is partnering up with Smart Trends International to offer the UK awarding body, NCFE globally recognised certified courses. This strategic partnerships first initiative will be to develop and design a scaffolding training program in Sri Lanka. NCFE qualifications contribute to the success of millions of learners at all levels across the world. The Sri Lankan scaffolding training will up-scale and up-skill the local workforce to the next level of quality standards. According to sources the new program will span 4 levels: Level 1: Certificate in Business Scaffolding where workers will be trained to operate to the new Standards for Sri Lanka for Scaffolding including; identifying the correct scaffolding for the task, erecting and dismantling scaffolding and all related health and safety requirements. Level 2: Certificate in High Rise Scaffolding will endow the additional skills required to erect and dismantle high rise scaffolding including all the additional health and safety requirements for working at height. Level 3: Certificate in Scaffolding Supervisor – is for a Supervisory level which gives them the skills to supervise, train and assess to the new National Scaffolding Standards for Sri Lanka. Level 4: Advanced Certificate in Scaffolding for Sri Lanka will be recognized as scaffolding inspectors ensuring that construction sites comply in all aspects to the new National Standards for Scaffolding in Sri Lanka.Video of Temporary Footbridge Installation Proves A Hit For UKSSH & SYS
SYS Scaffolding and UK System Scaffold Hire provide and install a 30-metre-long temporary footbridge over the River Witham in Lincoln.
This was the first time that Doncaster based SYS Scaffolding and their on-site scaffold team had used the HAKI bridge system. The two-phase project involved building the bridge alongside the river (out of possession time) – a first phase which took less than 20-man hours – while the second phase involved craning the bridge into position. It took less than a three hours possession to crane the 7 ½ tonne bridge into position on to two HAKI Scaffold towers. The bridge was designed to provide an imposed loading of 2kNsq.m offering a safe, comfortable non-slip walkway and featured internal cladding to protect pedestrians. HAKI public staircases were also built to provide access to each side of the bridge. This was the first collaboration between SYS and Chesterfield based UK System Scaffold Hire and Joe Pearce, MD of SYS Scaffolding, admits that it has changed his thinking about temporary bridge projects, observing: “It’s misleading to think of the HAKI Bridge System as a scaffolding solution – it’s so radically different to using tube and fittings that we now think of it as an engineering solution. But that doesn’t mean that it’s difficult to use: It’s so intuitive that our scaffolders built a 30-metre span in less than 20-man hours – and that included some on-site training.” Pearce also added that the success of the project was a result of the strategic partnership between SYS and UK System Scaffold Hire. “UKSSH has an unsurpassed knowledge of HAKI products and their expertise and proactive approach provided a vital contribution to ensuring that everything went smoothly.” The erection of a temporary footbridge over the River Witham in Lincoln was an integral part of a Network Rail project to refurbish a Grade II listed rail bridge close to the City Centre, and provided the ideal opportunity for UKSSH to showcase the HAKI Bridge System to SYS on a ‘live project’. SYS had previously undertaken similar projects using tube and fittings, when the construction of the bridge took two weeks and resulted in a bridge weighing over 20 tonnes.Engineers Develop The World’s First On-Site Scaffolding Robot
Boffins in Germany have developed a robot that climbs, carries and feeds scaffolding materials to scaffolders.
Munich based start-up Kewazo in collaboration with robotics expert Infineon Technologies has created the robot that they say can reduce on-site labour costs for scaffolding by 33%. The developers say during the erecting or dismantling of scaffolding more than 80% of scaffolders time is spent moving components from one part of the scaffolding structure to another. The robot aims to make assembly more efficient by delivering the materials to the workers where and when they need them. According to Kewazo this ability to deliver components by robot saves 33% on labour costs and knocks 42% off the time required to erect the scaffold. The use of a robot would also reduce the risk of an accident and avoid the effect of continual lifting on workers’ long-term musculoskeletal health.CITB launches new Training Model
A transformative new system to access training and grant from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has been launched.
The new Training Model and Grants Scheme is a central feature of CITB’s Vision 2020 programme, delivered on time and on budget as the training body becomes more responsive and accountable to the industry it serves. The Training Model is broken down into three parts: Construction Training Directory – where employers can find the right training, in the right place, at the right time. This is supported by Grant from CITB quality assured training providers. Construction Training Register – an online database which allows employers to search records of employees to check skills and manage their training needs. The scale of this is huge, recording millions of individual training achievements by our construction workforce. One of the key benefits is that there will be less duplication of training, as employers can rely on the training a new employee has gained elsewhere. New Grant Scheme – more flexible and focussed on supporting construction-related training, allowing CITB to support the areas of greatest training need. On successful completion of a course, a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) will confirm the learner’s achievement, upload the details onto the Construction Training Register, triggering the automated grant process. This process will massively cut red tape for employers. The new Construction Training Directory and Construction Training Register are both in early-stage use. CITB does not expect them to operate at their full potential, nor hold all courses and records, until early 2019. Braden Connolly, Director of Products and Services at CITB, said: “We are delighted to launch CITB’s new Training Model and Grants Scheme today, on time and on budget. It is a major step towards CITB becoming the modern, responsive, accountable organisation industry wants us to be. “The new Construction Training Directory will make it much easier for employers to get the training they need, where they need it, when they need it. “By tracking achievements and making employee qualifications accessible to employers, the new Construction Training Register will have a transformative effect on the ability of employers not only to train employees, but also to hire people with the right skills on day one.” The Construction Training Directory will take time to fully populate as more and more training providers are approved. While the process begins the current grant system will run alongside the new Training Model and automated grant system. This will allow time for people to get familiar with the new system and for the directory to be populated. Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB said: “This is a new chapter for us as an organisation and for the industry as a whole. The new automated Grants process will make it much easier for employers of all sizes to receive funding for the training they need. “In addition, the new Construction Training Register will give us a much better understanding about the skills issues we have across the country, allowing us to take a more informed, strategic approach. “We are still in the early stages but I feel confident that this work will make a real and lasting difference to construction employers across England, Scotland and Wales.”Godiva becomes first scaffolding contractor to join The 5% Club
Coventry-based Godiva Access & Scaffolding has become the first specialist scaffolding contractor to join the 5% Club, an industry-led initiative focussed on driving momentum into the recruitment of apprentices, graduates and sponsored students.
The 5% Club, initiated by Leo Quinn CEO of Balfour Beatty in 2013, is a movement of more than 280 employers providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities to develop the skills and talents people need to become more employable and create meaningful careers.
Colin Taylor, managing director at Godiva Access & Scaffolding, said: “By joining The 5% Club Godiva is committing to raising the number of apprentices, and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of our total workforce within five years.
“A skilled workforce is our biggest asset and is a business critical component that means we can deliver the safest and highest standard of service for our customers. The move is a natural extension of our strategy to become the scaffolding contractor of choice in our chosen markets.”
Lady Cobham, Director General of The 5% Club said, “We’re delighted to welcome Godiva Access & Scaffolding into membership. The 5% Club provides a fantastic network of HR professionals, sharing and learning from each other. All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”
Godiva has recently started work as the access and scaffolding contractor for Winvic Construction on the new student accommodation complex in Fairfax Street, Coventry, and it has been appointed as the scaffolding framework contractor at the University of Warwick.
SGB provide access system for major Manchester development
An integrated access system from one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access system providers has been used on a major new residential development in Manchester.
A total of 71 mastclimbers have been provided by SGB, for the creation of the Clipper’s Quay project which has been built by Sir Robert McAlpine in Salford Quays. The Clipper’s Quay project includes five blocks of between nine and 11 storeys, incorporating various commercial spaces and over 600 residential units, and it is believed to be one of the largest private rented sector developments outside London. “Scaffolding access was originally considered for this project, but a mastclimber solution proved to be much more cost-effective,” explains SGB’s Business Development Manager, Karl Hancock “We have worked with Sir Robert McAlpine on previous projects, so they were aware of our capabilities in servicing a large project such as this. They also knew that we could supply a range of different mastclimber solutions and associated equipment to suit the different requirements which a project such as this creates.” SGB worked closely with their client over an 18-month period, right from the design stage right through to delivery. “Being involved from a very early stage helps us to design an access solution which meets the client’s specific needs right from the outset, and which is also sufficiently flexible to accommodate any changes or unexpected requirements which arise over time,” adds Karl. “In this instance, we created a system which included a combination of single and twin mastclimbers, and this proved to be an extremely practical and cost-effective solution.”NASC appoints new in-house Marketing Manager
The NASC has bolstered their team and strengthened its communications capabilities through the appointment of a new in-house marketing manager.
New Marketing Manager, Simon Robinson brings a wealth of construction marketing and copywriting expertise to the NASC team, the 34-year-old has previously held various marketing agency and news desk positions in his career.
The confederation says their new Marketing Manager will work to strengthen ties and increase engagement with both NASC members and the wider construction industry.
Robinson said: “I am delighted to join the NASC and am looking forward to developing and implementing a communications strategy that will help increase awareness of the Confederation’s primary objectives; to help our members grow safer businesses and contribute to a safer construction industry.”
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “I am pleased to welcome Simon to the team. Through his appointment, we will be able to engage more closely with our 250+ members and communicate more effectively with the wider scaffolding and construction industries.”
This will enable us to increase understanding and appreciation of a number of key messages, including the various benefits available directly to businesses through attaining NASC membership or indirectly through utilising the services of NASC members, as well as our ongoing commitment to raising and maintaining the highest standards for access and scaffolding throughout the UK and beyond.”
