Health & Safety Update - April 2020

Health & Safety Update | APRIL 2020

Industry News - Safety & Security - PPE - Tools & Equipment

Also featured this issue...

NEW – EMMA Safety Footwear Added to the Hultafors Group PPE Portfolio

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HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

Oslo housing development co-op company invests in rooftop PV project totalling 1.29MW with

DELTA INVERTERS

As part of a pilot project, the largest housing and property co-op in Norway, OBOS Group, invested in PV plants on six of their buildings in Oslo in a partnership with Fortum Oslo Varme AS (formerly registered as Hafslund Varme AS at the project inception), the firm that provided the EPC services for the project.

Rooftop PV plant at Smeltedigelen 1, an office building in Oslo

Green Responsibility OBOS Group is a Norwegian housing co-op association that began operating in 1929 in Oslo to offer housing development at a time when it was difficult to get bank financing for the average worker. Since that time, OBOS has grown to be the largest co-operative building association in the Nordic region. There are over 450,000 co-op members and the company manages circa 220,000 dwellings in Norway.

In the past years, the environmental building regulations have been getting stricter and the members of OBOS have growing interest in more environmental solutions, such as lowering carbon emissions, local production of energy, more energy efficiency, etc.

As part of what they call green responsibility (#grøntansvar), OBOS is pursuing green initiatives and offering sustainable energy solutions for their customers in order to face the upcoming climate change challenges.

“We care about the footprint we put in the environment, and so do our customers. This is a step in the right direction for us as the owner of several commercial properties and shopping malls. One of OBOS’ goals is to become climate neutral by 2021,” says Mr. Nils Bøhler, Executive Vice President for Commercial Property at OBOS.

Valuable Experience One of the objectives for initiating the 1.29MW PV solar pilot project was for OBOS to gain experience with PV rooftop plants and suppliers. The long term goal after gaining

experience with PV was to potentially roll out similar measures on other buildings or housing companies in Norway that wanted to install solar modules on their own roofs.

The pilot project was an important part of OBOS’ commitment to green and sustainable energy. Investment in hydro-power as well as PV will help the company become selfsufficient with sustainable energy by 2021.

“This is an important part of OBOS’ commitment to green and sustainable energy. We want to pave the way for housing companies to benefit from the experience we do. In the long term, we expect housing companies to install solar cells themselves,” says Ms. Birgitte Molstad, environmental director at OBOS. “The solar cell project is about more than profitability, today there is a long payback period for this type of plant. It is competence building that is important for us as a company to be able to help achieve the climate goals. As a major player in the real estate industry, we have a clear social responsibility, which we are very conscious of,” says Ms. Molstad.

Initial Study Fortum Oslo Varme hired Multiconsult AS an energy consulting company, to plan out the PV project with the goal of 1GWh solar production annually. Multiconsult could decide on the number of modules and inverters needed at each building. As part of the study, the firm compared various string inverters and they convincingly recommended the Delta string inverters to OBOS.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

Mr. Per Lindberg, Solar Energy Consultant at Multiconsult AS, reported: “There were several reasons for the choice of Delta inverters. The installers told us it was easy to install them, very installer friendly. Another thing we saw on the specification and confirmed was that the inverters have a very high conversion efficiency. Delta´s strong financial background was also part of the decision.”

PV Project Delivered After the initial study by Multiconsult, Fortum Varme Oslo, delivered and installed OBOS´ installations. The OBOS properties that were outfitted with 7400 square meters of solar modules included 3 shopping centers, 2 office buildings and a hospital. The project was completed by Fortum Oslo Varme as the EPC in the second quarter of 2018.

“The OBOS project was Fortum Oslo Varme´s first PV project. An exciting project with a steep learning curve. Delta Electronics delivered as promised and the inverters work according to specification in the Nordic climate,” says Mr. Anders Westin, business developer in Fortum Oslo Varme.

In total, the PV project has a goal to produce 1,000,000 kWh of renewable solar power per year and actual production for 2019 will come in close, around 90-92% of the target due to below average months of solar irradiation in the fall and winter. The solar power produced will cover the energy consumption of around 80 average Oslo apartments this year, and will be used locally as much as possible.

Solar Myths Norway may seem to be lacking enough sun by some to generate optimal PV energy. It is true that solar irradiation varies throughout the year here. But by optimizing orientation and angle of inclination of the solar modules, significant energy production is achieved in Norway from March to October. According to solar irradiation studies, the PV generation potential for Southern and Eastern Norway is similar to that of parts of Northern Germany where solar PV use is widespread.

The oversizing of the solar array by up to 150% is another way the OBOS solar installations can get more yield from the Delta inverters. When the hours of daylight are decreased in the fall, the oversizing still allows an optimal amount of solar energy to be produced on a daily basis. The Delta inverter electronics are designed to be robust enough to handle this situation.

The IP65 enclosure protection makes the inverters completely sealed from moisture intrusion from rain or snow that comes in Norway starting in the fall. The inverters in the Norway plants were installed outside at most of the sites thanks to the climateprotected design.

15 x Delta H5A solar inverters at Tveita Senter in Oslo

Sunny Conclusion In the building industry it is estimated that 40% of CO2 outgassing globally is from the manufacturing of building materials and in the operation of buildings.

OBOS has recognized this and as a leader in home building and property management in Norway have taken aggressive steps to become greener and attack the climate change with their own green buildings and clean energy sources while influencing others to do the same.

Green buildings are essential to reducing carbon but also have economic benefits.

Green buildings show higher energyefficiency levels and the operational expenses will decrease by reducing the unnecessary waste. If solar PV is employed on the rooftop, all of the internal power loads are fed by locally produced renewable energy, reducing operating costs and reducing the carbon footprint. OBOS provides an excellent example for other building sector companies thinking about greening up their building construction practices.

According to OBOS Projects manager, Mr. Joakim Larsen, “In Norway there is a move towards greener buildings and construction.

Both private and public owners are focused on having more environmentally friendly buildings, with lower CO2 emissions with more production of local energy and solar panels are part of that strategy for both private and public owners in Norway and in Oslo.”

Delta was proud to be a supplier of the inverters for the OBOS project and support the distribution of more PV capacity in Norway. It was especially rewarding since we share the same green mission as OBOS.

According to Mr. Andreas Hoischen, Delta Senior Director Business Unit Photovoltaic Inverters, “Delta Electronics had a very good cooperation on the OBOS projects and is expecting to see more growth with Delta inverters in large rooftop applications within all of Europe as this sector is growing due to the trend to build more net-zero buildings.”

Together, working smartly with our partners we can find innovative solar energy applications that are environmentally friendly and also economically viable. As OBOS demonstrates, it is possible to be green and remain in solid financial shape as a business. The future of solar energy is looking bright in Norway.

Actual OBOS Annual Overview report generated from SolarLog reports from readings on the monitoring systems at the 6 PV sites.

Report from OBOS Projects / Joakim Larsen provided on November 15.

P M a is g e si ng

WELCOME April 2020

Contents 46

COVER STORY Oslo housing development co-op company invests in rooftop PV project totalling 1.29MW with Delta inverters

THE SNICKERS WORKWEAR FAMILY BRINGING YOU THE BEST SOLID GEAR SAFETY SHOE TECHNOLOGY

8 10 UKATA urges construction industry workers to undertake asbestos training

4 Openreach extends free full fibre installation for developers to benefit additional 13k new build premises a year

HELLBERG SAFE FACE PROTECTION

4 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

Openreach extends free full fibre installation for developers to benefit additional 13k new build premises a year • Openreach extends its free full fibre installation offer to include smaller developments of 20 homes or more.

• Around 13,000 homes per annum nationwide set to benefit • Openreach urges Government to move forward with ambition to make full fibre mandatory for new builds Thousands more new-build homes are in line for a broadband boost as Openreach extends the reach of its scheme offering Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) installation free of charge for new housing developments.

Developers building smaller new sites of just 20 or more properties are now eligible to have full fibre connectivity built across their sites at no cost when they register with Openreach.1 More than 13,000 new homes across around 600 small housing developments per annum stand to benefit from being connected to the cutting edge technology – which provides a faster, more stable service that’s ideal for families, home workers and small businesses.

The new threshold extends the reach of the company’s existing scheme to install FTTP free of charge to all new housing developments from 30 or more homes. The programme has so far proved very successful with 99 per cent of plots on sites of 30 or more homes registering for future-proofed FTTP. Since launching in 2016 – Openreach has connected 354k new build homes with full fibre technology. This financial year alone the company has built full fibre to 125k new build premises, reaching around 3.5k new premises with full fibre every week, and is on target to reach 175k by the end of the fiscal year in April.

By dropping the threshold for free eligibility from 30 to 20 homes – Openreach plans to drive take up of full fibre by developers on these smaller developments from its current level of 45 per cent to 100 per cent.

In addition, Openreach has capped the amount UK house builders contribute if they ask Openreach to build full fibre to smaller-scale developments of just 2 and 3 premises – to help encourage further full fibre take-up.2 This is part of a revised rate card for developers – enabling them to upgrade broadband connectivity for new developments to full fibre by paying a set contribution for the size of the site.

1 Applies to developments with 20-29 plots where, previously, developers would have made a contribution according to the size of the development.

2 Developers’ contribution under Openreach’s rate card will be capped at £2k per plot for 2 and 3 plot sites.

The lower threshold for free FTTP for sites with 20 or more plots will take effect on April 1, this year.3 Kim Mears OBE, MD Strategic Infrastructure Development, said: “Our existing offer already provides huge benefits to both buyers and builders alike, but we want to go further and make sure everybody moving into a new build property can enjoy the advantages of Full Fibre broadband.

“The UK is a world leader in digital infrastructure and services today, but as the digital revolution continues at an ever increasing pace, and our demand for data grows, we need to make sure this country stays ahead of the curve by building fast, reliable networks that cater for all the activities we’ll want to do online in the decades ahead.

“We hope these new measures will provide the necessary incentive for housebuilders to adopt this future-proof technology across smaller developments so that no-one’s left behind.

“We urge the Government to push forward with planned legislation to ensure all new build homes have infrastructure to support gigabit capable connections, and we will work closely with government and housebuilders on how best to deliver this.”

3 Selective registrations for plots of 20 or more may be considered for free full fibre installation – where certain conditions/criteria are met – between now and April 1.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 5

Kieran Walker, Technical Director for the Home Builders Federation commented: “The HBF and its membership welcome this change to Openreach’s fibre offering and fully support Openreach in its strategic objective of providing full FTTP to all new dwellings.

“The customer of today expects, in line with other utility suppliers to be provided with fast, reliable, uninterrupted service upon receiving the keys to their new home. This further step improvement will assist housebuilders in ensuring their customers overall journey is positive one.

“This latest offering from Openreach allows housebuilders to further integrate FTTP to new developments that previously may have been financially constrained and is a demonstration of Openreach’s commitment to provide FTTP to all new dwellings.”

According to a London School of Economics & Political Science study of British homebuyers, a good broadband connection now tops off-street parking and access to local amenities as one of the vital deciding factors for people buying a new house. The study also finds that one in ten buyers have walked away from properties with poor internet connection and that broadband is generally connected even before gas. Home owners in London are willing to pay up to 3 per cent above the market price for properties in areas offering very fast broadband speeds.

Providing full fibre to new homes is an important part of Openreach’s commitment to invest in faster, more reliable broadband technology through its new ‘Fibre First’ strategy.

The company is on track to reach 4 million homes and businesses with its Full Fibre network by the end of March 2021, and wants to reach 15 million by the middle of the decade if the right conditions are in place.

Developers can take advantage of the new pricing by registering their new sites here

Following table shows the changes to the Openreach Rate Card; New Sites Rate Card Comparison New Rate Card effective 1st April 2020

Existing Rate Card

New Rate Card (capped at 2k)

Plots

Contribution per plot

Contribution per site

Contribution per plot

Contribution per site

2

£3,172

£6,344

£2,000

£4,000

3

£2,337

£7,011

£2,000

£6,000

4

£1,851

£7,404

£2,000

£8,000

5

£1,527

£7,635

£1,800

£9,000

6

£1,291

£7,746

£1,600

£9,600

7

£1,110

£7,770

£1,400

£9,800

8

£965

£7,720

£1,200

£9,600

9

£846

£7,614

£1,000

£9,000

10

£747

£7,470

£747

£7,470

11

£662

£7,282

£662

£7,282

12

£588

£7,056

£588

£7,056

13

£524

£6,812

£524

£6,812

14

£467

£6,538

£467

£6,538

15

£415

£6,225

£415

£6,225

16

£369

£5,904

£369

£5,904

17

£328

£5,576

£328

£5,576

18

£290

£5,220

£290

£5,220

19

£255

£4,845

£255

£4,845

20

£223

£4,460

£0

£0

21

£193

£4,053

£0

£0

22

£166

£3,652

£0

£0

23

£140

£3,220

£0

£0

24

£116

£2,784

£0

£0

25

£94

£2,350

£0

£0

26

£73

£1,898

£0

£0

27

£53

£1,431

£0

£0

28

£35

£980

£0

£0

29

£17

£493

£0

£0

6 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

THE SNICKERS WORKWEAR FAMILY BRINGING YOU THE BEST SOLID GEAR SAFETY SHOE TECHNOLOGY.

Incorporating some of the most advanced technical features in safety shoe design.

With all the Hallmarks you find in Snickers Workwear – quality, comfort, durability and street-smart style, Solid Gear safety shoes and boots are fast becoming one of the most popular brands chosen by discerning tradesmen and women.

With a wide range to choose from that integrate the type of modern technical designs you’ll find in outdoor and athletic footwear, Solid Gear safety footwear combines best in class materials for comfort, protection and durability.

There’s a host of first-to-market features like GORE-Tex Surround Technology for unrivalled and all-round breathability.

Plus ETPU sports footwear performance that delivers unrivalled footbed energy return that really puts a spring in your step.

Added to the Vibram outsoles and Cordura Rip-Stop fabric in other styles, you’ll get rugged protection all day long. What’s more, the GORE-Tex Fabric Technology also makes the footwear water repellent and waterproof to keep your feet dry. Added to which, the unique BOA Closure System on certain styles, distributes the pressure evenly across your feet to ensure a glove-like fit.

Overall, this combination of marketleading materials, fabrics, linings and high-tech features provides the kind of insulation and protection that will keep your feet warm and comfortable all day long.

To get more information on Solid Gear and Toe Guard - the Next Generation of Safety Footwear, visit the website at www.solidgearfootwear.com alternatively, call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788.

TALLY FRIE N EN M Y• DL

TALLY FRIEN EN

ENVIRO N Y• DL

ENVIRO NM

8 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

WELCOME

UKATA urges construction industry workers to undertake asbestos training In 1999, there was a total asbestos ban in the UK, but the deadly building material is still claiming the lives of more than 5000 people every year.

Work undertaken by construction workers, such as cleaning out debris and discarded material in properties built before the year 2000, puts them at increased risk of coming across disturbed asbestos fibres and developing deadly asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma (terminal cancer of the lung linings).

With asbestos used widely for decades prior to its ban, it is estimated to be present in thousands of buildings in the UK, as it was used in many building products, mixed with other materials, therefore making it almost impossible to detect. Additionally, it may also be present in premises soils and surrounding grounds.

A worrying lack of awareness of the deadly construction material means workers are unwittingly putting their own, and other’s lives at risk every time they undertake work that disturbs the fabric of a building, built before 2000.

Asbestos kills *20 tradespeople in the UK every week, making it the single biggest cause of work-related deaths. UKATA is urging every tradesperson to ensure they undertake the appropriate level of asbestos training relevant to their role.

Craig Evans, UKATA Chief Operating Officer, explained: “Too many people are exposing themselves to asbestos unknowingly because of a lack of awareness of the material.

“Any person who may potentially come in to contact with asbestos in their day to day work, must legally receive the correct level of information, instruction and

training. Asbestos awareness training is intended to help workers avoid carrying out work that will disturb asbestos containing materials. However, for those workers who are planning work that will intentionally disturb asbestos fibres, then a higher level of asbestos training will be required.

“Since UKATA was established ten years ago, we’ve provided asbestos training to around two million people, but this is still not enough particularly when you consider how many tradespeople there are in the UK. “Asbestos awareness training is widely available throughout the UK. The sacrifice of half a day’s work to attend asbestos awareness training could ultimately save your life and safeguard those around you.”

UKATA is a leading authority on asbestos training. To find a UKATA approved asbestos training provider near you, visit www.ukata.org.uk or for free advice call our team on 01246 824437.

Over 5,000 people die in the UK each year due to asbestos related diseases.

It is a legal requirement that all who may come across asbestos in their day to day work have been provided with the relevant asbestos training.

Asbestos can be found in many products used in building materials and may also be present in soils and surrounding grounds.

Have you received asbestos training?

UK Asbestos Training Association “UKATA” sets standards in asbestos training and ensures that its members meet those standards.

Book with a UKATA Approved asbestos training provider using the nationwide directory online at www.ukata.org.uk or call 01246 824 437.

WWW.UKATA.ORG.UK

INFO@UKATA.ORG.UK UKATA is a not for profit association

10 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

HELLBERG SAFE FACE PROTECTION Hellberg Safety specialist PPE products include highly advanced hearing protection products, face protection and communication solutions for personal wellbeing on site.

Hellberg’s SAFE face protection range offers visor solutions to suit a variety of different internal and external work environments. With

a standard product design across all the products, the visors and carriers can be combined with hearing protectors and safety helmets for more complete solutions, or be used as individual visor solutions.

These stylish products give you a multiple options that all fit perfectly together. Choose one of our ready-made combinations, or select your own combination of carrier, visor and hearing protector.

Everything is really well made, comfortable to wear and delivers superb, practical protection for the hazards you’re likely to face - whatever job you’re doing.

The Hellberg Safety PPE range features the latest advanced technologies, modern design, comfort and quality together with great performance to appeals to all types of professional users in high-risk work environments.

For more information on the Hellberg Safety product range, call the Hultafors Group UK Helpline on 01484 854788, checkout the website www.hellbergsafety.com or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 11

NEW – EMMA Safety Footwear Added to

the Hultafors Group PPE Portfolio As customer demands for accreditation, safety, quality and value increase, the Hultafors Group continues to stay one step ahead of the competition.

The Hultafors Group’s PPE portfolio already includes market-leading tools, workwear and protective wear brands such as Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, Hellberg Safety and Hultafors Tools.

The acquisition of EMMA Safety Footwear considerably enhances it range of safety shoes and boots with fully accredited, excellent value footwear to satisfy a wide range of user needs, working environments including light and heavy industry sectors plus office and retail environments.

Complementing the Solid Gear and Toe Guard range, EMMA safety footwear includes all the Hultafors Group hallmarks of hi-tech designs that combine top quality materials for ultimate comfort, maximum safety and wellbeing at work.

“Delivering this new safety footwear brand to the UK market is a natural step for us to become the leading company in the UK for Safety Footwear, Workwear and Hand Tools”, said Peter Dumigan, the Hultafors Group UK managing director. “Adding EMMA to the Solid Gear and Toe Guard footwear ranges extends our offer of premium quality, high value brands that are the natural fit for discerning professional craftsmen and women”.

To get more information on EMMA Safety Footwear, visit the website at www.emmasafetyfootwear.com , call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788 or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

1 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

WELCOME

Supreme Concrete launches new stockist guide for 2020 As part of its commitment to supporting the built environment, Supreme Concrete, the UK’s leading manufacturer of precast concrete products and fencing systems, has released its new stockist guide for 2020.

The easy to use brochure has been updated to incorporate the latest changes to its extensive product offering following the addition of Anderton Concrete’s building and fencing products into its portfolio. In addition to its updated product offering, the newly refreshed guide provides customers with a simple pricelist to help streamline the planning and specification stages.

specific products for each project they are working on. This can be easily done through the guide’s simple breakdown of the products’ attributes, including colours, textures and pricing.

Mark Swift, Director of Sales for Supreme Concrete, said: “Our latest stockist guide provides a handy catalogue for customers to refer to when selecting

For further information on Supreme’s market leading offering, visit: www.supremeconcrete.co.uk or call 0333 999 2220

“2019 has seen a fantastic increase to our product range, including the inclusion of pre-blended packs of high quality Shearstone Walling Stone, all of which can be found in our new stockist guide.”

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Tough Machines for Tough Jobs

Go-ahead for ground breaking new £150m mental health facilities at springfield university hospital South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has today announced that it has secured government approval to start work on its two new state-of-the-art facilities for south west Londoners.

This multi-million-pound development will see the construction of two new mental health facilities set to open in 2022 on its largest site in Tooting, south London. This includes eight new inpatient wards which will be further boosted by the modernisation of the Trust’s community services. SWLSTG has already started construction work on this programme, which will include new housing and a 32-acre public park (the first of its kind since the 2012 London Olympics).

The Trust has now formally signed contracts for the delivery of the Springfield University Hospital development with Springfield and Tolworth Estate Partnership (STEP), a 50/50 partnership between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures

Ltd and Kajima Partnerships. STEP will act as master developer for the site with Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd as main contractor for the new mental health units and the park, surrounding public realm and infrastructure.

This huge milestone in the Trust’s Estate Modernisation Programme marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way the SWLSTG delivers mental health services for 1.1m south west Londoners.

The Trust received government approval for its Full Business Case for the development following extensive engagement with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Improvement, NHS England and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 17

Ann Beasley CBE, Chair of South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust said: “This is the biggest landmark yet in our Estate Modernisation Programme and we are extremely proud of getting permission to go ahead and being able to start work on these brand-new, first class inpatient facilities.

“This new environment will make a huge difference to our patients and the way we provide the best quality care towards their recovery.

“It is incredibly important to us that we provide patients with the best environment and services possible and we are pleased to have done this primarily through raising our own funds.

“Furthermore, this work will ensure that the Springfield University Hospital site is regenerated in a way which reduces the stigma of mental health conditions by integrating our organisation with our community.”

Vanessa Ford, Acting Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust said: “We have been developing the plans for our brand-new mental health inpatient wards for many years and we are delighted to have received government approval, meaning we can begin construction on these state-ofthe-art inpatient buildings.

The plans, now formally approved, will bring forward a range of benefits to the people who use the Trust’s services, their carers and the local community, including: • World class mental health facilities: delivering the best care for patients • 839 brand new homes: providing housing for local families in Tooting • A 32-acre public park: providing excellent outdoor space including a gym and play areas for our local community • Community shops and a café: for local residents to meet and relax • Extensive community healthcare: treating people closer to their families and their home • District heating system and centralised energy centre: providing efficient heating and reducing carbon emissions • Land to be made available for a new school: investing in our children’s future • More than £5 million for new transport facilities: boosting transport links for local residents

“The wards will revolutionise the way we deliver care for generations to come and ensure we can provide high quality and safe services.

The new facilities have been carefully designed alongside our clinicians and service users to provide the most supportive environment and innovative facilities for the delivery of mental health care.

“As well good news for patients, the new hospital facilities will be good news for the environment with much more efficient use of energy and working towards a carbon neutral footprint.”

Harriet Gladwell-Phillips, the STEP General Manager commented: “We are delighted to be involved in the Estate Modernisation Programme at Springfield. It’s a pioneering project for the NHS providing not only much needed high quality mental health facilities, but also housing and new green spaces for south west London.

“The whole area will benefit from the redevelopment of the site, which will bring together new and existing people who live and work at Springfield to create a community with mental health and wellbeing at its heart.”

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 19

20 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

‘X-TREME’ 4-WAY STRETCH FLEXIBLE COMFORT FROM ENGEL WORKWEAR Recognised for its comprehensive range of well fitting, stylish and practical workwear, Danish manufacturer ENGEL build further on their reputation in the UK with the introduction of their new ‘X-Treme’ 4 - Way Stretch’ work trousers.

Designed to allow as much flexibility as possible whilst kneeling or bending, the slim-fit trousers feature a 4-way stretch ‘breathable’, cooling fabric which quickly absorbs and dries light perspiration.

The knee-pad pockets are reinforced with hard wearing Kevlar Teramid and have two options for pad height adjustment; in addition to the many useful pockets for keeping essential tools and accessories immediately to hand, some of which have either Velcro or zip closures, optional hanging tool pockets can be attached to the

waist; the trousers also have extra deep hems so that lengths can be increased if required.

Made from 73% nylon, 17% cotton and 10% elastine, the ‘Engel X-Treme 4-Way Stretch’ work trousers are available in a variety of colour combinations and in all popular sizes.

For more information contact Gareth Bladen – email: gbl@f-engel.com Telephone: +44(0) 7759 520034 or visit: www.engel.eu/en

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 21

Knee and body protection from Redbacks Cushioning Redbacks Cushioning Limited, developers of the award winning, ‘Leaf-Spring’ cushioning technology offers a range of products to help protect the knees and body from damage caused by kneeling

T

he Redbacks Pocket Kneepad, specifically designed to fit work trousers, features a flexible leaf-spring held within a thermoplastic honeycomb matrix which unlike foam or gel ensures a high compression rate and 100% recovery to its original shape.

This combination and the inherent ‘memory’ aspect gives unique controlled weight distribution; the deceleration of pressure protects both the knees and body from potentially damaging impact forces and gives long lasting, anti-fatigue support; traditional foam or gel solutions create point-pressure which focus the force or energy to a point which is then transmitted back into the knee joint and beyond.

Easy to slide in and curved to fit comfortably around the knee, the water-resistant pads which conform to CE EN14404 Type 2 Level 1 help to protect against possible injury from sharp objects, wick away sweat and provide thermal protection from warm or cold surfaces; they are machine washable at 30°c and 100% recyclable.

For more information or to become a supplier visit www.redbackscushioning.com email: sales@redbackscushioning.com or telephone: 01327 702104

22 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

NEW EVO®VISTA™ DUALSWITCH™ HELMET certified to both EN397 and EN12492 with integrated eye protection

The EVO®VISTA™ DUALSWITCH™ helmet provides the perfect solution and protection for those needing both Head Protection for working at ground level and working at height combined with Eye Protection in the form of a lens or shield which is fully integrated and fully compatible.

The EVO®VISTA™ DUALSWITCH™ Helmet offers the choice of either a VISTAlens™ or VISTAshield™ depending on the levels of protection and performance required.

Select the EVO®VISTAlens™ DUALSWITCH™ Optical class 1 overspec for an unobstructed wide view lens conforming to EN166.1.FT.KN providing F rated impact Combining the new EVO®VISTA™ retractable eyewear protection - tested with 6mm steel ball bearing at speeds helmet technology with the innovative DUALSWITCH™ of up to 100mph (160kph), even at extreme temperatures chinstrap harness system, it is easy for the wearer to with anti-scratch and anti-mist coatings. Or choose the switch between working at ground level standard EN397 EVO®VISTAshield™ DUALSWITCH™ Optical class 1 and working at height safety standard EN12492 by eyeshield which offers a clear panoramic view conforming flicking a switch. to EN166.1.AT.KN providing A rated impact protection - tested with 6mm steel ball bearing at speeds of up to At the same time, the EVO®VISTA™ DUALSWITCH™ 425mph (685kph), even at extremes of temperature with helmet provides individuals with compatible integrated anti-scratch and anti-mist coatings.

Optical class 1 eye protection which is fully retractable when not in use and cannot be lost by the user or The EVO® VISTA DUALSWITCH™ range has been damaged on site after issue. Wearers can wear their own designed to be fully compatible with JSP respirators such spectacles under the lens or shield saving additional as the Force™8 PressToCheck™ and the Sonis® helmetcosts to companies for prescription safety eyewear. mounted ear defender range.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE 23

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET The Latest Footwear Technology from U-Power – Personal Anti-Fatigue Matting Italian safety footwear manufacturer U-Power has just launched the most technologically-advanced safety shoe on the market – the Red-Carpet.

The Red-Carpet range of 20 different styles, to our knowledge is the first in the world to feature its very own, anti-fatigue matting insert in every outer sole, made from a revolutionary new material from BASF.

shape of the foot. Two of the styles feature Hypertex Putek® technology, a breathable and water-repellent material that is 20 times more abrasion-resistant than traditional materials.

Wearing a Red-Carpet shoe feels like standing on an anti-fatigue mat. The shoe stimulates the foot to continually revitalise blood flow and energy through the legs and feet, so eases fatigue and exerts a positive influence across the whole body, relieving neck, back, leg and joint pain, increasing circulation, providing exceptional comfort and hugely improving the working day.

U-Power’s Managing Director, Stuart Thorne, said: “Gone are the days of expensive, slippery, hard to clean and maintain anti-fatigue matting that constantly needs to be replaced. The matting has been transferred from the workplace floor to the Red-Carpet shoe, sending the body stress relief they need direct to the wearer’s feet.

Every Red-Carpet shoe comes as ESD as standard, is lightweight and flexible,highly slip resistant and features an anti-static, shock-absorbing, breathable Elastopan® memory + Gel insole that moulds to the

“And gone are the days of fatigued and aching legs and limbs for those whose jobs entail a lot of standing and little movement, such as in the automotive or packaging industries. The stress and trauma of a fixed work position are removed, just by wearing the Red-Carpet.”

For more information, email info.uk@u-power.it, call +44 (0)1543 417 241, or go to

https://www.u-power.it/en/safety-shoes-collection-red-carpet

Health & Safety Update Recommended Suppliers

SBS

- The Lone Worker Alarm Company

Our in-depth Knowledge of the issues surrounding lone workers and emergency response systems is based on many years of experience in consultation, research, design, implementation, management and support.

The unique SBES lone worker alarm systems have been developed over the last two decades, enabling us to provide the most expert service and system solutions available in today’s industries.

SBES’s commitment to lone worker protection is second to none.

We have systems to suit all sizes of companies, so whether you’re a single user or a global company, we have the best lone worker protection available

With over 30 years of experience, and installations in over 20 countries, PoolLock is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of automatic safety and slatted covers for swimming pools.

PoolLock Automatic Covers offer you the safest, most convenient, most reliable and energy-efficient way to cover your pool.e

> www.poollock.com

> www.sbes.co.uk

Redbacks Cushioning - Innovative products built to make you last Redbacks® was formed in 2011 in order to develop our cushioning invention for which we now hold a number of international patents.

> ww.redbackscushioning.com

Vicaima unexpected harmony Established in 1959, Vicaima have been supplying quality interior timber doors and door assemblies to the UK market for over 25 years. From its European HQ in Portugal, products are sent to be enhanced and distributed by the Vicaima Limited manufacturing and warehouse facility in Swindon, Wiltshire to developers, merchants and clients nationwide.

> www.vicaima.com/en-gb

Quirepace Engel Workwear - workwear for professionals

- innovation in vacuum and conveying technology

Our workwear is constantly adapted to the demands of the market. We sell the workwear that you need - whether it’s traditional or modern, or whether it needs to meet specific certifications.

We combine proven products with carefully designed solutions to deliver outstanding benefits to our customers. Our extensive experience enables us to best interpret our customers’ requirements and aspirations, in order to deliver first-class products, systems and services.

> www.engel.eu/en

> www.quirepace.co.uk