Change is good but safety is critical

I met Jérôme Stubler, chairman of VINCI, during the spring and he talked about how construction was driven by the way we built things in the past but that technology is now shaping the industry for the future. He also talked about how 3D printing is the next revolution and how it offers opportunities to produce components off-site more efficiently than before.

But not for us, I hear many of you scream. Sadly, unless the access and scaffolding sector embraces change and new technology, it will not improve its position in the supply chain. Digitation is here to stay and beginning to seep into our business.

Look at the opposite page and see how more efficient inventory or stock control can raise profitability. We don’t want new technology because it’s new; we want it because it adds value and drives improvements. As confidence increases, it is easier to make effective and sensible decisions that improve performance and profitability.

Innovation is about improving productivity. At a time of rising inflation, clients want to ensure that their supply chain remains skilled, safe and sustainable. The cost burden of the CISRS CPD changes (see page 2) is causing many contractors to ask is it the best way to deliver safer and higher quality or is it just another way to make more money and missing an opportunity to raise standards?

While specialists are focused on their performance on-site, some areas can be missed (see page 12). Out of the 1,000 Public Inquiries into road transport incidents carried out each year, the scaffolding industry appears all too often – and for all the wrong reasons. Being specialists in access and scaffolding doesn’t mean you can’t be inadvertently exposed if you’re not on top of your vehicles.

Take a look at the site report in this issue (turn to page 16) to read how specialist scaffolders remain firmly on the critical path. While many building owners complain about it being a significant fixed cost, what was clear from this work is that safe access is an absolute top priority. Adopting a system, rather than traditional techniques, gives scaffolders the opportunity to respond to a very fast-moving project with the best approach. Best for time, best for quality, but more importantly, best for safety.

Adrian JG Marsh Editor