Offshore scaffolder dies in fall

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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Offshore scaffolder dies in fall
A scaffolder has died after falling from a platform into the water at an offshore services yard near Corpus Christi, Texas. According to a US Coast Guard report the incident occurred around 1:30 pm. on Saturday 1 October. The man was last seen wearing a blue life jacket, safety harness and tool belt. The US Coast Guard’s local unit reported receiving a call at 1:45 p.m. from Corpus Christi Police Department personnel stating a scaffolder fell off a platform at Kiewit Offshore Services and entered the water in La Quinta Channel. The on-site safety officer reported the man did not resurface and had been missing for 15 minutes. An air and sea search and rescue operation was launched involving the local Police Dept and US Coast Guard but was later called off the same day after commercial divers found the man’s body near the rig. Local police later confirmed his identity as 29-year-old Ricardo Jazael Laredo Padron from Aransas Pass. Police said in a report that despite the scaffolder wearing all the appropriate safety equipment for working at height over water, the man was deceased. His inflatable personal flotation device (PFD) failed to deploy, which likely contributed to his death. An investigation into the man’s death continues.

Scaffolding Conference Success

Daniel Norton
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Scaffolding Conference Success
The Scaffolding Association has held the UK’s first ever dedicated scaffolding and access conference that aimed to be both engaging and informative. Around 150 people from all areas of the scaffolding and access sector attended the brand-new event held yesterday (29 September) in Coventry. Open to both its members and non-members the event aimed to bring the industry together to share views and ideas. The conference was opened by the Scaffolding Association’s Chief Executive Robert Candy who welcomed delegates, guest speakers and thanked the event exhibitors Avontus Software, Citation, CITB, DESSA, G-DECK, Holmes & Hills Solicitors, ITP, Layher UK, PERI, Stay-Safe Scaffold Products and TRAD UK. “I am so pleased to see an event like this taking place which is dedicated to the scaffolding and access industry”, Robert Candy said. “There are very few opportunities that openly allow business leaders, manufacturers, service providers and stakeholders to come together under one roof, today is long overdue.” The jam-packed day covered a wide range of industry-relevant subjects that included a live contract review, National Scaffolding Week and awards, in-depth discussions on labour shortages, skills and training, scaffold insurance and the HGV price-fixing saga.
Discussion: System Scaffolding – Is This The Future?
An interesting discussion on the future of scaffolding and how System will play its part saw Dave Abraham, MD of Fulcrum Training and business rivals Des Moore, CEO of the TRAD Group and Sean Pike, Managing Director of Layher UK take to the stage. The trio discussed with the audience how system scaffolding could offer viable solutions to some of the skills and training issues the sector faces. Guests also heard Keynote addresses on HR mistakes and myths from Citation and Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB shared his vision for the future of how the CITB will be meeting the needs of the scaffolding sector over the next 12 months. Prior to the event, organisers at the Scaffolding Association said they had listened to what their members were saying about the industry and composed a conference program that would be engaging, informative and above all else relevant to their audience. Robert Candy added: “I hope our guests had a great day, and we look forward to welcoming them back next year to what we hope will become a permanent and highly valued fixture in the scaffolding and access industry calendar.”

Dodgy scaffold design led to two deaths at paper mill

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Dodgy scaffold design led to two deaths at paper mill
An investigation by Canada’s workplace health and safety board has found that scaffold design failures led to a major scaffold collapse which killed two workers and injured several others at a western Quebec paper mill in October 2021. A report released on Wednesday by Canada’s workplace health and safety board says that an engineer working for Boileau & Associés which produced the design for the 16-storey scaffold ‘improperly calculated’ how much weight the platform could hold. According to the report, the engineer underestimated the load capacity of the scaffold by more than 25 per cent, a difference of more than 4,000 kilograms. It says the seventh floor on which the collapse occurred was not properly braced and unable in certain places to support the weight of the workers. The two workers who died were Yan Baillargeon, 39, and Hugo Pare, 22. The Canadian Press says the men worked for contracting firms that were doing maintenance on the plant in Windsor, Que.

Recruitment drive that’s turning inmates to scaffolding

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Recruitment drive that’s turning inmates to scaffolding
Many young offenders are being given a second chance through a scaffolding initiative involving the Made Inside Britain project, a CISRS-approved training provider and NASC Contractor members. As previously reported the scheme sees inmates at Thorn Cross, Lancaster Farm and Berwyn prisons undertake a five-day introductory scaffolding course delivered by Fulcrum Scaffold Safety & Training Ltd whilst awaiting release. Upon leaving prison suitable candidates are then matched with participating NASC Contractor members for interviews, leading to full-time employment. Made Inside Britain partners also include CITB and Procure Plus Ltd as well as New Future Networks and Antz Junction offer support, guidance and mentoring to participating operatives and employers. To date, more than 70 ex-offenders – or returning citizens – have passed through the scheme, taking up positions at NASC member companies including Abbi Access Services Ltd, Allied Scaffolding Ltd, BSL (Systems) Ltd, Connolly Scaffolding Ltd, Craven Scaffolding Ltd, Deva Scaffolding Ltd, Lyndon SGB and Summit Marine Scaffolding Ltd. Rose System Scaffolding Ltd and Lea Scaffolding & Access Ltd have also signed up to offer employment opportunities to returning citizens and have recently completed the relevant risk assessments required to take part in the project. The NASC has said it aims to achieve similar employment successes through its Returning Citizens Scheme, through which it has partnered with a number of key stakeholders including HMP institutions, several charities and third-party mentoring services to promote the scaffolding industry as a career path for ex-offenders and develop a pipeline of referrals.
NASC pays out £50k in training fund
Image: NASC
Fulcrum Managing Director Dave Abraham said: “This scheme simply requires a will to succeed; firstly, the returning citizens’ willingness to learn new skills and grasp a fantastic new career opportunity, and secondly the scaffolding employers’ willingness to provide these learners with a chance to thrive. “I’m delighted to say that there’s been no shortage of willingness from all parties so far. “We’re immensely proud to play a part in this story, providing young inmates with a five-day, hands-on programme where they receive an introduction to scaffolding, constructing low-level structures such as towers, independents and birdcages, and complete COTS and Level 1 health and safety courses.”
NASC Training Officer Henry Annafi
NASC Training Officer Henry Annafi said: “We’re so pleased to see NASC members come together to give returning citizens both scaffolding skills and a chance of employment. I’d like to congratulate Fulcrum Scaffold Safety & Training Ltd and participating members on their success so far and also welcome the new trainee scaffolders into the industry.” “We’re looking to build on this initial momentum and are highlighting this and other similar initiatives around the UK to NASC members during our current round of regional meetings. The response has been excellent, there’s much more to come from us in this space.” You can find out more on the NASC’s Returning Citizens Scheme visit: https://scaffoldingcareers.nasc.org.uk/returning-citizens/

HSE to carry out 1000 inspections to combat aches, pains and strains

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HSE to carry out 1000 inspections to combat aches, pains and strains
HSE inspectors are set to carry out 1000 inspections on construction sites in October and November after launching a campaign to combat serious aches, pains and strains. Inspectors from the HSE will be checking how workers are moving heavy or bulky materials on construction sites across the country. Experts at the HSE are warning that the lifting and moving of heavy objects on construction sites are harming the health of thousands of workers to such a degree every aspect of their lives is affected. The injuries and conditions picked up can stop them from working and leave them struggling to stand, walk, or sit down. The law requires employers to prevent the ill health of their workers, which includes injuries to muscles, bones, joints and nerves that can develop over time, known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, recent figures show around 40,000 people in the construction industry suffer an MSD each year, which can cause years of agonising aches and pains. The HSE states that moving and handling risks should be considered and prevented where possible at the design stage. Once on site and before work starts, employers should talk to workers about controlling existing risks to make sure that the right training, aids and equipment are there to prevent injuries. If moving and lifting is managed properly, a physical job on a building site should not result in aches, pains and strains which affect every part of workers’ lives. Matt Birtles, principal ergonomist at HSE, said: “Serious aches, pains and strains can affect every part of someone’s life. They can struggle to get themselves dressed and undressed, they can be unable to pick up their children or grandchildren. “They can struggle to sit down and stand up, they can struggle to keep still and move around. The most intimate parts of their lives can be severely affected – they might be desperate to go the toilet but find themselves unable. “It’s not something that many people feel comfortable talking about, perhaps particularly on a building site, but if your back has gone or if you’re in agony whenever you move your arms, measures need to be put in place to address the causes.” HSE’s head of construction, Sarah Jardine said: “Inspectors are visiting a range of construction sites to check the action businesses are taking to ensure their workers are being protected. “Everyone involved in construction has a role to play in keeping people safe. Risks must be managed where they can’t be prevented, and risk management arrangements must be reviewed frequently to ensure they are effective. “We want everyone in the industry, from designers to contractors and their workers, to be aware of the risks associated with any moving or lifting task and put appropriate measures in place. “This is a significant health issue for tens of thousands of construction workers and can lead to a lifetime of terrible aches and pains. The health of workers must be considered when planning construction work so that they can carry out their jobs without fear of injuring themselves, including being provided with the correct equipment to lift safely. “Thankfully there are measures that can be taken to prevent injuries to muscles, bones, joints and nerves. Doing so is good for workers and good for the construction industry. It’s good for business.”

A new ‘Plus’ for George Roberts

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A new ‘Plus’ for George Roberts
Global scaffolding supplier George Roberts Ltd has launched a new e-commerce site, GR Plus. The brand new easy to navigate online shop features George Roberts’s extensive product range that consists of over 2000 scaffolding and construction products. GR+ Webstore replaces the firm’s original Scaffolding Sales online shop it aims to ensure its customers have a seamless purchasing experience from online order to delivery or collection. The website also offers a handy Kit Builder tool that helps its customers plan and cost up various requirements across multiple projects, as well as ordering for an entire project in one easy step. Danny Wood, Sales Director at George Roberts Ltd, said: “Our recent rebrand and the launch of GR+ is an integral part of George Roberts’s vision of providing exceptional service to all of our customers.” You can see the full offering here www.grplus.co.uk

NSW launches ‘Fastest Fixer’ competition

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NSW launches ‘Fastest Fixer’ competition
National Scaffolding Week (NSW) has partnered with TRAD UK to launch a ‘Fastest Fixer’ competition across six of its depots nationwide. National Scaffolding Week 26 – 30th September 2022 is a brand new campaign to celebrate the scaffolding and access sectors’ many achievements and promote the diverse range of roles and opportunities available within the industry. To help raise awareness of the campaign, National Scaffolding Week has teamed up with TRAD UK to run a ‘fastest fixer’ competition which will be held at six TRAD UK depots across the UK. Each location will fix a vertical 6-foot tube and have a time challenge to fit 12 D/F doubles onto the tube. TRAD UK will provide the same scaffold spanner and fittings are used at each location to ensure everyone is competing like for like. The depots taking part are Andover, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester and the criteria for the competition will be as follows:
  1. 12 doubles to be laid out on the floor and scaffold spanner handed to the competitor
  2. All nuts are unwound fully, meaning everyone is starting from the same position
  3. Depot adjudicators have a stopwatch and spreadsheet ready to record your time
  4. Adjudicator to issue start instruction
  5. Timing starts immediately from when the competitor touches / picks up the first fitting.
  6. Once all 12 doubles are fixed to the tube the timer is stopped
  7. Nuts must be fully tight and should not be able to be loosened by hand.
  8. All names and times will be logged onto a spreadsheet
At the conclusion of National Scaffolding Week, a winner per region will be announced and awarded with a commemorative shield, with the fastest from all regions being declared the overall ‘Fastest Fitter 2022’ and awarded with their own award. To stay up-to-date with everything happening during National Scaffolding Week, visit: www.nationalscaffoldingweek.com

Altrad completes acquisition of Doosan Babcock

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Altrad completes acquisition of Doosan Babcock
Altrad has added 4,000 new staff after signing its financial agreement to acquire Doosan Babcock Limited. Both industrial services businesses reached the financial close on the deal yesterday (Sunday 25 September). Doosan Babcock which will now be renamed Altrad Babcock Limited is a specialist in delivering engineering, aftermarket and upgrade services to the nuclear, thermal, oil and gas, petrochemical and process sectors. In a statement, Altrad said that; “Concluding this transaction marks another exciting milestone in Altrad’s development, whereby it invests in businesses that share its excitement, vision and values – and a desire to add enhanced value to its clients.” Ran Oren – Altrad Group Co-CEO said, “We have admired the Doosan Babcock business from a distance for many years and I am pleased we have been able to finalise this latest acquisition, which will add a wide range of value-adding engineering skills to the Altrad Group. We are committed to investing in the business to support its continued growth, so together, we can play our part in supporting the transition towards a more sustainable future.” Altrad’s CEO for the UK, Ireland & Nordics – Padraig Somers added, “We are delighted to welcome Doosan Babcock into the Altrad family. The acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to extend our portfolio of services and enter new markets, whilst enhancing the outcomes we deliver for our clients.” The deal will encompass approximately 4,000 talented people joining Altrad, wherein they will be valued and encouraged to develop fulfilling careers, to become the best they can be, Altrad said.

PERI UP Flex supports grandstand for Wentworth Golf Championship

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PERI UP Flex supports grandstand for Wentworth Golf Championship
Scaffolding specialist PERI supported Arena Group with the delivery of temporary structures for the BMW PGA golf championship, which occurred at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey. PERI UP Flex scaffolding was used to build the grandstand seating that held 2,870 spectators for the event, which took place from 6th to the 11th of September 2022. The build demanded a large amount of scaffolding, which PERI had to deliver in a short space time. The speed and versatility of the required scaffolding solution was crucial to the success of the project. PERI UP Flex’s built-in safety components accelerated assembly time, demonstrating its effectiveness for building large temporary structures. The system’s speed and safety benefits enabled the grandstand to be built successfully within plenty of time for the event. James Coyle, Arena Project Manager for the BMW PGA at Wentworth, said: “Once again it’s been a pleasure to work with PERI on such a prestigious and iconic sporting event. The PERI UP Flex scaffolding is the perfect partner for our Clearview seating system, and together we’ve delivered an outstanding seating solution for the BMW PGA Championships.” The advanced scaffolding system’s high load-bearing capacity proved ideal for the nature of this project. The modular system allowed for adaptability across all elements of the build, and versatile nature allowed Arena Group to tailor the scaffolding to fit specific needs. The flexibility of PERI UP Flex allows for exciting prospects in the future to create moveable grandstand structures for future similar events.

Cornwall scaffolders bag top construction award

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Cornwall scaffolders bag top construction award
Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding has been named ‘Access & Scaffolding Specialist Of The Year’ at last night’s CN Specialists Awards 2022. The Cornwall-based scaffolding firm scooped the award at the glitzy annual London event held yesterday (22 September 2022) by the Construction News. Judges said they were impressed by the business’s passion for innovation and drive to constantly evolve. They highlighted the firm’s forward-thinking innovations giving examples including when Sedgeman adapted ties used in cliff climbing for a technical scaffold at St Michael’s Mount which was submerged in the sea, and creating new extendable ledgers that allow for greater flexibility that can be delivered on site. Judges also commended the business for exploring the use of solar panels and running its trucks and other vehicles on hydrotreated vegetable oil as part of its ambition to become carbon neutral. It has also trialled recyclable scaffold sheeting. “Sedgemans’ drive to push the business forward with technical and environmental advances, plus its pride in its workforce and commitment to their training, had shone through”, the judges said. Speaking to Scaffmag about the win Managing Director Chris Sedgeman said: “We are proud of all our workforce for their hard work over the past year. We have delivered some challenging projects from Geevor Tin Mine to working on a film set. We pride ourselves on handling complex works but ensure the same commitment for all areas of our scaffold business. It takes the whole team to achieve excellence and we are well aware of the level of commitment we need to provide to ensure the company can sustain the new challenging environment.” Additionally, Manchester-based contractors Allied Scaffolding Ltd picked up the Highly Commended award in this category. Editor of Construction News, Colin Marrs added: “The CN Specialist Awards is always a very special occasion and this year’s event was no exception. At a time of economic uncertainty for subcontractors, it feels more vital than ever to celebrate the incredible work the industry does. “The entries for this year’s award revealed inspiring stories of innovation, effort and efficiency that bear testament to the industry’s continuing adaption to ever-changing circumstances. It was amazing to see so many recognised and a shame that not every shortlisted entry could win.
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