Scaffmag Issue 14

scaffmag THE SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE

ISSUE 14, 2021 SCAFFMAG.COM SCAFFOLDERS’ QUARTERLY

MANCHESTER TOWN HALL

The UK’s largest commercial scaffolding project gets under way

PLUS

Recruitment in the face of a looming ‘perfect storm’

Drug and alcohol misuse: Do scaffolders have a problem?

Layher FlexBeam excels on Forth Road Bridge

ABOVE AND BEYOND

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR THE UK SCAFFOLDING INDUSTRY SINCE 1945

NATIONAL ACCESS AND SCAFFOLDING CONFEDERATION WWW.NASC.ORG.UK

RAISING THE STANDARD

GET CISRS TRAINING, GET SMART FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CISRS.ORG.UK

Contents

52

46

36 REGULARS

6

NEWS ROUNDUP The latest industry news including a nationwide

tradesman shortage, the world’s largest scaffold wrap, job placements for Enigma, plus much, much more.

15

FEATURES

36

HEALTH Why do many scaffolders think drug and alcohol

misuse is acceptable and is there a way to tackle the culture?

Karl Christy, Founder of D&A Confidential Ltd investigates.

PEOPLE Grahame Anderson talks to scaffolder and author

John McNicoll about his first book.

40

TRANSPORT Des Moore, TRAD Group CEO and NASC President

(2017–19) explains why there is currently a crisis in

16

BUSINESS

transportation, Coventry Scaffolding has commissioned its

Liftbot receive more funding and French giant The Altrad

first 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz truck. Plus the HSE in

18

OPINION

Group has announced a new deal with the Actavo Group.

partnership with the DfT has published updated guidance on work-related road risk.

Billy Jones, Managing Director of scaffolding specialist

Millcroft, discusses why the right training and collaborative approach are critical to the efficient delivery of rail projects.

50

PROJECTS Lyndon SGB are deploying and installing a huge array

of complex access solutions for one of the country’s most prestigious renovation projects at Manchester Town Hall.

22

SYSTEM

Layher Ltd is now central to major maintenance work being

For decades system scaffold has been seen as too

undertaken on one of Scotland’s most iconic structures plus

expensive for many companies, but is that all about to change?

the Thanet Parkway scheme will be open to the public in 2023.

26

TRAINING

63

Exciting training and recruitment plans ahead for

CCM, CISRS and NASC.

ADVERTISE WITH US ScaffMag gives businesses and brands an unrivalled

opportunity to advertise their products or services. Get in touch.

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Welcome Over the last few months ScaffMag has reported much about material shortages and inflated prices within our industry, unfortunately, things have got significantly worse. Now a major labour and HGV driver shortage is creating a ‘perfect storm’ and impacting business operations across the whole of the construction industry.

A recent survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that the shortage of scaffolders and other tradespeople is suffocating growth for the UK which they fear could last for years to come (see page 6). Scaffolding trade association the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has said it recognises that overcoming labour shortages both now and in the medium term presents a huge challenge. But it’s nothing new. The need to address the skills gap within the scaffolding industry has been understood by our sector for some time.

This is for several reasons, but some believe the introduction of the controversial CISRS CPD course in 2017 has also had a negative impact, widening the skills gap further with many reports of scaffolders not continuing in the trade for financial reasons.

So how do we solve the skills-gap issue and attract new people into scaffolding? On page 30, the NASC outlines a number of initiatives that it hopes will address the problem head-on and raise awareness of the variety of scaffolding career opportunities available for many job seekers and school leavers. Meanwhile, on page 18, Billy Jones of Millcroft discusses why the right training and collaborative approach are critical to the delivery of rail projects.

Elsewhere in this edition of ScaffMag, Karl Christy, Founder of D&A Confidential, investigates why many scaffolders think drug and alcohol misuse is acceptable and asks if there is a way to tackle the culture (see page 36).

Turning to our Projects section and gracing the cover of this issue is Lyndon SGB’s Manchester Town Hall project. I was invited to this magnificent structure that is said to be the largest commercial scaffolding project and one of the most prestigious renovation schemes in the country. Read my report on page 52. Happy reading and stay safe!

EDITORIAL Editor Daniel Norton T 01472 476024 M 07776 218831 E dan@scaffmag.com @ScaffMagDan Features writers Grahame Anderson Richard Trenchard Design Demot Rushe Dermotrushe.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Billy Jones Dave Mosley Des Moore Karl Christy

ADVERTISING Manager Jessica Norton T 01472 476024 M 07776 218831 E jess@scaffmag.com

PUBLISHED BY ScaffMag Ltd Office G8 The Enterprise Village Prince Albert Gardens Grimsby DN31 3AT

facebook.com/scaffmag twitter.com/ScaffoldingNews

Daniel Norton – Editor dan@scaffmag.com

SCAFFMAG.COM | 5

News

SCAFFOLDER SHORTAGE A major survey of building firms by the CBI has found that a shortage of scaffolders, bricklayers, carpenters and electrical engineers is suffocating growth in housebuilding and civil engineering projects ❖ The CBI now fears these shortages could last for ‘years’ as some of the most in-demand tradesmen, such as bricklayers, have been left off the post-Brexit Shortage Occupation List.

With material supplies and transport issues both being worsened by the current HGV driver shortages, the CBI is calling on the government to get a grip on the situation.

Tony Danker, CBI Director-General,

6 | S CAFFMAG.COM

said: “Labour shortages are biting right across the economy. While the CBI and other economists still predict growth returning to pre-pandemic levels later this year, furlough ending is not the panacea some people think will magically fill labour supply gaps.

“These shortages are already affecting business operations and will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic recovery.

“Other European countries are also

experiencing staffing shortages as their economies bounce back. In the UK, many overseas workers left during the pandemic affecting sectors including hospitality, logistics and food processing.

And new immigration rules make replacing those who left more complex.

ScaffMag asked Dave Mosley, NASC Training Director, for his reaction.

He said: “NASC recognises that overcoming labour shortages both now

and in the medium-term presents a huge challenge to the whole of construction.

“While this issue has been exacerbated by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, it was by no means created by them. The need to address the skills gap has been understood by NASC and the scaffolding sector for some time.

“NASC has a number of projects and initiatives in place to raise awareness of the benefits of taking up a career in scaffolding to a variety of jobseekers, all of which are aimed at bringing more people into the scaffolding industry.

“We are working closely with partners such as the Department for Work and Pensions and Ministry of Justice to help promote a wide range of opportunities within our membership, which we communicate to jobseekers through the NASC’s dedicated scaffolding careers website.

“Our work with DWP has led to the creation of the NASC Kickstart Gateway, via which close to 500 six-month work-experience placements at 80+ NASC member companies across the UK have been made available to young people.

Nearly 100 of these placements have been filled to date.

“The NASC continues to offer financial incentives to its members to support the training of new scaffoldingindustry employees. These include a £50,000 funding pot through which NASC Contractor members can claim up to £125 per operative for completing the New Entrant, CISRS Operative Training Scheme, and a £150,000 fund to re-train ex-military personnel.

“The NASC understands that tackling the skills shortage is crucial if the scaffolding industry wants to continue to thrive. There is no ‘quick fix’, however, through initiatives like those outlined above, we must strive to promote scaffolding to as wide an audience as possible.”

WORLD’S LARGEST SCAFFOLD WRAP ❖ Embrace Building Wraps has

renovations commenced on-site

completed the world’s largest

at the end of December 2020.

scaffold wrap installation at the

The banner features an artwork

Bullring in Birmingham.

produced by Birmingham-born

The final section of a colourful

designer Osman Yousefzada

printed scaffold banner covering

comprising of interlocking

the temporary scaffolding installed

six-metre diameter dogtooth

by Midland Scaffolding Services at

flower designs in three

the iconic Selfridges & Co

contrasting colours.

department store in Birmingham has now been installed.

The striking dogtooth flower

In total the Embrace Building Wraps team installed 5,888 linear metres of scaffold tubes for the

design wrap measures almost

banner frames, vertical curved

9,000m2. This is 58% bigger than

shaping and buffer rails. To put

the currently recognised Guinness

that into perspective, if laid

World Record holder for the

end-to-end the scaffold tubes

largest scaffold banner which was

would extend around four miles

installed in Madrid back in 2018 at

(six kilometres).

a mere 5,672m2.

The weight of the printed wraps

At the extremes, the wrap is

alone is just under five tonnes,

246 metres long and 37 metres

more than three Mini Coopers.

high – equivalent to a giant wall of

Embrace seamlessly joined 24

19 double-decker buses stacked

individual banners of various

eight high.

shapes and sizes, of which 85% had

Installation of the frames and

three or more adjoining perimeter

digitally printed wrap which will

edges that had to line up perfectly

disguise the works during

with the adjacent banners.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 7

// News

ENIGMA HELPS KICK-START CAREERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Enigma Industrial Services is providing job placements for young people to help kick-start their careers within the scaffolding industry ❖ The Covid pandemic has placed the global economy into the worst recession since the Second World War, and it’s contributed to the highest unemployment figures for many years throughout the UK, particularly amongst the younger generation.

To try to address the situation, the government-funded Kickstart Scheme launched recently will help create job opportunities for 16–24-year-olds who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

The government hopes employers throughout the UK will be encouraged to provide job placements for young people so they can gain experience within the workplace to help kick-start their careers.

The Enigma Industrial Services, Derby Depot, have recently provided four Kickstart trainees with six-month placements and are extremely pleased with the progress and contributions they

8 | SCAFFMAG.COM

have made so far to support the team on-site and the wider business.

To further assist and support their professional development and help to equip them with new skills, Enigma has inducted all four trainees into the COTS programme provided in-house.

To further develop their skills and knowledge, Enigma has provided the trainees with the opportunity to undertake a series of online training modules provided by the QSHE Training Academy – a structured internal learning platform containing additional online training modules.

The new Kickstart trainee recruits can study more than 30 modules to improve their understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace.

On successful completion of course modules, the trainees become recognised ‘Knights of the Academy’ and are

awarded certificates for their achievements.

This extra tuition and support will better equip them for the workplace and provide them with additional valuable transferrable skills.

Darren Williams, Enigma Industrial Services, Operations Director, commented: “We believe young people actively seeking work deserve a chance to succeed. It’s great to see our new Kickstart placement trainees proactively embracing the additional training provided by Enigma.

“I am confident the new skills they have learnt to improve their Health & Safety understanding and knowledge whilst engaging with the Enigma Academy – Training Platform, will present them with future opportunities to progress their careers within the organisation or elsewhere.”

Simian Academy boosts future of sustainable construction ❖ July saw the official opening of The London Academy of Sustainable Construction in the heart of Waltham Forest. Cllr Simon Miller, from the London borough of Waltham Forest, was charged with carrying out the ceremony as a host of proud guests looked on. It’s the newest centre in their portfolio.

This superb centre will continue to deliver the full CISRS scaffolding curriculum to the highest standards for a range of clients, but it will also maintain a sharp focus on benefiting the residents of Waltham Forest, in the form of Preemployment Training Schemes (PETS), Green Energy Skills Training, Modern Methods of Construction, Construction Engineering, Digital Construction and Apprenticeships.

Simian MD Simon Hughes explained: “After what has been an incredibly challenging 18 months or so, it’s hugely rewarding to officially launch our newly branded London Academy of Sustainable Construction.

Big thanks to the Simian team, our partners and Waltham Forest Council for their efforts in getting us to where we are today. Our intention is for LASC to become a benefit to the whole Waltham Forest community, and we have already seen some fantastic employment results for residents, but we aim to build on this and get more and more local people skilled and ready for work in the construction and green-energy sectors.”

In fact, the day was cause for a double celebration as Cllr Clyde Loakes also took time to launch the new Green Skills Hub, set to benefit the whole community. The green energy skills hub courses are being developed at LASC as part of the Green Energy Skills Training Alliance (GESTA), a joint initiative between London Borough of Waltham Forest Council, Waltham Forest College and Simian. The training is planned to meet the skills need

for the installation and maintenance of energy-efficiency technology for new-build construction and the retrofit of existing properties.

Neil Bewick, Centre Manager at LASC, said: “This delivery marks a significant step forward for the development of our Green Energy Skills Training at the London Academy of Sustainable Construction here in Waltham Forest. Air source heat pump technology is a low-carbon heating option for both new-build construction and retrofit of existing social housing and private properties. We are keen to support the emergence of this energy-efficient technology by providing skills training for installers not only in the borough of Waltham Forest but the wider pan-

London and south-east region.”

As a company Simian was established in 2005 by a team of scaffolding industry experts with unsurpassed knowledge, expertise and experience. Simian has rapidly grown to become one of the UK’s leading training and consultancy organisations.

They deliver training courses designed for all levels of personnel, from apprenticeships for those just starting out in their career through to courses for advanced level scaffolders, inspectors and supervisors.

It’s worth noting their highly skilled team of scaffolding consultants are dedicated to instilling a safe operating culture throughout global construction, infrastructure and industrial environments.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: The striking exterior of the London Academy of Sustainable Construction in the heart of Waltham Forest; Cllr Clyde Loakes (Deputy Chair of the LGA’s Environment Board outlines the plans for the future; the official opening of the Academy.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 9

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// News

CITB IS SET TO PROTECT AND INCREASE TRAINING CAPACITY FOR SCAFFOLDING ❖ In addition to creating increased capacity at the Bircham Newton, Norfolk-based training site, retention of the training centre at Erith has been confirmed, in order to ensure that high-quality provision remains available for the sector.

This is to ensure employers’ access to specialist training provision in the region, particularly in the priority skills area of scaffolding.

NCC South, run by expert instructors, continues to provide high-quality training alongside CITB’s other colleges at Bircham Newton, Norfolk, and Inchinnan, near Glasgow.

Supporting employers’ core skills and training needs and tackling long-term people and skills challenges underpin CITB’s 2021/22 business plan, published in March.

CITB remains focused on supporting learners at the three NCC centres to continue delivering excellent training for construction employers.

This commitment has been welcomed by industry body the Construction Industry

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY URGENTLY NEEDS NEW WORKERS TO ENSURE CONTRACTS ARE FULFILLED AND THE INDUSTRY CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE

12 | S CAFFMAG.COM

Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS).

David Mosley, CISRS Managing Director, said: “It’s great news that the scaffolding training facility at Erith is to be retained by CITB, whose expert instructors have provided training for London and south-east employers for so long.

“The construction industry urgently needs new workers to ensure contracts are fulfilled and the industry can be more productive, so the retention of Erith provides much-needed continuity, reassurance and confirmation that CITB remains committed to training the next generation of scaffolders.”

Jackie Ducker, CITB Customer and Product Director, said: “Scaffolding has been identified as a priority skills need and training is in high demand.

“Employers in the south-east and London can have the confidence that they can access the training they need through CITB, which will continue to support a dedicated high-quality training facility run by experts, for professionals, to benefit the region, industry, and wider economy.”

NEWS IN BRIEF ❖ CITB RECEIVES BACKING FOR LEVY Construction employers have backed CITB’s Levy Proposals to support skills and training across England, Scotland and Wales, by way of the Consensus process.

The provisional result will now be taken to the Secretary of State for Education to make the final decision on the issue of a new three-year Levy Order which, if approved, would be issued for 2022–2025.

This will see the levy continue at the following rates at 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net paid (Taxable) CIS Sub-contractors.

CITB has said it will now get on with delivering this year’s business plan and working with the industry to agree its forward plan. In doing so, it will listen to the feedback it has received on how it can communicate its plans and impact more clearly and ensure its support is relevant, accessible and easily understood.

Overall, 66% or two-thirds of the total number of levy-paying employers agreed to the proposals, with 63% agreeing when measured by the total amount of levy paid.

TRADE BODY LAUNCHES CLEAN AIR ZONE TRACKER The Scaffolding Association aims to help its members and the wider industry after publishing a first-of-its-kind Clean Air Zone Tracker ❖ The UK’s largest scaffolding trade body, the Scaffolding Association, has recently published details that demonstrate the scale of Clean Air Zones (CAZs) being introduced across the UK. Bath, Birmingham and London already have schemes in place which are imposing charges on certain light and heavy commercial vehicles to enter specific areas, and nearly a dozen more major towns and cities across the UK are at the advanced stages of introducing similar arrangements.

In recent years, the government has increased pressure on local authorities to improve air quality and many have chosen to introduce charges to deter the most polluting vehicles from entering their towns and cities.

The devolved powers that these local authorities have been given from central government have led to inconsistencies in the types of vehicles affected and the charges being applied from one town or city to another, causing significant confusion for fleet operators.

The Scaffolding Association has said it is pleased to be able to provide their CAZ Tracker which will help their members and the wider sector to understand the implications and support them when quoting for work and planning their journeys.

Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association Robert Candy said: “It is inevitable that our members working in urban areas will be impacted by Clean Air Zones now or in the very near future.

Daily charges from £2 for LGVs to £300 for HGVs must be factored in when tendering for work and planning vehicle movements.

“It is disappointing that local authorities see fit to penalise those working to build, repair or restore within their towns and cities. The construction industry has no feasible alternative to using commercial vehicles and more time should have been given for these businesses to upgrade to newer, cleaner vehicle technologies in order to avoid charges.”

He added, “The average lifespan of an HGV is 12 years, and businesses which have invested in vehicles that are now affected by CAZs have seen their values decimated and it will now be very difficult to sell them on.”

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// People

Ode to the beautiful game Just like a football club making its way up the leagues, scaffolders can also work their way through the ranks winning a higher standing in the industry as Grahame Anderson finds out when he talks to scaffolder and author, John McNicoll

G

iven the right formation of abilities, there’s every chance they can score a few precious victories along the way in terms of the end product. And if you think the sporting analogy doesn’t ring true take a closer look at scaffolder-turned-author John McNicoll who has three magic numbers on the brain: four four two.

He explained: “I’ve been in the scaffolding industry for 25 years now, having started out as an apprentice on the YTS scheme in 1996. I now work as a contracts manager at QFS Scaffolding Ltd, having worked my way up through various scaffolding abilities.

“I’m a keen football fan and was one day given the opportunity to write a few articles by a website on Twitter called By Far the Greatest Team. I did this for around six to 12 months, casually writing in my spare time. I also contributed to outlets such as From the Stands, Give Me Sport, We Are the Busby Boys and Manunited.uk.

“When we were about to go into the initial lockdown in March 2020, I thought I may have a little free time on my hands and decided to start designing a web page to blog on. I wrote a couple of articles and then decided maybe instead I could write a dozen or so articles and join them together to make a book. And off I went.

Trouble was, we never went into lockdown as construction carried on. I had to try and write in the evenings after work and on a Saturday or Sunday morning, often spending hours sat at the dining room table typing away.

“I had made contacts on Twitter with an author and ended up sending some work for publication on his football website.

He advised me to contact Pitch Publishing, who specialise in sports literature. I offered

my submission and was completely shocked when they replied with a thumbs up to get it done and sent over.”

The result is a book called Ode to Four Four Two, examining how the game’s simplest and finest formation was used by coaches in Europe and particularly England, to build iconic teams able to dominate both domestically and on the continent.

He added: “Formations have continually evolved since the birth of the game in the mid-19th century. From teams playing with four or five forwards, to the modern era of teams with just the one, arguably the greatest formation has been 4-4-2. Some of the greatest teams have lined up in this multi-functional system.

“Flick through the football history books and it is filled with teams like AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Leeds United and Barcelona, all enjoying glorious eras playing 4-4-2. But it isn’t just the elite end of the game.

“Who can forget Leicester City, led by Claudio Ranieri, reviving the system against all odds to outperform the Premier League’s big six to claim a historic title in 2016?

“Without showing bias, the story of Wimbledon warms my heart although the Leicester title-winning campaign is just glorious. Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager of all time but the coach I really admire is Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa.

The man is an absolute genius.”

John looks very closely at how and why these teams used the formation to such effect. There’s complete analysis on how they dominated in their era to stand out from the rest. It’s the story of how teams, both big and small in status, have played the system to perfection.

For students of the beautiful game, it’s a masterclass in tactical strategy and a

wonderful read.

John added: “I completed the draft in December and it was released on April 5th 2021. From first thought to sale was slightly over 12 months. My friends and family have been great in supporting me by purchasing and I cannot thank Pitch enough for giving me the opportunity to get some words out of my head and onto a page of a wonderfully crafted book. The day before release it was sitting at number two on Amazon’s hottest new releases.”

And the good news is there’s more to come from John with another riveting book in the pipeline to add to his cultured collection. John says he supports Manchester United, having fallen in love with football after seeing them winning the 1990 FA Cup and England perform in Italia 90.

At 256 pages Ode to Four Four Two; Football’s Simplest and Finest Formation is available on Amazon. Book two is in the pipeline but you will have to wait until pre-release for details.

So why not give John your support and learn more about how 4-4-2 has revolutionised the greatest game on earth.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 15

// Business

A HUGE LIFT FOR LIFTBOT The KEWAZO LIFTBOT, as previously featured in ScaffMag, has received another $5m in funding from Sillicon-Valley based venture capitalists True Ventures

T

he company provides seed and Series A financing to entrepreneurs in today’s fastest-growing markets.

True Ventures has helped more than 300 companies launch and scale their businesses, creating more than 25,000 jobs worldwide. The total amount raised for the LIFTBOT scheme now stands at $9m, following the announcement made in Munich.

Existing investor MIG AG, a Munich-based venture capital firm and one of the founding investors in BioNTech, also participated in the round.

More than 80% of projects are still undertaken manually across the scaffolding industry. The cutting-edge LIFTBOT not only saves 44% of man hours, but also makes assembly more efficient through the automation of transport, insulation, painting and various other on-site material transport.

What’s more, the risk of accidents on-site, is dramatically reduced through use of the system.

In fact, KEWAZO is digitising construction dramatically with robotics and data analytics, offering the robotic LIFTBOT for construction sites and

16 | SCAFFMAG.COM

industrial plants across the globe, along with the ability to collect operational data in the form of its analytics platform.

It all means customers get projects completed quicker and more cost effectively than ever before.

CEO of KEWAZO Artem Kuchukov told us: “We’re excited to have found a partner in True Ventures that understands our vision of bringing robotic technology to the construction industry.

“With the new investment we aim to expand our robotic fleet in Europe and the US, to introduce the RaaS model, and to enable further digital services.”

Matthias Guth, MIG Venture Partner and KEWAZO board member, added: “Since our seed investment in 2018, KEWAZO has come a long way from prototype to the marketable and robust LIFTBOT system. Having True Ventures now leading the Series A round takes the company to the next level and we are proud to further support KEWAZO’s international development “The first batch of LIFTBOTs has been successfully delivered to key customers in the EU markets. Prospective projects worldwide include scaffolding assembly at greenfield projects and

maintenance jobs at construction sites, oil and gas refineries, power plants and shipbuilding yards. KEWAZO has completed more than 40 pilot and test projects, and has delivered robots to major customers like Bilfinger, a leading European industrial service provider, on oil and gas sites in Germany.”

MIG Verwaltungs AG (MIG AG) is one of the leading German VC investors. MIG invests through its MIG funds in young deep-tech and life-sciences companies in German-speaking Europe and beyond. The company has so far invested over €600m in more than 40 companies.

“We have tested LIFTBOT during ongoing operations and immediately recognised the potential of the solution,” said Alexander Brod, branch manager of Bilfinger Arnholdt in Gelsenkirchen.

“With innovative technologies from the fields of robotics and automation, we offer our industrial customers an even safer and more efficient service.”

The company works closely with large scaffolding companies and industrial service providers.

For more information, please go to www.kewazo.com.

ALTRAD GROUP ACQUIRES ACTAVO HIRE & SALES

NEWS IN BRIEF ❖ JECS BAGS SEAGREEN OFFSHORE WIND FARM CONTRACT JECS Offshore Services has been selected to assist with the export cable pull-in, routing, termination and testing work on the Seagreen offshore wind farm.

Nexans Norway has selected JECS Offshore Services to supply

French giants The Altrad Group has announced that on 5th August 2021 it struck a deal to acquire scaffolding and construction suppliers Actavo Hire & Sales from the Actavo Group for an undisclosed sum

its offshore access equipment along with its teams of scaffolding and rigging operatives.

Set to become Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen is located 27 km off the coast of Angus in the North Sea Firth.

Actavo Hire & Sales, which is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has 26 branches in the UK and four branches in Ireland offering a wide range of specialised scaffolding and building equipment for hire and sales.

Ran Oren, Altrad Group Co-CEO, said: “This acquisition sees our first venture into Ireland as well as extending our product offering and service in the UK. “I am pleased to welcome Actavo Hire & Sales into the Altrad Group, and we look forward to the next chapter building on the previous success of the

company as part of the Altrad Group.”

Founded in 1985, the Franceheadquartered Altrad Group has expanded through a series of strategic acquisitions to provide industrial services and scaffolding solutions.

The group employs around 42,000 people worldwide and owns established international brands including Cape, Hertel and Prezioso Linjebygg. In recent years the Altrad Group has acquired a number of well-established industry firms including Generation, Beaver 84 and TRAD.

The offshore wind project, owned by TotalEnergies and SSE Renewables, will feature 114 Vestas 10 MW turbines expected to be operational in 2022/2023.

❖ RICHTER OPENS NEW POLISH OFFICE Temporary works engineering firm Richter has announced it has established a new overseas office in Krakow, Poland.

The company has established a foothold in Europe in line with the company business strategy to provide world-class engineering design service to the construction industry.

Michal Wodynski CEng MIStructE is the Director in charge of its new office and brings with him 16 years of temporary works and structural engineering experience that has been gained across the UK and his native Poland.

Maciej Adamczyk and Filip Trzeciak, both Senior Design Engineers, will be working with Michal delivering various items of temporary works, but drawing upon their strengths in formwork/ falsework and scaffolding.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 17

// Opinion

Training is the ticket to rail sector success Billy Jones, Managing Director of scaffolding specialist Millcroft, discusses why the right training and collaborative approach are critical to the efficient delivery of rail projects

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I

n the scaffolding sector, we’re all used to managing hazards and assessing risk. Working at height and controlling risks such as unstable structures and serious wind loadings is all an integral part of what we do. In the rail sector, the hazards involved are even greater, which is why rail projects require a specialist level of expertise, industry-specific knowledge and a commitment to training.

It’s a sector Millcroft knows very well.

A TfL-approved scaffolding contractor, the company has also worked for Network Rail, Crossrail, HS2 Ltd and a wide variety of contractors and civil engineering providers in the industry for decades.

It means our team understands the complexities of working in a rail environment, including the increased safety requirements, along with challenges such as reaching programme milestones when working hours are restricted, to overnight possessions and maintaining business-as-usual operations for passengers without compromising safety or security.

But even for an experienced contractor like us, recently shortlisted in the Construction News Awards and CN Specialist Awards for our work on the HS2 terminus at Euston Station and our involvement on the Elizabeth Line terminus project

at Paddington, there is never any room for complacency. Each rail project brings its own complexities, safety risks and operational challenges and it is only through close collaboration – internally and with our delivery partners – and appropriate training, that we can ensure smooth project delivery.

UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS AND MISSIONCRITICAL REQUIREMENTS

The journey to a safer, more efficient project begins with the briefing process. Both the Euston HS2 and Paddington projects are huge infrastructure improvements taking years to deliver and requiring existing rail services to operate safely and efficiently throughout.

It’s essential that developing the solution is a collaborative process, which looks beyond the brief to provide the most effective and safe response to the project. This includes considering the phasing of the project, safety factors such as live lines, public access and segregation of the work area and, of course, the flexibility of the scaffolding to enable both planned and unplanned adaptations. It would be naive to think that a complex project delivered over a period of years would not involve a change of scope at some stage, and the communication across the scaffolding and client teams needs to be candid and LEFT: Good communication when sharing plans is vital in rail projects such as this one at London’s Euston station.

OPPOSITE: A train pulls in to the platform at Euston.

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// Opinion

THE PROJECT INVOLVED WORKING IN LIVE, HIGH-VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENTS, TUNNELS AND CONFINED SPACES, RESULTING IN THE NEED FOR RESCUE-AT-HEIGHT TRAINING AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR OPERATIVES WORKING CLOSE TO THE LIVE LINE effective to ensure an agile response when required.

At Millcroft, our in-house design engineers and our considerable rail experience enable us to offer creative and innovative solutions for projects in the sector, which consider the sequencing required for safety and programme continuity at every stage.

TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE

All scaffolding sites require safety best practice and reporting to be embedded in site routines and the right mix of skills on site; that’s a given. But in the rail sector, training related to the specific risks of the environment and toolbox talks to maintain a clear focus on health and safety are even more important.

For example, on our recent Elizabeth Line terminus project at Paddington Station, all Millcroft supervisors had to attend a frontline supervisor appraisal, which involved continuous assessment and an interview with the client’s management team.

The continual assessment element of this process included observations of our supervision delivering toolbox talks, completing harness inspections, carrying out work equipment inspections, and delivering safe systems of work. Our supervisors were also assessed on the way in which they nurtured a safety culture across the team on site.

We delivered TQUK Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work training to the appointed site managers and supervisors, along with Site Management Safety

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Training Scheme training and Site Supervisor Safety Scheme training, at our Site Safety Plus CITB centre in Greenwich. Manual Handling and Preventing Falls training Levels One and Two, and VTQ Mental Health in the Workplace training were also delivered on site by Millcroft’s Head of Group HSEQ, while regular, site-specific toolbox talks were part of the site routine.

The project involved working in live, high-voltage environments, tunnels and confined spaces, resulting in the need for rescue-at-height training and safety training for operatives working close to the live line too. We ensured that there was an SSSTS or SMSTS member of the team on site at all times, along with six rescue-at-height-trained members of staff. Thanks to our high standard of training and competency, our operatives became part of the rescue team for the entire site.

BEYOND COMPLIANCE

While much of the training and accreditation across the team for the Paddington project and other recent Millcroft rail projects forms part of contractual obligations, the bottom line is that scaffolding companies that want to work on transport infrastructure should expect to go above and beyond.

For Millcroft, it’s not just about ticking boxes, it’s about keeping people safe and minimising risk, for us and the client.

// System

For decades system scaffold has been seen as having its place in the market – fine for prestige jobs but ‘too expensive’ to be considered by the majority of scaffold companies. Proponents of system scaffold have banged on about the ‘hidden costs’ associated with tube and fittings and the safety advantages of system scaffold, but these arguments were diluted by the ready supply of labour and a largely buoyant sector that removed the need for creative solutions.

Then Covid struck and at a stroke the arguments for system scaffold became even more persuasive

SOUND SYSTEM

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M

arch 2020: The month the world stopped.

No one can say with any degree of honesty that when that first lockdown was announced they could accurately predict the future. We were almost at year zero.

Then, gradually, with a slow return to normality, a pattern began to emerge. Nationally we saw a shift in the pattern of demand. The construction sector recovered quickly, but the forces that drove that recovery reshaped the type of projects that were undertaken: increased government funding was driving growth in the education, health and civil engineering sectors; housebuilders would enter a race to complete mothballed sites and take advantage of the demand created in part by the reduction in stamp duty, while the seismic change in shopping habits would mean that there would be a need for new warehouse and logistics facilities while existing retail units would end up being repurposed.

We also noticed that, nationally, there was a marked geographical shift in levels of activity.

Some areas that were buoyant pre-pandemic were slower to recover, while other areas saw exponential growth.

At a site level, things had changed, too.

On-site working restrictions to contain Covid-19 transmission rates (ie the continued need for social distancing on site), the need to reduce costs to help companies recover from the lockdown, the shortage of labour for some trades – including scaffolders – and the increased costs of materials, forced companies to take a long, hard look at the way they did things.

The pattern of recovery was also reflected in the projects that UKSSH was involved in.

Public Access Staircases were the first products to leave the yard once the UK started getting back to work.

CUTTING COSTS FOR HOUSEBUILDERS

However, it wasn’t long before other products became the focus of attention, too.

Faced with fewer workers on site, yet with increased demand, housebuilders suddenly appreciated the benefits of systemised loading towers.

The fact that a single lift in system scaffold takes 15 minutes to erect, compared to 90 minutes in tube and fittings (not surprising when you realise that a single lift in tube and fittings requires 144 fittings while in system scaffold it requires none at all) meant that a ubiquitous structure that had been taken for granted for years, suddenly became an area where significant cost and time savings could be achieved.

Safety and site-management benefits also came into play – loading towers are a designed scaffold and must be erected in accordance with a TG20 drawing, UKSSH’s loading towers are a generic design, fully systemised and can only be erected correctly.

YARD MANAGEMENT – A VITAL ROLE IN CONTROLLING COSTS.

At UKSSH we also realised our role in helping customers achieve social distancing, cutting costs and reducing the number of scaffolders on site.

Late in 2020 we opened a new distribution hub to ensure that we could efficiently cope with increased demand.

Because the HAKI system is based around a 3m ledger beam it automatically means that scaffolders

LEFT: Temporary roof at Bradfield College in partnership with H and H Contract Scaffolding.

BELOW: Temporary buildings for Covid testing provided more business opportunities.

MARKET LEADING PRODUCTS.

The benefits of the HAKI Bridge System and Public Access Staircases were well documented long before Covid hit. Time and time again, projects were returning remarkable comparisons. The HAKI Bridge System is quicker to erect – reducing man hours by an incredible 90% compared to the tube-and-fittings alternative, there are fewer components (reducing transport costs by 50%) and the completed bridge is 60% lighter than one constructed in tube and fittings.

Given the government’s investment in infrastructure projects to kick-start the economy, it was no surprise that the HAKI Bridge System and

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// System

operate beyond minimum social distancing requirements. That resulted in an increased demand from scaffold companies involved in large construction projects particularly in the education and logistics sectors.

However, we have long realised that it isn’t just the products that deliver the benefits – equally important is the way those products are delivered to site.

By being proactive with delivery schedules, our own distribution hubs are pivotal in enabling customers to optimise their labour on site.

It is more critical than ever to schedule component deliveries in accordance with the build programme rather than by the lorry load and to ensure that when the components do arrive on site they are in good working order.

Accurate deliveries means that the process of getting materials to the correct location on site requires fewer operatives.

As scaffold contractors, the greatest cost on any job is the wage bill for skilled scaffolders – and the greatest drain on profits is the amount of down-time when highly trained scaffolders are waiting for the right materials to be delivered. At a time when labour is at a premium and material costs are rocketing, attention to detail is the key to optimising profitability.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

The final piece of the jigsaw is flexibility.

The majority of the projects in which we are involved are a combination of sales and hire.

It’s an approach that not only means customers can supplement their own stocks (often resulting in projects being a combination of system scaffold and tube and fittings), but also means that customers can trial a ‘system solution’ on a hire basis and then choose to buy the equipment if that proves to be the most cost-effective solution.

AT A TIME WHEN LABOUR IS AT A PREMIUM AND MATERIAL COSTS ARE ROCKETING, ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS THE KEY TO OPTIMISING PROFITABILITY

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BELOW: TR Scaffolding’s work on M4’s Bray Bridge infrastructure projects have been key to the sectors recovery.

UKSSH: The UK’s leading Haki Systems Specialists

Hire or buy with total confidence

PUBLIC ACCESS STAIRCASES PUBLIC ACCESS BRIDGES WEATHER PROTECTION TEMPORARY BUILDINGS TEMPORARY ROOFS HAKI SYSTEM SUSPENDED SITE STAIRCASES TRIPODS UKSSH are there to support you every step of the way.

With over 150 years of collective knowhow and experience, substantial stocks and a commitment to excellence, you can trust UKSSH to get it right every time.

To find out more visit www.UKSSH.co.uk

HIRE & SALES THE HAKI SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS

hire partner

Telephone: 0800 304 7670 or E-mail: enquiries@ukssh.co.uk Midlands: Magnus, Tame Valley Industrial Est, Wilnecote, Tamworth B77 5BY North: Meadow House Way, Buttermilk Lane, Chesterfield SCAFFMAG.COM | 25 S44 6AE

// Training

TRAINING DAY 26 | S CAFFMAG.COM

Construction College Midlands (CCM) has launched a bumper autumn training schedule to help the construction industry continue bouncing back from Covid

F

ormerly National Construction College Birmingham, the site was acquired by Walsall College in December 2020. With scaffolding seen as a safety-critical industry, CCM has remained open throughout lockdown, providing a suite of CISRS training programmes, in order for construction and redevelopment projects to stay on schedule.

They are now encouraging businesses nationwide to keep up to date, or catch up with CISRS card training, health and safety awareness and other sector-led upskilling opportunities.

John Adams of Construction College Midlands said: “Organisations can go full steam ahead with their staff training plans, whether these involve supporting operatives who delayed CISRS card renewals, new recruits completing mandatory qualifications before going on site, or existing staff through higher skills level training.

“We have an established team here who joined us from CITB and they have taken pride in delivering a suite of courses without compromising on the quality of our provision.

“Our delivery model is in line with Covid restrictions so that businesses can meet critical skills needs and fulfil key contracts.

As we continue to ease out of lockdown, we are looking forward to welcoming new and returning learners and trainees so that productivity and sector growth return to pre-pandemic levels.”

The college offers the full range of CISRS programmes, from new entrants on COTS courses, through to the Advanced Scaffolder training, supervisory programmes and scaffold-inspection courses.

They can also offer SSSTS and SMSTS courses, which continued to be delivered throughout the lockdown via remote delivery sessions.

All college-based training is in line with relevant Covid-secure guidelines to ensure everyone on site is protected while able to fulfil all their training course requirements.

Organisations maintaining their staff training commitments during lockdown include Midland Scaffolding Services Ltd. Fifteen of their team have updated their CISRS Labour and Advanced Scaffolder cards.

“Training and development has always been a priority for our business,” said Sue Newton, at Midland Scaffolding Services Ltd. “We’ve been pleased that our staff could continue having their skills validated by renewing their cards in a timely way.

“I have found everybody at CCM to be extremely helpful, informative, friendly and professional. Both the registrations processes and the staff are efficient and the turnaround in certificates and cards is the best service I have experienced.”

For further information about training courses, visit www.constructioncollege.co.uk, call 01922 663600 or email info@constructioncollege.co.uk

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The Construction College Midlands is an accredited CISRS training provider. Our scaffolding training facilities are amongst the largest and best in the UK. Safety is the highest priority on temporary access and scaffolding projects. Make sure your business is prepared to: - Provide quality working environments - Consider safety for workers’ and the public

ACCESS ALL AREAS WITH OUR SCAFFOLDING TRAINING

TRAINING ON OFFER Scaffolder Labourer Card (Green) Trainee Scaffolder Card (Red) - Operative Training Scheme (COTS) Scaffolder Card Blue - Scaffolding Tube & Fittings Parts 1 and 2 - Level 2 Practical Assessment - Scaffolding Experienced Worker Practical Assessment Scaffolder Card (Gold) - Advanced Scaffolding - Level 3 Practical Skills Assessment Scaffolding Apprenticeship Scaffolding Supervisor - Scaffolding Supervisor - Scaffolding Supervisor Refresher Course Scaffolding Inspection Training Scheme (SITS) - Scaffolding Inspection Training Scheme (SITS) - Advanced Scaffolding Inspection Training Scheme (SITS)

 01922 663600  info@constructioncollege.co.uk  www.constructioncollege.co.uk

// Training

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has been the industry recognised scaffold training scheme for over 40 years. David Mosley, CISRS Scheme Managing Director shares their inspirational training plans

W

ith varying Covid-19 restrictions having been imposed in different countries, greatly hampering international travel, it hasn’t been easy for CISRS OSTS providers and their partners to offer training in the last 12–18 months.

There have been a number of logistical and procedural issues to overcome; movement of qualified instructors between centres and regions has been a major headache due to the difficulty in gaining visas, the requirement to be double vaccinated and the testing and quarantine requirements before, during and after travel.

The vast majority of CISRS Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) centres have managed to find a way to reopen, albeit with a reduced capacity and strict Covid-19 risk assessment and method statements in place.

Despite this, Simian International and their partners have had a very productive few months, with lots more to come in the second half of the year.

Working with local provider Prime Atlantic at their CISRS-approved centre in Ishara and via onsite training at Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas in Port Harcourt, they are in the process of training more than 100 people in CISRS Level 2, Basic Scaffold Inspection, Advanced Scaffold Inspection and Scaffold Supervisor programmes.

In Chennai, India, Simian and Toughscaff’s resident instructor has recently completed Level 1, BSI and Supervisors courses.

So far in 2021 Simian International/ QISC based in Doha, Qatar have managed to deliver CISRS Level 1, BSI and Supervisor training to around 250 delegates.

Lead instructor Abid Gul has just completed several weeks in Trinidad working with SMTL to train 106 delegates in Level 1, Level 2, BSI and Supervisor programmes.

One delegate, Vickie Roopan, an ex-SMTL employee, who is now a Health and Safety team member at Atlantic Oil, become the first female delegate to attend a Basic Scaffold Inspection course at the centre in Trinidad.

Ian Fyall, Simian International Managing Director, said: “It’s been a tough time for everyone but it’s been really encouraging to see the lengths our partners have gone to in order to keep CISRS training going.

“We are hoping things will start to open up a little more in the coming months and we can get back to some sort of normality across all the countries we operate in.”

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// Training

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// Training

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SAFETY IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ON TEMPORARY ACCESS PROJECTS With safety ever-critical in the scaffold and temporary access sectors, on complex projects it is essential to create quality working environments that assure workers’ and, in some cases, the general public’s security.

HAKI innovates its products in such a way that they fulfil all manner of complex requirements across construction, infrastructure, oil and gas projects.

HAK I .

SCALI NG N EW HE IGH TS IN SA FETY.

CALL US ON 01827 282525 VISIT HAKI.COM

INNOVATION, S & EXCELLENC PROUD TO BE LEADING OUR INDUSTRY FOR 50 YEARS

At TRAD, we’ve been dedicated to championing innovation within our industry for 50 years. This is why we continually work to improve efficiency and safety, to meet and exceed our clients’ ever-changing needs, while setting new standards for access equipment and safety systems.

Today, TRAD UK’s sector-leading range, which also includes a variety of Altrad products, makes it easier than ever before to acquire the right solution for your requirements.

Supported by our vastly experienced team, who deliver the highest levels of service through our nationwide super depots, TRAD UK should be your foremost choice for quality and industry-leading scaffolding and construction safety products.

GLASGOW | LEEDS | MANCHESTER | BIRMINGHAM | LONDON | ANDOVER

SAFETY E

traduk.co.uk | 0845 899 0845

// Health

The drugs

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don’t work Drug and alcohol misuse – why do many scaffolders think it’s acceptable and is there a way to tackle the culture? Karl Christy, Tech IOSH, Founder of D&A Confidential Ltd investigates

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// Health

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peak to anyone in the street and ask them their perception of scaffolders. You’ll most likely hear a stereotype along the lines of ‘loud and rough, cokeheads who like a beer’. Unfair?

I think so, but this is the image of scaffolders and the industry, and those characters are out there!

It doesn’t matter if it’s a small firm or a larger contractor, scaffolders in general are tarnished with the same brush. It is the culture. Throughout the construction industry itself, substance misuse is a big issue. In fact, from a survey carried out by a substance misuse charity here in the UK, construction came in second place behind the hospitality industry! The glaring difference is, one industry is significantly higher risk than the other and scaffolding is one of, if not the, highest-risk trades in construction.

The national average drug-test failure rate is estimated to be 10% of the workforce on sites. A lot of principal contractors don’t implement a testing regime on a regular basis in order to reduce their risk profile, and there are certainly several scaffold firms who do this to protect their company. It is also worth noting that there aren’t any statistics regarding accidents and whether substance misuse was partly to blame. Rarely are tests

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carried out on scaffolders involved in accidents, nor are there any central registers to track testing and detection rates within companies. The government has announced, however, that they are exploring options around implementing a drug-testing charter for companies with over 250 employees in offices, with the results being published. Although it hasn’t come to fruition yet, this to me signals an indication that the government is looking to tackle the issue head-on.

The scaffolding industry itself has come along in leaps and bounds. It is a safety-critical role and the introduction of CPD training has brought the trade into the modern world with skills updates and refreshers. The fact remains, though, that people are still people and will indulge in vices that they enjoy – and if that involves drink and drugs, then so be it. However, when their activities affect their employer’s business, it becomes vital to do

BY UNDERTAKING TESTING, EMPLOYERS MUST BE PREPARED TO REALLY LOOK AFTER THEIR WORKFORCE WHILST PROTECTING THE BUSINESS FUNCTION

something about it, and this is where, as an industry, we come up short.

There isn’t a straightforward answer as to why scaffolders think drink and drugs are acceptable, as there are many factors involved. Questions that could be considered include: Is it a lack of understanding or a lack of care? Peer pressure, or is it the culture? Mental ill health? Disregard for the law? Or is it a firm belief that what they get up to in their private lives shouldn’t come under scrutiny by anyone outside of their world? Is it that they feel safe in the knowledge that if they got sacked, they could get work anywhere they like i.e., a lack of consequences?

Let’s face it, the list seems endless.

There are a lot of scaffolding companies affiliated to either NASC or the Scaffold Association and/or will have some form of safety accreditation (CHAS, SMAS, CQMS, etc). These schemes require a drugs and alcohol policy to be in place which also forms part of the audit criteria. This is all well and good, but a lot of companies don’t implement their policies for various reasons, and there is no legal requirement for them to do so either, unless part of a specific scheme like RISQS for work near railways, for example.

From an employer’s perspective, several company directors have said that their resistance to substance misuse testing comes from not wanting to alienate their workforce, not wanting their workers

to go to a competitor and that they can’t afford to sack anyone.

After all, the workforce is the lifeblood of all companies.

Employers cannot afford to lose their staff. Let’s also not overlook the obvious – the industry is short of a lot of scaffolders, and business is booming post-Covid with no signs of slowing down.

So, the question is how do we implement change and tackle the culture for the better? I’ll share my experience here of implementing testing and will offer some recommendations to those who choose to be proactive.

“Are you sure your boss wishes to go down this route?

The last scaffold company I tested, out of 20 people, 11 failed.”

Those were the exact words spoken to me by the independent drug and alcohol tester that my company opted to use to implement our testing policy. His statement was backed up by the evidence seen on-site too, which also brought two large house-building sites to a standstill as the other contractors ‘jumped the fences’. Literally.

By undertaking testing, employers must be prepared to really look after their workforce whilst protecting the business function. There are a few options, testing-wise, depending on how far back you wish to look at an individual. This will give you an indication which test would be best suited.

Testing shouldn’t be the ‘be all and end all’ either. It shouldn’t be a case of instant dismissal for someone with a non-negative result as it does nothing to solve their issue. It just moves that individual – and the problem – onto somewhere else.

Testing should be used as a tool, a deterrent, an insurance.

It should be implemented as part of a health and safety-monitoring system and health surveillance. It could be argued that it would benefit the company so far as productivity and staff turnover are concerned as well, which will increase profits. It could also lead to reduced accidents on site, which in turn saves money on insurance.

For anyone who does provide a non-negative test, support and signpost them to treatment services or encourage them to speak to trained counsellors. There are plenty of charities out there who are ready and willing to offer support. Do this and promote a positive culture around the company and the image of scaffolding, and over time you will see the stereotype – and the culture – change.

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// Transport

BACK SEAT DRIVING It’s no secret to anyone in the scaffolding and construction industries – or indeed to anyone in the country – that we are experiencing a crisis in transportation. This is mainly down to the driver shortage for HGVs, exacerbated both by Brexit and by the pandemic. In particular, there’s a significant backlog in HGV driver tests, so even those people who have completed their training are not yet able to take their tests and start driving, explains Des Moore, TRAD Group CEO and NASC President (2017–19)

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n June 2021, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) released a 12-point plan: suggestions for government about ways to tackle this crisis. These suggestions included reconsidering putting HGV driving on the Shortage Occupation List, helping to encourage drivers from overseas to come to the UK. The RHA also wants the government to prioritise driving tests for lorry drivers, create a ‘return to HGV driving’ scheme and to bring in loans for those who want to train as HGV drivers but cannot afford the training fee straight away.

These are all worthy and positive plans, but I do not believe they will bring us any benefits in either the short or medium term. As a business that relies on both external and internal drivers, TRAD Group has already suffered from the driver shortage and has been putting in a range of mitigations to help ensure that our stock is delivered when we and our clients need it, and that we can get it out to their sites on time, or that it is available to collect from any one of our six depots.

For TRAD Group, there are various transportation pressures: Importing materials: All TRAD Group materials come into various UK ports, and we are reliant on haulage firms to transfer those materials to our depots around the country.

The driver shortage means that it’s particularly difficult to get our stock delivered to the depots in the south and London in particular, because drivers will naturally choose the shorter, easier journeys. And, as we set out below, the new DVS rules in London have their own impact. Our situation, like all suppliers, is that we are paying more for stock because of increased raw materials prices, and then facing delays in moving that stock because of driver shortages.

TfL Direct Vision Standard: The Mayor of London has introduced a Direct Vision Standard for all lorries of 12 tonnes and over. The DVS has been introduced to make the roads safer for all users, and to ensure that lorry drivers using the capital have the safest vision of the roads and areas around them.

Meeting the standards requires vehicle upgrades for many operators, including fitting camera monitoring systems, audible vehicle manoeuvring warnings, Class V and VI protection mirrors and side under-run protection. Many smaller HGV firms cannot afford to retrofit all their vehicles and so the number of lorries prepared to go into or across London is reduced. This gives us a particular problem within the M25 – a problem that isn’t fixed by hiring more drivers. We’re also expecting congestion and low emission zones to come into effect in other large cities and conurbations across the UK, which will have their own knock-on effects.

Multi-skilled drivers: TRAD Group drivers are multiskilled and experienced. They must be able to operate the HIABS and to load and unload vehicles in the yard and on site.

There is a shortage of drivers with those skills, meaning that we may incur additional costs for extra personnel to deliver a load that a single driver could have managed in the past.

Increased demand for goods: As we move out of the worst

stages of the pandemic, construction and infrastructure projects are increasing and that results in a global high demand for raw materials. In our opinion, this will build over the next six months or so, with more demand for materials and fewer people to move those materials around the country. Haulage prices will increase because of the nature of supply and demand. We expect raw materials prices – and demand – to drop by Q2 2022, but that is some way off and, in the meantime, we need to control costs and mitigate risks wherever possible.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

We are putting a range of measures in place to assist our customers and to mitigate the transportation issues they are facing.

Unlike many businesses, we aim to absorb additional costs where we can, so that we are not passing all the increases we face onto our customers. Where we are currently facing additional transportation costs, we are absorbing these costs – although we will not be able to do this indefinitely – working them into our pricing. Our goal is to make sure we still deliver materials, systems, supplies and people to our customers on time and at a competitive price. We are also increasing our own fleet of HGV vehicles at TRAD UK, adding articulated units and 40ft trailers. This should help us to manage deliveries from port with our own transport.

We need to take proactive steps towards recruiting and rewarding our drivers, so we’re currently planning a dedicated training and recruitment programme at TRAD. Being FORS Silver accredited, we offer our drivers comprehensive training in line with FORS standards, supporting both returning or new drivers into the business and providing them with the skills they need to have a career in driving, rather than it just being a job.

Alongside this, we continuously monitor our rates to ensure that we remain competitive in what is currently a very aggressive UK market. We are also looking to create an in-house recruitment drive along with a driver incentive bonus scheme to both attract and retain drivers.

Finally, we are urging clients to plan as far in advance as possible – the more knowledge we have about the supplies and equipment our customers need, the better we can plan to meet their needs. We can then set realistic expectations for our customers and support our Depot Heads as they manage an unprecedented landscape that is replicated across the industry – and across the country.

WE NEED TO TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TOWARDS RECRUITING AND REWARDING OUR DRIVERS, SO WE’RE CURRENTLY PLANNING A DEDICATED TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME AT TRAD SCAFFMAG.COM | 41

// Transport

MADE IN GERMANY It’s been a long time coming but after more than 70 years in business Coventry Scaffolding has commissioned its first Mercedes-Benz truck, a 26-tonne Arocs supplied by Sparshatt Truck & Van

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espite its name the family-owned company is based in south London, and undertakes much of its work in and around the capital. The only scaffolder in London to hold a royal warrant, it has worked on many of the city’s most prestigious buildings including – in 1968 – all 170 feet of Nelson’s Column, in Trafalgar Square.

The latest addition to the Coventry Scaffolding fleet has a ClassicSpace L-cab with 320mm engine tunnel, which means the driver sits relatively low. This, together with the enhanced visibility provided by its MirrorCam technology, means the Arocs already meets the three-star Direct Vision Scheme (DVS) standard without which, by 2024, trucks will not be granted the Safety Certificate that permits them to operate in Greater London.

MirrorCam is Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ revolutionary replacement for conventional mirrors. In Direct Vision terms, the benefits of the compact, camera-based system have nothing to do

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with how much more the driver can see behind, and everything to do with what they cannot see in front – the large mirror housings that create blind spots which get bigger as distance from the truck increases.

Coventry Scaffolding’s new sixwheeler also came with an occasional, fold-down bunk that doubles as a four-man bench seat. This allows the operator to transport a crew as well as the boards, tubes and fixtures carried on its platform body, which is by Fred Smith & Sons, of West Bromwich.

A 2530L model with 220 kW (300 hp) 7.7-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, the Arocs is the subject of a flexible and cost-effective Agility plan from MercedesBenz Finance. Agility offers all the benefits of conventional hire purchase with a balloon payment – including low monthly repayments – but provides customers with a variety of options at the end of the term.

Coventry Scaffolding was established in 1950 by Patrick Hanifan, who chose the name because of its association with the post-World War II rebuilding work being carried out at the time in the

Midlands city – he later contemplated changing this to one that evoked a sense of London, but never did so as the business continued to go from strength to strength.

One of London’s largest independent scaffolding companies, Coventry Scaffolding has been managed since Patrick’s retirement in 1992 by his sons Perry and Paul. It runs a fleet of 13 trucks in which two other brands hold sway – in addition to its new Mercedes-Benz, the line-up comprises four tractor units, six 18-tonners and a pair of 7.5-tonners.

Coventry Scaffolding initially approached Sparshatt Truck & Van because it was interested in acquiring a new DVS-compliant tractor unit.

The 26-tonne Arocs had the right cab and had been pre-built with a scaffold body for sale from stock, so Sales Executive Shaun O’Hara drove this vehicle to the operator’s premises in Bell Green, for Perry and Paul Hanifan to see.

They liked the rigid so much that they bought it there and then and have since ordered an Actros 1843 tractor unit.

Due for delivery in September, it will have a 2.3m-wide (the narrower of the two

widths available) ClassicSpace L-cab with 320mm engine tunnel – this specification, together with MirrorCam, means this vehicle will attract four Direct Vision stars.

Repainted in Post Office red – complete with colour-coded bumper – at Sparshatt Truck & Van’s own bodyshop in Sittingbourne, the Arocs wears a specially designed livery that celebrates the seven decades over which Coventry Scaffolding has been trading.

Perry Hanifan recalled: “We wanted a stand-out vehicle on which to highlight our 70th anniversary milestone and Sparshatt’s truck fitted the bill perfectly.

I’m a Mercedes-Benz car driver so Shaun didn’t have to sell the brand to me – it looks fantastic.”

He continued: “Image is all well and good, but we’re running a business, so the Arocs had to stack up from an operational point of view too. Not only are we looking forward to benefiting from the reliability and durability for which Mercedes-Benz products have long been renowned, but the truck also came with a full complement of safety technology and the three-star DVS rating that our established

chassis supplier couldn’t offer.”

Driver Gary Hiley has certainly taken to MirrorCam, and is equally enthusiastic about the radical Multimedia Cockpit, which has replaced traditional switchgear with stylish and intuitively operated twin screens.

“I know older drivers who don’t fancy all the new technology, but to my mind they’re just stuck in their ways,” he said.

“I’m 62, and over the years have done many different driving jobs, from container work and general haulage, to skips, bulkers, and even a fire engine.

So I’ve had crash boxes, and I’ve had splitters, the lot really. All of which means that I like to think I know a bit about the job now, and I reckon this is the best truck I’ve ever driven – by a mile!”

He continued: “MirrorCam is unreal.

The visibility is great when I’m reversing and there are hardly any blind spots when looking ahead. What’s more, because the cameras are mounted on the roof and therefore that bit higher, I no longer have to worry anything like as much about getting a mirror knocked off, particularly by a passing single-deck bus, when I’m working in town.

“As for the new dash, it’s absolutely wicked. Thanks in part to a very good handover by the dealer it took no time at all for me to get used to it. It’s really modern and everything I need comes easily to hand, so what’s not to like?

It’s an outstanding truck, and I’m a man who’s very happy in his work.”

The vehicle is now being inspected and maintained under a Mercedes-Benz complete service contract at the purposebuilt Dartford dealership that Sparshatt Truck & Van opened in 2019, following an investment of more than £2m.

“We’re still at an early stage in the relationship but first impressions of the dealer are entirely positive,” added Perry Hanifan. “Shaun’s service, in particular, has been first class. He’s more than just a salesman… he can drive a truck, and he understands the demands of the job, particularly here in London.

“Every time I’ve asked Shaun for a piece of information or a price he’s come back to me straight away, while he’s also arranged for the truck to be painted and our livery applied. I couldn’t have asked for more.” www.coventryscaffoldfing.com

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// Transport

On the road again The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT), has published updated guidance on workrelated road risk (WRRR) for employers and workers. The gig economy and the increasing use of personal vehicles for work purposes – the so-called ‘grey fleet’ – has created some confusion over where responsibility for legal compliance lies, says the regulator

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riving for work is likely to be the most dangerous activity most workers will ever undertake.

• Every week there are around 200 deaths and serious injuries involving people using the road for work.

• It is estimated that 40,000 people working in occupations such as sales, deliveries or taxi-driving are involved in road traffic collisions every year.

• Company car drivers in the UK are 49% more likely to be involved in traffic collisions, even after correcting for demographic variables and their relatively high mileages.

• Countless others will suffer stress, anxiety and/or minor injuries from unreported incidents.

Nicola Jaynes, HM Inspector for HSE’s Transport and Public Services Unit, commented: “The Health and Safety at Work Act sets out the legal duties of employers and those engaged to work for them, their responsibilities to manage WRRR are nothing new. However, the landscape is changing, and we wanted to ensure guidance reflects these changes and also remains relevant for years to come.

“Companies which otherwise have robust health and safety policies sometimes fail to consider their responsibilities adequately when it comes to driving or riding for work. Everyone should come home from work safe and well, whether they’re working behind a desk or behind the wheel.”

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Prosecutions could lead to significant fines and custodial sentences, as well as driving bans and/or operator licences being revoked. In 2020, a company found guilty of failing to effectively manage fatigue for their employees driving for work, was fined £450,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 costs after two men lost their lives in a motorway collision.

All drivers and riders have an individual responsibility for their driving behaviour under road traffics laws.

However, when driving for work, the organisation they work for has legal responsibility for their employees’ health and safety. For example, ensuring employees do not drive an excessive number of hours and checking their vehicle is properly maintained, even if it belongs to the employee.

The regulations apply to all workers including those using two-wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles, scooters and ebikes.

The updated guidance is informed by HSE research which included a literature review, survey and interviews with those working in the sector.

Nicola Jaynes added: “The shocking number of injuries and fatalities associated with driving for work demonstrates that more needs to be done to manage WRRR. This updated guidance will give employers the guidance they need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their drivers and riders. Organisations with a positive safety culture and clear, well-managed policies for driving and riding for work can have a significant influence keeping our roads safe for everybody.”

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// Products

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LIGHT FANTASTIC A UK-based company is celebrating the arrival of new, lightweight composite scaffold tubes set to change the way the industry utilises its materials. ScaffMag has been taking a closer look at the potential success of both lightweight tubing and brilliantly designed toe-board clips

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ife is good when materials are easier to transport, handle and far less likely to lead to personal injury issues. It’s a goal the whole of the scaffolding industry is striving toward as we move deeper into the 21st century.

Thanks to the bods at Kapiti Engineering Ltd and Forefront Scaffolding Hire and Sales, a new form of tube is set to be snapped up by site professionals across Britain and beyond.

While the external diameter of com-tube® is the same as conventional steel or aluminium scaffold tubes it has several attractive features. Firstly, the resilience of the composite materials comprising the com-tube® makes it resistant to corrosion even in hostile chemical environments. What’s more, it is ideal for applications in both onshore and offshore marine locations. In fact, com-tube® is ideal for operations in the vicinity of high-voltage electrical works such as power stations, transmission lines and railways.

Due to its non-sparking properties com-tube® provides an ideal solution when operating around potentially combustive environments such as chemical plants, and oil and gas facilities.

It’s important to note this innovative tubing is made from an advanced composite of resilient thermoset resin binding both longitudinal and spirally wound reinforcing fibres. This means it’s less likely to bend than traditional steel scaffolding tubes.

If you thought one superb creation

would suffice, however, how about a versatile toe-board clip designed to allow toe boards to be secured against adjacent standards without the need for tightening bolts? Once again, industry experience has been put to good use. As a result, the new com-clip® has emerged, made from a material that will never corrode.

Now, toe boards can be attached to the adjacent standards with a reasonable manual force. Once attached to the tube they should remain in position requiring just a small force to manually slide them into place over the toe board. When positioned over an edge toe board, the locking arms should protrude far enough to allow a second end toe board to be secured between the arms. Correctly positioned they certainly won’t be a safety hazard in any way, and in carrying a low weight the construction task is made even easier.

There is currently no specified regulatory requirement for the strength of toe-board clamps. ‘For toe boards, the horizontal point load is 0.150kN.’ This relates to the strength of the toe board itself to an outwardly directed force from operations on the platform.

These outwardly directed forces on the boards would be resisted by the toe board bearing against the standards against which they are attached meaning com-clip® toe-board clips are more than adequate. NASC TG 20 has a similar requirement to BS EN 12811-1.

When it comes to wind loading, the clamps should be capable of maintaining the toe boards in vertical configuration. Calculations show provided toe boards are attached at each

standard with each individual board restrained by at least two toe-board clamps, it’s necessary for the toe-board clamp to be able to resist an inwardly directed wind force of between 0.06 and 0.08kN (6 and 8kgf). Tests have demonstrated the com-clip® toe-board clips have a pull-off capacity of 0.075kN (7.5kgf).

It’s clear the advent of technological advances within the industry is gathering real pace as we come out of the effects of the worldwide pandemic. Placing safety, innovation, lighter materials and a new approach to modern scaffolding together makes for a potent combination.

Forefront told us: “We provide cost-effective scaffolding hire options, catering for all types and sizes of projects, contracts and individual requirements.

It’s all about guaranteeing a reliable and competitive supply – hire or buy.

Focusing on keeping our costs low means we can also keep client costs low.”

The Glasgow-based company also provide full scaffolding and equipment hire facilities, with the ability to provide scaffold installation and management services through a close network of associates.

It’s always great to be able to report a home-based success story, especially when the scaffolding industry as a whole can benefit from the foresight of others.

There’s little doubt both com-tube® and com-clip® toe-board clips offer a cost-effective and efficient way of making any project a little simpler. In short, UK innovation leads the way yet again. forefronthireandsales@gmail.com www.forefrontscaffolding.com

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// Projects

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PROJECTS Manchester Town Hall ● Forth Road Bridge, Scotland ● Thanet Parkway train station ●

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// Projects

THIS IS OUR TOWN HALL

Scaffolding industry titans Lyndon SGB are deploying and expertly installing a huge array of complex access solutions for one of the country’s most prestigious renovation projects. ‘Our Town Hall’ in Manchester is said to be the UK’s largest commercial scaffolding project currently under way. ScaffMag’s Editor Daniel Norton was keen to visit and learn more Words: Daniel Norton and Richard Trenchard Photos: Royle Media

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// Projects

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tanding proudly at the very heart of the city in Albert Square, Manchester’s iconic Grade I-listed town hall has been a much-loved landmark for more than 140 years.

Opened in 1877, the neo-Gothic architectural masterpiece has taken centre stage for council business and important large-scale city events for decades, from Manchester International Festival through to location shoots for Peaky Blinders.

Hosting presidents, prime ministers and even monarchs, this significant building has a formidable past. Suffice to

say, though, after 14 decades in use, with only a minimal refurbishment carried out in 1977, a restoration is well overdue to ensure it can enjoy an equally storied future.

To restore, protect and improve this magnificent historic building to its former civic glory – which involves extensive internal and external repair work – main contractors Lendlease have been entrusted with the renovation. The £330m, six-year contract will see the building lovingly restored and updated for the people of Manchester and the nation.

In December 2019, Lendlease called upon Lyndon SGB’s unrivalled expertise in supplying, designing and planning for all the external and internal access requirements for this massive renovation project.

Lyndon SGB is no stranger to giant

AROUND 450M OF STAIRCASES HAVE ALSO BEEN ERECTED, ENOUGH TO REACH THE SUMMIT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

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challenging projects. Since its inception in 1919, the nationwide firm has provided a full range of temporary access solutions to some of the UK’s biggest and most prestigious projects. Recent examples include resurrecting the Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Arts following 2018’s devastating fire, London’s Coal Drops Yard development and work on Edinburgh Castle.

OUT ONSITE

Although the Covid pandemic and nesting peregrine falcons slowed the project slightly, work is now in full swing, with up to 300 workers on-site on any given day. More than 50 Lyndon SGB scaffolding operatives have already safely erected a 32-lift large tube-and-fitting perimeter scaffold with Class-B protection fans, a multitude of crash

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// Projects

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of Manchester, so strict early morning deliveries were essential.”

He went on to explain how attention to detail involved in the project is also commendable, from the placement of protective sheeting hiding the work taking place within, through to the historical information presented on perimeter boards.

“You’ve got to put the extra work in,” said Parry, “otherwise it just looks like a nightmare. They’re just the little things that nobody really appreciates.”

The nature of the building itself has also presented some issues. As a listed structure, individual bricks that needed drilling into had to be approved by architects to avoid damaging priceless structural fabric. Meanwhile, much of the installation on the upper levels had to be lifted in through windows and doors which were never designed for modern construction requirements. decks and birdcages, a bespoke and highly technical 90m-high clock tower scaffold and provided designed access for 34 huge chimney stacks.

Around 450m of staircases have also been erected, enough to reach the summit of the Empire State Building.

And, to top it all off, in August Lyndon SGB are set to install 10,000m2 of the most complex temporary weather protection roofs the industry has ever seen, covering both the central Great Hall and the perimeter structure.

Lyndon SGB north-west regional manager Jon Cooke described the project as “massive” and said: “You just don’t get jobs like this. It’s such a rarity in our industry to have a commercial scaffolding project on this scale. It’s not just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it’s a once-in-a-100-year-job-opportunity.

The scaffolders love it and feel privileged working on the site.”

Lyndon SGB has already provided millions of pounds’ worth of in-house designed scaffolds for the eight-year Town Hall project. Over 200 separate scaffold designs have been produced so far.

Utilising cutting-edge scaffold design

techniques, Lyndon SGB’s design team – including manager David Flaherty and engineers Jamie Robertson, Maarten van Dijk and Bram Sanders – have used 3D models and clash detection systems to avoid the need for redesigns mid-project.

“The building is totally unique.

There is nothing mirrored on each of its elevations. We are using our Dutch engineers, who have created complex 3D models of the whole building allowing us to detect clashes before the scaffolding was erected,” Cooke said.

As he guides us through the huge site, he’s quick to point out that “overseeing the work is the easy bit”, and the backroom staff are the ones that deserve all the credit due to the challenges presented each day at work on Our Town Hall. These include contracts manager Craig Parry and Nathan Maylett, alongside senior supervisor Shane Scoynes and commercial manager Paul Fishwick.

When quizzed about the defining project challenges, Parry said: “Other than the national shortage of materials, the biggest challenge has been logistics and moving scaffolding materials around site. We are positioned in the very centre

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Our Town Hall isn’t just about safeguarding one of the UK’s most treasured civic buildings for the coming decades. The project also involves a large number of apprentices, not least given the advanced technical demands of the work, while the majority of the labouring crew are based locally. That means this undertaking is directly impacting the city region’s economy and up-skilling its workforce.

“You need a certain ability of scaffolder to be doing the work on here,” Parry said of the team involved, explaining not all hard hats on site could be filled by Manchester residents. “This means that not everyone could be found in the region, but certainly a very high percentage of those here are from the area.”

Due to complete in 2024, the Alfred Waterhouse-designed Manchester Town Hall reflects both the complexity and grandeur of British neo-Gothic architecture, and represents the apex of modern scaffolding technology. With this in mind, the restoration itself is just as impressive as the end results will be, with the efforts to refurbish and future-proof a work of art in itself.

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// Projects

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he Layher FlexBeam is helping to create an extensive work area underneath the road deck of the Forth Road Bridge which, at more than 2.5km in length, has connected North and South Queensferry since 1964. Significantly, it is bringing clear advantages in terms of efficiency and time savings to the project.

Ross Brown is Director of I-Scaff Access Solutions Ltd, who have installed the Layher system for main contractor Millar Callaghan Engineering Services Ltd – working for BEAR Scotland, appointed principal contractor by bridge owners, Transport Scotland. He highlights key elements of the access project.

“The underside of the bridge deck features a series of parallel walkways, totalling some 10km in length, which were installed in the 1980s to provide suspended span underdeck access (SSUDA) to help facilitate engineering, maintenance and inspection activities,” he says. “These gantries are now undergoing their own programme of maintenance which has called for a full width suspended scaffold to be installed as a means of access. We have been brought in to meet this need on the sixth phase – some 120m in length across the full 36m width of the bridge – and our use of the Layher FlexBeam has brought major advantages to the work.”

Importantly, the Layher system has required far less equipment than had been experienced in earlier phases where tube-and-fitting scaffold was used.

This has created significantly fewer obstructions enabling Millar Callaghan Engineering Services to undertake their work most efficiently.

“The walkways are being removed for offsite

The most recent innovation from system scaffolding, access and weather-protection specialist Layher Ltd is now central to major maintenance work being undertaken on one of Scotland’s most iconic structures

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refurbishment before being returned to and refitted on the bridge to continue their SSUDA role for, it is anticipated, a further 25 years,” continues Ross Brown. “With some sections measuring up to 9m in length, the handling equipment is gaining significantly from the relatively unobstructed platform.” He says that the standards from which the temporary decking is suspended are located at an average of 4.5m intervals rather than the 1.6m typically required by tube-and-fitting. “Overall, we have been able to install 80m2 of suspended decking per day on average – twice as fast as was originally the case.”

The Layher installation features standards linked

in clusters of three using wedge-head swivel couplers which, in turn, are clamped to, and suspended from, the bridge’s own steelwork using girder couplers.

These standards then drop down to connect directly to the Layher FlexBeams installed at up to 5.5m intervals, and onto which Layher’s Allround Lightweight steel decking is then located. A choice of decking lengths has enabled I-Scaff to accommodate the diagonal steel sections that form part of the bridge structure, while longitudinal bracing is only required every fourth bay. Guardrails and edge protection have also been installed, where appropriate, while dropped-object netting has been located under the full working area by another

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// Projects

THE FACT THAT THE DESIGN, WHICH HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY KENNETH REDMAN, TECHNICAL MANAGER AT OUR LIVINGSTON DEPOT IN SCOTLAND, ENABLES THE SCAFFOLD TO BE SUSPENDED FROM THE BRIDGE’S OWN STEEL STRUCTURE IS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL Millar Callaghan Engineering Services subcontractor to protect the waterway below.

“The fact that the design, which has been undertaken by Kenneth Redman, Technical Manager at our Livingston depot in Scotland, enables the scaffold to be suspended from the bridge’s own steel structure is extremely beneficial,” adds Sean Pike, Layher’s UK Managing Director. He points out that by using the Layher Scaffold Information Modelling (SIM®) software, a clear visual demonstration of the advantages of the FlexBeam system was available to the client in VR format, directly from the company’s LayPLAN CAD design model.

“The lightweight material has also helped with manual handling procedures, while the greatly reduced number of components has not only played a key role in optimising installation efficiency, it has also made a significant contribution to minimising transport and storage needs,” continues Sean Pike.

As a result, Ross Brown and his team have made full use of the system to deliver the saving in installation time that was an important project target, enabling Millar Callaghan Engineering Services to undertake

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the gantry removal, repair and reinstallation process more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.

To date, the largest suspended scaffold installed in the UK to use Layher’s FlexBeam, the Forth Road Bridge also represents I-Scaff’s first application of the equipment, with the contractor undertaking familiarisation training nearby at the Livingston facility. “We are delighted to be able to demonstrate to our customer that the benefits and savings on paper were recreated, and sometimes exceeded, when brought to life,” adds Ross Brown. “The fact that we have been able to show clear gains by comparing our approach to that used on the previous five phases to date has been extremely beneficial, and points us towards more extensive use of the Layher FlexBeam in the future.”

With traffic on the road deck continuing uninterrupted, the Forth Road Bridge project has had to meet challenging needs. If efficiency and safety can be defined as key project features, then the use of the Layher FlexBeam at the heart of this sixth phase of the work means innovation can justifiably be added to the list.

ABOVE: Layher’s LayPLAN CAD software demonstrates the advantages of its FlexBeam in VR

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ACCESS ALL AREAS The Thanet Parkway scheme, which began as a concept in 2015 and will be completed and open to the public in 2023

T

he £34m project involving the construction of a new train station which will be located approximately two miles east of Ramsgate on the Ashford International to Ramsgate line. Once constructed, the train station will connect East Kent, London and the Kent area.

By providing access to mainline and high-speed services, Thanet Parkway will allow more employment and investment opportunities in the surrounding business parks. A new access road from the A299 will be built, providing more pedestrian and cycling access to Cliffsend

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village. There will be over 200 parking spaces, as well as bus stops, drop-off and pick-up zones, electric vehicle charging stations and bike storage.

• The objectives of Thanet Parkway: • Reduce travel times to London • Attract new employers to the area • Increase the economy with new development opportunities • Improve accessibility and employment in Thane • Reduce the environmental impact on the local area.

As part of the scheme, Alltask was contracted by their client, BAM Nuttall

Ltd, to provide a heavy-duty temporary birdcage access solution to aid with the construction of two new 250m-long pedestrian platforms and a new station building. HAKI Universal scaffolding was utilised as the system of choice due to its inherent strength, speed and efficiency when compared to a more traditional tube-and-fitting alternative.

Alltask is committed to safety via the Alltask Aim for Zero, Health, Safety, and Environmental Awareness Campaign in everything we do, and we are pleased to have received great feedback on-site regarding our safety culture.

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