Two companies have been fined a total of £85,000 after a steeplejack fell 50 metres to his death from an Edwardian chimney in Bolton, and a colleague was left clinging on for his life.John Alty
John Alty and another worker were at the top of the disused chimney at Swan Lane Mills in Great Lever on 4 June 2007 when the scaffolding they were on collapsed.
The 40-year-old father-of-one from Blackburn was pronounced dead at the scene but his colleague survived by clinging to a ladder on the outside of the chimney. Bailey International Steeplejack Company Ltd and Ken Brogden Ltd were both prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following Mr Alty’s death.
Angela Alty, the mother of his 19-year-old daughter, Jamie Lea, had recently separated from Mr Alty before his death. She said:
“Things have been very difficult since John passed away. A big hole has been left in both our lives. Moving on is hard and not one day passes where we don’t think about him and what might have been.
Disused chimney at Swan Lane Mills in Great Lever
“The way his death happened is difficult to come to terms with. I often sit and wonder what if I had given my marriage another go. Maybe we would have gone away and he wouldn’t have been on that chimney.
“Going out and socialising with friends at my local pub seems a real chore. The only place I feel happy at the moment is at work, maybe because there I have something else to think about.”
Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Mr Alty’s employer, Bailey International, had been hired to carry out repairs to the brickwork on the chimney, and its two employees had been taking down the scaffolding when it gave way.
Two employees had been taking down the scaffolding when it gave way
The HSE investigation concluded that the company had not used strong enough anchor fixings to attach the scaffolding to the chimney, despite knowing that the brickwork at the top was in a poor condition.
The Macclesfield-based firm, which employs around 30 people, also failed to check the scaffolding design and to test the fixings before they were used.
The court was told that the scaffolding had been damaged on a previous job, and that Heywood-based Ken Brogden had been hired to repair it. But instead of grinding out the joints and welding them back together, the company welded over the weakened joints.
HSE Inspector Stuart Kitchingman said:
“If the work had been properly managed, and carried out to industry standards, then Mr Alty would still be alive today.
“Our investigation found that the most likely cause of the scaffolding collapsing was the weak anchor fixings. But we could not rule out the poorly repaired joints on the scaffolding as a possible cause of Mr Alty’s death.
“Working as a steeplejack is a potentially dangerous job, and they need to be able to rely on their employers to provide equipment that keeps them safe. Unfortunately, the scaffolding and fixings that were provided simply weren’t up to the job.
Bailey International Steeplejack Company Ltd, of Grimshaw Lane in Bollington, admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 towards the cost of the prosecution at Manchester Crown Court on 28 January 2011.
Ken Brogden Ltd, of Manchester Street in Heywood, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £10,000 with costs of £16,000.
Last year, more than 4,000 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height at work and 12 were killed. More information on preventing falls in the workplace is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/falls.
Via: www.hse.gov.uk
TWO companies have pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches after an experienced steeplejack fell 300ft to his death from the top of a mill chimney.Tragic Steeplejack John Alty
John Alty, aged 40, was at the top of the disused chimney at Swan Lane Mills complex in Great Lever in June 2007 when the scaffolding gave way.
The father-of-one was pronounced dead at the scene, although his colleague and fellow steeplejack, survived the incident.
Following the tragedy, Macclesfieldbased Bailey International Steeplejack Company Ltd and Heywood-based Ken Brogden Ltd were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after police ruled out any suspicious circumstances.
The two companies pleaded guilty to the charges at Trafford Magistrates Court on December 16.
Bailey International Steeplejack Company Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974.
Ken Brogden Ltd has admitted breaching Section 3 (1) of the Act.
An inquest into Mr Alty’s death, held in March last year, heard how his employers, Bailey International Steeplejack Company, had been contracted to carry out repairs to the top of the chimney.
Mr Alty, from Openshaw Drive, Blackburn, was described as an experienced steeplejack.
But the inquest was told he was not wearing a safety harness, which could have saved him as he dismantled the last section of scaffolding at the top of the chimney.
Fellow steeplejack, Paul Morgan, said he had worked with Mr Alty many times and he had always been seen wearing a safety harness, a compulsory requirement at the firm. Mr Morgan added it was a “major shock” to discover Mr Alty had not been wearing the safety equipment on the day of his death.
The inquest jury ruled Mr Alty’s death was an accident. Mr Alty’s wife, Angela, aged 40, described her husband as a “lovely bloke with a lively character”, who had died doing a job he loved.
The couple had separated nine months earlier.
Bailey International Steeplejack Company Ltd and Ken Brogden Ltd will be sentenced today at Manchester Crown Court.
Å The chimney from which Mr Alty fell is not connected to the Swan Centre, which is based at Swan Lane Mill 1 and 2.
Via: www.theboltonnews.co.uk
A MAN was rushed to hospital after falling from scaffolding in Harpenden yesterday.
The air ambulance landed close to the scene, on the Common, at around 3.40pm, after receiving reports of a man in his 50s who had suffered head injuries as a result of the fall in Leyton Road.
Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “We believe the man fell off scaffolding and landed on wooden planks on the next level below.
“When our paramedics arrived at the scene, they found him approximately six feet up, he had received a head injury.”
The injured man was assessed at the scene and taken to hospital by paramedics but the air ambulance was not needed.
Via: www.stalbansreview.co.uk
A safety conscious window cleaner and former scaffolder suffered fatal head injuries after falling from his ladder, an inquest heard.Roland Jungbauer, 43, was a former scaffolder turned self-employed window cleaner with a conscientious attitude to safety at work, Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told.
There were no witnesses to the fall, which happened as Mr Jungbauer, of Ossett, was working at a house in Grey Court at Outwood, Wakefield, last March 9.
Householder Katie Mellor was out when Mr Jungbauer was cleaning her first floor windows.
Coroner’s officer Colin Mantell said when she returned home, just before 3pm, Mr Jungbauer told her: “Let me in I’m freezing.”
Mr Mantell added: “She opened the door and he collapsed in the doorway.”
Mr Jungbauer was taken to Pinderfields Hospital at Wakefield and later transferred to the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
Via: www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
RIYADH: Three workers died and 11 were injured after a scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Riyadh on Monday, officials said.First Lt. Muhammad Al-Hubail, acting spokesman for the Civil Defense in Riyadh, said the accident happened at Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University.
He said the injured workers were taken to the National Guard Hospital. “An investigation has been ordered into the incident. Many Civil Defense units and helicopters participated in the rescue operations and airlifting of those injured to hospital,” he added.
Located east of Riyadh, the university was established under the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to bring together all female colleges in the national capital under one roof.
Via:arabnews.com
BOLTON building companies owed hundreds of thousands of pounds by collapsed national builder Rok will not get a penny.
However, workers who lost their jobs when Rok went into administration in November last year have had their statutory redundancy money paid by the Government.
There was not enough cash in the failed builder’s coffers after it went bust without warning, owing creditors, including construction companies and the banks, almost £200 million.
Staff at most of the company’s offices were laid off en masse and around 220 people at the Westhoughton depot lost their jobs.
Bolton firm P and R Pointing took a £277,000 hit when Rok failed to pay for work carried out on several projects.The company, which carried out scaffolding and pointing work around the North West, had to lay off 17 scaffolders, but was strong enough to carry on despite the massive debt and is now busy again.
Brothers Peter and Russell Gastall, who are joint managing directors of the St Helens Roadbased firm, said they have gritted their teeth and carried on winning new business.
Peter Gastall said: “We have been told that we won’t even get a penny in the pound of the £277,000 Rok owed us.
“We’ve been told that there’s no money left to pay anything to anyone.
It’s disgraceful but that’s the way it is unfortunately.
“But we are winning quite a bit of work in different places and we are still going ahead with our planned office move.”
At JDK Roofing, off Manchester Road, where the company was owed £100,000 by Rok, it is also business as usual.
Contracts manager Martin Richards said: “Things have been a bit tight but we have had to take the hit and get on with it. We got through and we are very busy right now.”
Administrators Price Waterhouse Cooper (PCW) had agreed that redundancy payments, dependent on the employees’ length of service, would be paid out by the Redundancy Payments Office (RPO), part of the government Insolvency Service.
The RPO has been working to ensure that all straightforward claims were paid within six weeks.
The Bolton News understands that the majority of such payments have been made.add for p13 A spokesman for PWC said: “It is extremely unlikely that any distribution will be made to the unsecured creditors of Rok within 12 months, principally because a significant number of assets, such as contract receipts, will not be recovered within the year.
Via: www.theboltonnews.co.uk
DEESIDE scaffolding and specialist contracts group, NSG UK, is reporting a 10% rise in sales in 2010, to £18m.
In May last year, the firm was subject to a management buyout led by managing director Michael Carr.
Liverpool-born Mr Carr describes NSG as a “multi-disciplined contractor”.
As well as providing scaffolding for the industrial and construction sectors, it also offers a range of other services that includes thermal insulation, industrial painting, blasting, specialist cleaning and more recently rail.
It has won a number of new clients over the past 12 months, and has grown staff numbers to 450.
Contracts secured include a three- year deal in Speke with global pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, construction works for Vinci at Whiston Hospital, and a £65m bio-energy facility being built by drinks giant Diageo, in Fife, Scotland.
Mr Carr said that, despite the recession hitting the construction and property sector, NSG had maintained a strong position.
He added: “This has been a dynamic year for us and, despite the rough waters, we have continued to increase turnover, win clients and grow the NSG UK brand.
“We have maintained growth in the construction and engineering sectors while expanding into the rail, social housing, marine and off-shore, and oil and gas sectors.
“We also see the resurgent nuclear industry as a key market for NSG UK, and we are always looking at ways to expand our portfolio.”
NSG had been acquired by MWB in February, 2008, but was purchased back in the buyout last year.
Mr Carr said: “NSG UK has been in existence, under various guises, for the past 40 years, and it is testimony to our credibility and performance that over that time we have built solid relationships with illustrious clients such as Ineos Chlor Vinyls, Ineos Enterprises, Centrica, Corus, Cammell Laird and Lilly.”
TWO men were today recovering in hospital after falling 30ft off scaffolding at a former factory in Radford.The old Players factory in Radford
The men were working on the old Players tobacco factory at the corner of Hartley Road and Radford Boulevard when the scaffolding is believed to have collapsed, at about 2.20pm yesterday.
They were taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre and were believed to be in a serious but not life-threatening condition. One man was thought to be in his 20s, the other in his 30s.
The old factory is now used as student accommodation, and several students heard the scaffolding fall.
Scarlett Kramer, 18, who studies journalism at Nottingham Trent University, heard a loud crash. “I think they were working on either the third or fourth floor, I heard the scaffolding collapse and lwondered what had happened.”
Student Tom McAdan, 19, studying physics at Trent University, said he heard the workmen outside his second-floor bedroom window.
“I heard one of the workmen shouting and then there was a huge crash,” he said.
Crews from East Midlands Ambulance Service were helped by police and other workmen to rescue the two men.
Ambulance spokesman Alan Marwood said: “The ambulance service was the first on the scene in a first-response vehicle and they did a really good assessment and called for two ambulances.
“We think they have fallen about 30 feet. We had good access in, but one of the men had fallen into a garden of thorn bushes.”
Fire crews made the scaffolding safe.
Via: www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
The joint venture AMB-Hertel has been awarded a contract to design, supply and erect all the access scaffolding for the US$1.7 billion utilities and offsite project at Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) new Integrated Gas Development (IGD).
Awarded the two-year contract by main contractor Hyundai Engineering (the EPC contractor for utilities and offsite facilities) the JV will be solely responsible for the design and erection of 150,000m3 of access scaffolding at the Habshan site during the course of construction.
AMB-Hertel is a JV between the Al Masaood Group, a giant industrial and commercial organization in the region, and Hertel BV, a specialist in the field of oil and gas, offshore, process and power industry construction internationally.
Speaking about the recent award, Hertel’s regional MD John Potts said, “We value the opportunity to work for GASCO as one of Hyundai Engineering’s partners on this prestigious project. Hertel has more than 115 years’ experience, which gives us a strong foundation to deliver work safely and efficiently.”
Regional business development manager for Hertel Middle East, Raghu Veer Singh added, “The opportunity to work on this important contract with Hyundai Engineering is a testament to our commitment to safety and quality, which are paramount to our operating culture.”
Aimed at adding new onshore and offshore gas processing facilities at Habshan and Ruwais in Abu Dhabi, the IGD is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2013.
The new complex, Habshan 5, will be located 15km northeast of GASCO’s existing complex in Habshan and include construction of a gas processing facility, a natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery unit, four sulphur recovery units and utilities and offsite facilities.
The project also involves the building of new facilities at GASCO’s existing plant in Ruwais.
To date, a large number of contractors have already been awarded contracts in the tens of millions, including Fluor, awarded the front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract and KBR, providing project management services.
Meanwhile, a JV formed between Japan’s JGC Corporation and Italy’s Maire Tecnimont, was previously awarded a US$4.7 billion EPCC contract for the Habshan 5 processing facility, sulphur recovery units and NGL recovery unit.
Suppliers to the project include Abu Dhabi-based Ducab, for the supply of power cables, the Elliott Group, providing 16 compressor trains for the processing facility and GE Oil & Gas, supplying eight gas turbines.
Via: www.Constructionweekonline.com
BIRMINGHAM City Council has now spent more than £700,000 of taxpayers’ money on a set of scaffolding around a disused building.
The authority has lavished more than £12,000 a week on the scaffolding over the past six months to protect Harborne Clock Tower.
The former adult education centre closed last July after a survey revealed it was structurally unsafe due to the council’s failure to undertake maintenance and repairs over many years.
The Mail revealed last month that the council was spending huge sums on the scaffolding. At that point the sum was put at £400,000 but now the cost has been put at £700,000.
Harry Takhar
Harborne resident Harry Takhar, founder of a new political party called Impact, described the cost of the scaffolding as “scandalous”.
Mr Takhar, who contested Edgbaston at last year’s general election, said: “Many people are really concerned and regard this as a complete waste of money. It is unclear why the scaffolding in this case costs so much.
“I put out 300 leaflets about the clock tower and I have been inundated with emails and telephone calls. People are utterly disgusted.”
The council, which may have to make up to 7,000 redundancies to save cash, is now trying to buy the scaffolding around the venue in a bid to cut back on costs.
The Edgbaston constituency committee is conducting a consultation exercise into the future of the building. But it emerged at a city council meeting last week that the authority had not yet put the building up for sale.
Via: www.birminghammail.net
The air ambulance landed close to the scene, on the Common, at around 3.40pm, after receiving reports of a man in his 50s who had suffered head injuries as a result of the fall in Leyton Road.
Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “We believe the man fell off scaffolding and landed on wooden planks on the next level below.
“When our paramedics arrived at the scene, they found him approximately six feet up, he had received a head injury.”
The injured man was assessed at the scene and taken to hospital by paramedics but the air ambulance was not needed.
Via: www.stalbansreview.co.uk 
The air ambulance landed close to the scene, on the Common, at around 3.40pm, after receiving reports of a man in his 50s who had suffered head injuries as a result of the fall in Leyton Road.
Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “We believe the man fell off scaffolding and landed on wooden planks on the next level below.
“When our paramedics arrived at the scene, they found him approximately six feet up, he had received a head injury.”
The injured man was assessed at the scene and taken to hospital by paramedics but the air ambulance was not needed.
Via: www.stalbansreview.co.uk 
Roland Jungbauer, 43, was a former scaffolder turned self-employed window cleaner with a conscientious attitude to safety at work, Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told.
There were no witnesses to the fall, which happened as Mr Jungbauer, of Ossett, was working at a house in Grey Court at Outwood, Wakefield, last March 9.
Householder Katie Mellor was out when Mr Jungbauer was cleaning her first floor windows.
Coroner’s officer Colin Mantell said when she returned home, just before 3pm, Mr Jungbauer told her: “Let me in I’m freezing.”
Mr Mantell added: “She opened the door and he collapsed in the doorway.”
Mr Jungbauer was taken to Pinderfields Hospital at Wakefield and later transferred to the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
Via: www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk 
Roland Jungbauer, 43, was a former scaffolder turned self-employed window cleaner with a conscientious attitude to safety at work, Wakefield Coroner’s Court was told.
There were no witnesses to the fall, which happened as Mr Jungbauer, of Ossett, was working at a house in Grey Court at Outwood, Wakefield, last March 9.
Householder Katie Mellor was out when Mr Jungbauer was cleaning her first floor windows.
Coroner’s officer Colin Mantell said when she returned home, just before 3pm, Mr Jungbauer told her: “Let me in I’m freezing.”
Mr Mantell added: “She opened the door and he collapsed in the doorway.”
Mr Jungbauer was taken to Pinderfields Hospital at Wakefield and later transferred to the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
He did not regain consciousness and died from a severe, traumatic brain injury at LGI seven days later.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jungbauer’s sister Sally said her brother was a “conscientious worker – always aware of his own safety.”
She added: “He used to be a scaffolder and was used to working at heights. He did not take risks and to the best of my knowledge he had never fallen from his ladder before.”
Miss Jungbauer’s life-long friend and fellow window cleaner Paul Wilkes said in a statement how he noticed after the accident that Mr
Jungbauer’s ladders were broken on the third rung up, adding: “I know he only bought the ladders last year. He always kept his equipment in good working order.”
Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Melanie Wiliamson, said: “Tragically, for some reason Mr Jungbauer did fall from his ladders. We do know the third rung up was broken, how that happened we do not know.”
Via: www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk 
First Lt. Muhammad Al-Hubail, acting spokesman for the Civil Defense in Riyadh, said the accident happened at Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University.
He said the injured workers were taken to the National Guard Hospital. “An investigation has been ordered into the incident. Many Civil Defense units and helicopters participated in the rescue operations and airlifting of those injured to hospital,” he added.
Located east of Riyadh, the university was established under the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to bring together all female colleges in the national capital under one roof.
Via:arabnews.com 
First Lt. Muhammad Al-Hubail, acting spokesman for the Civil Defense in Riyadh, said the accident happened at Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University.
He said the injured workers were taken to the National Guard Hospital. “An investigation has been ordered into the incident. Many Civil Defense units and helicopters participated in the rescue operations and airlifting of those injured to hospital,” he added.
Located east of Riyadh, the university was established under the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to bring together all female colleges in the national capital under one roof.
Via:arabnews.com 
However, workers who lost their jobs when Rok went into administration in November last year have had their statutory redundancy money paid by the Government.
There was not enough cash in the failed builder’s coffers after it went bust without warning, owing creditors, including construction companies and the banks, almost £200 million.
Staff at most of the company’s offices were laid off en masse and around 220 people at the Westhoughton depot lost their jobs.
Bolton firm P and R Pointing took a £277,000 hit when Rok failed to pay for work carried out on several projects.
The company, which carried out scaffolding and pointing work around the North West, had to lay off 17 scaffolders, but was strong enough to carry on despite the massive debt and is now busy again.
Brothers Peter and Russell Gastall, who are joint managing directors of the St Helens Roadbased firm, said they have gritted their teeth and carried on winning new business.
Peter Gastall said: “We have been told that we won’t even get a penny in the pound of the £277,000 Rok owed us.
“We’ve been told that there’s no money left to pay anything to anyone.
It’s disgraceful but that’s the way it is unfortunately.
“But we are winning quite a bit of work in different places and we are still going ahead with our planned office move.”
At JDK Roofing, off Manchester Road, where the company was owed £100,000 by Rok, it is also business as usual.
Contracts manager Martin Richards said: “Things have been a bit tight but we have had to take the hit and get on with it. We got through and we are very busy right now.”
Administrators Price Waterhouse Cooper (PCW) had agreed that redundancy payments, dependent on the employees’ length of service, would be paid out by the Redundancy Payments Office (RPO), part of the government Insolvency Service.
The RPO has been working to ensure that all straightforward claims were paid within six weeks.
The Bolton News understands that the majority of such payments have been made.add for p13 A spokesman for PWC said: “It is extremely unlikely that any distribution will be made to the unsecured creditors of Rok within 12 months, principally because a significant number of assets, such as contract receipts, will not be recovered within the year.
Via: www.theboltonnews.co.uk 
However, workers who lost their jobs when Rok went into administration in November last year have had their statutory redundancy money paid by the Government.
There was not enough cash in the failed builder’s coffers after it went bust without warning, owing creditors, including construction companies and the banks, almost £200 million.
Staff at most of the company’s offices were laid off en masse and around 220 people at the Westhoughton depot lost their jobs.
Bolton firm P and R Pointing took a £277,000 hit when Rok failed to pay for work carried out on several projects.
The company, which carried out scaffolding and pointing work around the North West, had to lay off 17 scaffolders, but was strong enough to carry on despite the massive debt and is now busy again.
Brothers Peter and Russell Gastall, who are joint managing directors of the St Helens Roadbased firm, said they have gritted their teeth and carried on winning new business.
Peter Gastall said: “We have been told that we won’t even get a penny in the pound of the £277,000 Rok owed us.
“We’ve been told that there’s no money left to pay anything to anyone.
It’s disgraceful but that’s the way it is unfortunately.
“But we are winning quite a bit of work in different places and we are still going ahead with our planned office move.”
At JDK Roofing, off Manchester Road, where the company was owed £100,000 by Rok, it is also business as usual.
Contracts manager Martin Richards said: “Things have been a bit tight but we have had to take the hit and get on with it. We got through and we are very busy right now.”
Administrators Price Waterhouse Cooper (PCW) had agreed that redundancy payments, dependent on the employees’ length of service, would be paid out by the Redundancy Payments Office (RPO), part of the government Insolvency Service.
The RPO has been working to ensure that all straightforward claims were paid within six weeks.
The Bolton News understands that the majority of such payments have been made.add for p13 A spokesman for PWC said: “It is extremely unlikely that any distribution will be made to the unsecured creditors of Rok within 12 months, principally because a significant number of assets, such as contract receipts, will not be recovered within the year.
Via: www.theboltonnews.co.uk 
DEESIDE scaffolding and specialist contracts group, NSG UK, is reporting a 10% rise in sales in 2010, to £18m.
In May last year, the firm was subject to a management buyout led by managing director Michael Carr.
Liverpool-born Mr Carr describes NSG as a “multi-disciplined contractor”.
As well as providing scaffolding for the industrial and construction sectors, it also offers a range of other services that includes thermal insulation, industrial painting, blasting, specialist cleaning and more recently rail.
It has won a number of new clients over the past 12 months, and has grown staff numbers to 450.
Contracts secured include a three- year deal in Speke with global pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, construction works for Vinci at Whiston Hospital, and a £65m bio-energy facility being built by drinks giant Diageo, in Fife, Scotland.
Mr Carr said that, despite the recession hitting the construction and property sector, NSG had maintained a strong position.
He added: “This has been a dynamic year for us and, despite the rough waters, we have continued to increase turnover, win clients and grow the NSG UK brand.
“We have maintained growth in the construction and engineering sectors while expanding into the rail, social housing, marine and off-shore, and oil and gas sectors.
“We also see the resurgent nuclear industry as a key market for NSG UK, and we are always looking at ways to expand our portfolio.”
NSG had been acquired by MWB in February, 2008, but was purchased back in the buyout last year.
Mr Carr said: “NSG UK has been in existence, under various guises, for the past 40 years, and it is testimony to our credibility and performance that over that time we have built solid relationships with illustrious clients such as Ineos Chlor Vinyls, Ineos Enterprises, Centrica, Corus, Cammell Laird and Lilly.”
AMB-Hertel is a JV between the Al Masaood Group, a giant industrial and commercial organization in the region, and Hertel BV, a specialist in the field of oil and gas, offshore, process and power industry construction internationally.
Speaking about the recent award, Hertel’s regional MD John Potts said, “We value the opportunity to work for GASCO as one of Hyundai Engineering’s partners on this prestigious project. Hertel has more than 115 years’ experience, which gives us a strong foundation to deliver work safely and efficiently.”
Regional business development manager for Hertel Middle East, Raghu Veer Singh added, “The opportunity to work on this important contract with Hyundai Engineering is a testament to our commitment to safety and quality, which are paramount to our operating culture.”
Aimed at adding new onshore and offshore gas processing facilities at Habshan and Ruwais in Abu Dhabi, the IGD is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2013.
The new complex, Habshan 5, will be located 15km northeast of GASCO’s existing complex in Habshan and include construction of a gas processing facility, a natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery unit, four sulphur recovery units and utilities and offsite facilities.
The project also involves the building of new facilities at GASCO’s existing plant in Ruwais.
To date, a large number of contractors have already been awarded contracts in the tens of millions, including Fluor, awarded the front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract and KBR, providing project management services.
Meanwhile, a JV formed between Japan’s JGC Corporation and Italy’s Maire Tecnimont, was previously awarded a US$4.7 billion EPCC contract for the Habshan 5 processing facility, sulphur recovery units and NGL recovery unit.
Suppliers to the project include Abu Dhabi-based Ducab, for the supply of power cables, the Elliott Group, providing 16 compressor trains for the processing facility and GE Oil & Gas, supplying eight gas turbines.
Via: www.Constructionweekonline.com 
AMB-Hertel is a JV between the Al Masaood Group, a giant industrial and commercial organization in the region, and Hertel BV, a specialist in the field of oil and gas, offshore, process and power industry construction internationally.
Speaking about the recent award, Hertel’s regional MD John Potts said, “We value the opportunity to work for GASCO as one of Hyundai Engineering’s partners on this prestigious project. Hertel has more than 115 years’ experience, which gives us a strong foundation to deliver work safely and efficiently.”
Regional business development manager for Hertel Middle East, Raghu Veer Singh added, “The opportunity to work on this important contract with Hyundai Engineering is a testament to our commitment to safety and quality, which are paramount to our operating culture.”
Aimed at adding new onshore and offshore gas processing facilities at Habshan and Ruwais in Abu Dhabi, the IGD is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2013.
The new complex, Habshan 5, will be located 15km northeast of GASCO’s existing complex in Habshan and include construction of a gas processing facility, a natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery unit, four sulphur recovery units and utilities and offsite facilities.
The project also involves the building of new facilities at GASCO’s existing plant in Ruwais.
To date, a large number of contractors have already been awarded contracts in the tens of millions, including Fluor, awarded the front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract and KBR, providing project management services.
Meanwhile, a JV formed between Japan’s JGC Corporation and Italy’s Maire Tecnimont, was previously awarded a US$4.7 billion EPCC contract for the Habshan 5 processing facility, sulphur recovery units and NGL recovery unit.
Suppliers to the project include Abu Dhabi-based Ducab, for the supply of power cables, the Elliott Group, providing 16 compressor trains for the processing facility and GE Oil & Gas, supplying eight gas turbines.
Via: www.Constructionweekonline.com 
