Safety & Access have appointed new scaffolding instructors to meet industry demands within the UK and Overseas.
The Nottingham and Humberside based training firm has appointed Terry Sennett, Steve Gregory and John Hall, all of whom have a wealth of experience and knowledge within the industry and bring with them skills within management, practical application and health and safety.
Safety & Access was the first UK training provider to be delivering CISRS Training over three continents from centres at Nottingham and Humberside and the recently opened facilities within the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.
The company has also stated that they have plans to develop new training courses around Scaffold Awareness, Work at height Rescue and System Scaffold Inspection as well as the new CISRS Operative and Supervisor refresher courses. New Instructors Appointed At Safety & Access
Safety & Access have appointed new scaffolding instructors to meet industry demands within the UK and Overseas.
The Nottingham and Humberside based training firm has appointed Terry Sennett, Steve Gregory and John Hall, all of whom have a wealth of experience and knowledge within the industry and bring with them skills within management, practical application and health and safety.
Safety & Access was the first UK training provider to be delivering CISRS Training over three continents from centres at Nottingham and Humberside and the recently opened facilities within the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.
The company has also stated that they have plans to develop new training courses around Scaffold Awareness, Work at height Rescue and System Scaffold Inspection as well as the new CISRS Operative and Supervisor refresher courses. Guest design article: How Do Ties Work ?
Guest Technical Article By IDH, The Independent Design House
IDH was incorporated in July 2011 and established to provide specialist Scaffold Design, Formwork Design & general Temporary Works Design consultancy serving Sub-Contractors, Main Contractors and Client developers.
How Do Ties Work ?
To stabilise a scaffold we tie it to the adjacent building as the scaffold is erected. Conventionally this is done by means of an anchor fixing in to the façade and then a tie tube on doubles across both standards and all within 300mm of the ledger / standard interface. This point being a node (point of NO DE-flection). Depending on a number of factors such as geographic location, netting, sheeting, height and load we determine in the design process what tie pattern to adopt and the frequency of ties. Ties however, undertake more than one function. Firstly they prevent the scaffold from pulling away from the building – but if this is the case why not fix them at all standards, or for that matter at every 4 standards for instance. In addition to providing this pull restraint, they also stabilise the scaffold from swaying parallel to the building and contribute to the effective length of the standard in question.
Sway stability parallel to the building is provided by a combination of the tie tube and the face brace. By installing the correct sway bracing, the outside line is prevented from moving parallel to the building. By securing the tie tube to the building façade and the outside line we now have a tube which is prevented from movement at both ends. When the inside line is now secured to this tube (with doubles) the inside line is now also prevented from moving parallel to the building by the bending resistance of this tie tube. This is why inside lines are not sway braced!
In some designed circumstances it may be a requirement to tie to the inside line only or miss ties altogether. When these scenarios occur the scaffold should be designed as we no longer have that sway restraint present and alternative measures need to be considered such as plan bracing or V-ties.
For more explanation on this and other technical scaffold design subjects visit the IDH blog: http://www.idh-design.co.uk/blog/
Author: Tim Burt on Google+ Hertel retains major access and insulation framework contract
Hertel, the Preston Brook-based multi-disciplinary construction and maintenance services company, has retained a contract to provide access and insulation services within the nuclear industry.
Magnox Ltd, responsible for managing 10 of the UK’s first generation of nuclear power stations, has named Hertel to provide access requirements, including scaffolding rope access, asbestos removal, insulation maintenance and mechanical in a four-year framework contract, which can be extended to six.
Hertel has worked with Magnox since 2005 and will provide these services at Hunterston A, Berkeley, Bradwell, Chapelcross, Dungeness A, Hinkley Point A and Trawsfynydd sites, which are currently being decommissioned; Oldbury and Sizewell A currently being defueled; and Wylfa the only remaining Magnox site generating.
Paudie Somers, Hertel UK & Ireland Operations Director, says: “This is a significant achievement for Hertel. An important part of our work with Magnox is our ability to work collaboratively with other contractors on site, which enables us to provide an efficient and effective service.”
David Fitzsimons, Hertel UK & Ireland Managing Director, adds: “As the third major nuclear framework contract we have won in the last year, with the deplanting demolition and asbestos framework win at Magnox last year and the MDSW framework at Sellafield this year, the new contract reinforces our position as a leading provider of access and insulation services to the UK nuclear industry.”
Steven Lock, Magnox Project Support Services Category Manager, comments: “The Access and Insulation Framework provides a sustainable solution to all of the Magnox sites and is key in supporting the safe delivery of our work programme – ranging from generation right through the various stages of decommissioning as we approach Care and Maintenance.”
Hertel specialises in working at oil refineries, chemical plants, power stations and nuclear facilities. The company employs 2,500 nationally, of which more than 500 are in the North West working at sites such as Sellafield and the Stanlow Oil Refinery Turner OCTO: System Scaffolding for the Future?
Turner Access Ltd, specialists in access and scaffolding product and service provision, has recently added to its innovative range with Turner OCTO® System Scaffolding. Manufactured by sister company Turner Fabrication Ltd, Turner OCTO® should be described as the next generation in system scaffolding.
Designed and manufactured with versatility, safety and productivity in mind, Turner OCTO® adopts the factors required in a scaffolding system for the future. Safe assembly, alteration and dismantling are achieved with OCTO® GuardAid®; a scaffold tool enabling advance guardrail methodology. Decks can be made tamper-resistant with the unique OCTO® Lock function. This removes the risk of unauthorised modification and reduces inspection time. Costs can be reduced through improved production output, thereby reducing labour and other operating costs. Environmental benefits are achieved by utilisation of longer life materials.
System components are manufactured within a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 environment using state of the art technology to ensure the highest quality. Turner OCTO® System Scaffolding offers users a revolutionary access solution. Due to the design of the OCTO® cup, eight components can be fitted at one time, on the same level, allowing a greater versatility than other systems. A 360 degree rotation within the joint provides an almost limitless possibility in structure size and shape. A recent design for a 59m freestanding Turner OCTO® structure for an oil rig flare stack is testament to that.
With over 25 years experience in the Access and Scaffolding Industry, Turner Access has the know-how and expertise to take this revolutionary product to market. Turner Access personnel have been involved in scaffold design, structure installation and specialist training for many years in numerous market sectors; from commercial contract jobs to industrial applications on-and-offshore. As a scaffold service provider, Turner Access can also provide site analysis and an evaluation of access solutions required for particular applications. Turner OCTO® is now widely used in the company’s Scaffold Contracts Division; enabling high profile contracts to be won as a result of the System’s safety, versatility and productivity benefits. Turner Access Contracts Manager states;
“Turner OCTO® has opened doors for us with many local authorities. We have been awarded term contracts because the client knows our System will ensure the job is completed on schedule. The modular nature of the System allows us to assemble runs of scaffolding very quickly before other sub-contractors are on site. This type of work is very common in social housing projects where time is of the essence.
Turner OCTO® is often the client’s choice because it is aesthetically pleasing, unlike some traditional types of scaffolding. This is a benefit for works on Government buildings, landmarks or areas in tourist hotspots.”
Turner Access will be attending, along with other Turner Group companies, the SPE Offshore Europe conference and exhibition in Aberdeen from 3rd to 6th September 2013. For a chance to see the impressive Turner OCTO® System Scaffolding and to speak to an access solution expert, visit Stand 1C41. Alternatively, visit www.turner-OCTO®.com for further product information. NASC has appointed three new regional chairmen
New mandatory CISRS training course introduced
“Change is on the cards”…CISRS has introduced a mandatory New Entrant Trainee and Scaffolding Labourer course into the scheme.
The new must-have CISRS training makes it a requirement for any new entrant Scaffolding Trainee or Scaffolding Labourer to complete a CISRS one-day course before a card will be issued. This will go live from September 1st 2013.
The new training courses will be carried out at CISRS-approved centres across the UK. Alternatively, the courses can be run ‘in-house’ by a suitably qualified member of staff – assuming the facilities exist to carry out the training. Any scaffolding company wishing to do ‘in-house’ training will be required to make an application to CISRS to deliver this course, and will have their eligibility assessed before being allowed to conduct the courses.
To accompany the new courses, a training and assessment package will be available for applicants – including a Power Point presentation, Manual handling DVD, a bank of test questions, practical exercises, certificates and other material to assist with the training course.
The CISRS New Entrant Labourer course will include:
- Relevant Regulations and Codes of Practice
- General Responsibilities
- Basic Scaffold Terminology (Components & Application)
- Servicing of Equipment, Tube, Fittings etc.
- Boards & Stock – Quality Control
- Health, Welfare, Hygiene & Housekeeping
- Electrical Safety
- Fire Prevention & Control
- Noise & Vibration
- Work at Height
- Accident Prevention & Reporting
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Site Transport Safety (Including Loading & Unloading)
- Equipment & Tools
- Manual Handling (Including a practical element)
- Lifting Equipment Using a Rope & Wheel
- Questions/Test Paper
Innovations: The Tube Monkey
Introducing a new timesaving device for the laborious job of sheeting a scaffold.. Say hello to The Tube Monkey !
The Tube Monkey was conceived and designed by a scaffolder who recognised the inherent dangers and safety issues involved with the traditional methods of erecting scaffold sheeting.
The Tube Monkey is created by a two-piece system that fits onto the outside of scaffolding structure using double coupler fittings. The device then allows a roll of plastic sheeting to be attached and then pulled across each lift from the inside
The Tube Monkey is operated by only one operative from the inside of the lift. This ensures safety and simplicity. Safety to the public is also minimised further. Secondly, by only needing one person to install scaffold sheeting and being quicker than traditional methods, it decreases costs twofold; less labour is needed and less time is taken.
The Tube Monkey is available to buy direct from the Developer at £295 inclusive of VAT and delivery but Affordable Facilities Ltd have promotional offers so if you want to try out The Tube Monkey for yourself visit: http://www.affordable-facilities.co.uk/The-Tube-Monkey or contact Anna Piechocki on 020 871 3145 to arrange purchase and delivery direct to your site.
Scaffolding firm fined after labourer’s death fall
XERVON Palmers nears completion on Heathrow Terminal project
Scaffolding contractor, XERVON Palmers, is nearing completion on a multi-million, 18-month contract providing bespoke scaffolding and access services for Heathrow Airport’s state-of-the-art new Terminal 2 – aka ‘The Queen’s Terminal.’
The XERVON Palmers work on the T2B site at Heathrow’s T2 – for top construction firm, Balfour Beatty – began in January 2012. And at the project’s peak, XERVON Palmers provided a significant number of skilled scaffolding operatives and scaffolding equipment for the contract on the secure site which is one of the largest airports in Europe.
The contract has centred around providing scaffolding services and access solutions for the construction of the new T2B building at the airport in three phases, making way for the construction of a new, 600m long and 35m wide, split-level pier (T2B) and the proposed Heathrow East Terminal (HET). And some of the work has been involved in creating scaffolding underground, to assist in the construction of connecting tunnels for rail services under the T2B building.
The access has been provided using a mix of traditional tube and fitting and modern Cuplok and Layher system scaffolding including the creation of large birdcage scaffolds in the T2B’s atriums and escalator constructions.
Heathrow Airport deals with over 67 million passengers a year from its five terminals and more than 90 airlines use the airport. Working on such a busy, sensitive site has thrown up unique scaffolding and access challenges for XERVON Palmers – including not interrupting sight lines for the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower or disturbing RADAR signals while working at height, gaining clearance of advanced security systems and organising BAA passes for all of the operatives (a six month process). All site deliveries have been made, using specific pre-set access and egress routes at set times, gaining permit approvals for certain access equipment and clearance of night / weekend / overtime working hours.
Furthermore, XERVON Palmers had to adhere to strict risk assessments for working at height, working adjacent to live airport roads and pedestrian routes, working adjacent to live occupied buildings, materials handling, working with access equipment and plant, working in a multiple contractor environment and any extra ordinary working hours. And all XERVON Palmer operatives needed to be briefed on the airport’s extensive emergency arrangements, traffic management systems on site and be up to date with COSHH and manual handling assessments.
The XERVON Palmers Divisional Manager for Airports said: “Working on such a sensitive, busy site provides us with plenty of challenges, but XERVON Palmers are experts in aviation scaffolding and access. Sorting out the security, health and safety and logistic issues of working on large airports is something we do year on year and we are well used to – particularly at Heathrow, where we’ve previously worked on all five Terminals and other peripheral buildings providing scaffolding and access. And, personally, I’ve been working on site at Heathrow for many years. We have risen to the challenges, met all site criteria and have almost completed the works without a complication, saving the principal contractor any additional charges caused by security or safety issues.
The work itself providing scaffolding and access to support Balfour Beatty’s T2B building work has been exciting and challenging and we have enjoyed being part of such a large scale, modern construction project. It’s just the sort of aviation contract XERVON Palmers love to do.”
Ian McFarlane, Director for Business & Project Development at XERVON Palmers said: “We are delighted to have been involved with the works at Heathrow’s T2B, which is a superb, top level de-construction and building project – only made possible by the quality of the scaffolding and access we have professionally provided. Airport works of this scale always require expertise and knowledge when it comes to providing access solutions and our XERVON Palmers team – from management to operatives – have the know-how to make it happen, safely and efficiently.”
And Donald Morrison, CEO of XERVON Palmers added: “Having previously worked on Terminal 5 at Heathrow, we had the proficiency and know-how to make this contract work smoothly for principal contractors, Balfour Beatty. The skilled scaffolding and access solutions XERVON Palmers provide is just part of the job. Knowing how to operate and manage large numbers of operatives on a sensitive site like Heathrow is something not every company can do, but it’s the sort of contract we relish taking on and providing successful services for, safely and efficiently.”
Terminal 2 is set to open on June 4th 2014 and is being dubbed by the UK’s leading airport as “the latest step in the transformation of Heathrow… designed from the outset with the needs of the individual passenger at its heart and with sustainability as a guiding principle. Terminal 2 is central to Heathrow’s vision of making every journey better. Partner airlines will move closer together to improve flight connections and there will be more natural light and space than you are used to seeing in an airport. It will be an extraordinary new space in its own right – great for airlines and the staff who work there and great for every single passenger.”
The XERVON Palmers Heathrow Terminal 2B contract is expected to finish this summer, on time and on budget.
The NASC release further details on the forthcoming TG20:13
The NASC has unveiled further launch details of the forthcoming, influential, all-new TG20:13 scaffolding industry standard technical guidelines – developed in conjunction with technical software experts, CADS.
With the endorsement of the UKCG, HSE and CITB, the NASC expects TG20:13 to be taken up by the industry, with principal contractors adopting the guidelines as a minimum requirement – making it an essential tool for the scaffolding sector, whether an NASC member, or not.
The objective of TG20 is to provide guidance for everyone in the wider construction industry. It is a user-friendly document which will be essential for the expert and occasional user. The NASC sees it as a vital part of improving standards of all scaffolding.
The NASC’s TG20:13 – which will launch in the autumn – is totally re-vamped and will feature three sections:
- 1. An all-new, user-friendly, 250-page ‘Management Guide,’ with illustrations which encompasses a very wide range of everday scaffolds.The guide provides practical guidance for common types of scaffolding supported by detailed structural research and calculations. Guidance is provided for independent scaffolding (2m/3m lifts), interior birdcages, chimney stack scaffolds, loading bays, ladder-access towers, free-standing towers, lift shaft towers and putlog scaffolding. New ‘compliance sheets’ are also included, supported by structural research and design to BS EN 12811 (see on). The guide includes leg loads for all the scaffolds covered in the guide.
- 2. A new ‘Design Guide’ for engineers and designers. Guidance for engineers from TG20:08 Volumes 1 and 2 has been amalgamated, edited and updated into the TG20:13 Design Guide. And a design standard for prefabricated (‘Readylock’) transoms has been defined.
- 3. The exciting, innovative and superbly easy-use, modern, electronic ‘e-Guide’ – serving as a digital “simple pocket reference guide,” making it incredibly easy to check 100’s of different scaffolds for compliance, without the need for additional, costly design work.
- New technical guidance notes for scaffolding designers including many more types of scaffolds that will be exempt from further design, including loading bays, ladder towers, interior birdcages, bridges and the use of pre-fabricated (‘Readylock’) transom units and high yield scaffold tube. And all will be supplied with leg loads.
- TG20 ‘Compliance Sheets’ providing a clear summary of the requirements for TG20 scaffolding, to allow easy signing-off and compliance – available in both the Management Guide (paper) and e-Guide (PDF). These will feature safe heights, tie duties, bay lengths, transom spacing, location and other vital criteria.
- A new, simplified, heavily R&D’d wind map system, with an automatic, accurate wind calculator. And the e-guide automatically calculates your current location, height above sea level and wind speed on site.
- Outstanding issues with TG20:08 have been resolved, and simplified, the guidance now supports standard working practices fully
- The new e-Guide will include safe height results, including those with add-ons and Readylock transoms, calculations have been added for scaffolds with doubled standards and a new option has been provided to reduce the tie duty by providing more ties.
