Mecsafe Limited

Health & Safety Training

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

She’s back!

After her three week holiday, Theresa May makes her return to Downing Street this week as ministers prepare to amplify their negotiating position on Brexit.

In the final evening of the World Championships, Great Britain picked up a silver and bronze medal in the women and men’s 4x400m relays. Their medals take team GB’s total medal tally to six.

Four time Olympic champion Mo Farah has accused the media of trying to “destroy” his legacy over allegations his coach breached anti-doping regulations. On Sunday, the 34-year-old insisted his achievements throughout his career has come from hard work.

 

In construction news this week…

Big Ben to fall silent for building works. On Monday 21st August at noon, the bongs of Big Ben will sound for the last time for a four-year conservation programme.

First ACM cladding passes fire tests. The first aluminium composite panel cladding system has passed the Government’s fresh round of stringent fire tests in the in the wake of London’s Grenfell disaster.

Google gets green light for £1bn King’s Cross HQ. Internet giant Google has been given the green light by planners to build its new £1bn headquarters at King’s Cross in London.

 

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

SMSTS Refresher – 17th & 18th August

UKATA Asbestos Awareness – 21st August (AM)

Manual Handling / Working at Height / Abrasive Wheel – 25th August

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

Time flies when you’re having fun!

Our first blog of July 2017! Can you believe we are in JULY already (and we are halfway through it)?!
Here’s a few random findings of this month so far:

The London black cab is turning green, with an all-new electric taxi set to launch. The cab maker ditches diesel to produce a petrol and electric-powered taxi that will be rolled out in November.

Astronomers have just discovered the smallest star ever known to science… But it is the size of Saturn!

Growing competition for land and natural resources saw a record number of environmental activists killed in 2016, says Global Witness. The green group’s report details at least 200 murders across 24 countries, up significantly from 2015. Disputes over mining were the cause of the greatest number of killings, followed by logging and agribusiness.

In construction news this week…

Carillion under pressure to inject funds amid growing pension concerns. Stricken building contractor Carillion is facing growing calls to launch an emergency fundraising as it threatens to plunge further into financial crisis.

HS2 contracts worth £6.6bn awarded by UK government. Contracts announced as transport secretary prepares to unveil changes to final Manchester and Leeds routes.

UK construction sector growth slows. UK construction sector growth slowed during June, as political uncertainty and concern about the economic outlook deterred new orders.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

SMSTS – 24th-28th July 2017 (block week)

SSSTS (Supervisors) – 27th & 28th July 2017

Fire Warden – 31st July 2017

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

Testing Times?

What drama we saw last week with the election! One person who is certainly not pleased with the result is housing minister Gavin Barwell, who lost his seat in Croydon Central to Labour candidate Sarah Jones.

The result left construction uncertain about future policies as Theresa May’s promise of “strong and stable” government turned weak and wobbly.

Greg Hill, Deputy Chief Executive at house builder Hill said:  “No business likes uncertainty and housebuilders like it least of all.

“This hung parliament and the horse-trading that will take place over housing policy to get a coalition in place means that many housebuilders will hit the pause button on their investment decisions.

“This is the exact wrong moment for a construction slow down. The country needs new homes desperately.

“We hope that the negotiations are concluded rapidly so that the new government is in place and ready to work with the sector to go out and get building.”

 

In construction news this week…

Cricket chiefs plan major upgrade for the Oval. Surrey CCC is planning to make the Kia Oval the largest cricket stadium in the UK with a capacity of 40,000.

Fears grow over UK economy as manufacturing and construction stumble. Manufacturing and construction sectors performed poorly in April. 

London City office plan resurrected. Developer Fairplay Estates is seeking planning permission for a new 315,000 sq ft office building at the edge of the City of London high-rise cluster.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

SSSTS – 15th & 16th June 2017

UKATA Asbestos Awareness – 19th June 2017

SMSTS Refresher – 22nd & 23rd June 2017

If you would like any further information, 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.

“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.

We are Winning!

Great Britain’s tally soars to 23 gold medals following our most successful day at the Rio Paralympics so far. (There were also some silvers picked up too)! For a full list of last nights events/wins, please click here.

Over in America, Trump ‘Feels Great’ as he wishes Clinton gets well soon after pneumonia diagnosis.

UK growth expectations have been downgraded after Brexit. The British Chambers of Commerce warns that, although the UK should avoid recession, a turbulent business period still lies ahead. Please click here for further details.

In Construction news…

The boss of the controversial HS2 rail link is leaving to take up a senior post at Rolls-Royce, the aerospace and engineering group has said. Please click here for full article.

London is worlds fifth greenest city!

Spurs buys five cranes for £400m stadium build. New £400m ground is being built right next to White Hart Lane.

In MECsafe news…

We still have places available on our SMSTS block week course in Doncaster (26th – 30th Sept), if you would like to book please contact us.

This Week’s Construction News

Big London Expansion!
There is set to be a huge opening for construction work with as many as 500 jobs available in London as London city airport is due to receive an extended terminal, new aircraft taxiway and parking spaces for planes! They are also investing into a number of improved transport links, including a bus and taxi access scheme and improving walking and cycle routes to the airport!

Robots!
A Liverpool based contractor is training staff to fly drones in order to reduce safety risks on site! Lacy roofing has an initiative entitled “robots for roofing” which is also partly funded by the CITB. It entails drones carrying out surveys and finding faults on site in comparison to the workers going up and doing it for themselves. This project has nearly 5 million pounds pumped into it, and if the pilot project is successful, it could be rolled out for the entire industry, how exciting!

New H&S Minister!
There is now a new minister for health and safety. Penny Mordaunt (MP) has been appointed as Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work with responsibility for oversight of HSE. To find out more about our new minister please click here!

HSE Investigate Tower Bridge Lift Incident

A Lift maintanance company were fined £50,000 after tourtists were left with broken/fractured legs and ankles. The Lift fell from around 3 metres into a service pit after a mechanism fail.

HSE concluded that the uncontrolled fall could have been avoided had more in-depth analysis occurred, and that the fact this had not happened was indicative of wider failings.

Click here to read more