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Torbay Plumber Sentenced After Illegal Gas Work

Dylan Garton
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Torbay Plumber Sentenced After Illegal Gas Work

An illegal gas work fitter has been prosecuted after he installed a gas boiler and left it in a potentially dangerous state because he did not commission it.

Mark Evans, aged 52, an unregistered plumber, fitted the gas boiler at a property on Denys Road, Torquay, after he was recommended to the homeowners by a family friend.

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Mark Evans at Torquay Magistrates on 26 July 2016 and who was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on 6 October 2016.

Illegal Gas Work
Illegal gas work dangers cannot be understated

HSE launched an investigation after a Gas Safe Register Inspector found substandard workmanship in the work carried out by Mark Evans and classed the installation as ‘At Risk’ which means there was a risk to life.

The homeowner had contacted Gas Safe Register after they had arranged for another Gas Safe Register engineer to check on the work undertaken by Mark Evans, as they had concerns over the standard of his work.

Unbeknown to the homeowners the engineer that they had arranged to visit turned out to be the brother of Mark Evans, and who is a properly registered gas engineer.

He had concerns over the boiler installation and told the homeowners to contact Gas Safe Register.

Illegal Gas Work Consequences

The court heard that Mark Evans had placed adverts in local Torbay publications saying that work would be undertaken by registered engineers but he in fact did the work himself.

He left the boiler installed without commissioning it and left the homeowners with no paperwork and did not register the gas boiler with the Local Authority, all of which are legal requirements.

Mark Evans of Sladnor Park Road, Torquay pleaded guilty to two breaches of gas safety regulations and was sentenced to an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to serve 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £3,541.00 in costs.

HSE Inspector Simon Jones, speaking after the hearing, said: “Mark Evans put lives at risk by undertaking gas work which he was neither qualified nor registered to undertake.

“He knew he should not have done the work but continued anyway blatantly disregarding the law, the law that is there to protect members of the public.

“After a gas boiler is installed it has to be immediately commissioned to ensure that it is working safely but Mark Evans made no such check and so left the homeowners with a potentially dangerous boiler for a considerable period of time with him knowing that the boiler had not been commissioned.”

Further information about gas safety can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic

See more on illegal gas work with Skill Builder.

Play it where it lays: Karndean flooring review

Dylan Garton
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0
Play it where it lays: Karndean flooring review

Roger Bisby has a go at laying some Karndean flooring under the watchful eye of Karndean laying master Richard Daniels.

It seems to me that once you have seen Karndean flooring and recognised its unique look, you just never stop seeing it.

For those that don’t know Karndean is a vinyl flooring product made primarily from calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl chloride and pigments. It is structured with five layers – two PVC backing layers, one high definition photographic layer, one clear PVC embossed wear layer and a top polyurethane (PU) protective coating.

Undoubtedly it is the floor to be seen with. Karndean is clearly a company on a mission and part of that mission is to involve general builders in the laying of its products and to that end it will be coming to a builder’s merchant near you. Karndean has introduced two easy-to-lay products. One is Palio Click and the other is Loose Lay.

Karndean is clearly a company on a mission and part of that mission is to involve general builders in the laying of its products and to that end it will be coming to a builder’s merchant near you

To prove just how easy these products are to use Karndean invited me to their training school, presumably thinking that if I could do it then anyone can. The trouble is that I am a bit over-run with training school days at the moment so I prefer to find live jobs which are more likely to throw up challenges that aren’t on the script.

So Richard Daniels, the Karndean head honcho technical man,  came to see me and gave me a quick Master Class in how to lay Loose Lay or maybe just to lay loose. I had already had a telephone conversation with him about the sub-floor and the best way to get it pan flat. In my case  it involved putting a Fibre Flex reinforced self levelling compound on top of the timber flooring having first gone round and screwed down any loose boards. I could have done it with plywood but the trouble with ply is it tends to ride the contours of the floor and you end up having to put self leveller over the ply so my way seemed better. No matter how you do it you need it flat and that is that.

The next bit is easy because the precision cut planks are simply placed down on the floor butted together. My brain kept telling me it shouldn’t work but actually it works brilliantly. Provided the floor is flat with no ridges or embarrassing dips or dimples the grp reinforced vinyl planks go down like a dream.

As with most flooring, you need to establish a crown row and  work out where the cuts will come. Make sure you get two or three straight rows down with the joints very tight, then you can start to cut to a wall. I had considered removing the skirtings (base boards in America)  to save having to cut the flooring  but I am very glad I didn’t because I soon found out that having a nice straight solid edge to work to is essential.  If you have laid vinyl tiles in the past you will know the trick. Simply lay the tile to be cut on top of the last complete tile and use another tile to place against the wall so you can scribe to it. Don’t cut to that tile though because you need the blade to be on the outside of the line so use another bit up against it so you can take the scribe piece away. If you can’t understand what I am saying I have made a video for YouTube which shows it clearly.

The final trick is to shave off a chamfer on the back edge where it meets the wall. Not only does it help overcome any thickening of the screed edge it provides a slight amount of compression at the edge so you can squeeze it in. Once you get the hang of it you will find you can achieve very tight joints.

Once you have the floor all cut in and tight you can then go around and lift the edge planks with a window sucker and apply some Karndean tackifier. This helps to keep the whole thing down but quite honestly it looked  like it wasn’t going anywhere.  If you have an area subjected to hot sun such as the light fall from a roof window then a little tackifier around that area will help keep the floor from riding up.

It might sound a little strange but I really enjoyed myself laying this floor. I completed two rooms in about half a day each. I am sure that a floor layer would put it down in an hour or so but it isn’t about rushing it is about getting it right and it is amazing just how many videos there are on YouTube where people don’t get it right. They need a Master Class from Richard.

As well as being resilient it is a forgiving product and if there is an area of damage or heavy wear in the future it can be lifted and renewed. Compare that to click together systems and you can see the advantages. The other great advantage in a loft conversion is that any squeaky floors that emerge as the timbers dry out over the months can simply  be screwed down by lifting a section of  Loose Lay. Try that with interlocking planks.

It’s easy to see why when people are looking at new flooring products and flooring options Karndean is becoming a popular choice for the whole home, from kitchen flooring to hallway flooring.

Watch Skill Builder’s video of tips for laying Karndean Vinyl Looselay Flooring Tiles here.

www.karndean.com/en-gb/floors

Roofing firm fined after worker falls through roof

Roger Bisby
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Roofing firm fined after worker falls through roof

A roofing company has been fined after a worker fell five metres through a roof sustaining severe injuries.

St Albans Crown Court heard how a 32 year old labourer was working for Richardson Roofing Company Limited (RRCL) on a construction site at Kingsley Green, Radlett, Hertfordshire on 8 August 2013.

The worker was fitting battens on the roof around holes for the skylights when he stepped on a membrane covering one of the holes and fell approximately five metres. He sustained two broken wrists and four fractures to the skull and was hospitalised for fifteen days. He has not been able to return to this type of work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the hole had been previously covered by boards but these were later removed in order to complete the works up to hole’s edge, leaving the hole visually obscured by the thin roofing membrane. The company failed to properly identify and put in place controls for controlling the hazard of falling through the roof once the boards were removed.

Richardson Roofing Company Limited, of Richardson House, Moor Lane, Staines, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,865.

For further information on work at height visit:

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm

Festool TS 55 REQ Saw Review: Your questions answered

Roger Bisby
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Festool TS 55 REQ Saw Review: Your questions answered

In this latest video from Skill Builder Roger Bisby answers your questions from Part 1 of the Festool TS 55 REQ Saw review.

www.festool.co.uk

 

Button-fix hidden fixings product test

Roger Bisby
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Button-fix hidden fixings product test

Roger Bisby tries out the Button-fix system.

Button-fix is an ingenious secret fixing system for panels of all descriptions. It can be used to secure bath panels, WC panels, wall panelling and even shower panels. It is also used on fitted furniture. Of course you could just get yourself a tube of panel adhesive but the difference is that Button-fix allows removal of the panels if you need to gain access for servicing or even renewing damaged panels.

A good example might be the panelling around a bar. If it gets damaged or starts to look a bit tired or dated it can simply be lifted sharply up with some glass suckers to release it and then pulled away. The one proviso is that you need a 15mm clearance margin at the top to allow the panel to clear the fixing. It is a good system but what makes it even better are the different types of housings for the buttons.

If you are prepared to have a shadow gap behind the panels you can use the surface mounted system that simply screws into the panel and the wall. If you want the panels to sit hard against the wall you can use the flush hangers but these have to be set into the host material with a router. The Button-fix router jig isn’t cheap but it is well made and allows you to use either of the jig inserts to suit the type of Button-fix you are using. I would imagine anyone doing commercial fit out would not hesitate to buy the jig but if you are just doing a one off you could make your own jig from mdf with a hole saw. The advantage of the Button-fix jig is that it is Perspex and this allows you to line it up precisely.

buttonfix-facadeflush-2

You might imagine that lining up the buttons and sockets also calls for some precise measuring but the locator pins make the job idiot proof. You simply prop your panel off the floor with some blocks and line it up level and plumb then give it a hard slap to make the tiny indents, just as you would with magnetic catches. I marked the approximate positions up with a pencil so I didn’t have to search too hard for the tiny dimples but they were so  well defined and easy to see that I needn’t have bothered. I used the indents to make  pilot holes for the button screws.  The whole thing lined up like a lunar docking. No problem Huston.

My favourite fixing in the range is the flush routed in fixing because it gives a really secure panel which isn’t wholly dependent on the screws. The manufacturers say you can hang 200 kilos on four fixings. If you are anything like me you will halve that figure because a lot of panels are made from dubious grades of chipboard and screws into chipboard are not the best thing,  so why take chances? The buttons themselves however are very strong. We get so used to plastic fixings being made of substandard plastic that snaps as soon as you look at it,  so it is reassuring to see that the material used in this system is of the highest quality. Quality costs and  I had a bit of a moment of doubt about how successful this product would be when I saw the cost of the hangers but I then realised that it was for a pack of 12 so they aren’t expensive after all .

button-fix-fush

 

Make new funding accessible to small firms, urges FMB

Roger Bisby
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Make new funding accessible to small firms, urges FMB

The creation of a dedicated fund aimed at lending to SME house builders will help to tackle the housing crisis but it must be easily accesible to small firms, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said in response to an announcement by Philip Hammond and Sajid Javid at the Conservative Party Conference.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on house building and its recognition that without a resurgent SME sector, there’s little prospect of the country tackling its chronic under-supply of new homes. The launch of a £3 billion Home Builders Fund, a significant part of which will be specifically targeted at supporting small scale developers, will tackle one of the key barriers to SME house builders – a lack of access to finance. One in two local house builders cite difficulty accessing finance as a major barrier to their ability to build more homes, demonstrating the latent potential of a sector that can play a much larger role in tackling the gap between supply and demand of new homes.”

Berry concluded: “This problem is particularly pronounced for the smallest firms and new entrants. It’s therefore critical that the new fund is made accessible to firms that will not want to engage with lengthy bureaucratic processes. Some Government funding schemes have been previously available to smaller developers, but received relatively poor take up due to the perceived complexity of applying, and the challenging timescales for delivery and repayment. The Government will need to work closely with industry to ensure that this policy is delivered in a way that is accessible and that enables both existing SMEs and new entrants to make maximum use of such a substantial fund. If the Government get the details of this fund right, we would hope that the anticipated building of 25,500 homes over the course of this Parliament could act as a real catalyst for a much wider revival of SME house builders.”

Bolton night club owner fined over asbestos exposure

Roger Bisby
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Bolton night club owner fined over asbestos exposure

A Bolton night club owner has been sentenced after admitting a failure to carry out a survey for asbestos before starting on the refurbishment of a local night club.

Manchester Magistrates’ court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its sole director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the management of a refurbishment project between 1 August and 12 August 2015 on The Level nightclub, Mawdsley Street, Bolton without an experienced contractor in place to manage the site. Up to 20 workers were potentially exposed to deadly asbestos fibres in order for the club to open in time for Fresher’s week and an influx of students to the club.

The site first came to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) attention in August 2015 following a complaint from Bolton Council regarding unsafe construction works throughout the site.

The HSE inspector served a total of three Prohibition Notices and two Improvement Notices, along with a Notification of Contravention for a foreseeable risk of asbestos exposure, a lack of competent site manager, risks of falls from height, unsuitable welfare facilities and inadequate fire safety precautions.

Charles McGrath, sole director of UK Night Life Limited, of Mawdsley Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulations 5(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and was fined £5,720.00 with costs of £3,535.86.

In his summing up, District Judge Sanders remarked that Mr McGrath had chosen to rush through the works with unqualified and inexperienced people running the site on a day-to-day basis. He went on to say that it was clear that these offences amounted to a ‘degree of cost cutting at the expense of safety’.

HSE inspector Matt Greenly said after the case: “Mr McGrath totally failed in his duty to protect his workers, subcontractors and anyone else accessing this site from a foreseeable risk of serious harm. Asbestos related diseases are currently untreatable and claim the lives of an estimated 5,000 people per year in the UK.

“The requirement to have a suitable asbestos survey is clear and well known throughout the construction industry. Only by knowing if asbestos is present in any building before works commence can a contractor ensure that people working on their site are not exposed to these deadly fibres.

“The cost of an asbestos survey is minimal compared to the legacy facing anyone who worked on this site. They now have to live with the realisation that due to the lack of care taken by Mr McGrath they may face a life shortening disease at some point over the next 30 or more years, from an exposure which was totally preventable. This case sends a clear message to any company that it does not pay to ignore risks on site, especially to simply keep to a self-imposed tight schedule.”

Contractor seriously injured in fragile skylight fall

Roger Bisby
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Contractor seriously injured in fragile skylight fall

London exhibition venue firm, The Business Design Centre Ltd, and a building contractor have been fined for safety failings after a specialist contractor fell through a fragile skylight.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the Business Design Centre allowed workers to cross an unsafe roof, which contained three fragile skylights and open edges, and failed to prevent contractors crossing the same unsafe roof on a number of occasions.

The court also heard that James Murphy, 64, from Chigwell in Essex, who had been appointed by The Business Design Centre Ltd to undertake repair work at the site, had led a specialist lead contractor over the unsafe roof on 14 May 2015.

As he walked over the unsafe roof the lead contractor fell through a skylight, falling 5.5m. He suffered serious injuries including a shattered pelvis, broken wrist, and a broken elbow.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the Business Design Centre failed to ensure that access to and from the areas of the roof which required repair was suitable and safe, and that sufficient measures were in place to protect against the risks of falling from height.

James Murphy failed to ensure that the job of accessing and then inspecting the auditorium roof was properly planned.

The Business Design Centre Limited, of Upper Street, Islington, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2925,56

James Murphy, of High Road, Chigwell, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £4,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £2925.

Roofing firm fined after worker’s ladder fall

Roger Bisby
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0
Roofing firm fined after worker’s ladder fall

A King’s Lynn roofing company has been prosecuted after a worker fell seven metres from a scaffold access ladder while assisting with chimney repairs.

Kings Lynn Magistrates Court heard how the worker was subcontracted by J Webber Roofing Limited to assist with removing waste, mixing cement and bringing tools up to colleagues who were working on the chimney at a domestic property on Beech Avenue in Kings Lynn on 10 July 2015.

The company had erected a scaffold platform around the chimney with an access ladder attached to it. The worker climbed up the ladder carrying a cement filled bucket with a radio attached to it, on his shoulder. He lost his balance and fell approximately seven metres to the ground. The fall resulted in multiple fractures to both of the worker’s wrists and his lower left arm. He required surgery and steel plates and will never regain full use of his hands.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that J Webber failed to adequately plan work at height which involved manual handling of construction materials and waste up and down scaffold ladders.

J Webber Roofing Limited of 81 Gayton Road, Gaywood, Kings Lynn pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,582 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Kasia Urbaniak said: “The risk of falls from ladders is well known. Ladders are being frequently misused where often better specifically designed equipment is easily available.

“This incident which has left a worker without the full use of his hands could have been easily avoided if a ‘gin wheel’ had been installed on the scaffold platform to transport tools and other construction materials”.

More information on carrying out roof work safely can be found here: www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg33.pdf PDF

Makita introduces new 18v Brushless motor LXT drills

Dylan Garton
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Makita introduces new 18v Brushless motor LXT drills

Makita has launched two new 18v Brushless motor LXT drills: the Makita DDF483 13mm drill driver and the Makita DHP483 combi drill.  Both new products are notable for their compact size: the drill driver has an overall body length of 162mm and the combi drill has a  176mm overall length. Both are ideally suited for tight space installation work, such as kitchen and bathroom installations.

The new Makita DDF483 drill driver will run up to 1,700rpm in high mode and 500rpm in low mode and with 20 torque settings and drill mode, the tool generates 40Nm of tightening torque in High mode and 23Nm in Low mode. It is capable of drilling 13mm in steel and 36mm in wood. The new Makita DHP483 combi drill will generate up to 25,500ipm (impacts per minute) in high mode and 7,500ipm in low mode and is capable of punching a 13mm hole in masonry and steel, and 36mm in wood.

These two new Makita 18v tools are powered by the innovative Brushless motor which generates less friction and heat, delivering maximum machine performance and longevity. Both offer 20 torque settings plus drill mode which is selected by the single sleeve keyless chuck; have 2-speed mechanical gear train for rugged reliability; an electric brake; twin LED job light; ergonomically designed soft-grip handle and convenient belt hook.

Both products are supplied in body only form in rugged MAKPAC cases.

www.makitauk.com

Skill Builder to launch Skill Builder Live

Dylan Garton
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Skill Builder to launch Skill Builder Live

With the Skill Builder website and YouTube channel going from strength to strength the team is really excited about the next step in the Skill Builder adventure – the launch of  Skill Builder Live which is a series of live streamed tool reviews.

Through Skill Builder Live we will be bringing you product tests and evaluations from sites around the UK with audience participation through social media.

Dylan Garton, Head of Video Production at Skill Builder explains more about the launch:

“Live streaming is a really effective way of engaging audiences in quality content and there’s an appetite for this format among manufacturers and the Skill Builder audience. My video production company Motion has a lot of experience of filming and streaming sporting and corporate events so we’re confident we can produce high quality shows that will engage the Skill Builder audience.”

Roger Bisby, who will be co-presenting the series, adds: “The Skill Builder community has an enormous amount of experience and gives invaluable feedback about issues and products in the building industry so this is an opportunity for them to bring their thoughts and opinions to a wider audience. As well as being informative to our community we hope that this series will give manufacturers valuable feedback for future product developments as well as sparking some debate about some of the important issues affecting tradespeople today”.

Sign up to the Skill Builder newsletter via our website to keep up-to-date with the Skill Builder Live broadcasting schedule and of course subscribe to the Skill Builder YouTube channel.

Manufacturers interested in the Skill Builder Live Series should contact georgina@skill-builder.uk.

 

Self-employed trader fined for safety failings

Roger Bisby
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0
Self-employed trader fined for safety failings

A Bradford self-employed trader has been sentenced this week for safety breaches after poor scaffolding arrangements at a domestic property put himself and others at risk.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Mark Podstawski, 47, after an investigation found poor planning, the absence of guard rails and a scaffold not of a recognised design, put himself and others, including people on the ground at risk.

Mark Podstawski of Horton Bank Top in Bradford pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was given 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £918.02 costs by Bradford Magistrates Court.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Thompson commented: “Mr Podstawski had been served with a Prohibition Notice six months prior to this incident when he breached the Work at Height Regulations for similar circumstances. This incident could and should have been prevented. Scaffolding should always be erected to the appropriate standards and previous enforcement action should not be ignored”.

Bond It launches advanced hybrid range

Roger Bisby
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Bond It launches advanced hybrid range

Manufacturer of building chemicals, Bond It, claim to be breaking new ground in sealant and adhesive performance with the launch of a range of products based on advanced hybrid technology.

The new Bond it hybrid range, which will be sold under the manufacturer’s PRO brand, offers users ‘best of both worlds’ solutions to a wide variety of trade and DIY needs.

Kirstie Cooper, marketing manager at Bond It, explains: “Sealants tend to be manufactured using one of two base materials – silicone or polyurethane. Both materials have their advantages but similarly both also have their disadvantages.

“By making significant and sustained investments into the relevant research and manufacturing facilities, Bond It has become a leading force in the development of a new generation of hybrid products. As the term ‘hybrid’ suggests, these products combine the benefits of silicone and polyurethane sealants with none of either material’s associated drawbacks.”

Like a silicone sealant, Bond It’s new hybrid products cure rapidly, are non-bubbling, are free from solvents and isocyanates, can be applied at low temperatures and offer good UV resistance.

Like a polyurethane sealant, they are also tear resistant and easily painted, even with water-based paint.

The new PRO products build on the success of Bond It’s existing hybrid sealant and adhesive – GB PRO which has become popular thanks to its versatility, bond strength and speed of curing.

Three new PRO products are now available. Each product features a different formulation which has been tailored to deliver enhanced performance characteristics that are suited to different applications. The new products are:

WOOD PRO. Designed for fixing all types of wooden floors directly onto all common substrates eliminating the need for battens. Moisture and solvent-free composition reduces the risk of wood flooring warping, curling and deforming. WOOD PRO is also permanently flexible enabling it to compensate for subfloor movement and making it suitable for use with underfloor heating systems.

ASTRO PRO. A specialist solution for bonding artificial grass surfaces to a variety of substrates or jointing tapes. Offers excellent bonding properties even on wet surfaces. Cures rapidly even at low temperatures and once cured is fully resistant to all climatic conditions.

MIRROR PRO. Specifically formulated for use on mirrors, glass and ceramics as well as for hot, humid environments. Offers good resistance to mould and mildew growth, will stick to damp surfaces and is non-corrosive so will not attack mirror backings. Rapid curing and is tack free in 10 minutes.

Concluding Kirstie Cooper adds: “The launch of our new PRO products represents an exciting new development for Bond It, for our stockists and for the trade and DIY customers they serve.

“Hybrid technology has the potential to deliver a step change in sealant and adhesive performance and Bond It is proud to be at the forefront in making the benefits as widely available as possible.”

Addex Dustblocker review

Roger Bisby
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Addex Dustblocker review

Roger Bisby had a  Dustblocker from Addex on test for a month and found he didn’t want to let it go.

The ultimate seal of approval for me must be when I end up buying a product that I have tested. Yes, I admit, I sometimes get a deal, but I obviously have to justify the purchase to my accountant (wife) who ofen has more pressing needs for our money. Happily in the case of the MaxVac Dustblocker I can play the health card because it has clear medical benefits. Over the last few years I have developed an allergy to certain types of dust. This is presumably the result of years of abuse and now my lungs are saying “enough is enough”. My lungs have a language of their own and send me clear messages, it starts with a gentle wheeze and if I don’t take action to avoid the hazard the wheeze becomes a whistle like that of a far off steam train.

Enough about me already. The Dustblocker is designed to be left running in a property 24/7 where you are carrying out building work and the powerful fan pulls in the airborne particles and traps them in a three stage  filter. Ideally of course you would remove dust at source and you should still attempt to do that but we all know that when you are knocking buildings about you can’t catch all the dust. So the idea of the Dustblocker is to remove the free dust before it drifts around the building or settles on surfaces. Positioning the unit between the work area and the occupied  areas is a good strategy.  The filter has three stages from the coarse to the very fine. The final Hepa 14 filter removes particles that are invisible to the naked eye.

dustblocker

As a rough guide if you use the Dustblocker every working day the pre-filter needs changing every six months, or more if you are knocking down walls and chimney breast. It is a good idea to change the filters before they become so blocked that the air flow is impeded. In older style air filtration units they used to have  streamers on the outlet which give a good indication of the air flow as the streamers dropped you knew it was time for a filter change  but this unit has a warning light that will tell you when the air flow has dropped so low that you are not getting the full benefit from the unit.

One thing I have learned using this unit is that you can use it very effectively in a sealed room. Because the air is being cleaned and recirculated you don’t need to worrry about a through flow of air as you would with a large extractor unit. If you want to work with  negative pressure on the room you can direct the cleaned air out through a flexible duct, There are good reasons to do this because you draw air in around the door to minimise any migrations through to the occupied areas.

With the Hepa 14 filtration you can be certain that the filtration is to the highest standard protecting both you and the people you are working with.

Addex Dustblocker review

www.addex-group.com/en/

Gloves standard set to change

Roger Bisby
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Gloves standard set to change

During the second half of 2016, a new version of EN388, the mechanical hazards standard  for protective gloves will be published.

One of the key changes to the standard is that it will now include back of the hand protection and it should make it easier to identify which gloves offer which level of protection. From 21 April 2018, new impact-resistant gloves will have to pass specific tests in order to comply with the standard.

In this video Roger Bisby and Skill Builder Editor, Georgina Bisby look at some gloves from Polyco which have been designed to meet the new standard: The new Multi-Task E (Hi-Viz), Grip It Oil C5 TP, or Multi-Task E C5.

These products all feature a layer of thermoplastic rubber (TPR) applied to the back of the gloves that has been engineered to guard against injuries caused by impact.

Impact tests measure the amount of force transmitted to the hand after a blow to the back of it. To be effective in preventing injury, impact protection must be able both to divert the force of the impact and slow it down. The flexible TPR applied to the back of the Multi-Task E (Hi-Viz), Grip It Oil C5 TP and Multi-Task E C5 is soft, which means it deflects the force of the blow away from the hand without compromising dexterity. The engineered rubber is strong and durable and will not break down over time, unlike foam or gel. It is also lightweight, which helps alleviate hand fatigue over long periods of wear.

All three new gloves feature a tensile nitrile palm coating, designed to enhance protection and freedom of movement. In the Multi-Task E (Hi-Viz) and Multi-Task E C5 this coating has been slightly roughened to improve handling performance, particularly in light oil conditions. The former also boasts a high visibility lining and TPR, padding on key areas of the palm and a reinforced thumb crotch for extra defence against injury.

The Grip It Oil C5 TP comprises two layers of nitrile coating – a full, water-resistant layer and a second layer on the palm incorporating microfoam bubbles, which maximises grip in wet and greasy conditions. The soft, seamless liner in all three gloves is made from knitted nylon and, in the case of the Grip It Oil C5 TP and Multi-Task E C5™, it is cut-resistant. Both the latter and the Multi-Task E (Hi-Viz) have an elasticated neoprene cuff with an adjustable VELCRO wrist strap, which adds to their wearability and durability.

The gloves are suitable for use in a wide range of general handling activities and work environments, including automotive maintenance and repair, construction, light engineering and machine operation.

For more information on the new version of the standard, a fact sheet can be found on the Polyco website: www.polyco.co.uk/media/1357/en388-fact-sheet_220416.pdf

Star company of BBC series prosecuted over worker injury

Roger Bisby
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Star company of BBC series prosecuted over worker injury

A Bolton based scrapyard, The Scrappers Ltd, that featured in a recent BBC documentary series has been sentenced after an employee suffered facial injuries at work.

The vehicle breakers firm and Terry Walker, a consultant for the company, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester where they denied breaches of health and safety law.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to health and safety charges in relation to the incident. Terry Walker was acquitted by jury after trial while The Scrappers Ltd was convicted.

The court heard that Mr Aaron Sparrow, an employee at the firm’s Waterloo Road site was working as a ‘spanner man’ which involved taking batteries, wheels, petrol and catalytic convertors (cats) out of the cars in order to be sold on by the company.

On 10 September 2014, employees were instructed to start taking the ‘cats’ and batteries off the cars. Giving evidence in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, Mr Sparrow told the court he and his colleague raised cars off the ground slightly using a fork lift truck (FLT) where they would remove the wheels and the battery.

The FLT forks were then raised above head height so they could place fuel retrieval equipment under the car to take the fuel out. They would then cut the ‘cat’ off the exhaust using a petrol saw with a metal cutting blade. A number of separate cuts would be made into the exhaust depending on the type of car.

The court was told on that morning they had done this to around 10 cars. However, while taking a catalytic convertor off a car exhaust with the petrol saw above his head, the saw flicked back of the exhaust and spun 180 degrees in his hands before the saw hit him in the face.

The Scrappers Ltd
The saw that injured the worker

He was taken by ambulance to hospital and received over 40 stitches and underwent plastic surgery on his brow and eye lid. He was later told that the saw blade missed his brain by 3mm.

The HSE investigation found there was no record of formal training, and a tool specifically designed for the job was not generally used. There did not appear to be any formal supervision arrangements at the time, and there was no safe system of work in place for operating the petrol saw at the time of the incident.

HSE said the system of work described by workers demonstrated that using the petrol saw in this manner was custom and practice in the company. However the company denied this and told the court this system of work was not allowed and not carried out.

The Scrappers Ltd, of Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £26,687,88.

After the case, HSE inspector Mike Lisle said: “It is essential that companies devise, implement and monitor suitable safe systems of work for hazardous activities.

“This incident was entirely avoidable and had a safe system of work been in place then it would likely have been avoided. As it is a young man is scarred for life and could easily have been killed.”

Origin launches range of blinds

Roger Bisby
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Origin launches range of blinds

Origin the UK manufacturer of bi-folding doors, windows and blinds, has added a selection of Origin blinds to its Origin Home range. Designed to fit every door and window type, from bi-folds and French Doors through to bay and gable windows, the new range includes six different styles; Electric Roller Blinds, Pleated Blinds, Roman Blinds, Glamour Blinds, Venetian Blinds, and Vertical Blinds.

Origin says its blinds offer benefits all year around. During the summer, reflective exterior of the fabric prevents any heat build-up. When the weather turns cooler, Origin Blinds can boost a home’s thermal efficiency by preventing heat from escaping.

For safety, Origin Blinds do not use dangerous hanging cords, ensuring each design is aesthetically pleasing as well as completely child safe.

Origin’s made-to-measure blinds are all available in an array of different fabrics, with a number of bespoke options including power types, fascia options and number of panels, giving homeowners an extensive choice of blinds to enhance their internal décor.

Electric Roller Blinds

Origin’s Electronic Roller Blinds are sleek and contemporary, and can be specified with a Lutron motor for a near silent and smart operation. This technology allows homeowners to control and operate the blinds using a tablet, smartphone, or even to be connected to a home automated system. This can then be programmed to open and close at different times, for additional security and to reduce heat loss throughout the home. The motor runs on a sophisticated electronic drive system for near silent operation.

With a 10-year guarantee, including the Lutron motor and parts, the Origin Electric Roller Blinds are available in a range of fabric options, patterns and textures.

Homeowners can choose a customisable design, allowing any photo or image to be printed onto the blind fabric, and the selected fabric can also be purchased separately for cushions and throws, allowing the soft furnishings to co-ordinate the interior space.

Pleated Blinds

The new Origin Pleated Blind is practical and contemporary. The blind fits neatly to the beading of a bi-fold door or window for a minimalist look, with maximum light and heat control as it fits snugly against the glass. Available in six colour options, all fitted with pearlescent solar coating to reflect as much heat and light as possible, the pleated blinds come with a five-year guarantee.

Roman Blinds

Origin’s Roman Blinds create a warm and opulent feel to any interior, and are designed to stack levels of material, one on top of another, allowing the blind to fold in on itself. The Roman Blind comes with a thermal lining, as well as solar protection on the exterior of the fabric, to help improve thermal efficiency. Available in an array of fabric options, from plush and luxurious materials, to light and contemporary shades and patterns.

Glamour Blinds

The contemporary Glamour blind provides total light and privacy control. Consisting of alternating layers of opaque and translucent strips which can be moved independently and slid past each other, it allows homeowners to soften and filter daylight, reducing glare in a room. The blind works using a clever rotation wheel that aligns darker panels behind one another, letting light filter in, or alternatively, stacking darker strips on top of one another to block out light.

Vertical Blinds

The Origin Vertical Blind suits large areas of glass. The blind can be adjusted in a variety of ways, either by tilting the vanes open and closed, or pulling all panels back to reveal the whole view. The panel style can be straight, curved or wavy, in either 89mm, 127mm or 250mm widths, or alternatively, a combination. Panels can be the same or each a different colour, while the rail colour can also be coordinated.

Venetian Blinds

Origin’s Venetian Blind is available in three style options; contemporary aluminium, wood or stylish faux leather. The aluminium blinds are available in 30 different colours, including woodgrain effects and stainless steel effects, allowing for either a slick, modern look or a more traditional feel. The faux leather blinds are available in a choice of seven colours, including chocolate and tan, while the wood blinds come in over 60 different colour options.

These boots were made for working: Grubs boots review

Roger Bisby
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These boots were made for working: Grubs boots review

Not usually a “wellies man”, Roger Bisby is pleasantly surprised by the new Grubs boots. The only issue he seems likely to have is keeping hold of them.

If  a family has been making footwear since 1776  you can safely assume they have worked out how to do it. The Foster family has not only produced an impressive number of  inventions such as running spikes and cricket boots but two of the family went off to form Reebok.

They also made some of the world’s first football boots, a pair of which scored the winning goal in the FA cup final. If I give you the name Nat Lofthouse you might be able to tell me the team and the year.  There is lots more in the family history to feed your pub quiz but in this article we are looking at one of their modern day inventions.

These Grub’s Ceramic 5 boots are 100% waterproof and as warm as toast. They have a ceramic toe cap rather than a steel. The first pair of boots that were dispatched to me walked away on their own or, to be more accurate, with the help of some light fingered villan. Somewhere, somebody is enjoying the luxury of a pair of thermal lined Grub’s I only hope they appreciate the pedigree of the product.

I am not generally a wellies man, because I like good control over my feet, but these boots are a very good fit on me and having tried them on in the good weather I was looking forward to giving them a good wearing in this winter but now I will need to keep them under lock and key because they seem to be coveted by many. My daughter’s boyfriend dropped by the other day and his antenna picked up on them immediately. Unfortunately he has the same size feet as me so he tried them on.

“These are just the job for fishing” he said.

“Keep your hands off we have already lost one pair, beside these have special ceramic  toe caps”.

“Ceramic? I’ve heard of steel what is the ceramic about? ”

“It provides protection but saves you from electric shocks if you happen to come in contact with a mains cable”

I managed to head him off from taking the Ceramics but looking at the Grub’s website I see that they do have some superb boots for fishing so I now know what to get him for Christmas, a pair of Grubs without the steel toe caps but still with the extra grip soles for those wet slippery muddy banks and of course the warmth that keeps you warm even down to minus 10 degs cent. That is good for any boots let alone wellies.

For my part I am destined to start some extensive groundworks in January which will give them plenty to get their teeth into. Funny to think that I am actually looking forward to it. Good wellies get you like that, we all remember  tramping in the puddles as kids and marvelling at the fact our feet stayed dry, if indeed they did. It was not a given with cheap kids wellies and it isn’t with many adults wellies. but these are the the biz.

www.grubsbootsonline.co.uk

 

New Makita dust extractor removes 99.9% of dust

Dylan Garton
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New Makita dust extractor removes 99.9% of dust

The new Makita Dust Extractor, the VC3012M M-Class Dust Extractor removes 99.9% of dust with Limit Value for occupational exposure >0.1mg/m³. 

This means that the Makita dust extractor achieves performance levels better than the minimum legal limit for dust extraction when working with hazardous materials including silica sand in brick, masonry, concrete, gypsum and wood dusts and plastic composites.

The new Makita dust extractor is available in 110v with a 1000watt motor, or 240v mode with 1200w motor. The 240v model has power take off at 1800w to automatically link to the power tool.

Maximum airflow is 3.2 m³/minute for the 110v machine and 3.7m³/min for the 240v extractor, with maximum suction of 23.0 kPa and 25.0 kPa respectively. An airflow sensor gives an audible beep warning when flow is reduced by a full tank, blocked filter or other obstruction.

The ‘push and clean system’ switches the air flow routing to quickly clean the main input filter, dropping the waste into the container in just seconds. The motor turbine is protected by a washable PET cartridge filter which holds back fine dust and debris. The lightweight yet robust plastic container has two main wheels and two steering castors for excellent stability and manoeuvrability. The overall weight is just 10kg with a tank size of 30 litres with a disposable bag of 23.5 litres and a wet capacity of 19 litres.

The new Makita VC3012M dust extractor is delivered with 4.0m of suction hose, two adaptors and crevice nozzle and 7.5m of power cord and has storage capacity for tools, hose and cord on the back side of the tool box. Extension tubes and alternative floor nozzles are available in the Makita accessory range and can be fixed onto the body for convenient storage.

www.makitauk.com

Scaffolders get suspended sentence following worker’s death

Dylan Garton
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Scaffolders get suspended sentence following worker’s death

Two scaffolders from St Austell, Cornwall have received suspended prison sentences after a worker fell 7m to his death.

Roger Stoddern, 47 (pictured), was dismantling scaffolding on 24 June 2013, when he fell from a flat roof of a property in St Mawes. He was taken to Derriford Hospital but died three weeks later due to the severity of his injuries.

Truro Crown Court heard how Mr Stoddern was stacking 3m roofing sheets on the flat roof of the property without any edge protection. The safety railing had been removed to allow access to the flat roof so the sheets could be stacked. The court also heard how one of the defendants replaced the safety rail following the incident to cover up the cause of the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation, alongside Devon and Cornwall police found that Colin Marshall Scaffolding was not qualified to erect the scaffolding and there was evidence no personal protective equipment, such as harnesses, was used. The condition of the scaffolding also failed to meet current safety standards.

Colin Marshall, of St Austell, founder of the business pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two-years. James Marshall, also of St Austell, Colin’s son and business partner was handed an eight-month sentence suspended for two-years. They were ordered to pay costs of £25,661.

HSE inspector said, “Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Great Britain and businesses have to take the safety of their workers seriously. Colin Marshall and James Marshall are responsible for the death of Roger Stoddern. It was entirely preventable and should not have happened. The risks of working at height are known. Scaffolders must ensure they use the right protective equipment and have sufficient edge protection in place to prevent workers falling.”

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