Makers of worlds first on-site Scaffolding Robot bags €1M in funding
Munich based start-up Kewazo has successfully raised over 1 million euros of seed funding for their scaffolding robot.
The funding will enable Kewazo to bring its robotic solution for scaffolding assembly to the market and to establish the company’s sales and distribution network. Last month we reported that the Kewazo scaffolding robot aims to make the erection of scaffolding more efficient by delivering scaffolding materials to scaffolders where and when they need them. The robot moves up, down and along a scaffold by means of a special track attached to horizontal and vertical tubes of the job. Kewazo can “see” its surroundings, and it can plan its journey to the scaffolders who need the components using a path-finding algorithm, and this can be refined using machine-learning, so the robot builds up a better picture of how its human co-workers operate. After entering the scaffolding market, the German company plans to apply the system to other construction trades. Kewazo’s technology has a great market potential the firm says. In Germany alone, the assembly and disassembly of scaffolding generates annual sales of around one billion euro and over 23 Billion euro worldwide. “We are convinced of Kewazo’s business idea and technology and therefore decided to invest in this start-up at an early stage,” says Michael Motschmann, General Partner and CEO of MIG AG. “The introduction of modern robotics into a traditional sector such as the construction industry is an extremely exciting and promising approach. “Kewazo is a pioneer in building automation, which is bringing disruption in the industry. We want to participate in this project right from the start and we believe in supporting a really strong team,” adds Dr. Klaus Feix, Venture Partner of MIG AG and responsible for the investment in Kewazo. “In addition to financing, MIG contributes great entrepreneurial know-how, from which the young founders can certainly benefit.”First overseas scaffolding CPD courses get underway
Safety & Access in conjunction with their partners Special Technical Services (STS) in Oman has successfully delivered the first ever overseas scaffolding CPD courses.
The CISRS Overseas Scheme (OSTS) has developed the two-day course to mirror the UK requirements and the first courses were delivered this week by Safety & Access Senior Instructor Rob Nicholls. The CPD courses were delivered at the CISRS accredited scaffolding training centre in Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman. Safety & Access say along with the training Rob was providing shadowing and observation to two of the locally qualified instructors to enable them to also deliver the overseas scaffolding CPD. “The take up of CISRS international training is on the increase despite the recent challenges in oil and gas,” says Rick Statham, Joint Managing Director of Safety & Access. “The progression into the CPD is a clear indicator of the commitment of our customers to continue with this. We have seen a steady increase in all of our overseas partnerships and we are confident this will continue.” Dave Mosley CISRS Scheme Manager added: “It’s great to see CISRS continuing to push forward with OSTS. We aim to keep international standards as close to the UK Scheme as possible.”Company fined for missing handrails after contractor fell from scaffold
Beaudecor Ltd pleaded guilty and has been fined after a worker fell from scaffolding.
On 4 October 2016, a contractor fell from the third lift of a scaffold whilst undertaking work on the front of low rise block of flats located in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Injuries to the contractor were so severe he was put into an induced coma for three days. The contractor suffered a broken vertebra, several broken ribs, collapsed lung and damage to his liver from the fall. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that Beaudecor Ltd had allowed its contractor to use a scaffold without effective edge protection, no mid rails on the scaffold sides, to prevent a person falling from either side of the scaffold on the first three levels of said scaffold. At Westminster Magistrates Court Beaudecor Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,900. Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Ian Shearring said: “The risk associated with working at height is well-known and Beaudecor Ltd failed in its duty to address this. “Their failure was compounded by the fact that the required protective measures, mid rails, were in place on the very top level of the scaffold but not the others. Beaudecor Ltd has been held to account for failing to take adequate action to protect the health and safety of persons working on their site.”Video: Scaffolding works on the Silver Jubilee Bridge Runcorn
The Grade 2 listed Silver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn is currently undergoing a major £3M restoration project.
Originally opened in 1959 and then initially known simply as the Runcorn Bridge or Runcorn–Widnes Bridge. At the time of construction, the bridge had the third longest steel arch span in the world. It had the longest vehicular span in the country, but this record was held for only a few weeks until the Tamar Bridge was completed. Between 1975–77 it was widened, after which it was given its official name in honour of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The video above captured by a drone shows the sheer scale and extent of the current scaffolding works being installed on the steel arch of the bridge by Lyndon Scaffolding. The UK’s largest independent scaffolding contractor is already five months into the project which they say is one of the most complex and challenging projects they have ever undertaken. Lyndon’s are providing access for painting and grit blasting on the bridge for Balvac, a subsidiary of the multinational infrastructure group Balfour Beatty. Lyndon Scaffolding’s CEO Rob Lynch said: “Over the next 12 months the 330m steel arch bridge, which was originally opened in 1959 will be repainted and refurbished. The scaffold was designed in-house by Lyndon Scaffolding with the main spans erected using 1.3 metre deep heavy duty alloy beams. “Over the next few months, the scaffold will be stripped and re-erected climbing to the top of the arch, some 87 metres above the river. A ‘proper’ scaffolding job and one for which only the best scaffolders are suited.”Scaffolder suffers broken leg after falling from scaffolding
A scaffolder fell from scaffolding yesterday at a housing development in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire fracturing his leg in the accident.
According to reports the scaffolder in his 40’s fell from a height on to the 3rd lift of scaffolding at the St Michael’s Hurst development. Up to 490 homes are being built by developer Countryside at the site. An air ambulance, along with firefighters from the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and police officers, were called to the development at 8.47am on April 26 after reports of a fall. Talking to local media a spokesman for Countryside confirmed that one of their workers was injured in the accident on Thursday morning. He said: “We can confirm that a scaffolder was injured in an incident on site at our St Michael’s Hurst development on Hazelend Road in Hertfordshire. “He has suffered a fracture to his lower leg and bruising to his back. Our Health and Safety team is investigating the cause of the accident.” Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue said they were called at 8.47am after the man fell from a height onto the third floor of scaffolding at the development. “He wasn’t trapped but needed to be brought down from the third floor so the fire service was involved in that and handed him over to the ambulance service,” said the spokesman. Two fire crews from Bishop’s Stortford attended the incident.More than 60,000 construction firms in financial distress
The number of UK construction firms in major financial distress has risen by a quarter in the last year and doubled in the past 18 months.
According to the construction index businesses that class themselves as in the support services sector, the picture is even worse with a 40% rise in the number of in difficulties. Begbies Traynor’s Red Flag Alert monitors the financial health of UK companies. Their research shows for the first quarter of 2018, 60,541 construction companies and 115,249 support services firms are in significant risk of insolvency. Research by analysts also shows the number of construction companies being at serious risk of collapse has more than doubled in the past 18 months. In October 2016, Begbies Traynor had a red flag alert against 29,000 construction companies. Julie Palmer, the regional managing partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “While uncertainty around the outcome of the Brexit negotiations has undoubtedly had an impact on business confidence across the UK, the economy has also faced a wide range of unexpected headwinds which have dampened progress over the past year. Currency fluctuations, rising interest rates, subdued consumer spending and a cooling property market are just some of the factors that have combined with growing political uncertainty to push nearly half a million UK businesses into financial distress over the past 12 months. “Should these headwinds continue, they could impact the government’s bargaining power when it comes to negotiating new trade deals after the UK’s exit from the European Union, which would be a major concern.” Chairman Ric Traynor added: “Although the UK economy is still growing, it is now starting to lag behind many other G20 members, with predicted GDP growth during 2018 of around 1.7%. The latest Red Flag figures reflect this slowdown with increased financial distress being felt across every sector and region of the UK. “The UK Construction sector last month suffered its biggest drop in activity since the 2016 Referendum vote, as Brexit concerns and the fallout from Carillion’s collapse caused further delays in large infrastructure and construction projects. “While the recent recovery in sterling should put UK businesses who import raw materials into a stronger trading position, the biggest positive impact on business confidence is likely to come when we finally receive clarity over how our eventual exit from the EU will look. In the short term however, the most pressing issue is whether or not the Bank of England decides to raise interest rates next month. If they do, it could push many struggling businesses, particularly those with high levels of debt, into formal insolvency.”Union slams CITB over direct training exit
Unite has hit out at the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) handling of plans to scrap its training provision and make hundreds of people redundant.
Unite, the UK’s largest union has said the CITB has failed to consult with the industry over its controversial plans to stop direct training and reduce its workforce by nearly 900 over the next two years. Staff were given incorrect information about moving the CITB’s head office from Bircham Newton in West Norfolk to Peterborough, said Unite. The CITB has now apologised for the mistake and extended the consultation period. The CITB, which currently employs 1,370 people across the country revealed plans in November to stop directly providing training. But Unite said the CITB had admitted there had been no industry demand for it to move from its training provision. Unite regional co-ordinating officer Mark Robinson said: “The confusion, chaos and lack of communication is deeply disturbing and unsettling for our members, many of whom face losing their jobs, or having to uproot their lives in order to move to the Peterborough area. The CITB needs to urgently get its house in order so that its loyal staff at least have a clear idea of what their fate will be.” A CITB spokesman said the industry “had been clear” the organisation needed to change. She added: “CITB values every colleague and where we made a mistake, we’ve apologised and put it right. CITB has extended our head office relocation collective consultation period to allow colleagues to fully engage with the process.” One part of the business which will remain in Norfolk is CITB’s Cskills Awards body which has been bought by NOCN. The Sheffield-based organisation agreed a deal for the division in May 2017 and will move its 17 Cskills staff to King’s Lynn Innovation Centre on Thursday, having taken over the running of the body in August last year. NOCN Group managing director Graham Hasting-Evans said: “For us it was an important decision when we took over Cskills Awards to keep the team based locally – they are experts at what they do with great local links and that relationship is vital in the business.”First OSTS Scaffolding Supervisor Course Completed in Vietnam
A dozen experienced scaffolders have completed the first CISRS Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) course delivered in Vietnam.
The scaffolders comprised of 11 men and one woman they have worked on sites throughout Asia. They undertook the in-depth and informative training at the AIS / Black Cat JSC Ltd a CISRS-approved training centre in Vang Tau.
Thuyen Cao, Deputy Head of the Scaffold Department at Black Cat JSC Ltd, said: “It is great to see the introduction of an international scaffolding card scheme in Vietnam as this will bring scaffolding to new levels of safety and skills.”
Dave Mosley, CISRS Scheme Manager, added: “It’s excellent that AIS and Black Cat are forging ahead with CISRS OSTS training in Vietnam. They have been training steadily since gaining their accreditation to deliver scaffolding courses, predominantly Level 1 scaffolder and Scaffold Inspection and it is very positive that they have now added the Supervisors course to their programme.
“It is also worthy of note that Ms Chi Le has become their 2nd female scaffold inspector in as many months. Well done to all concerned.” NASC’S Scaffolding Safety Report reveals on-site accidents fell to record low
The number of accidents and injuries recorded by NASC members fell to an all-time low in 2017, with just 89 incidences occurring on-site throughout the year.
The figure was revealed in the NASC 2018 Safety Report, which documents and analyses accident and injury statistics for its full contracting members – representing more than 16,000 scaffolding operatives across the UK – in the previous calendar year. For the fifth year running, the NASC is able to report a fatality-free year. The number of injuries and accidents in 2017 fell to a new low, continuing a decades-long general trend in ever-reducing incidences. This downward trend corresponds with long-standing efforts to improve health and safety and training in the scaffolding industry, one of the NASC’s core commitments. The NASC Safety Report reveals there were just 17 major injuries recorded in 2017, down 37% from 27 in 2016, and 89 incidences in total, down from 96 in 2016. There was also a 46% reduction in falls from height and 36% reduction in manual handling injuries year-on-year. Additionally, no members of the public were injured around NASC member scaffolds in 2017.
Des Moore, CEO of TRAD Group and NASC President, said: “The 2018 Safety Report shows how workplace accidents can be reduced through compliance with industry safety standards and adherence to NASC guidance.
“It is very encouraging to see that the number of accidents recorded by NASC members fell to a record low in 2017, continuing a long-established downward trend dating back many decades that corresponds with a gradual rise of awareness and implementation of on-site health and safety practices, which continues to this day.
“It is particularly pleasing to look at how far our members have come in just the past five years, with the number of reported incidents having fallen 34 per cent from the 2012 figure (134 to 89) and the incidence and frequency rates both down by more than 40 per cent.
“There is more work to be done, however. For the 13th consecutive year, slips, trips and falls on the same level was the most common cause of accident and injury – representing a third of all reported injuries. This type of incident can easily lead to serious injury or even fatality and as such is something we’ll continue to seek to address.”
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “The NASC is committed to driving up safety standards in access and scaffolding, and firmly believes in the need for accountability and transparency, which is why we go to such lengths to compile and publish the Safety Report each year.
“The data validates our wider efforts to help our members maintain the highest possible standards, enabling them to keep their contracted operatives safe on construction sites across the UK.”
NASC full contracting members are required to submit a detailed accident return as a requirement of membership. The NASC Safety Report is compiled from this data and includes:
- Injuries and fatalities to operatives, third parties and members of the public
- Accident types
- Detailed analysis of accidents
