Money vs Safety

Can it really be true that in difficult financial times money men are potentially placing their employers at risk?

During the recent financial climate as an organisation who supply to many blue chip organisations, councils and government establishments throughout the UK it has been very disconcerting and somewhat alarming to witness the swing in the ethos of many in relation to the awarding of their contracts on a heavily cost weighted basis.

The steeplejack & lightning protection industry has taken huge strides in recent years to improve both it’s professionalism and quality of service within the construction sector, in the main this has been achieved by a change in the mindset of business owners with particular emphasis being placed on training and development and also a reduction in the amount of sub contractor labour otherwise known as ‘price work’.

All the hard work and gains made by many in our sector is now seriously under threat as the money men within awarding organisations look to cut costs by awarding contracts seemingly compromising on the level of training achievement and accreditation that is otherwise available.

The steeplejack sector in particular has long been an industry where little encouragement is required for those businesses less willing to train and achieve to take full advantage of such an opportunity, a fact that many of the long established steeplejack business will echo.
The outcome? - Sadly whilst those companies’s in our sector who have failed to invest in the development of their business benefit from an increase in activity those who have invested heavily in their business are left fighting a battle for contracts and as part of that battle face an uphill challenge in convincing the money men of the folly of their ways.

A tender recently received by Churchill’s issued by a UK council stated that the tender evaluation process would consist of 60% cost & 40% ability, in the world we live and in particular in our potentially high risk sector should the aforementioned ratios stated in the councils tender not require exchanging?

Power Station Chimney Re Lining Project

In December 2008 Churchills were appointed directly by e-on and mobilised to site to commence with the removal and replacement of 2no 110m tall brick flues housed within a 107m tall concrete windshield.

The removal of both brick linings was completed through the Christmas holidays to ensure a hand over date of March 2009 remained achievable.

During the removal of the brick linings the internal cast concrete ring beams that supported the internal brickwork at regular intervals throughout their height were found to have eroded beyond repair. Working with e-on engineers Churchills designed replacement ring beam supports to be installed in conjunction with the re bricking of both vertical flues.

Exposed to some of the coldest temperatures in recent years and now having to work night shifts through January, February and March to remain on programme Churchills installed internal access platforms to facilitate the re building of both flues and completed on time and within budget.

Churchills Accreditation

A total of ten Churchill Steeplejacks operatives have successfully achieved the SSSTS accreditation for site supervision.

This level of commitment to training will ensure that all Churchill sites will have the construction industry requirement in relation to on site supervision. Add to this the following minimum requirement for a Churchill Steeplejacks (UK) Ltd site based team and our clients have arguably one the most highly trained and qualified workforces at their disposal;

The following are all managed by a team consisting of two NEBOSH in construction departmental managers

SSSTS
CSCS Industry Gold Card
CCNSG Passport to Safety
Quarry Passport
NVQ Level 2 Steeplejack/Lightning Protection Engineers
NVQ Level 3 Advanced Steeplejack
IPAF
Confined Space Working
NDT Dye Penetrant Testing
Abrasive Wheels
Mobile Towers
Safety Harness Inspection
PAT Testing
LOLER Equipment Testing
Appointed Person
Asbestos Awareness
Rescue & Recovery at Height
Slinger/Banksman
First Aid
Safe Earth Testing
Safe Road Digging

Steel Chimney Emergency Callout

A steel chimney located at Eastwood Comprehensive School in Nottinghamshire fell victim of the strong winds that hit the county during the earlier hours 23rd March 2009.

Churchills received an emergency call out request from the school who feared the chimney was in imminent danger of falling over, Churchills dispatched a three man team to site together with a mobile crane and successfully dismantled the chimney just in time to preventing it falling into classrooms below.

Once the chimney had been successfully dismantled Churchills then set about arranging for the manufacturer and installation of a temporary smaller chimney section to be fitted to the remaining base section of the chimney to ensure the school could continue to provide hot water and therefore remain open.

From receiving the emergency call all of the aforementioned work was safely completed within a 12 hour period.

This was possible due to Churchills possessing in house Crane Appointed Persons who were able to plan and manage the lifting operations with minimum notice coupled with our fabrication capacity.

These photographs depict the chimney in it's precarious position upon our arrival to site.

The importance of the inspection and maintenance of this type of insulated steel chimney has been recognised by the Health & Safety Executive who together with the steeplejack federation A.T.L.A.S have issued guidance notes detailing a thorough inspection criteria. Unfortunately whilst this particular chimney had been regularly inspected it would appear that the inspector had not completed the survey in accordance with the aforementioned recommendations.

Churchill Steeplejacks Obtain CSCS Platinum Standard

Churchill Steeplejacks UK Ltd are the proud recipients of the CSCS Platinum Award that recognises a companies achievement in attaining more than a 90% ratio of it's workforce being CSCS accredited card holders.

Churchills have achieved the highest award available from CSCS with a 100% attainment level for it's employees with not one of the 40no cards being a minimum general workers accreditation and with all being industry related.

Boasting 2no NEBOSH in construction departmental managers, 12no SSSTS site based Operatives and one of only 2no NVQ level 3 Steeplejack assesors/trainers in the country this recognition by CSCS highlights further the companies passion for training it’s staff ensuring we possess the most highly trained, skilled and qualified workforce operating in our sector.

Pectel Group in Administration

The Pectel Group formed in 1982 entered into administration 12th December 2008 becoming Churchill Steeplejacks (UK) Ltd largest debtor since the formation of the company in 1994.

On the day Churchills completed extensive decommissioning work to the disused 45m concrete boiler chimney at the University Hospital Birmingham administrators Zolfo Cooper of Manchester were called in.

Formed in 1982 as an asbestos removal firm the growth of the Pectel Group saw them include no fewer than 12 Limited companies at the time they entered into administration with over 250 employees nationwide.

Traditional Profession conforming to Modern Ways

The traditional steeplejack profession remains a peculiarity in this modern high tech world, with stringent legislative requirements for working at height bringing about trade groups such as ATLAS, IRATA, PASMA and IPAF, the steeplejack industry that previously relied on experience mixed with a certain amount of bravery has been forced to reinvent itself.

As part of this reinvention process the steeplejack industry now operates its own NVQ based qualification with it’s very own training college based at the Construction Skills Bircham Newton site in Norfolk. Possessing an NVQ qualification is not a pre requisite for employment in the steeplejack sector, however the number of steeplejacks whose only claim of competency is through industry experience is rapidly dwindling.  Like many traditionally based industries the process of changing the mindset of both employees & employers a like could be likened to turning an oil tanker around.

The experienced modern day Steeplejack Foreman will be able to recall a time in his youth when the wearing of a safety harness and attachment at all times to a means of preventing a fall was unheard of. These experienced long serving Foreman have witnessed vast improvements in their working environment over a period of 20 years and whilst bravery will always be a prerequisite for a steeplejack thankfully stupidity and unnecessary risk taking will not.

It is without question that the Steeplejack industry has become a much safer sector within construction, with an NVQ Level 2 & most recently level 3 in Advanced Steeplejacking (constructed by Churchill Steeplejacks very own Health & Safety Manager Darreth Crane) now available the mindset required for anyone wanting to make a career steeplejacking has changed forever.  

As a modern company operating in the steeplejack sector all 23no Churchill Steeplejacks site based operatives have completed or are currently enrolled on an NVQ Level 2 Steeplejacking qualification. Coupled with 10no Foreman who also posses the Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme qualification our company wide CSCS Gold Standard and a raft of 3rd party training qualifications’ ensures our workforce is not only highly qualified but most importantly are adequately trained and competent to complete any task safely whilst working at height.