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UK Government urged to end health and safety deregulation following Grenfell Tower blaze

Dylan Garton
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UK Government urged to end health and safety deregulation following Grenfell Tower blaze

The UK Government has been urged to scrap its approach to deregulation of health and safety legislation in the light of the Grenfell Tower blaze.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, over 70 leading organisations and figures from the UK’s safety and health profession have jointly called for a political sea change in attitude towards health and safety regulation and fire risk management following the tragedy.

The collective has also pressed the Government to complete its review of Part B of the Building Regulations 2010 – the regulations which cover fire safety within and around buildings in England – as a matter of urgency, and to include a focus on improved safety in the forthcoming Parliament.

The letter is signed by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Park Health & Safety, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the British Safety Council.

The collective has also pressed the Government to complete its review of Part B of the Building Regulations 2010 – the regulations which cover fire safety within and around buildings in England – as a matter of urgency, and to include a focus on improved safety in the forthcoming Parliament.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM), National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Unite the union have also given it their backing, alongside senior health and safety professionals.

“We believe it is totally unacceptable for residents, members of the public and our emergency services to be exposed to this level of preventable risk in modern-day Britain,” the letter states.

“At this crucial time of national reflection and sorrow, we urge all politicians to re-emphasise the need for effective health and safety regulation and competent fire risk management. These are fundamental to saving lives and sustaining our communities.

“We believe it is vital that this disaster marks a turning point for improved fire safety awareness and wider appreciation that good health and safety is an investment, not a cost.”

In calling on the UK Government to complete its review of Part B of The Building Regulations 2010, the signatories add: “Together, we offer our organisations’ support in undertaking the review – we all have valuable links to experts in this area who can advise on best regulatory outcomes. In the meantime, we welcome the Government’s commitment to act and to implement the interim findings of the forthcoming public inquiry.

“You have it in your power to remove immediately a further risk to people at work and outside of the workplace – unwise deregulation – which threatens public and worker safety.

“We, leaders in health and safety in the UK, call on you to scrap the Government’s approach to health and safety deregulation and think again.”

The open letter, in full, is as follows:

Dear Prime Minister,

There have, understandably, been strong public reactions to the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower and its tragic consequences – the largest civilian loss of life from a single event in the UK since the Hillsborough disaster.

The occupational safety and health community is deeply saddened and disturbed by the Grenfell Tower fire and all the lives it claimed. We believe it is totally unacceptable for residents, members of the public and our emergency services to be exposed to this level of preventable risk in modern-day Britain.

Central Government and the Kensington and Chelsea local authority share responsibility for building standards and their enforcement locally, as well as for the funding and management of the maintenance of social housing. These responsibilities must be backed up with good, essential regulations.

However, for many years, Ministers and others with influence over them have called for, including in health and safety, regulations to be axed as a matter of principle. Arbitrary rules were imposed to establish deregulation of health and safety, such as a requirement to abolish two health and safety regulations (and more recently, three) for any new one adopted.

This mind-set has meant that, even when it was recommended and accepted that mandatory fitting of sprinklers would make homes or schools safer, this was rejected in favour of non-regulatory action. In practice, this approach favours inaction.

Good, well-evidenced and proportionate regulations in health and safety, based on full consultation, are developed and adopted because they save lives and protect people’s health and wellbeing. They are not “burdens on business” but provide essential protection for the public from identifiable risks.

At this crucial time of national reflection and sorrow, we urge all politicians to re-emphasise the need for effective health and safety regulation and competent fire risk management. These are fundamental to saving lives and sustaining our communities.

We believe it is vital that this disaster marks a turning point for improved fire safety awareness and wider appreciation that good health and safety is an investment, not a cost.

We call on the Government to accelerate and confirm the timeframe for completing its review of Part B of The Building Regulations 2010 and to include a focus on improved safety in the forthcoming Parliament.

Together, we offer our organisations’ support in undertaking the review – we all have valuable links to experts in this area who can advise on best regulatory outcomes. In the meantime, we welcome the Government’s commitment to act and to implement the interim findings of the forthcoming public inquiry.

You have it in your power to remove immediately a further risk to people at work and outside of the workplace – unwise deregulation – which threatens public and worker safety.

We, leaders in health and safety in the UK, call on you to scrap the Government’s approach to health and safety deregulation and think again. This could be announced immediately, it does not need to await the results of a public inquiry, and is the least that the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire deserve.

Yours sincerely,

Park Health and Safety
​Lawrence Waterman OBE

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
Graham Parker, President
Bev Messinger, Chief Executive

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
Errol Taylor, Acting Chief Executive

British Safety Council
Lynda Armstrong OBE, Chair
Mike Robinson, Chief Executive

Also supported by:

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Anne Godfrey, Chief Executive

Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)
Peter Crosland, Civil Engineering Director

International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM)
Siobhan Donnelly, President
Phillip Pearson, Chief Executive

National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
Teresa Budworth, Chief Executive

Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Hugh Robertson, Senior Health and Safety Officer

Unite the union
Susan Murray, National Health and Safety Adviser

Stephen Asbury CFIOSH
James Barnes BSc (Hons) LFOH
Karen Baxter CMIOSH
Roger Bibbings MBE
Joe Brannigan LLB (hons) DipLP PgDip Construction Law CMIOSH
Melanie Boucher, MSc CMIOSH
David Brown RSP FIIRSM DipNEBOSH MIOSH MILM
Professor Neil Budworth MSc CFIOSH FIIRSM HonFFOM
Dr Tim Carter
Iris Cepero, Editor, Safety Management magazine
Professor John Cherrie PhD CFFOH
Arnold Clements BSc, MSc CMIOSH CEng MEI
Philip J Cullen BSc (Hons) CMIOSH
Declan Davis CMIOSH
Brian Donnachie BA (Hons) CMIOSH
Phil Dyson-Hurrell MIIRSM
Coenraad Fourie
​Lisa Fowlie MSc BSc CFIOSH FIIRSM
Shelley Frost BSc (Hons), Post Grad DipOHS, Executive Director – Policy, IOSH
Professor Alistair Gibb PhD CEng MICE MCIOB, Loughborough University
Melodie Gilbert
Dr David Gold PhD CMIOSH, Chair, IOSH Fire Risk Management Group
Robert Hackett
Neil Hancox CMIOSH, Managing Director, Safety Intervention Services
Anne Harris
Cllr Ali Hashem
Andy Hawkes, Deputy President, IIRSM
Angela Hayden CFIOSH
Clinton Horn CFIOSH
Andrew Hoskins MSc CMIOSH FIIRSM PIEMA
Chris Hughes BSc, LTT Consultancy
Ian Hughes MSc BSc (Hons) Cert Ed Dip2OSH SPDipEM CMIOSH
Kelvin Hughes CMIOSH
Dr Roberta Jacobson OBE
Clive Johnson, Council Member, IIRSM
Ann Jones MBE CFIOSH
Wayne Jones, Chair, Cardiff & South East Wales Occupational Health and Safety Group
Wendy Jones
Martin Lovegrove CMIOSH MIIRSM PIEMA
James McDonald BSc CMIOSH MREHIS
Denis Murphy CMIOSH MIIRSM RMaPS
Cllr Caroline Needham
John O’Keeffe CMIOSH
Shirley Parsons MSc CMIOSH
Louise Phillipson
Stu Pollard BSc, PgCert CMIOSH
Ian Rabett CMIOSH
Dylan Roberts
Angela Rudkin Tech IOSH
Mike Salmon MSc, CFIOSH
Jonathan Schifferes MA
Jim Senior CMIOSH
Phil Sidman MIFE, MIFPO
Karl Simons MSc MIoD CMIOSH
Dr Susan Tannahill CMIOSH
Mohammad Torabi BSc MSc MA CMIOSH
Ceiran Trow CMFOH
Graham Twigg MSc CMIOSH PIEMA
Michelle Twigg MSc CMIOSH
Alex Vaughan
Dr Emma Wadsworth, Cardiff University
Professor David Walters, Cardiff University
Louise Ward BSc (Hons) CMIOSH
Selina Woolcott BSc (Hons) DipOHS CMIOSH

Day in the life: Tim Bryant (CCF’s Trade Superhero)

Dylan Garton
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Day in the life: Tim Bryant (CCF’s Trade Superhero)

Skill Builder’s ‘Day in the life’ feature takes a look at a typical day in the life of different tradespeople. Here we talk to Tim Bryant of T Byrant Builders Ltd, who was the winner of insulation and interior building products distributor CCF’s Trade Superhero competition winning a trip to New York City in May 2017.

Tim was crowned victorious after an independent panel of judges read about his superhero efforts to fix a drain in time for a children’s Christingle Service, and freeing a toddler who was locked inside a house – all in the same day.

Tim Bryant

Name: Tim Bryant
Trade: “The Boss” – No formal trade qualification – but can turn my hand to most trades.
Company: T Bryant Builders Ltd

What time does your day start?
My alarm goes off at 6.45am

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
No choice – I’m self employed!!

What does a typical day entail for you?
No day – is ever a typical day. Generally I go to the site or the job where we are working and ensure my sub contractors and employees are all working and know what they are doing. I’ll liaise with the customer, order the materials, assist when I am needed (skip filling is my forte), visit new and old customers, estimate and price jobs, sometimes I have to pick up the children from school – we have four and my wife works full time as a Nurse, so we share the cooking for our family and I walk the dog. Often my day will change especially if I get an emergency call to deal with something like a blocked drain, a leak or slates that have fallen off a roof in a storm. It’s also not uncommon for me to still be pricing work into the early hours.

What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s always really satisfying when we finish a project and everyone is happy. Along with receiving
positive feedback about our work and hearing that customers are recommending us.

What’s the worst thing about your job?
I can be called out in the night and at weekends and often I take calls or have to sort out jobs when on holiday. Being self employed means that no day off is truly ever a day off.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

What qualifications do you have?
O levels, A levels and an HGV licence.

Are you a member of any professional alliances/associations?
NHBC

What tool couldn’t you live without?
“Knife and fork!”

What do you drive?
Ford Transit – Custom.

What do you do to unwind?
Eat, listen to music and read.

What piece of advice would you give to an up and coming apprentice?
Do as you are told and listen!

Twitter: @bimdadto4

Builders ‘bringing home the bacon’ at free demo day

Dylan Garton
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Builders ‘bringing home the bacon’ at free demo day

The South East may have been enjoying a heatwave, but builders visiting DW Nye on Monday 19th June were getting ready for winter by finding out about the latest products on offer including a new waterproofing system that can be applied to roofs in as low as -5 degrees celcius.

In the first of a series of demo days being hosted in 2017, the builders merchant, which is located on the A24 in Kingsfold, gave away free bacon butties and hot drinks to all visitors. A selection of key suppliers was on hand to provide advice and showcase their new products.

One of the demonstrations being displayed during the day was Easy-Trim’s new liquid waterproofing membrane, which has been formulated to produce a fast curing, seamless, tough and elastic system that can be used on flat and pitched roofs.  The innovative waterproofing system negates the need for primer and will cure in less than 30 minutes.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

Rex Nye, owner and Managing Director at DW Nye, said: “Thanks to all our suppliers who took part in our demo day and to everyone who attended. The bacon butties certainly went down well, despite it being one of the hottest days of the year.

“There’s some great new products out there that we wanted our customers to hear about, whilst benefiting from discounts, so we hope they found it useful and informative.”

DW Nye’s next Demo Day will be in September.

www.dwnye.co.uk

Top Ten Roofing Apprentices Tough it out in National Final

Roger Bisby
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Top Ten Roofing Apprentices Tough it out in National Final

Ten of the country’s best roofing apprentices are gearing up for the two-day final that will see one of them awarded the title of Redland Apprentice of the Year.

The elite cadre will compete for a £1,000 cash prize to invest in the future, the title of Redland Apprentice of the Year 2017; together with a trophy, and a lifetime supply of free-of-charge courses at the Redland National Training Centre.

The roofing apprentices are selected from building colleges throughout England and Wales, from County Durham to Truro and from Tonypandy to Chelmsford.

And they come from all manner of backgrounds, proving the attractions of a skilled trade in construction.

From youngsters, fresh from school, to those seeking a second career after serving in the forces, roofing offers a rewarding and fulfilling career for those with the right attitude.

Liam Smy is typical. Aged 17, Liam trains with Eastern Region Roof Training Group and works at Ipswich-based roofers Scofield and Lait. “He’s a conscientious lad,” says Phil Gant, Scofield and Lait’ owner and director. “His timekeeping and attitude are spot on and he is very reliable. He has the talent and the nous to go far in this industry”.

Ceiran Peel-Price, 28, of Irby on the Wirral in Merseyside, is another relatively late starter. He started his working life in the army, but was discharged on medical grounds.

His boss, Les Perry, of Les Roofing Contractors, encouraged him to start an apprenticeship. “He’s a good lad and a quick learner and we thought that the apprentice scheme would encourage him”, says Les.

The competition is part of a strategy by Redland – the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of pitched roof systems – to address the challenges faced by the industry in meeting the ambitious Government housing targets.

The sector must recruit 700,000 more people to replace those retiring or moving on, plus an extra 120,000 if the government’s aim to build one million new homes by 2020 is to be achieved.

“We recognise the need to ensure new joiners to the industry receive the necessary levels of support that they need to develop and succeed which is why we launched this programme,” commented David Patrick, Redland’s Head of Marketing.

The final takes place over two days – 27th and 28th June – at the Redland National Training Centre. Finalists will receive professional coaching on all aspects of running a roofing business – including business planning, presentation skills, and technical skills – before being assessed, making this a complete learning experience.

A selection of leading figures in the roofing industry will be judging the candidates.

They will also take part in “knowledge-sharing sessions” over the course of the two days to answer questions and share the benefits of their experience to help pass the baton on to this next generation of roofers.

The competition peaks with the Apprentice of the Year Awards Dinner – consisting of the 10 finalists, their tutors and employers, and judges – where the winner of the 2017 competition will be announced.

The 10 finalists in the Redland Apprentice of the Year competition are:

1. David Crank, Stanley, County Durham. Training with Newcastle College and apprentice to Hodgson Sayers.

2. Thomas Knight, Truro, Cornwall. Training with South West Roof Training Group and apprentice to Wheeler Roofing Services.

3. Kieran Langhan, Selby, Yorkshire. Training with Leeds College of Building and apprentice to David Langhan Roofing Contractor.

4. Gavin Metson, Chelmsford, Essex. Training with Eastern Region Roof Training Group and apprentice to Avonside.

5. Ben Kearns, Stoke-on-Trent. Training with NCC Midlands and apprentice to Novus Property Solutions.

6. Ceiran Peel-Price, Irby, Wirral, Merseyside. Training with Bolton College and apprentice to Les Perry Roofing Contractors.

7. Liam Smy, Ipswich, Suffolk. Training with Eastern Region Roof Training Group and apprentice to Scofield and Lait.

8. Joe Stradling, Frome, Somerset. Training with NCC South and apprentice to West Country Tiling.

9. Moy Trott, Tonypandy, Wales. Training with Wales National Roof Training Group and apprentice to Trottsco.

10. Ollie Young, Bath. Training with Cornwall College and apprentice to Young’s Roofing.

Quick drying plaster review

Roger Bisby
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Quick drying plaster review
Roger Bisby tries out British Gypsum’s Thistle Bonding 60 that is designed to dry in one hour and accept any type of finish you care to use.
British Gypsum 29
You have to hand it to British Gypsum they keep going after new markets for their bagged plasters.

The latest target in their sights is the making good and small repair market. This is not just plasterers, who will probably always have a half bag on the van anyway, but plumbers, electricians and jobbing builders who make good and repair as they go rather than calling in a spread. Now you might think that British Gypsum would have this market sewn up but you may have noticed there are a lot of companies making small bags of patching or repair fillers and doing well out of it. Some days it is hard to make up your mind whether to buy a big bag of regular plaster or go for something smaller and more versatile. The trouble is that you often find that a 10 kilo bag of Easy Sand filler for example costs more than a 25 Kilo bag of multi finish.

But I suppose when you need it you need it. If, for example, you are an electrician and you need to fill in a chase and you don’t want to come back the next day to apply the finish you need a base coat that goes off super fast or you need a one – coat plaster that you can dub out and build up to a good finish. There are a lot of products out there which do this job well and you can build them up but they usually take a few hours to go off which means you could be hanging around waiting for the base coat to go off before you can get the final coat on.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

My solution in the past has been to mix a bit of cement with a bit of bonding and use that to fill with but when you apply the finish you find you will often get bubble trouble as the base coat continues to cook and push moisture out through the face.

British Gypsum’s scientists have now come up with a special Thistle Bonding 60 that will dry in one hour and, more importantly accept any type of finish you care to use. You can apply a Thistle finish or, if you aren’t that good at plastering, you can apply Easy Sand or jointing compound which is basically the same thing in a different bag. To be honest I couldn’t tell you exactly how long a normal bag of bonding would take to set. I thought it was fairly quick but I must admit I have never put a stopwatch on it.

I can find plenty of jobs to do with a product such as this so I opted for a big bag but if you are a spark or plumber you might prefer to have a plastic tub on the van rather than a dusty bag that could spill out all over you nice clean tools.

I hadn’t got any chases to do but I found a badly damaged corner behind a front door that needed a quick repair. I mixed it up a bit on the sloppy side to see if it would hang around longer, not that I wanted it to but this was research. It turned out to be a warmish day and after my obligatory tea break and sit in the sun I went back and found it was good to go.

I used some multi-finish for the top coat and, just as they promised there was no bubble trouble. So it was a quick in and out job, if you’ll pardon the expression.

www.british-gypsum.com

Housebuilder invites people to learn heritage skills

Dylan Garton
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Housebuilder invites people to learn heritage skills

The UK retirement housebuilder, McCarthy and Stone, is inviting people across the country to celebrate the heritage skills of older people throughout it’s developments across a number of regions in June and July.

The event comes alongside McCarthy and Stone’s 40th year celebrations. In January, at the start of its anniversary year, McCarthy and Stone pledged its support for Royal Voluntary Service and the charity’s annual ‘GrandFest’ event.

All are welcome to join staff and homeowners at selected McCarthy & Stone developments for GrandFest, a special event which will put the spotlight on accomplished older craftspeople – or ‘GrandMakers’.

Attendees will have the opportunity to pick up a new hobby or interest, or to perfect their own skills, when GrandMakers – those selected for their involvement in a particular craft – lead workshops in a variety of different skills.

McCarthy and Stone, said: “It is a privilege to welcome our talented GrandMakers to our developments for what promises to be a fun and inspiring set GrandMaker event. The older generation undoubtedly has a wealth of talent and knowledge; and, as part of our 40th year celebrations, we wanted to provide a forum for sharing these skills. The masterclass will provide the perfect opportunity for McCarthy and Stone homeowners and members of the local community to come along and pick-up a new craft, or to brush-up on their own abilities – whatever their age or level of expertise.”

A cut above: Knipex grips review

Roger Bisby
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A cut above: Knipex grips review

Roger Bisby tries out a few Knipex grips and laments a life of losing tools.

Having spent a great deal of my working life as a plumber/builder Knipex is a brand I know very well and it seems I’m not alone. When I recently used a pair of inferior slip joint grips in a plumbing demonstration and struggled, the calls from the audience of plumbers put me right. “You should’ve used Knipex ” someone shouted and there was unanimous agreement.

Knipex 705

“Yeah Knipex all day long” another said and my face went as red as the handles of the pilers I should’ve used. As much as I knew how good they were it is not often that you hear such a resounding endorsement for a brand and Knipex weren’t buying the drinks. And well they could because Knipex is not a cheap brand but the plumbers and builders I spoke to would rather have two pairs of Knipex than half a dozen pairs of lesser quality pliers. In fact I took that cheap pair and threw them in the recycling bin after that embarrassment because there is something very frustrating and annoying about having a pair of slip joint pliers that do more slipping than joining.

Knipex 7

Looking at this sparkly new range of different grips and pump pliers I was surprised by the variety of variations on the theme.There are round jaws for tightening waste fittings (not that you should need them) and more importantly underground water supplies.

Knipex is not a cheap brand but the plumbers and builders I spoke to would rather have two pairs of Knipex than half a dozen pairs of lesser quality pliers

There are also smooth jaw slip joints to prevent damage to chrome nuts and there are replaceable soft jaw pliers for use on chrome shrouds and those gold plated taps that used to be all the rage. The only time I see the gold stuff these days is when I am taking it out but chrome is the new gold and it can be an equally expensive mistake to scratch chrome plating. So no more wrapping the teeth in bike inner tube to try and prevent damage.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

As a footnote to this piece I went to a loft I have not been in for 20 years to replace a float valve and there beside the tank was a not so shiny pair of Knipex grips. I had no idea I had been using or losing them for so many years. I could be a rich man if I had not lost so many tools, had so many kids or married a woman who helps me spend more than I earn.

www.knipex.com

Company & Contractor Fined After Member of Public Struck by Fencing Wire

Dylan Garton
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Company & Contractor Fined After Member of Public Struck by Fencing Wire

A civil engineering company (R M Contractors Limited aka RMC), and a contractor working on behalf of a tree surgery company Complete Tree Services (CTS) have been sentenced after a member of the public was injured by fencing wire.

Redditch Magistrates’ Court heard a member of the public was in her garden, when she was sprayed with pieces of fencing wire that had become entangled in a mechanical flail.

As the head of the flail was lifted, ejected pieces were directed towards her garden. She was struck twice, once in the leg and once in the neck. She needed surgery to remove the piece of metal from her neck.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 18 May 2015, found the contractor RMC who had engaged the sub-contractor CTS to carry out the flailing, who had failed to properly plan this work to ensure the suitable controls had been identified and implemented.

They both failed to check the area for obstructions or follow safe procedures should such an event occur.

R M Contractors Limited, of Pipers Road, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Redditch, Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was fined £180,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,000.

Matt Lea of Little Luddington Farm, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc.

Act 1974, and has been sentenced to 120 hours community order and ordered to pay costs of £3600.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Chris Gregory said: “Members of the public have a right to expect to be able to enjoy their garden without any risk of being hit by flying debris from neighbouring work activity.”

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/contractors.htm

Tower’s cladding “went up like a matchstick”

Dylan Garton
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Tower’s cladding “went up like a matchstick”

Shocked witnesses have described seeing people jump from as high as the 15th floor of Grenfell Tower in London as flames engulfed the building last night.

Over 200 firefighters attended the 27-storey building near Ladbroke Grove just after 1.15am as fire tore through the block of flats.The cause of the fire is still unknown but according to witness accounts there are fears that the exterior cladding may have played a role in the fire’s rapid spread.

The building has recently been refurbished at a cost of £8.6 million which included an upgrade to the exterior cladding. A resident of the 17th floor of the block, named as Methrob, told LBC Radio the “real issue was when it caught fire to the cladding outside”. He said: “That’s when I noticed the fire from outside when I looked out the window.

“By the time that we got downstairs, the fire had gone all the way up and it was just about reaching our windows on the 17th floor.”The whole one side of the building was on fire. The cladding went up like a matchstick.”

Festool Launches Cycle Challenge to Promote Lung Health to UK Trades

Roger Bisby
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Festool Launches Cycle Challenge to Promote Lung Health to UK Trades

Festool, the supplier of high-end power tools and accessories, has launched a new Cycle Challenge to raise money for the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and to promote lung health to UK tradespeople.

The Cycle Challenge will feature two static Wattbikes that will join Festool’s impressive UK roadshow on its European leg in July. Members of the trade will have the chance to win £500 of Festool prizes if they bike the fastest mile, three miles or five miles.

Featuring Festool’s premium range of tools, the fully equipped truck will also provide visitors the opportunity to receive information, get hands-on with the tools and learn from a team of experts.

With approximately 200 sq m of space, visitors will find new products for 2017, as well as Festool’s complete range of dust extractors that help safeguard a dust-free work environment.

The company has been selling cycling tops as a fundraising initiative on its eBay page and will be raising thousands of pounds for the BLF as part of the Breathe Easy with Festool Dust Extraction campaign.

The truck tour will begin in Portsmouth on 5th July and will call at Twickenham, Sittingbourne, Leyton, St Albans, High Wycombe, Nuneaton, Derby, North Shields, Glasgow, Dunfermline, Blackburn, Warrington, Belfast and Dublin.

Jonathon Burcham, Marketing Manager at Festool, said: “With carpenters and joiners four times more likely to contract asthma compared to other workers, the HSE says tradespeople must always use dust extraction.

“We’ve previously promoted the importance of safer, dust-free working conditions with the help of the BLF. Our latest Breathe Easy campaign is attempting to raise awareness of lung health amongst tradesmen who are most at risk of lung problems.”

The money made from the limited edition cycle shirts will go towards research into life-threatening lung diseases, as well as the care provided by the BLF for those suffering from conditions like asbestosis, asthma, lung cancer, COPD, IPF, mesothelioma and more.

 

Exposure to wood dust, a known carcinogen, can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Alongside heart disease and non-respiratory cancer, lung disease is one of the UK’s three biggest killers.

The British Lung Foundation’s Battle for Breath study found that more than 43,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Around 12 million people, one in five of the UK population, have been diagnosed with lung disease. Respiratory disease costs the UK £11 billion each year.

Last year, the BLF’s report found that lung disease mortality rates haven’t improved in the last 10 years and the UK now has the fourth highest mortality rate in Europe.

Ideal for mobile use and assembly, the Festool range of safe and robust dust extractors are lightweight and compact, ideal to transport from job to job, again saving time for the tradesperson.

Festool offers a range of dust extractors that are suitable for any job from low to high-class dust, including general work to anything that is a known carcinogen including lead, cadmium and asbestos.

Find the Festool truck at the following dealers:

5th July – Elliott’s, The Pompey Centre, Dickinson Rd, Portsmouth PO4 8ER
6th July – Harlequins, The Twickenham Stoop, Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7SX
7th July – Axminster Sittingbourne, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourne ME9 8QP
10th July – Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7QL
11th July – Elsons, Unit 1 Brick Knoll Park, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 5UG
12th July – Isaac Lord, 185 Desborough Rd, High Wycombe HP11 2QN
13th July – Axminster Nuneaton, Bermuda Trade Centre, Hamilton Way, Nuneaton CV10 7RA
14th July – DIPT Derby, Sidney Robinson Business Park, Ascot Drive, Derby DE24 8EH
17th and 18th July – Axminster North Shields, North Shields Retail Park, Norham Rd, North Shields NE29 7UJ
19th and 20th July – Kelvin Power Tools, 22 Kelvin Avenue, Hillington Park, Glasgow G52 4LT
21st July – Engineering Agencies, 78 Halbeath Rd, Dunfermline KY12 7RS
24th July – Mercers, Pump St, Blackburn BB2 1PG
25th July – Axminster Warrington, Gateway 49 Trade Park, Kerfoot St, Warrington WA2 8NT
27th July – SIA Belfast, 2, 96 Beechill Rd, Belfast BT8 7QN
28th July – Hafele, Unit N3, North Ring Business Park, Santry, Dublin 9

www.festool.co.uk

Roofing Company Fined After Safety Failings

Dylan Garton
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Roofing Company Fined After Safety Failings

A roofing company has been sentenced for safety failings related to working at height.

Brighton Magistrates Court heard how numerous concerns were raised by members of the public about work being carried out by G & S Roofing Limited.

The company twice ignored written advice to address the issue of working at height in an unsafe manner.

In August 2016, a further concern was raised by a member of the public who contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after seeing more evidence of operatives hired by G & S Roofing working unsafely from height. Inspectors then visited the site.

The HSE investigation found one of the operatives to be working on the flashings of a chimney from a ladder resting on the pitch of the roof at the unguarded gable end of the two-storey house.

There was nothing at the gable end of the roof to prevent a person falling.

There were no suitable measures in place to prevent a person falling from the gable end, a fall which could have caused the personal injury.

A prohibition was served but the company took no action to rectify the dangerous working conditions.

G&S Roofing Ltd of Pembroke Lodge, 3 Pembroke Road, Ruslip was found guilty in its absence to breaching Regulations 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by virtue of Regulation 3(b). The company was today fined a total of £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,574.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rebekah Dunn said: “The dangers associated with working at height are well-known and G & S Roofing had a duty to protect all operatives from the risk of falling from height.

Despite repeated advice, the company failed to put in adequate precautionary measures.

“It is vital for duty-holders to ensure that all issues related to health and safety are suitably addressed, particularly when the issues are highlighted.”

Win an Aviva half mask from Scott Safety

Dylan Garton
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0
Win an Aviva half mask from Scott Safety

Skill Builder has teamed up with Scott Safety to give away five of the company’s brand new Aviva half masks as tested by Skill Builder in this video.

The new AVIVA 40 single filter half mask includes innovative design elements such as a hybrid reflex face seal, an easy-to-use leak check mechanism and goggle ‘pinch’.

AVIVA 40 is suitable for a variety of applications including paint spraying, chemicals and manufacturing, utilising the Pro2000 range of filters. Please see technical data for precise filter approvals.

To be in with a chance of winning just follow the Facebook link.

Company and Contractor Fined After Building Collapses onto Kent High Street

Dylan Garton
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0
Company and Contractor Fined After Building Collapses onto Kent High Street

The owner of a building in Kent and the contractor employed to demolish it have been fined for safety failings after an uncontrolled collapse onto the High Street.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that the building at the High Street, Ramsgate, Kent was owned by Panther AL (VAT) Limited. Martin Elmes was contracted to undertake the demolition work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the collapse, which occurred on 6 November 2013, found that Martin Elmes had failed to properly plan the work and then carried out unsafe demolition work.

Panther AL (VAT) Limited (PALL) did not make any enquiries into the suitability or competence of Martin Elmes to undertake the demolition.

Neither PALL nor Martin Elmes applied for a road closure and members of the public were put at risk.

Panther AL (VAT) Limited, of Deneway House, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9128.89.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

Martin Elmes, of Barnacres Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 25(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for two years.

HSE inspector Andrew Cousins said after the hearing: “Lives were put at risk when this structure uncontrollably collapsed. Clients have a responsibility to appoint competent contractors to undertake hazardous work such as demolition.

“Those in control of demolition have a responsibility to plan demolition work and to devise a safe way of working that protects both the workers and members of the public.

“The job could have been safely carried out by simply undertaking the demolition behind a substantial hoarding.”

For further information on demolition safety visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/demolition.htm

DeWalt extends XR FLEXVOLT range

Roger Bisby
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DeWalt extends XR FLEXVOLT range

DeWalt has extended its XR FLEXVOLT range to include a Mitre Saw as well as the SDS Max and Plus Hammers.

Advantages of the XR FLEXVOLT system which was launched in 2016 include:
·        Sustained all day operation for onsite heavy duty construction application, without cable inconvenience
·        Wide range of 54V power tools to suit any job
·        Cross-compatible with 18V tools, providing the complete cordless power tool system

The XR FLEXVOLT batteries are created using three 18V batteries that switch up to 54V when attached to any XR FLEXVOLT tool.  This makes it entirely compatible with the existing DEWALT XR power tools range and provides tradesmen with a complete ‘one stop shop’ cordless power tool solution.

The XR FLEXVOLT cordless technology range now incorporates many of the essential tools tradesmen require, including:

· The new 54V SDS PLUS HAMMER drill and SDS MAX HAMMER drill –  offering market-leading mains equivalent power, with anti-vibration and anti-rotation systems, as well as drilling capacity up to 30mm (PLUS) and 40mm (MAX)
· What is said to be the world’s first 305mm cordless mitre saw, delivering 108V of power performance from a battery, added flexibility for use with a cord in workshops, precision cutting, high accuracy and guaranteed long life
·  A range of 54V table, circular, reciprocating, alligator, plunge and 250mm mitre saws, 54V Angle Grinder and 9ah Battery

Darren Barber, marketing director, at DEWALT, comments: “DEWALT is on the side of busy tradesmen and the demands they face on site. The DEWALT XR FLEXVOLT range is paving the way for a cordless jobsite, offering an outstanding solution for professionals looking for efficient, guaranteed and sustained performance, without the inconvenience of a cable

“The mains equivalent battery power ensures the tools can easily deal with the toughest materials, plus the faster application speed that the 54V battery delivers, means less energy is used overall, improving runtime on heavy duty applications.

“For extra ease, we’ve made the 54V battery cross-compatible with our 18V power tool range, to enable it to complement existing power tools tradesmen already own and therefore create a complete cordless power tool system.”

Norbord CaberBoard ~ Easy Flooring for Busy Builders

Roger Bisby
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Norbord CaberBoard ~ Easy Flooring for Busy Builders

For many years, the preferred material for decking suspended timber floors has been chipboard.

Norbord CaberBoard

Norbord’s CaberBoard flooring range is claimed to be the UK’s best-selling chipboard flooring product, its handy dimensions allowing ease of handling and its robust tongue-and-groove edging ensuring a secure and even surface.

As the housing market continues to grow, tradesmen need methods of completing projects faster and more efficiently.

Consequently, more of them are said to be looking beyond the standard CaberFloor P5 panel and choosing Norbord’s advanced CaberDek and CaberShieldPlus systems.

Both CaberDek and CaberShieldPlus use the same P5 moisture-resistant particleboard but also feature further added benefits meaning the floor can be laid even before the roof is installed.

CaberDek has a non-slip protective film to prevent damage to the board from following wet trades – such as plastering and painting.

The film takes all the dirt and damages away with it, leaving a pristine floor surface ready to accept carpet or other finish.

CaberShieldPlus also features a tough, waterproof coating permanently bonded to both top and bottom surfaces of the board.

Check out the Norbord website for more.

See more on flooring with Skill Builder.

Day in the life: Richie Maxwell (Screwfix Top Tradesperson, 2016)

Dylan Garton
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0
Day in the life: Richie Maxwell (Screwfix Top Tradesperson, 2016)

Skill Builder’s ‘Day in the life’ feature takes a look at a typical day in the life of different tradespeople. In this installment, we talk to Richie Maxwell, the winner of Screwfix’s Top Tradesperson 2016, who shares his winning attitude to work and life and tells us that bricklaying is in his blood.

Name: Richie Maxwell
Trade: Bricklayer/Stonemason/Builder
Company: RDM ELITE BUILDERS LTD

What time does your day start?
I wake up at 6:00 and begin by looking over my quotes and diary for the day to focus on the tasks ahead. My day varies based on what is scheduled in my diary, but I jump in my new Toyota Hilux and head to the office by 7:30 to brief the crew on the day’s projects. My site hours are generally 8:00-16:30 but vary based on the task that day.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I come from a family of bricklayers, both my father and grandfather were extremely good bricklayers and tradesmen, and they taught me, especially my dad how to be the tradesman that I am today.

What does a typical day entail for you?
No two days are ever the same. Since winning the Screwfix Britain’s Top Tradesperson competition my workflow has increased significantly. I have been able to hire more staff which helps with all the new projects we are being asked to work on.

If I were to summarise I would say I arrive on site at 7:30 to check over the diary and drawings/details for the jobs on for the day. Brief the guys at 7:45 and then start work at 8:00.  I have a passionate team behind me who are focused on providing high quality work every day.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I have done this my whole life and truly have a passion for all aspects of the trade. I’ve never been unhappy with my career choice and I go to work every day thinking today will be the best day yet. I started out in the trade because of my father, who has passed away since I won Britain’s Top Tradesperson, so it makes going to work that much more enjoyable because I think of everything he has done for me, taught me and inspired me to do to get me to where I am today. It made us have a special bond, so every day when I go on a job I get to think of him and our special relationship.

There are a lot of people in the trade who have negative outlooks, but you just have to stay positive and try to encourage people and show them all the opportunities that can come through hard work and dedication.

What’s the worst thing about your job?
There are a lot of people in the trade who have negative outlooks, but you just have to stay positive and try to encourage people and show them all the opportunities that can come through hard work and dedication. When you have someone in your staff that is unmotivated it can be hard to train them but you cannot give up on them, you must try to encourage them to keep trying and then you will see a shift in their outlook and work.

What qualifications do you have?
NVQ Level 5 Bricklaying, NVQ Construction studies & Technical drawing, Various Onsite Certificates first aid, scaffold inspection etc.

Are you a member of any professional alliances/associations?
Currently I am undergoing my application to the Federation of Master Builders, which will be a huge achievement once completed.

What tool couldn’t you live without?
My Marshaltown trowel!!

What do you drive?
My Toyota Hilux, which I won through the competition, I’ve also just bought a new van to help cope with the increased workload.

What do you do to unwind?
Spend time with my wife Paula and little boy Corey, play Ice Hockey for my local team and keep up to date with the construction industry.

What piece of advice would you give to an up and coming apprentice?
Never say no to a task and try to take as much on as you can. This is the best way to continue learning. As an apprentice you need to try everything out to make sure you join the right trade and then you can know how to do a bit of everything which makes you more sought after as a tradesperson.

www.facebook.com/RDMELITE/

Mears Responds to Unite’s Beard Ban Criticism

Roger Bisby
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Mears Responds to Unite’s Beard Ban Criticism

In response to criticism from Unite the Union about a letter sent to some operatives regarding the use of dust masks and beards.

Mark Elkington, Group Health and Safety Director of Mears Group has said, “We are pretty surprised that Unite, who claim to have the safety of workers at heart have taken this disappointing stance.

“Every employer in the UK has a legal responsibility to ensure that employees working in dusty or otherwise potentially hazardous environments are properly protected and in recent years employers have been prosecuted for failing to fulfil this duty.

“The simple fact is that no dust mask can work effectively unless it forms a seal against the skin.

That is not possible with a beard or even heavy stubble. If the Health and Safety Executive did a spot site visit and found workers wearing dust masks that were not sealed against the face then we would be liable to prosecution.

“The alternative to a dust mask is a full hood over the head, which brings its own risks. For example, many of our operatives do not like wearing a full hood and it can affect hearing and line of sight.

It can also be uncomfortable to wear and can raise concerns with our clients who do not like to see workers in such hoods because of how it looks to customers.

“It is vital to note, however, that if a risk assessment shows that the hood is a better option for a job or a worker insisted on having one, then we will supply that hood so Unite’s reference to cost saving is absolute nonsense.

“If one of our workers suffers respiratory illness as a result of a poor-fitting mask then that is our responsibility and we place the safety of our workers at the top of the priority list.

“Finally it is worthy of note that this affects a very small percentage of our workers who would be in that environment.

“One has to question the real motives of Unite which has chosen not to take the safety of its members seriously in order to make a cheap point.”

Row breaks out over beard ban

Dylan Garton
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0
Row breaks out over beard ban

Unite, the UK construction union has condemned a decree by outsourced housing maintenance company Mears, which bans workers from having beards as ‘penny pinching stupidity’.

Members of Unite employed on social housing maintenance work in the culturally diverse borough of Tower Hamlets, were said to be told at a ‘tool box talk’ that beards were now banned. Unite has subsequently obtained a letter that states: “This is now a Mears nationwide policy for the entire company.”

The company is claiming that the ban on beards and the requirement on all workers being clean shaven is so that workers can “wear appropriate dust marks effectively”.

Unite says Mears claims that all workers have to be clean shaven in order to be safely fitted with a tight fitting face mask when working in dusty environments. The only exceptions the company is willing to make is if a worker can’t shave for medical reasons, a dust mask can’t be worn for medical reasons or a person has a beard for religious reasons. The letter also states a ‘goatee’ may be acceptable.

https://goo.gl/n35XvD

In the first two cases a medical certificate is required and for religious reasons the worker needs to provide a letter from a “church /mosque/synagogue /temple etc”. However the letter also states “Even in the above circumstances, this is not a disclaimer, and not guaranteed.”

While facial hair can affect tight fitting face masks (the cheapest option) other forms of masks which have their own airflow such as helmets, hoods and visors can be safely used with a beard.

While facial hair can affect tight fitting face masks (the cheapest option) other forms of masks which have their own airflow such as helmets, hoods and visors can be safely used with a beard.

Unite regional official for London Mark Soave said: “The arrogance of Mears is hair-raising. This is a highly delicate issue, which has huge cultural, religious and personal issues and where sensitivity should be the watchword. Instead members have been handed a decree from on high.

“This is clearly a case of Mears going for the cheapest option and amounts to ‘penny pinching stupidity’. Other forms of masks are available and these should be offered to existing workers.

“Unite will always put the safety of our members first and creating huge resentment and anger among your workforce is never the way forward. Mears needs to withdraw this decree and enter into a proper consultation with Unite and the workforce.”

Unite national health and safety adviser Susan Murray said: “An employer should first assess the risks presented by exposure to hazardous substances, then identify the steps needed to adequately control the risks; put them into operation and ensure they remain effective. The use of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) may be one of the control measures, but the wearing of face masks should be a last resort and priority should always be given to eliminating the risk.

“Before any policy is introduced there should be full and proper consultation. It is crucial that the policy recognises the diversity of the workforce and the principle that workers should be consulted and given a choice of several correctly specified types of RPE so they can choose the one they like.”

Read Mears response to Unite’s criticisms here.

More on RPE:

Construction Company Fined After Member of Public Walked Onto Site and Drowned

Roger Bisby
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Construction Company Fined After Member of Public Walked Onto Site and Drowned

A Glasgow based construction company has been fined after the death of an 83-year old man in Kirkcaldy.

Kirkcaldy Sherriff Court heard that in early January 2015 an elderly gentleman who suffered from a number of age-related illnesses walked onto the construction site which was closed for the holidays.

While on the site operated by Sandford Park Ltd he fell into a flooded excavation and died from drowning.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Sandford Park Ltd failed to install the appropriate level of fencing around the site to prevent members of the public including vulnerable adults and children from accessing the construction site.

Sandford Park Ltd of St Vincent Street, Glasgow has today pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 22(1) (l) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and the company has today been fined £110,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Gillian Anderson said: “This tragic incident could have been prevented, had the company installed a continuous fence around the site.”

Rudridge employees set to cycle in memory of colleague

Roger Bisby
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0
Rudridge employees set to cycle in memory of colleague

Two Rudridge employees are gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime to raise cash in memory of a much-missed colleague.

Paul Duke and Peter Burrell, from the civil and engineering groundwork specialists, will cycle from Paris to Geneva this September to raise money for the Stroke Association.

Their route, which covers over 320 miles, will include hairpin bends and punishing climbs, including the 1,323m Col de la Faucille ascent which has regularly featured in the Tour de France.  The five day tour will take in Paris, Sens, Semur-en Auxois, Dijon, Lons-le-saunier finishing in Geneva where the pair hope to celebrate with a pint by the lake.

Last year Rudridge employee Tony Marshall, described as ‘a great colleague and friend’, died suddenly after a short illness.

He had worked at the company for 14 years as a Senior Sales Executive. “Tony’s death came as a huge shock to us all,” said Paul, General Manager of Rudridge’s Farnham branch. “We felt we wanted to do something in his memory, and raise money for a worthwhile cause at the same time.

‘It’s going to be tough for us as we’ve never cycled in the Alp’s before. We have a strict training and dietary schedule which is getting us used to life in the saddle.  We have a target to cover 500km to 600km per month on lumpy terrain with a few long climbs in the Surrey hills. We will also be completing the Ride London 100 in July and other weekend sportives.”
Paul and Peter are hoping to raise £1,200 for the Stroke Association. To find out more, or make a donation, please visit their Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rudridgepeteandpaul

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