HSE International Issue 100

Health, Safety & Environment Worldwide

ISSUE 100 JAN / FEB 2016

PLATINUM FACILITIES & Maintenance Services Ltd

ROSPA AWARDS 2015 REVIEW

A lso including: IOSH • Lancaster Universit y • NEBOSH • One Stop Hire Ltd • Sk yfor m Scotland Ltd

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Contents: January / February 2016

Foreword: January / February 2016 In this issues of HSE International:

News:

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NEBOSH:

10

IOSH:

17

Facilities & Property Management:

Lancaster University

20

Energy & Utilities:

20

RenewableUK

28

Skyform Scotland Ltd

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Working at Height:

28

One Stop Hire Ltd

40

I

t gives us great pleasure to present the 100th issue of HSE International Magazine!

Over the course of our existence, we have always strived to promote best practice in the field, sharing knowledge and expertise to help you improve your health and safety record. In order to further this aim, our digital magazine is now free to view online, providing unlimited access to the latest news, views, legislative changes, industry awards coverage and exclusive comment from individuals and organisations at the forefront of successful health, safety and occupational risk management.

We’d like to collectively thank all our clients, contributors and staff, past and present for helping us to achieve this milestone. To celebrate, in this issue we have an exclusive interview with Chris Streatfeild, Director of Health & Safety at RenewableUK. Chris spoke to us about the organisation and its contribution to creating a healthier, safer and more sustainable future.

We are also very pleased to present exclusive content from two organisations at the forefront of the health and safety industry; NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) and IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), respectively.

In our ‘Energy & Utilities’ section we feature RenewableUK members, Skyform Scotland Ltd. We speak to Alan McKerns, HSEQ / Operations Manager about their expertise in the statutory inspection and maintenance of Wind Turbines, Power Access System hire and multiple construction solutions in the Nuclear, Chemical and Offshore industries. In the ‘Facilities & Property Management’ section we take a look at Lancaster University and their unique world-class teaching and research facilities.

Last but not least, we speak to Steve Hitchen, Managing Director at One Stop Hire Ltd in our ‘Working at Height’ section about the history of the business and their goals for the future.

At the time of going to press, we received the tragic news of a major incident following an explosion at Didcot Power Station in Oxfordshire. One person was killed, five others are in hospital and three are missing.

Our thoughts are with the family of the person who has died and the families of those affected by the collapse. This serves as a stark reminder of the fundamental importance of health and safety in our modern world. With your support, we will continue our mission to help reduce workplace accidents and ultimately save people’s lives.

Jonathan Seale Magazine Manager

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HUGE MOROCCAN CONCENTRATED SOLAR PLANT POISED TO BE WORLD’S LARGEST

NEWS

Morocco recently turned on its colossal solar power plant in the Sahara Desert, beginning the first phase of a project that is intended to provide renewable energy to more than a million Moroccans.

SOLAR ROADS TO POWER FRANCE

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France’s minister of Ecology and Energy announced that the country will pave 621 miles of road with solar panels over the next five years, with the goal of providing cheap, renewable energy to five million people.

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For many environmentalists, paving roadways with solar panels sounds like a great idea. Colas says 215 square feet of Wattway will provide enough energy to power a single French home (aside from heating), but some researchers are still skeptical that solar roadways will ever be efficient and cost-effective enough to compete with regular rooftop solar panels.

It will be difficult for photovoltaic glass to compete against the much cheaper asphalt, for example, and rooftop panels are better placed to get the best possible sunlight, researcher Andrew Thomson wrote in The Conversation. He added that if solar roadways prove to be more slippery than traditional roadways, safety concerns could kill the burgeoning technology, regardless of how much power they may put out.

“For solar roadways to be effective, it needs a complete technological rethink,” he wrote.

solar power plants harness the sun’s energy using mirrors to heat water and produce steam that spins energygenerating turbines. By design, the plant is intended to meet peak power needs, providing solar energy from sunrise until a few hours after sun down.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI commissioned the project and recently launched the construction of the second and third phases. The estimated cost for the complete solar plant is 24 billion dirhams (roughly $6.5 billion), according to a news release from Angence Marocaine de Press.

“With this bold step toward a clean energy future, Morocco is pioneering a greener development and developing a cutting edge solar technology,” said Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank Country Director for the Maghreb in a statement. “The returns on this investment will be significant for the country and its people, by enhancing energy security, creating a cleaner environment, and encouraging new industries and job creation.”

For now, French authorities are going ahead with the project, and will start laying down segments of Wattway this coming spring.

HSE INTERNATIONAL

Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/huge-moroccan-concentrated-solar-plant-poised-to-be-worlds-largest/

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Idaho raised more than $2 million through Kickstarter in 2014 and received a two-year contract from the Federal Highway Administration to develop their own solar roadways. However, this is the first time a panel has been designed to be laid directly on top of existing roads and the first project to install the panels on public highways.

Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/solar-roads-to-power-france/

C

alled “the Wattway,” the roads will be built in collaboration with the French road-building company Colas and the National Institute of Solar Energy. The company spent the last five years developing solar panels that are only about a quarter of an inch thick and are hardy enough to stand up to heavy highway traffic without breaking or making the roads more slippery. The panels are also designed so they can be installed directly on top of existing roadways, making them relatively cheap and easy to install without having to tear up any infrastructure.

“There is no need to rebuild infrastructure,” Colas CEO Hervé Le Bouc told Myriam Chauvot of French magazine Les Echoes last year. “At Chambéry and Grenoble, was tested successfully on Wattway a cycle of 1 million vehicles, or 20 years of normal traffic a road, and the surface does not move.”

The panels are made out of a thin polycrystalline silicon film and coated in a layer of resin to strengthen them and make them less slippery. Because the panels are so thin, they can adapt to small changes in the surface of the pavement due to temperature shifts and are sealed tightly against the weather. According to Colas, the panels are even snowplough-proof, although ploughs need to be a little more cautious so as not to rip the panels off the ground.

France isn’t the first country to kick around the idea of paving its roads with solar panels. In November 2015, the Netherlands unveiled a 229-foot-long bike path paved with solar panels as a test for future projects, and a couple in

he plant, dubbed the Noor 1, is located on the edge of the Sahara in a town called Ouarzazate. The plant covers thousands of acres of desert and generates up to 160 megawatts of power, making it already one of the world’s largest solar thermal power plants.

All told, it is comprised of 500,000 solar mirrors divided into 800 glittering rows visible from space, according to a news release.

The massive infrastructure is part of Morocco’s pledge to obtain 42% of its electricity from renewables by the year 2020, along with reducing energy consumption in buildings and transport by 12%. That pledge stems from the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, which was struck in December 2015 with the consent of 195 nations.

By the time future phases of the project, Noor II and Noor III, are completed, the plant will be able to produce 580 megawatts and it will be the largest concentrated solar plant in the world, according to NASA. Concentrated

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oodles Production (UK) Ltd is based in Queen Caroline Street, London, and will appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 12 May 2016 to face four charges.

Mr Ford suffered a broken leg and other injuries when he was struck by a heavy hydraulic metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon. The incident happened on 12 June 2014 at Pinewood Studios.

A spokesman for HSE said: “HSE has today informed Foodles Production (UK) Ltd that it will be prosecuted over four alleged breaches of health and safety law. The charges relate to an incident during filming of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which left Harrison Ford with serious injuries after he was hit by a heavy hydraulic door.

“By law, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers – this is as true on a film set as a factory floor. We have investigated thoroughly and believe that we have sufficient evidence to bring the case to court.”

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd is the company responsible for producing Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens and under health and safety law for managing the risks created during production.

HSE INTERNATIONAL

An Oxford based company has been fined after disturbing asbestos insulation board (AIB) at a school.

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orthampton Magistrates’ Court heard how Amey Communities Limited (ACL) were contracted to carry out roof refurbishment at Lings Primary School, Hayeswood Road, Northampton. During the course of this refurbishment workers from ACL disturbed Asbestos Insulating Board in a small plant room.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident which occurred on 6 November 2014 found failings in ACL’s project management arrangements. They failed to monitor and identify asbestos materials during this specific roof refurbishment work at the school and ensure key personnel had suitable asbestos awareness training.

Amey Community Limited, of Edmund Halley Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,737.

HSE inspector Sam Russell said after the hearing: “The serious health risks of asbestos which is a class one carcinogen are well-known and publicised. Any maintenance or construction work undertaken in buildings built before 2000 must consider and manage the risk of possible asbestos containing materials. It is important this material is considered at every stage of a construction project and failure to do so places workers, buildings occupants and the public at risk to possible exposure to asbestos fibres.”

Chocolate maker Mars has widened its recall of chocolate products to 55 countries.

Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/renewables-conference-hears-about-iso-45001-development/

Source: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2016/hse-to-prosecute-film-company-after-star-wars-incident/

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On Feb 11, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) informed Foodles Production (UK) Ltd that it will be prosecuted over an incident in which actor Harrison Ford was seriously injured during the filming of Star Wars: The Forces Awakens.

MARS WIDENES CHOCOLATE RECALL TO 55 COUNTRIES INCLUDING UK OVER CONTAMINATION FEARS

In the UK, the products affected include funsize Mars and Milky Way bars and certain kinds of boxes of Celebrations.

The recall comes after a customer in Germany found bits of plastic in a Snickers bar in January. The plastic was traced back to the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel in the Netherlands.

A spokesperson for Mars said the recall only involved products manufactured at Veghel. The food giant said it has decided to voluntarily recall some products as a precaution.

The recall covers mostly countries in Europe, does not extend to the US and the products have best before dates from May 2016 to 8 January 2017.

Mars has not said how many bars are affected or how much the recall will cost. A full list of products affected can be found on their website: www.mars.de.

In a statement the company said, “With this recall, we would like to prevent consumers who have purchased one of the above-mentioned products from consuming it.”

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Mars has just confirmed to the FSA that there has been UK distribution of products recalled in the Netherlands and Germany. We are awaiting full distribution details from the company and will publish advice shortly.”

RENEWABLES CONFERENCE HEARS ABOUT ISO 45001 DEVELOPMENT

His presentation was part of a conference session called ‘Technical Standards, Systems and Certification’.

Richard said: “ISO 45001 is the first-ever internationally agreed standard for health and safety management and can help both save lives and build business sustainability.

It needs ‘top management’ commitment and for them to ensure health and safety leadership and competence right across their organisations.”

The event was held on Thursday 28 January at Edgbaston cricket stadium. It was organised by RenewableUK, the UK’s leading renewable energy trade association. It is the 12th year it has been held and is the industry’s only dedicated health and safety event, attracting 200 delegates and 20 exhibitors.

With IOSH being a Category A Liaison body on the project committee for ISO 45001, Richard has represented the institution at a number of meetings.

Earlier this month, ISO 45001 reached the Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, meaning it is out for public consultation.

The standard will apply to organisations across the world. It has greater emphasis on leadership, worker involvement, context and documented information than OHSAS 18001. It also has more focus on continual improvement; hierarchy of control; risk and opportunities; compliance status; supply chain; and KPIs. “Good health and safety management not only helps prevent injury, illness and death – it also enhances reputation, resilience and results,” Richard added.

A new worldwide safety and health management standard will require “top management commitment”, IOSH’s Richard Jones told a major renewables industry conference.

Delegates at RenewableUK Health and Safety 2016 in Birmingham heard how ISO 45001 will impact on their industry when it is published later this year.

Richard Jones, head of policy and public affairs at IOSH, informed them about the background of the standard, which is set to replace OHSAS 18001 in October, as well as its content and some of the implications of its implementation.

HSE INTERNATIONAL

Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/mars-has-widened-a-chocolate-recall-to-55-countries-including-uk/

HSE TO PROSECUTE FILM COMPANY AFTER STAR WARS INCIDENT

COMPANY FINED FOR SAFETY FAILINGS WHEN DEALING WITH ASBESTOS AT A SCHOOL

Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/company-fined-for-safety-failings-when-dealing-with-asbestos-at-a-school/

NEWS

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NEBOSH

Preserving and improving health, safety and the environment in the workplace, worldwide NEBOSH (the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is a charitable organisation and international awarding body first established in the United Kingdom in 1979.

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rom the very beginning, the aim of NEBOSH has been to provide highly respected and relevant vocational qualifications to help improve standards.

A little under 36 years ago, in June 1980, the first ever NEBOSH examinations were taken by only a handful of health and safety professionals in Britain. Since then, NEBOSH has significantly extended its offering, with 16 qualifications in its portfolio that can be taken worldwide, including: • 3 at award level – providing a basic understanding of the subject covered and suitable for all workers.

• 9 at certificate level – offering an excellent foundation for managers, supervisors and anyone starting a career in health and safety.

• 4 at diploma level - professional qualifications that are the equivalent level to a degree. Designed to help students gain the skills and confidence to be successful in this demanding but rewarding field.

Recently, NEBOSH has also added Masters qualifications,

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offered in partnership with the University of Hull, in Health, Safety and Environmental Management.

All NEBOSH qualifications are designed by experts and based on extensive research and consultation with a wide variety of interested parties, including employers, to ensure they are fit for purpose.

NEBOSH now receives almost 200,000 exam registrations each year, with applicants from 125 different countries across the world seeking to hold one of NEBOSH’s health, safety and environmental qualifications.

NEBOSH’s vision is to preserve and improve health, safety and the environment in the workplace, worldwide.

The organisation raises competence in health, safety and environmental management through a framework of qualifications, rigorous awarding procedures and the promotion of high quality education.

Analysis of job opportunities in the UK has consistently revealed that more than 75% of health and safety managers are expected to hold a NEBOSH qualification by employers.

More than half require a professional level qualification such as the NEBOSH Diploma, which is the same level as an Honours degree and is recognised by appropriate professional bodies.

However, health and safety is increasingly regarded as an important skill for all kinds of workers to have; from company directors to construction workers, machine operatives, insurance advisors and more. This is just one of the reasons why the increasingly diverse range of NEBOSH qualifications are so popular and globally respected.

NEBOSH does not deliver training courses itself.

Instead, courses are offered by NEBOSH Accredited Course Providers, of which there are more than 620 situated across 35 different countries. Course Providers deliver the training and education needed to achieve a NEBOSH qualification.

The process of accreditation ensures that the right procedures and resources are in place and importantly, that they meet a standard which maintains the integrity of the NEBOSH assessment process.

NEBOSH has been a UK-recognised awarding body since

2000 and received Approved Awarding Body status from the Scottish Qualifications Authority in 2009. The majority of NEBOSH qualifications are accredited by SQA Accreditation, which is widely recognised as a badge of quality in the UK and increasingly, worldwide.

Qualifications There are currently three different categories of NEBOSH qualification - Award, Certificate and Diploma, plus the Masters qualifications NEBOSH offers in partnership with the University of Hull.

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NEBOSH Awards An Award qualification demonstrates basic understanding of the subject covered and is suitable for workers at all levels of an organization. An Award may be used as an introduction to other higher level NEBOSH qualifications.

NEBOSH offers three Award level qualifications: • NEBOSH Award in Health and Safety at Work • NEBOSH Environmental Awareness at Work Qualification • NEBOSH Award in Safety, Health and Environment for the Process Industries

“Every year NEBOSH Diploma students from around the world gather to celebrate their success”

Employers are particularly attracted to this level of qualification as they help to improve overall health, safety and environmental culture. A significant number of employers have fully integrated these Awards into their training programmes to become mandatory foundation qualifications.

A key benefit for employers is the flexibility of Award course structure and content, which can be tailored to suit different industries and individual workplaces, and therefore have a positive and rapid impact on performance.

The NEBOSH Award in Health and Safety at Work can be taken in five languages; Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish, as well as in English.

Certificates NEBOSH Certificate level qualifications demonstrate broad knowledge of the subject covered and provide an excellent foundation for managers, supervisors and anyone starting a career in health and safety. There are nine NEBOSH Certificate level qualifications: • NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety • NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety • NEBOSH International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety • NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety • NEBOSH International Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management • NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management • NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety • NEBOSH National Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work • NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management For those seeking a long-term career in occupational health and safety, Certificate qualifications offer a progression route towards NEBOSH professional level Diplomas.

Both the NEBOSH National and International General Certificates in Occupational Health and Safety are increasingly viewed as important, core qualifications for general management in the workplace. Interestingly, around 80% of people who undertake a NEBOSH National

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General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety qualification are employed in roles where the primary function is not actually health and safety.

The NEBOSH International General Certificate can be taken in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish, in addition to English.

As well as rigorous examinations, NEBOSH Certificate level qualifications feature practical assessments, designed to help candidates apply their learning at work whilst also adding value for their employers.

Diplomas Diploma level qualifications demonstrate professional knowledge of the subject covered. There are four NEBOSH Diploma qualifications: •

•

• •

NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management NEBOSH Diploma in Regulatory Occupational Health and Safety, designed exclusively for UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors

NEBOSH Diplomas are recognised as the world’s flagship professional qualification for aspiring health and safety professionals. Diplomas are established as being amongst the most popular and highly respected qualifications of their kind, and those who hold them are highly sought after by employers globally. Those who pass a NEBOSH Diploma are entitled to use designatory letters, such as IDipNEBOSH for the NEBOSH International Diploma.

Subsequently, those who hold a Diploma may also qualify for membership of professional bodies, including Graduate membership (Grad IOSH), Chartered membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) and membership of the Institute of Risk and Safety Management (MIIRSM).

Every year, more than two hundred NEBOSH Diploma students travel from around the UK and the world to celebrate their success at a Graduation Ceremony held at Warwick University. In 2015, Diplomates attended from Egypt, India, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Awards are also presented to the best performing candidates for both Certificate and Diploma qualifications at the Annual Graduation Ceremony.

NEBOSH’s partnership with the University of Hull provides Diploma holders with further opportunities for development after their graduation. Six different Masters Degrees in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management subjects are offered by distance learning.

These qualifications have been designed with an emphasis on flexibility, for people in full time work looking to complement their previous NEBOSH Diploma studies.

Achievement Two years ago, Her Majesty the Queen conferred a Queen’s Award for Enterprise upon NEBOSH in recognition of the organisation’s outstanding achievement in International Trade.

NEBOSH is very proud of this achievement; not only

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NEBOSH because the award recognises the incredible international growth the organisation has demonstrated in recent years, but also because it has highlighted how NEBOSH has helped to raise health and safety standards in all corners of the world.

NEBOSH Development Manager, Barry Wilkes commented: “Through our qualifications and the tutorship of our accredited course providers, people throughout the world are not only acquiring vital health, safety and environmental knowledge, they are also learning how to apply this knowledge in a practical sense in their places of work.

“Application of this knowledge leads to many things better standards of safety, improvements in health and fewer risks in the workplace. It protects employers from prosecution, damaged reputations and unnecessary costs.

Most importantly, it can prevent unnecessary injuries at work and ultimately save lives.”

Each year, NEBOSH representatives speak regularly at a wide range of international events and conferences to promote excellence and good practice in health, safety and environmental management. The organisation also works closely with overseas government departments and supports the development of evolving regulatory frameworks. NEBOSH’s charitable rather than commercial status helps in this regard; it is frequently asked to act as a conduit for global networking and the sharing of good practice between governments, as well as for regulatory standards and other relevant bodies.

Barry Wilkes, NEBOSH Development Manager

NEBOSH is currently part of a working group formed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to develop a new ISO Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 45001), which is set to replace OHSAS 18001 from October 2016.

NEBOSH is also a full member of INSHPO (International Network of Safety & Health Practitioner Organisations), a non-profit body which unites professional health and safety practitioner organisations throughout the world to tackle workplace risks. Involvement here has included supporting the production of a global competency framework for the occupational safety and health profession.

“What I’m perhaps most proud of is the way NEBOSH is always regarded as a genuine and rigorous test of vocational knowledge, skills and competence” Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH Chief Executive

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Other charitable activities include ongoing headline sponsorship of the annual Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

Barry Wilkes concluded: “What I’m perhaps most proud of is the way NEBOSH is always regarded as a genuine and rigorous test of vocational knowledge, skills and competence. NEBOSH qualifications are designed by health, safety and environmental experts to encourage a sensible and pragmatic approach to reducing risks in the workplace, which is why our name is so widely respected.

“As a result, we really do make a big difference and this is the true story of our success. Through our qualifications and worldwide network of accredited course providers,

Stuart Naylor, NEBOSH International Manager

we are truly raising standards of safety, improving health, reducing risk in the workplace and improving environmental management.

“What could be more important than saving lives, preventing suffering and preserving the world for future generations?”

For more information about NEBOSH and its qualifications, visit: www.nebosh.org.uk

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ounded in 1945 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 2003, IOSH has more than 44,000 members in 120 countries. There are branches of IOSH across the UK and other parts of the world, including the Caribbean, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Ireland, Qatar, Oman, Singapore and UAE. IOSH also has 16 groups for safety and health specialists in different industry sectors, such as construction and rural industries. Each branch and group meets regularly and hosts a range of activities for their members with industry experts.

IOSH accredits 15,000 training courses across 70 different countries. Around 160,000 people are trained to IOSH standards each year with the help of the Institution’s 2,000 accredited training providers. Whatever your level within an organisation, IOSH’s Leading safely, Managing safely and Working safely courses can help you to build your knowledge and skills in safety and health. In addition, the Institution offers tailored courses for specific industries, job roles and skills.

The Institution is committed to evidence-based practice in workplace safety and health. Through its Research and Development fund it aims to improve safety, health and public wellbeing worldwide, and to discover new ways of furthering its vision and values. IOSH also provides

access to a collection of free guidance and runs a technical information line which helps more than 4,500 people every year. The Institution itself was awarded the Investors in People Core Standard in 2011 and achieved the Silver Standard in 2015.

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IOSH

“IOSH acts as a champion, supporter, adviser, advocate and trainer for safety and health professionals working in organisations of all sizes.”

Our role: Supporting safety and health professionals IOSH acts as a champion, supporter, adviser, advocate and trainer for safety and health professionals working in organisations of all sizes. We give the safety and health profession a consistent, independent, authoritative voice at the highest levels.

Our single-minded focus is to support our members whose job is to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of working people. We share their passion and determination to cut the number of people who die or fall ill because of their work, by helping organisations to create safer, healthier and more sustainable working practices.

What we do: Support, research, advice, training We support our members in a variety of practical and effective ways. We offer online forums, networking events, conferences, exhibitions and helplines to share information, advice, legal guidance and best practice.

We petition governments, advise policy-makers, commission research and set standards. We run highprofile campaigns to promote awareness of the issues that affect safety, health and wellbeing at work – from the causes of cancer to the hazards of dust, from safeguarding mental health to achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Our highly regarded training courses provide essential information, tools and skills for our members and their colleagues, suppliers and customers. Our membership grades are linked to internationally recognised qualifications, with Chartered Membership of IOSH acknowledged worldwide as the hallmark of professional excellence in workplace safety and health.

“Our shared objective is a world where work is safe and healthy for every working person, every day.”

Why we do it: Safer, healthier workplaces We empower our members to ensure that their organisations prioritise the safety, health and wellbeing of their workforce. That’s good for people, but it’s also good for business – strengthening business reputations, resilience and even results.

Our shared objective is a world where work is safe and healthy for every working person, every day.

With this goal in mind, one of our major focuses at present is raising awareness of work-related cancers. IOSH launched the No Time to Lose campaign with the aims to get the causes of occupational cancer better understood and help businesses take action. The initiative sheds light on the subject as a whole, while also providing key information about tackling five of the most common factors associated with work-related cancer registrations and deaths in the UK – asbestos, diesel engine exhaust fumes, silica dust, solar radiation and shift work.

Since the launch, the campaign has gained formal support from more than 120 organisations, including a pledge to take action from 60 businesses across a host of different sectors. More than 40,000 visits have been made to the campaign website, www.notimetolose.org.uk, where more information including free-to-download guidance can be found.

Further details about IOSH can also be found online at www.iosh.co.uk.

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FACILITIES RoSPA AWARDS & PROPERTY 2015:MANAGEMENT: SENTINEL HOUSING LANCASTER ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY

WORLD-CLASS TEACHING AND RESEARCH FACILITIES The roots of Lancaster University stretch back to 1947 when a public meeting in the city endorsed plans to establish a university college. Today, the University is thriving; with UK top ten rankings, a strong employability record and a clutch of awards for its beautiful and increasingly environmentally-sustainable campus.

L

ancaster University has risen to become one of Britain’s top universities with more than 12,000 students and 2500 employees. Its Bailrigg campus has been transformed with £450m investment over the last 10 years and a further £175m will fund further capital programmes over the next three years. The campus offers students and leading academics a busy, urban vibe surrounded by great parkland and sports facilities. It has been awarded the Green Flag for the 4th year running, an award which recognises the best green spaces in the country.

ENGINEERING BUILDING The new purpose-built Engineering building, which opened in January 2015, provides innovative, modern facilities to accompany world-class teaching and research that will prepare and inspire the next generation of engineering talent.

With an eye to the future, the state-of-the-art facility offers additional areas for future growth specialisms in nuclear, energy and chemical engineering. The building has become a magnet for awards, already achieving: • RIBA National Award 2015 • RIBA North West Architect of the Year • RIBA North West Award 2015

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• RIBA North West Sustainability Award • British Construction Industry Award, ‘Building Project of the Year’ The University’s goal is for the Engineering building to achieve the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Outstanding’ rating to reflect current regulations and industry benchmarks, and to raise the bar in terms of building efficiency in line with National Sustainability and Carbon Reduction targets set for 2016 and 2022.

BREEAM is the UK’s leading and most widely-used environmental assessment method for buildings and has become the definitive measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance and the effect it will have on the wider environment.

PHYSICS REFURBISHMENT Work is currently underway on a major refurbishment and modernisation of the University’s Physics building.

The project will create a world-class teaching and working environment that will enhance the public face of the Physics department, originally built in the 1960s.

The refurbishment design brief has been developed through regular consultation with senior academics, researchers, technicians, lecturers, administrative staff and working groups with student representatives.

Plans to upgrade, improve and add to the teaching, learning and working environment for students and staff will also improve the sustainability and accessibility of the building, making use of natural light and ventilation throughout.

As part of the project, all levels of the existing building will be refurbished and a two-storey atrium will be integrated into the scheme.

The project has been carefully phased and managed to minimise disruption to the Physics department and the wider campus and is expected to be complete in Spring 2017.

Reducing impact on the environment Naturally, the Physics refurbishment will also be targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

The key innovative and low impact design features helping the building to achieve this will be: • •

• •

Extensive retention of the original building fabric Upgrade to the external windows and roof to meet current building regulations Extensive natural ventilation Full replacement to mechanical and electrical services including replacement lighting installation and replacement heat emitters

ISOLAB Lancaster University has also begun work on a £2m suite of ultra-low noise laboratories. IsoLab will provide the most advanced environments in the world for the expanding field of quantum technology.

IsoLab will house three isolated laboratory spaces where vibration, noise and electromagnetic disturbance will be drastically reduced to give an “ultra-clean” experimental environment. The building will be embedded in the ground and separated from other buildings to ensure that the three 50-tonne experimental platforms are as completely isolated as possible from the surrounding environment.

These laboratories will allow the operation of the extremely sensitive quantum systems and devices which promise to provide the transformative technology of the future.

They will provide capability and access both for the University and industry in, for example, quantum optics, nano-machinery, quantum encryption, extreme microscopy and also provide the lowest temperatures available for cooling quantum systems.

The project leader is Dr Richard Haley of the Department of Physics.

At a ceremony to celebrate the start of the works, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said: “This unique facility will provide a world-beating environment for modern quantum technology and provide support for this

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FACILITIES & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

“Drawing on the latest research in design for higher education, the new library will respond to the needs of all students and staff both using the resources available today and future-proofed to accommodate future learning styles.” field not only for the University, but also for the northwest region and beyond.”

It has been funded by the University and by substantial contributions from the Wolfson Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the J. P. Moulton Foundation.

A further sum approaching £1m has been awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for the first tranche of equipment and instrumentation.

LIBRARY The University’s original Library building was constructed in 1967 with an extension added in 1997.

The new, library refurbishment project came after 18 months of extensive planning and consultation.

Award-winning architecture and building design company Sheppard Robson led the design team in carrying out the refurbishment.

Throughout the design process, the architects met with a wide range of stakeholders; focus groups took place with students and academics, library, ISS and facilities staff. A dedicated focus group also addressed diversity and equality issues.

The result is a building which looks, feels and operates completely differently.

Work began on the refurbishment at the end of the summer term 2014 and Lancaster University worked hard to keep disruption to a minimum.

The project was completed in January 2016 and Lancaster University now boasts a resource that reinforces and reflects the University’s reputation as a world-class centre for teaching, scholarship and research.

The re-modelled Library offers a flexible, inspiring, technology-enabled environment which is completely unrecognisable against its original design. It now boasts a range of individual and group work spaces to support different learning styles. The building has been designed to maximise natural light and offers a significant increase in power and data provision.

The refurbishment also enhances the user experience by improving wayfinding, ensuring the location and layout of book shelving and services are more intuitive and accessible.

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One of the standout features is a live tree in the main study area which helps to create a calming environment for students and symbolises the green credentials of both the Library and the University.

Alex Solk, Partner from Sheppard Robson added: “It has been a tremendous privilege to partner with Lancaster University to develop proposals to re-generate a Library to meet the expectations of this leading University.

Collaborating with researchers, students, academics and library staff has enabled us to develop a design that will create a step change in the learning offer provided by the Library. Drawing on the latest research in design for higher education, the new library will respond to the needs of all students and staff both using the resources available today and future-proofed to accommodate future learning styles.”

THE SPINE REMODELLING The Spine is the beating heart of the University, a thriving thoroughfare connecting students, staff and visitors to the main locations on campus since the 1960s.

Rick Mather Architects have been appointed to remodel the Spine and, whilst acknowledging the pioneering design provided for the University campus in the 1960s, current proposals focus on the demands and future needs of an inspiring, modern university campus.

The team’s vision involves re-defining The Spine as a sequence of spaces with enlivened building frontages, a series of characterful connecting spaces and interesting diagonal relationships to better connect the campus together.

The project is currently in design and the architects are seeking ideas from students and staff through the ‘Design the Spine’ campaign.

Construction work will start on the Spine Remodelling project in 2016.

REDEVELOPMENT OF LANCASTER UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT SCHOOL Lancaster University Management School is a tripleaccredited, world-ranked management school which features consistently in the UK’s top ten and the world’s top 1% of business schools.

The Management School has earned a global reputation for leading research and teaching excellence, providing a stimulating and supportive environment for students from across the world.

The redevelopment project aims to create a truly worldclass and innovative teaching, research and business engagement environment to cater for the future needs of students, staff and business partners. It is anticipated that the redevelopment will open by the summer of 2019.

Mark Swindlehurst, Director of Facilities at Lancaster University commented: “Lancaster University values the contribution that good design brings to its built environment. We have engaged Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to embrace the challenge of designing a world-class facility. We are keen to explore how recent developments in design across Higher Education and Global Business can combine to create world leading education and workspace environments.”

SPORT LANCASTER Lancaster University opened a brand new £20m Sports Centre in August 2011 featuring the very latest in top-ofthe-range sporting facilities. Located just off the A6, the centre is available to students, staff and to the general public.

The design and development process of the Sports Centre took two years and ensured a high-quality facility with consideration to the surrounding area. The Centre is 30 percent bigger than the University’s previous Centre for Sport and Recreation which was opened in 1967.

Facilities include: a 25-metre swimming pool with 8 lanes including a ‘floating floor’ (to vary the depth of the pool); a climbing wall & bouldering cave (specially designed with input from renowned mountaineer and then University Chancellor Sir Chris Bonington); sauna and steam rooms and a sports hall with 8 badminton courts, 4 squash courts and outdoor changing facilities for field games. There is also a state-of-the art, 100-station gym on two levels.

External facilities include: 8 tennis courts, 3 artificial sports pitches, 5 netball courts, various grass pitches, an artificial cricket wicket, a bowling green and a trim trail.

The University Sports Facilities have been ranked 6th in the UK by the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey and the Sports Centre’s sustainable design credentials have been recognised with the award of a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE Since 2005, Lancaster University has reduced its carbon emissions by 22 percent to 20,403 tC02e in 2014-15 and is aiming to increase this figure to 43% by 2020, in line with Higher Education sector and UK Government targets – as well as those targets set in its own Carbon Management Plan (CMP).

The CMP incorporates a wide range of projects, including the wind turbine, biomass boiler and Combined Heat and Power plant.

The University is one of only 44 institutions that are on track to meet or exceed their 2020 carbon reduction targets set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Lancaster’s electricity usage is the equivalent of powering 10,000 homes and more than a third of this energy is supplied through a wind turbine and the Combined Heat and Power plant.

WIND TURBINE Among several pioneering, carbon reduction projects, Lancaster University’s wind turbine was developed and installed to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.

Demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, Lancaster has been particularly praised for its innovative wind turbine project, which generates approximately 15 percent of the University’s annual electricity consumption, reducing carbon emissions by 2,450 tCO2e per annum. The electricity generated is sufficient to supply the annual demand of 1400 homes.

Planning permission for the turbine was obtained in April 2011 and construction began in February 2012.

Operation began in November 2012, three months ahead of schedule. 

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RoSPA AWARDS FACILITIES & PROPERTY 2015: SENTINEL MANAGEMENT: HOUSING LANCASTER ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY

“Our pioneering approach to sustainability has enabled us to forge a reputation as a sector leader and brought us a clutch of awards which recognise excellence across HE.”

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• • • •

The complex project involved: Construction of a 0.5km access road High-voltage cable connections to the University Excavation and construction of the turbine foundations Delivery and erection of the turbine itself

BIOMASS BOILER The Biomass Boiler burns organic wood chips to generate heat which is then fed into the University’s district heating system. The wood chips are sourced from local, commercial forests, managed on a long-term sustainable basis and within 30 miles of the University.

Installation of the Biomass Boiler commenced in July 2012 in the new Energy Centre. Construction works were completed in late 2012 and the boiler was commissioned in January 2013.

Between 1 August 2013 and 31 July 2014, the 1 MW boiler produced 16% of the campus heating demand and is projected to cut carbon emissions by 950 tCO2e per annum.

COMBINED HEAT AND POWER ENGINE The Combined Heat and Power Engine (CHP) is a gasfired engine that produces heat and electricity and is used to power and heat student residences, lecture theatres and offices across campus, via the district heating system.

Carbon emissions from electricity produced by the CHP

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are approximately half of those from electricity taken from the grid, whilst the cost of electricity from the CHP is also significantly lower than that from the grid.

The CHP supplied 28% of the University’s annual electricity consumption in 2013-14, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 2,000 tCO2e per annum; enough electricity to supply 1755 houses for one year.

Overall, the CHP supplies approximately 50% of the campus heating demand.

Jan Bastiaans, Energy Manager, Lancaster University, commented: “As custodians of the land we occupy, it is our responsibility to ensure the actions we take enhance, protect or preserve our environment and resources. At Lancaster University we lead a number of initiatives to promote and fully embed sustainability. Our wind turbine and CHP engine now supply 40% of our electricity usage.

We have increased our recycling rate from 4% to 80% over the last seven years and reduced our carbon emissions by 22% since 2005.

“Our pioneering approach to sustainability has enabled us to forge a reputation as a sector leader and brought us a clutch of awards which recognise excellence across HE. “In 2015 we enjoyed double success in the prestigious Green Gown Awards – winning one award for our integrated, cutting-edge food project, Edible Campus, (alongside Lancaster University Students’ Union) and another for the ground-breaking work undertaken by the University’s Centre for Global Eco-Innovation. This followed

similar success in the Green Gowns in prior years for our innovative travel plan and wind turbine project.”

Lancaster University Students’ Union (LUSU) received the National Union of Students’ Green Impact Excellence Award 2015 for its work with the University to launch the Green Lancaster Behaviour Change Group. LUSU’s mission is to drive all staff and students to adopt eco-friendly habits such as eating locally-grown food, cycling, walking or using public transport instead of driving, recycling and being mindful of energy efficiency.

As part of Lancaster’s commitment to serving quality, locally sourced, sustainable food, the Soil Association has awarded its restaurants Café 21 and The Lounge, the Gold ‘Food for Life’ Catering Mark for serving fresh and healthy meals using local and organic ingredients.

Rob Sexton, Chief Executive of Soil Association Certification, said: “The Gold Catering Mark is a fantastic achievement and it is brilliant to see Lancaster University gaining recognition for serving great fresh meals made with seasonal, local and organic ingredients. Lancaster University is leading the way in the drive to improve food culture in the UK.” Jonathan Mills, Carbon and Environment Manager at Lancaster University added: “The University and LUSU have won numerous awards (including six Green Gowns since 2009) for sustainability projects covering carbon management, the travel plan, waste management, sustainable building, research and development and sustainable food. This demonstrates the

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• • • • • •

Weed Control Fertiliser Applications Aeration Topdressing Overseeding Soil Analysis and Nutrition Plans

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FACILITIES & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

“In December 2014 we were accredited to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

by BSI, recognising the high standards of environmental management achieved by Lancaster University Facilities.”

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high quality and breadth of the sector-leading sustainability projects we have implemented.

“In December 2014 we were accredited to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System by BSI, recognising the high standards of environmental management achieved by Lancaster University Facilities.”

HEALTH AND SAFETY Alastair Brock, Facilities Safety and Compliance Manager at Lancaster University, said: “Safety is at the heart of everything that we do. Our high levels of safety and compliance are evidenced by our own internal audits and by six-monthly external BSI (British Standards Institution) audits to ensure compliance against the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems 18001 specification. We endeavour to promote a positive health and safety culture that permeates all levels of the organisation.

“Our achievements in this area were recognised with a RoSPA Gold Award for Occupational Health & Safety in 2015.”

“The RoSPA Gold award recognises the hard work, time and effort that staff have contributed towards a successful occupational health and safety culture. Keeping students, staff and visitors safe and healthy is a top priority for Lancaster University and this award is fantastic recognition of the efforts of all staff involved.”

David Rawlins, RoSPA Awards Manager added: “The RoSPA Awards encourage improvement in occupational health and safety management. Organisations that gain recognition for their health and safety management systems, such as Lancaster University, contribute to raising standards overall and we congratulate them.”

The University’s Facilities Department has its own occupational health and safety system which is available to staff at all levels. All staff receive core health and safety training as well as job specific training on a regular basis to ensure they have the appropriate skills, knowledge, training and experience to carry out their duties safely and efficiently. All staff are trained in either the IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Working or Managing Safety courses, and staff with significant health and safety responsibilities are also put through the NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational

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Safety and Health) General Certificate course.

The department has recently recruited a Fire Safety Officer and Safety & Compliance Officer to assist the Safety & Compliance team in maintaining high standards.

In addition, in 2015, the University Facilities Team was awarded the Association of University Directors and Estates (AUDE) Facilities / Estates Team of the Year Award.

Leading a significant capital building programme to such high standards necessitates effective procurement procedures.

Liz Gatherall, Assistant Director of Estates (Development) at Lancaster University, concluded: “The strong safety record throughout our recent and extensive construction projects is accredited to the emphasis we put on the procurement of contractors and our robust procedure for the control of contractors.

“Our consultants, main contractors and ongoing maintenance suppliers go through a rigorous selection and award criteria which will vary depending on the value and nature of the work. Things we assess include financial position, professional standing, adherence to relevant legislation, health and safety, quality management and sustainability, alongside specific technical accreditations relevant to each discipline.”

“The Facilities and Procurement team work closely to ensure we get the right standard of suppliers who can help us to meet our targets and ambitions on health, safety and the environment.”

For more information, please visit: www.lancaster.ac.uk

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: RENEWABLEUK

RenewableUK is the leading not for profit renewable energy trade association in the United Kingdom. HSE International spoke to Chris Streatfeild, Director of Health & Safety about the organisation and its contribution to creating a healthier, safer and more sustainable future.

“We represent the wind, wave and tidal energy sector, onshore and offshore, and the relative supply chain activities that support the delivery and operation of these particular technologies. Whilst we are a UK based and interested trade body, with the nature of our policy and our health and safety regime, we also have a strong European and international focus and interest,” Chris Streatfeild, Director of Health & Safety at Renewable UK commented.

Chris Streatfield, Director of Health & Safety

F

ormally known as the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), RenewableUK has been in existence since 1978, working in the wind, wave and tidal power industries. The renewable market matured and the scope of its work actively changed, so in December 2009 BWEA reconstituted as RenewableUK. RenewableUK carries out research and co-ordinates statistics and intelligence on marine and wind power in the UK and its waters. It also represents its members internationally and to Government, regional bodies and local authorities. The organisation works constantly to create the conditions that allow the renewable sector to thrive.

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RenewableUK has over 500 corporate members from the wind, wave and tidal stream power generation and associated industries, and they support their members by means of policy representational activity.

Chris continued: “As a leading trade body, we have a diverse range of members that generally fit into two categories, the first being ‘Major Players’ who are the manufacturers that build the renewable technology (companies such as Siemens, Vestas, GE Power & Water and Renewable Energy). The second we call the ‘Developer Community’ and these are (primarily) utility and specialist renewable energy companies.

“RenewableUK acts as a catalyst for policy change to support the deployment of wind, wave and tidal energy; seeking to maximise the benefits of these industries to the UK as a whole.

“We help to create links between policy makers and our membership, ensuring that politicians and civil servants understand the views of the industry and that the industry has a proper understanding of the work of the Government.

We cover all aspects of lobbying and representation relating to a range of issues that affect our members. These include health and safety, planning and aviation.”

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: RENEWABLEUK

“First and foremost, our principle role as a trade association is to facilitate health, safety and environmental best practice in the renewable industry. We also have a personal responsibility to the trade body and to our own employees,”

Further offerings of help and support are available from RenewableUK via its Member Services. These services include the provision of industry intelligence and data, statistics and benchmark information available exclusively to its members.

“We provide health and safety services and training accreditation, and we run a number of national exhibitions and conferences including specialist events such as our Health and Safety Conference.

“Our offering is very much about bringing people together to talk and to learn, and this in turn creates a supporting structure of networking and business development opportunities.

“Networking through information sharing and business development is front and centre of what we do. Working with the big manufacturing companies such as Siemens has enabled us to evolve as global network leaders, particularly in offshore wind. Networking, business development and promoting jobs and opportunities within the renewable sector is a big part of what we do,” Chris added.

HEALTH AND SAFETY As Director of Health & Safety, Chris Streatfeild is appropriately qualified in the activities RenewableUK supports its members on.

“I’m the specialist of a HSE litigation team, dealing with both contentious and non-contentious health and safety activity. My first degree is environmental based, I’m a Charted Fellow of IOSH and I’m a Charted Environmentalist.

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I’m also a Charted Occupational Hygienist and my personal passion and interest is Occupational Health. For the last 8 years I’ve been a Director of RenewableUK”, Chris explained.

“First and foremost, our principle role as a trade association is to facilitate health, safety and environmental best practice in the renewable industry. We also have a personal responsibility to the trade body and to our own employees,” he continued.

RenewableUK produces recognised industry guidance, all of which is available online. Chris commented: “We were actually the first to put together trading standards in the sector.

“We actively engage with regulators and key stake holders throughout the process of producing new guidance, ensuring a global benchmark of best practice for an emergency.

“We have one of the premier health and safety renewables events where we’re keen to share this information. We’re very clear in working positively and proactively and we’re very proud of our health and safety awards. By sharing successes and having an open network within the industry, there is opportunity to ensure a benchmark for how safety standards are met and can be improved.

“I am very confident to say that the UK has been a global leader in putting health and safety at the forefront of the development in renewable energy technology.”

RENEWABLEUK HEALTH & SAFETY AWARDS The annual RenewableUK Health & Safety Awards is currently in its fifth year. These awards differ from other industry events in how RenewableUK publically share application information.

Chris explained: “We shortlist projects or activities and openly publish the relative Case Studies on our website. The focus is very much about sharing information and good practice so other stake holders and individuals can learn by example. Whilst every case study is unique, each provides a valuable insight into how complex risks are being managed by means of safety innovation, communication and engagement.

“Essentially, the awards are there to showcase and celebrate best practice. We strongly believe that people actually learn more and safety standards improve when we focus on the positive. Rather than thinking ‘What can go wrong?’, good health and safety is about focusing on ‘How can we make it right?’.”

RenewableUK has introduced a second award this year, prompted by the tragic death of a colleague in the industry.

“We’re always looking to recognise individual people; so often, organisations take credit for the good work that individuals have done. This year, people have been nominated for a special commendation for their own work, project or initiative. We’re proud that the new award winner will be announced at our conference reception taking place on February 27,” Chris added.

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACCORD RenewableUK has developed a small and medium wind safety accord in recognition of the clear priority the renewable energy sector places on the safety of workers and the public. Approximately four years ago, the organisation began to deal with ‘mega scale’ projects which in turn, introduced complex supply chains and communications.

Chris continued: “The intent behind the accord was to recognise what we hoped were common areas of good practice. Using the accord as a means of dialogue enables our clients in particular, to talk to suppliers and contractors and identify whether they can stand behind its principles.

“The accord offers a visible endorsement of organisations that are intent on providing additional confidence and assurance of their commitment to safety.

“Effectively, it is our statement of intent, as these are the values and principles we would hope and expect all good companies within our jurisdiction to apply. Many of the points also apply to other industry sectors aside from renewables.”

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY “Sustainability is core to our business and everything that we do. Within the industry, we observe and encourage the different ways that companies, from global multinationals to niche national providers, approach sustainability.

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: RENEWABLEUK “Concerning our environmental influence, we’re very comfortable that although we’re not zero impact, our payback from renewable technologies such as carbon reduction or water resource (i.e. the amount of water saved compared to traditional fossil fuels) is immense.

“I also think that we perhaps don’t shout about sustainability enough. As we’re producing ‘clean energy’, we don’t necessarily highlight or even forget the additional environmental benefits that come with it.

“We see sustainability, locally produced energy and a move away from fossil fuels as progressive steps, particularly in the supply chain for logistics and travel.

“We have a very good story to tell regarding our environmental footprint and sustainability, and we maintain our position in supporting clean energy at a national and international level. We see renewable energy as a fundamental component in driving the global industry.

“We also support various charities, in particular those investing in innovative technologies. We support communities who have more challenges than perhaps we have, and Coru is our default charity of preference. This organisation is responsible for regulating health and social care professionals.

“We tie in and support other charities with similar viewpoints around sustainability challenges, although we don’t have any formal alignments.”

HSE INTERNATIONAL ASKED: “DO YOU BELIEVE THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY CAN EVENTUALLY REPLACE OUR RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS?” Chris answered: “My personal view is that renewable energy can, will and must play an ever increasing role in the energy mix. All energy is derived from the sun, so there is no shortage of potential in achieving 100% renewable energy production.

Being realistic, how this would be achieved, either politically or whether the time and cost to achieve it would be supported, is for others to answer.

“Rather than saying we’ll be 100% by a particular time, we work to see renewable energy with a growing percentage share of the energy mix, each and every year.”

“We’re seeing very significant improvement in energy storage technologies and I expect this to play an ever increasing role, moving forward.”

“We have a very good story to tell regarding our environmental footprint and sustainability, and we maintain our position in supporting clean energy at a national and international level.”

RENEWABLEUK MEMBERSHIP Chris explained: “Becoming a member increases your visibility across the UK renewables sector and sign up is easy.

“We have two types of members: Company Members with an active opportunity to directly engage in our working groups, and Correspondent Members who are involved on an information basis.

“Your RenewableUK membership level is determined by your company size and direct involvement in renewables industry - the bigger you role in the renewables sector the more you pay, the smaller you are the less you pay – it’s that simple.”

2016 AND BEYOND Chris concluded: “There have been a number of changes in renewables since the election, and the UK Government has been clear it wants to see industry work harder to drive down costs. Onshore wind is now competitive with new gas, while offshore wind is bringing its costs down fast. This is a great opportunity for the sector; proving that we have a big role in helping power the country, and meaning that the sector can still grow.

“Career potential in renewables is endless, whether it be working in manufacturing, development, construction, training consultancy, legal services or even specialist installation.

“At RenewableUK, we continuously think about progression, as an organisation and for our members and staff. Although as a trade association we’re relatively small, there are ongoing career opportunities and if you work for us, you’ll acquire a phenomenal amount of knowledge and experience, very quickly.

“Moving forward, we have several planned projects with a focus on Emergency Response issues, and we’ll be working with organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on that.

“With our current focus on cost reduction, industry is driving the whole supply chain cost down whilst assuring that health and safety is not ignored or neglected. Good health and safety will play an ever increasing role in both cost and risk reduction because they work hand in glove.

“This is a particular mind set we have as an organisation and we expect to see an ever increasing focus on reducing risk. It is essential that RenewableUK and the industry as a whole continues to work positively and proactively in this way, which will in turn create a healthier, safer and more sustainable future.”

For more information, please visit: www.RenewableUK.com

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: SKYFORM sCOTLAND LTD

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Skyform Scotland Ltd is a multi-disciplined company that provides expertise in many sectors of industry. Skyform specialises in the Statutory Inspection and Maintenance of Wind Turbines, Power Access System hire and multiple construction solutions, working throughout the UK with various customers and markets including Nuclear, Chemical and Offshore.

F

ounded in 1995 by Managing Director Jim Campbell, the Glasgow based company (with offices in Aberdeen and Grimsby) originally specialised in access provision; the supply, erection, and training of people working with cradle access equipment on multi-storey/high rise buildings/bespoke solutions (for concrete repairs, access to bridges etc.).

Over the last 10 years, Skyform has proven to be the recognised industry leader on wind turbines and manriding equipment / Towerhoists, providing commissioning, service and maintenance works. In addition, Skyform offers Statutory Inspection requirements for Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs), providing a one stop shop solution for their clients’ compliance requirements. Skyform has recently expanded into the energy efficiency Green Deal/Eco sectors and partners with many of the recognised energy providers to offset their carbon footprint obligations.

Skyform is the only certified service centre for the Skyman International TH250 Towerhoist Systems in the UK and Ireland, both onshore and offshore.

The company has gained a reputation as a professional and safety conscious organisation, run by a team of experienced and dedicated staff.

Alan McKerns, HSEQ/Operations Manager at Skyform continued: “Essentially, we started off as a cradle access company and between 10 and 15 years ago, Jim Campbell our Managing Director realised that introducing a ‘One Stop Shop’ for cradle supply would allow us to tender for the

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type of projects that our access systems were being used for.

“In 2005, he set up the Skyform Specialist Division, a multi-discipline structural repair and construction company, to provide concrete repairs to multi-storey buildings, bridges, harbours and viaducts; hard to reach locations where it’s difficult to erect scaffolds or is inaccessible for MEWPS (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms).

“Approximately 10 years ago, we were approached by Skyman International who produce ‘traction type’ man riding hoists (essentially, the lift inside a wind turbine).

“Skyman, the OEM of the Towerhoist, had manufactured a Towerhoist / lift for German wind turbine manufacturers Siemens, and they were looking for competent persons in the UK who could represent Skyman and provide service and maintenance requirements.

“The Towerhoist is very similar to an access cradle – the core of the business - in that it operates via steel wire ropes, has an independent safety brake and an electric hoist, but differs by having many additional safety features including four walls and a roof for use in the WTG environment.

“The cradle hoist and Towerhoist are specialist equipment that you do have to have a background and pedigree with, and it is recognised, especially in the wind industry, that Skyform has the right experience and competence in working with man riding equipment to ensure safety and operability of these key assets.”

“From a service and maintenance perspective, it is essential that we understand exactly how these man riding

hoists work. On the manufacturer’s recommendation, the hoist has to be replaced every 5 years, and we’re approved by the OEM to remove the hoists and brakes and at our dedicated service yard, strip them down, overhaul them and to replace the key parts for life extension.

“Skyman appointed us as their sole representative in the UK, and Skyform Wind Division has been providing service and maintenance inspections every six months, with overhauls every five years, conforming to LOLER (The Lifting Operations Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998).”

In recent years, as part of its Specialist Division and working predominantly in construction, Skyform has diversified and introduced an Eco Division, working in eco fields such as the External Wall Insulation Industry (EWI).

Alan continued: “Skyform Eco services currently include external, internal, loft and cavity wall insulation, replacement of existing gutters and pipes, and energy solutions such as biomass boiler installation, for example.”

“Our Eco Division currently performs service and maintenance requirements in line with legislation and best practice on various critical components within the EWI Sector. We work with clients such as SSE and Aberdeen City Council for many of our Eco works.”

Skyform continues to offer cradle access services as a standalone feature, hiring out to various different councils, the National Health Service and engineering works. The ‘One Stop Shop’ offers all statutory inspections of a turbine

including the cranes, fall around systems, ladders, anchor points, pressure systems and fire extinguishers etc.

Skyform is accredited to LEEA (The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) for lifting equipment and has an inhouse overhaul division where they strip down, reassemble and then test equipment, prior to it being reused.

“In summary, we work in the renewables, nuclear, heavy manufacturing, and civil construction industries as well as offering general maintenance requirements for city councils and the NHS. We have offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Grimsby, as well as local hubs and Ireland for some of our windfarm work.”

“We’ve also recently purchased a smaller company that apply specialist coating / liquid plastics for flat roofs and balconies etc., to continue to expand the Skyform Specialist Division offering,” Alan added.

ALAN MCKERNS, ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES “Having worked in health and safety roles for almost 15 years, I have completed a NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health and hold membership with IOSH. I was previously the health and safety manager on a Top Tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) site - an explosives manufacturing site where I was responsible for the health and safety of the site’s operational activities.

“Good safety practice was critical with my previous job roles and is no different at Skyform. Relating in particular to offshore wind farms, the environments where we work are potentially very dangerous and it is critical that we have the correct systems in place to ensure our operations are

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: SKYFORM sCOTLAND LTD

“Really, it’s about having responsibility for your activities and ensuring that no harm is done to the environment, which can then impact future generations.”

Alan McKerns, HSEQ/Operations Manager at Skyform

completed correctly and safely at all times.

“On a day to day basis, I am responsible for engaging with clients and ensuring that our employees are at the right place, doing the right job, at the right time. It is critical that they have the correct and best available equipment to do their jobs. Our workforce undertakes a minimum level of training and we continue to challenge the boundaries of what is the “minimum level”.

“In the last 18 -24 months, we’ve invested significantly in up-skilling our workforce, training the guys to increase their competence and in the ‘One Stop Shop’ for statutory inspections. We continue to do so with training needs being identified continually as we expand our workforce and portfolio.”

HEALTH AND SAFETY As required, Skyform utilise external companies and engage with consultants for aspects of the business that they feel are not within their natural expertise, such as the provision of occupational health advice and pressure systems.

Alan commented: “If we’re in a situation where a customer asks ‘Can you support this?’, we take the pressure off by engaging with industry experts and consultants for advice and guidance.

To support our health and safety compliance, we never cut corners and foolishly head into a project without sound, professional knowledge in place.

“To guarantee that standards are met, we have on site supervisors who ensure the teams are working as they

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should be, we have our own audit and inspection schedule and we use in-house and third party organisations to feedback on health and safety compliance standards.”

ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION ISO 9001: 2008 ISO 14001: 2004 BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 UKAS 17020 Achilles UVDB Achilles Link Up Investors in People BSI Green Deal Installer – PAS2030 Safe Mark Safe Contractor Skyform’s memberships include: SEAMA (Suspended Access Equipment Manufacturers Association), AREG (Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group), LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association), CRA (Concrete Repair Association), CPA (Corrosion Protection Alliance), SCA (Sprayed Concrete Association), Construction Line and UKAS. The company has recently received certification for ISO/ IEC 17020:2012, Conformity assessment. This International Standard has been drawn up with the objective of promoting confidence in bodies performing inspection, and certification involves a rigorous internal audit.

“We’re also members of RenewableUK who are great for advice and keeping us up to date with changes in

the industry; safety rules, updates to industry standards and relevant accidents and incidents that need to be communicated globally, for example.

“RenewableUK have systems in place to ensure the distribution of information, such as workshops, seminars, conferences and exhibitions. This is great in regards to health and safety; to have knowledge shared between clients and compatriots within the industry.

“In terms of sustainability, fortunately many of our activities are not big waste generators. We do still have a responsibility however, hence our 14001 certification.

We certainly comply with industry waste requirements including waste segregation and recycling.

“We try to minimise transportation as best we can and strive to lower our emissions by renewing our fleet of vehicles every 2 to 3 years.

“For our staff, we provide in house training courses on environmental awareness so they understand the potential (negative) impact that our work can have on the environment and how to endeavour to prevent that.

“Really, it’s about having responsibility for your activities and ensuring that no harm is done to the environment, which can then impact future generations,” Alan clarified.

SOFTWARE TRACEABILITY The existing recording system at Skyform relies upon triplicate documents being hand written by their engineers.

This information then has to be updated onto the software system which is accessible by their clients, ensuring full traceability of their assets.

“This task becomes rather laborious for our admin staff, particularly for our work in the wind industry as every visit, change out, repair and commission that takes place on any piece of equipment has to be recorded in this way.

The customer has to have full visibility and we keep all information, in full, electronically and also in hard copy,” Alan commented.

Recently however, Skyform have updated to a new software system and now use tablet devices to upload the recorded information live. With this upgrade in technology and software, there is no longer the manual handling of paperwork and the uploading process is completely removed.

“Essentially, once the information is completed on site and once our guys synchronise the tablet, it is live, both for us internally and also to our customers.

“All uploads still have to be verified and signed off to ensure that the work is compliant with the necessary standards, and the new system offers additional technological features including the potential for photographing the assets and adding procedures, clauses and documentation to each component being recorded.

These additions can be added prior to sign off and then the report is automatically available to our customers.

“This is basically the next generation of asset traceability.

The streamlining saves time and the new system is certainly more user friendly as our guys are used to working on these types of smart devices. As the information is live, there’s no lag in the system from us having to deal with the paperwork so the customer swiftly has full visibility.

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ENERGY & UTILITIES: SKYFORM sCOTLAND LTD

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for your ongoing support towards my goal of reaching the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility.”

– Phae Pritchard, Sponsored by Skyform

“In regards to compliance, it is a major development for our clients to be able to log in and instantly view a comprehensive status update for each of the assets,” Alan added.

WORK IN THE COMMUNITY Involvement with the community is of paramount importance to Skyform. The company considers itself as part of the community, with the belief that actually helping locally is an important part of business and not just something to choose to do.

“At Skyform we understand that local businesses and communities are closely linked and that we can have a significant impact on our surroundings as a whole. We play an active role in contributing to these communities, through direct financial support and through the support of our Directors and staff who take part in activities organised both by us and individually. Our Directors and staff are involved in regional Chambers of Commerce, local council initiatives and other business group activities. We also provide work placements for local students and support for educational establishments”, Alan explained.

This year, Skyform sponsored Phae Pritchard, Centrica Energy Project Manager for part of a training exercise for her Ice Warrior Project - an expedition to the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. The project selects and trains members of the public from all walks of life to become modern-day explorers.

Regarding her conditioning trip to Svalbard, Phae commented: “I wanted to share a few photos with Skyform from our training trip to Svalbard. The temperature was positively warm at only -16 to -20 ambient temp but it was still bad enough for me to get frost nip in my fingers during our hypothermia test!

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for your ongoing support towards my goal of reaching the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility.”

CAREERS Due to the expanding nature of the business, Skyform has and continues to offer various job opportunities. In January, the company took on 6 engineers specialising in statutory inspections and lifting equipment.

Alan continued: “In terms of career development, we continue to train our employees and a number of our guys are taking LEEA

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Diploma courses at the moment. We have several people who are going through Level 4 and Level 7 Siemens training and we’re also putting a lot of the guys through smaller training courses such as Latchways, Pressure Systems and Fire Extinguishers.”

“There are routes available to becoming an elite engineer, and then onto supervisor positions on site, with ongoing potential for further career progression in the company,” Alan added.

In closing, Alan commented: “Sadly a few months ago, there was a fatality in Germany on man riding equipment and the sort of questions that were being asked included, “Was it serviced, was it maintained and were the workers trained in use?”.

“In this industry, safety is beyond paramount and if any issues were to arise, we would be more than happy to say to any of our customers and clients, ‘You cannot use that until it is made safe,’ or ‘That equipment cannot be signed off until we replace a part,’.

“We really do have diligence and expertise in what we do. We’ve got the background, the knowledge, the experience of the critical components and the critical equipment, and we would never expect anyone without the formal training and relevant expertise to undertake work beyond their capabilities.

“What we do we do correctly at all times, we can always justify what we undertake, and the safety of our work takes precedence above all else.

“Our commitment to delivering projects with our core values is at the heart of each working day, and can be verified by our projects, achievements, accreditations, memberships and of course, our clients.

“We have a large customer base which is testament to our highly skilled and experienced workforce. We are proud that throughout our history we’ve been involved with many worthwhile and interesting projects, providing improvements to homes, offices, schools, and to the public improving communities.

“We design, implement and execute our services and always take into consideration quality, health, safety, and respect to the environment.”

For more information, please visit: www.skyform.co.uk

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: ONE STOP HIRE LTD

“The team I have put together is young and dynamic. We work well together and never stop innovating ideas to give our clients the best total solutions service available.”

TOTAL SERVICE SOLUTIONS One Stop Hire Ltd is the fastest growing hirer of Power Tools, Access Systems and Small Plant in the North of England. HSE International spoke to their Managing Director Steve Hitchen, about the history of the business and their goals for the future.

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ne Stop Hire Ltd was formed in 2009 by Steve and Danni Hitchen with a view to providing clients with a complete service solution. The couple purchased SJS Hire Tools Ltd and PSL Ltd, two tool hire companies based in the Northwest. These two businesses were merged into one, renamed and rebranded as One Stop Hire Ltd, and since its conception, the company has led the way in specialist tool, equipment and access rentals in the North of the UK. Steve and Danni were previously employed by Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd. The couple worked at Ainscough for 17 years; Steve was a Board Director and Danni worked as their Marketing Manager. The chairman of the company (and Danni’s father) Martin Ainscough sold the business in 2007 to a Management Buyout team funded by BOSIF (Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance). Steve remained on the board of the new Ainscough crane hire business until May 2009.

One Stop Hire was originally conceived by Martin in 2003, as a concept ‘Virtual Hire’ business under the name onestophire.com. However, the project was put on hold when the family sold the crane business.

Prior to his career at Ainscough, Steve Hitchen worked in tool and plant hire for 7 years. Ironically, Steve worked for PSL, one of the companies he later went on to buy.

Steve and Danni decided to set up their own business.

The two tool hire companies came onto market and the couple saw purchasing them as an ideal business opportunity. As the family still owned the name One Stop

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Hire Ltd, they decided that it was perfect for their new venture.

One Stop Hire originally employed 35 people across 7 depots. By 2014, the company had expanded to 9 depots across Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Steve Hitchen continued: “We made plans for two more depots in West Yorkshire and Staffordshire. In Feb 2015, we opened in Leeds and also bought and moved into a new head office in Chorley. In July 2015, we opened in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, as the demand in this area was so large our branch in Central Manchester simply wasn’t big enough to cope. In December 2015, we relocated our Liverpool branch to a new depot that is double the size of our previous location.

Our steady growth has of course led to an increase in staff numbers, and we now employ 102 people.”

The company’s depots are strategically placed throughout the region and they are well stocked with the latest equipment the market has to offer. Coupled with a modern fleet of delivery and service vehicles, a rapid response and reliable service is assured for all their clients.

“In 2016 we are looking to progress with the Staffordshire branch,” Steve added.

One Stop Hire has recently expanded its portfolio to include a competitive tool sales division. The company continues to evolve year on year, and its turnover increased from £1.5m in 2010 to £5.6m in 2013. One Stop Hire surpassed their projected £7m target for 2014/15 with

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: ONE STOP HIRE LTD an actual turnover of £7.2m. A £9m target is currently projected for 2015/16.

Steve takes a hands on approach to his role as Managing Director. He liaises, helps with and oversees all key functions and departments within the business.

These are: Sales and Marketing, Operations, Finance, and SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality).

Steve is assisted by a Commercial Director, Sales Director and Finance Director. An Operations Director is in turn supported by a Quality Assurance Manager and a Safety, Training and Environmental Manager.

Steve and his team take pride in exceeding their clients’ expectations, achieving exemplary standards of service by always staying up to date with their clients’ changing needs.

“The team I have put together is young and dynamic. We work well together and never stop innovating ideas to give our clients the best total solutions service available. We learn something new every day and listening to our clients and employees has been key to our success so far,” Steve commented.

In addition to their hire offering, One Stop Hire has developed a sales offering under the name One Stop Sales, Service and Repair.

Sales customers tend to buy smaller, everyday items such as run of the mill power tools and accessories, and One Stop Hire has the buying power in this area. The company offers great value deals to clients who wish to buy, saving them time in sourcing other suppliers and enhancing their businesses relationship.

The company’s Workshop Services department was introduced on the back of its sales business and offers Service, Repair, Test and Inspection. The department has the capability to calibrate customer’s own equipment and provides notification when items are due for service or compliance testing.

One Stop Hire has Workshop Services facilities at all its branches, staffed by well trained and experienced fitters.

They provide a free initial estimate before commencing repair work and offer competitively priced repairs for most major equipment manufacturers. This enables their clients to decide whether to repair an item, replace it, or hire a something similar.

Their services ensure that all clients who own equipment get the best possible lifetime use, and One Stop Hire have trained technicians who are available to carry out any repairs as required. Servicing, PAT (Portable Appliance Testing), LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and any other scheduled inspection requirements can also be catered for.

Clients can even hire a replacement item whilst theirs is being serviced or repaired so they can continue working.

Workshop Services also offer a Collection and Delivery Service on all repairs, making things even more convenient for customers. In addition, a free Asset Management Service is available.

“We learn something new every day and listening to our clients and employees has been key to our success so far.”

The needs of individual clients vary; some prefer to buy their equipment outright, whilst others prefer to hire everything they require to complete a current project.

Clients that have purchased equipment for specific projects

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: ONE STOP HIRE LTD may later find that they no longer need it after completing the job. The One Stop Equipment Buy Back Service quotes clients a price to buy back their redundant equipment to help recover some of the cost of these items. It also offers clients trade-in options against other equipment that may be more relevant to their current needs.

Clients who open a Trade Account with One Stop Hire benefit from 30-day credit terms and no deposit hires.

Trade Account customers qualify for a discounted rate at all branches and access to the company’s online Hire Management System. They also receive regular invoicing and statements. Companies and organisations interested in opening a Trade Account can download a simple credit check and application form from the One Stop website.

One Stop Hire is the largest independent tool hire, equipment and access rental company in the North West. In mid-2015, the company sat down and assessed what were the most profitable and complimentary aspects of their full service offering. Steve continued: “As One Stop Hire has grown, we’ve experimented with and looked at lots of value added services to complement our core hire offering.

“Last year, we came up with HIRE, SALES & TRAINING, rebranded our logo and marketing tools, and launched a new website to support our development. The updated website also includes a downloadable brochure that details fully comprehensive information for all of our products and services.

“Clients who open a Trade Account with One Stop Hire benefit from 30-day credit terms and no deposit hires. Trade Account customers qualify for a discounted rate at all branches and access to the company’s online Hire Management System.”

HIRE “We have clients from across the UK asking us to source all kinds of equipment. Our hire fleet now consists of approx. 10,000 items, ranging from Power Tools, Mini Plant, Alloy Access Systems, Small Powered Access, Lifting Equipment, Survey Equipment and Generators, to Lighting and M&E Equipment.

“We hire Cranes, Diggers, Accommodation, Large Access Booms and various other specialist equipment, and our comprehensive offering eradicates the need for our clients to source suppliers and open accounts with more than one company. They can make one call and source everything from us, saving a lot of time. On many occasions, our clients also save money as we have great re-hire supply deals in place which wouldn’t normally be offered to “one off” hirers. The development of our Re-Hire service has contributed £1.5m to our turnover so far.

“Within our head office function, we now have a Central Hire Desk staffed by 3 of our very best Hire Managers.

These managers service our bigger accounts that use all our depot network and services. This system proves to be very efficient; instead of having to ring each depot, our clients can simply ring their dedicated Hire Manager who can settle every transaction and pass it to the correct location and /or department.

SALES “Having set up our Builders Tool Shop service with the intention of mass selling power tools, consumable products & PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), it soon became apparent that trying to compete with the giant online and retail outlets was virtually impossible; the margins were

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TrustFord

Proud suppliers to One Stop Hire

trustford.co.uk

MBW Europe Ltd.

Units 2&3 Cochrane Street Bolton BL3 6BN Ph: +44 (0) 1204 387784 email: mbweurope@mbw.com

Proudly supplying

with Compaction and Concrete Equipment

Proud to work in PartnershiP with one stoP hire NATIONAL HIRE DESK: 0114 272 1595 • TRAINING CENTRES: MANCHESTER: 0161 300 7207 • SHEFFIELD: 0114 272 1595 • LEEDS: 0113 819 8076 • www.1upaccess.co.uk

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: ONE STOP HIRE LTD

George Roberts Scaffolding Supplies George Roberts North West Ltd are proud to support and assist One Stop Hire in the supply of materials and scaffolding to meet their total access requirements.

We look forward to continuing our business relationships together and wish One Stop Hire every success for the future.

“In terms of sales, we ensure our clients have peace of mind when they purchase a product and they have confidence in the backup service we provide in managing the asset.”

Message from Chairman “We are dedicated to delivering superior, quality scaffolding and access equipment to our global customer base. We are committed to total reliability of supply, building upon our strong presence within both the UK and worldwide markets. Our integrity and customer driven service will continue to help us exceed our client’s expectations, build strong relationships and consistently deliver an excellent service.” George Roberts - Chairman

Get in touch today. +00 44 151 524 2434

www.scaffoldingsales.co.uk

sales@scaffoldingsales.co.uk

C

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IF YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR EQUIPMENT MOVING OR GET YOUR MACHINERY BACK INTO SERVICE, CONTACT US TODAY. WE HOLD OVER 50,000 REPLACEMENT PARTS IN STOCK AT BRANCHES NATIONWIDE FOR ENGINE REBUILDS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OR GROUNDCARE MACHINERY.

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Seddon Plant

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NATIONAL COVERAGE WITH LOCAL FLEXIBILITY WINNER 2014

“Proud to support One Stop Hire”

tiny for a lot of effort. We now focus on selling only to our customer base and this works well, is very popular and makes a reasonable margin.

“For work wear and PPE, we now have a partnership with a long established business who stock our stores with the top 30 popular and fast moving product lines. They manage the stock levels monthly, change stock to suit seasonality and all we have to do is sell it! Our supplier thinks this is great and they now have 11 additional shops!

“In terms of sales, we ensure our clients have peace of mind when they purchase a product and they have confidence in the backup service we provide in managing the asset. We offer service, repair, test and calibration, which many online retailers cannot do.

“Our clients tend to have heavy usage with equipment and often need the powerful “top end” tools to do their work. Many of our clients have been lured by online offers for tools that seem too good to be true, and if they purchase a £50 drill for example, it soon becomes apparent that it is not fit for purpose. Therefore, we simply ask our clients what usage they will have for a tool and provide them with the appropriate item to suit the job.

“We also have a Collection and Delivery service for our client’s equipment and can repair items they own but may not have bought from ourselves.

TRAINING “During 2013, many of our clients were asking about training, particularly in the growing field of Working at Height. We formed a partnership with a new company called WHS Safety Solutions, which was set up by one of our most loyal customers. WHS offered training for

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation), PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association), First Aid, Working at Height, Confined Spaces and multiple other construction based requirements.

“In January 2014, the company was offered to us to buy as the owner was very busy concentrating on his core, rapidly growing Dry Lining business. It made perfect sense for One Stop Hire to buy WHS and benefit from the training expertise the company had to offer. We came to a deal and One Stop Safety Training was born.

“At One Stop Safety Training, our aim is to improve health and safety knowledge and encourage good practice within all relevant sectors. All trainers have expert knowledge and a wealth of experience, and courses are delivered at a professional standard in state of the art facilities using the latest training techniques. We take a flexible approach to training, offering evening and weekend courses alongside online access to certificates and training needs assessments. This allows employee training to take place alongside work commitments without anybody having to take time off.

“One Stop Safety Training Solutions is able to deliver over 100 courses nationally from our Blackburn Training Centre. Our Training portfolio offer ranges from IPAF, PASMA and SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) to First Aid and Manual Handling. This specialist service ties in nicely with our client’s needs, especially in access, and we are now on course to turnover £400k in 2016 with this offer.

“The addition of the Training Centre is also the perfect environment to train our own staff. It ensures that all our employees have the training they need to be safe and

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: ONE STOP HIRE LTD moves us another step closer to becoming a ‘Total Solutions Provider’.”

HEALTH AND SAFETY Safety is of paramount importance in all areas of industry and One Stop Hire Ltd make no exceptions. The safety of their employees, customers and the public is a number one priority at all times. Steve commented: “Health and safety drives our business in many ways; Dust, HAV (Hand arm vibration) and Working at Height for example, have all influenced the products we hire and sell and has also driven our Training business.

“In house, we ensure these areas are all covered by training our drivers, fitters and hire staff accordingly through our Training Centre. Our training strapline is THINK SAFE – WORK SAFE – HOME SAFE.” A safety guide is attached to all equipment issued

by One Stop Hire and a HAV guide is issued to all sites they visit. The HAV guide (alongside many other HSE and manufacturer guides) is available for viewing or download from their website.

To further improve and maintain their excellent health and safety standards, One Stop Hire have joined and are active members of two safety groups backed by HSE (the Health and Safety Executive): The Lancashire Working Well Together Safety Group and The Greater Manchester Northwest Construction Safety Group.

“We attend monthly meetings with these groups and actively support them by sourcing and demonstrating equipment at their safety open days and seminars. This helps us understand the needs of the industry and allows us to invest in equipment most suited to helping our clients eradicate risk on site.

“In addition, our hire fleet continues to undergo major investment and we ensure it is the safest and most upto-date available through constant and scrupulous fleet reviews and updates,” Steve added.

One Stop Hire are members of HAE (The Hire Association Europe), IPAF, PASMA, The Ladder Association and Constructionline, are Acclaim Accredited and are Achilles Link-Up approved.

Their memberships and accreditations ensure that the business stays up-to-date with the latest safety legislation and legal information. Steve continued: “In terms of the companies we re-hire equipment and services from, we send out SHEQ questionnaires to assess their credentials and also visit them. The equipment providers we use all supply fully branded and approved equipment that is the best in its field. We also test out all new product lines prior to placing large volume orders.

“We have been awarded with ISO9001: Quality Systems, and are currently in the process of attaining ISO14001: Environmental and ISO18001: Health & Safety accreditations. We want to ensure our clients get the best and safest service available in our industry, whilst providing our employees with training and a safe, structured environment to work in.

“Health and Safety is a living, breathing and ever shifting subject that you have to try and pro-actively manage every day, and the ISO18001 accreditation will be the icing on the cake for One Stop Hire.

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HSE INTERNATIONAL

“Health and Safety is a living, breathing and ever shifting subject that you have to try and proactively manage every day, and the ISO18001 accreditation will be the icing on the cake for One Stop Hire.”

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OIL & GAS:ATDIALIGHT WORKING HEIGHT: PLC ONE STOP HIRE LTD

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“We invest in the best equipment and the best people, and our intention is always to exceed our client’s expectations with our friendly and personal service.”

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“In 2017 I feel it would be appropriate to go for some awards, to give my team the recognition for all the hard work and dedication they put into our business.”

“We engage regularly with our employees at all levels, listening to and acting on their suggestions wherever and whenever it is appropriate,” Steve commented.

CAREERS “The reality of getting 18-24 year olds to buy into what we do is hard in the current climate, and I am very sad to say that many who apply are of a very poor standard. We’re always looking for good people, especially hire managers and fitters who seem to be fairly scarce.

“We do however, have talented apprentices in place at fitter and hire desk level (through the CITB and HAE), and One Stop Hire has been very successful with internal training and promotions - in the last few years, we’ve promoted at least 20 employees.

“It is simple - our employees are hungry for success, passionate and take pride in providing a good service to clients. They always try to exceed expectations. They see the Directors working hard and see lots of investment in equipment, depot facilities and training. They are well rewarded with above industry average salaries, pensions, benefits and bonuses.

THE ONE STOP PROMISE Steve concluded: “The One Stop Promise is “The answers YES, now what’s the question?”, and all our staff have this engrained in them.

“We invest in the best equipment and the best people, and our intention is always to exceed our client’s expectations with our friendly and personal service.

“A can do attitude is what sets us aside from our competitors and has been key to our success and growth.

“One call or visit is all that any client needs to make to fulfil all their tool hire, purchasing, maintenance and training requirements.”

“Our comprehensive sales, repair and training services are ideal for any customer looking for a ‘One Stop’ provider and ‘Total Service Solutions’.”

HSE INTERNATIONAL

For more information, please visit: http://www.onestophire.com/

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ISSUE 100 JAN / FEB 2016 £9.99