Mecsafe Limited

Health & Safety Training

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

We’re winning!

England’s under-17 football team won the World Cup after coming back from two goals down to win 5-2 in the final. Steve Cooper’s side completed the sensational victory to join England’s World Cup-winning under 20’s side, who won the competition in June.

The mental health response following the Grenfell Tower fire is the biggest operation of its kind in Europe, a doctor has said, with numbers affected likely to exceed 11,000. More than 1,300 people have been seen by Central and North West London NHS Trust and GPs after the fire, either for post-traumatic stress disorder screening or Grenfell-related physical health concerns.

In construction news this week…

Track repair team in 125mph train near miss. Rail safety experts have launched an investigation after a team of track workers narrowly avoided being hit by a 125mph passenger train.

Edinburgh tram extension race starts. Edinburgh City Council has started the hunt for two contractors to deliver its tram extension project from York Place to Newhaven.

Plans for 1,200 London homes on ex-Tesco land. The Meyer Homes development business set up by a former Redrow London MD has submitted plans for two London schemes totalling nearly 1,200 apartments.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

SSSTS (Supervisors) – 2nd & 3rd November

Health & Safety Awareness – 8th November (ask us about completing your CSCS test after the course)!

SMSTS Refresher – 9th & 10th November

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

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.

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…

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.

Prepare yourselves for March 2017!

Happy Halloween!
Every year we wear scary outfits, bob for apples and carve pumpkins – but why?
The Americanised (Americanized?) Halloween that we experience now actually originated in the Celtic fringes of Britain, and was adapted by Christian traditions, immigrants’ conventions and an insatiable desire for sweets.
The word comes from ‘Hallowed evening’, and is the day before All Hallows Day – also known as All Saints’ Day.
You can view the full history here.

As the FBI drama unwraps in America, we ask how did two candidates with historically low favourability ratings rise to the top of their parties?
Well, it goes back to the ‘Primary Election’ – Primary elections are one means by which a political party or a political alliance nominates candidates for an upcoming general election or by-election. In both parties, only half the Primary voted for either Hillary or Donald, compared to 2012 when nearly 90% voted for Barak Obama. Here is a video for a further explanation.

Businesses should get ready now for the introduction of the new 12-sided pound coin, the Treasury has said. The Treasury is urging firms to adapt their equipment and train their staff in preparation for the arrival of the new coin in March 2017.

In construction news this week…

Jail sentence for construction skills card cheat. A Luton man has been jailed for 18 months and recommended for deportation for illegally working in the UK and cheating to obtain industry skills cards.

Construction to dodge post-Brexit vote recession. Faltering commercial workloads will be offset by strong growth in infrastructure and school spending over the next two years, according to the latest major industry forecast.

Electric car maker unveils solar roof tile range. A roof tile range with built in solar panels has been unveiled by electric car specialist Tesla.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

SSSTS – 03 & 04.11.2016

SMSTS – 07.11.2016-05.12.2016 (day release)

CCNSG Refresher – 11.11.2016

SSSTS Refresher – 11.11.2016

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

This Wilbury Is Still Travelling!

US singer Bob Dylan has been awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the first songwriter to win the prestigious award.
The 75-year-old (yes, we too thought he was still a youngster – so don’t be feeling old on your own) rock legend received the prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.
The balladeer, artist and actor is the first American to win since novelist Toni Morrison in 1993.

Nicola Sturgeon told the party’s Glasgow conference that an Independence Referendum Bill would be published next week. It marks the first step to holding a second vote.

Lastly in todays general news bulletin, Tesco have pulled famous brands in a price row. Marmite, PG Tips tea and Pot Noodles are among dozens of brands currently unavailable on Tesco’s online site due to a dispute with Unilever.

 

In construction news this week…

Carillion have won the race for £96m Lincoln Eastern Bypass. Carillion has fought off three rivals.

Unfortuantely, Cardy collapsed owing £18m to trade suppliers. Administrators of the Kent-based contractor have revealed they have received claims totalling £18m from trade contractors and suppliers.

Engineers are carrying out more tests to Marlow Bridge in Buckinghamshire following fears of structural damage after a 37-tonne lorry tried to cross it.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

  • SSSTS – 20th & 21st Oct
  • H&S Awareness – 20th Oct (ask us about attending your CSCS test on the same day)!

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

“Armies of Stupid”

Following on from last weeks blog, Donald Trump and Boris Johnson have felt the wrath of Sir Bob Geldofs latest rant, in which he calls them “commanders of the armies of the stupid”. You can read the full article here, which details more of his speak at the Canada Summit.

In other parts of the world, HURRICANE Matthew, the most ferocious Atlantic hurricane in almost a decade is expected to hit Jamaica and Haiti today (Monday October 3).
The “dangerous” category four hurricane brings up to 130mph winds and the power to cause widespread flooding and destruction.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said “Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane into Tuesday.” Click here for full details.

London streets have been evacuated after flames shot through manhole covers.
Mare Street in Hackney, near Hackney Town Hall, has been sealed off while an investigation is launched after the explosion was heard shortly after 9.30am on Monday. Sources at the scene say they believe it is some kind of underground electrical explosion.

 

In construction news this week…

Bechtel will project manage Gatwick’s second runway programme should the Government give it the green light.

Wates launches housing development arm. The contractor joins charge back into housing development as fresh opportunities beckon.

Also, the Building firms have been revealed for the £430m London Tube upgrade.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

  • SSSTS – 6th & 7th Oct
  • H&S Awareness (ask us about taking your CSCS test on the same day) – 11th Oct
  • CCNSG Refresher – 14th Oct
  • SSSTS Refresher – 14th Oct

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