Roofing Work News Roundup – October, 2018
Here at D-marc we’re in the business of making work at height, especially roofing work, safer with our innovative rooftop barrier solutions. Our team keeps a close eye on the news for stories about roof work and working at height so that we can bring our readers the useful and relevant information necessary to keep them up to date with what’s going on in our industry. Once a month, we’ll publish a roundup of the news that affects our sector in one easy place so that readers can get a quick overview of the most important happenings over the past month. If you have anything to add or know of any stories that you’d like us to cover, please don’t hesitate to let us know, either by email, on our Facebook Page or on our Twitter feed.
Our first item is the news that a training academy in Colchester is looking for new recruits in a bid to address the shortage of tilers and slaters in the area. The training academy was launched by roofing contractors in order to get more young people to consider a career in roofing, a sector that is experiencing a severe labour shortage. The academy provides intensive training courses for those with no experience who are looking for a long-term career or change of career. The opportunity to learn basic roofing skills and health and safety could be the first step towards gaining NVQ and Blue Skilled CSCS qualifications.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group (SFPSG) has issued a new safety document titled “Rescue of Persons from MEWPs” to provide guidance to facilitate work at height rescue plans. The document is intended to provide guidance that will be useful for MEWP hire companies, customers, operators and manufacturers.
A steel fabricator in North Devon has been sentenced after a young employee fell through a fragile roof whilst working. It was the 19 year old’s first day of working on a roof replacement project at a petrol filling station in Barnstaple. The youngster took a few steps off the walkway and feel 7.5 metres through a thin metal sheet onto the concrete forecourt, suffering serious head injuries, a broken pelvis and a broken wrist. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation discovered that the work was not properly planned, appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner and the employer was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,228.
Finally, on a lighter note, a fox made its home on the roof of a three storey block of flats in Kentish Town, North West London. The RSPCA and the local authority are aware of the foxy new resident but, as yet, have failed to access the roof to rescue him. In the meantime, local residents have welcomed their new neighbour and are leaving out food and water to sustain him until a rescue is effected. Urban foxes are a common sight in London where at least 10,000 of them roam the streets at night scavenging for food in bins.