AccessPoint Issue 11

www.accesspoint.org.uk

CONTENTS

04 Voice of the Sector: Uncertain times weigh heavily on our sector

05 Opinion: Getting the design right makes commercial sense

08 Site

Scaffolding company disqualified

The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Claire Gilmore, has disqualified a Dundee-based scaffolding company and its director for five years following the repeated unlawful use of a vehicle. The industry regulator concluded AFS Scaffolding Ltd posed “a significant risk to road safety” and that director Ross Findlay “deliberately and repeatedly” operated a vehicle without the required operator’s licence.

Ms Gilmore’s decision follows a public inquiry into the business, which looked at the company’s illegal use of a vehicle before it was given an operator’s licence.

Businesses are required to hold a valid licence to run commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and must meet certain standards to keep that licence.

Director Mr Findlay told the Deputy Traffic Commissioner that the vehicle in question had been parked up for a lengthy period, but inspections revealed it had travelled over 10,000km between 10 December 2018 and 25 March 2019, when the company did not have a licence.

Kier suspended from Prompt Payment Code

20 firms – including AstraZeneca, IBM and Unilever – have been suspended from the Prompt Payment Code for failing to pay suppliers on time, the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) announced recently.

Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline and Kier businesses are also among those that have failed to honour their Code commitment to pay 95% of all supplier invoices within 60 days. The Code is administered by the CICM, who are independent from government, on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Signatories pledge to uphold best practice to end the culture of late payment.

All of the suspended businesses are engaging with the CICM and have already submitted action plans towards achieving compliance, proving the effectiveness of the PPC in positively changing payment behaviours.

A further nine businesses – including Interserve Construction, have been reinstated to the Code having demonstrated compliance for at least the last two consecutive months.

Audited Membership the way forward for Ducker & Young

With an experienced management team and robust procedures at the heart of the day-to-day business operation, Ducker & Young decided to go for Audited Membership of the Scaffolding Association to verify those procedures and put themselves in a position to be considered for new tender opportunities.

Jonathan Greer, contracts director at Ducker & Young, said: “The Scaffolding Association Audit gave us a detailed insight into our business and our current strengths and weaknesses, particularly showing us areas where we could improve.

“By being audited with the Scaffolding Association, we have seen access to new markets and opportunities develop quite quickly. The cost of becoming an Audited Member has been more than achieved through new orders and relationships that have opened up as a result of this level of membership.”

FIND OUT MORE www.scaffolding-association.org/membership-levels

CONTACT US

Editorial

Editor: Stacey Underhill, tel: 0300 124 0470

Email: stacey@scaffolding-association.org

Subscriptions

AccessPoint is distributed to members of the Scaffolding Association and other selected access and scaffolding businesses. If you wish to receive a copy of AccessPoint or would like to amend or cancel your subscription, please contact either info@scaffolding-association.org or call 0300 124 0470.

Advertising

Enquiries: Sally Smith, tel: 0300 124 0470

Email: sally@scaffolding-association.org

Scaffolding Association

Tel: 0300 124 0470 www.scaffolding-association.org

Email: info@scaffolding-association.org

ISNN: 2055-2033 (Print)

Business owners depressed and suicidal due to late payment

An industry-wide survey has shown the impact of late and unfair payment on mental health in construction. Nine out of ten business owners across construction suffer a range of mental health issues due to payment and business pressures, according to a survey run by leading engineering services trade bodies BESA and ECA.

AccessPoint is published on behalf of the Scaffolding Association. The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those held by the Scaffolding Association. The Scaffolding Association shall not be under any liability in respect of the contents of the contributed articles. The Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or alter articles for publication.

Printer: Tewkesbury Printing Company

The new survey, conducted in association with 25 construction trade bodies, including the Scaffolding Association, found that business owners have an array of significant mental health problems due to the pressures of late or unfair payment, including:

• Stress (80%)

• Depression (36%)

• Anxiety and/or panic attacks (40%)

• Extreme anger (38%)

• Insomnia (36%)

• Suicidal feelings (10%)

Of all the respondents, four said they had attempted suicide as a result, while 80% reported a mental health issue. 41% of all respondents said that payment issues had strained their relationship with their partner, with 5% reporting it had caused it to breakdown entirely. The survey supporters are all part of an industry coalition pressing Government to reform the practice of cash retentions in construction. Cash retentions are widely considered to be the most unfair and abused payment practice in the industry.

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Welcome to AccessPoint

Welcome to this, the latest edition of Accesspoint, crammed full of entertaining and useful information, cutting edge views and helpful advice… 24 pages of really valuable reading!

It’s not about how much you can lift; it’s how you plan the lift, so in this issue we highlight some of the key considerations when manual handling. We revisit the recent AGM and highlight topics that saw eyebrows rising as quickly as it set pulses racing, and provide a synopsis of key discussion points from the day for you to consider and respond to if you feel the need to. We always like to hear from you with views, concerns and even your own solutions to issues we cover in these pages. We take a closer look at a couple of quite excellent case studies, highlight some technical issues that are never far from our minds and look again at the concerns about mental health that are current across sectors but particularly in the construction industry at this time.

Chief Executive Robert Candy covers the current debacle that is still Brexit and how it seems to be affecting the wider construction industry along with the more focussed way its affecting those of us working in the scaffolding business. Will it ever come to an end? Will the newly-formed Government be able to resolve the issues?

Remember, this is your magazine and we want it to contribute to your day to day experience in this industry. Do let us have your ideas for information and features that you would find useful and helpful to the running of your business.

Everyone here at the Scaffolding Association sends their best wishes for a restful, enjoyable Christmas and a prosperous, successful and pleasingly busy 2020… or at the very least a year where we can have a reasonable understanding of what’s happening that allows us to plan for the next twelve months with a degree of certainty.

Stacey Underhill Editor

Uncertain times weigh heavily on our sector

Well, here we are again. Like you, I’d hoped we wouldn’t need to address the issues of Brexit again having been promised faithfully that we would definitely be leaving on 31st October.

After a further delay for the parliamentary election, we now have a government with a large enough majority to make decisions. We now know when we will be leaving the EU – at the end of January. This adds some certainty but a timescale of 12 months to complete the trade deals creates another year of uncertainty. We are still left not knowing what kind of deal we’ll leave with – if we get one at all. And does anyone genuinely believe that the newly-formed Government will provide any new answers?

There seems a genuine prospect that this administration will struggle to overcome the three years of inertia that has damaged the country, the economy and the UK’s reputation.

It’s all made worse because Brexit was an issue that cut the country almost exactly in half and for the first time in living memory was not a decision that followed party lines or allegiances. It remains hugely destructive across all of UK society. It’s an argument that once it became inevitable, needed to be sorted quickly, even if painfully for those who disagreed with it.

The disharmony and instability it has created (whether the politicians are willing to recognise it or not) has caused huge damage to many business sectors – including our own.

It’s tempting to suggest that a badly thought out process, brought about by overly confident, possibly out-of-touch politicians, has left us with a sore running through society that is proving hugely damaging at every level.

But most worryingly, day by day, we see businesses struggling to survive, unable to make decisions about investment in personnel, equipment, growth. The uncertainty has reduced business decisions to a series of ‘finger in the wind’ guesses that inevitably tend to veer towards ‘safety first’ and delays that are seriously affecting the overall success of ‘UK Limited’.

It’s a mess. And what effect is it having on people in our sector? A recent survey by BESA – the Building and Engineering Services Association and the ECA – the Electrical Contractors Association, produced remarkable findings. The Scaffolding Association were one of 25 construction trade bodies that contributed feedback which generated these sobering figures: 90% of business owners across construction suffer a range of mental health issues due primarily to non-payment, as well as other business pressures; 80% are suffering from stress; 36% from depression; 38% from extreme anger; and 10% suggest they are even feeling suicidal because of the pressures on them. This is not acceptable. We cannot link these pressures directly to Brexit, but the uncertainty surrounding it will have played a major part in the problems that have given rise to late payment becoming commonplace.

Let’s hope that the new Government drive forward with positivity and purpose, but I’ve yet to speak to anyone who thinks that will be the case.

Robert Candy Chief Executive Scaffolding Association www.scaffolding-association.org

Getting the design right makes commercial sense

Nigel Waring, Business Development Manager at 48.3 Scaffold Design, discusses how prioritising scaffold design ahead of contractor appointment, and collaborating with permanent works teams, can improve profit margins. For clients, scaffolding is often the first thing needed but the last thing that is thought about. So it comes as no surprise that the variation costs on some projects can range from 60–150%. So how can scaffold design be the solution to reducing such wild variation costs? Quite simply, proper upfront planning, design and management WILL reduce costs.

By encouraging clients to remove scaffold design from their scaffolding package and appointing a competent scaffold designer early in the project, a clearly defined scope of works and design can be developed that will meet the needs of the project for its duration.

Combine this with an integrated approach between temporary works design

and permanent works design, and clients can then be confident of the suitability and compliance of the scaffolding they will be procuring from contractors at tender stage.

On a recent project with Blue Sky Building, construction director Laurence Baptiste, commented on the benefits from a client perspective during the construction of the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Leicester Square. After appointing a scaffold designer upfront, prior to appointing the scaffold contractor he explained; “It allowed us to develop a clear scope of works to suit the contract and it meant that when we went to tender, the contractors were tendering on a level playing field”.

For the majority of trades design work is undertaken pre-tender, yet the

scaffolding requirements are often left open to interpretation by the scaffold contractor. With an agreed scope of works and design in place, scaffold contractors are competing fairly when it comes to tendering for projects. For the contractor who is then awarded the project, the use of a client issued design means that the contractual headaches associated with negotiating variations is all but eliminated. In an increasingly, price driven marketplace this should offer more cost certainty. Prioritising scaffold design in the early stages of the project can reduce risks, improve margins and increase productivity for both contractor and client!

FIND OUT MORE – EMAIL: info@483.co.uk

New Alto Scaffmate Duo

Scaffolders complying with SG4:15 often find it necessary to carry two steps to achieve 0.5m and 1.0m step ups. The new Alto Scaffmate Duo allows scaffolders to replace two items of equipment with one dual height step up.

ScaffGap closes gaps on working platforms

ScaffGap is a recognised scaffolding component that is proud to play a part in the quest to make scaffold platforms safe. It’s ease of use and re-usability has made it the preferred method used by many contractors. Simply clipping to a scaffold board, it provides a flush top surface spanning inherent gaps in working platforms.

ScaffGap is now widely used throughout the industrial, commercial and construction sectors of the industry. It has been developed for many applications, including;

The Mac Universal Brickguard

Teesside based JMAC Safety Systems have launched their latest product – The Mac Universal Brickguard, created by scaffolders, for scaffolders.

• A light duty version for tube and fitting scaffolds

• A heavy duty version for tube and fitting scaffolds

• A ‘System’ version for use with ‘Cuplok’ and ‘Unit Transom’ scaffolds

Neatly folding in half to create dual height functionality, the Alto Scaffmate Duo makes the 0.5m hop up step redundant –reducing the amount of equipment to buy, store, carry to site and maintain.

The Alto Scaffmate Duo is corrosion resistant, durable, lightweight, compliant, convenient and auto-latching. The Duo folds flat for easy compact storage and is available direct from the manufacturer Lakeside Industries, and a range of scaffolding stockists. The list price is £125 plus VAT.

Alto Access Products are specialists in aluminium access products – designed for purpose and renowned around the world for their quality, strength and durability.

FIND OUT MORE www.altoaccess.com

The JMSS Brickguard has been designed to overcome the rosette on ring system type scaffolding to provide a flush, continuous run along the scaffold. The unique design of the handle provides a robust, durable and secure connection to the handrail, with the ability to be used on the three different ledger types between 30mm and 60mm. Their new offering also features two increased length toe board connectors, meaning the design provides high performance on either system scaffold toe boards at 150mm or timber toe boards at 225mm.

The product has been tested to BS EN 12811 – 1 on all major scaffolding systems, and claiming unrivalled performance.

Customers can purchase these products in any colour, with their logo and branding; providing promotion for the business and a strong deterrent against theft.

FIND OUT MORE www.jmacsafetysystems.co.uk

Avontus introduces enhanced 3D capabilities in latest release of Scaffold Designer

Avontus has introduced major updates to its Scaffold Designer software. Scaffold Designer 2020 offers more advanced 3D capabilities, giving customers access to high-end CAD software. This enables users to create detailed and professional 3D drawings in minutes, making it easier to visualize the scaffold model dynamically on different devices and screens for accurate scaffolding erection.

Users can export the 3D model from Scaffold Designer and view and share the design with multiple stakeholders using Acrobat PDF Reader; no third-party applications are required.

A new tool makes it easy to design geodesic domes like tanks and vessels. It also supports vertical domes and horizontal caps at any angle, helping designers fulfil architectural demands when working with irregular structures. The U-head jack element for scaffold legs is adjustable in Bay View and the detailed drawings convey

the support components required for scaffolding safety. Designers will enjoy a faster, more intuitive user interface. Another significant update is the new Training Video Player, featuring over 20 short tutorials (with more to come) and offering quick

guides that are searchable, easy to digest, accessible, topic-focused and derived from real support cases. The new release is now available for download.

FIND OUT MORE www.avontus.com

• A ‘Supadek’ version for use with plastic scaffold boards. All versions can be made with the traditional recycled polymer plastic, virgin UPVC offering flame retardant properties or GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) offering fire resistant properties.

ScaffGap is widely available across the UK and can be purchased direct from ScaffGap Ltd – a registered UK company and proud to be a long standing member of the UK scaffolding industry and market.

FIND OUT MORE www.scaffgap.com

HAKI introduces new Cladding System

HAKI introduced its Cladding System to the wider industry at London Build Expo in November. As the ideal solution for site hoarding, stair and bridge enclosures and special event staging, the HAKI Cladding System offers extra safety measures for sites or temporary works near public spaces. It is compatible with scaffolding systems, such as HAKI Universal, and traditional tube and fitting scaffold.

The system works by sliding lightweight panels, made of toughened plastic, vertically into specially-designed aluminium cladding tracks. The tracks are then fixed to scaffolds using

Universal adaptors, saddle clamps or coupler clamps and joined together using a joining plate. This simple installation means it can be completed by one-person.

The cladding panels come in a range of sizes from 1250 x 250mm through to 3050 x 500mm to fit HAKI Universal bays or cut to size to fit smaller dimensions. Corner panels are also available. All have fire resistant and noise reduction properties for safe usage.

By utilising the HAKI Cladding System, contractors can prevent public unease by restricting view from height, reduce the risk of falling objects and protect sites from unauthorised access. Additionally, the panels can be wrapped with personalised artwork to enhance the appearance of façades or promote brands to the public.

HAKI Cladding System has already delivered on several projects following its launch to HAKI customers. It successfully enclosed a scaffold, reduced noise of works and protected the public at Glasgow Queen Street railway station during maintenance and station improvements, and the system was also erected at the Goodwood Festival of Speed to create special event structures.

David Probert, International Sales Manager at HAKI commented: “We think the product is the perfect solution to enhance safety on sites by deterring unsanctioned site entry and preventing falls from height and falling objects, while also making sites more aesthetically pleasing for people on the outside.”

Left: Glasgow Queen Street railway station. Right: EDF, Barnwood, Gloucester

Ultimate Access Solutions ‘stars’ in new Netflix production

Most highly technical requirements in the scaffolding world inevitably revolve around the needs of buildings and construction sites –but just occasionally, there’s a need for the design to take a starring role! Ask Croydonbased Ultimate Access Solutions, who were recently called upon to get involved in a major advanced temporary structure that could have just opened a major new area of expertise for the company, as the work on the original project has already led to more work in the same field.

The central independent is double width, built around the centre columns, enabling the beams to pass through and over to the next steel frame, finally meeting with the far independent. They’ve been built to allow inner wall installation using purpose designed sliding transoms. Each column must be encased completely so in theory, these have been built freestanding.

The structure designed has met everyone’s requirements –structural engineers, film set teams, steel fabricators, art directors, and the main contractor Scomac – with a global imposed loading allowance of 4200kN – that’s 420 tons – the possibilities are virtually endless! The company issued two lots of four men teams on rolling 24-hour shifts 7 days a week, in order to achieve the mammoth job and deliver on time. In true UAS style all deadlines and requests were fully met.

Gary Christie was Project Manager for UAS on this demanding job: “The logistics and time frame changed constantly, challenging the team daily, from originally being a 12-week program to a daunting six-week campaign. But UAS always strived to deliver a first-class job on time. This is the ethos of the company and the reason we can deliver a quality service to our valued clients.

“It has challenged us technically and operationally, but our experience and expertise has shone through.”

But watch this space! The contractors on this job have already been back to Ultimate, impressed by their technical ability to deliver such demanding work, and they have started work on a second similarly outrageous job on the same site, and by the time you read this, their next project will be enabling the filming of full blown rainstorms of monsoonal proportions – indoors!!

It’s not every day you get asked to design and erect a bespoke crash-deck with 763 Apollo X beams, in excess of 7000 boards, 5650 fixtures and fittings and 2.3 miles of scaffolding! In fact, in terms of Ultimate Access Solutions (UAS), the right name has been applied to the task. Mind you, it could also find its way into the credits for a major film. Why? Because this feature length scaffolding was constructed in the form of a unique crash-deck spanning across three production sets. This was definitely not your usual project. This was the first time this type of scheme had ever been attempted. The question that needed an answer was – what do you do when running out of studio space and time is against you? The answer –utilise a new warehouse of course. In truth, this is a superb pilot for what could be a series of new projects within the media sector.

This highly technical and impressive structure – or the ‘Evolution’ as the team called it (due to its highly functional interface with all trades) – has attracted a lot of positive attention from everyone on site. It’s clearly something Scomac is very proud of… almost as much as UAS are.

At first details were sketchy, so there was nothing else to do but arrange numerous brainstorming talks with the company’s engineering department. Initially, three UAS engineers worked collaboratively with Scomac, steel engineers and ground engineers.

It was only when ideas began to cut in, the sheer scale of the structure and the huge task ahead fell sharply into focus.

UAS came up with the introduction of steels within the design creating a steel support frame small enough to encase and hide the set inside, but strong enough to support the crash-deck. After a lot of juggling, design and phone calls, further meetings and even more meetings, UAS managed to hit the floor point loads required, achieving the structure. This with everything else, was sent off to the client for approval. Once everything was agreed, the real challenge began.

Independents were erected to the perimeter walls with twin outside legs to accommodate beams and spread the leg loads evenly. The steel frame was installed, and chemical tied in the floor, and once fully installed it was ready to take the bridging beams.

PROJECT TEAM

Main Contractor: Scomac

Scaffolding Contractor: Ultimate Access Solutions

Lead Designer: Thomas Riding, GWCoote Ltd

Design Engineer: Dan van Ackeran

Site start: 12/08/2019

Take extra care when accepting Letters of Intent

Barrister Rudi Klein gives some timely advice on Letters of Intent.

What is a Letter of Intent?

Letters of Intent (LoI) are in regular use across the industry, and often feature regularly in disputes in the courts. In its simplest form, a LoI is a statement of intention to enter – at some stage – into a legally binding contract. In the meantime it’s an invitation for you to carry out certain work pending the negotiation and finalisation of your agreement with the other party. Traditionally a LoI is signed by the parties as a means of commencing work as quickly as possible, allowing time for the contractual documentation to be drawn up.

This all seems very commonsensical but there are pitfalls galore in signing LoI. These vary from lack of precision regarding the scope of the work to be covered by the LoI, to failure to agree on the contractual documentation; by which time the LoI may have lapsed.

Most importantly a LoI may not, in itself, be a contract if it is simply an intention to enter into a contract at a later stage. If work has already been done under the LoI you may have to pursue your payment via a quantum meruit claim. This is a claim for a reasonable sum for the work. What is a reasonable sum will often be hotly disputed. It would be preferable if the LoI was an interim contract relating to the work to be carried out under it.

Another problem area arises when a LoI comes to an end before you have finalised your contract with the other party. This arose in the recent case of Anchor 2020 v Midas Construction Ltd.

Anchor v Midas

Midas had won a tender to build retirement homes for Anchor. Pending agreement on the terms of their contract, Midas began work on the basis of a LoI. A series of LoI were issued with the last one expiring on 30 June 2014.

A few days beforehand Midas had signed the contract documentation but the client, Anchor, had refused to sign it. This was because Midas had attached a risk register

to the documentation which had not been agreed by Anchor. In the meantime the work continued until a dispute arose over the final account.

The court had to decide whether a contract existed. It suited Midas to argue that there was no contract; they had hoped to avoid a liquidated damages liability. Without a contract they could recover outstanding monies via a quantum meruit claim (assuming they constituted a reasonable sum). By the same token it suited Anchor to argue that there was a contract.

The court’s decision

The court held that there was a contract as soon as it had been signed by Midas. The basis of the court’s judgment was that Midas had continued to carry out its work as if a contract was in place. For example, claims for payment, variations and extensions of time were all made in accordance with the contract provisions. In any event the bulk of the contract had been agreed. By subsequently adding the risk register to what had already been agreed meant that it could not be a part of the contract

documentation. Neither was it necessary that both parties should have signed the contract (although there were two signature blocks for the parties’ signatures).

Summary of advice for Scaffolding Association members

Where a Letter of Intent is in use, Scaffolding Association members should:

• Clearly define the work to be carried out under the LoI, the payment for that work and how payments are to be made;

• Where further work is to follow, ensure that another LoI is issued prior to commencement of that work;

• If a LoI has an expiry date make clear that work will cease until the re-issue of a LoI;

• Don’t leave a vacuum – ensure that any formal agreement is finalised (and that you are happy with it) whilst there is still a LoI in place.

After more than 18 months of unbroken and unprecedented stability, the fluctuations in demand experienced over the past three months have been strange. That’s according to data collected by Builders’ Conference on behalf of Build UK. Against a backdrop of political upheaval and economic uncertainty, the very fact that the sector emerged from Q3 down only 12% by value compared to Q2, shows a possible newfound resilience. The sector seems to be coping admirably at the moment with a fluctuating and unpredictable marketplace. It could have been different. Having reported an upbeat 613 individual contracts valued at a combined £4.7 billion in July, the results in August felt hugely disappointing.

A monthly total of just £3.3 billion split across 513 individual contracts carried with it a sense of foreboding. However, September rode to the rescue. And even as the monthly calendar flipped to October and the beginning of a 31-day countdown to

what was anticipated might at last be Brexit, the UK construction sector still had much to smile about. Buoyed by the award of the latest tranche of HS2-related works, construction contracts researched by Builders’ Conference passed £6 billion in September, eventually notching up a monthly total of £6.5 billion. Although Q3 fall recorded a 12% dip in the value of construction contracts awarded, more ominous was the 23% decline in the number of contract awards – down to 1,669 in the quarter. However, once again, context is everything, with the first three quarters of 2019 representing a 28% increase in value of contracts and 9% increase in number compared to the same period in 2018.

With Brexit the major issue for the new Government and HS2 delayed, there is still plenty to keep the mind occupied!

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Trussed rafter installation and the implications for scaffold erection on newbuild sites

Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, discusses the scaffolding considerations that need to be made when installing trussed rafters on newbuild projects.

When it comes to trussed rafters, it has traditionally been common practice to attach them to the scaffold structure for stability during installation. The process had previously been animated by the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) and promoted in their guide “How to safely install Roof Trusses” on their website. The document described the following method:

“Erect table lifts at both gable ends. Ensure the scaffold is constructed in accordance with a design drawing based on engineers’ calculations to safely support the anticipated loads for this site. For further information on truss weights and sizes, contact your trussed rafter supplier.”

This statement, which although technically correct, does not provide a detailed enough explanation of the procedures that would be required to enable the installation works to be undertaken in line with current guidance. Following an initial consultation between the TRA and the Scaffolding Association (SA) the guidance has now been suspended and is under review.

So, what should we be considering when using scaffolding to enable the installation of roof trusses?

Design

When you begin to break down the installation process of roof trusses into stages, it becomes clear that the type of scaffolding structure that may be needed could be classed as a shoring or support scaffold. This means that bespoke designs will be required and developing a detailed design brief is key. When developing the temporary works designs, consideration should be given to:

• House type

• Height of the truss installation

• Site location for wind calculations

• Weight of a complete pack of trussed rafters, which could be up to 500kgs

• Stage of installation at which the trussed rafters become self-supporting

• Dimensions, surface area and weight, of the trussed rafters

• Bracing and fixing components between the scaffold and the trussed rafters

• Amount of space available onsite for buttresses and rakers

By producing bespoke drawings for each house type, truss type and given windspeed location on a newbuild site, contractors can be confident that safe and suitable solutions are available. These designs would then need to be agreed and approved by the Temporary Works Coordinator appointed for the site.

Control of Temporary Works

A robust temporary works plan should be created, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the operations. Issues to consider include:

• Who is in control, and at what stage of the process?

• Does the scaffold contractor have the relevant insurance and competence to erect shoring scaffolds?

• Will the scaffold contractor build the structure and then hand over to the building contractor?

• Will the carpentry contractor be responsible for installing the bracing required to complete the supports for the trusses?

• Does the carpentry company have the relevant temporary works competence and insurance?

Erection and Installation

A full site-specific risk assessment and method statement is a standard procedure, undertaken before any work commences, however specific consideration should also be given to areas like:

• The space required for additional buttress scaffolds, and/or kentledge, and/or rakers at each gable end

• Transporting onsite the extra equipment that may be required for additional buttress scaffolds, and/ or kentledge, and/or rakers at each gable end

• Installation of trussed rafters should be time-limited so they are not left unattended until the structure is self-supporting

• Sudden or extreme changes in weather conditions

• A bespoke scaffold structure of this nature would require an NVQ Level 3 Scaffolder to erect and sign off

Until the TRA re-issue their installation guide, which will consider the implications of imposing trussed rafter loads onto a scaffold structure, you should as a minimum ensure that the points discussed have all been considered.

Scaffolding Association AGM showcases year of progress

Over 100 members attended the Scaffolding Association Annual General Meeting in September to find out more about the range of work opportunities that are now available to them, the value that membership now holds within industry, and the forthcoming plans for 2020. Steve Beazer reports.

The Scaffolding Association’s 2019 Annual General Meeting opened with Robert Candy, Chief Executive, expressing his gratitude for the continuing support of the membership base, who’s commitment to developing and improving the industry has been unwavering.

He then highlighted how encouraged he was by everyone’s ambition to progress through the membership levels, not only because of client requirements, but through their own drive to improve.

Review of the Year

Stacey Underhill, Head of External Affairs, talked about how the association had experienced continued growth since it opened for membership in 2013, and anticipating that by the end of 2019 membership numbers will have broken the 400 mark. Engaging with Clients and ensuring members have fair access to work has remained one of the main priorities, and a growing number are specifying Scaffolding Association membership within their procurement policies.

Stacey highlighted the key partnerships that the association has cultivated over the last 12 months, which includes membership of the Temporary Works Forum, the Confederation of British Industry and the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group. Delegates were also the first to receive a copy of the Scaffolding Association 2019 Annual Review.

President’s Update

Russell Maxwell-Smith, President, gave an impassioned speech about the importance of developing attractive career pathways for young people and the benefits of investing in the workforce to secure the industry’s future. He followed by talking about the steps that the association is taking to address the issues, announcing that the Access Industry Competence Scheme is now live, for those who are interested in supporting an alternative card scheme.

Marketing and Communications

Sally Smith, Marketing and Events Manager, explained how the association has maximised the range of events, media and multi-platform communication projects they engage with to raise the profile of the association and its members amongst key industry stakeholders. She explained that in 2020 they will be launching a Yearbook, Awards Ceremony, and a fresh new website.

Guest Speakers

The meeting closed with a range of guest speakers, who included:

• Andrew Rush – Birketts LLP

• Marcus Rose – SMAS Worksafe

• Peter Bennett OBE – No Falls Foundation

• Joscelyne Shaw – Mates in Mind

If you would like a copy of the Scaffolding Association 2019 Annual Review, contact stacey@scaffolding-association.org

Membership breakdown

2019 member survey – How are the most important issues being addressed?

Fair payment terms

Through the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group the Scaffolding Association are lobbying government and industry to improve current payment practices and culture. Members now have access to legal advice through Birketts LLP, and there will be a continuing programme of seminars into 2020.

Raising safety standards

The association’s social media feeds and AccessPoint magazine keep members up to date with changes. The Scaffolding Association continues to grow membership benefits, and develop industry partnerships that support members in creating safe and healthy work environments.

Access to work opportunities

Audited Membership continues to offer a route for members to demonstrate to clients that they operate to the highest industry standards. The Scaffolding Association continues to work with client groups to increase awareness of how the supply chain works and the benefits of using its members.

Access to training

Through the AITS (Access Industry Training Scheme) the association will be creating additional training capacity within the sector including new centres. By attending the CITB Federation Forums the Scaffolding Association are able to engage with them regarding future CITB plans and ensure those plans are fit for industry.

Membership growth

Stage 3 Scaffolder

Expiry Date 01/12/2023

Card No: 19-A0000

Name Surname

The event offered the opportunity to chat informally with the Scaffolding Association team, talk to exhibitors and network with fellow members.

AICS is the industry’s newest card scheme for access and scaffolding professionals, providing a simple and consistent way for them to demonstrate their competence.

Unique scaffolding for quirky sixteen-sided house

A La Ronde is a quirky 18th-century, Grade 1 listed 16-sided house in Summer Lane, two miles north of Exmouth in Devon, with stunning panoramic views across the Exe estuary. It was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter, on their return from a grand tour of Europe in the late 18th century and features fascinating interior decoration and many objects and mementoes of their travels.

The extraordinary interior decoration includes a feather frieze, gathered from native game birds and chickens, laboriously stuck down with isinglass. There is also a fragile shell-encrusted gallery, said to contain nearly 25,000 shells, which can be viewed in its entirety using a touch screen 360 degree virtual tour.

It was time to call in Dudley-based Access Design & Safety –a Scaffolding Association member – to come up with a workable approach to providing the complex design required.

Now owned and managed by the National Trust, the roof of this exceptional building had begun to leak alarmingly and restoration work was required to keep the building watertight and to keep the unique shell gallery safe and dry.

In order to undertake the restoration work it was necessary to provide access and a temporary roof to the higher part of the hexagonal part of the building that housed the shell collection.

Access Design and Safety Ltd was formed in 2010 with the aim of delivering a high-quality scaffold design service to meet the demands of legislation and best practice guidance. Scaffold design is at the core of the business and scaffold design drawings and calculation works are founded on many years of experience.

Matthew Robinson, a director at Access Design & Safety, said: “The task was complicated by the house being Grade 1 listed – which meant that it was not possible to tie in the scaffolding to the fabric of the building. So the structure had to be founded on beamed sections from a lower access. The system selected for the job was to use tube and fittings along with aluminium beams and a shrink wrapped covering for the temporary roof, whilst the restoration work took place beneath it. The design work completed, the design was passed across to Dorchester-based South Western Scaffolding to implement.”

PROJECT TEAM

Client: National Trust

Scaffolding Contractor: South Western Scaffolding Ltd

Scaffold Designer: Access Design and Safety Ltd

What’s the value in an audit? Staying compliant…

Compliance is always important. Keeping vehicles in a roadworthy condition is good, not only for business, but for the environment and road safety. Heba Najib from Transport Management Services explains.

When an operator considers utilising an audit to verify the level of compliance on their Operator Licence or to fulfil a specific undertaking, determining the audit that operator needs can become a difficult task. There are various key questions to ask –which audit should I use? And, is it truly beneficial?

There are a variety of audits to choose from – the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme, FORS Pre-Audit, Maintaining Roadworthiness Audit, Tachograph Audit, Workshop Audit, Licence Evaluation and many more. Through analysis of popular audits like Maintaining Roadworthiness and DVSA Earned Recognition scheme, the value of different audit options does become significantly clearer.

Maintaining Roadworthiness Audit

The Maintaining Roadworthiness Audit is highly recommended for the thorough assessment of an operator’s licence compliance. When an examination is completed, preventative maintenance inspection frameworks can be put in place. This audit includes recommendations that are highly valuable to an operator. It provides a detailed look at where a company may be lacking and highlights defects that may have been overlooked. And while some consider this audit as a simple inspection of documentation, this is not the case. For instance, management systems are closely scrutinised to establish what can be done to improve them. These improvements can be valuable to an operator in situations where additional vehicles or trailers are required leading to a variation in the operator’s licence.

An audit can be extremely useful if one hasn’t been conducted previously and an operator does not have a fully qualified Transport Manager overseeing compliance, or the operator is called for a public inquiry and would like to analyse all aspects of compliance to ensure they are aware of any shortcomings.

DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme Audit

The DVSA Earned Recognition scheme is voluntary and if you can demonstrate full compliance, there’s a reduced burden of enforcement through by DVSA. Operators must show a history of being compliant with driver and vehicle standards if they are to be considered for this scheme.

To ensure the criteria is met, it is often recommended that a self-assessment is carried out. Self-assessment forms can be found on the government website.

Benefits that arise from this scheme are reductions in roadside inspections and visits from compliance officers. It promotes a culture of road safety, a subject that should be a priority for any operator or driver. When an operator achieves the status of Earned Recognition, it offers great benefits. Having ‘Government Trusted Haulier Status’ is valuable for any operator or company, as they are able to demonstrate outstanding compliance to important clients.

In addition to this, the operator is permitted to have Direct Access to the DVSA Earned Recognition Business Team and to Government Contracts including HS2. Operators with Earned Recognition Status may also have use of the DVSA Earned Recognition Marque. The marque acts as a symbol of the high standard that DVSA wishes to see across all sectors of the industry. One of the requirements to join the scheme, is to have a DVSA earned recognition scheme audit conducted. The DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme Audit does involve a lot of paperwork but it can be a hugely beneficial program. The operator achieves a status that offers many great benefits.

Understanding what these audits entail and how they can benefit an operator is really critical information. Ultimately, these audits are there to alert the operator of where compliance is lacking and to highlight where compliance has been met.

Managing work-related road risk

Around one third of all road collisions involve someone who is driving for work. And for those of us operating in the scaffolding sector, this is a highly relevant issue to consider.

When it comes to injuries, the vast majority of casualties are not those driving for work – they are other, more vulnerable road users who have come into contact with a work vehicle. This is called work-related road risk.

Employers have a huge responsibility to ensure work-related driving is carried out safely. This is even more important in an industry like scaffolding where the vehicles are usually large goods vehicles, transporting loads that can do enormous damage if not secured correctly.

Insecure loads create risks for other road users, those clearing up the debris on the road, and those who have to unload it on site or in the depot. Drivers and unloading staff have been badly injured or even killed by items that have come loose during the journey and fallen out of the vehicle during unloading.

Health and safety at work legislation clearly extends to workrelated driving, as vehicles used for business are legally considered to be an extension of the workplace. Failure to manage the risk effectively doesn’t just put drivers and other road users at risk.

It can put directors and senior managers, reputations, and even the business itself at risk. Massive fines can be imposed, operator licences revoked and Directors can be disqualified.

‘Driving for Better Business’ is a government-backed Highways England campaign to increase awareness of work-related road risk among employers. It offers a range of tools, resources, articles and case studies which are all free to access, and which are designed to help employers like you manage your drivers and vehicles more effectively. More information is available at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com.

Manual Handling – risk prevention

It’s not about how much you can lift; it’s how you plan the lift. Thomas Rhodes, from SMAS Worksafe, highlights some of the key considerations when manual handling.

Scaffolding is complex and important work across a multitude of industries, with the variety and types of scaffold ranging extensively. Time is a precious commodity when it comes to installing and dismantling structures. Clients may set time restrictions around the work or alter their requirements at the last minute.

In 2017/18 the HSE reported there were 469,000 workers suffering from workrelated musculoskeletal disorders, with 156,000 new cases reported.

This meant there was 6.6 million workdays lost across industry.

When undertaking a risk assessment for manual handling operations, it is helpful to use the TILE acronym, as detailed in the Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992:

TASK

Does the task involve:

Carrying loads away from the body?

Twisting, stooping or reaching upwards?

Excessive movement of the load?

Frequent or prolonged physical effort?

Insufficient rest and recovery periods?

INDIVIDUAL

Does the task:

Require unusual strength or height?

Create a hazard to those with a health problem?

Require special information or training?

Addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

As we get deeper into the winter months the inclement weather conditions and lessening natural light, all begin to increase the burden on operatives to get the job done and, potentially leaving them feeling pressured to lift more equipment and overload themselves physically to meet the demands of the job.

A large percentage of the injuries sustained were to the upper limb or neck and then to the back and lower limbs.

At the recent Scaffolding Association AGM, Joscelyne Shaw, Executive Director of the charity, began her presentation on Mates in Mind’s work with a shocking statistic – that with every suicide, up to 135 other lives may be impacted.

The positive news is the rate of selfreported work-related musculoskeletal disorders have taken a downward trend, but more work needs to be done.

You can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries when manual handling by introducing a number of control methods:

ELIMINATION Scaffold workers should try and avoid lifting manually where possible through the use of mechanical means, like using forklifts, telescopic handlers or hoists to move equipment within the work area.

LOAD

Is the load: Heavy?

Bulky or cumbersome?

Difficult to grasp?

Unstable, with contents likely to shift?

ENVIRONMENT

Are there:

Space constraints?

Uneven, slippery or unstable floor surfaces?

Extremes in temperature or inclement weather?

Poor lighting conditions?

HANDLING AIDS Using a trolley or gin wheel when moving equipment won’t eliminate the manual handling activity however the mechanical advantage will provide additional assistance.

MODIFICATION Modifying the task, load or environment can greatly reduce the risk of injury. Examples include:

The task of repetitive movements or awkward postures can be relieved with frequent breaks

Loads can be broken down into smaller parts

The risks associated with loads over 20kgs should be mitigated through the use of suitable lifting equipment

Maintaining good housekeeping will keep the working environment clear and free from trip hazards

Planning suitable vehicle routes, close to the work area will reduce carrying distances

TRAINING After establishing that an individual is capable of undertaking the manual handling activity providing training on basic lifting practices, and ensuring they have the appropriate PPE are important factors in risk reduction. Lifting techniques for different materials such as boards, ladders and tubes all have their own challenges; even light loads picked up incorrectly can cause injury. Guidance documents like SG6:15 provide workers with the fundamentals when manual handling.

The HSE MAC tool provides three types of manual handling operations to be assessed for single lift, single carry and team handling. You can then develop a risk assessment that will evaluate, for example, how many tubes or boards are sufficient to carry, or the maximum load for a gin wheel (50kgs).

Talking about mental health and talking about employers being responsible for mental health and wellbeing is still an issue that some don’t believe should be dealt with at work. And though only a few may challenge this discussion openly given the groundswell, it is important to recognize that not everyone is convinced that this is something that it’s an employer’s responsibility directly. I think this is worth unpacking.

This is why Mates in Mind is so important – we are looking to create the clarity as well as confidence for employers to understand what it is that they need to be thinking about when looking to address mental health. We are not expecting everyone to be experts in occupational health, psychology or even psychiatry. But ignorance of what may be legal duties is not enough.

Employers’ legal obligation

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999), as an organisation, employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees from stress at work by undertaking a risk assessment and acting upon on it. This applies not only on an organisational level, but also at a departmental/divisional and employee level.

What’s more, we would argue that there is a strong moral as well as clear business case to be addressing this issue.

Findings from recent reports have shown that it is evident, mental ill-health is a widespread issue costing UK businesses significant tangible amounts every year.

Statistics highlight the impact

According to the Health and Safety Executive, forty-four per cent of work-related ill health cases were attributed to stress, depression or anxiety, which amounted to

Some of the barriers to addressing mental health at work

Industry machoism

Sounds expensive

Not MY job!

Isn’t this what the NHS is for?

No one else does it

Can’t we just say we are doing it? Can we just stick a poster up?

Ignorance

15.4 million working days lost in 2017/18.

The British Safety Council report Not Just Free Fruit, released in 2018, found that “…the most noteworthy and worrying factor is the ongoing rise of mental health issues, including stress, depression, anxiety and other psychological and psychiatric disorders. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports an increase in the proportion of younger workers aged 25 to 34, who attribute their sickness absence to mental health conditions, rising from 7.2% in 2009 to 9.6% in 2017.”

Further evidence as to the impact was provided in the Centre for Mental Health report published in 2017 that estimated the overall cost of not addressing mental health problems to UK employers to almost £35 billion, or £1,300 per employee. For a business considering their bottom line, regardless of size, this can quickly add up.

Where do we start to help?

There are practical ways in which employers can help colleagues within the working environment. A starting point is that workers need to acknowledge and look after their

own mental health. Increasing awareness and understanding is a key first step in a journey towards a culture of prevention. Importantly running alongside this is the sense too that managers should not be fearful of broaching the subject. If the culture is to change in a workplace, managers need much more information and guidance on how to spot the signs of illness. This guidance needs to help them to initiate a conversation with a worker and the tools to continue the conversation in an appropriate way moving forward.

We can all make a difference

It’s tragic enough that someone may have reached that point that they take their life. Looking at the faces in the room at the AGM, it was evident again for me as to what is being done is so important, and there is a role for everyone across the industry to do their part – whether to prevent the repeat of an experience for someone they are working with, or as a legacy of someone they once knew. FIND

WELCOME TO NEW SCAFFOLDING ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

SCAFFOLD ERECTION

All Access Scaffolding Limited

www.all-access.co.uk

ASC Scaffolding Limited

www.ascscaffolding.com

Barclay Scaffolding Limited 01268 559353

Castle Scaffolding (Northern) Limited

www.castlescaffold.co.uk

Crest Scaffolding Services Limited

www.crestscaffolding servicesltd.co.uk

Gold Scaffolding Limited 07508 008776

Gorilla Access Services Limited www.gorillaaccess.co.uk

Hailsham Scaffolding Limited

www.hailshamscaffolding.co.uk

Kingsley Scaffolding Limited

www.kingsleygroup.co.uk

Martin Scaffolding & Netting Services

www.martinscaffolding services.co.uk

Multi Access Scaffolding Limited

01226 934431

Norfolk and Suffolk Scaffolding Limited

www.norfolkandsuffolk scaffoldingltd.co.uk

Northville Scaffolding Limited

www.northvillescaffolding.co.uk

Omega Scaffolding Services Limited

www.omegascaffolding.co.uk

Skyline Access Scaffolding Limited

www.skylineaccessscaffolding.co.uk

SWC Scaffolds Limited

www.swcscaffolds.co.uk

Thurrock Scaffolding Services Limited

www.thurrockscaffolding.com

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Brisko Metal Resources

www.brisko.co.uk

Caspian Group Limited

www.caspiangroup.co.uk

Highland Temporary Works Limited

www.htwdesign.co.uk

Northover Trucks 01258 472619

Raprig Design Limited

www.raprig.co.uk

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For the latest updates check www.scaffolding-association.org/events

JPS Scaffolding help with memorial restorations

JPS Scaffolding erected a full scaffold with supports at the top to the Pilgrim Father’s Memorial, at the shoreline of Mayflower Park and Southampton’s historic walls. The memorial was built in 1913, to mark and honour the departure of The Mayflower and Speedwell, which departed from Southampton Quay in 1620, heading for the Americas. The restoration and repairs are being undertaken in readiness for the 400th anniversary of their sailings.

Scaffolding Association to launch prestigious Yearbook

content, member projects, a directory of all members and advertising opportunities. It will be circulated to a variety of clients and professionals within the supply chain, including principal contractors, house builders, consultants, housing associations, architects, local authorities, private developers and charities.

2020 Legal Events for Scaffolding Contractors

Following the success of the 2019 Contract Law Seminars, Birketts LLP and the Scaffolding Association will be continuing with their series of legal events throughout 2020.

Talking about the partnership Stacey Underhill, Head of External Affairs at the Scaffolding Association, said “We know that getting paid and resolving contractual issues are the biggest problems scaffolding contractors face, so we are really pleased to be able to continue offering them support and guidance in these areas with the team at Birketts LLP.”

The workshops, which are open to ALL scaffolding contractors operating within the sector, will be looking at a range of topics, including:

• Behind your contract and how to operate it

• Payment and dispute management

• Risk, regulations and licensing

The first round of events were well received with attendee Chris MaxwellSmith, Estimating Manager at Wellmax Scaffolding said: “We all gained something that could improve our day-to-day dealings with financial issues and non-payment.”

The next event is being held on 27th February in Central London. For more information or to book your place, contact sally@scaffolding-association.org

Great care was taken by JPS Scaffolding, in close conjunction with the monuments team at Southampton City Council, to design and install the scaffold so all areas could be accessed and no damage caused to this beautiful monument.

FIND OUT MORE jps-scaffolding.co.uk

ABscaff Complete Scaffolding achieve triple ISO compliance success

By achieving ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications, North Yorkshire based ABscaff Complete Scaffolding, a Scaffolding Association Audited Member, are confidently able to demonstrate to customers and suppliers that the systems they have in place meet the high standards set out by the British Standards Institute. Andrew Best, Managing Director, said: “By achieving these benchmarks we can stand out from the crowd, demonstrate our capabilities and continually strive for perfection in our sector.”

ABscaff Complete Scaffolding are committed to the three standards and are also in process of gaining a fourth –ISO 27001, hopefully by the end of 2019 – to build upon a highly successful and profitable year.

FIND OUT MORE www.abscaffselby.com

2020 will see the launch of the Scaffolding Association’s first annual Yearbook. As part of the Association’s strategic campaign to raise the profile of members within the industry, the Yearbook will be a key piece of marketing collateral that will promote their business’ services to clients and other key industry stakeholders.

With a projected launch date of Spring 2020, the Yearbook will feature editorial

The ‘Project Features’ section will showcase the variety and complexity of work that members undertake and demonstrate their high standards of quality and safety. All members will feature in the directory section and, for those looking to enhance their position and raise awareness of their business, advertising options will be available.

A Media Pack has been posted to all members, detailing the production schedule and explaining the enhanced options.

To find out more please email sally@scaffolding-association.org or call 0300 124 0470

Royston Scaffolding support colleague and ex-serviceman on Remembrance Sunday

Cambridge & Hertfordshire based Royston Scaffolding Ltd were on hand to aid the Remembrance Sunday commemorations, with support in particular for one of their colleagues and ex-serviceman, Richard Wright.

Richard served in the army for almost ten years and was deployed to Iraq, where he was unlucky enough to be struck not by enemy fire, but by lightning! The ex-serviceman, now a Trainee Scaffolder, commented: “I don’t recall much of the incident but I do remember when I was airlifted I was keen to see out of the window at the incredible view! I count my lucky stars and I try not to dwell on it too much as there are other servicemen who aren’t always so lucky.”

Partner of Royston Scaffolding Ltd, Elliott McGrath added: “We’re so grateful to have Richard on the team here. Ex-servicemen can provide so much to ours and others’ industries and Richard is an excellent example of that. Scaffolding day-in-day-out is a tough job and Richard’s teamwork and leadership skills, not to mention his humour, are incredible.”

Rose

System Scaffolding

shortlisted

at industry awards

Now in their 16th year, the Construction News Specialist Awards awards recognise the outstanding achievements of specialist contractors, and look to highlight the very best inspirational businesses and projects from within industry. After completing an initial entry online Rose System Scaffolding will now meet with an independent judging panel, and compete against 6 other finalists to hold the title Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the Year. The winner will then be announced at the awards evening in London on 25 March 2020.

Construction Extraordinaire

A new façade display support scaffold has been constructed by the Masons Scaffolding team to announce the re-opening of Louis Vuitton’s flagship store on New Bond Street, in London.

The very exacting and complex drilled scaffold framing configuration was completed for Castletech Group. Masons Scaffolding carried out all internal and external scaffolding throughout – often providing out-of-hours services to meet a very tight programme. This included the installation of birdcages, temporary roofs, suspended cantilevers, beamed loading areas, hoarding scaffolding (plus shrink wrap) and staircases.

The new structure was erected using precise measurements and angles to accommodate pre-engineered display using string lines and more.

FIND OUT MORE www.masonsscaffolding.com

Robust member Code of Conduct