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. 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.
Avontus Announces Plettac Metrix System Scaffold Support
In its continued commitment to the UK scaffolding market, Avontus has announced that its Scaffold Designer software can design and estimate TRAD Hire & Sales’ Plettac Metrix System Scaffolding.
The Plettac Metrix suite of components is available today for all Scaffold Designer end-users. No software upgrade or additional purchase is required. “We finished full Plettac Metrix support in a few weeks”, says Avontus CEO and Founder Brian Webb. “Scaffold Designer was built from the ground up to easily add systems scaffolding from any manufacturer.” In just a few button clicks Scaffold Designer can fully support the Plettac Metrix product catalogue. Scaffold Designer’s flexibility allows you to create very complex structures, like buttresses, without double counting any of the parts.
Big Ben Could Be Covered in Scaffolding for a Year.
Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower may need to be covered in scaffolding for a year if rumors are true.
Recent media reports have suggested that Big Ben could fall silent if repairs costing upto £40M are not carried out. It has been 31 years since the 156-year-old clock tower had its last overhaul. News outlet Gizmodo has today reported Big Ben could be covered in scaffolding for 12 months after a leaked Commons report was discovered over the weekend. The article goes on to report that the clock’s hands are in danger of stopping dead, while there are also cracks in the tower and issues with metal erosion. The dramatically worded report to MPs said the entire clock mechanism was at risk, adding: “The clock currently has chronic problems with the bearings behind the hands and the pendulum,” reads the report. “Either could become acute at any time, causing the clock to stop – or worse. There are major concerns that if this is not carried out within the next two to three years, the clock mechanism is at risk of failure with the huge risk of international reputational damage for Parliament. In the event of a clock-hand failure, it could take up to a year to repair due to the scaffolding needed.”TATA Excellence Award for XERVON Palmers Supervisor
XERVON Palmers Site Supervisor, Stuart Myers has been presented with an Excellence Award by TATA at their Skinningrove steelworks on Teesside, in the North East of England.
The TATA award has been given in recognition of Stuart’s (and his
XERVON Palmers team) efforts and support shown in providing expert scaffolding and access services in the first week of the current shutdown at the steel plant in the North East.
Mr S. Wood, the lead engineer with TATA congratulated Stuart and made the following comments:
“I would like to personally thank Stuart for his valued contribution to Skinningrove Works and congratulate him on this TATA Excellence Award. The people we employ are an integral part of the success of our business: We can only reach our goals and targets and realise our full potential through the passion, commitment and dedication of people like Stuart. Thank you once again for your contribution. I urge you to continue making that difference and help to drive us forward.”
Ian McFarlane, Director for Business & Project Development at XERVON Palmers said:
“Stuart’s commitment to the TATA Skinningrove shutdown helps demonstrate that our people really do make the difference at XERVON Palmers – helping us continue to provide a quality service with our key clients, like TATA. Receiving recognition like this for our operatives helps us all to contribute together in working for future success at XERVON Palmers on projects like this across the UK.”
And Donald Morrison, CEO of XERVON Palmers added: “Congratulations to Stuart and his team at Skinningrove. It’s dedication to high standards, safety and quality workmanship like this that helps make XERVON Palmers what it is – one of Europe’s leading scaffolding and access providers, working with the best names in high-end construction, industrial, petro-chemical, power & rail sectors.” Scaffolding firm fined £300,000 for manslaughter
A Merseyside scaffolding firm has been fined £300,000 after a worker died at its yard in 2012.
Kings Scaffolding in Liverpool pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter after failing to heed health and safety warnings or take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of employees tasked to carry out work on the roof of the shed at the firm’s yard. Back in September 2012 Kings Scaffolding employee Adrian Smith, 44, had just returned to work on light duties after having a heart attack just days before he died at the firm’s yard in Netherley. While carrying out roof repairs on the company’s storage shed, Adrian fell through a perspex skylight falling more than four meters onto the concrete floor below. He suffered multiple fractures to his skull, a brain injury and fractures to his wrist. Police and paramedics were called to the scene but Mr Smith died later that day in hospital.
Video: 30ft Mobile scaffolding tower crashes down onto busy street
Video captures the scene as a 30ft mobile scaffolding tower came crashing down in a high street, narrowly missing cars.
Last Sunday shop owners and traders in a Winchester High Street dashed to move their cars from the path of a collapsing aluminium mobile tower scaffold. Three dosey contractors who had been clearing out gutters on a shop reportedly proceeded to move the 30ft tower from one side to the other without dismantling it. Luckily nobody was hurt in the incident. A spokesperson for the industry trade body for the safe use of mobile access (PASMA) said: “Given the many fundamental errors in the construction, use and movement of the tower evident in this video, it was almost inevitable that it would overturn. To assemble a narrow width tower to that height without stabilisers or tying in is quite simply dicing with death. To then even countenance moving it, is foolhardy beyond belief. We are relieved that there were no injuries or fatalities as a result of this incident. It could so easily have been the case. It is very frustrating that it could so easily have been avoided – by assembling the tower following the instruction manual, installing stabilisers, and reducing the height of the tower to 2m (4m if stabilisers are fitted) before attempting to move it. Mobile access towers are a very safe, efficient and convenient method of working at height but like anything else in the hands of inexperienced or untrained people, they have the potential to be lethal. That’s why PASMA shouts from the rooftops that mobile access towers must be used only by competent people, following the manufacturers’ instruction manual and the PASMA Code of Practice. PASMA training members deliver its Towers for Users training course through a network of over 470 training centres to equip tower users with the necessary skills and knowledge to avoid just such incidents.”Guest Post: Scaffolding in Power Plant Boilers
Nearly 40% of the world’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants. With over 2,300 of these power plants worldwide, the impact of maintenance on these plants is great. This article provides a primer on the special needs of scaffolding for coal-fired power plant maintenance.
ELECTRICITY FROM COAL Coal is used as fuel to produce superheated steam. This steam is run through turbines to produce electricity. Under normal operations, residue from coal impurities builds up within the interior surfaces, reducing the efficiency of the power plant. In order to correct this, the typical power plant often goes offline in order to be cleaned and maintained. Scaffolding needs to be built to access just about every internal surface.
When a power plant goes offline it stops producing electricity and is a huge financial burden to the power company. To give you an idea of the cost of a power plant shutting down, consider that an average coal fired power plant can produce 600 megawatts per hour, or 600,000 kilowatt-hours. At £0.11 per kwh, this equates to a £66,000 loss in revenue per hour, or about £1.6 million per day.
The complexity of building scaffolding to service a power plant presents unique challenges to a scaffolding company. Even an average-sized boiler requires a massive amount of scaffolding and, to make matters worse, power plants are often located at remote locations that can take days to ship materials to. If a project is delayed for 8 hours because of a few missing parts, the owner is at risk of losing £528,000. A “close enough” bill of materials can put you out of business.
THE SCAFFOLDING STRUCTURE
By far the largest scaffold that needs to be built within a power plant is within the structure called the boiler. The boiler is where coal is ignited to produce superheated steam, which is in turn pushed out to the turbines to produce the electricity. Although boilers can be small, most of the boilers in power-generation are very large, requiring hundreds of people in varying shifts to build the scaffolding.
Boilers consists of four primary areas and shapes that every scaffolder needs to be aware of: the base, the main birdcage structure, the bullnose, and the superheater. Following will illustrate each area of the boiler scaffolding with automatically-generated models from Avontus’ Scaffold Designer software.
THE BASE
The base of every boiler is one of a few different shapes, often a V-bottom or a flat bottom that is sloped. Below the base is an ash hopper that collects the remains of the spent coal.
V-bottom boilers oftentimes have a set of beams extending across the opening with high-strength specialised ladders attached to the ends. Both the beams and the ladders are attached to u-heads and brackets and serve as the foundation for the main structure.
Scaffold collapse causes London traffic chaos
Scaffolding from a building development in Hayes, West London collapsed on Wednesday afternoon (September 30), causing local road closures and heavy traffic in the area.
The structure, surrounding an apartment block under construction, in Station Road collapsed at around 1pm.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the incident happened at 12.53pm. There were no injuries and work is under way to remove the scaffolding from the road.
