Roger is back at Abacus Bathrooms, this time to install a level access shower tray with a square end clip-lock drain.
How to move a heavy beam with ease
In this latest video Roger Bisby shares a trick he has been using for years to move steels and concrete beams.
“It helps to have inflatable tyres especially on rough ground. I had some help but you could do this on your own if you levered up the end and propped it first. I am sure you can come up with your own variations.”
Construction company fined after fall leaves joiner paralysed
A construction company has been sentenced for safety breaches after a sub-contracted joiner suffered life-changing injuries.
Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard that construction company Mager Homes Ltd. had been contracted to complete a house build in Tetney, Grimsby. In December 2016, the worker was on the first floor level installing joists and flooring. Whilst laying a floorboard, he stepped back and missed his footing, falling through a gap between the joists to the ground below.
The 60-year-old father of one suffered broken vertebrae which left him paralysed from the chest down, wheelchair-bound and unlikely to ever work again.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Mager Homes Ltd. failed to provide workers with an adequate working platform. It was also found the company failed to install any edge protection or fall prevention equipment to minimise the risk of falls on-site.
Mager Homes Ltd. of Laburnum Farm, Ludborough, Grimsby pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £26,000 with £795 costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Jennifer Elsegood commented: “The contractor’s injuries were life-changing and he could have easily been killed. This serious and devastating incident could have been avoided if basic safe guards, such as an appropriate working platform, or measures to mitigate falls, had been in place.”
Free Estimating – Selco App for Builders
Producing quotes is the bane of many tradespeoples lives seeing them working late into the evening pricing up jobs that they know they may never even get.
So if someone came up with a free app that allowed you to price and manage all your jobs on the go from your mobile phone you would probably think it was too good to be true.
But the Selco App has done just that. The Project Tool App is a trade project management app which is designed to make quoting simple by allowing you to:
- Keep track of all your projects, anywhere
- Save photos and customer info for every project
- Find and add the materials you need for your projects
- Quickly create quotes to send to your customers
- Send materials lists to your local Selco branch for a competitive quote
- Find your nearest Selco branch
Selco asked Skill Builder to try out the app and we were impressed so we agreed to help spread the word.
The app is completely free to download and there is no obligation to buy materials from a Selco branch. Try it out for yourself – we’d love to hear your feedback.
The Rise of the Well Connected Builder
Roger Bisby charts the emergence of Bluetooth Connectivity in power tools and wonders how we find the line between work and play.
There are now whole generations of tradespeople coming along behind me who have grown up with the mobile phone and will find the ability to control their power tools via Bluetooth as instinctive as breathing.
For me, it took a little longer to embrace. I sat in the audience at the launch of Bosch Blue Connectivity and questioned whether it was over-complicating what had previously been a simple task.
Back in the day you got your drill or angle grinder out from the box and pressed the switch and got on with your work. Now you have the opportunity to fine tune or optimise those tools for the task ahead.
In the case of drills you can limit the speed to prevent drill bits overheating, similarly with angle grinders you can slow the grinder down to get more life out of the disc.
Some tools have Bluetooth built-in and some can have it added by screwing in a small transmitter tag.
Milwaukee has OneKey which seems to be evolving year by year into something very useful. The ability to report your tool or anything else that is tagged as stolen to the OneKey community and for them to alert you when it enters their zone is genuinely exciting. It is like having Crimewatch through your phone.
The ability to report your tool or anything else that is tagged as stolen to the OneKey community and for them to alert you when it enters their zone is genuinely exciting. It is like having Crimewatch through your phone.
Bosch has also moved on apace with their Connected tools controlling an angle grinder, drill, laser level and more with their phone app.
With the Bosch laser you can move the line around the room by rotating the motorised base. You can also switch the laser on and off and select plumb, horizontal or both for cross line.
Of course, you could also do this with a remote control device but remote controls get lost whereas hopefully phones tend to stay close to your skin.
Hilti has also been busy setting up a bar code system which you can read with your phone, It tracks tools and gives you important information.
Furthermore, they have chipped their tools to give a complete history of their usage.
There is now no hiding place because this smart technology allows your employer to see how many holes you have drilled in a day and what time you stopped drilling.
Phone app controls have now gone beyond the gimmick stage and they will find a willing market delineated by age. Personally, I can do without it but I am perhaps unusual in that I often leave my phone in my van all day and just check the calls at the end of the day.
Few things are that urgent in my life. Many larger sites are also phone-free zones and insist that they are deposited in the locker.
You see the workers heading for their lockers to turn their phones on at break times as if they were applying an oxygen mask, grabbing a few desperate, deep lungfuls before returning to the dark side.
Phones are also increasingly being used to film mindless pranks for Facebook and that is turning building sites into playgrounds. It will end in tears for sure as pranks have a way of going wrong.
It may seem draconian to some but phones are banned, not for any kill-joy motive, but because they are a dangerous distraction.
People who are supposed to be concentrating on working as a team are often seen peering into their screens checking their messages and social media.
I have had many young people working with me who have an incurable phone habit and I have read about a passer-by being killed because one end of a scaffold board has been dropped as the scaffolder scrambled to answer a call.
Phones are also increasingly being used to film mindless pranks for Facebook and that is turning building sites into playgrounds.
It will end in tears for sure as pranks have a way of going wrong.
Employers now have the challenge of distinguish between those who are using their phones for play and those who are using them for work.
I won’t pretend to know how to do that. Maybe it needs an app.
Abacus Infinity Single Fall Shower Tray installation: Is this the best wet room tray?
In this video Roger Bisby demonstrates how to install an Abacus Infinity Single Fall Shower Tray which is designed to make wetrooms sleeker and cleaner and eliminates the need for fiddly floor tile cuts and grout lines which trap dirt.
With wet rooms continuing to grow in popularity customers are increasingly looking for solutions that are sleek in design and easy to keep clean and installers always welcome products which are straight forward to install.
The Abacus Infinity Single Fall Shower Tray meets both these needs.
A few manufacturers have attempted to create something similar but in our opinion Abacus has really nailed it with this clever design making it one of the best wet room trays we have seen.
Is this the best wet room tray? Watch the video and let us know what you think.
Safeguard publishes guide to Basement Waterproofing
Although basements are a significant area of business opportunity for the construction industry, it is a complex and potentially fraught sector and – in the main – an area for the specialist. Yet Safeguard Europe – the UK specialist in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology – is helping to demystify and simplify understanding of this underground world with the publication of its guide to Basement Waterproofing.
Through its 34 years supplying waterproofing systems for basements and other structures, Safeguard has identified four main basement scenarios and outlined common design types that suit each environment. The four basement types described are Newbuild Reinforced Concrete; Refurbishment of Existing Basement or Cellar, Piled Retaining Walls and Dig Out.
The company then aligns one of four basement systems – with easy-to-understand technical illustrations – to each of them. The guide also covers key design considerations such as continuous linking between waterproofing and damp-proof courses; jointing; service penetrations and pumps, drainage and their maintenance.
A consistent theme when tackling basements is that expert consultancy and design input at an early stage is essential to get the waterproofing right; contractors must always be mindful of BS 8102: 2009 Protection of below ground structures against water from the ground.
BS 8102 defines three types of waterproofing system: Type A which provides a physical barrier to the water either internally or externally; Type B which sees the waterproofing integral to the structure; and Type C, drained protection, which involves installing a membrane which channels water to a low point from which it is usually pumped out.
Types A or C can be applied to refurbishment and extensions, with the choice depending on the fabric and condition of the building and the level of water present. All three types can potentially be used in new-build situations. As the British Standard points out, sometimes a combination of systems will be the best solution, either to provide redundancy, or – in the case of a renovation project – to maximise the space available.
In the Basement System Packs available from Safeguard, the company not only explains the relevant legislative requirements for each basement type; it also provides CAD drawings, and NBS and CAWS Clauses for both details and the complete system.
To get a copy of the guide, contact Safeguard on 01403 210 204 or via info@safeguardeurope.com.
Untrained Scaffold Worker Left in a Coma
A construction company has been fined after a worker suffered life-changing injuries after falling from scaffolding.
Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of R J Scaffolding (Bristol) Limited was in an induced coma for two weeks after falling more than six metres from the scaffolding.
The worker suffered several serious injuries including losing the sight in his right eye and five fractures to the skull.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 2 June 2016 found the employee was untrained.
The supervisor was unfamiliar with the current expected safety techniques and the appropriate equipment had not been provided to the worker to conduct this work safely.
R J Scaffolding (Bristol) Limited of Central Business Park, Hengrove, Bristol pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The company has been fined £26,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £1657.76.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “We want all workers to go home healthy and safe.
Those in control of work have a responsibility to ensure safe methods of working are used and to inform, instruct and train their workers in their use.
“If the industry recognised safe systems of erecting scaffold had been in place prior to the incident, the life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”
Further information about safe techniques can be found at:
Wickes offering free sunscreen to tradespeople
Melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by an alarming 119% in the UK since the early 1990s and according to a recent study, construction has been identified as the industry sector in the UK whose workers are most at risk.
Now, new research by Wickes has revealed some startling statistics and unsettling attitudes to sunburn and skin cancer amongst tradespeople who work outdoors. The research of 500 tradespeople found that many are unaware of the dangers of not protecting their skin and ill-informed on how often sun cream should be applied.
Worryingly, one in ten (9%) admitted that they don’t wear sun cream because they’re worried that their workmates would laugh at them, while 91% of respondents were unaware of how much sun cream was required during a typical 12-hour summer’s day.
Over a quarter (26%) believed that only two applications would suffice, and 15% were convinced they’d only need to apply it once to be protected for the full 12 hours. In fact, it is recommended that sun cream should be applied 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun, and re-applied every two hours thereafter; meaning that sun cream should be applied up to six times during a 12-hour shift.
As a result, Wickes have announced that they will be offering free sun cream to tradespeople as part of a new trial. Available in stores nationwide from 23rd August, members of the trade can pick up a free tub of Brickie’s Bronze (30SPF), Plasterers Pink (30SPF) or Apprentice White (30SPF) while stocks last.
Matthew Gaunt, Head of Brand & Communications at Wickes comments: “It is clear that there’s a real need here and we want to help tradespeople working outdoors get to grips with this issue.”
“We hope that by trialling Wickes Tradesman’s Suncream in our stores, it helps raise awareness of an important issue within the industry, as well as making protection from the sun’s rays more accessible to tradespeople in the UK.”
Around one construction worker every fortnight will get a melanoma caused by sun exposure at work
According to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), getting burnt just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma. Over half (52.8%) of tradespeople surveyed admitted to getting burnt at least once every year whilst working, with those based in London by far the worst offenders at almost 1.5 x the national average (72%), and a further 17% experiencing sunburn on the job at least ten times every year.
Dr Lesley Rushton, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London comments: “We have estimated that around one construction worker every fortnight will get a melanoma caused by sun exposure at work.
“Occupational solar exposure is often overlooked but it is so important that tradespeople are well informed about the potential implications of being sunburnt, and that they take the necessary steps to minimise their risk.”
Despite the high levels of sunburn within the industry and the serious potential implications, a surprising number choose not to apply sun cream; 39% of 16-24 year olds don’t apply sun cream because they simply can’t be bothered, and a further 39% also neglect to do so because they’re ‘working on their tan’.
Perhaps most shocking of all, almost one in ten (8%) choose not to apply sun cream because skin cancer ‘doesn’t run in their family’, a claim which shows a concerning lack of awareness surrounding skin cancer in general.
In fact, a person’s chances of inheriting skin cancer are relatively slim and 90% of skin cancers are avoidable. It is estimated that 86% of skin cancers are caused as a direct result of exposure to solar radiation, rising to 90% in men which is particularly relevant in such a male dominated industry.
Reasons why tradespeople don’t wear sunscreen
20% don’t have time
15% don’t like getting greasy fingers
11% can’t be bothered
9% worry about being laughed at
6% say it costs too much
Hilti Service Centre – How Can They Repair Your Tools in 3 Days?
In the first in a series of videos about Hilti, Skill Builder finds out how the brand delivers the industry-leading service offering that makes it such a popular choice on large construction sites.
Hilti Service Centre
Hilti makes great claims for its service and repair; they say they can turn around a repair in three days or you don’t pay for it.
On a new tool, you have two years of servicing included in the cost, even on batteries on cordless tools and if you go for their fleet deals that can be up to four years.
They also cap the price of the service so you’re never paying more than a certain amount.
All this sounds very impressive but can they achieve it and more importantly how do they achieve it?
In this episode, Roger Bisby visits the Hilti Service Centre in Glasgow to find out.
Origin reveals Britain’s ‘forever home’
The ideal ‘forever home’ for the average British homeowner is a four-bedroom, detached house in the country, worth £458,000 – and just down the road from Mum, it has emerged.
A detailed study of 2,000 UK homeowners, carried out by Origin, the British manufacturer of bespoke aluminium bi-folding doors, residential doors and windows, also found that homeowners hanker after a property with a driveway, a play room – and somewhere to hang the washing.
Plenty of natural light was also a must-have for homeowners, with 99 per cent of people saying it was important. Over half said they wanted big windows, while bi-folding or sliding doors that lead out to the garden were also high on the list of features.
Other must-haves include a large kitchen and breakfast room, an ample lounge, utility room and dining room.
A double garage and conservatory are also essential, as is a study and cloakroom. Ideally, we want to live in a location just 10.5 miles from the office.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://skill-builder.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Origin-Forever-Home.pdf” title=”Origin – Forever Home”]
Ben Brocklesby, Director at Origin, said: “We wanted to find out more about the concept of the forever home, whether it still exists and what homeowners want most from their properties. This provides our partners with market insights that will help them further understand homeowners, their customers, and what it is that they want from their homes. This will allow them to offer an even more rounded experience when in the showroom.
“We pride ourselves on the gold standard of service that we offer to our partners, providing them with the best possible opportunities to maximise profitability, and this extra knowledge will set them in good stead when dealing with customers every day.
“Interestingly, more than three quarters of people still believe in the concept of a forever home, which shows that the clear majority of homeowners are constantly climbing the property ladder, striving to find a home to live in for the rest of their lives.”
Two bathrooms, two en-suites and two reception rooms are also key components.
Good transport links and a pub within a mile and a half are also vital elements.
While an ambitious one in three even went as far as to suggest their ‘forever home’ would include a swimming pool and sauna.
Over half of people chose the sea as the perfect view from their windows, followed by a countryside view of either rolling hills or a field of cows. Britain’s least chosen view from the home was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a football stadium.
It also emerged that homeowners dream of spending their years in a street where they are surrounded by friendly neighbours, four of whom they are on first name terms with.
A 1,000sq ft garden is the ideal size, according to most Brits.
With regard to amenities, the ideal forever home would have everything residents needed within a three-mile radius. The Post Office, corner shop, newsagents and off-licence are considered the most important to have close by.
While a third of people are actively putting savings aside for their forever home, a third already reside in theirs.
The age at which most believe they will own their forever home emerged as 53, and four out of ten were convinced they would, at some point, purchase their dream pad.
Eighty-four per cent of UK adults are happy with their current home and around eight in ten think it’s likely they will try to improve or renovate the house they own now.
Ben Brocklesby continued “With such a high proportion of homeowners planning to improve or renovate their current house, we have some great practical advice on our website from our experts, looking at everything from how to make the most of a conservatory to styling your front of house – getting homeowners one step closer to creating their forever home.”
THE IDEAL FOREVER HOME:
Is worth £458,000.
Is 10.5 miles from work and has transport links.
Has four friendly neighbours – who we are on first name terms with.
Has the following rooms:
Playroom x1
Reception rooms x 2
En-suites x 2
Bathrooms x 2
Bedrooms x 4
And has the following features:
Front AND back gardens
Driveway
Off street parking
Patio
Double garage
Flowerbeds
Summer house
Somewhere to hang the washing out
Gates at the front
Veg patch
Open fields
Garden 1000sqft
View of sea view, rolling hills or field of cows
Is this far away from local amenities:
Post office – 1 mile away
Doctors – 1 mile away
Dentist – 2 miles away
Corner shop – 1 mile away
Supermarket – 2 miles away
Leisure centre – 3 miles away
Newsagent off licence – 1 mile away
Petrol station – 2 miles away
Park – 2 miles away
Playground – 2 miles away
Farm shop – 2 miles away
Pub – 1.5 miles away
School – 2 miles away
Clothes shop – 3 miles away
Library – 2.5 miles away
Cinema – 3 miles away
Restaurant – 2 miles away
Chemist 1.5
Vet – 2.5 miles away
And these are the most desired views:
Sea view – 54 per cent
Garden – 38 per cent
Mountains – 44 per cent
Field of cows – 21 per cent
www.origin-global.com/forever-home
Seven THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW about Silica Dust
According to the HSE, respirable crystalline silica (RCS), often referred to as Silica Dust, is the second biggest risk to construction workers, following asbestos. Knowledge is power when it comes to staying protected, which is why Skill Builder has joined forces with Scott Safety to create this educational video.
If you, or anyone you know, works with Silica Dust, please make sure you understand the risks and how to stay protected.
7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW if you work with Silica Dust – that could save your life
1. Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) is present in materials that construction workers work with every day
Cutting, sanding and even sweeping these materials makes crystalline silica airborne, creating deadly Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).
2. Exposure to RCS can kill you quickly
Exposure to too much RCS, in one go, can cause acute silicosis which can rapidly lead to death.
3. Exposure to RCS can kill you slowly
Long term exposure can cause fibrosis of the lung tissue and is linked to lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
4. What you can’t see CAN hurt you
In most light RCS particles are too fine to be seen by the naked eye.
5. It doesn’t take much dust to do damage
Even very small amounts of RCS can do long term damage, particularly over prolonged periods of exposure. The workplace exposure limit is 0.1mg.mg over eight hours.
6. Controlling silica dust at source is a must
Choose tools with decent dust extraction and use methods such as wet cutting and wet sweeping.
7. Any old mask won’t do
An FFP3 disposable mask is usually a minimum requirement and many tasks will require greater protection. You need higher performing devices with APF’s of 20 or 40 and ideally a powered air respirator such as the Duraflow from Scott Safety, especially if you have a beard or heavy stubble which can allow Silica Dust to bypass the mask and reach your lungs.
HSE Issues Advice on Ladder Safety
Following a recent fatal accident investigation, HSE is strongly advising all duty holders and users of combination ladders to ensure that they:
- Carry out pre-use checks
- Use them in accordance with instructions
- Check the locking mechanism(s)
Failure to do so could result in serious accidents, said Debbie Flynn, Health & Safety Awareness Officer at the HSE who shared the following advice in an article on Linkedin:
Telescopic Ladder Safety
The use of telescopic ladders is growing more popular due to their ease of storage and convenience; however, there are numerous issues with many of these products due to the number of components involved and their construction. Namely:
- They are often rated for a lower load (person, tools and materials)
- The stiles are prone to greater bending
- They are prone to greater bending of the frame
The issues are likely to increase with the height of the ladder.
The situation is compounded by significant numbers of substandard products that are being made available on the UK market.
These are often low-cost products that are attractive and are imported from outside the EU.
Ladder Safety Advice
Some of these have been implicated in serious accidents, including fatalities. The relevant European Standard – BS EN 131-6:2015 – provides more information on the design requirements.
Duty holders and users should ensure that:
- Pre-use checks on the ladders are thorough, checking the components and operation of each and every locking mechanism (often one or two per rung) and the associated release mechanism(s)
- The ladders are stored well, transported carefully and maintained (including cleaning) as dirt and grit etc. can affect locking mechanisms
- They understand the limitations and likely performance of their ladder, e.g. strength, bending etc
Guidance
HSE will be amending its ladder guidance INDG455: Safe use of ladders and stepladders: A brief guide hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg455.pdf to highlight these two issues.
Two companies fined after roof fall death
Two Hampshire based companies have been fined after the death of a 42-year old man.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that on 20 July 2012 the sub-contractor working for Quality 1st Building Services Ltd was undertaking remedial work to a roof at a domestic property in Ringwood, Hampshire when he fell seven metres from the roof to the ground and later died of head injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found neither the principal contractor for the site E.P. Abley Ltd nor Quality 1st Building Services Ltd failed to ensure the roof work being undertaken had the correct edge protection to prevent falls from height occurring.
It was also found both companies failed to clearly communicate and co-ordinate the work being undertaken on the site in a safe and appropriate manner.
Quality 1st Building Services Ltd of Northfield Road, Ringwood, Hampshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2015, and has been fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,500.
E.P. Abley Ltd of Avon Castle Drive, Ringwood, Hampshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The company has been fined £26,667 and ordered to pay costs of £22,500.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Caroline Penwill said: “This case highlights the importance of properly planning work at height, to avoid tragic incidents such as this.
“This death could have easily been prevented had both companies taken safety measures before any work at height had begun.”
Checkatrade & Caterpillar Join Forces
Checkatrade has announced a partnership with construction giant, Caterpillar to offer members 30% off at products at www.shopcaterpillar.co.uk
Members already receive a range of benefits including inclusion in the Checkatrde search feature.
To become a member of Checkatrade and join over 25,000 UK tradespeople, potential members must undergo a thorough background check and commit to, and uphold, the ‘Checkatrade Standard’.
The standard outlines the service customers can expect from Checkatrade recommended tradespeople, including being courteous, keeping appointments and being honest in all dealings.
With a commitment to service at the core of its business, Checkatrade says it chooses its partners very carefully, only ever working with those businesses that reflect its own commitment to quality.
Recently announcing its decision to work in partnership with Caterpillar, Checkatrade Founder and CEO, Kevin Byrne comments:
“Caterpillar is a world-renowned company built on strong ethics and is committed to providing the very best for its customers, something we can relate to at Checkatrade.
With its innovative products and solutions, it was an easy decision to work in partnership with them and give our thousands of members discounted access to these great workplace solutions.”
Checkatrade members receive 30% off products at www.shopcaterpillar.co.uk which includes water-resistant jackets, safety footwear, heavy knit gloves and utility lights, perfect for hard to reach places.
Costain offers subcontractors counselling
Costain has announced it will extend its Employee Assistance Programme to its supply chain.
The business is among the first in the construction sector to offer the benefits of its Employee Assistance Programme for anyone in the business or supply chain experiencing worry, stress or anxiety caused by health, family, work, legal or other issues.
The move underscores the business’ aspiration to lead in improving the health and well-being of its workforce. Costain hopes that other organisations follow suit in expanding their support for employees to their supply chain partners too.
The programme offers confidential advice to employees via a free 24/7 helpline. It also provides additional emotional support through telephone or face-to-face counselling sessions. All employees and supply chain are briefed on the support Costain makes available as part of their induction process.
Concerns about the health and well-being of employees and supply chain workers are embedded at the heart of Costain’s business strategy as part of its Costain Cares work.
Gavin Bye, Costain Group SHE Director, comments: “Costain has long been an industry leader on employee health and well-being issues and a natural next step was to extend our Employee Assistance Programme to our supply chain. We hope our decision will see other organisations across the industry following suit.
“We all experience many challenges throughout our lives which can lead to worry and stress so we felt help and support should be offered to our entire workforce, not just our own staff. Our Employee Assistance programme provides a superb confidential service to help us all through the difficult times that we can face in our lives.”
The Employee Assistance Programme also provides support for employees and supply chain workers experiencing issues with their physical health. Costain provides an online portal where staff can go for mini-health checks, personalised health risk assessments and access to fact sheets on a swathe of health topics.
Company Fined After Scaffold Collapse
A Dorset based company has been fined after a scaffold collapsed at an industrial unit in Wallisdown, Poole.
Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited (SDSRL) had been contracted to erect scaffolding at the industrial unit in Alder Hills Business Park, Wallisdown, Poole to provide edge protection for work to be carried out on the roof.
The scaffolding collapsed on 14 September 2015 narrowly avoiding an office worker as they exited the building but resulting in serious damage to parked cars.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found, the company failed to ensure the scaffolding provided was suitably designed and installed to prevent collapse during use.
The company failed to ensure the scaffolding was suitably attached to the building to withstand foreseeable wind loads.
Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited of Romany Centre Business Park, Wareham Road, Poole pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 19 (2) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.
The company has been fined £27,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4051.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Helena Tinton said: “The company failed to ensure the scaffolding was properly secured to the building to avoid it putting workers and members of the public at risk of it collapsing in high winds.
“It is very lucky nobody was injured as result of this incident. All duty holders have the responsibility to ensure all scaffolding work is properly designed and installed by competent workers.”
Pilot Marker Pens review
Roger Bisby considers the benefits of investing in a decent set of Pilot Marker Pens.
There are so many occasions in my daily work when I have need of a permanent marker that I always have a set on the van. One common application is underfloor heating where it pays to identify each circuit as you bring it up to the manifold. Similarly electricians like to write on cables as they bring them up to the consumer board.
In fact it is hard to think of a trade that would not benefit from having a set of indelible markers, not least because you can then write on everything you own to make sure it doesn’t get ‘borrowed’ and never returned by less scrupulous individuals than yourself.
These Japanese bullet markers have fine bullet shaped tips so you can write on pipes and cables without any trouble which, if you think about the Japanese language, is hard to do with a thick pen.
If all else fails you can always colour code red for hot, blue for cold, that kind of thing. If you are an electrician you will have to make up your own set because there is no brown in the four colour pack.
The Pilot 100 pens are multi-surface markers so they will work on almost everything and certainly on the common materials you encounter on site, such as plastic pipes, copper and PVC cables. They also work well on glass and won’t smudge but you can rub them off with a dry cloth. On more absorbent materials they are there to stay.
For those pen sniffers among you I have to say that these are Xylene and Toluene free so you will have to get your kicks elsewhere. The Pilot Marker Pens are also slow to evaporate so leaving the lid off for anything up to 24 hours will not render them useless. That to me makes them worth the price but an added bonus is the click fit on the tops which makes them much less likely to fall off when they are lying in your tool box.
Bosch launches active integrated dust extractor
‘Look after your health – it’s your greatest asset,’ is the message to trade professionals from Bosch as it launches the GDE 18V-76 Professional Dust Extractor.
Designed as an active integrated attachment for all Bosch GBH 18V-26 (F) Professional Rotary Hammer Drills, its development ls part of a continuing drive by the manufacturer to minimise dust-related illness.
While asbestos is perhaps the most infamous dust hazard, tradespeople regularly come into contact with many other substances which can irreversibly damage their health and shorten their life. They include silica dust, for example, which is generated by cutting or drilling building materials such as slate, stone and brick. Crucially, Bosch warns, you must never assume that any kind of dust in the workplace is harmless.
Estimates from a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report in 2016 suggested around 12,000 deaths in Britain each year resulted from respiratory diseases caused by past working conditions. These included chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as lung cancer, mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis. Various allergic illnesses took smaller numbers of lives but nevertheless greatly affected workers’ quality of life. About 14,000 new cases were reported annually of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work. In total, around 141,000 people who had ever worked were now suffering in this way.
Inhalable dust, which is relatively easy to see, can damage your nose, mouth, throat and windpipe. Respirable dust, whose small particles are invisible to the naked eye, goes deeper into your lungs, and even beyond, to cause harm. Some dust trapped in the mucus of your respiratory system finds its way to your mouth, is swallowed, and may affect your gut or reach other organs through your bloodstream. Skin and eye contact with dust is another source of health problems.
The HSE stresses that dust masks and other personal protective equipment should be considered only as a last resort, when all other control measures have been exhausted. Where generation of dust is unavoidable, it should be extracted close to its source of emission.
Normally this is achieved by placing a vacuum cleaner hose end next to the drilling or cutting point – or, better still, attaching it to the power tool. Bosch has improved the convenience and effectiveness of dust extraction by making its new GDE 18 V-76 Professional Dust Extractor an integral part of the hammer drill in use. It simply slots into place on the tool whenever needed.
Driven by its own motor, which is powered by the drill’s battery, the active integrated dust extractor has an automatic power on/off function. When the drill trigger is pulled, the unit automatically activates. When it is released, extraction continues for a further 2 seconds, to ensure optimal dust removal, before coming to a stop.
The unit’s dust container features a HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of all dust particles larger than 0.3 micrometres. An inspection window shows how much dust has been collected, and both the container and filter are quick and easy to remove, clean and replace.
While economic considerations might seem trivial compared with your life and health, they do add weight to the argument for taking dust extraction seriously. A clear, dust-free view of the job is important for precise and efficient work. A clean and tidy workplace keeps customers happy, and extracting the dust at source saves time on cleaning up afterwards. What’s more, your tool, its motor and its accessories will have a longer service life if they are not covered in damaging dust. But above all, says Bosch, don’t forget that your health is your capital – so make sure you protect it.
Bosch already offers effective dust extraction in a wide variety of applications through its Click & Clean system, with which most Bosch power tools are compatible. This allows simple and fast connection between the tool and any one of a range of freestanding Bosch dust extractors. Its new active integrated dust extractor provides an alternative approach particularly suited to hammer drilling.
The Bosch GDE 18 V-76 Professional Dust Extractor is now available from specialist retailers at a recommended retail price of £100 ex VAT. This price excludes VAT and is subject to change.
What’s Dry Build all about and should you consider it?
Darren Hook, CEO of English Heritage Buildings, discusses the benefits of this often overlooked construction method.
The construction industry is constantly looking for faster, innovative and more economical methods to reduce costs, construction time and waste, whilst also considering the impact on the environment. Larger businesses are quick to change, but often smaller companies get left behind because of cost restraints, logistical concerns and the uncertainty of moving away from more traditional building methods. One method which is being embraced by the larger companies in the sector is Dry Build construction, as it not only provides ecological and economical solutions but the materials used are also low maintenance and easy to repair.
The concept of Dry Build itself is not new, but the implications and benefits have only recently started to be fully appreciated. The concept is simple; a Dry Build engages mostly the same fundamental methods as traditional bricks and mortar building, but uses ‘dry’ materials including wood, gypsum board and plywood. When used instead of traditional moisture-retaining materials, such as concrete and plaster, the impact on build time, finances and eventually energy efficiency are incomparable.
What benefits can Dry Build construction can bring to builders?
Reduce construction time
Time on site and efficiency of transportation to, and time spent on site are both improved and the actual process is simplified with Dry Build. This in itself can reduce construction time by up to half when compared to traditional wet methods. For housebuilders, reducing time means earlier occupancy, resulting in earlier income, which certain.
Cost-effective
Reducing construction time also has the added benefit of reducing costs. The speed, with which the installation takes place, as well as the low maintenance of the materials used and the ease that they can be repaired, drastically reduces costs and signifies why Dry Build is growing in popularity throughout the industry.
Generates minimal construction waste
The Dry Build technique requires much less water and the materials used are easily optimised generating minimum construction waste. This also results in a significant reduction in the impact on the local environment – particularly important in residential areas.
The benefit of using oak
As a raw material, oak offers a whole host of benefits due to its natural qualities that are not available in man-made materials. In particular, Green Oak provides a malleable and multi-functional surface, which can be readily adapted to client demand, by offering a greater range which allows it to cater for larger builds and projects. In addition Green Oak provides great insulation, both in terms of sound and temperature, keeping interior elements constant. Also, surprisingly enough, wood offers a greater level of safety should a fire incident ever occur.
Putting it into practice
We here at the English Heritage Buildings operate solely with Exova BM TRADA certified Green Oak, and have become an expert in the field of using Dry Build construction methods. Oak is an aesthetically pleasing material that actually looks better with age and graces naturally. It is also reliable, sturdy and easy to use. I don’t know why more people don’t consider it more often.
English Heritage Buildings specialises in constructing new builds, but always with a mind to use and preserve ancient building techniques. Traditional English craftsmanship forms the backbone of our work, alongside partnering up with independent tradesmen who hold the same ethical values as us. This is why natural processes such as Dry Build construction form a core part of what we do.
The use of these materials is a no-brainer to us; Green Oak lasts longer than other materials, particularly modern synthetics. The traditional techniques feel right when using such beautiful material.
Dry Build construction is well-known, but it is still largely uncommon. The simplicity and cost effectiveness of the construction process has resulted in the practice gaining popularity and should certainly be considered as an alternative by all builders to traditional building methods.
