A RETIRED scaffolder died at home in Cheshunt from mesothelioma after he was exposed to asbestos dust some 50 years ago, the Hertfordshire coroner said today (Tuesday August 14).Image of asbestos dust
Brendan Swaine, of Wood Green Way, died on July 7 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma last year after developing a persistent cough and losing weight. He underwent chemotherapy after he was diagnosed.
The 66-year-old began working as a scaffolder in 1963 and his job involved working with pipes and boards that were covered in dust and debris. He worked in close proximity to laggers who were spraying asbestos foam onto the steel frames of buildings.
After a stint owning his own mini-cab firm, Mr Swaine returned to scaffolding, before retiring in November 2010.
Coroner Edward Thomas recorded a verdict that Mr Swaine had died of industrial disease, adding: “He suffered substantial exposure to asbestos which was the cause of his mesothelioma, the symptoms of which started to develop some 50 years from his first exposure.”
Via: hertfordshiremercury.co.uk
Do you worry about coming into contact with asbestos? let us know in the comments below
Image of the scaffold collapse via: KentOnline.co.ukA family is devastated after a man died in a scaffold collapse in Sittingbourne, Kent today.News sources have reported that the man in his 50s, is believed to have been painting the gable end of a house in the town when the scaffold collapsed.
The man suffered serious head injuries in the accident at a semi-detached house in Chalkwell Road of the town at just after 11am this morning.
Kentonline.co.uk reported: The road was closed by police until around 3pm. Fire crews were also at the scene – removing scaffolding to allow paramedics to treat the man.
An air ambulance had landed, but the paramedics left without taking the victim.
A witness at the scene said: “You can see the scaffolding tower that’s collapsed. You can see the top of it at a jaunty angle underneath the side wall of the house.
“There’s fresh paint at the apex of the roof. It looks as though the man has been painting the top of the house and for some reason the scaffolding tower has collapsed.
“I saw some completely distraught people on the pavement nearby in an absolute state of bewilderment and crying their eyes out. They were being consoled by the police.”
Leading scaffolding safety firm Simian Risk is continuing its expansion into the South of England with the appointment of Bournemouth based specialist Tristan Kelly.Simain Risk appoints Tristan Kelly as Senior Consultant
Tristan joins the firm as Senior Consultant and will oversee a range of projects, including a new contract to provide health and safety support for national media display and solutions company Blink Giant Media.
Blink Giant Media – which specialises in event displays, building wraps and scaffolding wraps and large-scale signage – has taken on Simian Risk to provide a full range of health and safety services for its work at height projects across the UK.
Tristan, who has twenty years experience in the scaffolding industry and eight years experience in the health and safety industry, said: “This is a fantastic new contract for us, as Blink Giant Media are a renowned name and real experts in their field, working with leading international advertising agencies as well as clients including the Royal Shakespeare Company and Air New Zealand.
“Blink Giant Media deliver projects at some of the UK’s biggest, busiest and most difficult to access locations. The business is really raising its game across all areas and they have prioritised health and safety as a key concern – we will work closely with the firm to ensure the safety of both their installation staff and members of the public.”
Tristan is also aiding in overseeing the scaffolding health and safety on the development of BAE Systems’ aircraft carrier at Portsmouth Naval Base, as well as a range of construction, infrastructure and utility projects with Cardiff based firm Lyndon Scaffolding.
He said: “Lyndon Scaffolding is a great client and they currently have a number of prestigious office developments across central London that we are overseeing scaffolding safety on, as well as construction projects for the Severn Bridge, Cardiff and Bristol Infirmaries and work on the National Grid overhead line. We are also helping BAE Systems in their push for a Gold Standard Safety Award.
“As well as site safety I will also be assisting in the business development side of things across the South of England and South Wales. Simian Risk is a fast growing company with projects across the UK and also the Middle East and it’s my aim to match the ambitions of the business by retaining clients and winning new ones.”
Simian Risk is the UK’s leading scaffolding and work at height safety and training specialist, with offices in Warrington, London, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The firm works across a range of sectors such as construction, infrastructure, oil and gas and petrochemical, with blue chip clients including Carillion, Wates, Shell and Balfour Beatty.
The firm was launched in Directors Ian Fyall and Simon Hughes launched Simian Risk Group in Warrington in 2005. With more than 40 years of experience within the scaffolding industry, the business specialises in providing health and safety consultancy for work at height.
In 2010 Ian and Simon split the company into two divisions – Simian Risk and Simian Skill, taking on two new directors, Dave Randles and David Abraham for the respective divisions. Dave Randles became a shareholder in 2011. Dave and David also have more than 40 years of experience to add to that of Ian and Simon.
For more information on Simian Risk visit www.simian-risk.com or call 0845 602 2418.
Harsco Infrastructure have today posted a insightful video showing how scaffolders provided access at Earls Court Station United Kingdom.
httpv://youtu.be/65vTmxbdgGM
In order to refurbish and reglaze the Victorian station roof, Harsco Infrastructure devised and constructed an access structure which spanned the four District Line platforms.
Using a carefully selected range of scaffolding, aluminium beams and heavy shoring components and erected during night time possessions, the completed structure allowed roof work to progress whilst the busy station operated normally below.
Our designers worked constantly with the client to ensure that the supporting structure had minimal impact on passenger flow and posed no hazard to station operation.
To find out more about Harsco Infrastructure, visit: www.harsco-i.com
Wates is holding a Meet the Buyer event next month for subcontractors looking for work on its Excellent Homes for Life housing project for Kirklees Council.Wates wants to meet local firms to offer the the chance of becoming part of its project to build 466 new Council homes for rent across the district.
A range of different trades will be required including those specialising in metal work, tiling and scaffolding.
The event will take place at the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield on Tuesday September 11.
Ahead of the event, interested firms need to complete and return an expression of interest form by this Friday which can be found here
Wates Living Space started the Excellent Homes for Life project at the start of the year and work is now underway on a number of the 27 sites across the district.
Wates is part of a consortium, alongside Regenter and Pinnacle PSG, contracted by Kirklees Council to design, build, manage and maintain the properties for new and existing council tenants.
Joanne Jamieson, Regional Managing Director for Wates Living Space said: “From the outset it has been our aim to utilise our presence on this project to truly benefit local trades and the local workforce.
“We are holding this event to therefore specifically target local businesses across Kirklees and integrate them into our supply chain. This will allow us to identify strengths in the market and deliver quality homes for Kirklees tenants.”
In the weeks following the event, SMEs will also have the chance to seek guidance from Wates’ Supply Chain Manager on contractor supply chains and gather advice on how to secure work for other projects for contractors across the district.
Cllr Peter McBride, Lead Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Kirklees Council, said: “Not only is Excellent Homes for Life delivering much needed housing in Kirklees, it is also providing opportunities for local businesses and our residents who work for them.
“I hope that businesses take this opportunity to benefit and play a part in delivering such a huge project for the district.”
News Via: constructionenquirer.com
The NASC has been asked to comment on the use of impact wrenches during the erection/dismantling of scaffold.The NASC would advise members as follows:
The recommended force needed to tighten a fitting is 50 N/mtr as stated in EN 74. Some wrenches have a minimum setting that is greater than this recommended figure. Therefore there is a risk that a fitting could be over tightened causing damage to the fitting if the wrench is used to its extreme.
Members should note that the use of impact wrenches should be the same as other items of plant and this should entail a period of training, familiarisation and monitoring, to ensure that the wrench is being used in the correct manner at all times.
It should also be noted that during the latter stages of battery life the wrenches may in some cases give insufficient force to adequately tighten fittings.
The NASC recognises that these wrenches do offer certain benefits, including speed and reduction of potential RSI problems but would advise members and users of such equipment that there is a potential for concern over the use and operation and as such each member should adequately access the risk for their own particular situation and ensure that they put in place protocols to cover and ensure safe use.
Assessment
Training
Familiarisation
Monitoring
The NASC will keep this matter open and issue more information as it becomes available.
Via: nasc.org.uk
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) will be visiting construction sites in the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire over the next 3 weeks.The inspectors will target poor performance on smaller construction and refurbishment sites where scaffolds are in place.
The purge is part of a safety drive to reduce the number of workplace deaths an injuries.
In the press release the (HSE) reported that between 2006 and 2011 there were three fatalities and 250 injuries involving fixed or mobile scaffolds in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
(HSE) inspectors will look at whether jobs that involve working at height have been properly planned to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place and that equipment is correctly installed, inspected, maintained and used.
Principal Inspector Jo Anderson, who will be leading the campaign, said:
“Scaffolding still poses a significant risk to those involved in its construction and dismantling as well as those who use it. Too many workers needlessly die because work was not properly planned or the equipment was incorrectly installed or used.
“Over the next three weeks, inspectors will target sites where poor scaffolding is putting workers at risk and when necessary take enforcement action.”
Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below
Nine people have been killed and 10 injured after a gallery under construction in a indoor stadium collapsed in IndiaImage via: www.deccanchronicle.com
Indian news websites have reported that the accident happened at a baseball stadium that is being constructed in Kunnam, Kanchipuram, India. The construction of the stadium had been going on for over a month, concreting work at the site which measures 100’x100′ and 40′ high was going on at a fast pace when the scaffolding collapsed.
Rescue service were using earth movers to remove debris but were not sure if there were more victims. Immediately after the collapse, the labour contractor went underground, police said.
“Labour contractor Sudhakar who had the information about the workers is missing since the accident. We are on the lookout for him,” the police said.
A senior police official said that they were initially focusing on the rescue. “Our aim is to save the maximum number of lives. We need the labour contractor to identify the victims in the hospital. We will look at the other legal formalities on Tuesday,” the police said.
Energy services group Cape saw its shares plunge by more than a third last week after the group issued its third profit warning in a year.
Cape, which provides scaffolding, cleaning and painting services to oil and mining companies, blamed poor trading by its onshore business in Australia.
“The deterioration in performance… will have a significant effect on overall group performance in the near term,” Cape said. Profits in the current year would therefore miss expectations and problems in Asia are “expected to persist into 2013”.
“Lower revenue, combined with increasing pricing pressure, has led to operating margins being significantly lower than previously expected,” the business said. “With delays in major project works in Australia now apparent, no improvement in activity levels is expected in the near term.”
Analysts were concerned that the business failed to win the expected number of contracts.
“Although we felt the share price was pricing in contract slippage, we are disappointed that work packages that we were confident Cape would win have been lost – and this could delay the rate of recovery,” Michael O’Brien, an analyst at Cannacord Genuity, said.
“In addition, we believe that although revenues in the Arabian Gulf are progressing well, margins will be slightly lower than expectations,” Mr O’Brien added. “Given this is Cape’s highest margin area by a long stretch we believe this may concern some investors.”
Cape now expects operating margin, before the impact of any restructuring, to reduce to about half of 2011 levels.
The profit warning was Cape’s third since November. In May, the shares plunged after the group revealed there were problems with a contract in Algeria which would result in a £14m charge. This followed a warning in November in which the company said margin pressure in the Middle East would crimp earnings, as it took a surprise one-off charge for a contract in the North Sea.
Joe Oatley, Cape’s new chief executive, joined the company on June 29 and will now begin a review of the Australian region’s business structure and cut costs.
The shares fell 102.9p to 187p.
News Source: telegraph.co.uk
![[Video] Harsco/SGB provides access structure at Earls Court Station UK](https://scaffmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/harscovid1.png "[Video] Harsco/SGB provides access structure at Earls Court Station UK")
Wates wants to meet local firms to offer the the chance of becoming part of its project to build 466 new Council homes for rent across the district.
A range of different trades will be required including those specialising in metal work, tiling and scaffolding.
The event will take place at the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield on Tuesday September 11.
Ahead of the event, interested firms need to complete and return an expression of interest form by this Friday which can be found here
Wates Living Space started the Excellent Homes for Life project at the start of the year and work is now underway on a number of the 27 sites across the district.
Wates is part of a consortium, alongside Regenter and Pinnacle PSG, contracted by Kirklees Council to design, build, manage and maintain the properties for new and existing council tenants.
Joanne Jamieson, Regional Managing Director for Wates Living Space said: “From the outset it has been our aim to utilise our presence on this project to truly benefit local trades and the local workforce.
“We are holding this event to therefore specifically target local businesses across Kirklees and integrate them into our supply chain. This will allow us to identify strengths in the market and deliver quality homes for Kirklees tenants.”
In the weeks following the event, SMEs will also have the chance to seek guidance from Wates’ Supply Chain Manager on contractor supply chains and gather advice on how to secure work for other projects for contractors across the district.
Cllr Peter McBride, Lead Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Kirklees Council, said: “Not only is Excellent Homes for Life delivering much needed housing in Kirklees, it is also providing opportunities for local businesses and our residents who work for them.
“I hope that businesses take this opportunity to benefit and play a part in delivering such a huge project for the district.”
News Via: constructionenquirer.com 
The NASC would advise members as follows:
The recommended force needed to tighten a fitting is 50 N/mtr as stated in EN 74. Some wrenches have a minimum setting that is greater than this recommended figure. Therefore there is a risk that a fitting could be over tightened causing damage to the fitting if the wrench is used to its extreme.
Members should note that the use of impact wrenches should be the same as other items of plant and this should entail a period of training, familiarisation and monitoring, to ensure that the wrench is being used in the correct manner at all times.
It should also be noted that during the latter stages of battery life the wrenches may in some cases give insufficient force to adequately tighten fittings.
The NASC recognises that these wrenches do offer certain benefits, including speed and reduction of potential RSI problems but would advise members and users of such equipment that there is a potential for concern over the use and operation and as such each member should adequately access the risk for their own particular situation and ensure that they put in place protocols to cover and ensure safe use.
The inspectors will target poor performance on smaller construction and refurbishment sites where scaffolds are in place.
The purge is part of a safety drive to reduce the number of workplace deaths an injuries.
In the press release the (HSE) reported that between 2006 and 2011 there were three fatalities and 250 injuries involving fixed or mobile scaffolds in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
(HSE) inspectors will look at whether jobs that involve working at height have been properly planned to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place and that equipment is correctly installed, inspected, maintained and used.
Principal Inspector Jo Anderson, who will be leading the campaign, said:
“Scaffolding still poses a significant risk to those involved in its construction and dismantling as well as those who use it. Too many workers needlessly die because work was not properly planned or the equipment was incorrectly installed or used.
“Over the next three weeks, inspectors will target sites where poor scaffolding is putting workers at risk and when necessary take enforcement action.”
