Next year’s Scaffolding Championships will be held on 26 – 27th May 2023. Teams of scaffolders from countries currently registered are Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Mongolia, Australia, Bulgaria and the UK.
A spokesperson for The Baltic Scaffolding Association said “Although this year’s Championship was very popular, we didn’t expect so much interest for our event next year. Its grown so much that we have had to expand it to allow the registration for 3 extra teams to a total of 15.
Our 2023 Championship will again be live-streamed with translation for those that cannot attend but this time we are expecting to make it more interesting and interactive for viewers.”
If you are interested in competing in the event next year you can register at https://scaffchamp.com/ Scaffolding Championships Goes Global
Next year’s Scaffolding Championships will be held on 26 – 27th May 2023. Teams of scaffolders from countries currently registered are Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Mongolia, Australia, Bulgaria and the UK.
A spokesperson for The Baltic Scaffolding Association said “Although this year’s Championship was very popular, we didn’t expect so much interest for our event next year. Its grown so much that we have had to expand it to allow the registration for 3 extra teams to a total of 15.
Our 2023 Championship will again be live-streamed with translation for those that cannot attend but this time we are expecting to make it more interesting and interactive for viewers.”
If you are interested in competing in the event next year you can register at https://scaffchamp.com/ New ONS figures shows suicide in construction on the rise
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “Over 87% of our construction workforce are male and over 50% of the sector is made up of self employed, agency staff or zero hour contract workers. Financial insecurity is a major factor for poor wellbeing in our workforce and the pandemic added greater anxiety and emotional burden.
The industry and charities like ours have made huge strides in recognising and delivering programmes to improve wellbeing but the results from 2021 simply galvanise our resolve to do more. Our messages of support are not reaching the boots on the ground. We all have a moral responsibility and an economic imperative to work together to improve the wellbeing and welfare or our workers.”
The industry is doing more than ever to recognise and address this major issue and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has asked the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Mates In Mind Charity to work together to co-chair a major project to improve wellbeing and welfare within construction along with initiatives to accelerate universal culture change to reduce stigma, break down barriers and increase awareness of support services.
This major initiative called Make It Visible will look to unite the CITB, HSE, Supply Chain School, trade and professional bodies, clients and contractors to formulate and execute a plan of action with key deliverables and measurement to drive the change necessary to improve the wellbeing of our workforce and ultimately reduce the suicides in our industry.
In January 2023 the industry will be invited to a presentation of a study conducted by GCU looking at all the research and industry best practice on wellbeing over the last two years. The participants will be asked to vote on the priorities for the Make It Visible initiative to work on.
Sarah Meek, Managing Director of Mates in Mind said “These latest statistics demonstrate that we need to do more as an industry to prevent people reaching the point of crisis, by addressing the causes that negatively impact on one’s mental health and thereby reduce the need for safety nets.
There is much that we can do around prevention and employers should be encouraged to view their responsibility around this across their total workforce including their supply chain who, from our research earlier this year, have shown to be working with severe levels of anxiety. With positive moves already beginning which sees mental health starting to feature in frameworks, we must continue building on this and encourage conversations around how contracts are both procured and awarded to address some of the factors that can have such a detrimental effect.”
The full report can be downloaded here : Construction project risk & value management | Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK (gcu.ac.uk) NASC boss becomes VP of European Scaffolding Confederation
Over the years, Dave has attended regular meetings and taken part in several working groups. There are a number of working parties looking to raise scaffolding standards and set minimum requirements for the European sector.
Dave Mosley said: “ I am very proud to have been appointed as Vice President of UEG and would like to thank the members for voting for me.
NASC has been involved with the federation almost from the beginning, it is essential that our voice is heard during the discussions that take place in Europe, as they could have serious consequences upon standards regarding materials, labour, training and other aspects of the scaffolding industry back in the UK.
Over the years, we have met some incredibly knowledgeable and experienced industry representatives via UEG and made some great friends and allies. Not every member will have the same opinion on a particular subject but through discussion we can usually reach a consensus, which will help to move us collectively in the right direction.” G-DECK continues to see growth with launch of new product
HSE statistics show workplace stress, depression and anxiety on the rise
Statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show improvement in some areas but also show concerning trends in workplace stress, depression and anxiety.
The latest statistics published by the HSE which include work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries, show that 1.8 million workers suffered from a work-related illness in the period 2021-2022, up from 1.7 million the previous year. Over fifty percent of these cases are related to stress, depression, or anxiety.
Data shows that there were 123 workers killed in the same period and that 565,00 workers sustained a non-fatal injury up from 441,000 the previous year.
The construction industry has the highest level of fatalities of any sector – 30 in total.
HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, said: “Stress and poor mental health is the number one cause of work-related ill health. The effects of stress, depression, and anxiety can have a significant impact on an employee’s life and on their ability to perform their best at work. “Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work but we need all employers to do more and take seriously their responsibilities to support good mental health at work. That’s why improving mental health in the workplace is a key priority in our 10-year strategy ‘Protecting People and Places’, and why we’re developing new partnerships across industry to help employers support their employees.”Industry Reaction
Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association said; “Almost a quarter of all workplace fatalities occur as a result of falls from height, which remains the single largest contributing factor – 29 for the period 2021-2022 and 29 too many.
Further, with over 50% of work-related ill health cases being a result of stress, depression or anxiety indicates a rapidly growing trend that employers must get to grips with to ensure employees are being offered the support they need.
Statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) earlier this year suggest that in construction (a typically male dominated industry) that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than national average men. That equates to another 700 deaths every year in construction.”
To see the HSE statistics and statement in full see here.
Award winning success for JDC Scaffolding
This allowed contractors to make the building safe, clean the external masonry, replace internal timbers, replace the roof coverings and alter the internal layout.
The NASC said: “The project highlighted JDC’s design capabilities and the depth of its engineering knowledge. The design development was an intense process and carried out in difficult communication circumstances during a pandemic.”
Sam Sufferin, SHEQ Advisor for McLaughlin & Harvey added: “JDC has demonstrated excellent standards of safety performance throughout their time on the COL Annexe project to date. On what is an extremely intricate site, they have designed, constructed and maintained complex scaffolding systems with H&S at the forefront.”
Phil Welham, Business Development Director at JDC Scaffolding said: “JDC Scaffolding were proud to receive the Project of the Year (Medium) award at the NASC Awards. We were up against some unbelievably tough opposition, but the judges thought that our submission, for this technically challenging project, was worthy of the award.
Our very strong and loyal team have stuck together, with hard work and self-belief it is amazing what you can achieve.” NASC Appoints Youngest Ever President

“Our members don’t just pay for a badge and then buy guidance from elsewhere. NASC members are the leaders in our Industry.”

Bold Words
Besides Brown’s Net Zero goals for members and tackling the industry’s labour shortages, he is extremely passionate about main contractors insisting on only using NASC member companies. And he made a bold announcement at the AGM that some in the wider industry may find controversial. During his term as President, he is going to fully support the confederation in promoting ‘NASC only’ to all main contractors, clients, local authorities and even the Government. “Over recent years the criteria from main contractors have changed. ‘NASC Member Companies Only’ used to be the criteria on PQQ documents issued. During my term as President, we need to get back to this”, he said. “My message to main contractors is simple… “Do you want to employ scaffolding contractors who help produce the industry guidance and set the standard for the scaffolding industry? Do you want to employ the scaffolding contractors who year after year and reducing their accident statistics and improving the industry? Do you want safe and compliant companies working on your projects? Do you want scaffolding companies who are fully audited and who are using materials fully in accordance with NASC product purchasing guidelines? “Only by employing a NASC member company do you get this as a minimum.”Fawley oil refinery scaffolders strike over pay
The union said the refinery’s employers had not formally given an offer it could put to its members.
Bryan Hulley, GMB organiser said to the BBC that Altrad, Bilfinger and their client ExxonMobil were “solely responsible for this walkout”.
“Despite the promises that they will make an offer to our members, we are yet to get a formal offer on the table,” he continued.
An ExxonMobil spokesperson said: ”This action involves trade union members employed by contracting companies operating onsite. Operations at Fawley are unaffected and we do not anticipate any impact on fuel supplies to customers.”
The spokesperson for the oil and gas company added that “industrial action is not in anyone’s interest” and urged the trade unions and employers to work together to reach a resolution.
Bilfinger said in a statement it understood the company was one of a group of contractors with employees taking part in the industrial action. “We are working closely with our employees and the unions to resolve this as soon as possible.”
The union says it has also issued notice of a further two weeks of action to follow.
Scaffolder football fan shaves chest and back for World Cup

Winners unveiled at NASC Awards 2022
NASC Award Winners & Runners-up
Apprentice of the Year
1 Louie Peebles – JMAC Scaffolding Ltd (Winner)
2 Trenai Munnings – Lyndon SGB by BrandSafway (UK) (Runner-up)
Health & Safety (Small)
1 Shield Services Group (Winner)
2 MR Scaffolding Services Ltd (Runner-up)
Health & Safety (Large)
1 KAEFER UK & Ireland Ltd (Winner)
2 Connect Scaffolding Ltd (Runner-up)
Innovation of the Year
1 Layher Ltd (UK) – TwixBeam (Winner)
2 PERI – EVOTOP (Runner-up)
President’s Award
1 GKR Scaffolding Ltd (Winner)
2 JFE Attridge Scaffolding Services Co Ltd (Runner-up)
Project of the Year (Small)
1 INFRASTRUCTURE SITE SERVICES LIMITED – Swaith Viaduct Refurbishment, Barnsley
2 Shield Services Group – Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil
Project of the Year (Medium)
1 JDC Scaffolding – Annexe Building, Smithfield
2 Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding Limited – Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen
Project of the Year (Large)
1 PHD Access – HMS Victory, Portsmouth
2 Enigma Industrial Services Ltd – Cameron House Restoration, Loch Lomond
Acting NASC Managing Director, Dave Mosley, said: “It’s been another fantastic NASC Ball and Awards. The event grows year on year and has been established as a real highlight in the scaffolding and access industry calendar. A big thanks to all those involved in organising this event, with a special mention to event organiser (& NASC Membership Manager), Jamie McGuire who has had to oversee each aspect of this very special occasion.
“Congratulations to the winners, runners-up and indeed all those nominated for an award this year, the standard as always was incredibly high – which is what the NASC is all about of course. It’s an excellent way of giving recognition to everybody’s hard work, it is something to be proud of and can only enhance their reputations and credibility with the wider industry.”

