AccessPoint Issue 14

ROLL CALL

for new Scaffolding Association members

SCAFFOLD ERECTION

AMA Scaffolding Limited

www.amascaffolding.co.uk

Anton Scaffolding

www.antonscaffold.com

Bo Scaffolding Services (Boss) Limited

www.antonscaffold.com

BST Scaffolding Ltd

www.bstscaffolding.co.uk

Carl Boulton Scaffolding Limited

www.scaffoldingmidlands.com

Century Access Services Limited 0208 302 9150

Core 4 Solutions Limited

www.core4s.co.uk

CS Haslam Group Limited

www.cshaslamgroup.com

DLS Scaffolding Services (UK) Limited 07886 431455

East Devon Scaffolding Limited

www.eastdevonscaffolding.co.uk

Epping Scaffolding Services Limited

www.eppingscaffolding.co.uk

Grenrose Scaffolding Limited

www.grenrose.co.uk

Henry Scaffolding Limited

www.henryscaffolding.co.uk

Ideal Scaffolding SW Limited 01803 311598

JLD Scaffold Services Limited

T/A General Scaffolding www.generalscaffolding.co.uk

J & P Scaffolding 07753 168443

KIS Scaffolding Ltd www.kisgroupltd.com

KTM Scaffolding Limited 01235 534413

Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd www.leemarley.com

Lightburn Services Limited www.lightburnservices.co.uk

Magic Scaffolding Limited magicscaffoldingltd.co.uk

SCAFFOLD ERECTION

Mighty Scaffolding East Anglia Limited 01986 948282

M L Gundry Scaffolding Limited

www.mlgundryscaffolding.co.uk

Onyx Scaffolding Ltd

www.onyxscaffolding.co.uk

PMC Scaffold & Access Limited

www.pmcaccess.net

R Hall Limited

T/A Kent Scaffolding

www.kentscaffolding.com

Rossendale Scaffold and Equipment Hire Limited

T/A Heywood Scaffolding Services

www.heywoodscaffolding.com

RTR Scaffolding Limited www.rtrscaffolding.com

Speed

Contents

P3 - P5 News Stories from the access and scaffolding industry

P6 Comment

Robert Candy, CEO of the Scaffolding Association: “Creating a stable future for our industry”

P7 Opinion

Andrew Smith, Vice President Operations at Avontus: “Scaffolding leaders turn to technology to prepare for the post-COVID world”

P8 Employment Law

How to manage employees who can’t (or won’t) return to work

P9 Contract Law Resolving confusion in contract documents

P10 - P11 Families

In Scaffolding

Cheltenham & Gloucester Scaffolding, Tewkesbury

P13 Health & Safety

Using a digital platform for workplace safety and efficiency

Site Reports

P14 Gurdwara Temple, Leicester

CLC launches Brexit working group to help ready industry

The Construction Leadership Council has constituted a dedicated Brexit Working Group, in advance of the expiration of the transition period with the European Union at the end of 2020.

Scaffolding Association and SafetyCulture join forces to raise safety standards

P16 Guinness Enterprise Centre, Dublin

P18 Waterloo Mansions, Dover

P21 Commercial Neil Edwards, CEO of Builders’ Conference: “Is construction output on the up?”

P22 - P23

Product News

Scaffolding Association

Telephone: 0300 124 0470

www.scaffolding-association.org

Email: info@scaffolding-association.org

ISNN: 2055-2033 (Print)

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.

© All editorial contents AccessPoint 2020

MEMBER

CONTACT US

Editorial

Enquiries: 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 call 0300 124 0470 or email info@scaffolding-association.org

Advertising

Enquiries: Stacey Underhill, tel: 0300 124 0470

Email: stacey@scaffolding-association.org

Printed by Tewkesbury Printing Company Cover image: Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), Dublin. © Shanweb.com

The work of the group will be split into four workstreams covering: Movement of People: preparing for the new immigration rules, accessing alternative labour supply and reciprocal arrangements on skills and qualifications in new trade deals.

Movement of Goods and Materials: preparing for the new customs regime, guidance on WTO rules in the event of no agreement with the EU and alternative sourcing opportunities in the rest of the world and the domestic market.

Standards and Alignment: guidance on the Construction Products Regulation, EU notified bodies, CE marking, UK designated standards, UKCA marking and the longer term prospects of (de) harmonisation and (de)alignment.

Data Adequacy: business awareness of the potential impact and mitigating actions on data flow in the event of no agreement with the EU and no decision by the European Commission on the UK’s ‘data adequacy’.

In addition, the existing workstreams of the CLC will also take on Brexitreadiness related work, helping to produce guidance on matters including procurement and contracts.

Global technology company SafetyCulture and the UK’s largest scaffolding and access trade body, the Scaffolding Association, have announced a partnership that gives all members free access to iAuditor, SafetyCulture’s workplace safety inspection app. 470 member organisations will be able to access a growing list of best practice templates at no cost, plus iAuditor’s full public library of 100,000 template checklists, including templates for safety procedures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partners have digitised a list of checklist templates containing best practice protocols for high-risk construction environments. These will empower scaffolding companies to build a genuine safety culture from the ground up, enabling essential risk assessments regularly and thoroughly, ultimately raising safety standards.

Dan Joyce, General Manager EMEA, SafetyCulture said: “Top-down, infrequent audits no longer work; companies need better visibility of their sites and realtime data capture to tackle the additional challenges that COVID-19 brings. Empowering staff on the ground and equipping them with the right tools is the first step. Our app will help employees to report and act on safety concerns in their workplace, in turn aiding companies to make better-informed decisions.”

iAuditor is the world’s largest safety checklist app. The technology makes it easy for anyone to monitor and manage safety and quality from a mobile device. It enables construction teams to collect consistent data, standardise operations, send reports, identify failed areas and get problems resolved. Over 26,000 companies use the iAuditor app, which was announced as ‘Best SaaS (Software as a Service) for Health and Safety or Risk Management’ in the international 2020 SaaS Awards.

CITB announces new measures to reduce costs

Rob Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, added: “We’re thrilled with this new partnership and pleased to recommend iAuditor for risk assessments and inspections. Our commitment to safer workplaces aligns perfectly with the work SafetyCulture does. Working with them to offer members access to the tools they need to manage workplace safety, efficiently and effectively, comes at the ideal time. The app is simple to use and produces data and reporting facilities that offer real benefits. It will be a useful addition not only to those with well established procedures and practices, but also to those members who are looking to progress though our membership levels.”

FIND OUT MORE www.safetyculture.com/ scaffolding-association

or reduced hours. CITB is reviewing the structure and size of the organisation to deliver on its commitments to industry. It will consult fully with colleagues on any proposal.

Jennifer King, People Director at CITB, said:

ADF

Design Ltd 07479 665403

MEMBER SUPPLIER

Gaaard Protection (ScaffShirt) www.gaaardprotection.com

CITB has announced a range of measures to make savings and reduce operating costs as it adjusts to the new post-Covid financial landscape. These measures follow the decision in June to cut Levy bills by 25% across the next two years – an income reduction of £166m. Despite this reduced income, CITB has accelerated apprenticeship grants, and prioritised apprenticeship support and direct employer funding within its Skills Stability Plan. Due to this reduced income, CITB will not apply planned pay increases this year and no performance bonus payments will be made in 2021. The Executive team have voluntarily taken 20% pay cuts, and other colleagues have also volunteered pay cuts

“Our decision to cut the Levy was absolutely the right one so that we can help ease the cashflow burden on employers and invest in training. We need to do all we can with reduced funding to protect apprenticeships and direct funding to businesses. That does mean we need to get CITB’s finances in a stronger position, reducing our own costs and streamlining our business, ensuring we can meet the new skills challenges our industry faces. The truth is that given the very challenging economic climate we, like so many others, cannot simply carry on with business as usual and need to react quickly. That means making difficult choices, but they are always made with fairness and affordability at heart, and our brilliant colleagues and construction employers in mind.”

Temporary rail bridge completed

Advanced NI Scaffolding, Scaffolding Association Audited Members, have constructed Northern Ireland’s first temporary footbridge at Lambeg station, Lisburn, using Layher’s FW system. Incorporated to both sides of the structure are “Stair 750” public access stairs, Protect Panelling from Advanced NI’s protective range, and continuous GRP handrail adapters.

school

Creed Scaffolding

within guidelines to support hospital

Creed Scaffolding, Scaffolding Association Assessed Members, have been supplying scaffolding for roof repairs at Northampton General hospital. The site has a constant flow of traffic and pedestrians, so HERAS fencing has been used to create safe walkways and prevent unauthorised entry. Work has been carried out in the evenings when the hospital is quieter. Traditional tube and fitting scaffolding has been used throughout. The building’s fascia is cladded so the temporary structure is not tied in to the building. Before any work could commence a coronavirus assessment was carried out in addition to a scaffold risk assessment with social distancing and enhanced cleaning protocols put in place. The NAS Guidance on Coronavirus and the Construction Leadership Council’s latest guidance have been adopted.

Employers encouraged to sign up for apprentice cash boost

Employers of all sizes are being invited to apply for generous cash incentives to help them take on new apprentices and get more people into work. Apprenticeships are a great way to get ahead in construction, and they also play a vital role in delivering the skills employers and the economy need to recover after the coronavirus outbreak.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, employers are being offered £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and £1,500 for each newly recruited apprentice aged 25 and over. This includes taking on an apprentice who has been made redundant.

Employers who want to take advantage of the offer can apply through the government’s digital apprenticeship service at www.gov.uk

Scaffolding company donates £10,000 to children’s charity

Proplant Scaffolding Ltd, Scaffolding Association Audited Members, have said “it’s an honour” to donate an impressive £10,000 to children’s charity Taylor Made Dreams.

The charity helps children who have life-limiting conditions fulfil their bucket list, and is run by CEO and founder Suzi Mitchell, whom Proplant have stated “deserves a Knighthood.”

Taylor Made Dreams also provide affected families with both financial and emotional support from trained therapeutic professionals.

The cheque presentation was delayed by coronavirus restrictions but the funds have now been handed over.

Read more about this story and the charity at: www.accesspoint.org.uk/ proplant-donate-to-TMD

Buckinghamshire-based UpSafe Scaffolding Limited, Scaffolding Association Assessed Members, have been providing access for a world-leading girls’ boarding school.

Wycombe Abbey first opened its doors 125 years ago, in 1896, to a cohort of only 40 girls. It was founded by Miss Frances Dove, who later became Dame Frances, and was described as “a trailblazer who promoted equal opportunities for girls in the Victorian age.”

UpSafe Scaffolding Limited were contracted in to provide access to decorate the Abbey’s windows. Despite being low on operational staff due to medical issues, UpSafe still managed to deliver the project within the strict school holiday time frame.

FIND

SMAS Worksafe expand assessment to include new areas of compliance

SMAS Worksafe, one of the leading SSIP schemes, have expanded their assessment to include new areas of compliance such as Environmental Management, Quality Management, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Modern Slavery and Finance & Business.

The change comes as demand from major construction companies in the UK have started to request more from the contractors, demonstrating that they have the correct policies as well as SSIP in place before they can start work on site. It also improves and gives them better visibility of their supply chain with reassurance that their contractors are actively keeping to a high industry standard.

For a member, becoming a Preferred Supplier will make them more competitive during tendering generally as well as having the ability to manage their profile in one place. Companies can also benefit

from saving time and money as reviewing internal policies in areas such as Environmental and Quality Management can reduce wastage and identifies where time and financial savings can be made. Speaking about adding these new additional areas to their assessment, SMAS Worksafe’s Technical Director, Marcus Rose added, “We understand that contractors might be looking at some of these areas for the first time, for businesses new to these areas, we can provide additional support such as templates and reviewing the information to ensure they understand the requirements and have the tools for continual improvement.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOUR COMPANY CAN BECOME A PREFERRED SUPPLIER

Call 01752 697370, email info@smasltd.com or visit www.smasltd.com

The cash boost is designed to support employers to cover the cost of recruiting an apprentice such as providing facilities, uniforms, helping with travel costs or to help pay their salary.

Gillian Keegan, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills said: “We recognise the huge impact coronavirus has had on individuals and businesses We have taken unprecedented steps to protect, support and create jobs, including driving more high quality apprenticeship opportunities to help get our economy moving. I strongly encourage as many employers as possible to apply now, and take advantage of this generous offer whether it is used to recruit apprentices for the first time or expand their current apprenticeship offer.”

Other government initiatives to support young people include: a £111 million boost to triple the number of traineeships for 16-24 year olds; a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people; and a £17million investment to increase participation in sector-based work academies.

Company fined after scaffold collapse causes employee to fall eight metres

JR Scaffold Services Ltd has been fined £5,000 after an employee fell eight metres to the ground and sustained severe injuries. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that work was being undertaken at a four-storey property in Glasgow to erect a tower scaffold to repair a roof. An employee was fitting toeboards to a cantilever section attached to the tower scaffold and the tower partially collapsed causing him to fall eight metres to the ground below.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had carried out a risk assessment and method statement for the initial work and erected an eight metre high tower to allow for access to the roof. But the tower had been erected in the wrong place. Rather than disassemble and reassemble in the right place, a cantilever section was then added. There was no design for the cantilever section and due to

there being insufficient anchor ties available on site, it was decided to support the cantilever by splicing the frame of the scaffold. There was also no kentledge which meant that the top section of the tower was unable to support the weight of the cantilever. When an employee stood on the cantilever section to fit toeboards the top section of the scaffold and cantilever section collapsed.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector, Helen Diamond said “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in Britain and the risks associated with working at height are well known. This incident could have been avoided if the task was properly planned, the existing scaffold was correctly positioned and securely attached to the tenement and any cantilever section properly designed and attached correctly to the main scaffold. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

BVL Scaffolding, Scaffolding Association

Assessed Members, have been working for Celltarga Ltd under the watchful eye of English Heritage to support works at Spencer House, London’s most magnificent eighteenth-century aristocratic palace.

A grade 1 listed property, it was built between 1756-1766 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. It is a building of unique importance in the history of English architecture.

BVL Scaffolding provided full access scaffold for stone cleaning and restoration works and then later additions to the statues. Using a buttress, BVL erected a fully free standing scaffold by design with no tie fixings into the building.

UpSafe Scaffolding provide decoration access at prestigious boarding

work

BVL Scaffolding part of important restoration and cleaning project

COMMENT OPINION

Creating a stable future for our industry

In this Comment piece, Robert Candy, CEO of the Scaffolding Association, talks about the next steps for our industry…

Business owners are faced with a range of challenges in their role, none more so demanding than the those that have arisen during the current national pandemic. Once again we find ourselves operating within changing guidelines that are inconsistent, not just across our devolved nations, but across county lines where there may be local lockdown restrictions in force. It would be naïve of us to think that industry will ever operate like it did before the pandemic – there have been fundamental changes to the way in which we now work that will most likely continue to be commonplace in the future. We have had to implement more flexible working methods and adapt our businesses to ensure that we can survive the effects of COVID-19.

Many construction sites are now live again and there are concerted efforts by industry to ensure that suitable health and safety measures are implemented so that we can protect employees and prevent the spread of the virus. It is important that we continue to put our people before profit as they remain our biggest asset.

However, there is a balance to be had in ensuring that businesses remain secure and can continue to operate into the future.

For most businesses there has been no immediate shortage of work and many have remained operational on some level. We could attribute this to the first three months of lockdown creating a backlog of work on projects that are now going ahead, or it could be the promised large injections of funding from Government on infrastructure projects that have bolstered the sector so far. However, we must be mindful of the longer term effects that our sector will face.

Late payments were already an issue within the industry and measures such as the Job Retention Scheme and the option to defer VAT have relieved some of the cash flow pressures businesses have faced. But these schemes are now coming to an end, and although there is some help available via Local Authority grants and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, these measures alone cannot generate long term stability.

No business wants to become involved in costly and lengthy contractual disputes, but it is reasonable to assume that the next 12 months will become increasingly litigious for contractors as money remains tight for all parties. Continuing to be vigilant and addressing potential contractual issues early will be key to emerging the other side of COVID-19 with business security.

The skills gap in our sector continues to widen, and investment in training will have sadly slipped down the list of priorities for most businesses. Before COVID-19 the training requirements of our industry were not being fully met, and with an increasing number of centres closing this does not bode well for the future. Having scaffolders with the right training and skill set is vital to continued success and maintaining high standards of safety and workmanship.

Now is the time for us to shift our focus from short term survival to long term stability, and ensure that our sector is stronger and more resilient for the future.

Robert Candy CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SCAFFOLDING ASSOCIATION www.scaffolding-association.org

Scaffolding leaders turn to technology to prepare for the post-COVID world

As we adjust to a post-COVID world, a lot of uncertainties are emerging around safety, productivity, supply chain management and labour availability. In this Opinion piece, Andrew Smith from Avontus discusses the way forward…

Around the world, industry growth has been hampered by restricted site operations, disruptions in supply chains, and on-going labour shortages. Yet, even in these challenging times, the industry is moving forward, taking fresh steps on the path towards digitalisation. The digitalisation trend across the scaffolding industry dovetails with the UK’s construction recovery plan. In which, digitalisation is emerging as the key to business resilience and growth.

What does the future hold?

Technology implementation is expected to help companies adapt to the new way of working and support development of new capabilities for the upcoming wave of projects. Changes that are being implemented today will substantially transform the industry in the long term.

In particular, our recent Scaffolding Digital Outlook report found that businesses are increasingly investing in scaffolding software. Contractors are deploying digital solutions to drive down costs, maximise resources, and increase productivity and safety. According to the report, a whopping 90% of surveyed scaffolding businesses have rolled out at least one digital scaffolding solution. Other key areas that leaders are focusing on include:

• Digitising scaffold drawings and automating material calculation to save time and increase tender accuracy.

• Facilitating remote collaboration by enabling offsite production methods (e.g, visualisation of 3D scaffold modelling in a controlled environment).

• Streamlining workflows, increasing on-site productivity, and removing silos with an integrated scaffold management platform.

Scaffolding technology investment priorities

With more stringent social distancing policies, construction automation has become a priority for industry leaders. Even prior to the crisis, the industry had already taken important steps towards improving on-site execution by moving from manual paperwork to digital collaboration. To cope with supply chain disruptions, many contractors have also rolled out robust inventory management systems that allow them to track and monitor critical materials and long-lead items. For example, engineers can now remotely walk through scaffold modifications with the foreman using scaffold design software. Meanwhile, scaffolders are able to access the project scope and request materials according to the change order. No need to rely on back-office communication to get things done.

Beyond that, as a software vendor, our vision for the industry is moving towards an ecosystem of scaffolding applications. So you can expect your design application to work seamlessly with an inventory management software, or even accounting platforms. This brings complete transparency to workflows and improves overall productivity.

Construction data consolidation also enables field mobility – making it easier to coordinate work without having everyone on the site. Think virtual scaffolding tags for inspection, PPE tracking and inventory monitoring – all these processes can now be handled virtually, from anywhere. The scaffolding industry is ripe for digital transformation. From building new strengths in scaffolding management to long-term improvements in workflow, take advantage of modern technologies to increase operational efficiencies and profits.

Andrew Smith

VICE PRESIDENT OPERATIONS, AVONTUS www.avontus.co.uk

Digitalisation is emerging as the key to business resilience and growth.

How to manage employees who can’t (or won’t) return to work

employees on furlough as this is for business needs so they may need to find alternative childcare arrangements.

Resolving confusion in contract documents

The reams of contract documentation – even for small scaffolding jobs – can be daunting to read. The documentation may have been put together by different people or by somebody who didn’t pay too much attention to its content. The documentation may not even be together in one neat pile. For example, you may be bound by the main contract conditions but these can only be read at the main contractor’s offices between certain times and on certain dates. Inevitably confusion is bound to result.

TIPS FOR THE INDUSTRY:

Restructuring your business is stressful enough and the last thing you’ll want is not knowing where you stand as an employer if an employee is refusing to return to work. This article by Citation, Scaffolding Association Associate Member and experts in HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety, outlines some key things for businesses to consider.

What if an employee prefers to work from home?

As a scaffolding company, many of your employees are unable to work from home, but it may be possible to do so in certain roles.

In this case, if an employee is insistent that they want to carry on working remotely but you think they’re not performing as well as they would in the workplace, you have the right to refuse their request. But before you refuse their request, you should look at why the individual might be underperforming.

Key questions to consider include:

• Are they aware of homeworking practices?

• Have you made it clear what their core hours are?

• Could their children be distracting them from their work?

• Have you kept in touch with them regularly to maintain their motivation?

• Have you communicated that the workplace is COVID-secure?

If you think you’ve done all you can as an employer to promote good performance from your employee, then you can refuse their request to work from home. Just make sure you communicate this clearly to them, so they fully understand the reasoning behind the refusal.

Can I bring an employee who was shielding back to work?

From 1 August, the government paused shielding unless the transmission of COVID-19 in the community starts to rise significantly. This meant that individuals who were previously shielding could return to work if you need them to.

To ensure your employees who were shielding feel safe in the workplace, you should conduct individual risk assessments to reassure them that their safety is a top priority.

If one of your employees is clinically extremely vulnerable, they should have received a letter advising them to shield which they should provide you with if they feel unsafe. Then, you can decide whether to bring them back to the workplace, keep them on furlough, or ask them to remain working from home.

Where do I stand if an employee has childcare issues?

A huge challenge employers have faced is bringing employees back into the workplace when their child’s nursery or school was closed. Whilst government guidelines supported parents who were hesitant to send their children back into school, certain steps can be taken to bring a parent back into the workplace.

If you have concrete evidence that the employee isn’t being truthful or that you know that a family member is available to look after the children, you can take action as it’s not a genuine childcare issue, but you need solid evidence to back this up. If work is available, it isn’t appropriate to keep

Schools reopened in September and childcare settings opened from 1 June, so there shouldn’t be the same degree of childcare challenges now when bringing an employee back into the workplace.

If you decide to take an employee off furlough, however, just because you don’t want them to be sat at home with their children, this can be classed as discrimination against a parent, and you may end up with a tribunal on your hands. The same also applies if you dismiss an employee because they’re refusing to send their child back to school as government guidance supports parents that want to keep their children safe.

The best way to approach returning an employee to work is by communicating with them, understanding their concerns, discussing the needs of the business whilst offering support where you can.

How can Citation help?

These are challenging times, especially for employees, business owners and employers. Our team of HR and Employment Law experts provide you with their specialist advice based on the latest government guidelines to help you work through this difficult period.

Let’s consider a very simple example. A firm has just won a contract to provide scaffolding to facilitate the refurbishment of a small office block. The sub-contract is the standard building sub-contract published by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) with, as is often the case, a schedule of amendments to the contract conditions. The documentation includes the main contract information schedule giving details of the main contract works and the Numbered Documents

The contents of the different documents such as the specification and drawings may be in conflict. This could also happen within a single document especially where there are amendments to a standard form of contract; the amendments may be in conflict with a part of the standard contract that hasn’t been altered. Needless to say, the only way to minimise these problems is to spend time carefully reading the documentation. Investing time in this way will help avoid the disputes that could arise in the future.

• Read carefully through the contract documents to ensure consistency.

• Raise any concerns as early as possible – such as in pre-contract meetings.

• Disputes over discrepancies in documents are likely to be long-winded and costly.

which include a variety of documents such as those describing the works to be carried out, drawings, specifications etc. Closer examination of the Numbered Documents reveals that the scaffolding is to be erected only on the north side of the building whilst the main contract information schedule refers to the erection of scaffolding on both the north and east sides. How is such discrepancy resolved?

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE CLAUSES

It is, of course, far better to resolve these issues as early as possible at pre-contract meetings. If the discrepancy has not been spotted the next step is to look in the contract for what is called an order of precedence clause.

The 2016 JCT Standard Building Sub-Contract Conditions includes an order or precedence clause. Provided it hasn’t been amended this makes clear that where there is a conflict between the main contract information schedule and the Numbered Documents, the former document is to prevail over the latter.

• Beware of contract clauses placing the risk on you of poorly assembled documentation containing inconsistencies.

If you want the advice and backing of a team of HR and Employment Law experts, feel free to give our team a call on 0345 844 1111 to talk through your business needs. Quote ‘Scaffolding Association’ to access your preferential rates if you are a member.

FIND OUT MORE www.citation.co.uk

If there isn’t an order of precedence clause the law is that the contract documents have to be considered as a whole. This means that a court will attempt to reconcile discrepancies by considering all the documents together and all other evidence (such as any correspondence between the parties). In fact, this will be the approach of the courts even where there is an order of precedence clause. In a recent case the court held that an order of

precedence clause would only come into play when the discrepancy amounted to an out and out conflict between the content of the relevant documents. This would be the case, for example, where one document stated that all the scaffolding must be painted in yellow while another stated that only white paint must be used.

Some contracts such as NEC (New Engineering Contracts) do not have order of precedence clause. NEC believes that each contract document is as important as the other. However, conflicts between documents are to be resolved by an instruction from the project manager (or from the main contractor in the case of sub-contract documentation).

But, beware of commonplace non-standard contract clauses which state that you have to take the risk of inconsistencies within contract documentation. This places the burden upon you of having to check all your documentation extremely carefully.

Barrister Rudi Klein considers the law relating to discrepancies and ambiguities in contract documentation.

As you move into a new working norm, you’ll have a lot of practical as well as regulatory changes to consider regarding your workforce, and you’ll obviously want to make sure you’re up to date with what is required of you as an employer.

FAMILIES IN SCAFFOLDING

For the first in a new AccessPoint feature, we talk to the family team who own and operate Cheltenham & Gloucester Scaffolding, based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Family businesses are relatively common in the scaffolding sector – all around the country grandparents, parents, sons, daughters and spouses come together on a daily basis to work together for mutual success.

The first such business to feature in our series of ‘Families in Scaffolding’ is Cheltenham & Gloucester Scaffolding, based in Tewkesbury,

on a picturesque site high above the River Avon. Founded in 2000, the company was originally based at premises that were flooded in 2007. The business is run by Graham Clarke, his son Ben, and his wife Emma. Their current home is a tastefully renovated former farm outbuilding. The company currently employs a team of fourteen in addition to the family members.

C&G Scaffolding had a solid start, securing key contracts with regional building companies. Gradually the workload doubled, then doubled again. The business was (and still is) built on one key word – reliability. When they say they’ll turn up, they turn up. When they say they’ll do it, they do it. That wasn’t always the case for rivals who would only turn up at the best-paid jobs.

“We’re a seven days a week company,” says Ben, “and we pull out all the stops to keep our promises to customers. They recognise that, hence the reason we get so much repeat business. In scaffolding you’re first in and last out of sites, so being punctual and reliable is key to a decent customer relationship.”

The company has tried not to specialise but as well as domestic and industrial work, they do heritage work on old buildings (pictured right) and churches – mainly shoring and design work. If C&G Scaffolding has a watchword – well, it’s three actually – it’s ‘health and safety’. The most vital aspect of what they offer as a business is that they offer compliant, safe workers on site. Asked if there is one thing they would like to see, all three of them agreed – licensed scaffolding businesses. And the resources to police those licenses so that every scaffolding business –small and large – is not only operating safely but regularly assessed as operating safely: “We’re

working at height. We’re working in public areas, over pavements and walkways. We still, from time to time, find ourselves up against competitors working off the back of a pick-up, wearing trainers, with no-one overseeing their work. All we want is to operate on a level playing field,” says Graham. “The only people who need to fear licenced business status are those who cut corners and do things unsafely. Good companies, like us, have nothing to fear from being licenced. And we need the organisation that runs licences to be not-for-profit – we don’t want profits made for a body that pays lip service to policing.”

Ben says: “If you think health and safety is expensive, try an accident.” And Emma agrees: “Health and safety is our key priority and whilst we always price competitively, we are not, and never will be the cheapest, because we do things properly. We won’t cut corners, but we guarantee reliability and that all our work is built to industry regulations and standards, ensuring that customers get the best practices as part of the deal.”

This is one switched on family business that is growing and happy to invest in getting things right. Two new wagons and new equipment is evidence of the success the company is enjoying and proof that it pays to keep things in the family.

FIND OUT MORE www.cgscaffolding.co.uk

Scaffolding and Fleet Insurance by Scaffinsure

Scaffinsure is a dedicated provider of Insurance to the Scaffolding and Access Industry.

What do we do? At Scaffinsure we won’t just sell you insurance. We want you to think of us as your in house insurance department.

Graham has been in the scaffolding trade man and boy – starting in 1969 with SGB in Cheltenham. During his time with the company he volunteered to work in South Africa in an advisory capacity for eighteen months as well as around the UK before what he suggests was the natural progression of moving into owning his own business in 2000. His not always positive experiences abroad had a major impact on his valuation of health and safety issues in his own business. He launched Cheltenham & Gloucester Scaffolding with his son Ben

alongside him and two additional members of the team, operating primarily in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Ben remembers first working with his dad at the age of fourteen – now, he and Emma have twins and his son Harry has already been on site cleaning vehicles, so possibly the next generation is just warming up! Ben’s wife Emma joined the business in 2009 and now in her words “virtually runs the business” –she is responsible for quotes, invoicing, wages, training and health and safety.

We can help with the following -

• Public Liability - high limits available and we can even provide cover for high risk locations (eg asbestos and Rail side work) and all with A rated insurers.

• Employers Liability - Covering your direct and indirect workforce.

• Professional Indemnity - Even if you don’t do your own design and drawings, you can unwittingly incur a design liability - our experts will explain how to minimize the risk. We’ve developed an affordable insurance solution to cover your liabilities and any associated defence costs.

• Motor Fleet and vehicles - As insurance partners to the RHA, we know a thing or two about motor insurance. We can help you manage your risk, reduce your claims costs and keep your premiums down.

• Cyber insurance

• Directors and officers cover and much more

To discuss your insurance requirements give us a call on 01277 844 396 or email info@scaffinsure.co.uk

Associate Member

We’re a seven days a week company and we pull out all the stops to keep our promises to customers.

Ben

Clarke, Cheltenham & Gloucester Scaffolding

A business built on reliability, going from strength to strength…

How ASW Scaffolding are getting an edge in health and safety

Max Winterbourne, Surveyor at Scaffolding Association member ASW Scaffolding, shares his experience of using iAuditor by SafetyCulture to raise standards of health and safety.

In a COVID-19 world, there is an increased health and safety responsibility for scaffolders, which demands a shift in how workplace safety is managed. Previously the responsibility of operational teams, it’s now the top of the agenda for all business leaders. The onus is on leaders to equip each member of staff with the knowledge and tools to manage safety amongst themselves and ensure a safer environment for everyone.

As an industry, scaffolding is by nature, quite a high risk environment. When it comes to the way ASW operates, health and safety comes second to none, in fact, we contribute much of our ongoing success in large to our culture of health and safety.

Founded in 1997, our client base has grown year upon year and we now work for some of the leading volume housebuilders and developers. We believe that our culture of health and safety has been one of the reasons we have been able to acquire repeat business from most clients. Our managing director Steve White prides himself on health and safety, however our previous processes were very time consuming, resulting in lengthy paper trails and long manual processes of carrying-out safety checks.

We knew that we needed to go digital and we began to explore the tech options available in the market. We discovered iAuditor in early 2020 because we were ready to cut out all paper. We needed to save time and streamline our operations, so our senior business leaders can focus their energy on their other responsibilities. iAuditor was the clear option in terms of value for money.

We rolled it out in March of this year, with no challenges. The solution was user-friendly and for any teething issues, we had the timely support of the SafetyCulture team. iAuditor is very adaptable and can be used for absolutely anything, it really takes the stress out of our inspections and checks. All our previous paperwork has now been digitised and on a tablet at every single site. Supervisors have the ability to collect evidence by taking photos and recording all audits directly with the app. Now, our business leaders have more time to measure the performance of ASW and win more business, ultimately delivering better client outcomes. This couldn’t be done without iAuditor.

But, mostly importantly the checks we are doing via iAuditor ensure that everyone gets home safe at night. I’d like to encourage all Scaffolding Association members to have a look at iAuditor. If you are struggling with paperwork and you’d like to cut it right out, go digital with iAuditor and don’t look any further.

Dan Joyce, General Manager EMEA at SafetyCulture adds: “There is no doubt that the traditional approach to compliance has changed. Safety needs to be fully integrated into everyday practices. This new world and the increased health and safety responsibility for scaffolders demands a shift in how workplace safety is managed. It can be a bit of a minefield for scaffolders to navigate, which makes practical support critical. We launched iAuditor back in 2012 to help businesses by providing a simple checklist and inspection app that anyone can use and it has never been more relevant then right now.”

iAuditor by SafetyCulture is the world’s leading platform for workplace safety and efficiency, with a track record of making it easy for scaffolders to remove points of failure, focus on core tasks and capture anything which raises concern – all within the latest health and safety guidelines.

Scaffolding Association has partnered with SafetyCulture so that all members can access iAuditor for FREE. Learn more about the new partnership at: www.safetyculture.com/ scaffolding-association

One of UK’s largest Sikh temples takes shape in Leicester

The £4.8 million Gurdwara is being built on a 2.8 acre site opposite Keyham Lane Police Station in Hamilton, Leicester. The scheme is being carried out by the trustees of the Ramgarhia Board Leicester (RBL). Members have been worshipping in a former industrial building in Meynell Road, Spinney Hills in the city for nearly fifty years but say that the growing congregation and a need for a more modern base has led to this relocation project.

The Hamilton Gurdwara will have a large ‘langar’ hall for dining that can take up to 500 people, a ‘diwan’ hall for 600 worshippers to pray, a library, classrooms, an IT suite and a bridal suite. The new building will also benefit from coach parking facilities and a car park that can take 118 cars –plus the essential cycle racks!

Skill-Scaff was invited to tender for the scaffolding contract by contractors Hemway. This was the first major job that the company had undertaken with Hemway. They had worked together on a few new build projects in the area – but nothing of the scale of this building.

The project started when a handrail was erected in October 2018, and the scaffolding part of the project was completed in June 2020.

Over the course of the project Skill-Scaff have had between ten and fifteen members of their team on site and, in addition, they attempted to keep between two and four scaffolders on site most of the time to provide continuity. Being a new build project there were relatively few challenges for the team and things progressed relatively smoothly. The equipment utilised on site was standard tube, boards and fittings.

“Skill-Scaff and Hemway worked really well together on the project and we look forward to working with Hemway again in the future,”

One of the UK’s largest purposebuilt Sikh temples – or Gurdwara – is taking shape in Leicester with the help of Scaffolding Association member Skill-Scaff.

says Skill-Scaff’s Scaffold Manager Paul Sharp. The building is well underway now and it is already possible to see that it has a modern, contemporary design with a beautiful stone finish. Glass domes provide an abundance of natural light providing an open and natural feel for the building. There are some traditional elements included in the design through the use of colour from the Nishan sahib – the traditional Sikh flag.

It’s another success story for a Scaffolding Association member and one that will provide an impressive new home for part of the growing Leicester Sikh community. It’s a stunning new building that will be an important part of the Leicester skyline for decades to come.

FIND OUT MORE www.skill-scaff.co.uk

We have been working with the Scaffolding Association since 2015 and are proud to nsure many of the UK’s leading Scaffold companies.

We really understand scaffolding insurance and we love it. We have even employed some former scaffolders within our business so you can be 100% confident that we really do talk your language!

All that expertise, enthusiasm and industry knowledge means that you can trust Amicus to not only find the best insurance to protect you, your business and your employees, but that you can also rely upon us to do it at the most competitive price. We even offer additional discounts for Scaffolding Association and NASC members.

www.amicus-insurance.co.uk

Why not give us a try!

To discuss your insurance requirements, or to find out how we can help you contact Richard Evans, Rory Boylan or Adam Scott on 0208 773 5395 or email us at adam scott@amicus-insurance com www.amicus-insurance.co.uk Compass London Market Broker of the Year 2015/16

accesspoint.org.uk

Cumiskey Scaffolding supports class-leading ‘business incubator’

just over 14 metres long in order to get the correct usable slope. Cumiskey made the ramp 1.57 metres wide to allow sufficient room for wheelchairs. The ramp also boasts a small loading bay where GEC staff can use mechanical aids to wheel deliveries inside. The slope of the ramp was made slightly easier using swivel base jacks. Once completed the ramp was enclosed and felted to prevent slips. A crash deck was also built over the ramp to protect pedestrians from any falling debris.

Around the perimeter of the building, Cumiskey erected over 200 linear metres of scaffold. The south elevation is the heart of the site and also the main area for access and egress to the work areas. Due to COVID-19, the scaffolding crew implemented a one way system when on the scaffold with two staircases –one each for access and egress. These climb the full 30 metres, allowing stop-offs anywhere in between. The west elevation was a challenge as the scaffold company could not land any legs in the neighbouring Guinness store house due to high traffic and brewing operations. Cumiskey’s crew decided the best option was to cantilever the entire 20 metre span from an inside leg secured to the wall with Apollo plates and spurring up to the outside leg. This was done from a MEWP. Once taken up to height, the west elevation was linked into the South with a 2.57 metre cantilever. The north elevation was deceiving to look at. It appears to be sitting on a neighbouring roof, but in fact there is no weight going onto the actual roof at any point. The entire 85 metre run is held by 12 x 8 metre 450mm Layher beams which are fixed to structural steel and spurred out to carry its two lifts.

Director Robert Cumiskey described the key challenges: “The main issues we came across were ties and anchor points on the working lifts. As the top two floors were to be completely glazed, keeping solid ties without hindering other trades seemed impossible. Ultimately, our team came up with a solution similar to the north elevation where we used 450mm beams fixed to structural steel and spurred out to our scaffold. This meant windows, brackets and plasterboard could be fitted with minimal hindrance from our ties.”

Overall a very successful project by Cumiskey Scaffolding for an ultra-successful business centre in the heart of the vibrant Dublin community.

FIND OUT MORE www.cumiskeyscaffolding.com

The Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) in Dublin is a world-class university associated enterprise centre for ambitious and innovative companies. It provides a modern, spacious and flexible working environment supported by best-in-class support services. It houses business start-ups and entrepreneur driven businesses – many from abroad – in a space designed to encourage shared knowledge and networking.

What sets the GEC apart is its rich heritage, its vibrant entrepreneurial community and a strongly influential start-up support ecosystem. At the GEC it’s possible to immerse yourself in an environment of like-minded entrepreneurs, work alongside

start-up business advisors and seed capital investors, access programmes, supports and knowledge geared to helping a business develop and accelerate the process of becoming investor ready, securing finance. The GEC is managed by Dublin Business Innovation Centre, the publicprivate business support organisation which has supported the creation of over 600 start-ups. Building activity started in November 2019. As the building was still live and would be for the duration of the project, Cumiskey was first tasked with building an access corridor which was ramped for wheelchair access. In order to comply with regulations this ramp had to be

N.T.Rix Scaffolding working on Grade 1 listed building renovation

N.T.Rix

have been working as scaffolding contractors on

The project is a full roof renewal, repairs to balcony steelworks, railings and surface finish including associated repair, and redecoration to the surrounding façade. The long-term nature of such a renovation means that the scaffolding has been in situ for 80 weeks for the first phase of the project.

As the building is fully occupied with businesses and residents, N.T.Rix had to ensure the building remained safe and accessible – this was achieved through hoarding to produce secure scaffold without restricting the access and views that the residents are accustomed to.

As Waterloo Mansions is Grade 1 listed, the conservation team stipulated that under no circumstances was the scaffolding to be tied to the building. As a result, N.T.Rix designed and erected

an entirely free-standing structure, building the buttress, gantries, kentledge, hoist, staircase and 1920m2 of temporary system roof. The building’s location, exposed to Dover seafront, added another challenge – typically inclement British weather, with sometimes fierce coastal winds and driving rain. During the roof renewal, the temporary roof system was therefore covered with Kedar sheeting and all elevations with Monarflex to ensure weather protection.

Neil Rix, Managing Director, said: “This has been a good project for N.T.Rix Scaffolding for the past two years. We have enjoyed seeing the scaffolding go up safely and are proud to be able to continue working on this Grade 1 listed building, delivering a product that fits the brief and exceeds client expectations.”

Ricky Mackintosh, Commercial Director, added: “This has been a fantastic project, not only for our company, but for the local community too. Working efficiently with the client’s consultancy and project management team has allowed us to progress smoothly from concept to completion. This project has also enabled us, with help from CITB, to employ a new, local apprentice –a scheme that I have a great passion for.”

Phase two of the project is for remedial works to the façade. Work begins soon and N.T.Rix has secured this contract, with 29 weeks of further scaffolding support and a projected finish of Spring 2021. FIND OUT MORE www.ntrixscaffolding.co.uk

Scaffolding

Waterloo Mansions –a Grade 1 listed building on Dover sea front suffering from roof and façade leakage.

business concerns, guiding safe working, pushing for work opportunities.

Membership of the Scaffolding Association is an assurance of competence and quality recognised throughout the construction industry – it demonstrates an ability to carry out safe design, installation and commissioning of scaffolding systems.

to 470

Listening Company members

Is construction output on the up? Or do the figures flatter to deceive?

Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards reports on construction contract awards during the three months that have passed since the last issue of AccessPoint. The trend is upward, but the detail might raise concerns.

JUNE

The government looked to construction to lead the nation out of recession with the promise of a £5 billion infrastructure cash injection. However, overall contract awards failed to break the £4 billion benchmark that had been the established norm for more than two years. Having said that, 256 companies did win new contracts this month.

With a total of nearly £1.6 billion, housing once again led the way in the sector standings, followed in a distant second place by offices with £571 million. With the road and rail sectors contributing just £74 million and £20 million respectively, the government’s planned cash boost for the infrastructure sector could not have come at a better time. In the regional run-down, London once again claimed the top spot – however it fell short of its usual £1 billion mark with just £972 million. This was offset by fine performances in the North West and South West regions that contributed £652 and £549 million respectively.

JULY

After two consecutive months (May and June) in which it appeared the COVID-19 crisis had finally taken the wind out of the UK construction sector’s sails, the industry bounced back in July with an above average performance, underlining its apparent new-found resilience. As the naysayers were preparing to pronounce UK construction as the latest victim of the coronavirus, the industry bounced back with a £5.4 billion total for the month. That figure was unquestionably buoyed by a single £1 billion new contract award. But even without that, the sector would have topped the £4 billion mark, a notable accomplishment in a month that traditionally foreshadows the summer lull. That mega-contract was won by Berkeley Group in a contract that will see the former Parcelforce depot in London’s West Ham redeveloped to provide over 1,800 homes, a 4.5 acre park and community, retail and commercial space.

Regionally, London was the runaway leader with more than £2 billion in new contract awards. Hertfordshire and Kent – with £736 and £419 million respectively – claimed second and third positions while Scotland marked the end of lockdown with a welcome £264 million haul.

AUGUST

The UK construction sector delivered another upbeat set of new contract awards in August. Overall, 265 companies won new contracts during August. But underlying imbalances in the make-up of those figures make for more telling reading.

With the construction sector having lost months of production and output during the COVID-19 lockdown, it appears that much of the industry chose to not go on holiday and remain at work. As a result, new contract awards topped the £4 billion benchmark (£4.8 billion) for the second month in succession.

But, dig a little deeper into August’s figures and some worrying imbalances appear.

Firstly, despite promises of increased infrastructure spending and government initiatives to ensure that construction leads the nation’s recovery, privately-financed projects accounted for 70% of all new contract awards during the month. Any increase in government spending has thus far failed to redress the balance between private and publicly financed projects.

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.

Further information and online applications at: www.access-ics.org

Never before has Builders’ Conference independent, verified real-time, construction information and research been more important as businesses navigate out of COVID-19. Ensure your business has access to evidenced based construction project information from across the UK by becoming a member.

Sector-wise, the miscellaneous category reigned supreme in July with a total of £1.9 billion thanks to a large number of mixed-use developments. However, those mixed-use developments generally comprised of a degree of housing and accommodation, reconfirming the industry’s continued reliance upon the housing sector. Overall, 259 companies won new contracts during July.

Audited and Assessed membership of the Scaffolding Association now includes access to the Builders’ Conference platform –with premium information about 11,000 UK construction projects.

There is also significant imbalance in the geographic spread of work. Yorkshire enjoyed a significant uptick this month and reported a total of £417 million split across 21 individual projects. But while London retained its geographic lead with 100 new contract awards totalling £1.46 billion, Scotland languished with just nine new projects worth a combined £104 million.

More concerning still is the industry’s increasing reliance upon the house-building sector. For the past few years, housing has contributed somewhere between a third and a half of all new contract awards. In August, stand-alone housing accounted for just over a half of all new contract awards by value.

But by factoring in the housing element of the numerous mixed-use developments recorded this month, housing accounted for as much as three-quarters of all UK construction activity.

FIND OUT MORE www.buildersconference.co.uk

The steps we should take when ‘working at height’ on a ladder

Everyone, at some point, will use a product to access a task at height. Whether it is in a domestic setting (a kitchen step or a loft ladder) or a commercial one, choosing the right product and using it safely is a task that people may undertake without considering any consequence. Andy Ferris, Commercial Director at LFI, talks about the steps we can take to make these tasks safer.

Want to know more?

Exosceleton solutions come to the construction industry

The construction technology group Hilti and the medical technology company Ottobock are combining their know-how in the fields of safety, health protection and biomechanics to expand their portfolio of ergonomic solutions. Both companies have decades of experience in their respective fields and will cooperate in the area of research and development in the future.

The standards governing the manufacture of ladders and steps is – in the main – covered by EN131. This in turn has several parts which address dimensions, material specification, testing and labelling. The access industry saw the biggest change in recent memory a couple of years ago as the old British Standard Class 1 and 3 were withdrawn and the European market came to realise the new, improved, more durable, safer product.

The biggest physical change to ladders is easy to spot; manufacturers need to provide a more stable product and as such a ratio between extended height and the base width was introduced as part of the standard and so the majority have now added a stabiliser bar to be fitted at the base.

The Ladder Association is the representative industry body – they represent the collective power of manufacturers, users and training providers across the UK. It is their training courses which users can undertake to obtain the LadderCard which is awarded upon successful completion and will provide the holder with a pass (for 5 years) to acknowledge their competence and ability to work more safely.

It is widely acknowledged that falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of fatal injuries in the workplace (HSE Statistics) however this can be mitigated with the correct training and product selection.

When choosing the correct product there are a few key things to consider – the task itself (can I get to the place I need to be); the environment (is it safe, do I have flat, stable ground); and the user’s competence. All ladders and steps are provided with a set of instructions and clear labels to indicate safe use, again forming part of the EN131 standard. However, it is still always down to the user to make the final decision.

With many options being available, covering a variety of heights, prices and quality, choosing the correct ladder may seem daunting. However, items that will get the user to the right height and are made to the correct (current) standard are what to look out for. Buying a reputable, UK-made piece of access equipment will certainly add to the feeling of safety.

LFI have been manufacturing ladders in the UK since 1947 and continue to develop their range to meet and exceed the standards which govern these products. As a reputable manufacturer, LFI also provide training for ladder users along with other relevant courses.

FIND OUT MORE www.britishladders.co.uk

The Ladder Association provides a wealth of useful material relating to the safe use of access products, including downloads and online guides such as the ‘Correct Way To Use Ladders’: www.ladderassociation.org.uk/ guidance/using-a-ladder/

“Exoskeletons are an important trend having great relevance for us. They provide relief for physically demanding tasks, such as those performed on construction sites every day. In Ottobock we have the ideal partner to combine our user protection and ergonomics knowledge with 100 years of biomechanical expertise. Our technology partnership will serve as the basis for the development of additional innovative and customer-oriented systems,” explains Johannes Wilfried Huber, Head of Hilti’s Diamond Systems Business Unit.

“We are delighted to be opening up a new area of application together with Hilti. We are building on our experience gained from more than 500 successful exoskeleton projects, including in the automotive industry and various trades. There is a great deal of potential for solutions that reduce the physical strain on workers in the construction industry. We want to jointly expand this pillar in the coming years,” explains Dr. Sönke Rössing, Head of Ottobock Industrials. This division has been developing industrial exoskeletons from the Paexo product range since 2012 to create healthier workplaces.

Hilti will launch the first joint product, the EXO-O1, in Autumn 2020. It is a passive model that does not require an energy supply. The weight of the arms is transferred to the hips via the forearm supports using mechanical cable pulling technology. Independent studies and Ottobock research have shown that this reduces the peak

load on the muscles and relieves shoulders by up to 47 percent.

Exoskeletons can therefore make a significant contribution to health protection, particularly regarding work performed above shoulder level and overhead work. In terms of the construction industry, this targets serial or continuous activities. Fatigue is also reduced. As a result, this type of work can be carried out over a longer period of time with much greater productivity.

Over the longer term, preventive relief can help reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the shoulder area. These are some of the most common causes of worker disability in the construction industry and therefore pose a significant cost factor for companies and health care systems.

FIND OUT MORE www.hilti.co.uk

Application example: The Hilti EXO-O1 provides relief for workers carrying out repetitive applications performed above the shoulders or overhead.

The Hilti Group has entered into a technology partnership with Ottobock to develop exoskeletal systems that offer enhanced health protection and improved productivity for construction industry employees.

The LFI PRo GRP Step Ladder

The LFI PRo Extender Ladder, showing the stabiliser bar fitted at the base.