U.K. Edition
Scaffolder avoids prison for bat attack on girlfriend
A MAN has narrowly avoided prison for attacking his then girlfriend with a wooden bat, leaving her soaked in blood and needing stitches.
Alistair Smith, a 33-year-old scaffolder from Roseberry Road, Exmouth, also rowed with the woman’s work colleague during a social event and threatened him with a kitchen knife.
Smith was given 40 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, at Exeter Crown Court.
He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and to pay £500 compensation to his victim.
Smith must also stick to a curfew to stay at home every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 8pm and 8am until August 28.
He had admitted assaulting the woman occasioning her actual bodily harm and an offence of affray.
The incident happened on October 16 last year, after the victim arranged a leaving party for a colleague and Smith joined them during the evening. At 1.30pm, they headed back to his partner’s home to continue partying and some of the guests left while others went upstairs.
A colleague checked the woman’s welfare after hearing the couple rowing and he noticed that Smith was holding a wooden bat behind his back.
The colleague went away after Smith’s girlfriend said she was fine but he returned after hearing a crash.
The woman had left but Smith was pacing around with a knife in his hand.
Prosecutor Howard Phillips said the defendant threatened the colleague with the knife but others came downstairs and Smith calmed down.
“The colleague said he was terrified,” Mr Phillips told the court.
A taxi driver found Smith’s girlfriend wandering in the street, covered in blood.
“She told him her boyfriend had beat her up,” said the prosecutor.
“She had a badly swollen face, her left ear was bleeding…she had a laceration to her skull and needed two or three stitches to her scalp.”
The woman later told police that she could not remember how she was injured.
Mr Phillips said: “She remembered a scuffle and words being exchanged and remembered being punched, flying and falling down, she had to get out of the house to escape.”
The defendant made no comment when arrested. He has convictions for dishonesty, when he was a youth, and two for drink-driving and one that was the equivalent of being bound over to keep the peace, in Australia in 2006.
Defence counsel Sarah Hornblower said the defendant had apologised to the victim and he was in a new relationship.
Judge John Neligan said he was taking into account that Smith had a job and family responsibilities.
The judge said the public would be better served if the defendant did unpaid community work instead of being sent to prison. He also ordered Smith to attend a programme to look at his alcohol use.
Via: www.thisisexeter.co.uk
Apprentice winner Stella English weds her scaffolder boyfriend
APPRENTICE winner Stella English has tied the knot with her scaffolder boyfriend, who has been linked to the criminal underworld. She married Ray Dewar in a quiet ceremony on March 22. A spokesman for the couple said the ceremony, near Colchester, Essex, was ‘a very low-key affair’. Contestants from the last series of Lord Sugar’s hit TV show were among guests. It is believed Stella, 31, invited her boss but Lord Sugar was unable to attend. Dewar, father to Stella’s two sons, Edward, four, and Frank, two, was cleared of intimidating witnesses for a gangland ‘Mr Big’ in 1993. Stella, who grew up in Thamesmead, South-East London, where crime is rife, got engaged to Dewar shortly after landing her £100,000 job earlier this year. Via: www.themirror.co.uk
High winds hit scaffolding on BT building
HIGH winds caused traffic chaos when scaffolding surrounding the new BT development on South Shields riverside became unsafe.
Police were forced to close the roads near the building on Harton Staithes at about noon yesterday, over fears the scaffolding could pose a risk to passing motorists and pedestrians.
Firefighters were on standby as workers battled against the strong winds to make the steel structure safe, while traffic was diverted away from the building.
Lorry driver Billy Carruthers, 49, from Sunderland, said: “There has been a bit of a hold-up and no doubt it’s inconvenient for all of us on the road.
“But it could be dangerous if something falls, and they have to keep the place safe.”
A police spokesman confirmed the roads were re-opened at around 1pm after the scaffolding was made secure.
The controversial building on the Riverside is a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and BT.
As part of a strategic partnership between the pair, the telecoms giant agreed to set up its regional headquarters on the riverside location at South Shields.
However, the siting of the building has not been without criticism with fears it will block the view of the riverside.
Via: www.shieldsgazette.com
Police were forced to close the roads near the building on Harton Staithes at about noon yesterday, over fears the scaffolding could pose a risk to passing motorists and pedestrians.
Firefighters were on standby as workers battled against the strong winds to make the steel structure safe, while traffic was diverted away from the building.
Lorry driver Billy Carruthers, 49, from Sunderland, said: “There has been a bit of a hold-up and no doubt it’s inconvenient for all of us on the road.
“But it could be dangerous if something falls, and they have to keep the place safe.”
A police spokesman confirmed the roads were re-opened at around 1pm after the scaffolding was made secure.
The controversial building on the Riverside is a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and BT.
As part of a strategic partnership between the pair, the telecoms giant agreed to set up its regional headquarters on the riverside location at South Shields.
However, the siting of the building has not been without criticism with fears it will block the view of the riverside.
Via: www.shieldsgazette.com Practice makes perfect for scaffolding for the royal wedding
Scaffolders have spent a month mocking up a scaffold in a field to test out the TV viewing platform for the royal wedding.
The London firm building the 20ft-high structure first erected it in the Cambridgeshire countryside before attempting to create the “best view in the house” outside Westminster Abbey.
The scaffold, to hold 33 TV and radio staff, plus press photographers from around the world, is nearly complete.
A prime spot has been secured by the Standard to ensure readers see the best pictures of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 29 wedding. The 24-ton steel structure consists of about 2,000 pieces of German-made scaffolding.
Geoff Tyler, general manager of Croydon-based Media Structures, said: “We built the whole thing in a Cambridgeshire field in one month.
“We rented the field off a farmer to ensure everything was perfect. There are a lot of different platform levels and we wanted to resolve any issues before getting to the Abbey.”
Every detail was recreated in the field beside the Fens near Soham.
The structure is so big a construction licence was needed by Westminster council before 15 men could begin assembling it.
The scaffold will be covered in plywood and painted in a Cumberland stone finish to match surrounding buildings in Victoria Street and the handrails will be painted silver. A technical firm will ensure the ceremony can be broadcast in high definition.
The firm, which impressed with its work at events such as Wimbledon and Trooping The Colour, is building an even bigger media village for 3,000 near Buckingham Palace. Other broadcast structures are being built on the procession route.
Via: www.thisislondon.co.uk
The London firm building the 20ft-high structure first erected it in the Cambridgeshire countryside before attempting to create the “best view in the house” outside Westminster Abbey.
The scaffold, to hold 33 TV and radio staff, plus press photographers from around the world, is nearly complete.
A prime spot has been secured by the Standard to ensure readers see the best pictures of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 29 wedding. The 24-ton steel structure consists of about 2,000 pieces of German-made scaffolding.
Geoff Tyler, general manager of Croydon-based Media Structures, said: “We built the whole thing in a Cambridgeshire field in one month.
“We rented the field off a farmer to ensure everything was perfect. There are a lot of different platform levels and we wanted to resolve any issues before getting to the Abbey.”
Every detail was recreated in the field beside the Fens near Soham.
The structure is so big a construction licence was needed by Westminster council before 15 men could begin assembling it.
The scaffold will be covered in plywood and painted in a Cumberland stone finish to match surrounding buildings in Victoria Street and the handrails will be painted silver. A technical firm will ensure the ceremony can be broadcast in high definition.
The firm, which impressed with its work at events such as Wimbledon and Trooping The Colour, is building an even bigger media village for 3,000 near Buckingham Palace. Other broadcast structures are being built on the procession route.
Via: www.thisislondon.co.uk Construction worker left blind in one eye after falling from scaffolding
A CONSTRUCTION company near Cambridge has been fined after one of its employees suffered severe head injuries which blinded him in one eye.
Builder and fitter John Ingram was refurbishing an agricultural building in Hertfordshire last March when he fell from a tower scaffold erected on top of a freight container.
Mr Ingram, 55, of Lode, suffered facial fractures and was in a coma for several days.
He was unable to work for eight months following the incident.
His employer Balsham (Buildings) Ltd of High Street, Balsham, appeared at Watford Magistrates’ Court today and admitted four breaches of health and safety legislation.
The company was fined £14,000 and told to pay £8832.30 costs.
Via: www.cambridgefirst.co.uk
Builder and fitter John Ingram was refurbishing an agricultural building in Hertfordshire last March when he fell from a tower scaffold erected on top of a freight container.
Mr Ingram, 55, of Lode, suffered facial fractures and was in a coma for several days.
He was unable to work for eight months following the incident.
His employer Balsham (Buildings) Ltd of High Street, Balsham, appeared at Watford Magistrates’ Court today and admitted four breaches of health and safety legislation.
The company was fined £14,000 and told to pay £8832.30 costs.
Via: www.cambridgefirst.co.uk Plymouth scaffolder erected dangerous scaffolding
A Plymouth man who erected scaffolding and left it in a dangerous condition had ignored an order to undertake safety training, city magistrates’ heard.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited a residential property in Alma Road, Plymouth on 16 March 2009 and found several basic safety failings in scaffolding erected by Arthur John Tucker for roofing work.
Plymouth Magistrates Court heard only one guard rail was found on the working platform that required two, no safety harnesses were used to erect the scaffold and an unsecured scaffold pole was resting on a broken concrete block wall.
HSE served a prohibition notice ordering work to stop and Mr Tucker was also served with an improvement notice to undertake training in scaffolding safety, which he had not previously done.
Despite these orders inspectors returning to the site found Mr Tucker had failed to carry out the training under and were forced to prosecute.
Mr Tucker, of Skylark Rise, Woolwell, Plymouth pleaded guilty to contravening the requirements of an Improvement Notice to provide sufficient training for himself and his employee under Section 33 (1) (g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,108 in costs. The magistrates also ordered Mr Tucker to complete the additional training for himself and his employees within 18 months of the hearing.
After sentencing, HSE Inspector, Barry Trudgian, said:
“It is absolutely imperative that scaffolding is erected safely by well trained workers to avoid often catastrophic incidents.
“Mr Tucker not only illustrated his lack of professionalism when the scaffolding was erected but he then ignored a legal order intended to increase his competence. He has found today that compliance with these notices is compulsory, not optional.
“Proper training in scaffolding techniques would have easily avoided the basic mistakes made and created a much safer environment for his own workers and the roofers relying on his workmanship.”
Via: HSE (Press Release)
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited a residential property in Alma Road, Plymouth on 16 March 2009 and found several basic safety failings in scaffolding erected by Arthur John Tucker for roofing work.
Plymouth Magistrates Court heard only one guard rail was found on the working platform that required two, no safety harnesses were used to erect the scaffold and an unsecured scaffold pole was resting on a broken concrete block wall.
HSE served a prohibition notice ordering work to stop and Mr Tucker was also served with an improvement notice to undertake training in scaffolding safety, which he had not previously done.
Despite these orders inspectors returning to the site found Mr Tucker had failed to carry out the training under and were forced to prosecute.
Mr Tucker, of Skylark Rise, Woolwell, Plymouth pleaded guilty to contravening the requirements of an Improvement Notice to provide sufficient training for himself and his employee under Section 33 (1) (g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,108 in costs. The magistrates also ordered Mr Tucker to complete the additional training for himself and his employees within 18 months of the hearing.
After sentencing, HSE Inspector, Barry Trudgian, said:
“It is absolutely imperative that scaffolding is erected safely by well trained workers to avoid often catastrophic incidents.
“Mr Tucker not only illustrated his lack of professionalism when the scaffolding was erected but he then ignored a legal order intended to increase his competence. He has found today that compliance with these notices is compulsory, not optional.
“Proper training in scaffolding techniques would have easily avoided the basic mistakes made and created a much safer environment for his own workers and the roofers relying on his workmanship.”
Via: HSE (Press Release) Northampton scaffolding firm boss facing Spain murder charge
SPANISH police have yet to say whether a man from Northampton who stands accused of fatally stabbing another Brit during a bar brawl in Majorca is to be charged with murder.
Thomas Swannell, aged 44, of Wellingborough Road, Northampton, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning by police on the Balearic island following the alleged attack in a bar in Magaluf.
Swannell, a scaffolding firm boss, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing Gary Vigors, aged 41, from Essex, in the neck with a bottle. He was on an annual cricket tour with Finedon Dolben Cricket Club.
He was due to appear in court in Majorca yesterday.
Eyewitnesses have spoken about how they found Mr Vigors, a father-of-one, lying on the side of the road following an incident at the popular Cafe Plaza bar, at around 2.20am.
Bar staff tried to resuscitate him for several minutes before an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital. He was later pronounced dead by paramedics.
It has also emerged the two men did not know each other and were with different groups in Majorca.
Finedon Dolben Cricket Club officials have confirmed Swannell has been part of the club “for a little while” and had taken on the responsibility as one of the club’s sponsors this year.
Stewart Miller, club chairman, said: “Thomas Swannell has been part of the club for a little while, then as a result he offered to sponsor a few things for us this year. We have many, many sponsors who sponsor anything from a cricket ball to a shirt.”
Mr Miller said that most of the club members of the tour returned as planned yesterday afternoon.
He added: “We are absolutely devastated and I’m sure that everyone would have been glad to get back to their families. It was very much a family touch with everyone from pensioners to young players, it wasn’t a bunch of lads on their own. The bulk of the people travelling are from Finedon and I would imagine it has been horrendous for all of them.”
A spokesman at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office last night confirmed they were aware a British man had been arrested following the incident in Majorca. The Chron attempted to speak to family members at Mr Swannell’s £500,000 home yesterday but they declined.
Via: www.northamptonchron.co.uk
Lavendon Access Services Wins Construction News Specialist Award
Lavendon Access Services has won the prestigious Construction News Specialist Award as the UK’s best access or scaffolding supplier in 2011.
The judges said they based their decision on the finalists’ rate of growth, business successes, commitment to health and safety, client satisfaction and future ambitions.
Members of the judging panel included Ray Horwood, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, and Sean Bowles, Operations Director of housing developers Galliford Try.
The panel concluded: “Lavendon Access Services is a company that stands out from the pack in terms of commitment to a strong and uniformed workforce while achieving excellence to customers.”
Accepting the award, Mike Potts, Lavendon Access Services’ UK Chief Executive, said: “One of the most pleasing aspects of this award is that five of the six other finalists were scaffolding companies.
“I believe this is a clear message that the benefits of powered access, in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safety, are increasingly accepted by decision-makers in the construction industry.
“Our employees’ commitment to service innovation, safety and customer satisfaction has played a major part in Lavendon Access Services being named as winners of the Specialist Award within the Access and Scaffolding category.
“2010 was definitely a challenging year for the powered access industry, but the quality of people we employ and services we provide has ensured that we have continued to retain and secure new business.”
The awards ceremony took place at the London Hilton, Park Lane, and was attended by 600 leaders in specialist contracting across the UK.
The award was presented by Construction News, the UK’s leading construction magazine, and supported by the National Specialists Contractors Council.
Nick Edwards, editor of Construction News magazine commented: “Eighty companies made it onto the shortlist of this year’s awards across 18 categories. Eighty reasons why whatever the state of the economy, while the planners delay, the politicians talk and the bankers get paid, the country’s specialist subcontractors will keep on delivering the goods. Well done to all of you.”
Via:
The judges said they based their decision on the finalists’ rate of growth, business successes, commitment to health and safety, client satisfaction and future ambitions.
Members of the judging panel included Ray Horwood, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, and Sean Bowles, Operations Director of housing developers Galliford Try.
The panel concluded: “Lavendon Access Services is a company that stands out from the pack in terms of commitment to a strong and uniformed workforce while achieving excellence to customers.”
Accepting the award, Mike Potts, Lavendon Access Services’ UK Chief Executive, said: “One of the most pleasing aspects of this award is that five of the six other finalists were scaffolding companies.
“I believe this is a clear message that the benefits of powered access, in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safety, are increasingly accepted by decision-makers in the construction industry.
“Our employees’ commitment to service innovation, safety and customer satisfaction has played a major part in Lavendon Access Services being named as winners of the Specialist Award within the Access and Scaffolding category.
“2010 was definitely a challenging year for the powered access industry, but the quality of people we employ and services we provide has ensured that we have continued to retain and secure new business.”
The awards ceremony took place at the London Hilton, Park Lane, and was attended by 600 leaders in specialist contracting across the UK.
The award was presented by Construction News, the UK’s leading construction magazine, and supported by the National Specialists Contractors Council.
Nick Edwards, editor of Construction News magazine commented: “Eighty companies made it onto the shortlist of this year’s awards across 18 categories. Eighty reasons why whatever the state of the economy, while the planners delay, the politicians talk and the bankers get paid, the country’s specialist subcontractors will keep on delivering the goods. Well done to all of you.”
Via: Scaffolder cycles for charity
Keen Corsham cyclists embarking on a 100-mile ride this weekend have already raised £1,800 for their chosen charity. The seven friends teamed up to carry out the two-day adventure to the New Forest and back in a bid to raise money for Wiltshire Wishes, a charity helping local children suffering from disabilities and illnesses, and Cancer Research. The idea was the brainchild of Corsham couple Kerry and Triston Ward, of Prospect, who were inspired by the work of the two charities. Mr Ward, 34, a scaffolder, will be joined by friends Chris Hemmings, Justin Carr, Gene Gibbins, Steven Ward, Paul Cartwright and Darren Carr on Saturday morning when they leave Corsham. Mrs Ward, 32, who works at a local sandwich shop, said: “My husband’s mother June was diagnosed with breast cancer and it gave him the idea of raising money for the charity. “We were also quite moved by work that Wiltshire Wishes is doing. It seems like a really worthwhile local charity which we felt that we could support. “The team have been busy preparing. Triston has not done something like this before so it will be a good challenge.” In a bid to save money the team will be camping in the New Forest on Saturday night before making their return journey the next morning. They will be accompanied by friends who are unable to take part in the cycling, who will drive alongside with the camping equipment. A homecoming party will be held at the Great Western pub, on Prospect, where a barbecue and raffle will be held from 5pm on Sunday to boost funds further. Mrs Ward, who has three children, added: “A lot of local businesses in Corsham have really been very generous and donated prizes to us. They have been really supportive.” Jenny Edmonds, founder of Wiltshire Wishes, said: “They had been in touch to say they wanted to do the bike ride to raise money for us. It still amazes me how everyone is getting behind us with all the events they are planning. I really want to wish them the best of luck. We really appreciate what they are doing.”
Harsco receives additional scaffolding contract from Tata Steel Scunthorpe (UK) worth close to $10 million
Worldwide industrial services and engineered products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today a further award from Tata Steel to provide industrial scaffolding support of plant maintenance activities at one of its major operations.
The contract, valued at close to $10 million over its 3-year term, provides for 24/7 scaffolding support of the 2,000 acre Tata Steel plant in Scunthorpe, UK, a major location where Harsco Metals also provides onsite metal recovery and material handling services to Tata Steel’s steelmaking operations.
The award reinforces Harsco Infrastructure’s increasing global focus on the industrial maintenance and infrastructure sectors and also demonstrates the Company’s growing multi-discipline relationship with the Tata Group. Last week, Harsco announced similar industrial scaffolding orders in India totaling more than $8 million with Tata Steel, Tata Power and Tata Mines.
Harsco’s industrial maintenance expertise was seen as a principal factor in winning the award, as the Company identified key areas in which savings could be made through increased efficiencies and reduced waste. “Our decision to move to a new work-at-height contract provider was not one that was taken lightly,” said Dave Jones, Contracts Manager at Tata Steel in Scunthorpe.
Unlike traditional scaffolding arrangements in which scaffolding providers normally charge by the hour based on how many and how long their scaffolders were provided, Harsco Infrastructure proposed a solutions-focused approach built around each project requirement.
“The development of this solutions-focused approach will be a radical change but one that will save us a lot of money,” said Jones. “These savings along with Harsco’s best-in-industry operations standards give me confidence that benefits across the whole site will be felt quickly.” Harsco Infrastructure is one of the world’s largest and most complete providers of engineered scaffolding, shoring and forming systems for major construction and industrial maintenance projects.
Commenting on the award, Executive Vice President and Harsco Infrastructure Group CEO Ivor Harrington, said, “This order from one of the world’s largest blue chip organizations highlights the progress that we are making in increasing our presence in the key industrial and infrastructure sectors. Our combination of experience and expertise puts us in position to serve some of the biggest players in these important markets, and deliver the improved performance that our customers and shareholders expect.”
Harsco Corporation is one of the world’s leading diversified industrial services and engineered products companies. The Company serves industries that are fundamental to global infrastructure development and economic growth including metals, construction, railways and energy. Harsco’s common stock is a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 1000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.
Via: (Press Release)
The contract, valued at close to $10 million over its 3-year term, provides for 24/7 scaffolding support of the 2,000 acre Tata Steel plant in Scunthorpe, UK, a major location where Harsco Metals also provides onsite metal recovery and material handling services to Tata Steel’s steelmaking operations.
The award reinforces Harsco Infrastructure’s increasing global focus on the industrial maintenance and infrastructure sectors and also demonstrates the Company’s growing multi-discipline relationship with the Tata Group. Last week, Harsco announced similar industrial scaffolding orders in India totaling more than $8 million with Tata Steel, Tata Power and Tata Mines.
Harsco’s industrial maintenance expertise was seen as a principal factor in winning the award, as the Company identified key areas in which savings could be made through increased efficiencies and reduced waste. “Our decision to move to a new work-at-height contract provider was not one that was taken lightly,” said Dave Jones, Contracts Manager at Tata Steel in Scunthorpe.
Unlike traditional scaffolding arrangements in which scaffolding providers normally charge by the hour based on how many and how long their scaffolders were provided, Harsco Infrastructure proposed a solutions-focused approach built around each project requirement.
“The development of this solutions-focused approach will be a radical change but one that will save us a lot of money,” said Jones. “These savings along with Harsco’s best-in-industry operations standards give me confidence that benefits across the whole site will be felt quickly.” Harsco Infrastructure is one of the world’s largest and most complete providers of engineered scaffolding, shoring and forming systems for major construction and industrial maintenance projects.
Commenting on the award, Executive Vice President and Harsco Infrastructure Group CEO Ivor Harrington, said, “This order from one of the world’s largest blue chip organizations highlights the progress that we are making in increasing our presence in the key industrial and infrastructure sectors. Our combination of experience and expertise puts us in position to serve some of the biggest players in these important markets, and deliver the improved performance that our customers and shareholders expect.”
Harsco Corporation is one of the world’s leading diversified industrial services and engineered products companies. The Company serves industries that are fundamental to global infrastructure development and economic growth including metals, construction, railways and energy. Harsco’s common stock is a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 1000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.
Via: (Press Release)