Work at Height Hierarchy of Risk

Via risk assessment the use of a mewp to facilitate access to structures should always be the access method of choice particuarly for the completion of surveys.

In the uk truck mounted MEWPS can provide access up to working heights upwards of 70 metres.

During a recent meeting between the hse and the steeplejack federation ATLAS the hse voiced their concerns into the mindset of the steeplejack industry in relation to risk assessments for working at height and our industries continued insistance to survey structures using traditional ladders as apose to MEWPS.

Wherever it is practicable to do so Churchills always look to employ MEWPS for completing surveys of structures up to 70 metres, unfortunetly industry as a whole needs educating in relation to the Work at Height Regs it is only then that the additional cost for the use of MEWPS will become broadly accepted.

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?

Concrete Chimney Demolition

The removal of 3no 60m steel flues from within the reinforced concrete windshield at the old Roche site in Welwyn Garden City was safely completed with the use of a 300 ton mobile crane.

The 3no flues were removed to facilitate the felling of the concrete windshield which was dismantled in a piece meal small fashion with all dismantled concrete falling to ground inside the chimney for retrieval at the base.

Churchills used their in-house crane capabilities utilising Crane Appointed persons and Competent Slinger banksman to complete this phase of the job

The demolition of the concrete windshield started week commencing 15th June using Churchills specialist demolition rig and concrete cutting methodology which has been employed to demolish 2975m of reinforced concrete chimneys with wall thicknesses ranging from 150mm to 400mm

The 60m reinforced concrete chimney at the old Roche site in Welywn Garden City was reduced by 40m in only 20 days, the base 20m will be demolished using a high reach machine.

The reinforced concrete wall with an average thickness of 200mm was demolished with total efficiency using Churchills tried and test concrete cutting methodology.

Photographs depicting the chimney prior to the installation of our demolition rig are shown below.

To view a list of similar contracts completed by Churchills please visit our web site and go to our Demolition & Dismantling page and click on the PDF download.

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.

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.