The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008 | U.K. Edition
Cinema Collapse Brings Down Scaffolding On Tyneside
The famous Odeon cinema in Newcastle Upon Tyne’s city centre is lying in ruins today following a collapse of the building late last night. A bus stop next to the building under demolition since January, was completely crushed.
Amazingly, no-one was hurt in the incident that happened at around 11 pm on Monday, though around 10 people were waiting at nearby bus stops at the time. The police quickly established a cordon at the scene in Pilgrim Street, closing the road to traffic.
A clean up operation took several hours before the road was reopened north-bound early on Tuesday morning. Mangled scaffolding and scattered debris missed bystanders by yards. The collapse was so loud, taxi drivers based around the corner came running to see what had happened.
It seems there was some confusion as to whether or not the building was being demolished. One policeman however, did confirm it was due to come down – but not in that way.
Moments earlier several workmen were seen standing in front of the building looking very animated. Esther Beadle, 28, standing across the road at another bus stop revealed:
“There was a ‘deep rumble’, before what was left of the building and scaffolding slowly collapsed into the street. There was lots of dust flying around as scaffolding poles scattered towards us. The men were stood in the centre of Pilgrim Street and there seemed to be in some sort of disagreement, or at least a heated discussion. Then they left and about three minutes later the building all of a sudden just started to collapse down towards the bus stop. Luckily no rubble made it as far as the pavement on our side, but had it been just a little bit further it would have done. I dread to think what might have happened had things been slightly different. That’s a big worry. Suddenly, there was lots of activity from the workmen who started to swarm towards the building and some started talking on their phones.”
The southbound side of Pilgrim Street was closed to traffic at the time. The cinema last screened a film in 2002 and has stood empty for 14 years. The iconic cinema is being removed after its owners submitted plans to clear the site and transform the area of the city into a retail hub. It seems certain an investigation into the incident will take place as a result of the collapse.
Life Can be Electrifying
UK Power Networks are urging trades people to Work Safe, Stay Safe and Think Electricity.
We all know people’s lives can change within seconds. Let’s be honest, it’s something individuals see happen every day on the news. It’s difficult enough when tragedy isn’t self inflicted. But when lives are lost because we’ve been careless or foolhardy, it can make the situation so much worse. The fact is, there are hidden killers in our midst all the time, and electricity is one of the most deadly. Terrible burns can be inflicted in just a second or two, and getting too close can be fatal. And yet in terms of the working world, In 2015/16 alone, more than 70,000 trade’s people suffered injuries at work. More often, this results in taking time off and losing money. How would this effect you and your family? People in scaffolding, construction, forestry, agriculture, infrastructure or anyone else who may work near overhead lines are particularly at risk. It can be all too easy for busy trade’s people to be in a hurry, get distracted or not bother to check for service cables when working on site. It’s sometimes easy to get over-confident in our abilities and assume everything is fine, when dangers are clearly lurking. We know electricity is there, but of course most of the time it can’t be seen. There are also certain situations, in which this necessary source of power can take us unawares. Overhead power lines are often uninsulated (bare) and can carry high voltages. They can look like telephone wires, but you should never assume this is the case. In fact, you should never assume anything. Always be clear on what you’re dealing with and where the dangers can be. Electricity can jump gaps, so be aware a scaffold tube or equipment does not have to touch a power line to result in a serious or lethal electric shock. And despite what you may hear, materials such as rubber and wood may not be an effective insulator against a high or low voltage charge, and cannot be relied upon to prevent an electric shock. It’s worth remembering cranes, diggers, trucks, excavators, trailers and other plant can make contact with electricity on a regular basis. Anyone working close to live power lines should take time to read the simple safety leaflets and notices provided by a range of health and safety professionals. Many trade associations and bodies (NICEIC, NAPIT, NFU, Gas Safe Register, Road Haulage Association, and lot of others across various industries are working hard to keep safety at the forefront of their members minds. The UK Power Networks have produced a free downloadable safety leaflet for scaffolders that can be viewed here and a safety video shown below. The major UK Power Networks distribute our electricity through a series of networks, sub-stations, underground cables and overhead lines. And no matter who your own personal provider may be, electricity is always there for our use. Sadly, accidents are a part of modern life. But in terms of electricity and the damage it can course, we can all ensure they are kept to the very minimum. So always ‘Think Safe’ – ‘Always Think ElectricityNew Branding For The TRAD Group
Building an even higher reputation for excellence
April will see new branding for one of the country’s leading Scaffolding and Fall Prevention Providers. The TRAD Group has specialised in Traditional Contracting, Equipment Hire and Sales, and Specialist Fall Safety Systems for more than 46 years. Now, having become part of the Altrad Group in September 2013, the firm is set to take on a new look thanks largely to investment of £15million. “Even in the depths of the recession, we remained a very strong business,” says Des Moore, the TRAD Group’s CEO. “With both the Altrad Group’s involvement and substantial investment we’ve become even stronger, and the TRAD Group has doubled in size. The new branding reflects this and the Altrad Group’s presence in the UK market.” Hertel and Prezioso apart, the more visually recognizable branding will be seen across the whole Altrad Group, as all business entities will be using an identical core logo going forward. Change can sometimes see companies losing sight of what made them successful in the first place, but this hasn’t been the case with the TRAD Group. The top management team has remained completely intact and the company culture hasn’t changed. “The ideals that exist in the Altrad Group management charter are those at the heart of our values for the last 40-plus years,” added Des.
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. UK Scaffolding Company Seal Biggest Ever Scaffolding Contract
Ground Breaking Scaffolding Contract Awarded To UK Company
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.
BillSave Doubling Up Its Workforce
BillSave UK based in Leicester is set to double its scaffolding division following several recent contract wins.
The company’s scaffolding division carried a staff of 10 people last year. Now, thanks to impressive contracts from two of the UK’s top house builders, a further four employees have been added to their team in the field. Six more positions will also become available increasing the workforce, and adding strength to the firm’s office-based staff. This will see new, experienced scaffolders working on sites involving 200 and 300 plot developments across both the East and West Midlands. Both long term contracts have multiple phases attached, so the future is certainly looking bright for those involved. Derek Marsden, operations manager at BillSaveUK, said: “Our scaffolding division has more than 30 years’ experience. Historically our work focussed on a handful of long-standing clients, but following the launch of BillSaveUK 18 months ago, word has spread about our capabilities. And now, thanks to our new contract wins we’re extremely excited about recruiting for a larger, full-time workforce.”CISRS Complete CPD Pilot Courses
CISRS report positive feedback after completing CPD Pilot Courses.
CISRS has run two fully-funded CPD refresher pilot courses at NCC Midlands in Birmingham during February and March. CISRS say, Both of the courses were delivered by lead Instructor Tony Barry which received very positive feedback from the course delegates. In a press release published this morning CISRS went on to report that, there was a wide range of age and experience amongst those attending the courses. One scaffolder had gained their card via “grandfather rights,” others who qualified over 20 years ago, and some who had completed their training only five years previously. The pilot courses were specifically designed to road test and fine-tune the course content. Tony Barry said: “I was a little uncertain as to how the course would go having both older more experienced Advanced Scaffolders mixed with younger scaffold card holders – but it actually worked well and created more discussion within the group. Other than the inspection module which required us to split the group into Basic and Advanced inspection (with another of our instructors supervising one of the groups), all other information passed on is relevant to both grades of cardholder.” Adding diversity of experience and opinion, Rob Nicholls (lead instructor at Safety and Access) and Neil Gray (lead instructor at LTC) both sat in on the first pilot in February – taking notes on the course from a delivery point of view, assessing content, analysing the length of some course areas and providing feedback on timings and other aspects of the CPD course content and application. After considering delegate feedback and comments along with the findings of Rob and Neil, the first course was very well received, with only a few tweaks needing to be made to Risk Assessment and Method Statements (RAMS), Manual Handling and Anchors/Ties sections. One of the delegates on the first pilot had initially asked if the course could have been completed in one day. However with the practical Scaffold Inspection and Mobile Aluminium Tower session and associated theory tests taking up around six hours alone, combined with the rest of the CPD/Refresher programme necessitated the full two days. The course covers a lot of ground with the pilot courses running from 8.30am to 4.30pm on both days. Following feedback from the first course, all relevant changes were implemented prior to the second course taking place – which was again very well received. All delegates were required to complete a course evaluation form which asked them to rate all aspects of the course including centre facilities, course content course materials, instructors etc. Other than one delegate rating the catering ‘Average’ all other aspects of the course were rated as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good.’ Dave Mosley, CISRS Scheme Manager, and CISRS representative, Bob Whincap attended the second CPD course, to monitor the course in action. Mr. Mosley said: “The pilot schemes have proved to be a huge success and have given us the opportunity to fine tune the two-day course content before the July roll-out. “I asked the delegates if they felt that the course was beneficial and the group were very positive. Some had initially been sceptical due to comments made on social media and the internet about costs, duration and content. But having attended, they felt it was worthwhile and that they had been reminded of information they’d forgotten since they last attended a centre, whilst also being brought up to date on current industry guidance. They also enjoyed the opportunity to mix with other scaffolders from different companies” Eligible delegates who took part in the pilot courses will receive their updated CISRS card with CPD, Inspection and Aluminium Tower module endorsements free of charge. A pilot course for CISRS approved Instructors will take place at NCC Midlands on 24/25th April. CISRS are considering offering a few more funded pilot courses in May, to enable a final phase of fine tuning prior to the scheme going live 1st July, after which time all CISRS Scaffolder and Advanced cards can only be renewed by completing the CISRS two-day Scaffolder Refresher Course.Scaffold Designs Come to Life With Virtual Reality
Scaffolding Software firm raises the bar with the launch of a virtual reality app
Ely, Cambridgeshire UK-based Avontus Software recently launched its new virtual reality app, Scaffold VR, which works in conjunction with its Scaffold Designer software. Scaffold VR provides a walk-through of Scaffold Designer-created designs, and it enables users to view and share these designs in 3D virtual environment. Co-workers and customers can use the app to view drawings on their office workstations as well as on their mobile devices in the field, providing an interactive experience that clearly demonstrates what a user is offering customers and that their requirements are met; while showing the scaffolders the scaffold they will build. Avontus’ Scaffold Designer enables users to create and print traditional 2D and 3D engineered drawings. With the free app, anyone with a Windows desktop, a smartphone or a tablet can view and rotate those 3D scaffold drawings. But with a smartphone and the Scaffold VR Cardboard Viewer, they can walk through and virtually experience the scaffolding from afar and up close in fine detail. This provides Scaffold VR users with the opportunity to catch mistakes before they become actual reality, which helps to ensure a scaffold is designed correctly and to avoid costly rework from delays and cost overruns.
Once a bid is won and users are ready to finalize the scaffolding, they can virtually travel through the structure and identify potential hazards (such as obstructions), which helps them create a safe work plan. Users can thoroughly familiarize crews with the project, so that they can safely hit the ground running. Then, at the job site, crews can access 2D and 3D drawings on any mobile device, or inspect the job virtually through a smartphone and a VR viewer.
Scaffold VR is already developing a following. “VR is a great application. I’m loving the VR,” tweeted Mark Parkin of Tiger Scaffolding in Whitby.
Anyone using an iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet, or a Windows desktop can try Scaffold VR for free, just search for “Scaffold VR” in your app store, download and install it. The app comes with sample drawings that provide the 3D experience. However, the combination of Scaffold VR, a smartphone and the Scaffold VR Cardboard Viewer, enables an immersive virtual reality experience that creates a lasting impression.
Along with the release of Scaffold VR, Avontus offers low-cost, custom cardboards with QR codes that point directly to the app on the Google Play and Apple App stores. Users can buy the cardboards through Amazon and ship directly to their customers who can then easily experience their scaffolds in virtual reality.
Virtual reality adds a richer experience to scaffold designs and helps companies work more efficiently. Scaffold VR can change the way projects are planned, presented, and built. Tufcoat launch world-first digitally printed shrink wrap for scaffolding projects.
A leading Plymouth supplier of shrink-wrap sheeting has completed a world first project. Using their latest product to market, Tufcoat Wraphix™ Printed Shrink-wrap, Tufcoat has broken new ground.
In combining digital printing with 300µm flame retardent scaffold shrink-wrap. Now, for the first time, contractors and subcontractors can have images and logos printed directly on to projects, whilst still benefiting from both weather protection and encapsulation.
The company worked with Westward Housing and JEM Scaffolding to weatherproof Plymouth House, ensuring 70 vulnerable people can remain in residence whilst the £1m refurbishment takes place. Due to excellent visibility both contractors and client saw this as the perfect opportunity to use the Printed Shrink-wrap promoting all of the various companies involved. The result was greater brand awareness, something shrink-wrap hasn’t been able to achieve previously. Following the success of the project, Carlo Cinque of Westward Housing Group said: “The end result was actually better than we had imagined. We’ve had major contractors come to us since and ask about who supplied us with the printed wrap”.
The product allows its customers regular practicality and function, but it’s also created using low-density polyethylene, less harmful for the environment than PVC or mesh wrapping. By choosing Wraphix™, projects can be protected against adverse weather, provide environmental containment and display any marketing message on a single sheet.
Richard Barnes, Operations Director of Jem Scaffolding explained “I think the actual two weeks they had to install was reduced down to about six days. So we put them under a great deal of pressure with a product that they hadn’t used regularly, and they really stole the show with what they produced in the end. We’ve had lots of comments from the media and through social media, so it’s worked well for us.”
Tufcoat’s innovative new product has also been installed on the prestigious Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel in London. Marking a significant creative challenge from the previous project, their task was to recreate a photo-realistic representation of the building’s façade, using the same prime printed 300µm flame retardant shrink-wrap.
The firm encapsulated the 500 square metre scaffolding and hoist, and combined the building design used on the printed wrap with typical shrink-wrap. Because of this, Tufcoat were able to considerately minimise the impact of the works during renovations to some of the hotel’s 496 rooms and suites. A high level of the aesthetics was retained as a consequence. And of course, there was the added benefit of weather protection for the workforce in line with the clients brief.
Double win for GKR Scaffolding at CN Specialist Awards
GKR Scaffolding have been awarded the Construction News Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the year award for the second year running AND a Training Excellence award.
The London based firm that employs over 300 people, GKR Scaffolding Ltd last night (22 March) collected the awards at the glitzy Construction News (CN) Specialist Awards, held at the London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. In a fiercely contested category, GKR stood out from the competition with their vision to be the UK’s leading scaffolding firm, providing solutions at every stage of a project while also being seen as an exceptional employer providing a great place to work. CN reports that the past 12 months have been an outstanding period for the company, during which it has engaged in several high-profile projects. These include Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium in north London, on which GKR provided one of the largest scaffold staircases in Europe. Other stand out projects mentioned were a highly sensitive job at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. GKR erected an accessible scaffold around the preserved vessel that had to protect it while demolition works were undertaken for a viewing gallery. Another GKR project mentioned that is currently under way at Wimbledon for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which is overseeing extensive work to No 1 Court to deliver extra seating and a retractable roof. According to the Construction News judges, GKR also stood out in the areas of Health and Safety with its occupational health programme, the business is implementing safety-critical medicals for all operatives. These medicals are carried out in a specially adapted van by occupational health service providers on visits to the firm’s sites.GKR Scaffolding was also awarded with the Training Excellence accolade for it’s in-house training academy. The GKR Academy opened in 2014 – believed to be a first in the scaffolding sector – and last year saw its first graduation evening for trained supervisors. Its graduates have achieved qualifications in leadership and team skills accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, while 12 new supervisors have already begun the first module for year two of Delivering Leadership and Management Skills. CN say that “GKR’s comprehensive set of achievements left judges in no doubt that the firm stood out as the outstanding access and scaffolding specialist in the market.”This week we commence our 2017 Fit for Work Medicals @GKRLtd. Our mobile medical vehicle will be visiting over 50 employees. #gkrhealthweek pic.twitter.com/a5MLia04zr
— Lee Rowswell (@LeeRowswell) February 6, 2017
SHS Integrated Services Ceases Trading
