Accident rates tumble among NASC members
The NASC Safety Report documents and analyses accident and injury statistics for all 199 NASC full contracting member companies in 2015 – covering 14,954 scaffolding operatives. There were no site fatalities at members companies last year and serious falls from scaffolds/working platforms showed a decrease from nine to just five incidents. The major cause of injury to scaffolders continues to be slips, trips and falls amounting to just over 34% of all injuries reported this year. The NASC Health and Safety Committee is issuing new guidance later this year on the problem. NASC President, Alan Lilley said: “The NASC continues to produce this most detailed and honest breakdown of the incidents that occur annually within the membership of the confederation. “Safety professionals across the construction industry rush to analyse the detail, as do we: the information it contains is used to benchmark our members against the wider industry and to ensure that our safety and technical guidance remains good practice and fit for purpose within the scaffolding and access sectors. “The NASC members’ incident statistics over the years have seen dramatic reductions in major injury and fatalities – and this year sees many positive safety statistics again. “As ever, we must continue to strive for zero incidents throughout the scaffolding and access industry. And I am confident that through greater regulation on the part of the confederation future issues of this well received annual Safety Report will show further reductions in reported incidents within our membership.” NASC Managing Director, Robin James added: “It’s pleasing to see that our members and their 15,000 scaffolding operatives – accounting for a significant share of the UK scaffolding workforce – have once again helped reduce accident and injury statistics across the sector. “By training staff properly and adhering to the latest industry regulations and Safety and Technical guidance – like SG4:15 ‘Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations’ – the NASC membership is helping to make scaffolding and work at height as safe as possible.” The NASC is set to launch its 2016 Safety Report at the forthcoming ‘The Health & Safety Event’ industry event being held at the NEC, March 22-24. To download a digital PDF copy of the NASC 2016 Safety Report click here
Accident and injury rates among NASC member fell sharply last year according to their latest safety report.Burflex Scaffolding sponsors KidsOut Question of Sport event
Burflex Scaffolding sponsors charity for disadvantaged children at a packed out Leeds event.
For the 3rd year running the Hull based firm, Burflex Scaffolding Ltd have sponsored the KidsOut Question of Sport event, this year taking the prestigious Main Sponsor position. The KidsOut charity provides fun and positive experiences for children throughout the UK who are living in refuge, economic hardship or with other acute disadvantages. The event held on 3rd March at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds welcomed over 830 guests who raised a staggering £111,098 for disadvantaged children Anthony Jessop, General Manager at Burflex Scaffolding Ltd said: “It is important to Burflex that we can give something back to the communities in which we work and KidsOut is an excellent charity that provides a great many projects for many kids out there.”Brogan Group Announce 1.2M Man-Hours Accident Free
Brogan Group have announced the achievement of 1,200,000 man-hours accident free.
The award winning international specialist scaffolding and access contractor Brogan Group put this impressive milestone into perspective by mentioning, it would take 350 men, working a 40 hour week, 20 months (84 weeks) to accomplish. Brogan Group recorded an accident free 2015, with over 700,000 man hours worked, despite construction being one of the top three most dangerous industries for non-fatal work accidents (According to the National Safety Council). James Lewis, SHEQ Director, commented on the recent accomplishment: “The Group has now achieved zero reportable accidents twice since 2010, being 2011 and 2015, and everyone involved should be congratulated for their efforts. This reinforces our ultimate aim of ensuring that our workforce are kept safe whilst working on our behalf and that they return home safely each day. We are keen to continue into 2016 on such a positive note with the support of all of our workforce’ *Brogan Group have recorded zero reportable accidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (as amended) from June 2014.TRAD Safety Systems Exhibit at the RCI Show 2016
The UK’s Leading Supplier of Fall Safety Products and Services Receives Great Feedback From its First Year at the Roofing, Cladding & Insulation Event in Coventry.
TRAD Safety Systems’ highly successful exhibition stand at the RCI Show 2016 reinforces the company’s position as leaders of fall safety innovation.
Promoting their comprehensive Roof Safety and Access offering, TRAD Safety Systems exhibited at the event on the 27th and 28th of January 2016 at the RICOH Arena in Coventry.
The demonstration of TRAD Safety System’s products and the showcasing of their unique services was met with very positive feedback from some of the UK’s leading construction companies and roofing and cladding contractors.
Among the products exhibited by TRAD Safety Systems was their Horizontal Lifeline System. Designed specifically to allow for safe working at height on roofs, those who witnessed the benefits of the system
first-hand were very impressed by the product’s customised design.
Visitors to TRAD Safety System’s exhibition stand also received demonstrations of TRAD Edgeguard, a cost-effective guardrail that exceeds all roofing safety regulations. The product was met with very positive feedback and visitors were impressed by how quickly and easily the guardrail can be installed.
One of TRAD Safety Systems most popular product exhibits was the TRAD Walkway System, a non-slip walkway that enables access to all types of roof work. Ideal for use on flat roofs and tiled surfaces, the Walkway System enables workers to tread confidently over slippery surfaces, even when wet.
There was also particular interest from the industry in TRAD Safety System’s fabrication packages, which offer a comprehensive product range, including many of those demonstrated by the team at the exhibition.
With over 150 stands showcasing the latest safety products and services, the annual RCI Show is the number one event for the roofing, cladding and insulation industries. This year saw a record number of exhibitors and visitors in attendance, making 2016 the most successful year to date. The RCI show is vitally important to the construction industry and their industry-leading RCI magazine is instrumental in showcasing the industry’s latest safety innovations.
Reflecting on the event afterwards, TRAD Safety System’s National Sales Manager Oliver Gwinnell said:
‘The RCI Show brings together leading international and UK names from the roofing, cladding and insulation sectors, all under one roof. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments and innovations that the industry has to offer. Our exhibition proved overwhelmingly popular and we were busy from the event’s opening on the Wednesday morning to its close on Thursday evening. The companies that we spoke to were highly impressed by the range of products and services that TRAD Safety Systems has to offer, particularly our Roof Safety and Access products.For us, it was great to hear about the key issues that will impact businesses in the sector over the next few years. We look forward to supporting the RCI event in the future.’
Des Moore, TRAD Group MD commented that this successful exhibition, as well exciting new plans for further growth of the TRAD Group is made entirely possible by the support and continuing investment of the ALTRAD Group.
Following the success of the exhibition, TRAD Safety Systems looks forward to welcoming new working relationships with companies in the construction industry. TRAD Safety Systems is encouraging any businesses that feel they would benefit from their fall safety products and services to get in touch.
Contact TRAD Safety Systems today and discover how their products and services will benefit your business.
To find out more about the safety benefits of TRAD Safety Systems products and services, contact its sales team on 08450 50 70 50.
New North East Training Centre Receives Accreditation from CISRS
CISRS has awarded training provider accreditation to a prestigious industry training centre in the North East – AIS Training in North Shields, part of the Advanced Industrial Solutions group.
The state-of-the-art training village, conveniently located off the A19, in Tyne & Wear and offering 200,000 square foot of first rate training facilities, an on-site hotel and restaurant, is accredited for Part 1 Tube & Fitting Scaffolding and CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS) courses, with Basic Scaffold Inspection Training to follow soon. CISRS Scheme Manager Dave Mosley said: “AIS has a very impressive set-up and rich history in training off-shore and other sectors. They have responded really well to the strict criteria and demands it takes to be a CISRS approved training provider and we are very pleased to have them on board.” Part 1 and COTS scaffold training courses got underway at AIS in February. David John Adams, Lead Scaffold Instructor at AIS Training said: “We are delighted to have been awarded approval to deliver CISRS courses at our world-class training village in Newcastle, which will help make construction and work sites a safer place. Scaffolding is a crucial, highly sought-after skill and CISRS is widely acknowledged as the best industry standard available. We are anticipating high-demand for places. “This is the latest course to be added to our comprehensive portfolio of 175 industry-approved qualifications for the construction, oil and gas, wind and maritime sectors. It will be delivered from our brand new multi-million pound training centre of excellence for the construction sector, which offers state-of-the-art facilities and a world-class learning experience.”F-Board Wins the CN Business Innovation of the Year
F-Board has been crowned the winner of the Construction News Business Innovation of the year 2016.
After much debate by the judges, F-Board was crowned the victor of the CN Business Innovation of the year having demonstrated a number of benefits in terms of the environment, cost efficiency and health and safety through the product of the same name. The F-Board is a scaffold board made entirely from recycled plastic, which the company offers to buy back at the end of its life to make into new F-Boards, reducing the amount of timber used in the scaffolding sector. It also lowers the impact on the environment and reduces CO2 emissions – the UK produces millions of timber scaffold boards every year, which need to be replaced after their typical lifespan of 12 to 18 months. Not only were the judges impressed by the product’s green credentials, but also its ability to improve site safety. Each board’s non-slip design reduces the risk of workers slipping or falling from height in all weather, while the F-Board retainer locks the end of boards into place, preventing them lifting or changing position and creating trip hazards. The F-Board also delivers cost efficiencies that can benefit a project’s budget and be passed through the supply chain. Its lifecycle can reduce the frequency of purchasing scaffolding equipment, and by recycling their boards at the end of their lives, businesses also get a return on investment. As a company, F-Board pointed to its focus on research and development, working with academic institutions to improve the product’s performance and expand its application to sectors such as nuclear, transport and oil and gas. “This breakthrough innovation has huge benefits for the construction industry,” the judges said. “The company has shown dedication to innovation through ongoing product development, and by working on that with a number of leading universities in specialist fields. “This ultra green product ticks all the boxes and the market seems huge,” they added.Wood Group wins $120 million industrial services contract with Babcock International
Wood Group has been awarded a new five year framework contract with a five year extension option, valued at approximately $120 million, by Babcock International to provide industrial services to a number of its UK sites.
The contract will be delivered by Wood Group PSN’s industrial service line business, Wood Group Industrial Services (WGIS) and maintains the company’s leading position in the UK marine sector.
More than 400 people will be employed on the contract that builds on Wood Group Industrial Services’ 15 year relationship with Babcock International. Surface preparation, application of protective coatings, scaffolding, insulation, rope access, cleaning and fire sentry services will be delivered under this framework contract.
Hugh Pelham, managing director of WGIS, said: “Securing this new contract is testament to our track record in the marine sector and relationship with Babcock International. We have a strong history of delivering marine projects safely, to schedule and to budget. I look forward to building on this across further Babcock Group sites, and successfully continuing our long-standing relationship with this key client.” 
The Original Asterix HD Beam
Available in standard lengths of up to 4m, the ASTERIX HD beam is manufactured from alloy tube which has the same diameter as traditional scaffold tube, so no special fittings are required.
Due to the eight hole spigot, the Asterix HD Beam has increased joint strength, and high permissible bending moment and shear values. A high strength, multi-purpose scaffold beam, the ASTERIX HD Beam is suitable for all applications. With consistent 1.0m vertical post spacing and integral post collars, the ASTERIX HD beam can also be used in conjunction with the ALTRIX Temporary Roof System. When used in combination, the load and span capacities of the ALTRIX system can be significantly increased.
For more information about our products and services call us at 0845 899 0845 or visit www.tradhireandsales.co.uk
GKR Win the CN Access & Scaffolding Specialist of the Year
GKR Scaffolding Ltd have won the coveted Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the Year award at the Construction News (CN) Specialist Awards 2016
London-based NASC members GKR Scaffolding Ltd have just celebrated 21-years in business and have recently created their own in-house GKR Academy. The academy gives employment training opportunities for scaffolding labourers and operatives to progress to management positions within the firm. GKR have also just celebrated 500,000+ hours without incurring a RIDDOR incident – proving their track record in health and safety. GKR Scaffolding submitted a CN Specialist Awards application in the access and scaffolding specialist contractor category, focusing on their work on iconic London projects, like the complex and high risk, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, run by principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine – London’s first billion pound construction job. Speaking about the Bloomberg project, GKR Scaffolding Ltd Director, Lee Rowswell said: “We were appointed early to try and unlock the project and solve workable solutions to the client’s demanding ideas. One of the many challenges was to construct a hoist run-off tower that could be moved at any-time to enable the stone cladding to progress on the external façade of the building. “And as Bloomberg is to be clad in stone and bronze and the bronze is not repairable, GKR made the decision to use a fully tethered system on all scaffolds on the project – giving our client the reassurance that nothing could ever damage the bronze.” Other key GKR Scaffolding Bloomberg project statistics included:- 178,836 Man Hours without RIDDOR or Minor Injury
- 3,836 tonnes of scaffold materials on site
- 1,206 aluminium beams to the base of the scenicliftshafts
- 256 deliveries to site with materials out of hours to avoid congestion within the City of London.
Didcot Power Station Collapse: Major Incident Declared
