Industry News ROOFER’S TRAGIC SCAFFOLD FALL An Aberdeen-based roofing contractor has been fined after an employee fell to his death from a ladder while exiting a scaffold at Jute Street in the city. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that on 21st September 2016, Joseph Kane, an employee of Henderson and Aitken fell from the top rungs of a ladder when it slipped sideways on the scaffold. Mr Kane died of multiple injuries. The scaffolding had been erected by Henderson and Aitken employees and the ladder was tied, using a blue nylon cord, to the scaffold ledger at only the left stile. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) specialist inspector that carried out the investigation estimated the lateral movement of the ladder due to the lack of fixity was approximately 20cm. HSE found a Henderson and Aitken employee had erected the scaffold even though he was not a qualified or competent scaffolder. He had been asked to do this by the company Director who was aware he was unqualified. The Director then allowed three people to access the scaffold. The scaffold was not erected to the correct standard. Henderson and Aitken pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 33(1)(c) of HSWA and was fined £53,000. Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Niall Miller, said: “This tragic and preventable death highlights the need for those undertaking work at height to ensure that it is carried out safely, that industry guidance is followed and that the relevant regulations are complied with.” SHARMANS’ NEW TOOLS FOR CONTRACTORS Sharmans has launched two contractor support tools to make life easier: a Budget Quote tool and a Surveying & Fitting Guide. Its new Plygene Gutterline Surveying & Fitting Guide is an interactive digital system that is easy to access on mobile or desktop and provides upto-date installation and support information for Budget Quote and Survey & Fitting Guide from Sharmans. use on site. It has been developed to give a survey details and specification are achieved and reference point to ensure the liner is both ensures that the system that arrives on site can surveyed and installed quickly and easily. be fitted with accuracy.” Simple to navigate, it takes the pressure off the Sharmans Budget Quote is an online pricing tool surveyor by ensuring that he has selected the that is quick and easy to use and provides correct watertight finishing detail, no matter the accurate quotes for all Sharmans gutter and roof type of roof. For every metal or asbestos roof refurbishment systems. It is a mobile and tablet build-up, there is an easily identifiable solution friendly interface, intuitive and provides a guided, which can be selected at survey stage so that step-by-step process that instantly generates an instructions can be passed to the installer, accurate estimate along with a breakdown of minimising errors on-site. The step-by-step guide materials needed for any project. also includes images and fitting instructions for Steve continued: “If you’re an Approved bespoke moulded components, a guide for when Contractor and need to get a quick estimate – our and where to install wind uplift restraints and online quoting system will allow you to do this maintenance instructions. instantly inclusive of a bill of quantities. It has Sharmans Technical Director Steve Cookson said: been designed to allow our customers to provide “We firmly believe that our Plygene gutterline budget quotes for all our gutter and roof system is the best solution when it comes to the refurbishment systems, including Plygene industrial gutter network. It is simple to specify gutterline, Delcote gutter and roof coatings, and install. Using this new Surveying & Fitting Seamsil cut edge corrosion and Delglaze Guide will help contractors to ensure that correct rooflight.” FMB: THREAT OF NO DEAL CAUSING ISSUES The Government must bring an end to the in an industry notorious for tight margins. If we threat of ‘no deal’ and give clarity to UK want local builders to deliver the high-quality businesses by securing a new deal with the homes our country needs, to upgrade people’s EU, according to the Federation of Master homes to modern standards and to form the Builders (FMB). supply chain for key national infrastructure projects that are essential to helping our economy The data shows construction output has move forward, then we certainly can’t afford for contracted again in August for the fourth month in building companies to go to the wall due to a row, and new orders fell at the fastest pace for uncertainty. The Government must secure a new over ten years. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the deal with the EU which Parliament can accept to FMB, said: “A sustained decline in construction deliver certainty, and give an injection of output risks small firms leaving construction confidence to the sector.” altogether, as they struggle to absorb higher costs 14 TC OCTOBER <strong>2019</strong>
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