CABLEtalk June/July 2020 by CTSELECT

June/July 2020 £4.50

Life after

lockdown Helping your business restart and recover following the coronavirus outbreak

14 SELECT’s support continues / 22 What the future of construction could look like / 28 Essential advice on safely reopening buildings / 34 Contracts and cashﬂow

CONTENTS JUNE/JULY 2020 OPINION

Alan Wilson on the importance of working together during a crisis

NEWS

06 08 10

CORONAVIRUS

Working life after lockdown in the Chinese construction industry

Supporting our Members with a 30% refund on their annual fees Helping the Scottish Government develop a strategy for the future More politicians add their support to our campaign for regulation

CORONAVIRUS

Find out more about the CICV Forum and its work

FEATURES

Join our pre-lockdown road trip to inspect a lighthouse

APPRENTICES

The new animation helping apprentices prepare for FICA

12 14 16 20 26 28 32 34

Two Members reveal how they’ve been affected by the shutdown How SELECT has been helping Members during the pandemic SELECT Training moves online and into the virtual classroom Helping colleges as apprentices get ready to resume their studies Why collaboration will be key in recovering from the pandemic What you need to know about safely reopening buildings Rudi Klein discusses how to handle disputes after lockdown Len Bunton gives his advice on contracts and payment issues

APPRENTICES

42 MANAGING EDITOR Iain Mason iain.mason@select.org.uk EDITOR Sarah Wolstencroft sarah.w@connectcommunications.co.uk 0141 560 3022

ADVERTISING David Hughes davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk 0131 561 0022

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Ryan Swinney ryan@connectcommunications.co.uk

CABLEtalk is produced by Connect Publications on behalf of SELECT connectcommunications.co.uk

Introducing Kamilla Zajac in our first Talent of Tomorrow feature

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

All the latest gadgets and gear to help you while you’re working

DIARY

Meet Sandra Bennett in our latest Getting to Know You feature CABLEtalk

JUNE/JULY 2020

COMMENT

Cooperation, collaboration, commitment

he three words in the headline above have come to epitomise efforts during the current crisis, proving that we really are #InThisTogether. Without question, coronavirus has affected us all, but what is clear is that without cooperation, collaboration and commitment, we would struggle to survive in today’s world. These words have also been intrinsically linked to trade associations like SELECT. Founded nearly 125 years ago, the organisation was set up by committed individuals who wanted to collaborate and cooperate in shaping the future of what was then a relatively new part of the Scottish construction industry. A century later, we see these very apt and poignant words shaping our actions today. I am pleased, but not in the least surprised, that SELECT and its staff have risen fully to the challenge the crisis has brought. We have led the way in providing upto-the-minute advice on a host of subjects, including employment, contractual, commercial, and technical and safety matters, with advice updated on our website

“I am pleased, but not in the least surprised, that SELECT and its staff have risen fully to the challenge the crisis has brought” on a daily basis. The contact we have had with Members, including calls made by SELECT’s Central Board, along with our increased social media presence, high-profile press coverage and more frequent distribution of our e-newsletter, Switched On, have all contributed to our aim of keeping you updated on SELECT’s activities and the assistance we can provide. We realise the significant impact the crisis has had on Members financially and the decision by the Central Board to reduce Member subscriptions by 30% for 2020 has proven very popular. We realise further support may be necessary in the future and we will review what this may entail later in the year. As well as seeing cooperation, collaboration, and commitment between SELECT and its Members, I have also been delighted at the development of the

Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum. Set up just ten weeks ago, it now has 50 different industry bodies working together and making a real difference to the whole sector. As well as the main forum, there are also seven sub-groups which are working on issues such as employment, health and safety, business recovery and commercial matters. Some 80 individuals are contributing to the excellent work being done and it is amazing to see so many different groups and individuals working in a cooperative and collaborative way with the sole aim of helping the construction industry. You can read more about the work and successes the Forum has had on pages 18 and 19 in this issue of CABLEtalk. There are lots of challenges ahead for all of us, but one thing is sure – SELECT will be there to help you in any way we can.

Alan Wilson Managing Director, SELECT CABLEtalk

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NEWS CORONAVIRUS The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0SB Tel: 0131 445 5577 Fax: 0131 445 5548 admin@select.org.uk

Follow SELECT online at:  TWITTER @Updates_SELECT @Training_SELECT @Regulate_SELECT  FACEBOOK SELECT.TheECAofS

 

Visit our websites at:

select.org.uk select.org.uk/training cabletalkmagazine.com selectawards.co.uk

Please phone our membership team on 0131 445 5577 to apply to become a Member of SELECT or if you would like more information about joining. Alternatively you can email us on memberservices@select.org.uk or submit an online enquiry.

CABLEtalk is the official magazine of SELECT and is distributed free to qualifying readers. ISSN 1365-3288 SELECT is the trading style of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland. The SELECT logo is a registered Collective Mark.

CABLEtalk

Members’ 30% refund on fees

JUNE/JULY 2020

“Our advice and information system has been unrivalled in the construction sector and our staff have supported us magnificently in all sorts of ways”

ELECT has given Members a significant refund on membership fees to help ease some of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The association wrote to every Member on 11 May, informing them that they would receive a 30% discount on their 2020 subscription fees. Members who have already paid their subscription in full will receive the money back, while those who pay by direct debit will only have seven of their ten instalments collected. SELECT President Kevin Griffin said: “This financial support package is unprecedented, but we are living in unprecedented times and we believe this decision will offer some muchneeded financial assistance to Members. “SELECT’s Central Board is made up of working electrical professionals, all of whom are facing the same challenges as their fellow Members. We therefore understand first-hand John McGhee the issues our sector is experiencing and want to do everything we can to help each other. “This financial assistance is the latest in a host “Also, as a not-for-profit organisation, we of measures we have taken to ensure our are purely here to assist our Members Members are fully supported. Our and put their needs first – so that’s advice and information system exactly what we are doing.” has been unrivalled in the SELECT Managing Director construction sector and Alan Wilson commented: “As our staff have supported us WHAT SELECT we begin to come out of the magnificently in all sorts of ways.” HAS DONE TO HELP MEMBERS: immediate crisis and to return Alan added: “While it has not PAGES 14 AND 15 to work, SELECT will continue exactly been ‘business as usual’, to ensure that it does as much as the SELECT offices have remained possible to support its Members open in a virtual sense throughout the in a host of different ways.” crisis and dealt with hundreds of queries from Members. The refund is one of a number of emergency measure that SELECT “We have added virtual training has introduced to help Members courses and online Digital Drop-In weather the pandemic, meetings as well as updating our including online training, advice website and social media channels webinars and a dedicated daily with the most comprehensive COVID-19 hub. The association guidance and advice available. is also playing a leading role “This support will continue long in the Construction Industry after the pandemic has subsided, Coronavirus (CICV) Forum. as we continue to put the needs of our Members first.” SELECT Director of Finance and Resources and Association John McGhee Secretary, John McGhee, said:

SECTT: Apprenticeships are in safe hands

SELECT team show support for carers in our special film

Staff and office bearers put hands together for carers Staff and office bearers at SELECT saluted the work of the NHS and key workers by putting their hands together in a special film to mark the weekly Clap for our Carers event. The isolated workers were shown applauding in a compilation video screened on social media at 8pm every Thursday during the pandemic. Among those taking part were SELECT President Kevin Griffin, vice-president Donald W Orr, SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson and more than 35 other office bearers and staff. Director of Membership and

Communications Iain Mason said: “We wanted to show our appreciation for everything the NHS and other key workers are doing throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.” Participants provided clips on their phones, which were then collated and edited together by Simon Organ of video production company Skills Player.

Watch the video at bit.ly/SELECT_carers

 This year’s Toolbox Talks may have been cancelled, but SELECT is still determined to deliver the scheduled technical updates to Members. The topics for this year’s events – electrical vehicle charging and EICR coding – are currently being converted into special online presentations that will be available for all Members to view and download. Director of Technical Services Dave Forrester said: “We are obviously disappointed that Toolbox Talks is cancelled for this year, but we’re sure that these presentations will be a good substitute and provide much-needed technical information for Members.” Dates for the presentations will be revealed on www.select.org.uk soon.

The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) has reassured the industry that electrical apprenticeships and training are in safe hands following the introduction of a range of emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as offering ongoing help and guidance to all apprentices, SECTT has worked closely with SELECT, the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and colleges across Scotland to support the collective efforts of employers and colleges throughout the crisis. To ensure clarity across the board, SECTT has communicated regularly with all colleges, employers and apprentices via email, phone, social media and the OneFile platform. Meetings have also taken place with all colleges to devise a delivery model and take into consideration the needs of employers, apprentice and trainees. Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT, said: “We know these are unprecedented times, but we are doing all we can to help apprentices continue with their studies through alternate channels, while maintaining the high standards required.” Along with the SJIB, SECTT has also been closely involved with the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, attending weekly online meetings to share ideas on best practice. Measures included a presentation and animation on the factors affecting a return and a possible solution to be shared with approved centres. In the longer term, SECTT is also considering an app, blended learning opportunities and a virtual reality presentation. Ms Galbraith added: “Apprentices’ health and wellbeing is the most important aspect to consider. We want to assure all employers that the SECTT team is still here and happy to answer their questions. We will work with them to allow them and their apprentices to get back to work and back on track as best we can.”

Lessons to be learned: Pages 20 and 21 CABLEtalk

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NEWS CORONAVIRUS Management workshops move online

Diane Peebles The SELECT Effective Manager Programme has been another casualty of lockdown, with Napier University delivering the final three workshops online. Following an initial briefing and software test, students were given access to a recorded session, accompanied by targeted reading with direct links from Moodle. This was followed by interactive case study webinars. Course leader Diane Peebles then hosted a separate webinar to go through the students’ plans and reports, focusing on how they can successfully complete their work. Diane said: “Lockdown has obviously meant some disruption, but we are trying to make things as smooth as possible. I will keep in contact with each student individually and work with them if they’re struggling or require additional time to complete assignments.” If you’re interested in joining the next course, contact SELECT Training on 0131 445 5577 or email training@ select.org.uk to see if you’re eligible.

SELECT Training goes online: Pages 16 and 17 8

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SELECT helps the Scottish Government look to the future

ELECT has joined with other vital certification scheme providers to work with the Scottish Government to identify and address issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and develop a strategy for the future. The move comes after the Scottish Government’s Building Standards

Division (BSD) set up a Building Standards Resilience Group to address short, medium and long-term issues created by the coronavirus outbreak. The group is currently holding weekly online meetings and feeding into discussions at the Construction Leadership Forum chaired by Kevin Stewart, the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

The group is helping to find a way through the coronavirus issues

 SELECT has been hosting weekly Digital Drop-In sessions during the lockdown, giving Members the chance to ask our experts a wide range of questions. Running every Friday, staff have answered a range of queries on technical, training and employment issues, with the ongoing impact of coronavirus featuring high on the agenda. Members have also had chance to

discuss other topics with special guests such as industry specialist Len Bunton, who delivered a presentation on contract and commercial affairs. Iain Mason, Director of Membership and

Made up of SELECT, SNIPEF, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the certification body BRE Group, and NICEIC, the group is represented by Robert Jopling of the Structural Engineers Registration scheme. Dave Forrester, Director of Technical Services at SELECT, said: “We continue to face uncertain times, particularly now that we are planning for the return to construction activity. “Certification schemes form an important part of that planning and future activity, especially during periods of limited physical and social contact. We’re delighted to be represented by SER at this group and look forward to a positive outcome for certification.” Stephen Garvin, Head of BSD, said: “The impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry and overall economy are uncertain. However, building standards verification services are key to ensuring that construction can return and be able to deliver new buildings and improved facilities across different sectors.” The group has already discussed revised guidance to verifiers on special measures to support the delivery of the service during the outbreak; the work of the Building Standards Futures Board in respect of remote site inspection technologies; and the development of measures for the safe restart and continuation of construction work.

Communications, said: “With physical drop-in sessions no longer possible, we decided to host these digital webinars to help keep Members in the loop and give them a chance to ask questions.” Details of the next session will be hosted on the SELECT website.

What SELECT has been doing: Pages 14 and 15

Sector urged to pay it on when it comes to cashflow SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson has joined calls for the construction sector to step up and ‘pay it on’ to safeguard cashflow and ensure business and job survival. As chair of the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, Alan issued a joint statement with Construction Scotland, stressing that the sector must prove that it is trying to help itself. Alan said: “The construction sector is facing extraordinary difficulties at the moment and these problems will only be exacerbated if anyone delays or refuses to pay their suppliers. “There has been some evidence that some businesses have chosen to delay payments or extend credit terms, which is quite unacceptable – and wholly the wrong response to the current situation. “Put simply, we will only come out of this with a viable construction sector if the cash keeps flowing and businesses which are the lifeblood of the economy can maintain enough liquidity to meet their own commitments.” Ken Gillespie, Chairman of the Construction Scotland Industry

Alan Wilson

Leadership Group, said: “Cashflow works if everybody in the chain plays their part. It is vital for everyone, especially at a time like this to ‘pay it on’ and enable others to pay their bills as well. “The industry has already shown that it can act in concert and now it has to recognise that it is vital that invoices are paid on time. Paying bills means that we will have a viable industry when we begin to come out of the current situation.” The construction industry in Scotland employs more than 175,000 people, or around 10% of the total workforce. It contributes £21.5 billion to the country’s GDP and acts as a strong economic multiplier, with £2.94 generated for every £1 spent on construction output. Vitally for the industry’s future, it also supports around 10,000 apprentices.

SELECT and the CICV Forum: Pages 18 and 19

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NEWS ROUND-UP

Two more politicians back regulation campaign

lmost one third of Scotland’s MSPs have now given their support to SELECT’s campaign for regulating the profession of electrician after two more politicians added their names to our Wall of Support. Lib-Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton and SNP MP Alan Brown are the latest politicians to feature on the online wall, which shows the many individuals and organisations supporting SELECT’s crusade for Protection of Title. VISIT OUR WALL OF It means 41 out of 129 SUPPORT AT BIT.LY/ SELECTWALL MSPs now back our call step in the right direction OFSUPPORT for legislation which would which protects my make it an offence for constituents and businesses someone to call themselves an within my constituency electrician when they have no, or when using electricians. inadequate, qualifications. “As an engineer I appreciate the Mr Brown, MP for Kilmarnock and protection of professional qualifications. Loudoun, said: “I am delighted to “It will ensure constituents and support SELECT’s campaign to regulate businesses get exactly what they pay the electrical industry. It is a massive for when hiring an electrician to carry

Support for SELECTcerts users SELECT has created a special support network for users of the updated SELECTcerts app. A dedicated Facebook group was set up in March, giving Members the chance to ask questions, swap tips and receive updates. In addition, regular online webinars are 10

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now being held for discussion between Members, SELECT staff and Computer Scene Technical, with a special e-newsletter also being regularly emailed to all users. Director of Technical Services Dave Forrester said: “As part of our ongoing support for

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Members, we’ve been happy to introduce these new measures to help everyone get the most out of the new SELECTcerts app. Feedback has been extremely encouraging and we hope that these measures will help with the successful rollout and adoption of the new version.”

out work and will keep them safe from faulty work. “Far too much public cash is being spent on repairing faulty electrical work and I believe the regulation of the electric industry will reduce this significantly – that is why I am happy to work cross-party with other members and support SELECT’s campaign.” Mr Cole-Hamilton, MSP for

ECA welcomes Senior business manager and engineer Gary Worrall has become the new President of the engineering services trade association ECA. The CEO of Lorne Stewart PLC’s engineering division takes over from Jim Pridham, who has played a key role during the past 12 months, most notably through his promotion of industry training and apprenticeships. Gary said: “As someone who is passionate about electrical and engineering services, I’m delighted to be taking over this prestigious role. The industry faces unprecedented

Events aﬀected by coronavirus

MP Alan Brown

MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton

“As an engineer I appreciate the protection of professional qualifications” Edinburgh Western, said: “I agree that poor quality electrical work carries huge risks to people’s homes, their businesses and even their lives. “It is vitally important that consumers are helped to make informed choices when they employ an electrician.” SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson, said: “We are grateful for all the support we have received, across parties, from our politicians and, despite the difficulties all sectors of the economy are currently facing, we remain firm in our

belief that our ongoing campaign to make electrician a regulated profession will ultimately succeed. “Once we are through the worst of this pandemic, the need for properly qualified electricians will be more important than ever to help Scotland rebuild and recover safely.” The issue is now progressing through the Scottish Parliament and, before the COVID-19 pandemic, a Member’s Bill was being prepared for discussion later this year.

Gary Worrall as its new President challenges, and I am determined to play a role in supporting ECA Member businesses.” Gary became an engineer for Lorne Stewart over 30 years ago. He progressed to become CEO of the engineering division after holding several senior management roles. ECA CEO Steve Bratt added: “We are delighted to announce Gary as our new President. I would also

like to welcome Steve Murray to the role of Vice President, and to thank Jim for his valuable contributions.” The new team was confirmed as: ● President – Gary Worrall (Lorne Stewart) ● Senior Vice President – David Lewis (Chancery Contracts) ● Vice President – Steve Murray (WT Jenkins) ● Immediate Past President – Jim Pridham (JR Pridham Services)

 This year’s SELECT Awards have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, with the next event now pencilled in for October 2021 Events, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Linda Rolfe said: “In the current climate, it obviously isn’t realistic to plan and host such a large event. “However, we have provisionally booked a venue for next year, so hopefully we can make the 2021 event bigger and better than ever.”  Plans are currently in place to host this year’s SELECT AGM online via webinar if physical distancing measures are still in place. The original date of 3 June has been moved to early September, with contingency plans for a virtual meeting. Full details will be revealed via the SELECT e-newsletter, Switched On, and at www.select.org. uk nearer the time.  With this year’s spring Branch Updates and AGMS interrupted by the pandemic, SELECT has hosted the remaining four meetings via webinar. The Dumfries and Galloway Branch event was held online on 12 May, during which Gordon Paterson was re-elected as Chair, with John Wilson reinstalled as Vice-Chair. The Tayside Branch Update and AGM was held a week later on 19 May, with Tony Harvey and Keith Smith re-elected as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively. Graham Lyall will also continue as third representative. During the session, SELECT staff also answered questions on a range of topics as Members discussed the ongoing situation. The Glasgow and Aberdeen Branch Updates were due to be held online as CABLEtalk went to press, and plans are now in place to host the autumn Branch Updates in a similar way if necessary. What SELECT has been doing: Pages 14 and 15 CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS SELECT MEMBERS Tell us about your business and how it’s been aﬀected by coronavirus

David Harris, Director of DMH Electrical and Vice President of SELECT’s Glasgow and West of Scotland branch: We are predominately involved in the construction industry and had to pause trading due to site closures. We have been on the furlough scheme since 25 March as there was no alternative. Gavin Ross, Commerical Director of Prime Electrical Group: We have 14 staff and around 30 electricians and currently everyone’s on furlough. Our business is focused on the national housebuilders so when they started to close sites, we had to look at what we were doing. We worked with them to get plots complete because there were clients ready to move in and we didn’t want to leave anyone without a home. We’re now using a subcontractor for emergency call-outs. Trying to procure PPE for him was difficult but we managed to get everything we needed.

Do you have any apprentices? How has it aﬀected them?

Gavin: We carry a range of apprentices from first year right up to pre-FICA stage. Their apprenticeship has been extended which is unfortunate because we look to get them through to electrician status as David Harris Director, DMH Electrical, Glasgow

Building a new future With the pandemic bringing sites across the country to a standstill, we spoke to two SELECT members who work in construction and on housing developments about how the lockdown has affected their business – and their predictions for the industry

quickly as possible. The problem we’ll have with apprentices will be health and safety – can we put an electrician with an apprentice when they’re working in close proximity? We’re waiting to get feedback on that from the housebuilders. David: We have three apprentices, one recently passed his FICA and is due to be graded to electrician, one third stage and one second stage. Apprentice training and practical experience has been interrupted and may mean some extra weeks have to be added to the normal timescale.

Have you had assistance from government schemes? David: We found the Furlough Scheme easy to

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use and it has been a great benefit and prevented redundancies. We also received the business grant which contributed towards the business overheads. Gavin: We’ve used the job retention scheme and we’re grateful for it. We’re currently reviewing the other schemes. Initially it was a challenge because the information was changing on a daily basis.

What are your plans for returning to work?

Gavin: We’re lucky because we’ve got a large office which makes social distancing easier. Before lockdown, we contacted a company who installed hand sanitiser stations. On-site, it depends on the housebuilder. We’re waiting to see what they say regarding their own health and safety policies.

David: We think there could be a return to work by June, when on-site working will be a new experience. Existing health and safety policies, risk assessments, method statements and recognised working practices will all require to be adapted to take account of coronavirus. We have received good information and advice from various sources including SELECT, the SJIB, the Building Safety Group, HM Government and some of our principal contractors.

What will the challenges be?

David: A safe place of work must be provided and maintained. Staff and the workforce need to be protected during this incredible time. Social distancing will at times prove a challenge to implement, and perhaps not even be possible at all in certain circumstances. Principal contractors, subcontractors and workers alike will have to share mutual concern to minimise the risk of spreading infection through careful planning in line with government recommendations. Until we are back at

work and sharing information, ideas and solutions, it will be a slow start. Gavin: There are operations before ours that require two people to carry them out. We can go in once the house reaches a specific stage, however, are the housebuilders going to be able to build? I don’t think they’ll be able to build at the speed they did before and I don’t think demand will be what it was. We’ve just completed an excellent financial year so we’ve got that behind us but this year won’t be like the last. It’s a case of maintaining the sites we’ve got, delivering a quality service and making sure the electricians are working safely.

predict, there is much work to be restarted and finished off. In between that time, new projects need to get off the ground so there is a follow-on. That will be determined by government, local authorities and the confidence of clients and investors etc. Gavin: We’re living through history at the moment – our kids and grandkids will be learning about this at school. But it’s different from the recession of 2008. There’s a demand for quality new homes, a desire from developers to build and mortgages are available. It’s consumer confidence that is key. For us, we’re feeling confident, we’re looking to return and to look after our colleagues, friends and family. Gavin Ross Commercial Director, Prime Electrical Group, Cumbernauld

What about the future? David: It’s difficult to

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CORONAVIRUS SELECT SERVICES As the pandemic brought Scotland to a standstill, SELECT was working harder than ever to help Members weather the storm By Iain Mason Director of Membership and Communications

he Walled Garden may have been in lockdown for the past ten weeks, but for SELECT it’s been business as usual as we continue to help Members deal with the realities of COVID-19. Working round the clock, the association has pulled out all the stops to help contractors protect their livelihoods, ramping up existing services and launching a range of additional emergency measures. Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “We’re aware of the impact the pandemic has had on Members, which is why we’ve been determined to do everything that we can to help. “As well as practical measures like refunding membership fees, we knew that clarity was vital, which is why we rolled out such a wide range of support and guidance.” SELECT’s Employment Affairs team has worked tirelessly to produce expert guidance on everything from workplace disruption to furloughing. Director of Employment and Skills Fiona Harper said:

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HOW SELECT HELPED MEMBERS

Employment guidance

Online COVID-19 hub

Contractual advice

Cashflow lobbying

Online training courses

One-to-one calls

Financial information

Weekly advice webinars

Commercial support

Playing our part “The nature of the questions we’re being asked is still changing daily, but we’re doing everything we can to give Members the information they need.” These updates have been posted on the dedicated COVID-19 hub at www.select. org.uk, along with daily updates and regular e-newsletters, emails and texts.

SELECT Director of Membership and Communication Iain Mason said: “Our digital channels have proved an important lifeline during the lockdown and we’ll continue to keep everyone informed in the best ways possible.” The digital world has also become an invaluable tool for keeping in touch

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS SHOW THEIR TRUE COLOURS IN A CRISIS Membership fees refund

Uninterrupted service

Daily news updates

CICV Forum

Fortnightly e-newsletter

Virtual Branch Updates

Mental health support

Technical assistance

Helplines database

face-to-face, with the remaining four Branch Updates – Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside, Glasgow and Aberdeen – being held via webinar. Weekly Digital Drop-ins also gave Members the chance to ask staff questions in live Q&A sessions. Our ever-popular training courses have also moved online – see pages 16 and 17 for details of how we kept Members learning during lockdown. And for those Members still carrying out emergency and essential work across Scotland, our Technical Helpline has been staffed every day. Director of Technical Services Dave Forrester said: “Our staff may not be able to carry out assessments or training in person, but we’re still in contact with Members on a daily basis through other measures, helping them until things are up and running again.” SELECT also recruited the help of industry experts including the SEC Group’s Len Bunton and the legal eagles

at MacRoberts to untangle contractual, commercial and legal issues, with the Electrical Industries Charity also offering much-needed mental health support. Our ongoing commitment to the industry also means we’ve been lobbying hard behind the scenes to help maintain cashflow and protect jobs as a key member of the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum. More details about this can be found on pages 18 and 19. Alan added: “Having worked in the industry for nearly 40 years, I’m used to seeing the ups and downs of things like recessions, but this current crisis has put us all to the test. “Our Members have experienced a situation that we could barely have imagined – but SELECT is determined to keep helping them through these difficult times and beyond.”

By Kevin Griﬃn, SELECT President It’s said that you only ever see someone’s true character in a crisis. Well, during the pandemic, your trade association has come into its own and demonstrated its unique and unquestionable value to Members. As a not-for-profit organisation, the sole purpose and principle of SELECT is Members’ welfare. This commitment has shone through in the past months. I’ve been enormously impressed by the way SELECT has rallied to help Members keep calm and focused during an extremely worrying time. As the impact of the pandemic became clear, it was truly heartening to see The Walled Garden spring into action with a host of practical and proactive measures, from refunding membership fees to lobbying behind the scenes for continued cashflow. With face-to-face contact reduced, SELECT has used every alternative measure to reach out and reassure Members that they’re not enduring this unprecedented incident alone. As a contractor myself, I know that even a friendly call asking how you are makes a difference. Knowing someone is thinking of your welfare – and not your wallet – means the world to us. It’s also heartening to know that SELECT and its fellow trade bodies are in the unique position to influence and shape REAL change on our behalf; delivering tangible results that make the industry better for everyone. All of these things show the value of trade bodies. We might not be able to stop the virus, but associations like SELECT can assist Members with the things they REALLY need and will continue to do so long after it’s safe to pick up our tools again. CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS ONLINE TRAINING

Every day’s a school day With its classrooms shut, SELECT Training has moved online during the pandemic, delivering a range of courses to Members in their homes via a new virtual classroom

Malcolm Duncan and Technical Adviser Stuart MAY McKelvie, we set up a virtual training classroom via the 14 courses GoToMeetings webinar platform. As the course is a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Customised Award, we needed to get approval from the SQA prior to delivering the first one. With this duly delivered, we held a few trial sessions before launching our first online session in mid-April.

By Jenny Cryans Training Manager, SELECT

The course programme

The e-learning facility allows delegates to complete the course in the comfort of their own home, with a virtual training hen the session that runs from 9am to 5pm. lockdown was The programme also includes a announced separate online course which delegates across the are asked to complete before the virtual country back classroom session. This is a great prior in March, study learning tool and helps one them navigate through the 18th instant casualty was SELECT Edition Regulations Book APRIL training. But while physical during the session itself. On classrooms may have been out 2 courses of the question, we were determined to still deliver WHAT DO I NEED courses to Members. FOR THE COURSE? The main demand was for ● A PC or laptop. A tablet or iPad our Requirements for Electrical can be used, but the presentations Installations Course (18th Edition) – will be a lot smaller also known as the 218 course – ● A printer to print out the so we set about developing an course notes online solution. ● An 18th Edition Regulations Book Working with two of our tutors, Training and Development Adviser

W 16

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Tutors can train Members during sessions in our virtual classroom

the day of the virtual classroom, four assessments are carried out throughout the day. An e-mail is sent to the delegate with the links for each assessment and the tutor advises when to click into each link and open the timed assessment. There are also breakout times after each assessment to allow delegates to experience the usual classroomstyle course. We currently have four tutors delivering the virtual classroom sessions and are adding courses to the calendar every week so check www.select.org.uk/training for more details.

Positive feedback

So far, feedback for the courses has been positive, with one delegate saying: “Hope you keep up this type of format for people doing the 18th Edition.

OTHER ONLINE COURSES Scottish Building Standards Update Training (408) Intended for electrical installers who are already registered as Approved Certifiers of Construction in the Scottish Building Standards Certification Scheme, this 6 delegates course meets the threeper course yearly update training currently with requirement.

potential to increase

Partnership with Training First Safety Ltd A full suite of discounted online courses can be viewed on the Training section of the SELECT website. The prices are listed beside each of the courses, but Training First Safety Ltd has also agreed to a temporary discount. i-Con Online Learning This resource from Construction Scotland Innovation Centre is a bank of online training and skills resources that can be undertaken remotely. Access the training and skills register at https://bit.ly/csic_training to find hundreds of free resources across a range of themes.

JUNE

WHAT WILL I BE EMAILED?

4 courses scheduled to date (scheduling 3-4 every week)

● Login details for the online part of the programme ● Course joining instructions with link to print course notes ● GoToMeeting link and details of how to download the App ● Assessment links

I can see a lot of sparks in my age group going for it.” Another commented: “Big thanks to you all at SELECT to get this all organised and put together with short notice. Thought the course was well executed by yourselves.” A third delegate told us: “This type of training suits me as I don’t need to travel and

stay overnight somewhere to attend, meaning I’m only away from work for one day instead of three.”

Looking to the future

We know many Members are unable to attend regular training courses, so e-learning offers a good opportunity for them to continue learning and ensure their business is safe and compliant. Research has also shown that online learning is a highly effective way to learn, giving you what you need when you need it, wherever you are – particularly important as more of us are working from home. With that in mind, we’ll continue to expand our virtual classroom offerings, refining the e-learning platform to ensure delegates get the very best from every session.

SVQs in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) SELECT is also working with Tala Training to offer fully-funded SVQs in partnership with SDS, including Construction Site Supervision (SVQ Level 3), Occupational Works Supervision (Level 3), Construction Site Management (Level 4) and Senior Construction Management (Level 5). Each qualification takes six months to complete, after which assessors carry out initial inductions via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. After three or four more assessments, candidates are resulted for the award.

Details of any of the courses on this page can be found at www.select.org.uk/training or by calling 0131 445 5577. CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS CICV FORUM

In this together Throughout the pandemic, SELECT has played a key role in the Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum, leading the group of nearly 50 sector bodies as it issues invaluable guidance and helps shape the return to work By Iain Mason Director of Membership & Communications

s well as working tirelessly for Members, SELECT has been a driving force behind a unique collective of Scotland’s largest construction trade and professional bodies. After setting up the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum in March, SELECT has, along with other member bodies, helped it share advice, gather intelligence and speak directly with government on the most pressing pandemic issues. With a firm focus on collaborative action, the Forum has brought together 78 individuals representing 49 official bodies including government agencies, private companies, professional services firms and training organisations. As well as 22 full members, a further 27 other

CICV Forum Members:

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organisations also contribute their knowledge to seven sub-groups which help shape support on employment, health and safety, skills, commercial matters, client liaison, future planning and communications. All told, the bodies around the CICV table represent more than 5,000 businesses and around 25,000 operatives in the Scottish construction sector and is by far and away the largest and most representative body in our industry. SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson chairs the Forum, with Director of Employment and Skills Fiona Harper closely involved with the Skills, Commercial and Employment subgroups, and Director of Membership and Communications Iain Mason leading the Communications. Specifier & Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson also performs an invaluable role coordinating the group. Alan said: “SELECT has been proud to play its part in this unique collaboration of the biggest names in Scottish construction. The speed,

HOW THE FORUM IS HELPING Informing and engaging An animation outlining how contractors and occupiers can protect themselves during emergency domestic work (above). Commercial and domestic guidance Outlining safe working practices in commercial and domestic situations to help contractors during the pandemic. Clear and practical information An overview of the potential impact of site closures, plus a step-bystep guide to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Expert analysis and advice A range of recommendation papers outlining practical measures and best practice to assist the industry during restart.

HOW THE FORUM IS HELPING Keeping contractors safe A graphic defining ‘essential work’, plus site posters and stickers to help contractors carry out jobs uninterrupted.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT bit.ly/ CICV_advice

willingness and efficiency with which agencies and individuals have come together in the wider interests of the industry has been truly humbling. By pooling expertise, the Forum represents the interests of Scotland’s diverse construction supply chain with one voice, pushing for positive action. Listening to the industry as well as speaking on its behalf is vital in these times.” Since its inception, the Forum has played a major role in clarifying conflicting information and producing a wide range of practical advice to help contractors and the public navigate construction work during the pandemic. It’s also urged the sector to ‘pay it forward’ to improve cashflow and worked closely with Construction Scotland, the Industry Leadership Forum and the Scottish Government to plan a return to

work. This political liaison has seen the Forum involved in the Restarting Construction Sub-Group, chaired by Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning. In the most recent developments, discussions were held about the restart plan and standard operating procedure documents, with the Forum working on a series of guidance publications. Alan said: “With the construction sector preparing for a safe restart, it’s vital that safety guidance is provided to businesses so information can be cascaded throughout the whole industry. “It’s equally important that operatives and apprentices are properly advised and trained to ensure their safety and give them confidence, so the Forum has been working hard to provide information.” As CABLEtalk went to press, the

Speaking to government Close and ongoing liaison with senior politicians to help shape the restart of Scotland’s construction sector. Informing a wide audience A website offering essential open-source information, with the latest updates on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forum was preparing a presentation and animation outlining measures for apprentices returning to colleges – see pages 20 and 21 for more details. Alan added: “As we prepare for restart and recovery, collaboration is key. We can’t expect one part of the sector to bear the whole burden so everyone must work together fairly and honestly – and the CICV Forum shows it CAN be done.”

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CORONAVIRUS TRAINING CENTRES

HAND WASHING Ensure visual hand washing guides are clearly visible

CORRIDORS Mark up walkways to clearly indicate 2m spacing

Lessons to As Scotland’s colleges and training centres discuss reopening, SELECT, the SJIB and SECTT have helped develop a new set of guidelines designed to keep staff and apprentices safe By Iain Mason Director of Membership & Communications

he sudden influx of apprentices returning to their studies will bring many health and safety challenges – which is why SELECT has teamed up with other bodies to suggest a solution. Working in collaboration with the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), informative new guidance has been developed to help keep apprentices safe when they resume studies. Issued through the Construction

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Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, the presentation outlines practical day-to-day measures that both colleges and apprentices can take to ensure safe studies. Overarching principles are protecting the vulnerable, keeping contact lists updated, providing staff with relevant training, offering suitable facilities for hand washing etc, and ensuring that physical distancing is properly policed. Other measures include: ● Face coverings – ensuring apprentices cover their faces in enclosed places where it is difficult to keep 2m away from others. This covering can be made of cloth or other textile through which people can breathe, e.g. a scarf. ● Travel to college – physical distancing is advised when travelling

in vehicles to and from college, and single occupancy of vehicles is preferable. If this is not possible, apprentices should sit as far apart as the vehicle allows. ● Tools, equipment and plant – all tools and equipment should be properly sanitised as frequently as possible to prevent crosscontamination, with cleaning materials provided. Only one person should use the same equipment and plant. ● Toilet facilities – restrict the number of people using toilets at any one time and ensure a physical distance of 2m is maintained. Ensure visual hand washing guides are clearly visible and enhance the cleaning regime, particularly door handles, locks and flush handles. ● Canteens and eating arrangements – apprentices and students should bring a packed lunch and flask, break times should be staggered, everyone should wash their hands before eating and hand sanitiser should be provided. In

TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND PLANT

FIRST AIDERS

All tools and equipment should be properly sanitised as frequently as possible

FFP3 or FFP2 masks, gloves, aprons and eye protection should be worn during treatment

TRAVEL TO COLLEGE Single occupancy of vehicles is preferable

be learned addition, diners should sit 2m apart, pre-packed food should be sold and contactless or card payments used. ● Corridors - wherever possible, introduce a one-way system on access routes, making clear there is one door in and another door out and marking up walkways to clearly indicate 2m spacing. ● First aiders – to avoid risk of infection, responders should minimise hand contamination, avoid touching their face and clean their hands frequently. FFP3 or FFP2 masks, gloves, aprons and eye protection should be worn during treatment, with any disposable PPE disposed of afterwards. ● Cleaning – ensure all frequentlytouched objects and surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected. ● Risk assessments – all documentation for workshops and classrooms should be reviewed before colleges reopen, and should align with any relevant Scottish Government guidelines.

The guidance also urges college staff is put firmly at the forefront. These to make apprentices aware of cough recommendations are designed to be etiquette and other dos and don’ts, as practical and easy to follow, with clear well as alerting them to the symptoms guidance on how to protect both of coronavirus and what to do if they apprentices and the college facilities start to display them. themselves from the ongoing threat It also says staff should share of coronavirus.” the guidance with all lecturers To help spread the and apprentices on a message even wider, continual basis, with any the presentation is apprentice not following being adapted into an DOWNLOAD the rules reported to their animation that will be THE GUIDANCE FROM WWW.CICVFORUM. training provider for shared on social media CO.UK/DOWNLOADS immediate action. and websites, encouraging The project was led apprentices to stay safe by SELECT’s Director of during their studies. Employment and Skills, Fiona Fiona added: “In everything Harper and Barrie McKay, Training we’re doing, the message is clear: We and Development Manager at SECTT. must work together to stop this virus, Other essential input came from safeguard the young people in our members of the CICV Forum Health industry and protect our wider and Safety Sub-Group, including communities and families.” Martyn Raine, Technical and Skills Manager at the plumbing employers’ federation SNIPEF. New FICA animation puts Fiona said: “With ongoing discussions apprentices in the frame: about the resumption of studies, we are Pages 40 and 41 all obviously keen that apprentice safety CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS SITE MEASURES

A view

By Willie Watt PPRIAS Architect and Masterplanner at Nicoll Russell Studios Ltd

n my role, I am very lucky to be in contact with construction professionals around the world, all of whom have been impacted by the knock-on effects of coronavirus, both personally and professionally. By leading my practice’s presence on LinkedIn and keeping abreast of developments on many subjects, I saw the gradual creep of the virus across the Far East and how it rapidly impacted on people, businesses, society and entire countries before emerging in Europe. As the UK headed towards lockdown, this insight gave our practice a significant heads-up into the precautions we should adopt and meant we began home working earlier than most. Given the virus has different timelines in every country, and that lockdown has already been eased significantly in places initially affected, that international overview has also offered a window

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from the east Deep clean disinfection. Twice-daily temperature tests. Compulsory PPE. After hearing about the situation in China first-hand, a well-known architect gives us an insight into what the post-lockdown construction landscape could look like for Scotland on what the new norm may look like in our own offices, on site and in terms of new types of work. That led to discussions with Alan Wilson of SELECT and ultimately a sharing of views to inform discussions with government. One of the most pertinent conversations was the organisation of a virtual meeting between myself, Alan and a friend and former colleague at Robert Gordon University who now runs a large international architect’s

practice in China. I reached out to him because it became clear that we could learn much from his experience of adapting his life, business and site interactions, and he duly painted a vivid and fascinating picture of what’s happening in a country several months ahead of us in terms of dealing with coronavirus. Of most interest to me – and no doubt SELECT Members – were the measures which appear to have been introduced on many Chinese construction sites.

This fed into the development of a flowchart, which in turn facilitated discussions regards the development of potential new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with the Scottish Government and Construction Scotland. From this first-hand experience, it’s not a massive leap to create a hypothetical scenario of what could be in store for Scotland as we move forward tentatively into a post-pandemic world…

Construction sites

Before a single worker set foot on-site, the post-lockdown period saw many sites in China thoroughly deep cleaned and disinfected. After that, companies were required to compile a register of staff. The people named on this list were then the only ones allowed to access sites and premises. Continued on page 24 >>>

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CORONAVIRUS SITE MEASURES biggest focus is on the continuous education of the workforce to underline that everyone and every business is only as strong as the weakest link. It’s made very clear that these measures protect workers and their families – and that sites will be closed and potentially jobs lost if they are not followed.

>>> Continued from page 23

Following this, sites were then reoccupied on a phased return as follows: ● Week 1 – 50% occupancy ● Week 2 – 75% occupancy ● Week 3 – 100% occupancy This re-occupancy was also based on site need, e.g. during the first week there may have been a demand for more Protect engineering staff than say labourers. Outside of construction sites, everyone Shifts are now spread to prevent wears a face mask if they’re out of their crowds at the start of work and homes. The only exception appears to be throughout the site. Before every shift, in open spaces, e.g. public parks, but each registered worker has their everywhere else, people follow the rules temperature taken to determine and cover up. This has coincided with a whether they are allowed on site. phased reopening of shops, but This process is repeated later in there are still strict limits over the day, with all results how many people can be in recorded. If a worker has a the premises at one time, high temperature, the site which we can already see is automatically closed for in the UK when we shop three days. for groceries. It seems likely that Everyone on site wears appropriate, good quality will reshape how all PPE at all times, including a of our workplaces are Willie Watt face mask and gloves. Remote reshaped, which may in itself present opportunities. meetings and webinars are preferred by default and there Trace are strict controls on actual Unlike the measures implemented by physical meetings. the UK Government thus far, tracing is Physical distancing is also strictly seen as essential in China and is policed during break times, which are underpinned by an RAG smartphone staggered over shifts to prevent too app, which contact traces, allows access many people being in one place at a time. to work/shops etc when green, home isolation when amber and isolation in a As well as regular cleaning and medical facility when red. Firms also ongoing monitoring of all sites, the

ask staff to record where they have travelled and any face-to-face meetings so they can respond should the virus flare up and dictate that contacts need to be traced. From a cultural perspective, China and the UK are clearly very different, but the epidemiological use of our data may be a sacrifice we here in the UK may need to make to allow life to open up fully.

Monitor

As well as the register of staff mentioned above, visitors planning to visit businesses appear as though they

HOW THE LANDSCAPE COULD LOOK

BEFORE SITE REOPENS ● Site to be thoroughly deep cleaned before any work restarts. ● Documentation/checklist of items cleaned to be created and signed off by cleaning company. ● Any staff returning to work must be identified to principal contractor by all subcontractors, design staff etc. ● In conjunction with client, principal contractor, design 24

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REOPENING SITE team and subcontractors will plan to reopen as follows: – 1st week – 50% occupancy – 2nd week – 75% occupancy – 3rd week – 100% occupancy ● Occupancy to be based on site need. ● Register of all staff to be created by principal contractor in conjunction with design team and sub-contractors.

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● Person(s) at site entry point to ensure register is adhered to and that operatives have appropriate PPE to enter. ● All workers attending site to only be allowed access if they are on register, to be checked on entry and departure. ● Site to explore option of using a suitable app to ensure correct checking in and out. ● Operatives should observe social distancing at all times.

● Arrival and departure to site to be done on phased basis to minimise numbers entering site compound at same time. ● Temperatures of all staff on site to be taken before and during every shift. To be undertaken by person(s) designated to monitor site and the results recorded. Anyone with a high temperature or symptoms to be sent home.

Face masks are worn outside by nearly everyone in China

must be approved the day before, with all deliveries collected at the door. As on sites, temperatures are checked on arrival and only then are staff or visitors approved for entry.

Travel

Cleaning

In addition to observing the distancing measures that are now familiar to us all, alongside the all-encompassing use of Microsoft Teams or Zoom, it appears that face-to-face meetings in China which are judged as essential are now limited to less than one hour. PPE precautions are also strictly followed, with face masks an essential

Like construction sites, offices and other places of work in China had a deep clean before reopening and cleaning was subsequently done more regularly and thoroughly. Many businesses in China now appear to have cleaners on site throughout the day, working in rotation to keep premises disinfected.

For many businesses, company travel outwith the immediate area has to be approved by senior management.

Meetings

part of every meeting, office work and daily life.

In conclusion

From what I have learned about the Chinese experience, there has been good adherence to these measures, underpinned by continuous education. That said, in recent weeks it has become clear that there have been reoccurrences of the virus in China and South Korea which has meant that certain stricter controls have had to be reintroduced at a more local level. Like China, if these measures are to work in Scotland, education and enforcement are vital if we are to address the key issue of reducing the spread of coronavirus and reopening our economy. Equally, having watched the Far East it is clear that there are opportunities to reshape our workplaces, homes and public realm to cope with the stresses and strains caused by the virus, which may create new forms of work for all of us and thus a swift economic bounce back. Government policy and guidance is still being shaped but I certainly hope that our endeavour to learn from China and other countries will have at least catalysed those discussions. How successfully will Scotland and its construction industry emerge from lockdown? Only time will tell…

SITE MANAGEMENT ● Secure area created for deliveries and waste, outwith secured site isolation area. Delivery, refuse and skip operatives not allowed on site beyond secure area. ● All deliveries to be arranged 24 hours in advance and all delivery staff to wear appropriate PPE, including face mask. ● Everyone on site to

wear PPE, e.g. face mask, gloves etc, at all times. If not adhered to, operatives will be asked to leave site. ● Sites to be disinfected on a regular basis throughout the day. ● Disinfection data to be recorded and passed to principal contactor. All contact points, e.g. stairs, handles, tables, toilets

etc, to be disinfected regularly and notices posted to show when disinfection is done and by whom. ● All breaks to be taken over a shift system to prevent overcrowding. ● Sites to lower density of people on site/at choke points in efficient manner. ● Site offices to follow

normal office protocols. Where possible, meetings to be done remotely using video link etc. ● Regular reminders about importance of PPE to be made on ongoing basis. ● On-site operations will be suspended temporarily if there is a confirmed case. CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS WORKING TOGETHER

By John McKinney Secretary, National Federation of Roofing Contractors, Stone Federation and Scottish Contractors Group

ice to see you, to see you nice! Construction is the name of the game and I wanna play the game with you! Necessity is the mother of invention. This saying appears in the dialogue Republic, by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. I don’t think Plato is often referenced in CABLEtalk and in fairness, I don’t often reference him either. We do indeed live in unusual times (the fact I’ve been asked to prepare this article is testimony to that, perhaps the first three lines of this article show why I’m not asked often) and the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Scottish construction industry created the necessity for collaborative approach from trade associations to work for the benefit of the whole industry. As you’ll have seen on pages 14 and 15, SELECT led on bringing industry together under the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, raising issues with the Scottish Government and providing guidance for all those who work in the construction industry. The Forum has brought together nearly 50 industry bodies and 78 individuals and has been extremely well received with significant positive outputs. And if it works due to necessity, 26

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Playing the Collaboration Game

The CICV Forum has proved that different strands of the construction industry can work together, so it’s vital for this spirit of togetherness to continue after restart to ensure everyone’s a winner

surely we can do this in other areas because the necessity is not going away anytime soon. There is currently real concern about future apprenticeship intakes for the industry. Plus, some of those who currently start a construction-related apprenticeship don’t complete it. We need to ensure those joining the industry make an informed choice to increase the likelihood of them continuing to becoming a qualified tradesperson.

KEYS TO COLLABORATION ● Agree common goals ● Work in collaboration to deliver them ● Ensure there is always an outcome ● Review, improve and repeat – then do it again

This is one area where I have worked in collaboration with others before. We do not pitch one trade against another but look to promote the industry as a whole. There is no point in having lots of roofers if there are no planners, architects, surveyors, electricians, bricklayers etc in the industry. We worked with contractors,

Developing the Young Workforce, CITB, National Federation of Roofing Contractors, Stone Federation GB, Historic Environment Scotland, local authorities, Architecture & Design Scotland, RICS, City Heritage Trusts and Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes, colleges, universities and others to deliver skills demonstrations in high-profile places and schools. By giving school pupils an insight into a variety of roles within the industry, we can assist them to determine if a career in construction for them, and if so, which one. BUT (and yes, there is always a but), it is not just the pupils – they have career influencers including teachers and parents, who we encourage to participate and this has exceeded all expectations. We delivered an event in a town where the school couldn’t get a teacher to volunteer to attend and they could only get enough pupils to fill one of the sessions available to them. The next year, we returned to deliver a similar event, albeit slightly further away, and the teachers drew lots because they all wanted to go and the school asked for more places for pupils. We have now been asked to deliver these events in the school on a regular basis, which shows we CAN make a difference. We delivered an event in Perth where the pupils used the council offices to get

changed into their PPE. Part of the event was painting and decorating where they did marbling. When the pupils went back to the council offices to remove their PPE several went over to a marble pillar and tapped it to see if it was real or painted (it was real). Now they are looking at their built environment differently and can see the possible careers open to them. As another example, when delivering an event in Paisley the apprentice who was delivering the roof slating demonstration asked me if I had been involved in the event in Perth the year before (which I had). He then said that was the first time he had tried roof slating and he was now an apprentice giving mini-masterclasses to pupils in Paisley, plus local MSPs including the Presiding Officer. There are many good examples

of school pupils pursuing careers in construction after being involved in the programme but the main focus of the events is to ensure those joining the industry make an informed decision. So what can we do going forward? The secret is to look for areas we agree on. This was easy with COVID-19 and the industry going into lockdown as all efforts were focused on representing industry and providing guidance. When we come out the other side, will we still be able to find areas of agreement in priorities and desired outcomes? There are numerous other such examples where we can work together for the benefit of the whole industry and the challenge is to identify areas we agree on and desired outcomes. Once you get momentum, it gets easier. For example, when we delivered

an event outside the Scottish Parliament, the first time we asked for the space the MSP we approached to sponsor it said yes but didn’t think we would be allowed. After three months of discussions with the parliament to outline what we were going to deliver and get approval, they said yes. The next year, it only took one week and at the end of the event they said they were looking forward to seeing us next year! The Parliamentary Events Team has been fantastic in working with us to allow us to run these events within the restrictions which the venue requires. These events only work because a common goal is agreed at the outset. We spread the considerable work between many partners and deliver a tangible output – something I think we can all strive for. CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS INSPECTION AND TESTING

By Bob Cairney I Eng MIET Technical Standards Adviser, SELECT

t’s perhaps premature to speculate about what the future may hold, given that we don’t know the potential impact of the many restrictions imposed on us over the last ten weeks or so. But one thing is certain – to continue trading, any business which had to close will have to reopen again sometime. The range of businesses which closed in March included bars, cafes, cinemas, construction sites, gyms, sport facilities, hotels, office blocks, retail outlets, schools, colleges and universities. From a safety perspective, these closures should ideally have been done in an organised manner with an orderly shutdown of all mechanical and electrical services. While this may have happened in smaller premises, it may not have been possible in larger workplaces, such as construction sites, where machinery and plant could simply have been switched off and the gates locked. Therefore, as restrictions are eased and businesses begin to plan their return, it’s vital to plan for how to work safely across the board.

Health and safety responsibilities

Those responsible for the ongoing safety of premises should ensure that adequate checks and maintenance are carried out before opening up again, especially where the premises have been closed for a significant period. This will help to ensure that the premises are safe not 28

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Testing the water before taking the plunge For anyone considering a return to work, it’s vital to carry out proper inspection and testing of any electrical equipment that may have been sitting idle during the pandemic only for employees, but also for visitors and the general public. The safety of these premises will largely depend on the condition that the workplace was left in prior to the forced closure and how the premises have been maintained previously. Those with responsibility are duty holders and really should already have been aware of the need to comply with relevant HSE legislation, such as Regulation 4 (2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which requires that those responsible for the safety of the electrical systems ensure that suitable maintenance is carried out to prevent danger as far as is reasonably practicable.

Electrical maintenance and inspection and testing

To comply with these and other requirements, suitable maintenance procedures should be in place with regard to premises and workplaces, including routine checks and regular

inspection and testing of the fixed wiring of the electrical installation and the equipment connected to it. Routine checks and regular inspection and testing are a recommended part of preventative maintenance because they can help identify damage, deterioration, defects and dangerous conditions and maintenance that may be required. The duty holder can then take action to organise any necessary remedial work, thus keeping their premises safe, operational and compliant with the law. Periodic inspection and testing (PI&T) of the fixed wiring and in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment (ISITEE) is a recommended part of this and commonly undertaken in many workplaces for these reasons. Note: PI&T is not the only option available to a duty holder when establishing an effective management plan for preventative maintenance. Continuous

provided in the IET publication Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing and this provides detailed information of the PI&T process, a list of ‘routine checks’ and a table with suggested recommended initial frequencies of inspection of electrical installations that can be applied for both the routine checks and the inspection and testing of fixed wiring and equipment.

Minimum routine checks

monitoring and maintenance of the installation and all its constituent equipment can also provide an effective method of preventative maintenance where operated by one or more skilled person competent in such work!

Frequency of routine checks, inspection and testing and keeping records

The frequency of routine checks and inspection and testing is an important part of ensuring that preventative maintenance measures implemented are adequate and something that the duty holder should consider carefully. There are however no specific timescales given for such activities in the Electricity at Work Regulations, or in any other statutory legislation, and the decision on what may be appropriate is something that the duty holder will need to establish. This should ideally involve a risk assessment process with the input from other competent persons. For example, where the duty holder adopts a new electrical installation or an addition or alteration to an existing installation, the designer responsible for it should have provided them with a

recommendation for initial PI&T on the Electrical Installation Certificate. Thereafter, for future inspection and testing of the fixed wiring a time interval should be recommended by the inspector undertaking the subsequent PI&T and recorded on the Electrical Installation Condition Report. Note that although the Electricity at Work Regulations do not actually require a record of maintenance to be kept, this is something that is strongly recommended and such records should be kept throughout the lifespan of an installation. These include relevant electrical certification associated with maintenance and repairs such as Electrical Installation Certificates, Electrical Installation Condition Reports and records of the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Where such records are kept, they can be an important source of information for the duty holder when deciding how often routine checks and inspection and testing should be carried out. They would also be useful as a defence in court to demonstrate compliance with the law in the event of prosecution. Some guidance related to what may constitute suitable routine checks and time intervals for inspection and testing is

The suggested routine checks may be all that is necessary before deciding to reopen particular premises. However, the duty holder should also check on the availability of previous records of maintenance including any previous PI&T and ISITEE and take account of the length of time that the premises have actually been closed. It may be that in certain instances it is more appropriate to carry out a full periodic inspection and test, especially if previous records cannot be located or do not exist or the premises have been closed for a significant length of time. In some instances, it may also be that specific insurance company requirements and licensing requirements will require this anyway.

Other considerations

Although the initial frequencies given in Table 3.2 (see page 30) often form the basis for the time intervals given by installation designers – and are commonly applied by the duty holder for initial routine checks or inspection and testing of premises – remember this is only a recommendation and not necessarily the whole picture or consideration to ensure that the premises are in safe condition. The decision on what is appropriate for future inspection and testing should also include consideration of the following: ● Who will be using the installation or equipment, e.g. ordinary persons, children, people with disabilities, instructed persons or skilled persons? ● How old is the installation or equipment and what condition is it in? ● What is its frequency of operation? ● Are there any specific maintenance requirements, e.g. those given in manufacturer’s instructions and any necessary for maintaining the Continued on page 30 >>> CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS INSPECTION AND TESTING >>> Continued from page 29

Suggested routine checks, based on Table 3.1 in IET Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing

warranty conditions? ● What type of appliances or equipment are in use, i.e. handheld, portable, fixed, etc? ● What is the construction class of the connected equipment, e.g. Class I? ● Is the installation or equipment suitable for the environment where it is being used, e.g. IP ratings suitable? ● How is the equipment connected to the fixed wiring, e.g. BS 1363 or BS EN 60309 plug and socket-outlet, BS 1363-4 fused connection unit, BS EN 60947-3 isolation switch or switch fuse, etc?

Activity

Check

Defects reports

All reported defects have been rectified

Inspection

Look for: ● Breakages ● Wear/deterioration ● Signs of overheating ● Missing parts (covers, screws) ● Loose fixings Confirm: ● Switchgear accessible (not obstructed) ● Doors of enclosures secure ● Adequate labelling in place

Operation

Connected equipment

It should also be highlighted with specific regard to any equipment connected to the fixed wiring that, although it is subjected to the inspection processes given in Chapter 64 of BS 7671:2018 when it is part of a new electrical installation, no specific tests are carried out on it with reliance for safety and proper functioning normally implied by following manufacturer’s instructions and compliance with the appropriate product standard, manufacturer’s type testing and ultimately compliance with the European Low Voltage Directive (CE mark). Where equipment has been in service for some time, as in existing premises,

Operate: ● Switchgear (where reasonable) ● Equipment – switch on and off ● RCDs (use test button)

the advice given in the IET publication code of practice for ISITEE would be more appropriate and should be followed. This also provides guidance on the initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment as shown in the extract from Table 7.1 shown on the opposite page. For subsequent inspection and testing of such equipment, the advice is again that the duty holder should risk assess the frequency of how often the equipment is inspected and tested. It may also be useful to duty holders

Recommended initial frequencies of inspection of electrical installations, based on Table 3.2 in IET Guidance Note 3 Inspection & Testing

Type of installation

Routine check

Maximum period between inspection & testing

Educational establishments (schools and colleges)

6 months

5 years

Offices

1 year

5 years

Retail outlets (shops)

1 year

5 years

Cinemas

1 year

1-3 years

Churches

1 year

5 years

Leisure complexes (excluding swimming pools)

1 year

3 years

Restaurants and hotels

1 year

5 years

Theatres

1 year

3 years

Public houses (bars and pubs)

1 year

5 years

Construction site installations

3 months

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to remind them that the inspection and testing of permanently connected current-using equipment often falls between the gaps of PI&T and ISITEE and is often overlooked. Duty holders should be aware of this when organising inspection and testing as part of the preventative maintenance procedures to be implemented and ensure that a clear scope for the inspection and testing regime is set out so that those carrying out PI&T and ISITEE clearly understand what is to be inspected and tested. Note: Permanently connected currentusing equipment being equipment that is connected directly to the fixed wiring through a connection unit or isolation switch or similar. Typical examples include air conditioning equipment, immersion heaters, luminaires, machinery in a workshop and storage heaters - the list of equipment is not exhaustive!

Conclusion

Where adequate preventative maintenance measures have been in use within the premises to be re-opened and the duty holder has previous records of PI&T and ISITEE available, it may be that minimal routine checks are all that are necessary. However, this may not always be applicable if work was being carried

Guidance on the initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment, based on Table 7.1 in the IET publication code of practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (4th Edition)

User checks Equipment environment

Type of equipment

S 1 Construction sites 110 V equipment

2 Industrial including commercial kitchens

3 Equipment used by the public

4 Schools

5 Hotels

6 Oﬃces and shops

Class I Formal visual inspection

Class II Combined inspection and testing

Formal visual inspection

Combined inspection and testing

Not recorded unless a fault is found

Recorded

none

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

N/A

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

weekly

none

24 months

none

24 months

weekly

none

24 months

none

24 months

before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

24 months

before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

12 months

before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

12 months

3 months

12 months

24 months

12 months

48 months

weekly

monthly

12 months

24 months

weekly

monthly

12 months

24 months

weekly

6 months

12 months

before use

weekly

6 months

12 months

before use

weekly

6 months

12 months

weekly

12 months

36 months

12 months

36 months

weekly

none

12 months

48 months

weekly

none

12 months

48 months

weekly

6 months

12 months

48 months

weekly

6 months

12 months

48 months

before use

6 months

12months

12 months

48 months

weekly

12 months

36 months

12 months

48 months

none

24 months

60 months

24 months

none

24 months

60 months

24 months

none

weekly

12 months

24 months

none

weekly

12 months

24 months

none

before use

12 months

24 months

12 months

none

weekly

24 months

48 months

24 months

none

24 months

60 months

24 months

none

24 months

60 months

24 months

none

weekly

12 months

24 months

none

weekly

12 months

24 months

none

before use

12 months

24 months

12 months

none

3 months

24 months

48 months

24 months

none

out on the electrical installation in parts of such premises at the time of closure. It would also not be applicable to electrical installations and equipment in more hazardous environments, such as those on a construction site, which by nature may

change from day to day and the site conditions prevalent at the time. Certainly where the premises to be re-opened do not have a history of adequate maintenance and no record of previous PI&T and ISITEE exists, it would be recommended that duty

holders consider implementing more extensive inspection and testing procedures to identify any issues. This should ensure that when employees do return to work that the new normal includes a workplace which is safe and ready for use. CABLEtalk

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CORONAVIRUS LEGAL MATTERS

Will construction be weighed down with disputes? Delayed or cancelled projects, insolvent subcontractors and huge extra costs for restarting work – lockdown could lead to a tangle of legal wrangles across construction

By Professor Rudi Klein SEC Group CEO and Barrister

t the time of writing this, the majority of construction sites in Scotland are still closed due to concerns over the safety of the workforce – but by the time you read this, that may well have changed. It’s been interesting to see the different ways that the disparate parts of the UK have dealt with the pandemic when it comes to construction. The Scottish Government insisted that all sites close, unless a particular activity supported one or more of 13 essential services, such as health, energy, transport, food and water. The Welsh Assembly went one further by introducing specific legal obligations on distancing. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Wales) Regulations 2020 imposed a legal duty on those managing workplaces to take all “reasonable measures” to maintain social distancing, 32

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enforced by the police and local authority personnel. Down south it was rather different of course, with many sites remaining wholly or partly open with social distancing rules applied, seemingly driven by the UK Government’s desire not to weaken further the already parlous state of construction company balance sheets.

Ending the lockdown

As thoughts turn to ending the lockdown – or having a phased return – many firms are anxious over payment and possible liability for disruption and/or delay to their works. SELECT is among those who have once again implored the industry to improve its behaviour so that outstanding payments are promptly discharged and claims or counterclaims arising from the lockdown are avoided. It remains to be seen whether this kind of exhortation alone will have any impact. In relation to disruption and/or delay disputes, the term ‘force majeure’ has been bandied about as the get-out-of-jail card. Contracts from the Scottish Building Contracts Committee (SBCC) include it as a “relevant event” giving rise to an extension of time, but it is not defined and doesn’t have a settled meaning. The reference to it in SBCC

contracts may not help at all. By way of example, in British Electrical & Associated Industries (Cardiff) Ltd vs Patley Pressings Ltd (1953) a contract for the supply of steel was subject to “force majeure conditions”. Those words were held to be too uncertain to enable enforcement of the relevant clause. The better approach is in NEC4 clause 60.1 (19). An event stopping completion of the whole of the works (or stopping the whole of the works by the date for planned completion shown on the accepted programme) qualifies as a “compensation event”. Such an event could not have been preventable and would have been considered by the contractor at the contract date to be highly unlikely. The real difficulty is that force majeure-type clauses will not exist in most contracts, which are either bespoke contracts or amended standard contracts. In practice, most firms will be left high and dry.

Payments and possible PBAs

On payment, the Cabinet Office has advised that contracting authorities consider using project bank accounts (PBAs) and the early release of cash retentions, unless there are apparent defects that are not minimal. It has not

considered how this can be enforced along the supply chain and seems unaware of the UK Government’s policy that PBAs must be used unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. Recent advice published by the Scottish Government goes further: Public bodies should consider direct payments to subcontractors in the event of failure of a Tier 1 contractor to discharge payments. There is a possible option in the event that we and other sectors become bogged down in disputes that will hinder the recovery process: The UK Government could consider using the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Under this, a senior minister can introduce regulations where an emergency is about to occur, is occurring or has occurred to mitigate or control an aspect or effect of the emergency where the need to do so is urgent. In principle, such regulations could be drafted to suspend indefinitely claims and counterclaims directly due to the lockdown and even require the immediate settlement of debts incurred prior to and during the lockdown. Much will depend on the extent to which the economy is convulsed by contract disputes arising out of the lockdown. Most firms will now want to focus on their exit strategies from the current nightmare. The landscape they will face will be littered with prematurely terminated contracts, huge storage costs, payers on the brink of insolvency and significant remobilisation costs. Drawing all this together in order to recalibrate business priorities will be a daunting prospect, especially for SMEs. But, even now, firms are still bidding for future work. When signing off contracts they will need to consider protecting themselves in the event of continued interruption to supplies or inability to resource work as a result of employees having been laid off. Article reproduced by kind permission of www.building.co.uk For advice on contract issues, please contact SELECT on 0141 445 5577 or email memberservices@select.org.uk

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CORONAVIRUS COMMERCIAL ISSUES

Don’t get taken for a ride

The past ten weeks have been a rollercoaster for contractors – which is why it’s vital to check your contracts and flag up any issues with late payments and poor practice

financial pressures until the industry gets up to full capacity, but that might not be until 2021. So please allow me to give you some thoughts on what I think the future holds until then.

We all need to work smarter

By Len Bunton

FRICS FCIArb, HON FRIAS

SEC Group Scotland

hen I wrote my last article for CABLEtalk back in early March, I had no idea what the weeks and months ahead would bring, and since then it’s been a daily rollercoaster for us all. As SELECT Members read this, I expect some of you will be back at work in the new world we all now face, and on the commercial and domestic side will be dealing with the re-negotiation of contracts and site operating procedures (SOPs). There’s no doubt there will be huge

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When you get back on site there will be an impact on productivity – the public sector in particular is under pressure to treat people fairly and to be reasonable over the additional costs that will be involved. If you encounter any issues with unfair and shoddy practice and poor payers, then PLEASE contact SELECT as soon as possible. Even better – don’t work for poor payers in the first place. It might sound strange in the current climate, but I have several clients who have now told large contractors that they won’t tender to them again. It’s far from clear if the industry will have a forward workbook, and there’s pressure on the Scottish Government and the public sector to bring projects forward and get them out to tender. But let us be clear – it’s going to be tough, and you’ll need to be smarter moving forward. More than ever before, it’s important to closely read every sub-contract, get your applications for payment in on time, provide all the detail you can – and chase, chase and chase again for payment. The industry reputation on quality is extremely poor, which is why there’s a great reluctance from the public sector to get rid of retentions. Therefore, it’s up to you contractors to produce the right

quality – so up your game. As we all know, shoddy workmanship equals no payment, while top quality workmanship leads to more good quality projects. So now more than ever, ensure you leave a defect-free project at completion so there are no excuses to withhold payment.

Help is at hand

If you do encounter issues with cashflow or other contractual disputes, there are two avenues which may help you. As you may know, the Low-Cost Value Adjudication Scheme was introduced earlier this year. It deals with disputes between £2,000 and £50,000 and because there are fixed fees for the adjudicator, costs won’t run away. Secondly, there’s the new Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) where if contentious issues arise on a project, the parties can call in an experienced industry person to help the parties resolve issues. This is working very effectively. You’ll find details of both of the above on the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum website, which brings me on to…

A first in 40 years

Elsewhere in this issue you’ll have read about the CICV Forum, and I wanted to pay tribute to its impact and to the significant role that SELECT has paid in it.

After a germ of an idea in March, the Forum has now brought nearly 80 construction bodies under one umbrella, all working in harmony to try to save the industry and, at a local level, protect their members and their businesses. For the first time in my 40 years in the industry, I’m seeing all organisations pulling together in the same direction towards the same goal. It’s been quite something to be part of – and it’s also clear that the Scottish Government has recognised its influence and is listening. We’ve been flat out these last eight weeks dealing with an incredible number of issues and the results can now be seen at www.cicvforum.co.uk – take a look and you’ll find some excellent guidance and useful links. I must pay tribute to Alan Wilson, SELECT Managing Director, who has stepped up to the plate and acted magnificently as Chair of the Forum. A tip of the hat also to Iain Mason, SELECT Director of Communications and a genius of organisation and presentation, and SELECT Specifier and Client Relations Manager Yvonne Wilson, the Forum’s tireless and unflappable planning manager. I must also pay a tribute to Fiona Hodgson, the CEO of SNIPEF, who’s also been an inspiration and a delight to work with. It’s been very special to work closely with such marvellous people and the other wider organisations involved with the Forum. I just hope that it stays together after the pandemic subsides. The bodies involved have worked together brilliantly to share thoughts, problems and solutions – we can’t afford to lose that and revert to the old Scottish construction way of being insular and self-centred. While I cross my fingers, please stay tough, work hard, stay together, save your businesses, save the Scottish construction industry and – above all – stay safe.

I’ve already helped a number of SELECT Members who were struggling to get paid and achieved some good results. If you need advice on payments, please contact SELECT on 0141 445 5577 or email memberservices@select.org.uk

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FEATURES MEMBER ASSESSMENT

Power trip Our Technical Advisers travel far and wide to carry out their assessments, but one SELECT expert went above and beyond before the lockdown with a 400-mile round journey to inspect a Member’s work at the remote Mull of Kintyre lighthouse By Darren Sweeney, SELECT Technical Adviser

s part of the criteria for SELECT membership, Technical Advisers are required to carry out periodic assessments of Members and their work. While scheduling such an assessment with Wullie McMaster of McMaster Electrical, he asked if I wanted to inspect a recently refurbished installation. The only catch?

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It was six hours from SELECT HQ. And it was a lighthouse. Always up for a challenge, we duly discussed the requirements with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and set a date to travel the 200-plus miles from The Walled Garden to the Mull of Kintyre. After a morning of reports and IET documentation, I set off at 2pm, chasing the setting sun in the west – a task made more difficult with the closure of the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83. A diversion via Callander, Crianlarich and Inveraray meant the winter sun

Darren se on his jou ts oﬀ rney

had vanished by the time I reached my overnight stop in Campbeltown, 16 miles away from my first-ever lighthouse inspection.

A stormy start

The next morning I meandered south to meet Wullie, who told me that a storm was currently lashing the west side of the famous peninsula – exactly where we were heading. After driving in convoy towards the lighthouse, Wullie suggested I join him in his car for the last 1.5 miles. Any perceived slight at my driving soon

Crianlarich

The route from SELECT HQ Inveraray

Callander

The Walled Garden

reaches Darren tination his des

Campbeltown

Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse

vanished as we inched down the steep and narrow track – suddenly I was glad I’d left the SELECT motor behind. By now the wind was so strong it was blowing the water up out of the potholes, but through the spray the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse appeared below us, perched on cliffs 240ft above the waves. Once we stopped, even opening the main gate required a risk assessment before we tried it. As we carefully nudged our way inside, I thought:

Darren, left, with Wullie

ILLUMINATING HISTORY The Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse was built in the 18th century by Thomas Smith. Construction took 22 months, with the first light beaming across the waves on the night of 1 November 1788. In his book, The World’s Lighthouses Before 1820, D Alan Stevenson wrote: “This lighthouse was erected 240ft above the sea and inaccessible from it, but the rocky and desolate interior of Cantyre peninsula made the site

scarcely more accessible by land. Materials and stores had to be landed by boat six miles away and taken on horseback over the mountain. A journey from landing-place to lighthouse represented one day’s work.” Rebuilt between 1821 and 1830, the lighthouse was equipped with a fog signal in 1876. In 1906 the light was altered from a fixed to a flashing beacon and the power increased from 8,000

‘If it’s like this for us, how was it done with donkeys and carts in 1788, when the lighthouse was built?’ Finally, we opened the heavy doors to the tower and took shelter from the

to 281,000 candlepower. In 1976 the light was changed to electric and the candlepower increased to 1,575,000, by using a 3.5kW electric filament lamp light source with catadioptric lens driven by duplicate electric motors. The lighthouse was automated in 1996, with the light source changed to a 250W multi vapour lamp, allowing full service to be maintained by backup batteries during any mains failures.

gale, where, for the first time in half an hour, Wullie and I were able to talk without shouting to be heard.

The lighthouse life

Wullie told me he began working on lighthouses in the late 1980s and after steadily working up from smaller projects, McMaster Electrical have now been involved in lighthouse refurbishments since 2015. For the Mull of Kintyre project, the installation was done to BS 7671 but NLB specification meant it went way beyond the requirements most of us are aware of, with Wullie and his team living at the lighthouse during the works. Throw in the little matter of DC requirements, battery charging and Continued on page 38 >>> CABLEtalk

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FEATURES MEMBER ASSESSMENT >>> Continued from page 37

storage, emergency lighting and the two keepers’ cottages wired in FP for final circuits to discourage any curious wildlife, and it was clear there was going to be plenty for me to inspect. Starting with a thorough tour of the impressive 40ft high structure, Wullie explained that working at such remote spots brings its own logistical challenges. He told me: “Refurbishments are time consuming – it takes around eight weeks to turn around a lighthouse for a full infrastructure upgrade all the way from main panel boards and sub distribution to final circuits. Within that there’s control cabling, back-up DC, battery charging, security alarms and fire detection and alarm – not to mention state-of-the-art LED lights. “We use a whole breadth of installation practices on each lighthouse. One installation alone requires a huge amount of stainless steel tray work, steelwork armour, AC/DC circuits and so on. “This has a knock-on effect with the type of drill bits we use and even things like marine grade screws – there’s always lots to think about. “When it comes to other materials, everything needs to be planned and packed beforehand, from internal and external paint to doors and even concrete if required. And there’s no wholesaler around the corner if we forget something.”

Darren with the new lamp

PROTECTION AT SEA The Northern Lighthouse Board has provided a vital safety service to mariners since 1786. It is responsible for the superintendence and management of all lights, buoys and beacons within Scottish and Isle of Man waters. NLB’s service makes a significant contribution to the prevention of accidents and incidents 38

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around the coastline, safeguarding not only lives and property, but also protecting our precious marine environment. NLB currently operates and maintains 206 lighthouses and 170 buoys as well as providing radio aids to navigation (AtoN). It is also

JUNE/JULY 2020

responsible for ensuring that other AtoN providers in the area, such as port authorities, conform to international standards. NLB operates two ships to carry out buoy work, deliver supplies and inspect navigation aids on rigs.

Flying visits

As we continued the assessment, Wullie explained how electrical installation in this type of safety-critical building has come on in leaps and bounds from the early candle-powered days. But while technology may have transformed some things, the age-old challenge of logistics still remains. “As you can imagine, the implications for this type of work are massive,” he said. “We usually use helicopters to reach the most remote lighthouses which aren’t accessible by road. If the weather is bad and the helicopters can’t operate, we use a ship which is loaded in Oban and then oﬄoaded at the lighthouse by helicopter once the weather allows it. “Our guys also live on this ship while they’re working and are flown back and forth to the lighthouse. Because of this, they all undergo emergency training, including procedures for ditching at sea and using the appropriate survival suits in case of such a manoeuvre.” He added: “For the time they’re on the refurbishment, the guys live for the job. At Mull of Kintyre, they were lucky enough to have the cottages to stay in, but at others they can’t get the van close enough and there’s a half-hour walk to and from the lighthouse – hard going after a 12-hour shift. “But the guys really enjoy the work – it’s different to anything else and they see some interesting parts of the country that a lot of people will never see.” But surely there must be some hairy moments too? Wullie paused for a moment and then smiled. “I remember being on the Bell Rock in the middle of the North Sea when a storm struck,” he said. “The tower was shuddering as the waves pounded it and I was thinking, ‘This could be the end’ but then I realised it had been standing for more than 200 years so it probably wasn’t going to fall down just yet!”

Value of membership

As we looked out across the chilly waters, Wullie reflected on how he’s now worked on remote lighthouses of all sizes around Scotland, from the 40m-high giants down to the smallest here at Mull of Kintyre. Other projects

FACTS & FIGURES

1788 91 year established

elevation in metres

The old light still remains inside the structure

have included the infamous Flannan Isles Lighthouse in the Hebrides, where three keepers vanished in 1900 with their table still set for dinner. Conspiracy theorists claim everything from aliens to pirates were responsible for their disappearance, but most think they were swept away by a huge wave, possibly while trying to help each other. Their bodies were never found. Less of a mystery is how being a SELECT Member helps Wullie and his team keep performing this invaluable work around the coastline of Scotland. “Being a Member of SELECT definitely helps us, as the NLB put their staff through inspection and testing training too,” he said. “TRAC Engineering, who are the main contractors, wouldn’t accept McMasters unless we were Members of SELECT.”

Homeward bound

With our assessment successfully completed and no issues found, NLB’s Retained Lighthouse Keeper (RLK) suddenly arrived to carry out some routine checks of his own and make sure that we were okay. His appearance allowed Wullie to ask a favour – to drive me back up the cliff

range in nautical miles

tower height in metres Darren had plenty to inspect on site

steps to top of tower

Satnav shows the route home

to civilisation, and my car, while he finished off his work in the lighthouse. Leaving Wullie to make sure the candles keep burning, the RLK duly

escorted me back, with his knowledge of the road proving invaluable. His top tip? “Keep it in second all the way, even on the tightest switchback.” From there, the trusty satnav said it would be more than five hours to Edinburgh. Timing was everything as my next appointment was a meeting of the Edinburgh Electrical Society at 6:30pm. Thankfully I made it – just in time for my second illuminating engagement of the day. CABLEtalk

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APPRENTICES FICA ANIMATION

Screen test A new animation by SELECT and the SJIB gives an engaging overview of the FICA – and has been released just as assessment centres prepare to reopen their doors to the next generation of electrical professionals

By Iain Mason Director of Membership & Communications

ELECT and the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) have again worked together to develop an eye-catching animation – this time shining the spotlight on the Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA). As apprentices across Scotland once again consider picking up their tools – and their books – the two-minute film gives an overview of exactly what the important assessment entails. From preparing a pre-FICA checklist to what to expect on the day itself, the animation gives a step-by-step overview, preparing apprentices for what awaits them at the ultimate stage of the electrical training programme. SELECT’s Director of Employment and Skills, Fiona Harper, said: “This new animation takes candidates through the many practical steps which are necessary to approach and successfully complete the FICA, with all the professional benefits that the qualification brings. 40

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“It’s crucial that we attract the best young people possible to the electrical industry”

WATCH THE NEW ANIMATION AT BIT.LY/FICA_FILM

“Like our previous animation, it is easy to follow, engaging and informative, and explains the procedures clearly, giving an excellent idea of what is required of the young people who sign up for this rewarding career.” First established in 1998, FICA is part of the SJIB’s modern apprenticeship programme, which leads to an SVQ (SCQF 7) qualification. Held at three testing centres across Scotland, the challenging two-day assessment is made up of practical and complex electrical installation tasks, which must be completed against the clock. Fiona, who is also The Secretary of the SJIB, added: “The FICA can often seem quite daunting to the candidates, so this animation is designed to offer clarity and reassurance and show exactly what awaits them at this stage of their career.” The new animation follows the successful rollout of Journey of an Electrician, which was developed by SELECT and SJIB and released in April 2019. Once again created by the animation team at Connect Communications, it will now be hosted on the SELECT and SJIB websites, as well as being shown in schools, colleges and trade fairs to give would-be electricians an idea of what the assessment entails. Fiona said: “Scotland currently faces a skills challenge, with recruiting an issue in particular, so it’s crucial that we attract the best young people possible to the electrical industry. “Initiatives such as this animation, which can be screened at events and conferences to explain career choices, will have a hugely beneficial effect.” CABLEtalk

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APPRENTICES APPRENTICE INTERVIEW

Better latte than never

NAME: Kamilla Zajac AGE: 28 POSITION: Second stage apprentice WORKS: Castle Rock Housing Association ATTENDS: Edinburgh College

In the first of a new series, Talent of Tomorrow, we meet the former coffee shop manager who escaped the daily grind to become an electrical apprentice – and now wants to make a stir in the world of property Hi Kamilla, when did you first think you’d like to become an electrician? I grew up in Poland where my dad was a car mechanic so I was always around tools. However, there’s a real stigma towards trades in Poland – you’re almost seen as too stupid to go to university. Originally, when I came over to Scotland I studied business management then went into retail management, managing a Costa Coffee shop. However, I wanted more of a challenge and had always wanted to own properties so learning a trade made sense – even though it meant taking a massive pay cut.

Was it diﬃcult to get an apprenticeship?

I looked at various company and agency websites and saw that Castle Rock was looking for apprentices so I went for an interview and was offered a place. I really enjoy working in a housing association; every day is different and you definitely feel that you’re helping people.

Was the college training what you expected? 42

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The first stage was relatively easy and relaxed and I found that we had plenty of time for written work, but there was a lot more pressure in the second stage!

What do you enjoy most about college? Is anything challenging?

I loved the workshop during my first stage – my job is mostly repairs and small installations so I gained a lot of experience and picked up things that I now do on site. The second stage felt very intense by comparison, but I enjoyed the science aspect as I like to know how everything works. Site organisation wasn’t so much fun! And if I’m honest, I would have preferred a little more time – it went very quickly and I would have liked more practical tasks and some site visits to see different systems. But I’m very happy with how it’s all turned out.

How about on site?

I have a great job – working for Castle Rock is amazing and I’m treated really well. I like that I’m trusted to make decisions and am part of the conversation, and I also like the variety

“I have a great job where I’m part of the conversation and I’m trusted with decisions”

of work and being able to do a bit of everything, not just minor repairs. For example, I was recently put on a project to install fire alarm systems and emergency lighting, which I really enjoyed. It was good to be in the same place for the week and plan my day because my usual role is responsive work, like a broken shower fan or satellite dish. Lots of our tenants are older or have disabilities, so there’s a great deal of job satisfaction in being able to make a difference by doing relatively simple things. I’m always amazed that people are so grateful to me for just doing my job. Tenants are always really glad to see you and there’s always lots of cups of tea and biscuits!

So how can we encourage more women to become electricians?

The information should start in primary schools to encourage everyone, not just girls, as there are loads of benefits. The electrical industry is really exciting and there’s nothing I don’t like – the job has meaning rather than just hitting targets. I know that being an electrician could appeal to women as long as they really want to do it.

How helpful has the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) been during your journey?

VIEW FROM THE TOP “I originally asked Kamilla to come along to a Women into Construction event, which unfortunately was cancelled. However, we agreed to meet up later and I found her an inspiration to anyone wanting to become an electrician. It was clear that she has passion and commitment to doing her job well. It was a pleasure to see her again recently and listen first-hand to what she thought about all aspects of her training.” Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT

I like having SECTT as my ‘safety net’ – I always know I can contact them if I need advice or am unsure about anything. Their experts are always really helpful and knowledgeable.

And finally, what does the future hold?

I believe the way forward is battery storage and electrical vehicle charging – that’s definitely the direction of travel for qualified electricians. On a personal note, I’ve bought three properties with my partner and we now rent out two – doing the first one was a huge learning curve! SECTT manages high-quality training on behalf of the Scottish Joint Industry Board. To find out more about its work call 0131 445 5659, email admin@sectt.org.uk or visit www.sectt.org.uk

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JUNE/JULY 2020

Keep up to date with SELECT Follow our website www.select.org.uk and social media channels for the latest developments during this unprecedented time

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our guide to the latest 1 SMART ELECTRICAL APPS FOR SMART ELECTRICIANS Does trying to remember complex electrical calculations give you a headache or do you get frustrated hunting for that electrical chart? Now there’s a smarter solution. Smart electrical apps are designed to assist with the day-to-day needs of an electrician, electrical maintenance engineer or anyone working within the electrical industry. Here, we list a few of the best electrical apps from Pro Certs Software. Max Zs Values: Look up the maximum Zs value of fuses,

MCBs and RCBOs. The latest 2020 version also includes some 60947-2 MCCB charts. This handy app also includes a few Zs related calculators, such as disconnection times or Zs values for RCDs in TT earthing systems. Cable Calc: Carry out an instant cable size calculation on the go. This new version for 2020 includes an enhanced verification database and calculation hints as well as the ability to print the cable calculation results. Pro Certs: Electrical certification software. Produce customisable professional electrical installation certificates, minor works certs and electrical installation condition reports.

2 COOL COMFORT IN SNICKERS SHORTS

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JUNE/JULY 2020

Fabric, functionality and fit are hallmarks of Snickers Workwear, and it’s the innovation and fabric technology in the new Stretch Shorts for men and women that really set them apart. The AllroundWork and FLEXIWork shorts are great for working in the warmer months. Delivering superior ﬂexibility and comfort, these lightweight work shorts come in a body-mapping design and a range of colours. They’re made from a self-ventilating stretch fabric and packed with comfort and functionality so they’re perfect for the fast-paced professional. Designed for tradesmen and women who rely on their gear in demanding environments, Snickers Workwear shorts are a must for everyone who wants the

ultimate in cool comfort. For more information, visit the website at www. snickersworkwear.co.uk email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk or call the Hultafors Group Helpline on 01484 854 788.

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