Cape has secured two new contracts that will provide specialist access services offshore around Australia.Cape will be providing a range of scaffolding services which include design and offshore supervision on the multi billion dollar ExxonMobil Kipper Tuna Turrum project, which is one of the largest domestic gas developments in the East Pacific Ocean.
The project has been estimated at 6-8 months work by McDermott Australia who has contracted Cape to supply there scaffolding services Cape also have the possibility of further maintenance or project work on the same multibillion dollar project.
Cape’s newly formed Marine & Offshore division has also been contracted by Sapura Acergy Australia to provide rope access services for removal of the old Montara Platform in the Timor Sea.
Chief Executive of Cape, Martin May, said:
“Securing these contracts is as major achievement for Cape’s newly formed Marine & Offshore division. In the offshore environment it is essential that the crews work together and share the common goal of flawlessness. Cape has demonstrated its ability to deliver to the highest standards offshore and is delighted to be securing further business in this area.”
Since the Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force the industry have seen rapid growth of innovative safety products that are collectively improving safety standards.Over the coming months I will highlight some of these innovations in a series of featured posts.
Safelinx Scaffold Board Retainer
The Ultimate Finish To The Scaffold Platform.
The Safelinx scaffold board retainer is the fastest, most cost effective method of board retention available today.
The unique way in which the unit is installed along the full width of the scaffold platform along the ‘butt joint’ also means that the trip hazards inherent in using traditional timber boards (twisting, warping or movement through use) can not develop over the life of the scaffold.
The added security of the retainer is you can use up to 9mm cable ties to prevent movement due to wind uplift. Feedback from one of their customers in Scotland showed the Mark I Safelinx retainer comfortably survived 60 mph winds, 66 mph gusts (Beaufort scale 10 & 11 out of a possible 12). The Safelinx retainer is now at Mk III.
The product is also manufactured in the U.K. from recycled plastic which makes Safelinx the environmental choice.
The retainer has had successful trials by Construction Management companies such as Longcross, BAM and Morgan Sindall and has left them all with the question, ‘Why are we not using this product everywhere?’
The answer is, ‘We will be.’
Using the product costs less than using the equivalent number of board clips or limpets and can be installed in a fraction of the time, it just takes 20 seconds to install and secure an entire fleet of scaffold boards with a far superior result.
The benefit of using Safelinx, due to the anti trip hazard element leaves the board retainer head and shoulders above the rest.
Now you maybe thinking how would Safelinx cope with warped or slightly damaged boards?… Well answer being, easily! The resultant working platform will be free from the twists, warps and the inherent trip hazards that would have been witnessed without Safelinx.
Before..After..
Another advantage of Safelinx is that the boards cannot easily by removed by other trades which we all see day in day out, propping timber trusses, shuttering for concrete pours etc. which costs the scaffold contractor numerous boards on every job. With the security of the cable ties on the retainer this is a much more difficult procedure.
The virtually seamless platform feels, looks and IS safer, more stable and secure than ever before.
Flynn Design Solutions (the designer of Safelinx) has found that scaffold contractors have been winning contracts in this ‘cut throat’ climate on the strength of using the system.
Health and Safety practitioners are hailing Safelinx as a ‘Best Practice Item’ that will reduce the ‘Slips, Trips & Falls’ statistics within the industry dramatically.
Feedback for the Safelinx Scaffold Board Retainer from Scaffolders, Scaffold Contractors, Tradesmen and Management Companies has been 100% positive for the company.
Alastair O’May of AOM Scaffolding Scotland said:
“I thought they were brilliant, fitted in seconds as opposed to on your knees with limpets they were just pushed on as the boards went down.
What I can tell you from our client feedback is they love them and we have had many pat on the back for actively seeking out new products to improve our jobs. We have no hesitation in continuing using the retainers.”
Safelinx has to been experienced to be fully appreciated. Try it, you won’t look back.
For more information on Safelinx visit www.flynndesignsolutions.com or Contact Nick Flynn Tel: 07538 931188 , Email: [email protected]
Safelinx UK Distributor is:
Written By Daniel Norton
Do you have a Scaffold Innovation you think we would be interested in featuring ?
Scaffolding firm NSG UK is sponsoring one of Wales’s best young football teams.Ysceifiog Wolves JFC was formed in 2007 but in such a short space of time the team has won several trophies and represented Wales in the final of the Tesco Cup.
Ysceifiog Wolves JFC manager Andy Dowsett, said: “We are beyond delighted to be taking the team forward in partnership with NSG UK – their generosity and support will enable our young men to both appear and feel like the young budding professionals they are.
“We are in the process of preparing for the new season and the sponsorship could not be better timed.
“We can’t thank Mike and his team nearly enough.”
NSG UK are sponsoring the under-14s team for the 2011/12 season. Managing director Mike Carr said: “Our community work is very important to NSG and we are firmly committed to a strong social responsibility programme.”
“The Wolves are a great young team and we are very happy to be able to help them get a professional kit and training gear, which we hope can lead them to further success.”
ABC Scaffolding in Bridlington had £30,000 worth of equipment stolen by thieves in broad daylight.The break in happened at about 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon on Scarborough Road in the town. The thieves gained entry by cutting through the metal gates at the premises.
The stolen goods included 3 Stihl saws, a white Transit van, a Volvo truck and other expensive tools.
The Volvo truck was even spotted 10 minutes down the road at a petrol station filling up by the thieves.
Brad Heaton Contracts manager for ABC Scaffolding said “it is a tremendous blow to the business. We have only been operating since December and have worked hard in these harsh economic times to establish the business in Bridlington”.
During the daylight raid on the business the thieves used a forklift truck to move vehicles out of the way to get to what they wanted.
Even after the loss of the tools and vehicles ABC Scaffolding has still managed to meet all its work commitments.
Anyone with any information are asked to call the police 0845 6060222 quoting log 611.
12 workmen were injured after the 10 story high scaffolding collapsed in Taichung China.
The accident happened during rush hour on the Splendor Hotel, Firemen and rescue workers rushed to scene and sealed off the road.
Government officials suspended the construction work on the site until increased safety measures are put in place.
Officials said the collapse of huge scaffolding could have been caused by strong winds that shook the scaffolding and heavy anti-dust plastic sheets on the scaffolding.
The investigations into the incident will continue.
Scaffolder Wayne Mclester, 21, was in his van on his way to work at 6:30am when the 6ft tall bird sprinted past him doing 40mph.from Mirror.co.uk
The bird was seen sprinting through the streets of Dover and then finally stopped in front of the scaffolders van and just stared at him.
Wayne said: “I was about to get out of the van and try and catch it but I remembered that I had seen a wildlife program which said Ostriches could kill a Lion with a kick, so I stayed in my van.”
Instead Wayne used his scaffolding problem solving brain by using his van to herd the 6ft tall bird into a nearby car park where he then called the police for help.
“Six police officers arrived and looked quite nervous surrounding the bird” said Wayne. They contained the bird in the car park for over an hour until the RSPCA arrived and took it away.
Where the bird escaped from still remains a mystery but there are breeders in the area selling ostrich meat.
A painter and decorator has died after falling 30ft from scaffolding on a house in Heswall, Merseyside.Peter Cochrane, 50, from Irlam, Manchester who was employed by PPS Property Protection was working on the house with two other workmen they were painting the gable end of the house when the accident happened.
Arthur Flower the Coroner’s officer said: “Mr Cochrane was on the top lift of the scaffold and while holding on to the handrail he reached over to his left and overstreched, causeing the scaffold to move back.”
“He was then flung forward and fell 30ft to the ground below.”
It was reported the Mr Cochrane was initially conscious and alert after the accident but tragically died later at hospital.
Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive have started a joint investigation.
A Scaffolder who was wanted by police has finally been tracked down and arrested in connection with an armed robbery at Goldsmiths jewellers, Ipswich.Scaffolder Dean Armstrong, 20, from Islington London was arrested yesterday by police at an address in Hackney.
The armed robbery happened on 15th June at Goldsmiths Jewellers in Tavern Street Ipswich.
The jewellers window was smashed with sledgehammers and a number of watches were stolen.
Three other men from Essex and London aged between 21 and 25 have been charged for the raid on Goldsmiths.
In Calgary, Canada, a 236 m high office tower is currently being constructed. “The Bow” is shaped like a crescent whilst the most striking feature of the building is the diagonal arrangement of the steel support structure. A sophisticated PERI UP scaffolding concept provides secure access and spacious working platforms for all subsequent sub-contracting work following the completion of the building’s shell. PERI was awarded the contract to supply work scaffolding and stairs that are temporarily required for all subsequent work on the 59-storey building shell.
For painting, mounting of the fire protection cladding as well as the insulation and installation of the piping system, the sub contractors imposed various requirements concerning working area dimensions and potential loads. Installation of platforms at distances of 2.50 m over the entire height of the building was requested. One of the most important requirements to be fulfilled for all sub-contractors was to ensure that the working platforms were as close as possible to the complex steel structure whose main beams ascended at an angle of 76°. In addition, the front of the building is curved like a crescent.
Together with the Ledcor team, PERI developed a solution based on the PERI UP Rosett Flex scaffolding. In the process, the modular scaffold system has once again proven its high degree of flexibility and has shown itself to be extremely adaptable to suit the curved building layout and special form of the supporting structure – all requirements of both the client and sub-contractors have been fulfilled.
The modular PERI UP Rosett Flex scaffolding has a very wide range of applications. The metric grid dimensions along with the 25 cm and 37.5 cm decking widths provide maximum flexibility. Rosett nodes at spacings of 50 cm are especially rigid and allow connecting possibilities in all directions. Thanks to these characteristics, the modular scaffold has been able to fulfil the stringent technical requirements for construction of “The Bow”. This flexibility and high load-bearing capacity with only a small number of diagonals make the PERI UP solution quick and cost-effective.
For work on the steel construction, the diagonally-positioned profiles must be accessible from all sides. The required cantilevers are realised with brackets and node bracing. The brackets have a high load-bearing capacity and can be mounted at any height – regardless of the decking or ledger levels already installed.
Through the use of corner plates for the inside corners, the working areas can be adapted with minimum gap to the inclined steel components. In addition, adapting to the complex steel sculpture is also achieved by changing the direction of the decking: the span direction of the decks can be changed within a scaffold bay at any point – several times if required. Thanks to these possibilities, the form of the scaffold can be optimally adapted to match the steel structure of the building.
The PERI UP industrial decking with system widths of 25 cm allow working platforms and access means to be completely covered without any gaps. The surface of the decking is perforated and extremely slip-resistant. Due to this, the decks are ideally suited for use in those working areas where safety against slipping has a high priority. Another big advantage is the quick and safe installation: the integrated lock against lifting secures the decking without the need of any additional measures, and immediately after mounting has taken place.
For accessing the individual working areas, PERI UP steel staircases are used. The staircase fulfils the highest requirements regarding loads and accessibility: with a permissible load of 3.0 kN/m² and a width of 100 cm, the stairs are generously dimensioned and stable to allow site personnel to move in opposite directions at the same time. Installation is simple and fast. The stair stringers are mounted first and subsequently covered with the lightweight individual steps that interlock during assembly. The top step secures all the others.
PERI logic simplifies and accelerates assembly of the PERI UP scaffolding – even at great heights. The low weight of the individual system components, and the fact that each system part can be handled by only one person, facilitates fast and effortless operations. The high rigidity of the PERI UP ledger connections reduces the number of levels that need to be braced as well as reducing the amount of required diagonals. All PERI UP system components are compatible with each other which means working platforms, stairs and guardrails are easy to install. The “gravity lock” self-locking ledger connection provides a very high level of working and assembly safety: when mounting the ledger, the wedge drops automatically into the opening of the rosette through its own gravitational force and securely locks into position. PERI UP has been tried and tested over many years and the modular scaffold system fully complies with system scaffolding requirements according to European Standards.
“The Bow” is the future headquarters for the EnCana Corporation, a company operating in the oil and gas industry. Not only is the distinctive appearance of the office tower extraordinary but also the building concept itself: To create a best possible working environment, the London architects Foster + Partners first discussed the ideas and needs together with the companies’ employees before planning the building.
The building provides employees with working areas with daylight and natural ventilation. The spacious architecture, open work areas as well as three “sky gardens” facilitate the cooperation of the teams Form and orientation of the building have also been ideally adapted to suit the local climatic conditions. A glass atrium extends in a south-westerly direction over the entire building height of 236 m, an intelligent energy concept for optimum utilization of solar energy and minimum energy consumption. The distinctive design with a diagonal grid of steel beams also provides an especially good structural behaviour. For the first time in North America, this combination of a diagonal support structure and, at the same time, curved shape of a building has been realised.
GATESHEAD, UK – Heerema Fabrication Group is using Pyeroy scaffolding during the fabrication of the Ensign platform in Hartlepool, UK. The 700 metric ton (772 ton) jacket and 550 metric ton (606 ton) topside module are for Centrica.
The Seaharvester-type platform will go 80 km off the Norfolk coast to Ensign gas field, and is scheduled to come onstream in the second half of this year.
Cape will be providing a range of scaffolding services which include design and offshore supervision on the multi billion dollar ExxonMobil Kipper Tuna Turrum project, which is one of the largest domestic gas developments in the East Pacific Ocean.
The project has been estimated at 6-8 months work by McDermott Australia who has contracted Cape to supply there scaffolding services Cape also have the possibility of further maintenance or project work on the same multibillion dollar project.
Cape’s newly formed Marine & Offshore division has also been contracted by Sapura Acergy Australia to provide rope access services for removal of the old Montara Platform in the Timor Sea.
Chief Executive of Cape, Martin May, said:
The product is also manufactured in the U.K. from recycled plastic which makes Safelinx the environmental choice.
The retainer has had successful trials by Construction Management companies such as Longcross, BAM and Morgan Sindall and has left them all with the question, ‘Why are we not using this product everywhere?’
The answer is, ‘We will be.’
Using the product costs less than using the equivalent number of board clips or limpets and can be installed in a fraction of the time, it just takes 20 seconds to install and secure an entire fleet of scaffold boards with a far superior result.
The benefit of using Safelinx, due to the anti trip hazard element leaves the board retainer head and shoulders above the rest.
Now you maybe thinking how would Safelinx cope with warped or slightly damaged boards?… Well answer being, easily! The resultant working platform will be free from the twists, warps and the inherent trip hazards that would have been witnessed without Safelinx.
Ysceifiog Wolves JFC was formed in 2007 but in such a short space of time the team has won several trophies and represented Wales in the final of the Tesco Cup.
Ysceifiog Wolves JFC manager Andy Dowsett, said: “We are beyond delighted to be taking the team forward in partnership with NSG UK – their generosity and support will enable our young men to both appear and feel like the young budding professionals they are.
“We are in the process of preparing for the new season and the sponsorship could not be better timed.
“We can’t thank Mike and his team nearly enough.”
The break in happened at about 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon on Scarborough Road in the town. The thieves gained entry by cutting through the metal gates at the premises.
The stolen goods included 3 Stihl saws, a white Transit van, a Volvo truck and other expensive tools.
The Volvo truck was even spotted 10 minutes down the road at a petrol station filling up by the thieves.
Brad Heaton Contracts manager for ABC Scaffolding said “it is a tremendous blow to the business. We have only been operating since December and have worked hard in these harsh economic times to establish the business in Bridlington”.
During the daylight raid on the business the thieves used a forklift truck to move vehicles out of the way to get to what they wanted.
Even after the loss of the tools and vehicles ABC Scaffolding has still managed to meet all its work commitments.
Anyone with any information are asked to call the police 0845 6060222 quoting log 611.
The accident happened during rush hour on the Splendor Hotel, Firemen and rescue workers rushed to scene and sealed off the road.
Government officials suspended the construction work on the site until increased safety measures are put in place.
Officials said the collapse of huge scaffolding could have been caused by strong winds that shook the scaffolding and heavy anti-dust plastic sheets on the scaffolding.
The investigations into the incident will continue.
Peter Cochrane, 50, from Irlam, Manchester who was employed by PPS Property Protection was working on the house with two other workmen they were painting the gable end of the house when the accident happened.
Arthur Flower the Coroner’s officer said: “Mr Cochrane was on the top lift of the scaffold and while holding on to the handrail he reached over to his left and overstreched, causeing the scaffold to move back.”
“He was then flung forward and fell 30ft to the ground below.”
It was reported the Mr Cochrane was initially conscious and alert after the accident but tragically died later at hospital.
Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive have started a joint investigation.
Scaffolder Dean Armstrong, 20, from Islington London was arrested yesterday by police at an address in Hackney.
The armed robbery happened on 15th June at Goldsmiths Jewellers in Tavern Street Ipswich.
The jewellers window was smashed with sledgehammers and a number of watches were stolen.
Three other men from Essex and London aged between 21 and 25 have been charged for the raid on Goldsmiths.
shaped like a crescent whilst the most striking feature of the building is the diagonal arrangement of the steel support structure. A sophisticated PERI UP scaffolding concept provides secure access and spacious working platforms for all subsequent sub-contracting work following the completion of the building’s shell. PERI was awarded the contract to supply work scaffolding and stairs that are temporarily required for all subsequent work on the 59-storey building shell.
For painting, mounting of the fire protection cladding as well as the insulation and installation of the piping system, the sub contractors imposed various requirements concerning working area dimensions and potential loads. Installation of platforms at distances of 2.50 m over the entire height of the building was requested. One of the most important requirements to be fulfilled for all sub-contractors was to ensure that the working platforms were as close as possible to the complex steel structure whose main beams ascended at an angle of 76°. In addition, the front of the building is curved like a crescent.
Together with the Ledcor team, PERI developed a solution based on the PERI UP Rosett Flex scaffolding. In the process, the modular scaffold system has once again proven its high degree of flexibility and has shown itself to be extremely adaptable to suit the curved building layout and special form of the supporting structure – all requirements of both the client and sub-contractors have been fulfilled.
The modular PERI UP Rosett Flex scaffolding has a very wide range of applications. The metric grid dimensions along with the 25 cm and 37.5 cm decking widths provide maximum flexibility. Rosett nodes at spacings of 50 cm are especially rigid and allow connecting possibilities in all directions. Thanks to these characteristics, the modular scaffold has been able to fulfil the stringent technical requirements for construction of “The Bow”. This flexibility and high load-bearing capacity with only a small number of diagonals make the PERI UP solution quick and cost-effective.
For work on the steel construction, the diagonally-positioned profiles must be accessible from all sides. The required cantilevers are realised with brackets and node bracing. The brackets have a high load-bearing capacity and can be mounted at any height – regardless of the decking or ledger levels already installed.
Through the use of corner plates for the inside corners, the working areas can be adapted with minimum gap to the inclined steel components. In addition, adapting to the complex steel sculpture is also achieved by changing the direction of the decking: the span direction of the decks can be changed within a scaffold bay at any point – several times if required. Thanks to these possibilities, the form of the scaffold can be optimally adapted to match the steel structure of the building.
The PERI UP industrial decking with system widths of 25 cm allow working platforms and access means to be completely covered without any gaps. The surface of the decking is perforated and extremely slip-resistant. Due to this, the decks are ideally suited for use in those working areas where safety against slipping has a high priority. Another big advantage is the quick and safe installation: the integrated lock against lifting secures the decking without the need of any additional measures, and immediately after mounting has taken place.
For accessing the individual working areas, PERI UP steel staircases are used. The staircase fulfils the highest requirements regarding loads and accessibility: with a permissible load of 3.0 kN/m² and a width of 100 cm, the stairs are generously dimensioned and stable to allow site personnel to move in opposite directions at the same time. Installation is simple and fast. The stair stringers are mounted first and subsequently covered with the lightweight individual steps that interlock during assembly. The top step secures all the others.
PERI logic simplifies and accelerates assembly of the PERI UP scaffolding – even at great heights. The low weight of the individual system components, and the fact that each system part can be handled by only one person, facilitates fast and effortless operations. The high rigidity of the PERI UP ledger connections reduces the number of levels that need to be braced as well as reducing the amount of required diagonals. All PERI UP system components are compatible with each other which means working platforms, stairs and guardrails are easy to install. The “gravity lock” self-locking ledger connection provides a very high level of working and assembly safety: when mounting the ledger, the wedge drops automatically into the opening of the rosette through its own gravitational force and securely locks into position. PERI UP has been tried and tested over many years and the modular scaffold system fully complies with system scaffolding requirements according to European Standards.
“The Bow” is the future headquarters for the EnCana Corporation, a company operating in the oil and gas industry. Not only is the distinctive appearance of the office tower extraordinary but also the building concept itself: To create a best possible working environment, the London architects Foster + Partners first discussed the ideas and needs together with the companies’ employees before planning the building.
The building provides employees with working areas with daylight and natural ventilation. The spacious architecture, open work areas as well as three “sky gardens” facilitate the cooperation of the teams Form and orientation of the building have also been ideally adapted to suit the local climatic conditions. A glass atrium extends in a south-westerly direction over the entire building height of 236 m, an intelligent energy concept for optimum utilization of solar energy and minimum energy consumption. The distinctive design with a diagonal grid of steel beams also provides an especially good structural behaviour. For the first time in North America, this combination of a diagonal support structure and, at the same time, curved shape of a building has been realised.
