Mecsafe Limited

Health & Safety Training

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01302 775900
Unit 9 Snape Lane Industrial Estate, Harworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN11 8SP

Here We Go Again…

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the process to instigate a second referendum on the independence of Scotland will commence next week.

The first referendum took place on September 18, 2014, with the question: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ The ‘No’ side won, with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence, and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour. The turnout of 84.6% was the highest recorded for an election or referendum in the United Kingdom since the introduction of universal suffrage.

Since then, ‘Yes’ voters have continued to campaign for a break away from the UK, and last year’s EU Referendum which was in favour of ‘Brexit’ has complicated things further. Many Scots do not want to leave the EU and feel that this major development should be a factor in Scottish people deciding their future – either as part of the UK or part of the EU.

Sturgeon has stated that a “choice must be offered between autumn next year, 2018, and spring of 2019”. The EU would need to clarify whether Scottish Independence would mean they simply remain within the EU, or seamlessly re-enter.

 

In construction news this week…

More than 600 businesses have registered interest in the first phase of Trumps $21bn Mexico wall project. The 600 businesses have formally registered interest since 24 February, when the Department of Homeland Security issued a presolicitation notice for contractors to perform the “design and build of several prototype wall structures” for the border.

Plans in for Manchester £1.3bn vertical village towers. Developer Allied London has submitted final detailed plans for a cluster of five towers in Manchester’s St John district.

Barnsley Council to fully fund town centre scheme. Barnsley Council has decided to fully fund its £120m retail-led scheme to transform the town centre.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Record Breaking Stuff

In 2016 PASMA issued a record-breaking 73,000 training cards.

Comments chairman of PASMA’s training committee, John McNeilly: “These remarkable numbers only serve to reinforce PASMA’s position as the principal provider of what is now firmly established as the definitive industry standard for mobile access tower training, both in the UK and increasingly overseas. For an overwhelming number of organisations no other form of training, and therefore demonstration of competency, is acceptable.”

“It reflects great credit on the work of PASMA training centres and their instructors, and, of course, on those companies and individuals committed to height safety and keeping people safe.”

The 2017 training programme includes nine training courses ranging from ‘Work at height essentials’ and ‘Towers for users’ to more advanced modules covering ‘Towers on stairs’, ‘Towers with cantilevers’ and ‘Towers for riggers‘.

For MECsafe’s “open” PASMA course dates, please click here.

 

In construction news this week…

School children given no info on careers in construction. Half of school age children have never been given any information on possible jobs in construction by teachers or careers advisers.

Bid race starts for Scottish women’s prison. Scottish Prison Service is inviting bids for a new national women’s prison to be built to replace Scotland’s only female jail at Cornton Vale in Stirling.

Van Elle managing director steps down. Ground engineering specialist Van Elle revealed this morning that group managing director Tom Lindup has resigned.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

CITB Grant Claiming Guide

The CITB Grants Scheme provides funding for CITB-registered employers to train, upskill and qualify their staff.

This ensures that the right skills are available to help the construction industry grow and that standards are maintained on site.

You can claim a grant once the training has been completed.

 

Who can claim a grant?

All CITB-registered employers can claim a grant, including those that don’t need to pay levy.

As an employer, you can claim grants for the employees you declare on your Levy Return who have completed training.

For training completed between 6 April 2015 to 31 July 2015, you can claim grants for:

  • Labour-only subcontractors (LOSC) and
  • Net CIS subcontractors.

For training completed from 1 August 2015 onwards, you can claim grants for:

 

What grants are available

View the grants available in the 2016/2017 Grants Scheme year. There are grants for a wide range of training and qualifications.

 

Is there a deadline?

For training and qualifications completed between 1 August 2016 and 31 July 2017, the CITB must receive your grant claim form by 31 October 2017.

For training and qualifications completed between 1 August 2015 and 31 July 2016, the CITB must have received your grant claim form by 31 October 2016.

 

How to claim

You need to complete your Levy Return by the deadline to be eligible to claim grants.

  1. Select the grant(s) you want to claim for.
  2. Download the appropriate grant claim form:
    PDF (415KB): Grant claim form 2016/17
    Excel (128KB): Grant claim form 2016/17
  3. Fill in the form. Complete a separate form for each training course or qualification you are claiming for.
  4. Keep a copy of each form for your records.
  5. Return the form(s) by email or post to the address below by 31 October. If you post the form, keep proof of postage.Email: 
    CITB
    Levy & Grant Customer Services
    Bircham Newton
    Kings Lynn
    Norfolk, PE31 6RH
  6. You will receive a letter to confirm the CITB have received your claim. The letter will tell you if your claim has been approved or you need to provide further information.

Once your claim is approved, the CITB will pay your grant by bank transfer or cheque, usually within 28 days.

 

MECsafe currently have availability on the following CITB courses:

SMSTS – 20th March-18th April 2017 (day release)

SMSTS Refresher – 16th & 17th March 2017

SSSTS – 2nd & 3rd / 16th & 17th March 2017

SSSTS Refresher – 24th March 2017

Health & Safety Awareness – 7th / 15th / 21st March 2017 (Ask us about completing your CSCS test after the course)

SEATS (Environmental) – 17th March 2017

For further information on our courses, please do not hesitate to contact us or for further information on CITB grants please contact the CITB.

 

 

It’s Awards Season!

The UK government has rejected a petition calling for Donald Trump’s state visit invitation to be withdrawn.

It said it recognised the “strong views” expressed but looked forward to welcoming the US president once details have been arranged.

More than 1.8 million people signed the petition, which said a state visit would cause the Queen “embarrassment”.

A counter petition calling for the visit to go ahead attracted more than 309,000 signatures.

For more information on what happens during an official state visit, who decides who gets an invitation, and which other controversial world figures the Queen has hosted a state visit for, click here.

 

Sunday evening (12th Feb) saw the Grammy awards take place in LA and the BAFTA’s in London.

Beyoncé lead her peers with nine nominations while Drake, Rihanna, and Kanye West were all tied with eight. But Adele had the biggest win, taking home 5 Grammy awards. Click here for a full list of winners.

Meanwhile, the BAFTAs heard plenty of different political opinions whilst stars excepted their awards. You can view the full list of winners here.

 

 

In construction news this week…

Worker loses leg in rebar horror. A steel reinforcing specialist has been fined £277,000 after a worker had a leg amputated after being crushed at its Canvey Island plant.

Laing O’Rourke construction MD Paul Sheffield quits. Chairman Ray O’Rourke said that the business plans to 2020 were now complete and the group’s vision to 2025 was well advanced and would be ratified in May this year. He said: “Paul and I feel that now is an appropriate time for him to step off and make way for others currently in the business with longer horizons”. 

Plan for £49m Bristol music hall revamp. Bristol Music Trust has unveiled ambitious plans for the £49m revamp of the city’s Colston Hall into a world-class music hub.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Fake News?

Local voting figures shed new light on EU referendum

The BBC has obtained a more localised breakdown of votes from nearly half of the local authorities which counted EU referendum ballots last June.

This information provides much greater depth and detail in explaining the pattern of how the UK voted. Click here to view the key findings.

Donald Trump says ‘any negative polls are fake news’

A CNN survey found he has the worst early approval rating of any US President in history.

Donald Trump has hit out at recent polls suggesting he has one of the worst early approval ratings in US history, saying that “any negative polls are fake news”.

A CNN/ORC International poll released on Friday found Mr Trump had the lowest approval rating of any new President, at 44 per cent.

Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: “Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting.”

Read the full article here.

 

Great Britain wins Davis Cup clash by default – after Canadian teenage star puts the UMPIRE in hospital by smashing the ball into his face in flash of temper

Kyle Edmund was already well in control of the deciding rubber when his opponent, the reigning Wimbledon junior champion, hit French umpire Arnaud Gabas flush in the left eye when he angrily smashed the ball away from mid court. Click here for the full report.

 

 

In construction news this week…

Search starts for HS2 Euston development partner. The hunt is set to start this Spring for a developer to deliver the wholesale regeneration of land around Euston railway station as part of the plan for a HS2 terminus at the site.

Skanska holds margin above 2% as profit slips. Tougher market conditions saw Skanska UK’s operating profit slip 8% to £35m despite a 17% jump in revenue last year to £1.68bn.

Deal spurs major PRS and student flats scheme at Old Oak Common. Developer Essential Living is pressing ahead with plans to build the first major build to rent scheme in the Old Oak Common regeneration zone in West London.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

One Million sign petition to stop Trumps UK visit

A petition to stop US President Donald Trump’s UK state visit has gathered more than a million signatures.

Numbers of signatories have been rising rapidly since a US clampdown on immigration came into effect over the weekend, causing anger worldwide.

PM Theresa May announced the visit during her recent US trip. Downing Street has rejected calls for it to be cancelled as a “populist gesture”.

Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn urged the PM to postpone the visit.

Graham Guest, a solicitor from Leeds who began the petition, said he wanted it to “put the spotlight” on Mr Trump.

On Sunday, he told the Press Association news agency: “A state visit legitimises his presidency and he will use the photo opportunities and being seen with the Queen to get re-elected.”

On Friday Mr Trump signed an executive order halting the US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banning all Syrian refugees and suspending the entry of all nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Moves to implement the measure triggered anger and protest across the world.

On Saturday afternoon the petition had just 60 signatures but reached 100,000 needed to be considered for debate by Parliament just after midday on Sunday.

MPs will discuss the debate on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, signatures on the petition continue to increase: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/171928

 

In construction news this week…

Jaguar Land Rover fined £900,000 after worker injured. National car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has been fined after a worker lost their leg following a car accident.

Three construction companies fined after worker fall. Three companies from Essex have been fined after a worker fell over seven meters through a fragile roof he was replacing.

Asbestos Analyst fined for falsifying documents. An asbestos analyst has been fined after he falsified an asbestos air clearance certificate, following licensed asbestos removal in Manchester.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

  • CCNSG (2 day) – 6th & 7th Feb 2017
  • IPAF 3a & 3b (scissor lift and cherry picker) – 8th Feb 2017

If you would like any further information on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

First Aid Kit Guide

Employers have been required to “adequately” stock the first aid kit since the Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981 came in to play, yet until recently there was no definition of what “adequate” meant. The BS-8599 have now set out standards for adequate first aid kits for UK employers, to help you, we have outlined details below as a quick guide:

Step 1

All organisations need to determine what type of first aid kit (or kits) you need. This depends primarily on what type of work your organisation does and the number of employees doing it.

As most of our readers work in a high risk environment, we are outlining further details based on high risk environments.

Step 2

All organisations need to determine how many people work on your site at a time.

  • If there are less than 5 employees in total, you will require a single ‘small’ kit.
  • If there are between 5 and 25 people on site at any one time, you will require a single ‘medium’ sized kit.
  • If there are more than 25 people on site at any one time, you’ll need one large kit per 25 employees (meaning, you would need 2 kits if 26 persons were to be on site, 3 kits if 51 persons were to be on site etc).

Step 3

Ensure you have the minimum (at least!) contents for the right amount of persons, working in that particular environment.

4 Employees or Less

The minimum contents for a ‘small’ first aid kit is:

  • One 10cm x 10cm burn dressing
  • 40 wash-proof plasters, assorted sizes
  • Two eye pad dressings (with sterile bandages)
  • One adult size foil blanket
  • One large and four medium HSE dressings (sterile but unboxed)
  • Six pairs nitrile gloves
  • One mouth to mouth resuscitation device (with valve)
  • Two 3.5cm finger dressings (with adhesive fixings)
  • One 7.5cm x 4 metre conforming bandage
  • One roll of 2.5cm x 5 metre microporous tape
  • 20 cleansing wipes
  • Six safety pins (assorted sizes)
  • Two 90cm x 127cm single-use triangular bandages
  • One pair of 6” universal shears
  • One first aid guidance leaflet

5 to 25 Employees

The minimum contents for a ‘medium’ first aid kit is:

  • Two 10cm x 10cm burn dressings
  • 60 wash-proof plasters, assorted sizes
  • Three eye pad dressings (with sterile bandages)
  • Two adult size foil blanket
  • Two large and six medium HSE dressings (sterile but unboxed)
  • Nine pairs nitrile gloves
  • One mouth to mouth resuscitation device (with valve)
  • Three 3.5cm finger dressings (with adhesive fixings)
  • Two 7.5cm x 4 metre conforming bandage
  • One roll of 2.5cm x 5 metre microporous tape
  • 30 cleansing wipes
  • Twelve safety pins (assorted sizes)
  • Three 90cm x 127cm single-use triangular bandages
  • One pair of 6” universal shears
  • One first aid guidance leaflet

Per 25 Employees

The minimum contents for a ‘large’ first aid kit is:

  • Two 10cm x 10cm burn dressings
  • 100 wash-proof plasters, assorted sizes
  • Four eye pad dressings (with sterile bandages)
  • Three adult size foil blanket
  • Two large and eight medium HSE dressings (sterile but unboxed)
  • Twelve pairs nitrile gloves
  • Two mouth to mouth resuscitation device (with valves)
  • Four 3.5cm finger dressings (with adhesive fixings)
  • Two 7.5cm x 4 metre conforming bandage
  • One roll of 2.5cm x 5 metre microporous tape
  • 40 cleansing wipes
  • Twenty four (24) safety pins (assorted sizes)
  • Four 90cm x 127cm single-use triangular bandages
  • One pair of 6” universal shears
  • One first aid guidance leaflet

It is worth remembering that these standards represent the minimum contents required. It doesn’t hurt to overstock slightly or assume that on occasion there may be more people present on site than your payroll figures suggest. 

If you would like to purchase a first aid kit from MECsafe, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

In construction news this week…

O’Rourke demolition collapse. Video footage has emerged of the collapse of car park floors during demolition work by Laing O’Rourke last week.

Mabey profit soars to £12m after business revamp. Bridge and engineering services specialist Mabey is planning to invest heavily in the business after returning strong profits last year.

Balfour/Vinci HS2 chief joins Murphy. Murphy has appointed Balfour Beatty/Vinci HS2 project boss Peter Anderson as managing director for its southern operations.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

London’s at a Stand Still

Today, members of the RMT and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) unions are taking industrial action in protest at plans to close ticket offices on the London Underground.

The 24-hour strike will continue until 18:00 GMT on Monday.

Tube bosses have warned commuters that the majority of underground stations in Central London will be closed, and a normal service is not expected to resume until Tuesday morning.

The majority of Zone 1 stations will be closed and other parts of the network will be severely affected too.

Piccadilly Line services are expected to run between Hammersmith and Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5, but not to Terminal 4.

National Rail services are not directly affected but there will be no Underground services from stations such as Victoria, King’s Cross, Waterloo, Paddington, Euston, Bank and London Bridge.

There will be no service at all on:

  • the Victoria line
  • the Circle line
  • the Waterloo and City line

The Bakerloo, Central, Hammersmith and City, Jubilee, and Northern lines are operating limited services.

London Overground and tram services are not affected by Monday’s strike action.

Buses, roads and rail services including the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are all expected to be much busier than usual.
You are advised to walk or cycle if you are able, rather than drive as there are major roadworks in many parts of the city, that are also causing travel delays.

Check out what those late for work and tourists are saying of the chaos in the BBC Live Feed.

tube-2
A large queue of people wait for buses at Bishopsgate.

tube-3
Clapham Junction as it was evacuated due to overcrowding.

 

In construction news this week…

UK firms brace for further Brexit price rises, surveys show. Manufacturing and construction sectors air concern over rising import costs with companies facing ‘more risks than opportunities’ in 2017.

Laing O’Rourke reveals £141m UK construction loss. Laing O’Rourke has filed results for its main UK construction business revealing a pre-tax loss of £141.3m for the year to March 31 2016.

Plant hire boss jailed after platform collapse kills worker. A plant hire boss has been jailed for two years after a worker was killed when a mobile platform collapsed on an office job in Scotland.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

If you would like any further information on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Merry Christmas!

This will be our last blog before the Christmas holidays! In light of this, we thought we would share some upcoming Christmassy events, just incase you still have some free time:

Christmas Markets

  • Belfast (November 19 –December 22)
  • Birmingham (November 17 – December 29)
  • Edinburgh (November 18 – January 8)
  • London (November 18 – January 2)
  • Manchester (November 10 – December 20)
  • York (November 17 –December 23)
  • Cardiff (November 10 – December 23)
  • Chester (November 18 –December 18)

Christmas Concerts

  • Christmas Festival at Royal Albert Hall (13-24 Dec)
  • Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square (5-23 Dec)
    Advent and Christmas at St Paul’s Cathedral (26 Nov-28 Dec)
    Christmas at Westminster Abbey (27 Nov-25 Dec)

Spectacular Christmas Light Displays

  • Festival of Light and Sound, Eden Project, Cornwall
  • Christmas light trail, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
  • Festival of Light, Longleat safari park, Wiltshire
  • Enchanted Parks, Gateshead
  • Christmas Glow, RHS Wisley, Surrey
  • Christmas at Kew Gardens, London
  • Enchanted Christmas, Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
  • Magical Lantern festival, Leeds, Birmingham, London
  • Tunnel of Light, Norwich

tunnel-of-light  Tunnel of Light, Norwich

Then there is always Christmas television!

 

In construction news this week…

Crossrail suspends electrical work at Paddington station. Electrical work has been halted at Crossrail’s Paddington station because of concerns that project delivery has derailed.

Record 3m tonnes steel construction pipeline. The Government has highlighted it support for steel construction by unveiling plans to use 3m tonnes of steel in infrastructure projects by 2020.

Balfour Beatty starts delayed £90m London hospital. Balfour Beatty has finally secured the job to deliver the £90m redevelopment of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have availability on the following courses, this side of Christmas:

  • SSSTS – 15th & 16th Dec / 22nd & 23rd Dec
  • SMSTS – 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd Dec
  • IPAF 3a & 3b – 19th / 20th Dec

Then, we have the following availability early 2017:

  • SSSTS – 5th & 6th Jan
  • CCNSG Refresher – 6th Jan
  • CCNSG – 9th & 10th Jan

If you would like any further information on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

MECsafe would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

smiley

And The Countdown Begins…

Just 18 more days until Christmas! Or just “2” more Sundays to go before the big day!!
Which also means, just over two weeks left to get your training done and out the way, ready for the New Year!!
Or if you are stuck for a Secret Santa Gift…
christmas-2016

This year we are staying open right until Friday 23rd December and we have got plenty of courses planned in over the run up to Christmas:

  • 8th Dec – Manual Handling, Working at Height and Abrasive Wheels
  • 9th Dec – CCNSG Refresher and SSSTS Refresher
  • 12th Dec – PASMA (Mobile Towers) and UKATA Asbestos Awareness
  • 13th Dec – Health & Safety Awareness (Ask us about completing your CSCS test after the course)
  • 15th Dec – Confined Space Awareness
  • 16th Dec – SEATS Environmental
  • 19th Dec – SMSTS (Mon-Fri)
  • 21st Dec – Health & Safety Awareness (Ask us about completing your CSCS test after the course)
  • 22nd & 23rd Dec – SSSTS & SMSTS Refresher

 

In construction news this week…

Six contractors have become the first firms to achieve a new Kitemark for BIM launched today by standards body BSI. The first firms worldwide to achieve the Kitemark for PAS 1192-2 are: Balfour Beatty, BAM Ireland, BAM Construct UK, Gammon Construction, Skanska UK and voestapline Metsec.   

Morgan Sindall pulls off second contracts league double. They have been crowned winner of the monthly and annualised leagues of new orders for the second month running.

Ladder fall costs Volvo £900,000. The national truck, bus and plant division of Volvo has been fined £900,000 after one of its workers fell and suffered head injuries.

If you would like to book or like to discuss any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.