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

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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:

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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.

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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.