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
Friday, 1 May 2009
Monday, 20 April 2009
Concrete Chimney Refurbishment
A 60k project to refurbish 2no 45m reinforced concrete chimneys at The University of East Anglia has been completed within program and within budget by Churchill Steeplejacks (UK) Ltd
The project was completed over a twelve week period with a three man team in attendance and included the replacement and repair of the capping arrangements, concrete repairs to each windshield, lightning protection upgrade and the application of a protective paint system.
A steel support framework was also installed around the summit of both chimneys to provide structural support to the upper regions of each windshield.
The cold weather conditions experienced during January and February 2009 delayed the application of the paint product which required temperatures of 5 degrees and rising, following the completion of the contract the chimney windshields will remain free of maintenance for at least the next seven year period.
The project was completed over a twelve week period with a three man team in attendance and included the replacement and repair of the capping arrangements, concrete repairs to each windshield, lightning protection upgrade and the application of a protective paint system.
A steel support framework was also installed around the summit of both chimneys to provide structural support to the upper regions of each windshield.
The cold weather conditions experienced during January and February 2009 delayed the application of the paint product which required temperatures of 5 degrees and rising, following the completion of the contract the chimney windshields will remain free of maintenance for at least the next seven year period.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
SPECIALISTS IN HIGH RISE DEMOLITION & STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE
In 2004 Churchill Steeplejacks (UK) Ltd were awarded the contract to complete the external refurbishment of a115m tall concrete cooling tower at Ratcliffe On Soar Power station.
Following the successful completion of the contract that saw Churchills provide, install and maintain all motorised access cradles and complete the contract with no sub contract element the contract was extended for the following four year period to include 6 of the 8no cooling towers at Ratcliffe on Soar.
Each cooling tower project involved up to 12 operatives working on a tower at any one time from the motorised access platforms suspended from the summit of the tower
One of the biggest challenges faced was how to ensure safe access and egress for all operatives working on the tower together with ensuring systems for effectively rescuing and recovering operatives within a twelve minute period from any position on the tower were in place at all times. This was successfully achieved via the deployment of a full time rope access team positioned on the scaffold at the summit of the tower.
Over 56000 man hours were engaged and in excess of 5000 temporary anchor locations were installed to complete the six towers, all being completed within program, within budget and most importantly without incident.
Suspended Access Platforms in operation
Following the successful completion of the contract that saw Churchills provide, install and maintain all motorised access cradles and complete the contract with no sub contract element the contract was extended for the following four year period to include 6 of the 8no cooling towers at Ratcliffe on Soar.
Each cooling tower project involved up to 12 operatives working on a tower at any one time from the motorised access platforms suspended from the summit of the tower
One of the biggest challenges faced was how to ensure safe access and egress for all operatives working on the tower together with ensuring systems for effectively rescuing and recovering operatives within a twelve minute period from any position on the tower were in place at all times. This was successfully achieved via the deployment of a full time rope access team positioned on the scaffold at the summit of the tower.
Over 56000 man hours were engaged and in excess of 5000 temporary anchor locations were installed to complete the six towers, all being completed within program, within budget and most importantly without incident.
Suspended Access Platforms in operation
Thursday, 26 March 2009
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.
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.
Friday, 16 January 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
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.
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