U.K. Edition
Workers jump for their lives as scaffold collapses
Three firms have been prosecuted by the HSE after workers had to literally jump for their lives when a huge scaffold collapsed into the River Brain in Essex.
Renovation work was underway at the Former Riverside Centre, Braintree when on the 1 July 2014 a forty meter run of independent five lifts high collapsed. Workers leapt through open windows to avoid falling with the huge scaffold. The HSE commenced a full investigation into the incident and charged three firms with various breaches of law. Principal contractor Parkland Developments Ltd, scaffolding contractor SC Cousins Scaffolding Ltd and CDM co-ordinator Haze and Safety Ltd all found themselves before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court. The court heard HSE’s investigation found numerous failings on site;- The CDM co-ordinator had failed to provide suitable and sufficient advice to the client (Parkland Developments Ltd) or ensure that the arrangements were being implemented on site.
- The principal contractor (Parkland Developments Ltd) failed to implement the construction phase plan or ensure that they planned and managed or monitored the scaffolding works.
- The scaffolding contractor failed to plan the work or design the scaffold. They also failed to send trained and competent workers to site. In the weeks prior to the collapse, a scaffolding labourer was acting as the supervisor and overseeing trainee scaffolders in erecting, altering and inspecting the scaffold.
- Not one of the duty holders had identified there was no design for the scaffold.
Cape awarded two year Australian contract
Industrial services contractor Cape plc, has secured a two year contract with Woodside in Western Australia.
The new contract has been awarded to a 50/50 joint venture between Cape and UGL for services on the Woodside operated Karratha Gas Plant Life Extension Program. Services to be provided include the detailed planning and execution of access, fire protection application, blasting and painting, cladding and insulation, mechanical, pipe-spool equipment replacement and electrical services. The contract is for a two year period with work expected to commence on site at the beginning of 2016. Located 1,260 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia and covering approximately 200 hectares, the Karratha Gas Plant includes five LNG processing trains, two domestic gas trains, six condensate stabilisation units, three LPG fractionation units as well as storage and loading facilities for LNG, LPG and condensate. The plant has the capacity to produce 12,000 tonnes of domestic gas per day. Joe Oatley, Chief Executive of Cape, said: “We are delighted to announce the award of this new contract with Woodside which was won through our innovative approach and combined service offering with our contract partner, UGL. Woodside is an important client and we look forward to working with them closely to deliver safe and efficient service on this extensive project.”XERVON Palmers wins Rydon contract at prestigious Ealing Green Man Lane project
XERVON Palmers bags scaffolding contract at the £155M Green Man Lane regeneration project in Ealing, London.
The well-known scaffolding and industrial services contractor has been appointed by successful southern-UK-based construction, development, maintenance and management group Rydon. XERVON Palmers operatives will be providing access solutions on Phase two of works commencing this Autumn – crucially utilising specialist Layher Scaffold system – facilitating the construction of 187 new homes within apartment blocks which are due for completion in early 2017. For the scaffolding and access, Palmers will be utilising circa 400 tons of the Layher all round system scaffolding to provide access to Blocks A, B G & H of the Green Man Lane regeneration. And there will be a typically eclectic picture of scaffold provided, including façade, birdcage, stairways, loading bays and cantilevered access. The four phase Green Man Lane project for Clients London Borough of Ealing is being delivered in a 50:50 joint venture partnership with A2Dominion and Rydon – aiming to regenerate the Green Man Lane estate in the West London borough. The project value is £155M and is expected to take nine years. The existing 464 flat local authority housing estate is being demolished – paving the way for 770 new homes (300 for open market sale and 400 for affordable rent and shared ownership homes for A2Dominion). Ian McFarlane, Director for Business & Project Development at XERVON Palmers said: “We are thrilled to be working with Rydon on the superb Green Man regeneration project – regenerating an important part of the capital. The contract confirms Palmers strategy to make a difference by offering our customers an alternative to traditional tube and fittings within the UK Market, with our system scaffold solutions. And one of the key factors in securing this contract was our ability to provide Layher scaffolding to the developer, as we also did recently at Aberthaw Power Station.” And Donald Morrison, CEO of XERVON Palmers added: “Congratulations to our regional team for securing this contract, which is our first major success with Rydon. We are very much looking forward to doing a great scaffold and access job, which will hopefully pave the way for a long-term future of quality work with the construction group in London and the South.”Bilfinger strengthens relationship with Maersk Oil following contract award
Bilfinger Salamis UK awarded five year contract with Maersk Oil North Sea for an undisclosed sum.
Following a period of competitive tender, industrial services company Bilfinger Salamis UK has been awarded a contract for the provision of fabric maintenance and associated services by Maersk Oil North Sea (Maersk Oil). The contract, which begins in November, is for a period of 5 years and includes coatings, access, specialist cleaning and shutdown support services on all Maersk Oil’s UK upstream assets. Bilfinger Salamis UK has worked with Maersk Oil since 2009, completing a number of successful fabric maintenance and ‘walk to work’ campaigns. Bilfinger Salamis UK managing director Graham Hayward commented: “This award is fantastic news as it enables us to build on our close working relationship with Maersk Oil, and allows us to demonstrate our commitment to delivering safe operations, while developing the scope of services we provide.”CN Specialist Awards 2016 finalists announced
The Construction News Specialist Awards 2016 has announced it’s shortlisted finalists.
The eleventh Construction News Specialist Awards will take place on 24 February 2016 at the Hilton Park Lane, London. After stiff competition In the Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the Year category, judges have whittled down the entries to just eight companies.- AFI group
- Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding
- Everlast Scaffolding
- GKR Scaffolding
- SafeTime ®
- St Helens Plant
- TIGER Scaffolding
- UK Platforms
2015 TRAD Scaffolding workforce Seminar
On the 18th October 2015 TRAD Scaffolding held their annual Scaffolder’s Seminar in the excellent facilities America Square Conference Centre, conveniently located immediately behind Tower Hill tube station.
This has become a popular event in the TRAD calendar and affords our Operational Management Team a platform on which to speak on a wide range of issues and topics useful to the Operational Team and their Scaffold Operatives, afterwards the MD and his staff discussed improvements, potential issues and suggestions with the Scaffolders in informal groups.
The afternoon commenced with a presentation by Neil Garner – MD, who spoke on why they – our Scaffolders – are in reality our greatest asset, ranking alongside our many valued Clients. Neil also expressed that their continued dedication to erecting quality scaffolding across many diverse Industry Sectors was a major feature of why TRAD Scaffolding has continued to thrive for over 45 years.
Neil also stressed the Career opportunities and training available for Scaffold operatives within the company, as well as recent incidents and trends within the Scaffolding industry and how everyone must consider and then implement TRAD’s Behavioural Management of Safety Programme Play it Safe and its 5 Key Safe Behaviours to improve safety for our People, our Client’s Operatives and the General Public.
The presentation ended with an overview of TRAD’s key achievements throughout the past year, our success in securing many large Contracts in 2016 thus ensuring continual work for our workforce and Staff, avoiding any seasonal downturn and the Board of Directors commitment to recognising and rewarding safety and quality in the workplace.
Recognising Achievement
An important part of the seminar was to recognise our people’s achievements, with a special award for exemplary efforts in Health & Safety going to various Scaffolders across the three Operational Divisions headed by Divisional Directors, Chris Smith, Peter McShane and Tony Mileham.
Chris, Peter, and Tony presented the prizes and awards, including those for “Divisional Scaffolder of the Year” and “Best Improved Scaffolder of the year”, for those who best exemplified and implemented our 5 Key Safe Behaviours (Excellent Segregation, Safe System of Work, PPE, Housekeeping and Quality).
Winners were as follows:
Chris Smith’s Division:
Dean Lomiglio – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Luke Faik – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
Peter McShane’s Division
Karl Clinton – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Corey Belgrove – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
Tony Mileham’s Division
David Yates – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Oliver Wheatley – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
The final award presented was for Safe Employee of the Year – the criteria of which was based on our Clients’ recognition of our Scaffolders’ exemplary behaviour and their excellent control of our five Key Safe Behaviours on site.
This year’s winner was John Gardner – for leading the Scaffolding team on the highly prestigious “One Tower Bridge” Project for Berkeley Homes and John was also commended for being an exemplary colleague and running this high profile Project to a very high standard.
The afternoon finished with a Q&A session and opportunity for informal discussions with the Directors over refreshments in the function area. The Annual Seminar was once again considered a great success, by both the Staff and our Scaffolding workforce and the Company looks forward to a another mutually successful financial year and a continuation of this event in September 2016.
DES MOORE – TRAD GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR commented:
Following our recent organisational re-structure and Neil’s well-deserved appointment to the MD position of Trad Co. Neil, his Divisional Directors and Contracts Staff have continued to recognise that it is absolutely essential that we engage with our whole workforce on all matters, which in my view remains at the heart of TRAD Co’s resilience and continued growth over the past 45 years.
The presentation ended with an overview of TRAD’s key achievements throughout the past year, our success in securing many large Contracts in 2016 thus ensuring continual work for our workforce and Staff, avoiding any seasonal downturn and the Board of Directors commitment to recognising and rewarding safety and quality in the workplace.
Recognising Achievement
An important part of the seminar was to recognise our people’s achievements, with a special award for exemplary efforts in Health & Safety going to various Scaffolders across the three Operational Divisions headed by Divisional Directors, Chris Smith, Peter McShane and Tony Mileham.
Chris, Peter, and Tony presented the prizes and awards, including those for “Divisional Scaffolder of the Year” and “Best Improved Scaffolder of the year”, for those who best exemplified and implemented our 5 Key Safe Behaviours (Excellent Segregation, Safe System of Work, PPE, Housekeeping and Quality).
Winners were as follows:
Chris Smith’s Division:
Dean Lomiglio – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Luke Faik – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
Peter McShane’s Division
Karl Clinton – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Corey Belgrove – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
Tony Mileham’s Division
David Yates – Divisional Scaffolder of the Year
Oliver Wheatley – Best Improved Scaffolder of the Year
The final award presented was for Safe Employee of the Year – the criteria of which was based on our Clients’ recognition of our Scaffolders’ exemplary behaviour and their excellent control of our five Key Safe Behaviours on site.
This year’s winner was John Gardner – for leading the Scaffolding team on the highly prestigious “One Tower Bridge” Project for Berkeley Homes and John was also commended for being an exemplary colleague and running this high profile Project to a very high standard.
The afternoon finished with a Q&A session and opportunity for informal discussions with the Directors over refreshments in the function area. The Annual Seminar was once again considered a great success, by both the Staff and our Scaffolding workforce and the Company looks forward to a another mutually successful financial year and a continuation of this event in September 2016.
DES MOORE – TRAD GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR commented:
Following our recent organisational re-structure and Neil’s well-deserved appointment to the MD position of Trad Co. Neil, his Divisional Directors and Contracts Staff have continued to recognise that it is absolutely essential that we engage with our whole workforce on all matters, which in my view remains at the heart of TRAD Co’s resilience and continued growth over the past 45 years. BM TRADA Scaffold Board Scheme promotes construction site safety
Scaffold boards are used in their thousands on construction sites across the UK, enabling workers to operate safely at height. However, BM TRADA, part of the Exova Group, warns recent incidents have highlighted that the failure of a timber scaffold board can result in serious injury or even death and leave contractors facing prosecution and significant fines.
With failures often the result of used scaffold boards being inadequately checked after 
having been stored or used inappropriately, BM TRADA has launched its Q Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme, to enable certified companies to demonstrate that their inspectors are competent to determine if boards should remain in use.
While there is no legislative requirement for used timber scaffold boards to be regularly inspected, to ensure safety on site, scaffold boards should be checked and assessed on a regular basis when in use and each time they are re-issued or supplied to site. It is also important that boards which have been checked are stored separately to those that have not.
With major contractors recognising the dangers, they are starting to ask how scaffold board issuing companies can demonstrate the competency of those inspecting boards. The BM TRADA Q-Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme provides a means of verifying that inspectors are suitably qualified.
While most scaffolding companies will ensure their employees complete a scaffolders’ training course, the BM TRADA Scheme provides added confidence to contractors, since the competence of board inspectors is regularly checked by an independent third party body. This enables contractors to specify their hire with confidence and demonstrate due diligence if required.
To achieve certification under the scheme, the scaffolding company must nominate individual employees who will be covered. Each is required to demonstrate their competence to identify damage which is likely to reduce the strength of used timber scaffold boards. Every nominated inspector is required to complete scheme-specific training, pass an examination and complete a competence assessment at the company’s premises.
BM TRADA will also undertake an initial audit of the company to ensure that a documented inspection process is in place. This process must demonstrate that only approved inspectors carry out inspections, only approved boards are released for use and all rejected boards are segregated.
Companies who meet the scheme’s requirements will be issued with a certificate and certification marks to enable them to demonstrate and promote their certification. Certification is valid for two years and following this is maintained through a programme of annual surveillance audits, with a recertification audit required in the second year before the certification expires.
In addition to offering confidence to contractors, the scheme enables certified companies to demonstrate their competence and highlight their commitment to quality. This offers them a competitive advantage when tendering and can increase repeat business as contractors increasingly recognise the benefit of specifying used timber scaffold boards which are regularly inspected by third party certified competent inspectors.
For further information on the BM TRADA Q-Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme, visit www.bmtrada.com, email: [email protected]; or call: 01494 569821.
having been stored or used inappropriately, BM TRADA has launched its Q Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme, to enable certified companies to demonstrate that their inspectors are competent to determine if boards should remain in use.
While there is no legislative requirement for used timber scaffold boards to be regularly inspected, to ensure safety on site, scaffold boards should be checked and assessed on a regular basis when in use and each time they are re-issued or supplied to site. It is also important that boards which have been checked are stored separately to those that have not.
With major contractors recognising the dangers, they are starting to ask how scaffold board issuing companies can demonstrate the competency of those inspecting boards. The BM TRADA Q-Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme provides a means of verifying that inspectors are suitably qualified.
While most scaffolding companies will ensure their employees complete a scaffolders’ training course, the BM TRADA Scheme provides added confidence to contractors, since the competence of board inspectors is regularly checked by an independent third party body. This enables contractors to specify their hire with confidence and demonstrate due diligence if required.
To achieve certification under the scheme, the scaffolding company must nominate individual employees who will be covered. Each is required to demonstrate their competence to identify damage which is likely to reduce the strength of used timber scaffold boards. Every nominated inspector is required to complete scheme-specific training, pass an examination and complete a competence assessment at the company’s premises.
BM TRADA will also undertake an initial audit of the company to ensure that a documented inspection process is in place. This process must demonstrate that only approved inspectors carry out inspections, only approved boards are released for use and all rejected boards are segregated.
Companies who meet the scheme’s requirements will be issued with a certificate and certification marks to enable them to demonstrate and promote their certification. Certification is valid for two years and following this is maintained through a programme of annual surveillance audits, with a recertification audit required in the second year before the certification expires.
In addition to offering confidence to contractors, the scheme enables certified companies to demonstrate their competence and highlight their commitment to quality. This offers them a competitive advantage when tendering and can increase repeat business as contractors increasingly recognise the benefit of specifying used timber scaffold boards which are regularly inspected by third party certified competent inspectors.
For further information on the BM TRADA Q-Mark Used Timber Scaffold Board Inspection Scheme, visit www.bmtrada.com, email: [email protected]; or call: 01494 569821. SGB provides unusual access solution at Dyrham Park project
One of the oldest names in the UK scaffolding industry has demonstrated its expertise in working on historic buildings with a new project for the National Trust.
SGB, (which is part of Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services) has provided a full scaffold and temporary roofing solution for a £3.8m project to repair the roof of Dyrham Park house, a 17th- Century mansion house in South Gloucestershire. Located in 270-acres of
parkland, Dyrham Park house was in need of significant repair work to its roof structure.
“As well as providing access to the roof for the repair teams, we were also asked to install a full temporary roof covering to protect the Main House and Orangery during the refurbishment,” says Chris Rogers, Northern Design Manager for SGB.
Colette Cuddihy, the National Trust’s project manager said: “This is a major project for us – the roof is 150-years-old and we’d expect the new one to last at least as long. So it really is a once in a lifetime chance for visitors to be allowed up onto scaffolding and to see the extent of the work needed to take apart such a large and complex roof and make it weather tight and secure for the future. We have used 500 tonnes of scaffolding to clad the house – it was specially designed to include the new walkway which circles the whole roof with two viewing platforms, giving a view both inwards over the roof and out from the scaffolding across the park and gardens of Dyrham Park. It is fully accessible with a lift as well as stairs.”
“Given the age of the building and its historic importance, we were able to design and construct a suitable solution which is completely independent of the Main House and Orangery. The whole structure is completely free-standing which removes the risk of any damage that might have been caused if we’d had to tie it into the building,” adds Chris.
The scaffold reaches 27m at the ridge and is constructed from Cuplok®, which is SGB’s multi-purpose steel scaffold system designed for general access, shoring and vertical load support applications. Being a modular system, and featuring a unique node point which allows up to four components to be connected in one fastening action, Cuplok® made it both quick and easy to assemble on this project. The scaffold is fixed to the ground using Mini Screw Piles which are anchored at depths of 2 – 10 metres to accommodate differences in the subsoil around the building.
The temporary roof covers an area of 47.5m long x 38.2m wide, and is constructed from nine roof modules. “This is also a modular system which again made it easy to assemble the sections on the ground and crane them into place,” adds Chris. “They combine to give a clear internal span of 33.4m, so there is plenty of room for the restoration crews to do their work while still being protected from the elements.”
“Unusually for a project to of this nature, the scaffold incorporates a public viewing walkway on each of its four sides.” The walkway is 15 meters high and gives the public the chance to see the conservation team at work on the roof,” Chris adds. “This is something which the National Trust has advertised as an extra ‘visitor experience’. Fortunately, Cuplok® is such a strong system that we were able to accommodate this request without any problem. We’ve also installed a passenger hoist so that wheelchair users will also have full access to the walkway. “This is quite a different project for us. Erecting the scaffold and roof structure while the park remained completely open to visitors was certainly a challenge, and we are not usually asked to make a scaffolding structure accessible to the general public. Fortunately we have undertaken many other similarly complex projects in the past, so we were happy to accept the challenge!”
SGB is part of Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, was established through the merger of Harsco Infrastructure and Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services. The group currently has a turnover of $3bn (US), 22,000 employees, and branches in 30 different countries. Deborah Services gains £150m contract with Babcock
Deborah Services Limited (DSL) has been awarded a five year contract worth £150m with Babcock International, making DSL the marine sector’s largest industrial services provider in the UK.
DSL’s new strategic partnership will see an 800-strong team deployed across Babcock’s facilities at Appledore and Devonport, as well as Rosyth, Faslane and Coulport in Scotland.
DSL will deliver several industrial services including access solutions, containment, blasting, priming, painting and large-scale industrial cleaning.
Sean Corkery, chief executive officer of Siteserv said:“This is a milestone contract for us and marks a transformation for our business in the UK, one of our key growth markets. As a blue chip PLC, Babcock is a prime customer and we look forward to partnering with them on this and future projects.”
Chris Foulkes, managing director of DSL industrial services, said:
“This is the biggest contract ever awarded to an industrial services provider in the UK within this sector. We are delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious customer as Babcock International Group having delivered business-critical operational excellence in the UK for nearly fifty years.
He added: “Industrial Services takes particular pride in our safety record, for which we have won numerous awards. A key part of our tender is how we combine sustainability with innovation when servicing challenging sectors such as petrochemical, oil, gas and nuclear. As with any contract, it will evolve over the years and there is already a strong spirit of partnership between both parties.”
A spokesperson for Babcock International Group said: “DSL’s experience across multiple sectors, relentless focus on safety and commitment to innovation mean they are the right partner for Babcock International Group now and into the future.”
DSL was established 48 years ago and is part of the Siteserv group, a leading international strategic operations partner. The group employs over 4,500 people in 100 locations worldwide.