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A new short film has been released online on the dangers of fragile roofs, made by the CITB with the assistance of the HSE and the co-operation of Working Well Together (WWT) The ten minute film, 'Fragile roofs - Fragile lives', follows the devastating effects of falls through fragile roofs on four people and their families. The film is to raise awareness of the nine people who die each year fall ... more
The HSE has released a new Asbestos awareness app. For use on mobiles, tablets and desktop. The app features an Asbestos photo gallery, how-to guides and even a tool for finding a licensed asbestos contractor. To download the app, visit the HSE site ... more
A Tameside builder has been fined after he allowed workers to carry out unsafe roof work in Stalybridge, despite previously receiving a formal warning about the issue. Gerard Hurst, who trades as Ashton Roofing and Building Construction, was prosecuted by the HSE after the building work on Brushes Road was spotted by a passing inspector in May 2014. Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard that ... more
An Essex scaffolder has been prosecuted following unsafe work at a Chelsea property. Christopher Harker, from Epping, trading as C&H Scaffolding, clambered up and down the outside of a four-storey scaffold in Cheyne Walk on in March 2014, completely unconcerned by the fact a fall could have proved fatal. He and his assistant also casually leaned through openings up to 10 metres above the gr ... more
A construction company in south west London has been prosecuted for exposing its workforce to serious dangers on a building site in Holland Park. Several serious risks were identified during a visit by the HSE in November 2013 as part of a nationwide campaign by the HSE focussing on basement construction works. Westminster Magistrates were told that the HSE had found a catalogue of safety faili ... more
As the year draws to a close, it’s time to take a look back of all the highlights from the last 12 months. Here’s our top picks: New indoors premises at Ashford In July, we launched a new depot in Ashford, Kent. Based on the Lympne Distribution Park, just off junction 11 of the M20, the depot also contains a large indoor training facility in response to a growing demand for go ... more
The Manchester Evening News reports on three contractors carrying out a nail-biting job on top of the Chill Factore in Trafford Park. In the photos by Gary Louth, the men can be seen scaling the top of the 45m high building with the help of secure harnesses and a giant cherry picker lift. According to onlookers, the team was adjusting the giant lettering plastered across the side of ... more
Facelift has recently taken delivery of the first of 30 of the new Niftylift HR17 diesel self-propelled booms, one of a new generation of environmentally-friendly work platforms from Niftylift. Manufactured in the UK, and tailored to the European market, at just 4.9t the HR17 more than 30% lighter than comparable US-designed Genie machines, making it easier to manoeuvre and reducing both ground p ... more
Two Grimsby teenagers were arrested earlier this month after reports that one lifted the other 50ft into the air using a cherry picker parked up outside a pub. Humberside Police confirmed that two males, aged 16 and 17, had been arrested on Monday night after reports that the pair had interfered with the machinery at the rear of Wingate Parade, near the town’s Willows Estate. Discussing the ... more
The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) have called for the postponement of a new employee screening scheme because it fears it might be used to blacklist construction workers. This comes after the National Federation of Builders (NFB) announced a tie-up with outsourcing company Mitie to “provide employee screening, background checks and lone worker solutions to i ... more
