Ordinary construction needs the formworks, the structures [...]]]> Among the many necessities of a construction project, there is equipment that can make visually attractive structures and building sturdy in a great quality called scaffold equipment system. Construction projects usually dependable on the quality of scaffold system to make the work fast, reliable and convenient.

Ordinary construction needs the formworks, the structures of building – constructed with different materials based on the type of construction scaffold selected. Regular formworks designed with the wooden planks that are arranged together for the molding to occur. This kind of formwork can be design easily and these are the most affordable because wood may be the least expensive building material. However, the wooden formwork is not a good foundation for building because it is less durable than the metal alternatives.

The metal formworks are designed with steel or aluminum, known as engineered formwork systems. Workers can work faster because this type of building foundation is more durable.

The formwork made with plastic are lightweight compared to metal formworks but it is affordable formwork which designed for low-cost mass housing units. The basic role of

The basic role of scaffold is to supports in construction formworks:

To ensure that frameworks to remain in place, scaffold supports are used. The supports are constructed with double beams where the inner one has the capacity to extend based on the height you would like. The outer beam is securely moored lower with a strong metal stand. These supports are wonderfully bolted using a steel pin. They are available in different dimensions that will complement how lengthy or high they might extend.

The scaffolding used differently, coupled with strongboys or needles. Needles are usually used to build walls in which it uses scaffold to tighten them. Using scaffolds in strongboys is perfect for tightening reasons too, but this attachment is much easier.

Achieving goals with a decent scaffold system

A decent scaffolding system is the greatest support solution in building fundamentals. They’re created using the most stringent standards to make sure that they might fully support heavy materials. There is a secure locking system that encourages efficiency of construction and safety safeguards. First and foremost, they’ve flexible features that will easily blend towards the type of formwork you’re creating.

Options of scaffolds for companies

A good scaffolding equipment system can be purchased by companies. They might keep these construction materials and equipment for the future use. However, purchasing them may not frequently be practical, so that they might want to rent these structures rather. Companies directed on scaffolding equipment systems for rental take proper care of setting the structures up and dismantles the pieces after using it.

Constructing work usually considers as a dangerous working environment. That’s why you will find a lot of safety and health laws in place, in order to make sure that you are taking every possible step toward safety of your workers. If still, you face an injury case [...]]]> What steps should be taken for Scaffolding accident?

Constructing work usually considers as a dangerous working environment. That’s why you will find a lot of safety and health laws in place, in order to make sure that you are taking every possible step toward safety of your workers. If still, you face an injury case from the scaffolding services then who would be responsible and where to claim for compensation?

Who Is Responsible For The Scaffolding Accident?

The scaffolding accidents can be occurred to the carelessness of an employer or the scaffolding company that have erected the scaffolding structure. Have a work accident specialist claims solicitor, who will examine the accident place to find out the evidence and who will be the responsible for the problem. At the end, the responsible party will have to pay agreed compensation through an insurance company.

What Can Cause A Scaffolding Accident?

Here are the common causes that can cause the scaffolding accident but these are not the limited. There can be variety of reasons;

The collapsing of scaffold partly or completely can cause you to fall to the ground

• The plank of scaffolding can be collapsed as you walk on it
• People can fall directly because of the safety rail
• Any item of scaffolding can be fall on you can cause an injury
• Claiming Compensation for a Scaffolding Accident

If you are having a scaffolding accident, it is important that you have to make contact with solicitor immediately. If he will find any evident that will support your claim, you will not have to any compensation.

How Long Will It Take?

It simply depends on the injury case. If there are minor injuries then there is possibility that insurer will accept the responsibility and the matter will get solve in just few weeks. If the case is serious then claim can’t be settling until full assessment of the injuries obtained.

Get hire a specialist claim solicitor and make sure that you are in safe hands!

Many people don’t consider scaffolding for their personal use or minor jobs because they have misconception about it. They assume scaffolding can be used by few companies constructing, they use it for larger construction projects they make the structure with tubes and poles and when the job completes they [...]]]> Can I set up scaffolding myself?

Many people don’t consider scaffolding for their personal use or minor jobs because they have misconception about it. They assume scaffolding can be used by few companies constructing, they use it for larger construction projects they make the structure with tubes and poles and when the job completes they pack the whole set up. However, now you can find an item known as ‘system scaffolding‘ which slit together. If you use it properly, they become very strong and versatile structure. This structure is fantastic for the DIY market; after you have all of the fixtures and fittings you can use it whenever you will need it. However, safety factors are really important and before you decide to make an effort to erect the scaffolding yourself you should know of all of the relevant safety rules.

How do i find the best scaffold contractor?

Well for those who have contractors focusing on your home then request them for any reference. Or you might make use of a site, for example Checkatrade who list vetted and suggested building companies. After this you possess an option to either buy or hire the scaffolding system. Whether it’s for DIY reasons you may be better purchasing as possible then utilize it again and again. If you have a large project but it is a short term then you should rent a scaffolding system because it would cost you better.  An alternate choice, if you feel the scaffold is going to be used for several months then buy a scaffold system and erect with help of professional. You can sell the scaffold system once the job will complete. There are many buyers that are always looking to buy scaffold system. Just sell it and get your money back!

Godiva Group is Scaffolding Suppliers and has a several years of experience in Building construction and Scaffolding Sales like External Joiners, Internal Joiners, Girder Coupler, and Lashing Wire. Present time working as Architect engineer at http://www.godivagroup.co.uk/blog/

When you want to design a construction project, the goal in your mind is simple – construction. But this goal consists of different components altogether. There is a need of a number of considerations with construction itself. The first and foremost thing is the safety. This is one of the paramount concerns [...]]]>  

When you want to design a construction project, the goal in your mind is simple – construction. But this goal consists of different components altogether. There is a need of a number of considerations with construction itself. The first and foremost thing is the safety. This is one of the paramount concerns during the construction project. For the efficient usage of time and manpower, it is crucial that safety must be attained. In order to achieve safety and efficiency together, it is suggested that the construction project should be handled by the qualified professionals. You need to choose the scaffolding company who has a solid track record of providing scaffolding services.

The scaffolding services on a large construction project gives you guarantee that job will be done efficiently and safely. This is one of the solid bases for the successful construction work to be done on, by allowing you greater freedom movements to the crew members. A well-designed scaffolding frame can allow your workers to do job successfully. Here, are few ways that can help you in finding the best scaffolding company for scaffolding services.

Track Record

Before choosing any company, you will need to consider the background of each company you selected for scaffolding services. If you find any company with a good reputation and long standing history of satisfied clients then you can consider that company for the scaffolding services.

Experience on Different Types of Construction Jobs

There are different needs and unique issues of different construction projects that need to be addressed by qualified designed scaffolding services. You need to pay attention at the jobs, the company has done previously. Do you think they have done the similar jobs before? If not, then find out whether they are capable of handling varied circumstances arise on your project?

For the successful construction job, you need to look at the proven track record of the selected company in scaffolding services. Just make it sure that they have ability to handle any kind of issues present in your job. These two things are the key factor in getting success in your scaffolding design.

Godiva Group has vast experience in scaffolding services that can not only meet your expectations but they can exceed the toughest safety standards and work environment. More than 80 years of research, scaffold design, frame scaffolding design, product testing and scaffolding services is in every piece of Godiva’s frame scaffolding. Visit here for more information http://www.godivaenvironmentalservices.co.uk/

A workman has broken both legs after falling 20ft from scaffolding in the West Midlands.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the junction of Blackacre Road [...]]]> Dudley scaffolding fall man breaks legs

scaffolding services coventry

Another horrible story that again highlights the dangers of scaffolding, and the need to ensure you use only the most reputable companies.

A workman has broken both legs after falling 20ft from scaffolding in the West Midlands.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the junction of Blackacre Road and Rollason Road in Dudley, shortly before 1530 BST on Thursday.

An ambulance service spokesman said: “The man, in his 20s, had fallen from a scaffolding tower.

“He had fractured both legs, an ankle and a wrist. He was given pain relief at the scene and was immobilised.”

The man was taken to Russells Hall Hospital for treatment.

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

Based in Central England, the Godiva Group offers the highest standards and commitment to excellence for all of our clients across the UK. Our vast portfolio of customers range from small to large and cover a huge array of industries and business, who all agree that our level of complete service is truly of value.

Our commitment to providing the best construction project management service at competitive prices; ranging from Scaffolding, Asbestos Abatement, and Mast Climbing Services to Marketing & Revenue opportunities makes us the preferred choice.

Offering construction project management and a high level of consultancy the Godiva Group is continuing to grow in its reputation for highly conforming to Industry Standards and offering our clients the best solutions each sector has to offer.

Two construction firms have been fined a total of £110,000 after a piece of scaffold fell 14 storeys down a lift shaft and hit a man.

Richard Chodkiewicz, 53, was standing at the [...]]]> Two firms fined after scaffold pole hit man

Two construction firms have been fined a total of £110,000 after a piece of scaffold fell 14 storeys down a lift shaft and hit a man.

Richard Chodkiewicz, 53, was standing at the bottom of the shaft when the 19in (50cm) pole weighing 8lb (3.7kg) struck him, causing brain damage.

Millar Construction, which was running the project to build the Radisson Blu hotel in Bristol, was fined £40,000.

Hoistway, which employed the father-of-two, was fined £70,000.

Both had previously admitted breaches of health and safety regulations.

Judge David Ticehurst, at Bristol Crown Court, said the accident had devastated the lift engineer’s family but could have been easily avoided.

The court was told that on 22 July 2008, Mr Chodkiewicz, from Lawrence Weston in Bristol, had been working on the lift shaft with two other experienced engineers.

The scaffolding was attached to a piece of piano wire and was acting as a plumb bob to aid with measurements in order to make the new lifts work properly.

‘Child-like’ state

One of Mr Chodkiewicz’ co-workers went to reel it up, while he and the other man went to smoke a cigarette.

When they came back they assumed he had finished and got back into the “pit” at the bottom of the shaft.

The plumb bob then became detached from the wire as it was wound up and it hurtled back to the ground.

Mr Chodkiewicz spent six weeks in intensive care and has been left in a “child-like” state, the court was told.

Oliver Willmott, prosecuting, said: “This injury has had a devastating effect on his life and that of his wife, his five children and his grandchildren.

“He needs 24-hour care and cannot work.”

A statement from Mr Chodkiewicz’s family said his life has been turned “upside down” as a result of what happened.

“His life will never be the same and he now has to live with the consequences of the terrible mistakes which happened on site that day.”

Both companies accepted their part in the failures that led to the accident and apologised to Mr Chodkiewicz’ family in court.

Miller was ordered to pay £17,232 and Hoistway £14,616 in court costs.

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

As with any construction related business, there are [...]]]>

design scaffolding

Scaffolding services, like any other business, come in all shapes and sizes. There are good companies, there are bad companies and there are companies that pass muster. So how, as a domestic or commercial scaffolding consumer, you are going to split the wheat out from the chaff?

As with any construction related business, there are certain signs to look for. Make sure that your potential scaffolding supplier employs only qualified workers, for a start – the qualifications that 85% of the construction industry use as standard these days include compulsory health and safety examinations. For the industry that means a “no qualifications, no work” policy – for your scaffolding services supplier, means that everyone contracted to work on your building site is safe.

Have a look at the background of your scaffolding company- Where it has been before and what it has done? Ideally you’ll be looking for a scaffolding supplier that has performed a wide variety of work in a range of locations. When you find a scaffolding company that has put up scaffold for country cottages and listed buildings, as well as regular city domestic and commercial, you’ll know that you’ve probably found a company that has the knowledge and experience to do any job well.

Your scaffolding services supplier is going to be your “representative” in the area where your work is being done. Its scaffold will obviously be clearly visible to residents of the area, or to people who work there. As such, your building work has a measurable impact on the quality of life and work in the area in which your building is situated. Choose a scaffolding company that is able to demonstrate an understanding of the aesthetic and practical effect that a scaffold has on the residents and workers in a neighbourhood. Ask your potential scaffolding services supplier how it intends to minimise any long term visual or environmental impact.

There are scaffolding companies out there that pay as much attention to the neighbourhood impact of your job, as they to participate in the job. These are the companies you should look for. One way to tell is that, an A grade scaffolding company from a B list supplier is its ability to create a fully sustainable job, from the point of view of the surrounding area as well as from the point of view of the employer.

Your scaffolding services requirement may simply be for equipment hire, of course: if that’s the case, you can still use these basic rules to help you find a good company to hire from. Scaffolding companies that pay the kind of attention to their jobs that has already been noted here are likely to have the best kept equipment for hire.

If you are considering equipment hire, don’t be afraid to ask the company the question of what its rates might be to take over the job in question. You could find that you save both time and money by employing a scaffolding services company to do everything you need.

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

2.    Ask the selected contractors to quote for your project, asbestos garage removalone thing that I would like [...]]]>

Scaffolding Pole

1.    The very first thing that you can do before choosing a contractor is to survey the market. Meet possible and reasonable ones and see their reputation. Then choose about three or four best contractors among them.

2.    Ask the selected contractors to quote for your project, asbestos garage removalone thing that I would like to mention here is that demand the quotes in written and full detailed form. This will keep you safe from future ambiguities and certain difficulties. After you get the written quotes then start searching about them.

3.    If possible then meet the existing clients of the scaffolding contractors who provided the quotes. Their existing clients will tell you the truth about the contractor. Check all the details of those contractors make sure that you do not miss even a single hidden truth of the quoting contractors.

4.    Now choose one scaffolding contractor from the ones that quoted on your project. Your selection should be based upon your experience of meeting the clients and on the details that you collected through the survey. Keep one thing in your mind; do not slip even single information during the selection.

5.    Just by selecting the one among those who quoted is not just the end of responsibility of choosing the best scaffolding contractor for your project. Fix a meeting with your selected contractor and discuss the details of your project, ask him to advice you on different matters. Your discussion can create and resolve new issues so that your project can go smoothly without much inconvenience that is usually faced during the construction.

6.    Another thing that should be checked during the selection of right scaffolding contractor is that do check the staff of the contractor too. It often happens that the contractor you choose is really qualified and well experienced but the staff of the contractor is lazy and non-qualified. So the best thing to solve this issue is to meet the staff and check their working style, this will enable you to know their capabilities in detail.

7.    Finally if the contractor’s contract includes the supply of material also, then check his provided material. It should fulfill all the quality needs and should meet all the criteria that your company has decided for the construction.

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

The first important consideration is design. Quality scaffold design is of course essential [...]]]>

scaffolding commercial

When it comes to commercial scaffolding, there are additional considerations to be taken into account. It’s vital that a commercial enterprise requiring scaffolding services hires a scaffolding company which is aware of the considerations and which can ably deliver in these areas.

The first important consideration is design. Quality scaffold design is of course essential in both residential and commercial sectors, however commercial scaffolding needs to be designed to ensure as little disruption as possible. This means bespoke design for every individual commercial building (often far more complex than residential structures) – design which enables both employees and customers to access and exit the building without disturbance. As a leading scaffolding company in London, Godiva Scaffolding have been called upon to create highly complex commercial scaffolding design for large-scale structures, all the way down to simple solutions for small retailers. At the heart of all of our scaffolding design for commercial use is ease of use and minimal disruption, while at all times ensuring that the scaffolding is as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

The second consideration is safety. Again, safety is paramount in all scaffolding, however commercial buildings are public places with the commercial enterprise having a duty of care to protect the safety of its employees, customers and visitors. When work is being carried out on a commercial building it is imperative that scaffolding safety is paramount in order to prevent both injuries and potential lawsuits.

And finally, it’s vital to consider speed and efficiency. Most residential clients requiring scaffolding hire will naturally want the project to be completed as quickly and smoothly as possible, but speed and efficiency is arguably more important to commercial clients as it can affect the bottom line, particularly for retailers. While every effort is made to minimalise disruption, large-scale building work can affect footfall and therefore sales while the work takes place. It’s important to use an experienced scaffold company which erects and dismantles well-designed and safe scaffolding with speed and efficiency, and which uses polite and friendly scaffolders, as this ensures that the commercial enterprise presents a professional image even while undergoing necessary construction, refurbishment or maintenance.

Mesothelioma and asbestosis are caused by being exposed to and then inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles or fibers. Since the [...]]]>

asbestos-paper-lined-board

Asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma are life threatening diseases. In most instances the victim of these diseases will die within ten to fourteen months after being diagnosed with an asbestos related disease.

Mesothelioma and asbestosis are caused by being exposed to and then inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles or fibers. Since the early 1800s, although companies that were involved in the mining, manufacture, or use of asbestos and products that contain asbestos knew that they were exposing their employees to these life threatening diseases, they covered up this knowledge. And, in many cases, when queried, these companies stated the exact opposite.

Here is an abbreviated history of what these companies knew and what they covered up between 1918 and 1938. Their denial of the health risks associated with asbestos exposure ultimately gave a death sentence to many of the people who worked for them.

1918 – Medical statistician Frederick Hoffman, an employee of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, reported that life insurance companies in the United States usually denied coverage to asbestos workers because of the “assumed health-injurious conditions of the industry.” You can find his report in a United States Department of Labor Bulletin.

1922 – A statistician for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Louis Dublin, wrote that asbestos employees are at risk of injury to their lungs.

1930 – Johns-Manville, a major asbestos company, produced an internal company report that detailed the medical injuries and fatalities suffered by asbestos workers.

1932 – The United States Bureau of Mines sent a letter to Eagle-Picher, an asbestos manufacturer, stating that “It is now known that asbestos dust is one of the most dangerous dusts to which man is exposed.”

1933 – Doctors from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company discovered that 29% of all of the employees of one of the Johns-Manville plants suffered from asbestosis.

1933 – Johns-Manville settled lawsuits filed by eleven of its employees with the proviso that the employee’s attorney would agree that he would not bring any new lawsuits against Johns-Manville.

1934 – Raybestos Manhattan and Johns-Manville rewrote an article written by a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doctor that was related to the diseases acquired by asbestos workers. The rewrite attempted to minimize the dangers related to asbestos dust.

1935 – The editor of Asbestos Magazine was instructed by Raybestos Manhattan and Johns-Manville not to publish anything that is related to asbestosis.

1936 – Although a group of companies in the asbestos industry reached an agreement to sponsor research about the health effects related to asbestos dust, they required that they also have complete control over any disclosure of the results of the research.

1937 – The Chief Safety Inspector for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, Roy Bonsib, documented asbestos related illnesses. He also analyzed the potential of creating asbestos dust when asbestos insulation was installed and removed.

1937 – 1938 – The Industrial Hygiene Foundation published two articles in the Industrial Hygiene Digest related to asbestos workers who acquired industrial types of cancers.

If you or someone you love has an asbestos related disease don’t you think that you should hold the company responsible for the disease accountable for their actions?

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

Working at Height

The # 1 Problem when working at height

Too often Leading Edge trainers take a look at work sites only to discover guys working at height making the same mistake again and again.

Is this a minor mistake? Basically no! It’s one that could be tragic should the operative fall.

Many [...]]]>  

scaffolding_tower

Working at Height

The # 1 Problem when working at height

Too often Leading Edge trainers take a look at work sites only to discover guys working at height making the same mistake again and again.

Is this a minor mistake? Basically no! It’s one that could be tragic should the operative fall.

Many people believe that the top error being a worker working without having safety gear. Not so!

The number one error Leading Edge trainers discover is where organizations have incurred the cost of providing safety equipment, nevertheless as a result of lack of the required knowledge the actual worker is employing it wrongly. The worker appears safe but does not realize that if he falls his protective gear will fail.

It will be a tragedy, even worse it would be avoidable.

The number 1 error is connector wrong use by the site worker.

Exactly what does misuse imply?

1. Choking – tying off incorrectly

2. Connecting to an unsuitable anchor point

3. Incorrect directional loading

1. Choking

This is where a site worker is provided a lanyard, often having a small karabiner at the end. The site worker intuitively passes the actual lanyard around an anchor point e.g. a column or perhaps a beam, using the particular karabiner to choke i.e. tighten the actual lanyard around the anchor point.

The problem arises should the worker fall, even further tightening up the actual choked lanyard and subsequently applying a shock load inappropriately to the karabiner gate most probably causing the barrel of the karabiner to fail.

Karabiners are intended to accommodate tensile (pull) forces along their length and are at their weakest if the load forces are across the minor axis (width) or even against the gate.

It’s normally acknowledged that in order to engineer a connector in order to withstand the directional loading across the gate of the Karabiner which has been choked during a fall would need a gate strength of 5,000 lbs.

Observe that this particular dynamic loading failure across the gate of the connector is applicable to all types of connector i.e. scaffold hook, snap hook, and karabiner.

2. Connecting to an unsuitable anchor point

For example, a roof worker might intuitively connect to an handrail thinking this to be a acceptable fixing point.

Please note! Every non permanent anchorage points have to be able to withstand a 12 kN Load. If in doubt the particular anchor point needs to be approved by a structural engineer.

Leading Edge level 1 and 2 training cover identifying suitable anchor points.

3. Scaffold Hooks

Scaffold hooks will often be positioned around scaffolding resting on just the horizontal member, i.e. the gate of the scaffold hook will be pushed open subject to the actual loading that would be imposed from the horizontal member in the event of a fall. This occurs because downwards direction or loading imposed by the cross-member across the axis of the gate on the scaffold hook and will result in total hook failure because the hook gate will subsequently bend open, or in worst-case situation, may explode.

Summary of connector incorrect use

Often a lack of knowledge of equipment overall performance and its limitations can result in site workers being issued with improper safety gear and that is unsuitable for the intended use.

As an example the scaffold hooks will often be used where a sling would be a much safer choice.

To summarize this section about improper use of connectors, which can have devastating and even fatal consequences; it’s important for the site management, Foreman and stores personnel that they are capable in order to issue the right equipment to do the job.

Site workers, usually through insufficient instruction have no idea of the things they can do with the simplest of equipment such as connectors. Hence, it is essential that both site workers and those managers accountable for height safety are sufficiently educated to be competent to undertake their duties safely.

Connector incorrect use is simply one of 25 or more total equipment incorrect use things leading edge commonly see on site.

Death to the number 1 mistake – not the site worker

How to pick and work with connectors

Many years of practical experience on site has convinced us at Leading Edge that the answer lies in the following:

1. Sufficient strength and load-bearing capabilities

2. Correct size

3. Easy to use

4. Lightweight to transport

5. Commercially acceptable

6. Being correctly trained to use connectors as well as associated equipment

Undoubtedly this often leads back to specifying slings, whether webbing or cable.

These types of proprietary products have to be PPE items that are CE approved, designed to be an integral element in any fall arrest system and not just a bit of wire that someone has terminated.

Slings belong to two classes

Wire -cable sling to EN795

Normally a 1m (but can reasonably be any length) galvanised steel cable, in a very hard but flexible plastic resin jacket, which makes it more durable from abrasion and corrosion, additionally safeguarding the actual anchorage point from cable abrasion. This kind of configuration is often made use of together with inertia reels.

Webbing slings to EN795

This is a product that is lightweight and easy to transport around, which usually improves its attraction and is affordable. It is sometimes employed when anchoring to a scaffold pole.

Proper use of scaffold hooks and karabiners

Scaffold Hook

It might be the case that it’s simpler to tie off using a scaffold hook when compared to a sling and standard karabiner, however a scaffold hook is designed to be suspended off horizontal Anchorage e.g. of a horizontal scaffold tube, ensuring correct directional loading (vertical downward load).

Karabiners

As said before previously karabiners are weakest when they’re loaded across as well as against their gate.

Which means that it is very important that the karabiner is at all times loaded along its length and never across its width, which will pull against its gate as well as cause the karabiner to take a force against the gate. Therefore you should take care

fall arrest

fall arrest products

The Number one Error Making use of Fall Arrest Equipment

Leading Edge Working at Height Safety training courses and Fall Arrest Equipment are specifically designed for anyone whose job requires them to work at height and involves using the necessary safety equipment required to do this.

This blog was bought to you by Colin Taylor. For more information please visit our website at www.godivagroup.co.uk. The Godiva Group are the UK’s leading Scaffolding, Asbestos and Environmental Services company.

The very first thing to look at is can a loft conversion be carried out in the type of roof that you have. Some types of roofs are more suitable for loft conversions than others. Generally there are two types of roof that you may come across in [...]]]>

masonry-scaffolding

Can I Carry Out a Loft Conversion?

The very first thing to look at is can a loft conversion be carried out in the type of roof that you have. Some types of roofs are more suitable for loft conversions than others. Generally there are two types of roof that you may come across in a residential property.

Very Old Properties (Before 1870) – Is It Suitable For A Loft Conversion?

In properties prior to this date the supply of wood was relatively good. The Victorians have not fully engineered the roof structure, therefore there is often a great deal of timber in the roof, you will still need to check to see if there is head height and a suitable place for the stairs to come up from the first floor into the roof. In addition to this you will also need to check the quality of the structure, such as does it have woodworm, wet rot or dry rot. We would be more than happy to comment on this within one of our surveys when you purchase the property.

A word of warning, if your property is Listed or in a Conservation Area the roof structure itself may be considered an integral part of the Listing and therefore you do need to seek Local Authority approval. In fact, in all cases where you carry out a loft conversion it is better to seek Local Authority approval. Please see our further comments later on within this article.

Older Property (Before 1960′s) – Is It Suitable For A Loft Conversion?

An older property will have a purpose made cut timber roof. This type of roof comes in many forms, as it was literally purpose made for the property. A suitable type of purpose made roof is one that has a high ridge, therefore giving the head height necessary to form a room within the roof. You will also need to consider the things within the roof, such as water tanks that will need to be moved and also of course access to the roof space, which for a proper loft conversion will be via a staircase. This can often mean the loss of space on the floor below.

Sorry to repeat ourselves, but again it is important if the property is Listed or in a Conservation Area the roof structure itself may be considered an integral part of the Listing and therefore you do need to seek Local Authority approval. In fact, in all cases where you carry out a loft conversion it is better to seek Local Authority approval. Please see our further comments later on within this article.

Newer Trussed Roof (1960′s Onwards) – Is It Suitable For A Loft Conversion?

From the 1960′s onwards pre-fabricated trussed roofs were used in house construction. The main driving force behind a pre-fabricated trussed roof was economy of timber sizes. This therefore means these roofs are sometimes less adaptable to loft conversions than the older style roofs. Also during the 1970′s a shallow roof was often used, which is difficult to convert. You will also need to look at items already in the roof, such as the water tanks, which will need moving. Sometimes the boiler has been moved into the roof space as well and of course you will need to consider the access stairway to get into the loft conversion from the floor below.

Things To Look Out For In All Roof Types

Asbestos was a material very commonly used in years gone by, in fact up until very recently. This was due to it being economical and was almost a substitute for timber, particularly during the 1950′s, 1960′s and 1970′s.

What Does A Loft Conversion Involve?

In the very broadest sense you will require planning permission from the Local Authority to approve the look of the loft conversion, you will require Building Regulations approval to ensure the structure is suitably designed and built and in some cases you will require Party Wall Notice approval to ensure your neighbours are happy with the work being carried out.

Who Does A Loft Conversion Involve?

There are many ways of carrying out a loft conversion, from a DIY type project where you are actively involved, through to a project where you do little more than pay the bill. The work will involve a range of building professionals from engineers carrying out the structural design calculations to a designer, possibly an architect (although this can sometimes be considered as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut), an architectural technician or surveyor to carry out the design work and a builder to build the loft conversion.

Some companies carry out all these functions and they are often known as design and build companies. Design and build companies often specialise in this type of work and have a range of standard solutions to produce a loft conversion. A designer will look at a specific solution to suit your needs, which of course will come at a price.

What Does A Loft Conversion Cost?

In our experience it costs anything from £20,000 to £100,000 depending upon the quality and size of the loft conversion. Typically, the range of £30,000 to £50,000 is, in our experience, what it costs. Normally we find that it can cost up to 25% more than originally estimated and also usually runs over time. This is because the work is weather dependent, i.e. can’t take the old roof off during bad weather. Even if you use scaffolding and scaffold over to form a protective roof it has its limitations.

A Loft Conversion – Your Design Choices

In our opinion the very first choice to make is what do you want within your loft conversion. We very much believe in designing the loft conversion from the inside out. By this we mean decide on your requirements internally, for example that you require a bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, which will then give you the space that you require.

Then you can look at other features, for example will the loft conversion contrast the existing building, or blend in with it. This can be your choice, but often the planners from the Local Authority have a great deal of influence. You will also need to talk to the Conservation Officer, particularly if the building is Listed or in a Conservation Area, who will have to take into consideration how it matches its surrounding or how it contrasts with them.

Choices very much depend upon how much money you have to spend, i.e. things such as would you require a balcony? This outside space can be worth its weight in gold, do you want a lot of windows to add light? Both with the balconies and windows, however, you have to consider heat gain and heat loss that can occur during the summer and winter months respectively.

You can read the full article at Godiva Group the UK No: 1 Homes Renovation & Property Renovate Site.

The right way of the laying a scaffold along with the pattern and the usage has been given by the The European Standard. Requirements given are for scaffold structures that rely on the adjacent structures for stability. In general these requirements also apply to other types of [...]]]>

UK Scaffolding

Bamboo is still used in some Asian countries.

The right way of the laying a scaffold along with the pattern and the usage has been given by the The European Standard. Requirements given are for scaffold structures that rely on the adjacent structures for stability. In general these requirements also apply to other types of working scaffolds.

The purpose of a working scaffold is to provide a safe place of work with safe access suitable for the work being done. This document sets out performance requirements for working scaffolds. These are substantially independent of the materials of which the scaffold is made. One can finalize the design and the whereabouts with the use of standards.

Secrets of Scaffolding

The key elements of a scaffold are standards, ledgers and transoms. It is the use of the vertical tubes well known as standards or uprights are the ones that help in bearing the entire loand of the structure that rests on a square base plate. There is a shaft that holds the base plate from the centre with a tub and is at times grouted to a single board. It is the use of ledgers that help in joining the standards. The things that are placed at right angle on the ledger are the transoms. Transoms are of two types namely main and intermediate where the main one is used to keep the standards in its place while the intermediate one gets used to provide additional support to the scaffold boards.

An appropriate base is compulsory. Often scaffold frameworks will require more than simple base plates to safely carry and spread the load. Scaffolding can be used without base plates on concrete or similar hard surfaces, although base plates are always recommended. The tarmac base plates are used compulsorily on surfaces like pavements.

A working platform requires certain other elements to be safe. They necessarily have to be provided with close boards along with double guard rails and toe stop boards. There has to be safety and protection ensured while using it.

There are two approved methods which are recommended by the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association, which have been developed in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive. The official system that is utilized here is an advanced guard rail system that operates on guardrail units made up for this job alone. Another certified method is the “through the trap” method. It involves the operator taking up a working position in the trap door of the platform.

Safer with Scaffolding

Without scaffolding, tall buildings would fall into disrepair quickly through lack of maintenance. One can make a scaffolding for any building irrespective of its shape or height. Scaffolding makes walkways safer for construction workers to do their jobs with optimum freedom of movement.

Essentially, there are numerous points to remember when it comes to scaffolding. When a scaffold is erected erroneously it can be fatal for the ones that are making use of it and also ones nearby. There has to be compulsory procedures that have to be ensured to make it safe and also that the scaffold is erected by only knowledgeable persons alone.

Scaffold Hire Health & Safety Issues For Homeowners

Most homeowners are entirely unaware of the risks and some of the problems in relation to the erection of scaffolding to their property. This article takes a look at the use of scaffold hire to aid home improvements whilst pointing out some of the most [...]]]>

Scaffolding for Homeowners

Scaffold Hire Health & Safety Issues For Homeowners

Most homeowners are entirely unaware of the risks and some of the problems in relation to the erection of scaffolding to their property. This article takes a look at the use of scaffold hire to aid home improvements whilst pointing out some of the most obvious risks.

Health & Safety For Scaffolding Should Not Be Ignored

The most important aspect of any scaffolding installation has to be safety. The vast majority of scaffolding companies are well versed on health & safety laws but that doesn’t mean they always stick to the best procedures.

Ensuring the scaffolding is well tied in to the property is a starting point with well placed angled supports installed as necessary. Making sure that the scaffold pole shoes are placed correctly with the weight spread on short boards is another important point during the installation.

Once the scaffolding framework itself is secure to the building the next step is to ensure that the actual scaffold boards are spaced correctly with all scaffold boards ends supported. It goes without saying that the actual scaffold bolts that secure the poles together should of course be tight. There have been occasions when I have come across loose ones.

Depending on where the scaffolding is in use and what the purpose is, it may be necessary to have safety netting to stop debris giving someone below a bit of a headaches or in fact series injury. On one particular job recently I noted that special fans had to be positioned above the entrance to a hotel to ensure that dust did not go down on the residents whilst work was in progress.

Scaffolding Security

It should be noted that burglars love scaffolding as it allows them to treat every window – no matter how high – as if it was on the ground floor. Any decent size scaffold hire job would command a scaffolding security alarm to be installed. It may cost a little extra but  just think about the consequences if you don’t use one and your job is targeted. Where does the responsibility lie? Is it the scaffolding company? Is it the builder? Is it the homeowner?

I’m sure you get the point but these are issues to discuss with your builder or scaffold hire company before an installation rather than at a crime scene.

On smaller jobs or mid terrace properties it is common practice that the tradesmen using the scaffolding removes the access ladder at the end of each working day. Any ropes from pulleys should also be taken up to one of the floor levels out of harms way.

Conclusion

Scaffold hire, working platform, access hire and towers come in all shapes and sizes and are an excellent resource to enable work to be carried out safely and usually to a higher standard than traditional ladder hire. It is usually money well spent and providing all the health & safety issues are complied with it is as safe as working on the ground.

To compare costs for any kind of tower or scaffold hire project go to Godiva Group, the UK’s fastest growing price comparison site for homeowners.

The recent economic downturn has led to the postponement of many development projects. Many of [...]]]>

environmental_services

In the UK the planning application for certain development projects needs to be supported by an environmental statement. This environmental statement describes the outcome of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) investigating the environmental effects that the development proposals would have.

The recent economic downturn has led to the postponement of many development projects. Many of those where in an advanced stage with regard to applying for planning consent. Now that the economic prospects have stabilised many of these projects have been picked up again. Some EIA development projects were postponed shortly before registering the application for planning consent and the environmental statement may already be in an advanced state. In these situations the developer faces a question about the validity of the environmental statement: is the information in the environmental statement still up to date and do the conclusions still reflect the most accurate prediction of the environmental impacts. Clearly in cases where the development proposals have changed significantly a new environmental impact assessment or at least a thorough review of the original environmental statement, may be required. But what if the proposal itself hasn’t changed. Would the environmental statement still be valid?

Preparing a robust environmental statement is based on an often lengthy environmental impact assessment. To understand the environmental impacts of a particular development project it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the development itself as well as the characteristics of the environment that the development where the development will be located. It is the interaction between the development and its environment that determines the environmental impact. A thorough study of the current environmental situation, the environmental baseline, is therefore an essential step in carrying out an environmental impact assessment.

The environmental baseline is not a static situation. Many environmental aspects can change and additional information may become available. The ecological baseline, for instance, can be very dynamic. An ecological survey carried out three or four years ago, may have concluded that no important species were present on the site. Since the survey date species may have migrated in. The baseline may also have changed because other development proposals did proceed and are now implemented potentially bringing new sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the development site.

Other environmental aspects are less sensitive to change over time. Archaeological reports, for instance are likely to remain unaffected. It is important to note that although the actual archaeological resource may remain unchanged, it may be that new general information about the area has emerged that affects the conclusions of the original archaeological impact assessment.

Finally, legislation, guidance and professional standards may have changed in the intervening period. This could also effect the conclusions of the environmental statement.

From the above it will be clear that an environmental statement that is based on two or three year old information is not necessarily valid any longer. A review by appropriate professionals should be the first step to take. They will have to re-examine the existing baseline information and consider any changes that may have occurred. If the conclusion is that no material changes to the baseline have occurred than no re-assessment would be required. All that needs to be done is update the baseline information within the environmental statement so that it reflects the re-examination.

Where material changes have occurred, a re-assessment is likely to be required. This does not mean that all the elements of the environmental impact assessment will have to be redone. The re-assessment only needs to focus on the aspect where the change occurred. It will be very rare that the baseline has changed so drastically that an entirely new environmental impact assessment is required.

Affecting approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people [...]]]>

How to dispose of Asbestos Safely

What Is Mesothelioma Asbestos?

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer with no cure. The symptoms, which usually mimic less-serious illnesses, make the cancer difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma is a cancer that most people don’t even know they have until 20 or 50 years after exposure to the cancer causing agent.

Affecting approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people in America each year, mesothelioma is taking a toll on the lives of a good percentage of the population and their families.

The cancer primarily hits the lining of the lungs. However, it can also target the heart and the abdomen. People who contract mesothelioma are expected to live no longer than one year after diagnosis.

The name mesothelioma comes from the mesothelium, which is a membrane that forms a protection around the body’s internal organs. When a person contracts mesothelioma, the mesothelium’s cells malfunction and begin dividing in a disorderly manner. Then, those cells can damage nearby tissues and organs. Then, the cells can begin to spread to other regions of the body.

There are five types of mesothelioma. Out of the five, four types are malignant. The four are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, and testicular mesothelioma.

Symptoms

Symptoms are related to the type of mesothelioma. For instance, common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath, coughing, tiredness, and lumps underneath the chest’s skin.

Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are weight loss, nausea, and pains in the abdomen. Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are irregular heartbeat, night sweats and breathing problems. Symptoms of testicular mesothelioma include testicular lumps. It’s unfortunate that the symptoms from this list could easily be mistaken for other illnesses because early detection could prolong life expectancy.

Causes

The causes of mesothelioma are very subtle. They come from the normal work place, hiding in the walls, ceilings, and working materials in the form of asbestos.

Asbestos is a name given to six mineral fibers that occur naturally. Hundreds of countries have asbestos, and the mineral fibers exist on almost every single continent. Hundreds of times thinner than the hairs on the human head, asbestos fibers are so small that the human eyes cannot see them.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration are especially concerned with the fibers that are over five micrometers long and also three times the length of their diameters. There are more than 100 mineral fibers deemed as asbestos-like by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, but only 6 forms are regulated by the U.S. government. Those forms are Chrysolite, Crocidite, Amosite, Anthophylite, Tremolite and Actinolite.

Asbestos is a valuable fiber because it has a good resistance to heat and fire.

When people inhale asbestos fibers, those fibers become stuck in the cavities of their body. The result is inflammation or infection.

Risk

Many companies and organizations knew that asbestos was harmful years before they made an effort to protect employees. At some point in the 1970s warnings were issued and asbestos use started to decline, but it did not disappear completely.

Today, people are still getting this disease. In fact, incidences have increased over time, but in spite of the disappointing increase in incidences, today’s workplace is making more of an effort to try and prevent this cancer.

The Occupations Safety and Health Administration have set limits for acceptable levels of work place asbestos exposure. Workers are often required to wears masks and gloves when working with asbestos.

However, in spite of those precautions, many workers who have just a little exposure to asbestos still get mesothelioma. In fact, some people who have had no known exposure to asbestos have contracted the cancer. Another peculiarity is that even family members of workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma because of asbestos fibers that attach to the clothing and hair of employees. Because of that, workers have been advised to take showers before they go home.

Over time, workers who deal with asbestos experience an increased risk of getting mesothelioma. Risk increases with heavier exposure and length of exposure.

It is possible that many workers only know that asbestos is dangerous. They may not know that it can lead to a cancer that causes death. More men than women contract mesothelioma, and as age increases so does the likelihood of getting the cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment

When doctors attempt to diagnose mesothelioma, they ask about the patient’s medical history and exposure to asbestos. They might also do a total physical examination of the patient, complete with x rays. Doctors might also take a cat scan or an MRI. The MRI takes detailed images of the body’s interior.

If doctors believe the patient has mesothelioma, they will try to determine how long the disease has been affecting the patient. They will also try to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. After assessing the extent of the disease, the doctors can devise a plan to treat the mesothelioma. Treatment usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Sometimes all of the treatments will be combined. The focus of treatment is to improve life expectancy. Patients who catch the disease early on could live a longer life.

To get rid of symptoms and pain, doctors may resort to draining fluid from the chest or abdomen with a thin needle or tube. This procedure is known as thoracentesis. Paracentesis is fluid removal from the abdomen.

With the proper treatment and medications, patients can have a much easier time dealing with the disease. Medical science is continuously trying finding a cure. Patients are welcome to participate in clinical trials that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to relieve symptoms. If a patient would like to participate in a mesothelioma trial, he should contact his doctor.

In the meantime, it is recommended that workers, who work in the shipyard, electrical, heating and other industries that deal with asbestos, carefully consider the risks they are taking. Although workers may wear masks every day on the job, there is still a chance of contracting this deadly disease.

For more details on the dangers of Asbestos and safe Asbestos removal please contact the Godiva Group.

You ought to choose the right scaffolding Birmingham at all times s since failure to spot the right one may bring you negative repercussions. They must have great customer care service that can answer your concerns within a short time period. It ought to even be at a position [...]]]>

Scaffolding in Birmingham

You ought to choose the right scaffolding Birmingham at all times s since failure to spot the right one may bring you negative repercussions. They must have great customer care service that can answer your concerns within a short time period. It ought to even be at a position to offer different types of scaffold service that you may need from time to time. Their past performance as indicated by the customer reviews can be used to gauge whether or not the company has the ability to offer you the great service that you desire.

Professional scaffolding Birmingham companies clearly understand that it’s to offer you great service for it to survive, Customers are strict when nit comes to hiring scaffolding Birmingham companies as those who have been proved to stand and rise to every challenge, no matter small or large have higher chance s of getting better prospects since they help offer great service. They make positive that they deliver irrespective of the challenge that they are in. Those companies that are time wasters ought to be avoided since they may fail to offer you the service you need hence wasting both time and funds.

The scaffold professionals that charge competitive rates for high quality service ought to be selected. Make positive that you keep off those scaffolding Birmingham companies which charge less and those that have just entered the market as they tend to offer low quality service. Regardless of how simple or complex your task may appear like; you will always get a reliable and professional company that will handle it to your satisfaction.

The right scaffolding Birmingham Company ought to be licensed to operate wide across the entire region so as to enable you relies on their service over a wider location. The company ought to have highly trained, knowledgeable and experienced staff that can handle any type of scaffold designs that you may desire to put in place.

You can get the right scaffolding Birmingham Company to take care of all your construction needs without many struggles. From the onset to the completion of your projects, you will count it a joy working with a group that knows what its doing. A contractor that  has all the equipments that promotes a safe working surroundings, ethics  and practices for all its workers is more preferred.

There are many times when people drive by buildings surrounded by what looks like giant shelving on the exterior without even realizing what it is. The material is constructed around the building to make it possible to reach all levels of the exterior during construction, cleaning and other projects. The structure must be safe [...]]]>  

Godiva Scaffolding from Coventry

There are many times when people drive by buildings surrounded by what looks like giant shelving on the exterior without even realizing what it is. The material is constructed around the building to make it possible to reach all levels of the exterior during construction, cleaning and other projects. The structure must be safe and sturdy, in order to ensure the safety of those who are using the levels to reach the buildings, as well as those who are walking beneath the levels at the base of the buildings. There are a number of companies that make Texas scaffolding, many of which also offer Texas coatings. Depending on the extent and details of your particular building project, you may need to do some research on which type will work best for you. Once you have made your decision about the type that will be most effective, determine the best way to erect it for use.

Household building sites usually use wooden platforms. These are called battens by those in the business. They utilize short metal tubes, called transoms, in between the wooden levels and vertical metal tubing, which are called standards, as well as horizontal metal tubing called ledgers. The standards are joined to the ledgers and the transoms are joined to the wooden platforms. This is done at a right angle in order to create the most effective level of support. There are also diagonal braces used that create greater durability. All of the joints are held together with clips that are specifically designed to do the job. In some construction jobs, netting or guard rails may also be used for additional security.

There are instances when someone may choose to build their own structure. This is not recommended because it may not be as safe. In commercial building projects, or those requiring a license, the same security regulations will be necessary, so custom-built models will need to meet these requirements, which can be a challenge. If you are thinking about building your own structure, consider the safety ramifications and the necessary work involved. It will likely be more effective in regard to cost and time to have a system built by a professional.

Once your decisions are made about who will build your system, you need to have it put up. Make sure you work with someone who is capable of building a system that reduces risk and danger. It is important to consider how easy it would be for someone using the system to fall off of, as well as considering if the system is capable of holding the weight of the work being done. When not in use, the system must still be sturdy in order to ensure passers-by will not be struck by any pieces falling from an unsecured system. Safety measures need to be one of your major concerns from the start to the end of a construction project, so make sure your system is as safe as possible.

Systems are typically needed for taller building projects, so if you are only working on a single story, it may be better to forgo the effort of building a system. However, if you are dealing with higher projects higher than two stories, a system is a safe and effective way to accomplish your work. If you apply proper safety considerations, a system will make the work and the time management of a project easier.

Asbestos can be divided into two categories namely the friable and the non-friable asbestos. These two groups of asbestos will help us to differentiate the class and the type of method of asbestos disposal we can use to dispose our asbestos. We will take the groups one after the other and see what difference [...]]]>  

asbestos_workers

Asbestos can be divided into two categories namely the friable and the non-friable asbestos. These two groups of asbestos will help us to differentiate the class and the type of method of asbestos disposal we can use to dispose our asbestos. We will take the groups one after the other and see what difference they have, their similarities and the method we can use to dispose them.

The first one is the friable asbestos; it is the type of asbestos that can be easily crushed with the hand. scaffold tower they appear soft and the method of asbestos disposal used for this type of material will not be costly. This type of material can be crushed and burnt or stored for future use.

The second type is the non friable asbestos that is of very solid state and will never crumble or be broken with an ordinary hand. It has a very strong resistance. An example of this type of asbestos is the roofing type in our houses. They can be very strong when they are still in a good condition but the resistance goes down with time and stress applied to it during its life span. The energy required for asbestos disposal of this type of material is high and thereby affect the cost of the asbestos disposal method applied to it.

Depending on the type of asbestos or the condition the asbestos is, it is very important to know that they can either de reuse or dispose. One should look for a better way of handling them at the lowest cost possible. The non friable asbestos in good condition can be smoothed and repainted to make it more beautiful and attractive. While the friable or the ones that is of low standard can be put under asbestos disposal state. Proper advice can be seek from the professionals about asbestos disposal method to be used in disposing our materials without causing harm to us or constituting nuisance to the environment.

Some material like kitchen materials where an asbestos is used in constructing oven will be very difficult and money consuming in embarking on an asbestos disposal, but will be better to consult manufacturer of such product to enlighten you about the possible way of disposing such material. While disposing of some home materials made with asbestos can be very easy, it can also be very difficult to dispose some other ones. But whatever the material you are using and the condition of the asbestos, you can always find a solution to the asbestos disposal method to be used. You can search online for an appropriate method to use for your material.

News article taken from the West Australian Daily

The body of a 28 year old migrant worker has been recovered from the ocean near Dampier Port after a piece of scaffolding collapsed beneath him.

The man, believed to be from Ireland, had been carrying out maintenance work from scaffolding on the East Intercourse Island jetty [...]]]>

scaffolding-coventry

News article taken from the West Australian Daily

The body of a 28 year old migrant worker has been recovered from the ocean near Dampier Port after a piece of scaffolding collapsed beneath him.

The man, believed to be from Ireland, had been carrying out maintenance work from scaffolding on the East Intercourse Island jetty when part of the scaffolding fell into the water at around noon on Saturday.

Work colleagues immediately raised the alarm after they heard the scaffolding fall and saw a hard hat floating in the water.
Perth-based Inspector David Picton-King said there were no witnesses to the fall.

Initial attempts to locate the man, an employee of Celtic Scaffolding at the Rio Tinto site, were unsuccessful.

Police divers recovered the body just before midnight.

All work has ceased at East Intercourse Island and access to the site has been closed.

A coronial inquiry is underway, and both police and the Mines Department are investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the accident.

Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto’s Chief executive Iron Ore and Australia, said the fatality was a tragic event.

He said it would be fully investigated by Rio Tinto and in co-operation with the authorities.

“I offer my sincere condolences to family, friends and team mates,” Mr Walsh said.

“We are ensuring that appropriate counselling services are available,” he said.

This again shows the potential dangers surrounding scaffolding, and the need to always use a trusted supplier like Godiva Scaffolding. Whilst accidents like this are fortunately still rare, therefore newsworthy they still do happen. It is also really important to ensure that any scaffolding company that you do use have adequate insurance as if an accident occurs on your property there’s a chance you could also be liable for any potential claim.

Breaking news regarding the sale of Beaver 84 by SIG.

INSULATION and roofing products giant SIG has sold its Beaver 84 scaffolding business to a French company for an undisclosed sum.

The scaffolding and fencing operation has been sold to Altrad, a privately-owned French scaffolding manufacturer and hirer.

Sheffield based SIG’s strategic [...]]]>

scaffolding-gables

Breaking news regarding the sale of Beaver 84 by SIG.

INSULATION and roofing products giant SIG has sold its Beaver 84 scaffolding business to a French company for an undisclosed sum.

The scaffolding and fencing operation has been sold to Altrad, a privately-owned French scaffolding manufacturer and hirer.

Sheffield based SIG’s strategic development director Andrew Greenaway said the Beaver 84 business has more scope for growth as part of Altrad.

“SIG maintains an active portfolio review process to assess the fit with other parts of the group and SIG’s ability to grow and develop each business going forward,” he said.

“Following this review we believe that Beaver 84 has greater potential for growth within the Altrad Group, which as one of Europe’s largest scaffolding businesses, is better positioned to take Beaver 84 forward in its chosen markets.”

Altrad said the acquisition is part of its plan to expand in the UK scaffolding market.

Altrad is one of the largest suppliers of scaffolding in Europe.

The deal includes 11 distribution outlets across the country from Edinburgh to Beaver 84’s head office in Basildon.

Dr Mohed Altrad, the Syrian-born founder of Altrad Group, believes that the UK’s heavy use of traditional tube and fitting scaffolding will shift towards more modern types of equipment.

Beaver 84 has 150 employees and a turnover of £25m a year, mostly from sales of scaffolding, fencing and groundworks products, with a secondary hire business.

Steve Tysoe will continue to run the business, which will be renamed Altrad Beaver 84 Limited.

The acquisition forms part of a bigger plan to provide the UK market with Altrad’s products and services.

The French company specialises in the manufacturing and sales of scaffolding, cement mixers and wheelbarrows.

SIG has been forced to cut hundreds of jobs and trading locations in recent years as the recession pummelled the housebuilding and construction markets.

But chief executive Chris Davies said that now its markets are stabilising, there are no plans for any more restructuring programmes.

“I believe we’re right-sized for demand going forwards, ” he said. “It’s been a very difficult couple of years for anyone in construction, but it’s clear now our markets are stabilising. We’re in good shape and looking forward to making progress this year.”

The group said that trading in the first few months of 2011 was well ahead of last year.

The company also cheered shareholders with the news it will return to dividend payments at the half-year stage after a three-year drought.

The group said market conditions improved in the second half of 2010 and coupled with restructuring initiatives, it increased underlying 2010 pre-tax profits by three per cent to £62.5m.

The improvement came despite extreme weather conditions at the start and end of the year, which impacted on demand for SIG’s products and services and left full-year turnover down two per cent at £2.7bn.

SIG expects last year’s modest growth in residential building to continue into 2011.

Mr Davies said the private non-residential, or commercial, market is lagging behind the residential market by between 18 to 24 months.

No rises for directors

SIG has decided against pay hikes for its directors in 2011 after shareholders voted down its remuneration report last year.

The Sheffield-based company said it had consulted major institutional shareholders about its latest remuneration plans.

The company’s investors called for 2011 salary hikes to be restricted, a share of bonuses to be deferred and tougher rules on long-term incentives.

The group said its chief executive Chris Davies’ total pay packet in 2010 increased 25 per cent to £867,000, up from the £694,000 he received in 2009.

It included a £314,000 bonus and £533,000 salary.

A story in a local paper about a beauty spot which residents claim is an ‘Eyesore’. Established and highly skilled scaffolding companies can mitigate the visual impact of scaffolding on the environment.

A POPULAR beauty spot has been turned into an eyesore by scaffolding put up with no explanation, say concerned residents.

The [...]]]>

leicester-scaffolding

A story in a local paper about a beauty spot which residents claim is an ‘Eyesore’. Established and highly skilled scaffolding companies can mitigate the visual impact of scaffolding on the environment.

A POPULAR beauty spot has been turned into an eyesore by scaffolding put up with no explanation, say concerned residents.

The scaffolding appeared around a section of the boating lake at Hollow Ponds, near Whipps Cross, in Spring 2009 blocking off views, and two years on there are no signs of it being removed.

Steve Curle, 59, of Chestnut Avenue South, Walthamstow, regularly takes his 91-year-old wheelchair-bound mother for walks near the site and says their enjoyment of Hollow Ponds has been severely affected.

He said: “This scaffolding has been up for a long time now.

“It’s right in the spot that gets the sun, and my mother can’t sit there anymore.

“She can’t watch the ducks or boats that made her so happy.

“We can go a bit further along, but it’s too cold in the shade and she just doesn’t enjoy it as much as she used to.”

Hollow Ponds is managed by the City of London Corporation (CLC), and a spokesman for them said: “The erection of temporary scaffolding around the southern perimeter of Hollow Ponds was an emergency measure designed to protect visitors from the unanticipated collapse of sections of the wharfing.”

The CLC say the danger only came to light during engineering studies carried out prior to planned improvement of the site.

They also claim plans are in place to restore the bank and that a new footway and floating pontoon will be added.

Those works are expected to cost as much as £75,000, but worryingly the CLC added: “Funding for this project has been identified in the 2012/13 financial year.”

The spokesman said: “Every attempt is being made to bring the funding for this work into the current financial year.”

But Mr Curle is not impressed.

“It’s a cop out,” he said. “It’s been two years, and now they are talking about 2013! That’s not a ‘temporary measure’ “Why haven’t they put up any notices? Why hasn’t anyone done any work at the site?

“They could at least put up some fencing which is more pleasing to the eye.”

Superintendent of Epping Forest, Paul Thomson, says there was a sign up on the site explaining the situation, but claims it was vandalised. He says a new sign will be put up.

Mr Thomson also says he understands Mr Curle’s other concerns about the spot, but claims the scaffolding is essential.

He said: “We recognise the temporary scaffolding is not particularly attractive and apologise for any disruption caused.

“Unfortunately it is required to ensure public safety.”

A safety inspector immediately stopped work on a Manchester site after spotting two workers on the sixth [...]]]>

Domestic Scaffolding

Another story about a developer trying to cut costs by doing without scaffolding. It’s simply not worth the risk, if your’re unsure exactly what the law requires from  you please call Godiva Scaffolding on 0800 345 7737.

A safety inspector immediately stopped work on a Manchester site after spotting two workers on the sixth floor of an apartment block without scaffolding to work from.

Options Properties Ltd has been prosecuted after the men were found to be working 65 feet up next to a sheer drop at the Madison Apartments in Trafford on 14 May 2009.

Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard the men worked for a company called P&R Structural Glazing Ltd, hired by Options Properties to fit glass balconies to the properties in the newly-built apartments.

The men had originally been working on scaffolding, but this was removed by Options Properties, leaving them with just a harness attached to a guardrail to stop them falling to the ground below.

HSE Inspector Ian Betley said: “It beggars belief that Options Properties Ltd risked the lives of these two men for the cost of a few extra days of scaffold hire.

“There is no way of knowing whether the guardrail and harness set up would have held these men on the balcony.

“Had one of them slipped, he would have taken his colleague with him and they could both have fallen to their deaths.”

Options Properties Ltd, of Princess Street, Manchester was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,115 after pleading guilty to safety breaches.

Another story about collapsing  scaffolding, this just highlights the needs to all choose a reputable supplier.

Sussex based contractor has been fined after a 200ft x 40ft section of scaffolding collapsed at a site in Walton-on-Thames.

Johnson Scaffold Services admitted breaching health and safety laws at Staines Magistrates’ Court today following the collapse on [...]]]>  

scaffolding_birmingham

Another story about collapsing  scaffolding, this just highlights the needs to all choose a reputable supplier.

Sussex based contractor has been fined after a 200ft x 40ft section of scaffolding collapsed at a site in Walton-on-Thames.

Johnson Scaffold Services admitted breaching health and safety laws at Staines Magistrates’ Court today following the collapse on December 18 2009.

The court heard how Johnson erected sheeted scaffolding around a building in Copenhagen Way, Surrey, to enable a separate contractor to refurbish the roof.

Once the work was completed, the structure was partially removed the day before leaving some of the sheeted scaffolding still standing.

During the early hours of the following morning, a 200 foot long, 40 foot high section of the scaffolding was blown to the ground.

The HSE investigation showed the scaffolding was not installed according to the original drawings and had not been adequately tied. It was left in an unsafe condition overnight while being dismantled.

Johnson was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay costs of £7,000.

After the hearing, HSE’s inspector Denis Bodger said:

“This was a serious incident that could have resulted in severe injury or worse, it was sheer luck that meant no one was in the way of the scaffolding when it collapsed.

“Scaffolds should be designed by a competent person or built to a recognised standard. At no stage during erection, use or removal should they be left in an unstable state where they could collapse. They should be adequately tied or other effective means taken.

”This should serve as a warning to other companies that HSE will not hesitate to take action against anyone that fails to build safe scaffolding.”

For a competitive quotation call Godiva Scaffolding on 0800 345 7737

A recent report from Lancashire highlighting the danger of climbing scaffolding.

CHILDREN have been warned about the dangers of climbing on buildings after a 10-year-old boy fell through the roof of an old mill.

Brandon Brooks suffered horrific facial injuries when he crashed through a glass panel in the roof of [...]]]>

A recent report from Lancashire highlighting the danger of climbing scaffolding.

CHILDREN have been warned about the dangers of climbing on buildings after a 10-year-old boy fell through the roof of an old mill.

Brandon Brooks suffered horrific facial injuries when he crashed through a glass panel in the roof of Bankfield Mill in Bankfield Street, Deane, while trying to get a football.

Since the incident on Wednesday, police have visited all five schools in the area to talk to children about the dangers of climbing.

Among them were Brandwood, where Brandon is a pupil, Sunning Hill and St Mary’s.

Police spoke to every pupil and warned them about climbing on scaffolding around building sites as well as on roofs.

They will also speak to Brandon when he gets out of hospital.

The youngster was lucky not to suffer any brain or spinal injuries in the fall, but he broke his jaw in three places, knocked out several teeth, chipped his elbow and had cuts and bruises all over his face.

He had an operation to put metal rods in his jaw at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Sunday. Brandon is now unable to open his mouth more than a few millimetres, and will have to take all his food through a straw for up to eight weeks.

His mum, Emma Horrocks, of Hibernia Street, Deane, said: “He’ll have to take care of his jaw for the rest of his life. Brandon is willing to do anything he can now to tell other kids not to climb. He’s lucky to be alive, but the next one might not be.”

The accident happened when Brandon climbed on to the roof of the mill, which now houses several industrial units, to get a football.

After he fell through, his friends used a T-shirt and firstaid kit to dress his wounds and stem the blood flow.

Sgt Rob Knight, from the Bolton Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We have attended all the five primary schools in the area to speak to all of the children and remind them about the dangers of climbing on roofs and scaffolding.”

There is a huge need to be safe around scaffolding, you have been warned !

Godiva Scaffolding has [...]]]>

scaffolding contractor, scaffolding design, scaffolding planning

Godiva have just expanded their scaffolding range, give them a call on 0800 345 7737 to find out more.

Scaffolding Planning and Design

When you need a bespoke scaffolding or temporary protection solution, and quickly, Godiva Scaffolding will design and build internal and external steel structures, access provision plus temporary enclosures to suit your particular need.

Godiva Scaffolding has been involved in the design of many complex and specialist access and temporary protectionprovisions throughout the UK.

We will provide you with a specialist design team who are able to fully satisfy your individual needs.

We are experienced in designing access for residential housing through to commercial establishments which include the production of drawings and calculations where necessary, including wind loadings and load bearing.

Rest assured that here at Godiva we are highly skilled and qualified to assist you with this crucial element of project planning, for more information and an indication of which scaffold structures require a specific design produced by a competent person please follow this link.

Scaffold structures that need to be designed

1. Dead Shores
2. Flying shores
3. Raking shores
4. Cantilevered scaffolds
5. Truss-out Scaffolds
6. Access Birdcages
7. Façade retention
8. Access scaffolds with more than the 2 working lifts allowed with TG20 ‘Basic Scaffolds’
9. Buttressed free-standing scaffolds
10. Temporary roofs and temporary buildings
11. Support scaffolds
12. Loading Bays founded on the ground
13. Mobile and static towers outside base/height limitations
14. Free standing scaffolds outside base/height Limitations
15. Temporary ramps and elevated roadways
16. Staircases and fire escapes
17. Spectator Terraces and Seating Stands
18. Bridge scaffolds
19. Towers requiring guys or ground anchors
20. Offshore scaffolds outside Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) handbook
21. Pedestrian footbridges or walkways
22. Slung and Suspended scaffolds
23. Protection fans, Nets and Pavement Frames
24. Marine scaffolds
25. Boiler scaffolds
26. Power line crossings
27. Lifting gantries and towers
28. Steeple scaffolds
29. System scaffolds outside users guide parameters
30. Sign board supports
31. Sealing end structures
32. Temporary Storage on Site
33. Masts, Lighting Towers and Transmission Towers
34. Advertising hoardings/banners
35. Any scaffold structure subject to:

1. Vibration
2. High Loading
3. Long term duration
4. High risk areas
5. Loading from passenger/goods hoists

Note: The above list is not exhaustive and any scaffold that does not comply with manufacturer’s guidelines as published in handbooks will require a specific design produced by a competent person.

Why Godiva

We operate [...]]]>

scaffolding erector, scaffolding equipment, aluminium scaffolding

There are lots of scaffolding suppliers out there, but are they all the same? Godiva is different, it’s customer focussed, dedicated to winning new customers and retaining existing ones by going above and beyond what other companies do. Give them a call on 0800 345 7737 to find out more.

Why Godiva

We operate 24/7/365 with a high quality business process that can respond quickly and effectively to any UK need.  We employ reliable, determined people who are rigorously trained in Health & Safety and are CITB/CSCS qualified.  We are committed to sustainable construction and work to reduce our carbon footprint.

We offer a one stop access provision service from conception to completion, organising any project from start to finish, relieving you of the stress of accessing your construction project.

We fit around your production schedules and build at your convenience, working days, nights, long shifts or in short bursts if that is what is required.

We pride ourselves in all areas of access provision, covering domestic dwellings through to large commercial projects.  We deliver a professional service throughout all aspects of our business.  We have specialised staff who deal with your needs, including pre-tender quotation advice and on commencement of the contract we assign a designated Client Account Manager to your project.

We are first choice because we guarantee continuity of production, with minimum disruption on all projects, but perhaps most importantly we can save you thousands of pounds in lost or disrupted operations, because we enable you to just keep on working.

We erect the structures at times to suit you and your business and have an emergency 24/7 call out service to take the drama out of your crisis, so whether you find yourselves in an emergency situation or in a well planned project we are there to help from start to finish.

Godiva Scaffolding has been offering a quality driven, solution led, and reliable scaffolding service since 2001. Based in the Midlands the scaffolding company has ready access to [...]]]>

access-scaffolding, support-scaffold, shoring-scaffolding

Some more information about Godiva Scaffolding. The midlands leading scaffolding company. For more information give them a call on 0800 345 7737 or see their website www.godivascaffolding.com

Godiva Scaffolding has been offering a quality driven, solution led, and reliable scaffolding service since 2001. Based in the Midlands the scaffolding company has ready access to all areas of the UK, enabling us to provide national coverage with a local service.

We provide traditional and system access scaffolding, offering a full access service for new build, industrial and commercial construction, refurbishment, housing and maintenance projects.

Your business will benefit from dealing with us as we offer a total access solution. We erect the full range of external / internal scaffolding and steel structures including crash decks, hang-downs, staircases, lay down platforms and birdcage structures.

With a reputation for our commitment to quality, reliability and scaffolding erection service throughout the UK, we pride ourselves on our client relationships and the number of referrals and repeat business we get each week.

What using Godiva means to you:

• It is our target to keep your project on target
• Our pricing is transparent ensuring you remain on budget
• Complying to all legislative issues means you do too
• Being fully insured & highly skilled gives you full peace of mind
• Our knowledgeable team find you the best & most cost effective solutions
• Our extensive industry experience means we understand the complexities and significance of working within your environment
• We save you thousands of pounds in what otherwise could be lost or disrupted operations
• Our many accreditations are evidence that you are using a highly reputable company – maintaining your reputation enhances our own
• Thus, establishing repeat business for both parties

2010 saw the continuation of the exciting expansion plan for the Godiva Group with the Head Office [...]]]>

asbestos-removal-services

More exciting news today from the Godiva Group. As we come towards the end of the year we take a look back at the twelve months just gone for the company, and the industry as a whole.

2010 saw the continuation of the exciting expansion plan for the Godiva Group with the Head Office move into larger premises in the centre of England.  Colin Taylor MD said “It is great to be one of the very few construction companies in the UK to be bucking the trend during this recession, we put our continuing success down to correct planning in our growth strategy coupled with the constant provision of cost effective solutions to our clients”. 

John McAleer of Whitefriars Housing Group said “Godiva Environmental Services are our first choice when choosing an asbestos management provider, they consistently provide us with complete satisfaction and I have peace of mind when working with them, their continued expansion is testament to their ability to deliver an outstanding service at very competitive prices”.  

John Davies Environmental Director said “With a substantial investment continuing to be made in staff training and the purchase of state of the art equipment we can confidently say we are setting the standards within our industry”

www.facebook.com/godivagroup

www.twitter.com/godivagroup

Based in Central England, the Godiva Group offers the highest [...]]]> Godiva Scaffolding, the Midlands leading Scaffolding company, have launched their new facebook and twitter pages. So now there are even more ways to stay in touch with regular news updates from both the Godiva Group and the industry as a whole.

www.facebook.com/godivagroup

www.twitter.com/godivagroup

Based in Central England, the Godiva Group offers the highest standards and commitment to excellence for all of our clients across the UK. Our vast portfolio of customers range from small to large and cover a huge array of industries and business, who all agree that our level of complete service is truly of value.

Our commitment to providing the best construction project management service at competitive prices; ranging from Scaffolding, Asbestos Abatement, and Mast Climbing Services to Marketing & Revenue opportunities makes us the preferred choice.

Offering construction project management and a high level of consultancy the Godiva Group is continuing to grow in its reputation for highly conforming to Industry Standards and offering our clients the best solutions each sector has to offer.

Scaffolding Services, Domestic Scaffolding, Commercial Scaffolding, Scaffolding

Godiva Environmental services Ltd was established by Colin Taylor and John Davies, both with a passion for success and excellence and having [...]]]>

environmental-services

A little more on the experts behind the Godiva Group, the midlands leading Asbestos Removal company.

Asbestos fibres are present in the environment in Great Britain so people are exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing [...]]]>  

asbestos safety

Parts of the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham are likely to be mothballed for years because of fears over asbestos.

Most of the old hospital in Edgbaston becomes redundant this week to make [...]]]> Asbestos is found in an old Birmingham hospital. This report is bought to you courtesy of the Birmingham Post and Mail.

Asbestos Birmingham, Asbestos Removal Birmingham, Asbestos Contractors Birmingham

Parts of the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham are likely to be mothballed for years because of fears over asbestos.

Most of the old hospital in Edgbaston becomes redundant this week to make way for the new £2.6 billion super hospital. But it has emerged that asbestos is embedded in the structure of the 1930s building and could cost millions of pounds to remove.

At a time of cost-cutting and thrift within the NHS, University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust chiefs have told union officials that they have no plans to renovate the site due to the huge costs involved.

Hospital workers have voiced concerns that wards now lying empty will not be adapted for better use because of the asbestos restrictions.

“The building is already outdated since it was built in the 1930s and it needs to be knocked down and rebuilt, but, as it will cost so much, trust managers are saying it will just lie empty instead,” said a health worker, who did not wish to be named to protect his job.

Rob Johnston, Unison West Midlands spokesman, said: “The trust is saying that it is prohibitively expensive to remove the asbestos.

“Therefore, they will undertake regular health and safety inspections to make sure everything is fine. There are no plans to remove it.

“The management has been open about the asbestos and if left in situ everything is safe.

“Unison is reassured that staff safety is of paramount concern but feels the management could help to dispel any anxieties by opening the asbestos log book to scrutiny.”

Nearly all inpatients at the QE were being moved into the new 1,213 bed Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the second phase of the move, which will be completed this week.

Transplant, renal dialysis and physiotherapy departments were moved through a link bridge.

Trust spokesman Gareth Duggan said: “No decisions have yet been made about the future of the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital and its associated buildings.

“Parts of the old QE vacated by clinical services will be locked down until a decision is made about their future

“The costs will be determined as and when buildings are either refurbished or demolished.”

Mr Duggan explained that since the 1970s the majority of asbestos had been removed but there was still asbestos in the service ducts, encapsulated and sealed in line with asbestos regulations.

“The trust has an asbestos register and management control procedures to ensure there is no risk to staff, visitors or patients,” added Mr Duggan. “Any future development of the site will be determined on the merit of individual plans, not by any presence of asbestos.

“The vacation of the QE provides an exciting opportunity for the hospital to contribute to the continued regeneration of south Birmingham and the trust will be working with key stakeholders over the next 12 to 24 months to develop a plan for the site.”

The cost of carefully removing dangerous asbestos fibres, linked to lung disease mesothelioma if inhaled, can be in the millions.

Birmingham City Council was quoted a bill of £1.8million this year to repair asbestos disturbed in Sutton Coldfield Library after it was shut down in May.

Workplace illness expert Satinder Bains, from Birmingham law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “We have seen an increase in the number of cases where staff have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibres on hospital premises, and almost daily, we hear of asbestos being found during refurbishment works.

“Asbestos removal has become a big business with thousands of asbestos removal specialists available to remove asbestos.”

Asbestos becomes a danger when disturbed, often through maintenance work. It can lie dormant for decades but still be fatal.

The driver, in his 40s, and a 19-year-old woman were hurt on Tuesday morning. Emergency crews made the area in Far Gosford Street safe.

National Express Coventry said a bus on the number 10 service was involved, [...]]]>

Scaffolding Coventry, Scaffolding Services Coventry, Commercial Scaffolding Coventry, Domestic Scaffolding Coventry

A bus driver and a passenger were taken to hospital after the single-decker bus hit scaffolding in Coventry.

The driver, in his 40s, and a 19-year-old woman were hurt on Tuesday morning. Emergency crews made the area in Far Gosford Street safe.

National Express Coventry said a bus on the number 10 service was involved, and it was supporting any investigations into the crash.

The driver had minor injuries and the woman sustained an injury to her arm.

The ambulance service, which was called at about 0930 GMT, added that the two people were treated at the scene and taken to University Hospital Coventry.

The fire service said scaffolding contractors and the city council had attended the site, an area was cordoned off and a recovery vehicle had gone to the scene.

The scaffolding had been put around a grade II-listed building.

Two fire engines, from Coventry and Binley fire stations, were sent.

Local authorities require scaffolders to apply for a permit before they start work. However, an NASC survey found that “almost all” of the permit [...]]]>

godiva scaffolding coventry, asbestos inspection, floor tiles asbestos, asbestos abatement, scaffolding erectors

The UK’s main scaffolding body the NASC (National Access & Scaffolding Confederation) said that many of the UK’s public authorities are failing to ensure that scaffolding installations meet national safety standards.

Local authorities require scaffolders to apply for a permit before they start work. However, an NASC survey found that “almost all” of the permit criteria issued by aauthorities failed to meet legal requirements such as the Health Safety At Work Act 1974, Working At Height Regulations 2005 and the Construction Design Management Regulations 2007.

In response, the NASC has come up with a list of criteria and guidance to provide to local authorities so that they can require scaffolders to work to a consistent standard and comply with best practice and legal requirements.

The survey dfound that almost every authority adopted different criteria and some require nothing more than evidence that the scaffolding company had insurance if something went wrong.

“It is not unusual to hear of scaffold collapses on our public highways”, said NASC president Bob Whincap “Any member of the public is potentially at risk every time they step onto a pavement where a scaffold is built.”

The NASC has developed detailed guidance, in consultation with the Health & Safety Executive, Highways Authority, Joint Authorities Group UK and the National Traffic Managers Forum. The 11-page document decribes the standards thata a scaffolding contractor and main contractor must work to before a scaffold licence can be granted, including:

Risk Assessments
Scaffold designs
Scaffolder competence
Double boarding with membranes on pedestrian gantries
Protection for public and vehicles
Improved signage
Scaffold Inspection

NASC said the document is a significant ‘step change’ from the previous criteria but it is what is needed to help keep our streets safe. The new criteria have been circulated to all authorities in the UK.

The association said the new criteria have been welcomed by a number of authorities. For example, Raymond Pierson of Transport for Lonsdon, said; “TfL will be adopting the NASC’s full guidelines and applauds their ‘fight’ for a universal improvement into the tightening of conditions for scaffolding contractors.”

The criteria can be viewed and downloaded from the NASC’s website: www.nasc.org.uk

The latest official figures show that mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is the most rapidly increasing cancer in women.

And experts are baffled by the sharp rise and called for more [...]]]>

An alarming increase in the number of women dying of an asbestos-related cancer is worrying experts, the Mirror can reveal today.

The latest official figures show that mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is the most rapidly increasing cancer in women.

And experts are baffled by the sharp rise and called for more research into “low level” exposure to the killer dust. Some believe the shock rise is linked to asbestos-riddled schools built in the 1960s and 70s and victims are coming to light as the cancer develops upto 40 years after contact with the killer dust.

All the major teaching unions support the Mirror’s Asbestos Timebomb campaign for an audit of all public buildings, including schools, and want the deadly material removed.

Consultant surgeon John Edwards, who has studied the figures, said:”We don’t know why the incidence in women is rising. We need further research to determine the risk of low level exposure to asbestos. “The increase in males is more steady and the fact that the ratio has changed suggests that the pattern of exposure has changed.”

The Sheffield lung surgeon said many of the victims had not worked in industries normally associated with asbestos exposure and said the ‘‘perception amongst clinicians’’ was that the deadly cancer,which attacks the lining of the lung or abdomen, was the result of ‘‘low level’’ exposure, such as asbestos found in school wall and ceiling panels.

The latest government statistics for the Health and Safety Executive show that mesothelioma was mentioned as the cause of death for 384 women in 2008 compared with 1,865 men. In 2007, it was 347 women and 1,826 men. In 2005 it was 289 women and 1,759 men.

asbestos abatement, asbestos testing, asbestos garage removal, asbestos services

Cancer Research UK says that for women mesothelioma has the most increasing death rate of any cancer, at 57% – even ahead of malignant melanoma. a skin cancer, at 49%. Uterine cancer has increased by 33% and kidney cancer by 23% in the ten years to 2007.

Mesothelioma kills 2,000 people every year in Britain and death rate is not expected to peak until 2015.

The disturbing new figures come as Britain’s most senior judges are considering a legal limit for ‘‘low level’’ exposure in a legal test case that could affect thousands of sufferers. The seven judges of the Supreme Court – the highest in the land – are expected to deliver their judgment before Christmas.

They will determine if there is justice for the family of mum-of-two Dianne Willmore, 49, who died last year – the day after she won £240,000 compensation from Merseyside council for being exposed to asbestos at school in Huyton, Liverpool. The local authority is fighting the pay out and the judges will decide.

Last night leading asbestos campaigner Michael Lees, whose teacher wife Gina died from mesothelioma in 2000, said:”Great Britain has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world, and the deaths are relentlessly increasing. Of particular concern is the rapid rise in the number of females who are dying of this awful cancer, for their deaths invariably are the result of low level asbestos exposures.

“A recent study showed that the majority of women suffering from mesothelioma had no idea where they were exposed to asbestos – the type of asbestos exposure that is typical in schools. “It is a disgrace that successive UK Governments have refused to even assess the asbestos risks in schools. In comparison thirty years ago the US Government did just that, and because of the particular vulnerability of children they introduced stringent asbestos laws specifically for schools.

“Because the USA have assessed the risks and allocated proportionate resources their incidence of mesothelioma has stabilised at a level considerably less than half that of Great Britain. It is inevitable that until we take the necessary measures the legacy of asbestos will continue to reap its appalling toll.”

Both the Health and safety Executive and the Department for Education insist that asbestos is safe if it is ‘‘properly managed’’ and not disturbed in school buildings.

iAnother horrendously tragic stroy about the dangers of Asbestos, this time bought to us by thisisgloucestershire.co.uk. It yet again [...]]]>

Another horrendously tragic stroy about the dangers of Asbestos, this time bought to us by thisisgloucestershire.co.uk. It yet again brings home to all of us just how important  Asbestos Abatement and Asbestos Management

asbestos companies, asbestos survey, asbestos surveys, removal of asbestos

iAnother horrendously tragic stroy about the dangers of Asbestos, this time bought to us by thisisgloucestershire.co.uk. It yet again brings home to all of us just how important  Asbestos Abatement and Asbestos Management is. You can cantact Godiva Group 24 hours a day for a full Asbestos site survey.

‘A 50-YEAR-OLD woman died from lung cancer caused by asbestos despite never knowingly coming into contact with the deadly substance, an inquest heard.

Lavern Ponting had not worked in places where asbestos was used and neither had her husband Andrew, deputy coroner David Dooley was told.

Recording an open verdict, he apologised to her family for being unable to give them closure because of a lack of evidence.

After the inquest in Cheltenham, Mr Ponting said he had been knocking his head against a brick wall trying to find out what had happened.

He said: “A little man like me hasn’t got a chance against the establishment, but I have lost my wife at the age of only 50. That’s nothing these days is it?

“This type of cancer is going to escalate over the next 20 years with all the people who worked in plumbing and building back in the 60s and 70s.

“I have been in touch with a solicitor, but you have to have dates when she was exposed to asbestos and we have no idea when or how.

“I was hoping for some sort of closure coming here and I have not got it.”

Mrs Ponting, of Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester, died at home on May 7.

Since then, the financial administrator’s 25-year-old daughter Titania has raised £1,500 for cancer charities by taking part in a 10km run in London.

In evidence, Mr Ponting said his wife had gone to the doctor feeling unwell and with a persistent cough.

She was referred to the specialist oncology unit at Cheltenham General Hospital and was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung which is almost always associated with asbestos.

He said he had worked in the building and concrete trades most of his life and she had washed his work clothes.

He had worked in dusty environments but he was never told there was asbestos present, he said. Similarly, he had not been able to find any cases where his wife might have come into contact with it.

Mr Dooley said that to give a verdict of death by industrial disease, he had to have evidence it was likely she had come into contact through her own or her husband’s employment.

He said: “Here, there is insufficient evidence since she never worked with asbestos or anywhere where she could have been exposed to it and this is also true of her husband.

“There is no evidence her husband’s dusty work clothes contained asbestos and it is known mesothelioma can occur with trivial exposure.

“The low reading of fibres in her lungs may have reflected normal environmental exposure in everyday life.”

Verdict: Open’

The trade union Unite is set to challenge a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal concerning victims of asbestos-related cancer and their right to [...]]]> Following an earlier Court of Appeal ruling the trade union Unite are all set to challenge the decision reached limiting compensation payouts to the families of cancer victims.

Asbestos Removal, Asbestos Management, Asbestos Contractors, Asbestos Disposal

The trade union Unite is set to challenge a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal concerning victims of asbestos-related cancer and their right to compensation .

The Court of Appeal decided in October that employer’s liability insurance was triggered not by the exposure to asbestos in the workplace but by the development of mesothelioma in some cases.

It ruled that symptoms of mesothelioma only started many years after the asbestos dust had been inhaled by the victims, and may result in thousands of workers in the UK who have since developed the disease losing out on compensation. However, Unite is set to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.

Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung caused by asbestos exposure, has no known cure, with about 2,000 people in the UK each year being diagnosed with the disease. Many of those now being diagnosed were exposed to asbestos prior to the dangers becoming more widely known. Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, commented “The way the insurers refused to pay out in these cases is a kick in the guts to every family that’s watched a loved-one suffer a painful and degrading death from mesothelioma.” He added “Insurers sold their policies knowing that employers and workers’ families would rely on them.

Now they’re trying to weasel out of paying based on fancy legal argument and policy small print . Ian McFall, head of asbestos policy at trade union law firm Thompsons Solicitors, also said ” Asbestos victims will welcome the decision by Unite to pursue the appeal to the highest court in the land and the union’s principled stance in opposing the insurers’ latest legal challenge.”

Another story highlighting just how important it is to be adequately protected from Asbestos Fibres, and the steps being taken by the health and  safety executive to ensure that the tragic story highlighted below isn’t repeated.

The intersection of North Ninth and C streets [...]]]>

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Just picked up this story coming out of America, another case of poor scaffolding erection leading to a collapse. Fortunately no-one was hurt this time. As always give us a call for all your scaffolding requirements. Where ever in the UK you happen to be located.

The intersection of North Ninth and C streets was closed Wednesday night after a Dodge Neon crashed into the scaffolding of a new apartment building being built on the southwest corner there.

No construction workers were on the scaffolding, which was left leaning precariously.

Neighborhood residents said they heard something and when they looked out, a man was standing by the car. He then walked away to the south. Bystanders pointed him out to Richmond Police officers, who located him.

Traffic division officer John Miller said the investigation is continuing as they talk to the possible driver of the vehicle.

“We were playing games in the house and it sounded like somebody slamming a trash can down,” said Kathy Benjamin, who lives on the northeast corner of North Ninth and C streets. She and her boyfriend, Daniel Lunsford, saw the man stare at the car and then walk away.

A driver at the intersection saw the whole accident, called police and stayed to identify the driver to police, but had to leave to go to work, Benjamin said.

Richmond Fire Department battalion chief Jerry Purcell said the car was empty when he and his crew arrived on the scene. The fire department’s concern was the possibility that the scaffolding would collapse, so the streets were blocked to eliminate traffic from the area until the construction company in charge of the project could stabilize it.

Residents of the neighborhood were startled, but not surprised, by the accident.

“I wondered how long it would take for someone to run into it,” said J.R. Lynch.

Lynch, Benjamin, Lunsford and Howard Thomas agreed the corner is dangerous and that there have been three or four accidents there recently.

“It’s in the same spot every time,” Benjamin said.

Thomas said that the property probably should not have been used for construction of a building so close to the curve but instead should have been used to straighten the curve where southbound U.S. 27 switches from North Ninth Street to North Eighth Street.

The apartment building, to be called Nine North, fills the block between Eighth and Ninth streets.

It is being developed by Herman & Kittle Properties Inc. of Indianapolis and is expected to be complete by March 2011.

Maguire Industrial Estate,

219 Torrington Avenue,

Canley

Coventry

West Midlands

CV4 9HN

United Kingdom

Press Release

Phone: 0800 345 7737 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24th September, 2010

The Godiva Group Launch New website

london, uk, SEptember 24th, 2010:  The Godiva Group, one of the UK’s leading Asbestos Removal, Scaffolding and [...]]]>

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Press Release

The Godiva Group Launch New website

london, uk, SEptember 24^th, 2010:  The Godiva Group, one of the UK’s leading Asbestos Removal, Scaffolding and Environmental Services companies have just launched their new website. For the first time all aspects of the Godiva Group’s work can be found in one place – www.godivagroup.co.uk.

Colin Taylor, managing director, made the following comment.

‘We are thrilled at our new website, which is in fact more of a resource directory than a marketing tool. We have invested heavily in ensuring our new site is well designed, informative, user friendly and most importantly interactive. We have included a blog, twitter feed and a facebook page allowing our customers not only to be kept fully up to date with the latest news from the Godiva Group, but the industry as a whole.’

Boasting over 30 years experience in Asbestos Removal & Scaffolding Service’s within the Construction Industry, the Godiva Group has been built on a commitment to delivery of high quality work and outstanding customer satisfaction. This combined with an enviable reputation for continually delivering our clients projects regardless of size, on time and within Budget has formed the basis for the Godiva Group’s ongoing success.

To celebrate this launch The Godiva Group is running a series of special offers, spot giveaways. They can be contacted on 0800 345 7737 for advice.