“This scaffold contract award is a significant strategic win for Cape R B Hilton, it’s an important stepping stone into the Fadhili Gas Plant Project with one of our major clients with whom we have had a long and successful relationship. We are committed to delivering a safe and reliable service and will look to secure additional work packages at this prestigious project.”
The document analyses accident and injury statistics for its full contract members in the previous 12 months. Representing more than 17,000 UK scaffolding operatives, constituting a significant percentage of the total British scaffolding workforce, its findings are well respected.
The good news is, despite a 14 per cent rise in the number of NASC member operatives over the period, the incident rate has been halved to what it was five years ago. The report also reveals the lowest incidence and frequency rates recorded by NASC full contracting member companies, showing a 16 per cent decrease in the frequency of manual handling injuries.
Additionally, no members of the public were injured around NASC member scaffolds. NASC full contracting members are required to submit a completed annual accident return as a requirement of membership, and the NASC Safety Report is based on data generated by this exercise. The 24-page report features, Injuries and fatalities to operatives, members of the public and third parties, accident causes and types, a detailed analysis of accidents, comparison of the HSE/NASC accident statistics and what the NASC does to support safe scaffolding practice. NASC President, Alan Lilley said:
“Once again, the NASC Annual Safety Report has highlighted how successful our members are at reducing accidents through compliance with industry safety standards and adherence to NASC guidance. No doubt, the release of SG4:15 ‘Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations’ was a major factor in achieving this reduction in accidents. And the fact that there’s been a marked reduction in the number of accidents – despite a record-level of NASC membership, shows what we do for our members in producing quality safety and technical guidance.”The news isn’t all good however, as slips, trips and falls were the major cause of accident and injury – representing a third of all reported injuries, for the 12th year running. NASC Managing Director, Robin James added:
“The Annual Safety Report clearly highlights what we are doing to drive up safety standards in access and scaffolding, with reliable data to back it up. NASC members are strictly audited to maintain the highest possible standards, helping to keep their contracted operatives safe on construction sites right across the UK.”The NASC 2017 Safety Report will be officially launched at the ‘Health & Safety Scotland’ Event industry trade show held at Glasgow SEC, May 3-4. The report is also being circulated with Construction News Work at Height issue on June 9th and Construction National Spring issues, with a digital reader/PDF version available here.
The decision by AWPR Construction Joint Venture, reflects key characteristics of the All-round system design. When complete, the project will help to reduce congestion, cut journey times, improve safety and lower pollution in Aberdeen City Centre. It will also enable local authorities to develop public transport solutions.
Sean added: “As with all Layher scaffold and weather protection systems, All-round Lightweight benefits from ease of handling and wide bay configuration as well as minimum component requirements resulting from the built-in ‘rosette’ connection system. This also produces clear gains in terms of transportation to, and storage at, site while the absence of separate fittings represents not only an obvious health and safety advantage, but also minimises the risk of materials being accidentally left at a site after removal.
In a rural location – as is generally the case here over much of the alignment – this is of particular significance. Importantly, the Layher All-round system also requires minimal cross-bracing, enabling clear walkways to be utilised, aiding the movement of both workforce and materials around each structure.
Additionally, the versatility and loading capability of the modular system meets key considerations at the Aberdeen site head on, with consequent gains in terms of safety and project scheduling.”
A total of four fully boarded scaffold lifts have been installed, to allow for construction of the bridge support substructure, with Layher stair-towers also used at key points optimising speed of access. The deployment of advanced construction techniques impacts directly on both scheduling and budgetary control. The use of Layher’s All-round Lightweight scaffolding system is a clear demonstration of these objectives in operation.
Kenneth Redman, Technical Manager, Scotland and Ireland at Layher’s office in Scotland, said the company’s work on the project included several significant bridge ‘focus point crossings’.
“One particular site has called for two separate, yet complementary, bridges to be installed almost at a right angle to each other,” he explains. “While one is designed to raise the new dual carriageway over an existing road below, the other is to carry the new road over major utility services.
The speed of erection and adaptability of All-round Lightweight has been clearly demonstrated here and has avoided possible design complications, additional manpower and potential delays that could have arisen from the use of a tube and fitting alternative.”
Critically, the scaffold installation must be able to keep pace with the work as it progresses. 
On the 15th of April at 12.00 pm a charity football match kicks off in aid of Marie Curie. Eileen King, mother of John King who works for Wates, sadly passed away on New Year’s Eve suffering from cancer.
John said: “Mom was a very loving, caring person who always thought of others first. Eileen was a member of Birmingham City Council Tenant Liaison Board for 20 years and was always helping people in the flats that she lived in, always helping the more elderly residents by collecting pensions and essential shopping.
Everyone in the block adored her. She never stopped helping others. Eileen’s final days were spent at the Marie Curie Hospice. All the staff were so caring, really wonderful people.”Wates kindly arranged a charity football match in honour of Eileen with all proceeds going towards Marie Curie Hospice. So far, an amazing £1,100 has been raised.
MTD Midlands, who contract for Wates, have kindly donated a football kit for the game on the 15th and Wates are very grateful for their support.
Sarah Vanes, MTD Midlands’ Operating Director pictured above, donning the yellow goalkeeper’s jersey said: “Marie Curie is a charity close to my heart, it is a fantastic cause. MTD Midlands are honoured to support our colleagues at Wates in supporting and donating to such a worthy cause.”
Many thanks from everyone at Wates.
Bilfinger Salamis senior operations manager Craig Taylor said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract which will allow us to support Shell UK and NAM with the delivery of enhanced inspection services. Bilfinger is a leading international industrial services provider.
“Securing this long-term contract was a major strategic target for us, and it’s great to once again be working with Shell, who we have worked with extensively in the past.“
The Group enhances the efficiency of assets, ensuring a high level of availability and reduced maintenance costs. The company carries a portfolio covering the entire value chain from consulting, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, plant expansion as well as turnarounds. This also includes environmental technologies and digital applications.
The initial contract is set in place for three years, with options to extend for a further two years if successful. The scope includes offshore work covering 53 satellite platforms in the Southern North Sea, both in the UK and the Netherlands. It involves Onshore facilities in the UK, including Bacton, and onshore facilities in the Netherlands, including Den Helder, and the Kroonborg maintenance vessel for supporting offshore work.
Craig added: “Working across Northwest Europe on onshore and offshore assets, this award consolidates our position as a leading international industrial services provider to the energy industry.
“It’s fantastic to be able to introduce our advanced inspection engineering experience to the Netherlands, complementing our sister company Bilfinger Industrial Services‘ extensive service range.“
With its 37,000 employees, Bilfinger upholds the highest standards of safety and quality, generating an annual output volume of about €4 billion.
The company delivers its services in two business segments. These are Engineering & Technologies as well as Maintenance, Modifications & Operations. Bilfinger is primarily active in the regions Continental Europe, Northwest Europe, North America and the Middle East. 
Invented by scaffolders Aaron Gray and Scott Wesson, the ties openly encourage best scaffolding practice meeting all current safety regulations.
The Scotti Transom Tie, is designed to act as both a standard board retaining bracket and a toe board support. Whereas The Scotti Aberdeen Tie, has been created for use in Place of a Scotti Transom Tie where a scaffold has been constructed using structural, or more commonly known, Aberdeen Transoms.
The Transom Ties are fitted in the same way as a standard board retaining bracket, being slid in between the board gap with the taller face of the toe board retainer to the outside of scaffold. Traditional methods of holding toe boards in place often involve nailing clips through the board or using singles, which can damage and split the board. Scotti ties use a firm pressure to hold the board and will not cause damage.
According to the makers of the Scotti Ties, the revolutionary ties meet all of the requirements of BS EN 12811 and CISRS training guidance for the support of toe boards. Without the labour-intensive in trial conditions, use of Scotti ties has shown savings in time of up to 95 per cent, compared to traditional deadman installation. This can translate into savings of hundreds of pounds on relatively small jobs. Replacing deadmen on scaffolds with Scotti ties can easily reduce annual Co2 emissions by hundreds of tonnes.
In terms of the law The Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: ‘Every employer shall, where necessary to prevent injury to any person, take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the fall of any material or object. It’s common practice, longitudinal toe boards and end toe boards should be securely fixed to all working platforms where there is a risk of a person or materials falling.
Scotti ties offer a user friendly, cost effective alternative in preventing such falls in scaffolding operations. Scotti Ledger ties are suitable for fixing to the ledger from either above or below the scaffold platform. For total board protection scaffolders can use the ties at both ends. They are both neat and professional, easy to transport, need less storage and make for lower leg loads.
Scott Wesson the co-inventor of The Scotti Fittings said: “I first thought about the fittings after thinking they’re must be a better, safer, simpler way to securing a toe-board. After some trial and error, I found the solution.”
The fitting carries huge benefits for scaffolding companies with each single Scotti Fitting saving the use of a Five-foot tube, two doubles and a single coupler. Across a large independent structure or tower the savings could be enormous, drastically cutting down on both erection time and labour costs. 
The TRAD Group itself has staff of more than 1,000 people based in 17 UK locations, with a combined turnover of in excess of £100 million. The aim across the Group gradual organic growth, based on introducing new, class-leading products through the Hire and Safety Businesses. “We then introduce these innovative products across the Scaffolding Businesses so our contracting clients see the benefits of the improvements, and receive the most efficient, safest and professional service possible”, explained Des.
From a personal perspective, Des has recently joined the board of Directors for Build UK – a UK construction organization providing a strong collective voice on key industry issues. He’s also Director of CISRS, the industry recognized Scaffolding Training Scheme. Later on this year, Des will become President of the NASC, a tremendous accolade for both the TRAD and Altrad Group. It’s been attained due to TRAD’s outstanding reputation and experience. This respected position will give both TRAD and Altrad an even bigger presence in the industry. Their growing portfolio of customers will continue to enjoy the same high standards of service they enjoyed across four decades. 
A UK scaffolding company is celebrating following the award of a huge £500 million contract for work on the new proposed wall between the United States and Mexico. It’s thought President Trump targeted M R Scaffolding Services of London both because of their worldwide reputation for quality and safety, and a recommendation from British Prime Minister Theresa May.
Apart from boosting ‘the special relationship’, the contract will also create extra jobs for a large number of currently unemployed scaffolders in the industry.
The fact M R continually use the latest cutting edge technological developments to enhance safety, quality and efficiency was a key player in the contract offer. Working to the latest industry standards, they are innovators in the world of scaffolding. And now they’ve been rewarded with a ground breaking contract.
Established by John and Michael Trayfoot, today the business is run by sons John Jnr as Managing Director and Matthew alongside Frank Pickford as Contracts Director. He said:
“The call came out of the blue, but we are naturally proud and delighted to have been offered such a contract by our friends and allies. Our team are looking forward to working closely with our American counterparts in order to help construct the wall as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the light of Brexit, this is great news for UK trade. We are a well-established family run business that has been providing access solutions to the construction industry since 1974. It’s all just starting to sink in, but we can’t wait to get started.”
Managing Director John Trayfoot is due to fly out to America on Monday 3 April to meet with President Trump to sign the groundbreaking contract.
The success of the project thought to take two years, could open up the way for future trade agreements between both countries. Following the signing of the executive order President Trump tweeted: “Britain, a longtime US ally, is very special! Why not get them involved?”
More than 500 US companies have submitted bids for the construction work. Those making the final short-list will asked to build a 30-foot long prototype of the actual wall in San Diego. This is where the second largest Border Patrol sector is located. US Customs and Border Protection will select the finalists, with the goal of awarding the contract in May and starting work in June.
White House officials have previously stated the wall, stretching 1,000 miles must be 30 feet high, and look imposing from the Mexican side and aesthetically beautiful from the US Side.
M R will have full responsibility for the construction’s scaffolding requirements. Many fervent Trump supporters were heard to chant ‘build the wall’, at several events during last years election campaign. Polls suggest however, only 37 percent of Americans are in favour of building it.
To conform with health and safety requirements, a series of doors will be placed at strategic points along the wall. The whole project is estimated to cost more than $10billion.