Mecsafe Limited

Health & Safety Training

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

Stick to the Speed Limit!

The Queen celebrated her 91st birthday on 21st April. Her majesty is the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain.

Jeremy Corbyn will tell trade unionists today (Mon 24th April) that if Labour wins the general election, they’ll overturn what he calls the ‘vicious Tory Trade Union Act’. The laws brought in by David Cameron meant that for any strike action, there had to be a 50% turnout at the ballot for the action to be legal.

Tougher fines for motorists who drive well above the speed limit are set to come into force from today. Drivers caught doing 41mph in a 20mph zone, 51mph in a 30mph zone, 66mph in a 40mph or 101mph on a motorway will face penalties starting from 150% of their weekly income – up 50% on the previous level. The new regulations apply in England and Wales.

 

In construction news this week…

Multiplex turnover soars to record £1bn on tower boom. London high-rise builder Multiplex has ramped up revenue by two-thirds to a record £1bn as a dozen major projects topped out last year.

BAM takes £30m Southampton Uni job. BAM is set to start main building work for Southampton University on a learning and teaching block at the Highfield Campus in the city.

Small builders bullish despite rising costs. Small construction firms enjoyed rising workloads in the first three months of 2017, despite growing concerns over the cost of labour and materials.

In MECsafe news this week…

We have new 2017 CSCS revision material in stock! We will be selling the books at £11.50 each (no VAT, RRP £11.50).
Don’t forget, you can also book your CSCS test at MECsafe in Doncaster, on your preffered date/time. We also offer a card applying service – Please ask us for further information.

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

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

It’s Been a While!

So, it’s been a couple of weeks since we last wrote a blog and an awful lot has been happening!

Everyone has heard about the terrible United Airline drama, with the Doctor being violently dragged down the aisle. The Dr Dao has now spoken out about the incident for the first time and his family have issued an official statement, which you can read here.

Trump and Putin aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye at the moment, with Trump admitting “Russia relations have reached a low point” – Who knows if this is part of Putin and Trumps big plan though! More on these details here.

Millions of householders admit to struggling with even some of the most basic household tasks, according to a new study from insurer Aviva. Research carried out as part of the company’s latest Home report discovered one in five people aren’t confident changing a light bulb (21%) while a similar number (19%) admit they don’t know how to boil an egg (oh dear)!

 

In construction news this week…

Business park plan approved for Kellingley Colliery. Developer Harworth has got outline planning for a major commercial redevelopment of the former Kellingley Colliery in Yorkshire.

Route picked for £6bn Lower Thames Crossing. The Government has plumped for a preferred route for a new multi-billion pound Lower Thames Crossing between Essex and Kent.

Falling pipe leaves worker paralysed. An Essex gas infrastructure specialist has been fined £200,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries when a pipe fell into the trench he was working in.

In MECsafe news this week…

We still have plenty of availability on the following courses:

  • SSSTS – 20th & 21st April 2017
  • IPAF 3a & 3b – 21st April 2017
  • SMSTS – 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th April 2017 (day release)

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

 

Have a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend!! 🙂

 

The Round Pound Is No More!

The government has confirmed the new 12-sided £1 coin will enter circulation TOMORROW (28 March).

The round £1 will be legal tender alongside the new, more-secure coin until 15 October.

The public are being urged to use their current £1 coins or bank them before they lose their legal tender status.

The government estimates around a third of the £1.3 billion worth of coins stored in piggy banks or saving jars around the UK are the current £1 style.

Some of those returned by the public will be melted down and used to make the 12-sided version.

The new style was announced in the 2014 budget and has been billed by the Royal Mint as “the most secure coin in the world”.

So why is the new coin is harder to counterfeit?

  • 12-sided – its distinctive shape means it stands out by sight and by touch
  • Bimetallic – The outer ring is gold coloured (nickel-brass) and the inner ring is silver coloured (nickel-plated alloy)
  • Latent image – it has an image like a hologram that changes from a ‘£’ symbol to the number ‘1’ when the coin is seen from different angles
  • Micro-lettering – around the rim on the heads side of the coin tiny lettering reads: ONE POUND. On the tails side you can find the year the coin was produced
  • Milled edges – it has grooves on alternate sides
  • Hidden high security feature – an additional security feature is built into the coin to protect it from counterfeiting but details have not been revealed

For a photo of the new pound, head back to our October 2016 blog 🙂

 

In construction news this week…

O’Rourke fined £800,000 for Heathrow dumper truck death. Company fined after a worker was killed by a dumper truck driven by his brother at Heathrow Airport.

Lendlease launches “Futurehomes” in London. Lendlease is launching its new Futurehome eco-house concept in central London.

HTC crane drivers reject pay offer. The UK’s largest tower crane operator is facing an outbreak of industrial action over the summer after its drivers rejected a 3% pay offer.

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.

Another Day, Another Political Drama

A group of 72 MPs have written to the BBC accusing it of being pessimistic and skewed in its Brexit coverage – in the months since the vote on the EU.
In a letter to the director general, they said the BBC is “unfairly representing” Leave voters by focusing on those who regret their decision.
The MPs warned the future of the BBC “will be in doubt” if it is not seen as a impartial broker.
The BBC said it was its job to “scrutinise and analyse” Brexit issues.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s former deputy first minister, has died aged 66.
It is understood he had been suffering from a rare heart condition.
The former IRA leader turned peacemaker worked at the heart of the power-sharing government following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. He became deputy first minister in 2007, standing alongside Democratic Unionist Party leaders Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster.

Manchester United agree Bastian Schweinsteiger move to Chicago Fire. The American club are offering him a one-year contract worth £70,000 a week – which will make him one of the ten highest-paid players in the MLS – after agreeing a deal with United late on Monday night.

In construction news this week…

Plans go in for new 6,000 home Hampshire Garden Village. Developers have submitted an outline planning application for a new 6,000 home community in Hampshire.

Travelodge unveils £125m hotel investment plans. Travelodge has confirmed details of its latest £125m expansion programme with 15 new hotels planned across the UK this year.

Cost wrangle hits O’Rourke cancer hospital site. Construction work on a new £106m cancer hospital in Liverpool has been hit by a disagreement over costs.

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.

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.

 

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