Canadian mastclimber manufacturer, Fraco has been using its expertise to help repair the supporting piles on some of Canada's roads. The workplatforms have provided both access and a comfortable and safe environment for the workforce carrying out repairs.

The St-Peter Interchange is located in the south-west of Montreal at the junction of Route 138 to Highway A-20. Repair work on the five piles located under the access ramps has been ongoing since October 2009

In order to ensure safe works, general contractor GTS (Les Grands Travaux SOTER Inc.) approached Fraco for mast climbers. Ten units were moved to the project location, some mounted on free standing bases, others on ground bases. Installation and dismantling was carried out by Fraco technicians.

The repair work involved several phases: identification of damage areas; concrete chipping; cleaning; steel insertion and rebar reinforcement; formworks installation and concrete pouring. Telescopic booms could have been used for operations such as the identification of damage areas, but for other work GTS needed a stable and flexible access system that could support the weight of tools, hammers, workers and all materials needed to repair each pile. Because of their high load capacity and their large working area, Fraco's ACT-8 mastclimbers were chosen

The size of the piles depends on their positioning under the ramps and their height varies between 20 and 28 m. Generally, the piles have a T-shape. Each pile needed two work platforms, positioned on the larger faces of the pile. The installation of short gateways between each mast climber allowed access to lateral faces. Other access systems were also necessary in the upper parts of each pile.

In order to guarantee the bearing capacity of piles, GTS followed an operation procedure prepared by MTQ (Ministry of Transport of Quebec). That procedure stipulated that each pile must be divided into four sections of work, each to be completed before the start of the next one. Thus, the repair works always started by lateral sections of the first quarter (section 1) of each pile (phase 1). Once the concrete was poured and lateral sections completed, GTS was repairing the axial sections located on each face of the pile in three steps (phase 2). The T-shape part represented the last section to be repaired. To do so, that part was divided into two sub-sections and the workers have repaired the diametrically opposed faces (phase 3 and 4) in one step. (See diagram)

Gerald Harnois, foreman at GTS, said that Fraco's platforms brought a dimension of comfort and safety, "Boom lifts have made the works difficult to complete because of their lack of stability. Our employees were expecting the same effect with the Fraco, but they realised the difference after few minutes of utilisation. These machines have really transformed their work environment."

The concrete chipping phase requires hammers that can destabilise the boom lifts and other scaffolding, which is often used for repairing concrete piles. The length and scope of Fraco mastclimbers allows minimum movement around the pile.

Based on the success of the St Peter Interchange, the Canadian-based company was given the mandate to supply the same equipment for a similar project at the Turcot Interchange in Montreal.

Located 5 km southwest of downtown of Montreal, the Turcot Interchange connects Highways A-20, A-15 and route 720. It provides access to Champlain Bridge, to downtown Montreal and to the west and northwest areas of the island of Montreal. The interchange came into operation in 1967 and a redevelopment plan is expected during the next 10 years.

Pending the beginning of the redevelopment works, general contractor DJL was commissioned by the MTQ to maintain and repair the piles of few ramps that require immediate action. After visiting the St-Peter Interchange jobsite, DJL representatives chose to use Fraco mast climbing work platforms for the repair work. At the beginning of June 2010 Fraco installed six units, which are now being, used under three ramps.

Since the MTQ redevelopment plan includes the construction of new roads under the present access ramps, Fraco expects that the maintenance and repair of piles will continue over the coming years.

There's not a lot of good news that comes out of Detroit, MI.

For the past two years, the home of Motown landed in the top five spots on Forbes' most violent cities list, and its infamous former Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, made national headlines for the wrong reasons. And let's not even talk about the Lions.

Despite its bad boy reputation, the city does hold a few gems, including the architectural wonder known as the Guardian, a 36-story art deco skyscraper built in 1928.

The building's intricate brickwork mixed with tile, limestone and terra cotta needed a facelift and Detroit company Tools/Sache LLC called on Beta Max Hoists to help out.

A piece of art

The Guardian rests on a granite base in the middle of downtown Detroit on an entire city block. It includes a north tower and smaller octagonal south tower that are connected with a nave-like block.

The National Park Service has deemed the Guardian a National Historic Landmark, and to keep it in all of its glory, a bout of restoration and preservation was needed.

Renovation

Both personnel and materials would need to be transported and lifting during the renovation of the Guardian, which is where Beta Max came in. "The complex architecture and construction of the building presented many specific challenges during the restoration project," the company says.

Tooles/Saches purchased a Max Climber 3300 for the job and also asked Beta Max to engineer and accommodate several roller tables that were set up on each floor of the building.

"The tables made laborious heavy work a lighter, safer job by cutting down on time and minimizing injury," the company says.

Materials were raised by a forklift onto the Max Climber's platform which then delivered the materials and also removed debris from more than 16 floors spanning across a 32-story range.

The Climber's ability to move at 70-feet-per-minute proved a fast solution, and it also stopped at each floor using landing sensors to ensure accurate deliveries, Beta Max says.

"Safety is at the forefront of every detail in the Max Climber's design," says the company. "The 3,300-pound capacity lift includes overload sensors that alert the operator as soon as payload capacity is reached, and it is outfitted with saloon-style doors for easy loading."

The Guardian came out shining and completely restored on time.

Tamping out the fire

It towered 450 feet tall and needed to come down. Atlanta-based Mastclimbers, LLC had quite the job ahead of them assisting Commonwealth Dynamics to bring down the chimney at Goose Creek Power Station in South Carolina.

By using a combination of mast climbing work platforms and position-actuator-manipulator units (PAM) to increase the efficiency of the jack hammers, the job - which would normally take a year to finish - was wrapped up in 65 days.

"The mast climber units had to be specially configured to take account of the increasing diameter of the stack as it came down," said Mike Pitt with Mastclimbers.

"The PAM units were brought in to reduce repetitive strain and fatigue. The PAM unit enables the operator to manipulate the heavy jack-hammer as if it weighed next to nothing."

The stack was broken down by 7 feet per day.

Water works

Thousands of miles south in the Gulf of Mexico, an offshore drilling unit was in need of some serious maintenance. Canadian mast climber manufacturer, Hydro Mobile, was contacted in the winter of 2010 by the drilling company that was searching for a safe solution to maintenance at 250 feet in the air - above the water.

One of the company's semi-submersible oil rigs was shut down for a month for maintenance. Chad Baumgartner, director of business development for Hydro Mobile, was contacted by the drilling company's project manager to design a custom-fit access solution.

Hydro Mobile's Sony Trudel, the company's research and development assistant director, came up with a customized F-100 mast climber that would carry workers, tools and materials up and down a 160-foot vertical pipe racking system of the oil rig.

The pipe racking system has two arms that are driven toward and away from the well center on which the drill pipe is stacked.

Surrounding the pipe racking system, the F-100 carried all tools and workers up and down the structure with nine power supplies on its 13-foot-wide decks. It allowed workers to drill, weld, fix electrical issues and other operations.

It also provided access to dismantle a 70,000-pound drive system that had to be replaced at the very top of the rig.

The drilling company chose Hydro Mobile over its usual 4-foot by 4-foot hanging basket because of safety and ease of operation, the project manager says.

"The Hydro Mobile system has been a big success in doing everything we wanted it to do. It provides a very safe access method, a wide and stable workspace and avoids the risk of damaging the pipe racking system.

"It helped us save time and money by keeping our workers on the job even in rough weather," the manager says.

Trudel, who spent a week on the rig and trained 15 people for the installation, operation and maintenance of the mast climber, says the client was happy with the speed, capacity and workspace that the climber provided.

"They will shortly be installing it on another oil rig that requires maintenance," Trudel says. "This system is a small revolution for the workers. They feel safer, at ease and work more efficiently than with the hanging basket."

California love
Over on the West Coast, a dam project with all sorts of twists and turns needed a tall solution. The 220-foot-tall San Vincente Dam in San Diego, CA, needed to be raised - by 117 feet.

Canadian mast climber manufacturer Fraco Products Ltd. was called on with American Hydro, a hydrodemolition company, to install mast climbers on the dam.

The San Vicente Dam needed up to three inches of its dry side removed to create a bonding surface for 800,000 cubic yards of new roller-compacted concrete and conventional concrete, which will put the dam at its final total of 337 feet tall.

In order to complete these tasks, Fraco installed mast sections on the inclined concrete face of the San Vicente Dam, but not without slight complications.

"The first mast section placement to the far left took four days [to install] as the dam is not quite flat as it was supposed to be; conditions changed as each 30-foot mast was flown into place," said Tim Riley, Fraco's Southern California representative.

"The second layout of mast took about two days with some fine tuning of the custom shims. We installed the third mast section in one day as we built the mast on the ground and copied the shim and space brackets to match the second install."

After the three rails were in place, American Hydro came in and started the concrete removal process. As each section was worked on, the mast sections were moved to another area of the dam. The process is expected to be completed by the end of April 2010, Fraco says.

The entire $568 million project is one-of-a-kind - the dam raise is the tallest in the US and the tallest of its type in the world. Work started in 2009 and is expected to finish up in 2012.

The San Vicente Dam needed two and three inches of its dry side removed to create a bonding surface for 800,000 cubic yards of new roller-compacted concrete and conventional concrete, which will put the dam at a total of 337 feet high.

In order to complete these tasks, Fraco installed mast sections on the inclined concrete face of the San Vicente Dam, but not without slight complications.

"The first mast section plcement to the far left took four days [to install] as the dam is not quite flat as it was supposed to be; conditions changed as each 30-foot mast was flown into place," said Tim Riley, Fraco's Southern California representative.

"The second layout of mast took about two days with some fine tuning of the custom shims. We installed the third mast section in one day as we built the mast on the ground and copied the shim and space brackets to match the second install."

After the three rails were in place, American Hydro came in and started the concrete removal process. As each section was worked on, the mast sections were moved to another area of the dam. The process is expected to be completed by the end of April 2010, Fraco says.

Paul O'Kelly, the recently appointed managing director of Harsco Infrastructure in Europe, said the company aimed to offer customers everywhere the full product range of scaffolding, shoring/formwork, cradles, powered access and mast climbing work platforms currently offered in a few markets such as the UK.

Mr O'Kelly said he did not know yet the scale of equipment required, and that investments would only be made "when the market starts growing". He said the European market was currently at the bottom of the cycle.

"We will have a common product offering throughout Europe", said Mr O'Kelly. The recent rebranding of Harsco's construction and access brands - Patent, Hunnebeck and SGB - as Harsco Infrastructure was made in part to present a single face to customers anywhere in the world.
The strategy will also see the company target more business with large construction and industrial customers - it is chasing international contracts with these large customers - and also increase the amount of industrial business from the current 30% of the total (in Europe) to nearer 50%.

Mr O'Kelly, who was managing director of Algeco subsidiary Elliott Group before joining Harsco in January, told IRN that he had set himself a personal goal of increasing Harsco Infrastructure's US$740 million European business by a factor of four within four years.

The strategy will call for staged investments in both powered access and mast climbers in Europe and elsewhere. Mast climbers, for example, are currently mainly offered in the UK while powered access is rented in countries including France, the Netherlands and Denmark. Cameron Reid, who in the past has been primarily involved in running the UK SGB Mastclimbers business, has been tasked with developing powered access and mast climbing products in Harsco's facilities throughout Europe.

The same strategy will be followed by Harsco Infrastructure businesses in North America and the rest of the world, although Europe will take the lead.

The strategy will also see an increase in Harsco's scaffold erection and dismantling services in major European markets such as Germany, where Harsco is strongest in formwork and shoring products (through Hunneneck).

Mr O'Kelly said the target in its construction business was to increase the proportion of business undertaken with major accounts from the current 30-50% to closer to 60-70%.

The increased focus on powered access comes little over a year after Harsco sold its UK powered access fleet. Mr O'Kelly said this sale was made because SGB (as it was then called) had over-invested in a narrow product range.

The mine decided to apply 154 post- tensioned steel cables horizontally around the silos in order to restrain the walls against the coal loading and prevent further cracking.

While the cables proved effective for some time, they eventually began to corrode and fail.

This caused the silos’ capacity to decrease steadily every year, so the mine sought out Newcastle-based engineering firm Izzat Consulting to propose a more long-term solution.

Remedial building contractor Buildcorp Asset Solutions was commissioned in 2008 to carry out the repairs.

By this stage, the silos could only store 25% of their total capacity.

The company’s construction manager, Brendan Walsh, oversaw the $3.2 million project.

“Izzat developed a plan to remove the cables, repair the concrete and then apply layers of carbon fibre to rein force the structure,” he told Australian Mining.

“The problems arose because the silos were under-reinforced from the start.

“In some places we actually had to apply up to four layers of carbon fibre in continuous 300 mm wide strips.”

According to Walsh, the Izzat engineers chose carbon fibre for its high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion.

“We could have simply replaced the cables, but they would have inevitably failed again,” he said.

Because the silos were still operational while the project was underway, it was difficult to gain access to the structures.

“We were only allowed to work on two metre high horizontal sections of the silo at any one time to ensure we did not weaken the structure in any way,” he said.

“So basically, the work would alternate between two meter areas at the top and bottom of the silo.”

The original tender documents recommended the use of scaffolding.

However, the repair team quickly realised this would not be satisfactory.

“To install full-height perimeter scaffolding all over both silos would have been a bit of a headache, because in some cases it would actually restrict the working space,” Walsh said.

“It was also quite expensive to put that much on structures so large.

“So we decided to use a specially- designed mast climber system, which reduced the cost by around $300,000 and actually gave us a much better working method.”

The access system consisted of six vertical mast climbing units fixed at equal intervals around each silo’s circumference, as well as separate decks fitted between each mast.

“This meant the silo was divided into six separate working areas and we could use any one of the decks to travel up and down the structure,” Walsh said.

“The decks could also be locked together to provide access to the complete circumference.

“Each section was basically set up as a climbing workshop.”

Safety tensions

The team had to devise a method to safely restrain and remove the cables, which had tensile forces of 20 kN.

“We fitted about 20 steel plates to prevent the cables from flying away from the structure when we cut them,” Walsh said.

After cutting the cables, the workers removed the damaged concrete with hydro-demolition, using low volumes of water at pressures up to 20,000 psi.

The concrete was then replaced with shotcrete to provide a stable surface for the carbon fibre.

In all, the project involved 566 m of external crack repairs, 1633 m of internal crack repairs, 14.42 km of carbon fibre wraps and two kilometres of carbon fibre laminates.

Withstanding the deluge

The project hit a major stumbling block when heavy rainfall and flooding hit the Hunter region mid-way through work on the first silo, forcing the site to be evacuated.

“The silo actually filled up with water because the roof had been removed and one of the post-tensioned cables actually snapped under the strain of this extra load,” Walsh said.

“This forced us to revise our methods and make sure the cables were secured before we restarted work.”

Since the project was completed, the silos have been running at full capacity and are expected to last another 15 years before further maintenance will be required.

“Carbon fibre is completely resist ant to temperature variations, rain and hail so it only requires minimal maintenance,” Walsh said.

“Ultraviolet radiation will cause deterioration, but that can be prevented by applying a resistant coating to the surface.

Canadian mast climber manufacturer Fraco Products has won a contract valued at more than US$7 million to supply as many as 74 mast climbing work platforms to subcontractors working on the massive Barwa Commercial Avenue mega project in Doha, Qatar.

Fraco's platforms have been selected by Alumco Qatar and Reem Emirates Aluminum LLC, the façades sub-contractors who will provide aluminum cladding, curtain walls and glazing works on the 8 km long façade. The main contractor on the project is Hochtief Construction Qatar.

The contract calls for the supply of 20 ACT-8 platforms - Fraco's most popular platform -followed by a further 54 units by July 2010. At the peak of the project, Fraco platforms will be used by up to 750 people.

Armand Rainville, chairman of Fraco, said; "The agreement is the result of two years of tireless efforts by our dealer in Qatar, SkyClimbers Limited, to position Fraco's equipment in the Arabian Peninsula.

"Being involved in the development boom of Doha is an incredible opportunity for our company. In fact, that project is consequent with our geographical market development strategy, and is in accordance with our market segmentation approach which target commercial, industrial, oil and gas, and industrial areas."

The Barwa Commercial Avenue project is located in the southern outskirts of Doha, and is a mixed development with 600 retail spaces, 850 residential units and offices, and various service centres and amenities.

The first 20 platforms will be used on a 2.2 km segment of the project where Alumco Qatar will install 31000 m2 of aluminium cladding and 48500 m2 of stick system curtain walls, windows and doors. This portion of works should start in April 2010 and will be complete by mid 2011. The other subcontractor, Reem Emirates Aluminum, will be responsible for other building types.

The ProSeries will make a major splash in the mast climbing industry

COLUMBUS, Ohio: On the first day of the 2010 World of Concrete Show, Premier Scaffold Solutions announced availability of the Made in USA ProSeries Mast Climber. Premier also announced that after a year long lawsuit, a settlement has been reached and Premier is ready to move forward full steam ahead. The Made in USA ProSeries has gone through some improvements in the past year. Not only being made in the USA, but with a lighter base and a cleaner look, the ProSeries can be maneuvered around the jobsite with ease using an 8,000 lb forklift.

"We were very excited to unveil the Made in USA ProSeries unit at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas in February," saidMike Solomon, National Sales Manager of Premier Scaffold Solutions. "We have worked really hard to bring a mast climber to the construction industry that is not only built in the United States, but exceeds all other Mast Climbers in its class."

ProSeries Availability

The Made in USA ProSeries is a collection of improvements driven by customer feedback and 25 years of experience from Premier's sister company, TNT Equipment. Premier improved on a solid design in 2009 by listening to customer feedback and closely analyzing the mast climber through rigorous testing. The ProSeries Mast climber makes it easier to replace aging mast climbers, because of its modular bridging being compatible with other mast climbers on the market. When mast climber owners need to upgrade their power units, the ProSeries will be their best option based on quality, price and the longevity of a galvanized product.

Founded in 1984, TNT Equipment owns one of the country's largest mast climbing rental fleets. TNT saw an opportunity to bring this knowledge and experience to the manufacturing industry and created Premier Scaffold Solutions in 2009. Premier looks forward to developing a strong dealer network across the country.

For more information on Premier Scaffold Solutions:

http://www.premierscaffoldsolutions.com

Lavendon Access Services, the three founders of Genie Industries and small rental and training companies from Chile and Singapore were among the winners at the second International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) held in London on Thursday 26 March.

An audience of over 400 at the Grange St Paul's Hotel in central London saw Lavendon win access rental company of the year - with the judges stating that "big can often be beautiful' - while Ward Bushnell, Roger Brown and Bob Wilkerson won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards are jointly organised by Access International magazine and the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF).

The safety champion of the year award was shared between Skyjack's Brad Boehler and Kevin O'Shea of Atlanta-based Mastclimbers, and the product of the year award went to Spanish manufacturer Mecaplus for its innovative self-leveling articulated boom platform.

Award winners included Niftylift, A-Plant, BS Technologies from Singapore and Alo Rentals/Alo Training from Chile, which is the first winner from Latin America.

The full list of winners was as follows:

Access Rental Company of the Year
Lavendon Access Services

Access International New Product of the Year
Mecaplus (ME12SL)

IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Brown, Ward Bushnell, Roger Wilkerson, Genie Industries

IPAF Safety Champion of the Year
Brad Boehler (Skyjack)
Kevin O'Shea (Mastclimbers)

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - Rental Company
A-Plant Powered Access

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - Manufacturer
Niftylift

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - End User
Crown House Technologies

Mast Climbing Platform Achievement Award
Harsco Infrastructure (formerly SGB Mastclimbers)

Access Industry Training Award
Serfin

Access Industry Sustainability Award
RSC Equipment Rental

IPAF AWARDS

Best Marketing Campaign for IPAF Training
Alo Rentals/Alo Training (Chile)

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year
Jildou de Jong (Kamphuis Hoogwerkers)
Gerry Palmer (HSS Hire/HSS Training)

Best New IPAF Training Centre
BS Technology (Singapore)

The judges said that it had been a difficult job choosing the winners - 85 entries were received in total, 20% more than in 2009 - and said all the winners and shortlisted companies should be congratulated for their performances in 2009.

Of Lavendon, the judges said; "Big can often be beautiful. The judges wanted to recognise Lavendon Access Services' leadership during a difficult year. While expanding through acquisitions and dealing with the economic challenges, it stayed true to its core values, investing in its health and safety activities and in the development of its employees."

The judges paid tribute to the three founders of Genie Industries: "Roger, Ward and Bob jointly built one of the world's biggest aerial platform businesses and at the same time helped to develop a rental industry that is now a global business. Although they became a major company, they stayed true to their values of innovation, safety, teamwork and customer satisfaction. Each played a key role in the success of Genie and leave a legacy of excellence and integrity.

RSC Equipment Rentals was the first ever winner of the Sustainability award, with the judges stating that its emissions tracking system "will set the standard for environmental awareness and customer services in the rental business worldwide."

In the IPAF Awards, BS Technology of Singapore won the new IPAF training centre award and was described as having "extraordinary corporate courage in promoting aerial platform training in areas where regulations and common practices are working against them". Chile's Alo Rentals/Alo Training won the IPAF training marketing award for its pioneering efforts to promote operator training in South America.

Judges said Niftylift - winner of the Contribution to Safe Working, Manufacturer award - should be "congratulated on its timely answer to a real and current safety risk - that of an operator being pinned in the basket by overhead obstructions. Its sensor device on the platform controls has the potential to be a life saving device."

They praised the focus on safety at A-Plant Powered Access, and said that "the claim that health and safety is part of the company's DNA is a convincing one. From general policy down to detailed technical issues, A-Plant is A-Plus in safety."

The full list of winning and shortlisted companies is as follows:

SHORTLISTS AND WINNERS

IPAF Safety Champion of the Year
Brad Boehler (Skyjack) - JOINT WINNER
Kevin O'Shea (Mastclimbers) - JOINT WINNER
Carl Evans (HSS Hire/HSS Training)
Gerry Mulholland (CrownHouseTechnologies)

Access Rental Company of the Year
Lavendon Access Services - WINNER
Access Plus
A-Plant Powered Access
HSS Hire
Riwal

Access International New Product of the Year
Mecaplus (ME12SL) - WINNER
Dinolift (XTC series)
Hinowa (Goldlift 14.70 Battery)
JLG Industries (Toucan 10E)
Niftylift (Height Rider 21 Hybrid All-Wheel-Drive)

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - Rental Company
A-Plant Powered Access - WINNER
Alo Rental
BS Technology
Harsco Infrastructure (formerly SGB Mastclimbers)
Lavendon Access Services

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - Manufacturer
Niftylift - WINNER
JLG Industries
Matilsa
Skyjack

Contribution to Safe Working at Height - End User
Crown House Technologies - WINNER

Mast Climbing Platform Achievement Award
Harsco Infrastructure (formerly SGB Mastclimbers) - WINNER
Mastclimbers
XL Developpement

Access Industry Training Award
Serfin - WINNER
Access Plus
A-Plant Powered Access
HSS Hire

Lavendon Access Services
RSC Equipment Rental

Access Industry Sustainability Award
RSC Equipment Rental - WINNER

IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Brown, Ward Bushnell, Roger Wilkerson, Genie Industries - WINNERS

IPAF AWARDS

Best Marketing Campaign for IPAF Training
Alo Rentals/Alo Training (Chile) - WINNER

IPAF Training Instructor of the Year
Jildou de Jong (Kamphuis Hoogwerkers) - JOINT WINNER
Gerry Palmer (HSS Hire/HSS Training) - JOINT WINNER
Chris Buisseret (Rapid Platforms)
Jur Kamsteeg (Riwal)

Best New IPAF Training Centre
BS Technology (Singapore) - WINNER
HSS Hire (UK)
Mollo Noleggio (Italy)

The judging panel for the awards was:
Paul Adorian (Managing Director, Powered Access Certification (PAC), UK)
John Ball (IPAF President, Managing director, Height for Hire/EasiUplifts, Republic of Ireland)
Renzo Pagliero (Managing Director, Multitel Pagliero, Italy)
Murray Pollok (Managing Editor, Access International, UK)
Andy Studdert (CEO, NES Rentals, USA)

Under its new ownership, Hydro Mobile's president Vincent Dequoy has stepped down to the role of sales and marketing vice president and Chad Baumgartner, currently director of business development and company shareholder, will now focus on sales and the development of new clients in the US market. Long-time company partner and current executive vice president, Benoit Duplessis, will take over as president.

Hydro Mobile will remain as the same brand with the same face and products, the company told American Lift & Handlers at the recently held World of Concrete. They will focus their energies toward new areas, such as industrial markets.

AGF Group is a small scaffolding company specializing in rebar and installation. It is owned by a single person and does $270 million in business a year. All staff will stay, according to Dequoy.

"The arrival of AGF Group as the new owner of Hydro Mobile represents tremendous opportunities for both companies," Dequoy said. "Indeed, the financial backing and contacts brought in by our new partner will allow our company to reinforce its leadership position on the market. It is also very important to mention that the culture, vision and business practices of AGF Group are very similar to the ones established at Hydro Mobile through the years. This point was a priority for the shareholders in order to ensure the continuity of our company."

The Böcker mast-climbing platform system will largely use existing rack and pinion components from the company’s Giant-Lift and Superlift LX ranges of hosts combined with a purpose built range of bases, platforms and controls.

The modular design includes platform elements are available in five different sizes, allowing a single-mast platform with a width of up to 15 metres and a maximum lifting capacity of 3.5 tonnes. A dual-mast lift build allows platforms of up to 35 metres long and a lifting capacity up to six tonnes.

IN TERMS of exhibition space, bauma is already the biggest trade fair in the world. This year, it’s just got bigger. The triennial event will be held in April 2010 and is the international showcase for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment. In response to exhibitor demand Messe München is erecting additional, temporary halls this year. This will bring the total exhibition space for the fair to 555,000m2.

With these temporary halls, Messe München will be able to offer additional exhibition space to sections on ‘Formwork and Scaffolding’ and ‘Construction Equipment and Tools’ – both of these being in particularly high demand from exhibitors. bauma 2010 will beat the previous record for space, held by bauma 2007, which took up 540,000m2 of exhibition space.

“This development shows that in a tough economic climate, bauma remains a milestone in the trade fair calendar of the sector, and that this sector is determined to demonstrate its innovative capabilities at the world’s leading trade fair. Messe München, as the organiser of bauma, will do everything possible to create the best conditions and provide the same high level of service for that event,” said Eugen Egetenmeir, a member of the management board of Messe München.

Currently improvements are under way to the entrance situation on the northwest of the site, by building an entrance and registration building between the multi- storey car park on the north west corner and Hall C1. For the first time, therefore, this will provide an additional, seventh entrance in time for bauma 2010, and that should help alleviate pressure on the very busy West Entrance.

Improvements are also being made to visitor flow between the open-air sites to the north and south of Paul- Henri-Spaak-Strasse. This road will be closed to traffic during the exhibition to make it even easier for visitors to pass between the two areas. Also, the earth banks along this road have now been levelled to provide a better visual link between these two parts of the site.

bauma 2010 takes place from 19 to 25 April 2010 in Germany at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

The equipment, rented and serviced by Hydro Mobile's regional distributor Marr scaffolding, consists of 31 mast climbers which give a number of trades access to the luxury 241-unit building which is built on top of and partially supported by, the structure of Boston's MBTA North Superstation. Hydro Mobile's engineering department designed the mast configuration and Marr Scaffolding installed the equipment. Eighteen P-Series systems were used to provide access to the corners, restricted areas and recesses and 13 M-series masts were used to cover the rest of the 380000 ft2 facade.

Doug Peckhan, project manager at Dimeo said, "Marr Scaffolding and Hydro Mobile were undoubtedly the best deal we found on the market. Pricing and product reliability were obviously important issues for this selection but training, engineering services and customer support proved to be the key elements that set Marr and Hydro Mobile apart from the rest."

According to Bobby Reese and Mike Pitt of Mastclimbers, the company adopted the AWPT (American Work Platform Training – owned by IPAF) training programme throughout the company allowing Hays Companies - a managing general agent insurance broker specialising in programmes for high reach rental, sales, service and manufacturing companies - to provide a policy that was over 40 percent lower than the premiums the company had previously paid.

William Holler, senior vice president of Hays said: "Properly trained users of access equipment can reduce risk and minimise the probability of accidents, injuries and losses. The confidence we have in the effectiveness of the AWPT training programme in reducing accidents allows us to offer a significant discount on our specialist insurance programmes.

To qualify for the discount, companies must require all employees who operate or occupy an aerial lift /mast climbing work platform to successfully complete the relevant AWPT training programme.”

Hays specialty insurance is underwritten by a national insurance company with an A+ superior rating. The company is an IPAF member and claims to offer discounts on a range of insurance policies including workman’s comp, property and casualty coverage and umbrella policies.

“Under this programme we can offer new clients discounts up to 20-25 percent off their existing policies, and if they implement the AWPT training programme, we can reduce those premiums by an additional 10 to 20 percent,” says Holler.

The contractors are being fined for alleged safety violations following a scaffolding accident that killed three workers at the 21 Rio construction site near downtown Austin.

"The supported scaffold from which employees were working collapsed, causing workers to fall more than 100 feet to their death," said Eric Harbin, OSHA's area director in Austin. "If scaffolding parts had been inspected and replaced or repaired as needed, it is possible that this tragic accident and loss of life could have been avoided."

OSHA began its investigation June 10. The three workers were employed by Margate, Fla.-based Capoera Construction LLC, which was cited with three serious violations including failing to develop and implement a safety and health program and failing to provide a competent person to inspect the scaffold prior to its use. The company was also cited with two repeat violations for failing to provide adequate fall protection systems and failing to adequately train workers to recognize scaffolding hazards. Proposed penalties total $36,400.

OSHA cited Mast Climber Manufacturing Inc., doing business as American Mast Climbers, the owner and installer of the scaffolding system, with a willful citation for not having scaffolds designed by a qualified person and constructing and loading the scaffold in accordance with that design. OSHA also cited the company with eight serious violations including failing to provide scaffolding capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load, failing to have a competent person inspect the scaffolding and its components, and failing to repair or remove damaged scaffold parts. Proposed penalties total $86,800.

Andres Construction Services LLC, the general contractor, and Greater Metroplex Interiors Inc., the prime contractor for the building exterior, each were cited with four serious violations for failing to have scaffolding and its components inspected by a competent person, failing to provide adequate fall protection systems on scaffolds, and failing to train employees on the use of scaffolding systems. Proposed penalties for Andres Construction Services total $14,000 and proposed penalties for Greater Metroplex Interiors total $22,400.

The company's fleet currently comprises 40 platforms, a mix of Niftylift booms, Skyjack scissors and Scanclimber mastclimbers. However, according to company spokesman Malay Shah, the fleet is "100% utilised."

According to Mr Shah, the lack of familiarity with powered access in India is proving to be something of a hurdle, because finance houses don't have experience of the sector. "We want to add to our fleet, but we will need to get finance for it. It will take probably four to five months more," he said.

Although it has historically worked out of a single office in Mumbai, the company offers platforms to rent across India, and it also has plans to expand its network in the near future. Mr Shah said, "We have now opened an office and service centre in Delhi. The next will be in Bangalore."

The standard practice in any type of equipment rental in India is to send machines out with a trained operator. "We train operators so they can do the maintenance too. We are also a member of IPAF," said Mr Shah. The company is also making further investments in training and safety. "We are planning a training centre in Mumbai and we are also translating all the machines' manuals into Hindi," continued Mr Shah.

Canadian mast climbing manufacturer Hydro Mobile is restructuring its business after filing for protection from its creditors under Canadian Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The law allows companies owing more than C$5 million to restructure their business and financial affairs.

Hydro Mobile is using the CCAA process to restructure and that it will continue in business. Under the CCAA laws, Hydro Mobile can continue to operate while a Plan of Arrangement is prepared.

The manufacturer's new business plan has the backing of the shareholders of the company, including its banks, business partners and the Solidarity Fund QFL, an institutional investor. Hydro Mobile's current ownership will remain involved throughout the restructuring process. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada, Hydro Mobile filed for court protection in October with liabilities of C$17.4 million.

Vincent Dequoy, Hydro Mobile's president, said; "This process will help us in the coming weeks to focus on operating our business more efficiently while continuing our efforts to strengthen our balance sheets and gain financial flexibility to maintain our leadership position in the construction industry worldwide.

"During the restructuring process, Hydro Mobile will continue to deliver quality products, services and technical support."

Hydro Mobile said the impact of the recession on the construction industry, particularly in the US, and changes in Canadian dollar exchange rates had put financial pressure on the company. The company acted by reducing operating costs, optimising manufacturing processes and adjusting its workforce through work sharing.

Mr Dequoy said; "I am confident the outlook is positive for Hydro Mobile as the construction market starts to recover".

The contract won by Alumco Qatar will see the installation of a total of 31,000 sqm of aluminum cladding and 48,500 sqm of stick system curtain walls, windows and doors.

Hochtief AG, the world number 1 ranked contracting group and provider of construction related services internationally is the main contractor for the overall project while Cansult Maunsell is the consultant and Projacs is project manager. Located on the southern outskirts of Doha, the Barwa Commercial Avenue comprises 600 high-end retail units and showrooms, 800 one, two and three bedroom luxury homes, state-of-the-art office spaces spread over 150,000 sqm, as well as various service centers and amenities.

Mr Nabih Haddad, chairman of the Alumco Group said: "We are extremely delighted to take up this challenging project and work with world-leading contractor Hochtief Construction. We consider this a golden opportunity to contribute towards the development boom in Doha."

He added: "We all know how stringent Hochtief's quality assurance and health and safety procedures are and how architecturally challenging and innovative the Barwa Commercial Avenue is."

Alumco Qatar has been awarded the Barwa Commercial Avenue Building Type 5, the first part of the 8.6-kilometer-long façade, representing a 2.2 km segment of this property and 38% of the total project. Work on the site is due to start in April 2010, for completion by mid 2011

For this project, Alumco Qatar will use heavy duty mast climbers, scissor lifts and other site logistic equipment for the installation works to increase their performance and efficiency.

The project is extremely demanding in terms of Health, Safety and Environmental requirements, and Alumco Qatar for this purpose is deploying a large number of qualified engineers, safety personnel, quality control inspectors, and aluminum technicians as well. Total staff expected to be involved in the project could reach up to 250 people of all qualifications.

Alumco Group enjoys a wide list of clients which includes major icons and brand names such as Saudi Oger (KAUST - KSA), Al Saad, Al Mabani & Saudi Diyar (Red Sea Mall - KSA), Bilfinger Berger & Barwa (Barwa City - Qatar), Arabian Construction Company (Platinum Tower & Habtoor Hotel - Lebanon, Ettihad Towers - UAE), Bin Laden Group (Ministry of Interior - KSA), CDC-TAKENAKA & Bechtel (NDIA - Qatar) to name but a few.

Occupying around half the area of previous SED shows, the aisles were at least reasonably busy on the first day of the show on 12 May, and while the general business climate remains gloomy, there were success stories.

Mark Carrington, managing director of Skyking , told AI that the King Group group had the same order book now as this time last year, although the mix of sales had changed to engineered products away from standard, volume items.

Jason Harris, contracts director at BFT Mastclimbing, told AI that its 220-unit mast climbing work platform fleet was still busy and that it had major new projects starting in June. The company has just installed 36 units on for the renovation of three tower blocks in Glasgow and has another big job in London.

"We're very busy at the moment", said Mr Harris, "I think it's because we give good service. Near enough all [the units] are out - we have 30 or 40 in the yard, and we have quite a bit of work starting in June."

BFT also represents Alher mast climbers and hoists in the UK, and was using SED to show a new 2 t capacity transport platform and a lightweight single mast climbing platform using the same lightweight mast as used on Alher's small goods hoists. BFT will add four Alher hoists and a transport platform to its mast climbing work platform fleet this year.

A returning manufacturer to SED this year was Niftylift, which traditionally holds its own parallel show, Access days, in Milton Keynes, during SED. However, Access days has been rescheduled this year and will now probably take place in August. Tim Ward, Niftylift's sales manager, told AI that the company had taken up a last minute option on space to exhibit, partly because the cost was lower than on previous years and because the Access Days event had been rescheduled.

Mr Klessens will continue to hold his current post of head of business area rental and used sales for the Alimak Hek Group. In his long career with Alimak Hek he has also been controller for Hek Manufacturing and chief financial officer for for Hek International Group.

In a related move, Alimak Hek is combining the Global Hek Manufacturing operation and Rental for the Benelux Area into one organization in The Netherlands. The Swedish company said the move “will increase synergies and deliver benefits to customers through further enhanced service and support.” Manufacturing will continue in Middelbeers and the rental operation will continue in Waalwijk.

Mr Klessens said: “It’s going to be a challenging task to take over after Ernst van Hek, but I have worked closely with Ernst during many years and will do my best to continue the development of the company. It’s a tough market out there, but with our new products and ambitious team of people, I’m confident we will continue to be in a leading position also in the future.”

Ernst van Hek is leaving Alimak Hek due to personal reasons initiated by a tragic accident within the family.

Other winners included Lavendon Access Services (contribution to safety by a rental company), Skyjack (manufacturer's contribution to safety), and Atlanta-based Mastclimbers, which won the mast climbing work platform achievement award. A-Plant won the access industry training award.

The awards were jointly organised by Access International and IPAF.

The full list of winners was:

The Access Rental Company of the Year

Riwal: the Netherlands-based firm has a strong base in some of Europe's major access markets - but it also puts effort into developing new territory. In 2008, it established operations in Brazil, the Baltic States, Poland and Croatia. Of Riwal, the judges said: "This is a top quality firm, producing a first rate performance. It is playing a leading role in developing rental in new markets."

Access International Product of the Year

JLG Industries' LiftPod: is a small lift that is a safer, more productive alternative to ladders. With a working height of up to 4.2 m (14 ft), the LiftPod comprises three sections which are easy to transport and carry. The platform is raised either using a battery pack or by a standard 18 V power tool.

IPAF safety champion of the year

Andy Studdert CEO of NES Rentals in the USA: has made safety a paramount consideration. Since taking over at NES in 2004, Andy has made safety a top priority: creating a ‘safety first' culture at the company through training programmes; award schemes and industry safety initiatives. Of Mr Studdert, the judges said, "He has taken the vast safety and technological expertise he gained in the airline industry and used it to exceptionally good effect in the rental business."

Access Industry Training Award

A-Plant: has made itself one of the UK access industry's most successful ‘one-stop-shops' for training. In 2008 the company trained over 3700 customer employees, and held over 4500 training days for its 2000 staff. It also invested in a new National Customer Training Centre.

Contribution to safe working at height - manufacturer

Skyjack: has showed huge commitment to creating a safe access industry and has an excellent track record of supporting training and safety initiatives. Skyjack was described as "totally committed and pro-active and always involved in championing the cause of safety and training".

Contribution to safe working at height - rental

Lavendon Access Services: has long taken a very proactive stance towards safety, both for its employees and its customers. It recently launched its ‘Safety Starts with You' campaign which included the appointment of a health and safety representative at every depot, monthly safety presentations and a focus on machine safety - plus a health and safety seminar for its main customers.

Access International Lifetime Achievement Awards

Dennis Ashworth: began as a pioneering production and design engineer with Simon in 1953. He was instrumental in designing many of the earliest and most important European access platforms and at the same time became a well-known and important figure in the development of standards for the industry around the world.

John Fuller: recently retired from Genie Industries after a successful 27 year career in the access business. He first entered the industry in 1981 and was Genie's first ever employee in the UK, helping introduce powered access into the UK. Over his career he gained the total respect of colleagues, competitors and customers.

Mast climbing work platform achievement award

Mastclimbers Inc: Bobby Reece, Mike Pitt and Kevin O'Shea have created a company that is both promoter of the mast climbing work platform worldwide, and at the forefront of efforts to ensure the safe use of mast climbers wherever they are operating, especially in the North American market.

Best Marketing Campaign for IPAF Training

Camillo Vismara: an IPAF training centre near Lugano, has been a highly effective promoter of IPAF operator training, making it the number one IPAF training body in Switzerland. The judges praised winner for an outstanding professional performance.

IPAF Instructor of the Year

Mauro Potrich: the safety and training manager at CTE in Italy has been the driving force behind CTE's successful operator training business, which is now the largest in Italy, and has spearheaded efforts to promote operator training. The winner was described by the judges as his country's training star.

A striking new facade will mark the future for hundreds of residents of Newham's tallest building.

The 23-storey Ferrier Point, Forty Acre Lane, Canning Town, is to undergo a £7.5million refurbishment.

And there will be no obtrusive scaffolding during the revamp nor will families have to move.

Specialist developers Rydon Construction will use mast climbers, similar to cradles employed to clean tower block windows.

The climbers will lift the coloured aluminium cladding and windows into position.

Lifting

The operation will also involve lifting 300 sq.m of solar panels. These will make a "significant contribution'' towards communal electricity needs for the tower's 115 homes, including lifts, hallway and reception.

And mast climbing is said to be cheaper and speedier than scaffolding, which would block views.

Ferrier Point's new life is part of Newham Council's £3.7bn Canning Town-Custom House regeneration scheme, including 10,000 new homes and two improved town centres.

Investigators probing collapse of scaffolding and why workman fell - 28/03/09

AN investigation is under way into the cause of a massive scaffolding collapse which crushed nine cars and vans at a city industrial estate.

South West Health and Safety Executive has launched the investigation into the accident at Minster Insulation, in Trusham Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter, and says the process will take several months.

A separate investigation involving a construction worker who fell from the scaffolding before it came down is also being carried out.

The worker is thought to have been injured after falling from the scaffolding into netting, which broke because it may not have been tight enough.

The Echo has also learned that the roof was being replaced because it leaked. It did not contain the toxic building material asbestos.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "There is an ongoing investigation into the incident relating to a person who fell from the scaffolding, but it is separate to the investigation about the scaffolding collapse.

"The investigation into the collapse of the scaffolding will take months, but we don't know how many.

"We have to talk to witnesses, test equipment and find paper trails to see who was responsible for each bit of the work.

"After the investigation, there will be an internal report and then a decision will be made about whether to prosecute."

She added: "Asbestos is not part of the ongoing investigation."

A spokeswoman for Minster Insulation said: "The roof was leaking badly and was completely replaced.

"The work had been finished and the roof had been replaced, and the scaffolding was due to come down when it collapsed. There is no asbestos in the roof."

She added that the incident had affected trade: "Minster had to shut the site for a while and there was limited access to it for safety reasons.

"That has had an impact on trade."

Several police units, an ambulance crew and a fire crew were called to the scene at 9.30am on Wednesday after scaffolding, which stretched the length of the building, came crashing down.

Roads were temporarily closed, causing severe traffic disruption, and the area was cordoned off over fears that the remaining scaffolding might collapse.

No-one was hurt in the incident, but a pregnant woman from Exmouth was in a car hit by the scaffolding as it was being driven past.

Worker falls to death at Temple Hospital - Philadelphia - 28th December 2007

A construction worker died this morning after falling about five stories while working at a site on the Temple University Hospital campus in North Philadelphia, authorities said.
Medics were sent to the site at 3500 North Broad Street, near Venango Street, shortly after 8 a.m., said Capt. Richard Davis of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

The 44-year-old victim, whom authorities did not immediately identify, was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the fall. Police were initially told the man fell from the 10th floor to the fourth floor, where he landed on rebar wire. Davis said he believes the victim had been on scaffolding equal to five stories.

Investigators from the Office of Safety and Health Administration were also called to the scene.

A £7.5 million refurbishment is now under way at the 23-storey Ferrier Point in Canning Town, the tallest building in the East London borough of Newham.

Half south-facing wall is being covered in nearly 3,000sq ft of photovoltaic cells, contributing to the communal electricity needs for the 115 homes as well as the lifts, hallway lighting and reception desk.

The rest of the tower block is being clad with a coloured aluminium panels, giving the 1960s structure a distinctive appearance, but will also incorporate extra insulation to reduce heating costs.

But there’s no scaffolding. The developers, Rydon Construction, are using ‘mast climbers’ travelling up and down the face of the building, similar to the cradles used to clean tower block windows, to lift the new cladding, windows and solar panels into position.

So, the company went to work and developed the Sky Master. The unit uses standard Sky Climber man-rated hoists, as well as the company's Sky Stage ultra-modular platform components allows one to two people to install and use the Sky Master. It can be built as tall as 200 feet high and 40 feet wide and is supported by wire rope.

"If the wire rope slips or breaks, the machine will lock automatically using its anti-tilt device," King said.

Attachments go from the Sky Master into the building's wall where it will be utilized every 20 feet. "It's like a lightweight mast climber," King said. "Very unique and rent-ready."

Mr Kneeland will deliver straightforward strategies for rental companies and observations on the differences between the US and European markets. United Rentals is one of the largest construction equipment rental companies in the world and regularly tops Access International's Access 50 list of the world's largest access rental companies.

Following Mr Kneeland there is plenty of other food for thought from speakers which include: IPAF's president and Height for Hire's managing director, John Ball; Scott Hazelton the senior principal director of Global Insight's, construction services, business and planning strategy; Kevin O'Shea, chairman of IPAF's international MCWP committee and safety and training director for Mastclimbers and Access International's Editor, Maria Hadlow.

Held this year in Dublin on 2 April, the Summit is also the occasion of the inaugural IAPA (International Awards for Powered Access) event, organised jointly by Access International and IPAF. The awards will be presented at the dinner, during, what promises to be, an entertaining evening.

For more information go to www.ipaf.org/iapa or www.khl.com/iapa.

The website contains the latest reference material on the range, projects and case studies, documentation, tools and downloads including a short film and other relevant features.

With the user friendly design of this new site, Alimak Hek Manufacturing aims to offer better and faster information to its customers and visitors. The site offers a quick link to the password protected Hek technical support site and corporate sites.

The company said the downturn in construction activity in the UK in recent months has led it to review its traditional approach to servicing the powered access requirements of its customers through its five dedicated branches.

Kevin O’Shea (of Mastclimbers LLC in Atlanta), chairman of IPAF’s International Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) Committee, presented mastclimber safety before OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). O’Shea was invited to speak in response to OSHA’s desire to see a move toward industry best practice and regulation following a series of accidents involving mainly MCWPs and cranes.

Among the facts and figures presented:

• An average of 12,600 people use MCWPs each day.
• More than 2.5 million working hours are put into the erection and dismantling of MCWPs each year.
• There are about 7 to 8 near misses on MCWPs each working day in the US.
• About 4,200 units operate each day in the US.

Some areas of concern raised:

• Insubstantial planking on the front edge of the platform causing either a trip or fall hazard,
• Inadequate anchor installation and testing,
• Anchors over or under-tightened,
• Ties temporarily removed and inadequately re-instated during use,
• Inadequately trained and assessed installers,
• Inadequately trained and assessed users.

O’Shea introduced the IPAF Guidelines for the Safe Use of Mast Climbing Work Platforms: US Edition 2008, recently released by IPAF, that provides comprehensive guidance and advice for MCWP users, installers, owners and rental companies. It also details the level of experience, education and skills verification required for those involved in the supply and use of the product.

Doug Peckhan, project manager at Dimeo said, "Marr Scaffolding and Hydro Mobile were undoubtedly the best deal we found on the market. Pricing and product reliability were obviously important issues for this selection but training, engineering services and customer support proved to be the key elements that set Marr and Hydro Mobile apart from the rest."

Alimak Hek will provide a product range which will include a combination of rack and pinion elevators and the HEK Modular System transport platforms, mast climbing work platforms, and material hoists. The equipment will provide ThyssenKrupp Safway's customers with a range of vertical access solutions for personnel and materials in a wide variety of applications, including construction, power generation, offshore drilling, mining, chemical and refining.

Larry Mickwee, vice president of branch development for ThyssenKrupp Safway said, "I have had the opportunity to evaluate several hoist, mast climber and elevator suppliers. Alimak Hek has proven to be one of the best. They have provided us with state-of-the-art, high quality products that have performed extremely well in the field. To back up those products they have offered best in class service, training and sales support. Our experience with Alimak Hek, their engineers, sales staff, and field service personnel has been pleasant, productive, and profitable."

According to Alimak Hek this cooperative effort, "represents the first steps in the relationship between two of the most recognisable and respected names in the access industry."

Part of the Mayo Clinic's portfolio, the Guggenheim Building in the city center needed the support steel, which holds the building's stone cladding in place, to be replaced. "To achieve this we had to remove around 200 stone panels weighing between 1,200 and 2,440 pounds each," said Tom Fee, project manager for Building Restoration Corp. "Our personnel needed a stable working platform which could access 100 percent of the profile of the façade so that we could achieve high productivity."

The E-Series, according to Hydro Mobile, can be used in glazing, painting, roofing, restoration, EIFS, inspection and cleaning.

Also on display for Hydro Mobile will be the company's M-Series, F-Series and P-Series. The M-Series works well for high load capacities, while the F-Series is designed for 100-foot-tall or more projects. The P-Series, Hydro Mobile says, is ideal for small jobs with high capacities.

Deher, 44, succeeds Isabelle Laplume, who has decided for personal reasons not to renew her contract.

Deher spent six years in the public sector, focusing on road and motorway construction. This was followed by eight years with the company Sime Levage as manager of lifting equipment and materials handling for local industries, among them building, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and agriculture.

He is a mechanical engineer by training and takes a keen interest in machinery and cars and is based in Autun, central France. His next major project is to manage the Job Access event at Intermat 2009, as part of IPAF’s campaign to attract young people to the access industry.

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and its US subsidiary, AWPT, invited executives from around North America to discuss how and if the industry can agree on a minimum level of standardized operator training. The group has been put into motion and will be meeting again at The Rental Show in Atlanta, March 2-5, 2009.

"What is concrete is that the group has decided it wants to meet again during The Rental Show, and to set a date there and meet again and try to encourage some other parties to participate," said IPAF managing director Tim Whiteman. "including other trade associations, to try and review, as an industry, where we are with operator training."

The summit, prompted by Skyjack president Ken McDougall's APEX keynote speech, was a first for the industry. It was agreed that at the next meeting there could be a discussion, but possibly not a resolution, on the number of [operator] hours and type of training, according to those in attendance. "It was a really wide range of discussion on all aspects of operator training with a lot of passion," Whiteman said.

"It was a useful meeting for a start," IPAF president John Ball said.

At APEX McDougall called for manufacturers to get behind a "standardized and accredited training program globally...Although this type of training is not globally mandated, it is up to us to actively support and encourage training through all level of the organization...I am proud to say that Skyjack supports the IPAF AWPT training program globally."

IPAF and AWPT do not deliver training themselves. Instead, they have developed a standardized training program that is delivered by independent training centers certified by IPAF/AWPT. Whiteman stressed, however, that the summit was not an IPAF/AWPT meeting. "We were just asked to set up the meeting and make it happen," Whiteman said. "It's an industry initiative. All these people gave up their time to come and talk about a subject they were very passionate about."

Brad Boehler, director of product safety at Skyjack, said the meeting was productive and that there will be action taken in the future. "We will be meeting again," he said.

The following companies were in attendance: Ahern Rentals/Xtreme, United Rentals, NES, RSC, Bil-Jax/Haulotte, Genie, JLG and Skyjack. Whiteman said MEC Aerial Work Platforms could not make it but president Dave White and his group "had a commitment of support" to the summit. Sunbelt Rentals did not make the meeting due to a canceled flight, while Hertz Equipment Rental and H&E Rentals did not attend.

"Everybody agrees that safety is about keeping people alive," Whiteman concluded.

•  IPAF Safety Champion of the Year
•  The Access Rental Company of the Year
•  The Access International New Product of the Year
•  Contribution to Safe Working at Height – Rental Company
•  Contribution to Safe Working at Height – Equipment End User
•  Contribution to Safe Working at Height – Manufacturer
•  Mast Climbing Work Platform Achievement Award 
•  Access Industry Training Award
•  Access Industry Environmental Award
•  IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award

• New IPAF Training Centre of the Year
• The IPAF Instructor of the Year

The annual ‘Rental Confidence Index' has also taken a knock, falling 13% to an all-time low of 63.3 (where 100 means extremely optimistic, 50 means neutral and 0 no confidence). For the past five years it has consistently been at the 70-73 level.

However, there are causes for optimism. Despite the reigning back on spending, a hefty 51% of companies are still planning to expand their fleets next year (a figure that has consistently been 80% or more for the past four years).

Likewise, although 9% of survey rental firms plan to close depots next year, a very respectable 35% are still planning to add rental locations to their networks.

In an effort to maintain safety, quality and quick availability of Hydro Mobile products, the company continues to believe that manufacturing in North America remains the best decision for their business and ultimately for their customers.

"We've worked on a lot of great ones over the years," said Coon, owner of Coon Restoration & Sealants of Louisville. "Such as the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Capitol Dome in Salt Lake City."

But none, he says, have been as thrilling as his current endeavor — the Terminal Tower.

"I think this probably is the coolest project we've ever worked on," said Coon, who began the job in 2006.

The company is now halfway through a five-year, $12 million contract to refurbish the exterior of the 708-foot building, located in Public Square in the heart of downtown.

BIGGER THAN MOST

It is Coon's largest project to date, which accounts for his professional pride. Other factors explain his passion for the iconic structure that has punctuated Cleveland's skyline for 78 years.

"It's just so unique," said Coon. "The way it was built, it's almost like a building on top of a building. And there is so much history to it."

Many Northeast Ohioans know that the 52-story Tower long maintained distinction as the tallest building in Cleveland, as well as in Ohio. It only relinquished the standing in 1991 with the building of the 888-foot, 63-story Key Tower downtown.

What many may not know is that the building holds worldwide prominence as well.

"Most people don't realize it actually was one of the tallest buildings in the world," Coon said. From 1930 until 1964, the tower was the tallest building outside of New York City.

"That's something pretty impressive, " said Coon, 47. "How many people can say they've worked on one of the tallest buildings in the world?"

Coon's crew began the project by hauling in heavy equipment, including two cranes, which was an enormous feat in itself.

"The city had to close off Public Square for two days," Coon said. "They had to reroute people, walkways, buses. There were 300 orange barrels put up to move people around. We had five semis lined up. And it went off without a hitch."

HOW IT'S DONE

Crews sheath sections of the tower's exterior in scaffolding and catwalks. From those narrow walkways, a dozen-man crew works year-round to remove and replace deteriorated stone. Crews also work from movable platforms called swing stages and mast climbers. Picture window-washer lifts, about 100 times bigger.

"There is tons of material coming off," said Greg Frank, 40, Coon's foreman on the job. "We've got a 40-yard Dumpster every couple days hauling out of here."

Pieces and sections are replaced with fiberglass replicas, made by Architectural Fiberglass, Inc., in Cleveland.

"We start at the top and work our way down," Coon said. "There are thousands of sections. It's like a Leggo set. It all interlocks together and we have to make sure everything goes back in its place."

Once refitted and caulked, the replacements look identical to the original stone.

"Without touching it, you really can't tell," Frank said. Floors 40 to 52 are now complete.

Unforgettable sights from the Tower are part of the job's allure.

"You look out over the lake, you look right down into Progressive Field, you can see the Browns Stadium," Coon said. "It's amazing in every season."

The crew was on the 44th floor this summer when the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew into town for the Cleveland National Air Show.

"We could hear them coming before they got here," Frank said. "They flew by a couple of times within 300 feet of the building. They were close enough we could actually see the guy in the cockpit, could even make out his blue helmet with a yellow stripe."

Other moments are equally surreal, Frank said.

"One of the real peaceful times is when a really low cloud will roll through like a fog," he said. "You won't see any buildings or the ground. You're standing in the middle of a cloud on the mast climber and you look up and the cable disappears and you can't see the top of the building."

NO FEAR OF HEIGHTS

Frank, like most of the crew, grew up on farms around Louisville.

"Heights are nothing to me," he said. "I grew up climbing silos as a kid." Frank loves the work, most of the time that is.

"Winter can be miserable with that wind coming off the lake," he said. "We've been up here when it's been zero and snowing. Last year the crews only missed two days, just because we couldn't get the trucks up here the roads were so bad."

Coon credits his crew for a job well done and on schedule.

"We're just a bunch of farm kids from Louisville, every one of us," Coon said. "But we all love what we do. We love that people want to hang on to these buildings. You can't replace a building like this. That we get to be a part of it is a great thing."

Forest City executive Jeff Linton said the company takes great pride in preserving the Tower.

"It is symbolic of Cleveland in so many respects," said Linton. "We have a stewardship responsibility as its owner to maintain and preserve it because of its meaning for Cleveland and the people of Cleveland."

The adoption of the new names will, says the company, allow it to achieve greater consistency and synergy in its worldwide marketing efforts .

The name change will not affect existing agreements with distributors, agents or dealers. Alimak Hek’s product brands, Alimak, Hek and Champion, will continue for the different product lines.

Petter Arvidson, president and chief executive of Alimak Hek said:“The Alimak and Hek names enjoy a strong heritage that spans more than half a century. Aligning the identity of our manufacturing operations with our corporate identity will help us to create more unified communications that emphasize the strengths of our product lines’ legacies and reinforce the distinguished reputation our products hold in the marketplace.”

• Hundreds of platforms

(telescopic booms – articulated booms – scissor platforms – vertical mast work platforms – rough terrain platforms – truck mounted platforms – mast climbing work platforms – access towers – underbridge inspection units – suspended access)

• Free keynote speech

• Free educational seminars

All CAMAC products are designed and manufactured in accordance with European standards and for 2009 is being finalized development of the new lift EUROLIFT, with different measures of baskets, capabilities and speeds (up to 60 m / min), will be one of the lifts most versatile on the market. His perception of market development for the coming year, is that although the market has entered a recession total in the field of construction of new buildings, to offset this decline for years CAMAC devotes significant resources to export and market Industrial. On the other hand have developed the CAMAC SMART, which together with models 500 and 600 kg, are aimed at rehabilitation.

SALTEC To SALTEC make a distinction very important in terms of domestic and international markets. The domestic market is saturated with all kinds of machinery in general and working platforms in particular, and that during 2008 the market has been and will be very stable, unlike recent years where there has been rapid growth in the demand for such machines. The construction sector in Spain is suffering "mild deceleration" and that we all know this, of course, translates into figures of all manufacturers. Saltec so far as is offsetting the increase in their major export figures. In Spain not only has increased the demand for platforms but has in fact decreased. Where, has greatly increased demand for SALTEC platform has been outside Spain, in some countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Russia, the United States and Korea.

In 2008 and until June, have sold 87 bicolumnas and for 2009 in Spain do not trust exceeding 30 bicolumnas and outside Spain is forecast to double those sold in 2008.

SALTEC currently manufactures two types of mast climbing work platforms: Series "media" and called PW-10/20 Series "heavy" PW called 18/35. The series average is very suitable to be used in smaller works or works in rehabilitation, while the heavy series, thanks to its larger and more cargo capacity, is more suitable for use in new buildings. Both can be mounted in both settings monocolumna (one tower) and configuration bicolumna (two towers); depending on the width of useful work that is required. The model most demanded by the rent is set by heavy PW-18/35 its ruggedness and versatility.

All working platforms Torgeir have the following security features:

• Electric motors with integrated electromagnetic brake capable of halting the platform with a load higher by 25% to the nominal.

• Siren acoustic maneuvering warns that any displacement of the platform prior to their movement.

• System electronic control phases which prevents the machine can work if the engines are not properly connections.

• last element of the mast without zipper, which would avoid the desengrane of pine nuts and driving safety.

• Descent manual emergency in the event of failure of tension.

• Detector zipper.

• End of career security in travel end top and bottom.

• End of career security at all entrance gates.

• automatic leveling system with dual career final, which limits the maximum slope of the working platform to rise as much in decline.

• speed limit centrifugal serving as a parachute if the rate of decline is excessive. It is a totally mechanical system and is activated automatically even if no electricity supply.

• Final career associated with the speed limiter centrifuge, which cuts the power to the engines have acted if the speed limiter.

• Protective magneto-thermal for engines and mushroom emergency in the electrical box.

• Anti-roller assurance of zipper-pinion gear that guarantees the minimum pinion gear and the zipper, according to rule (2 / 3 of the height of the tooth).

• Railing with baseboard, firmly secured around the platform.

• Land of the working platform in galvanized sheet slip easy to clean. During 2009 will introduce several important developments in its line of elevation. Specifically, in models of working platforms, will present a new model defendant in very small rehabilitation works. Also introduced into the market some tools and accessories for the platforms that will make it even more versatile and more secure.

Angel Ibañez, Commercial Director of SALTEC, told us: "I think that the situation in Spain is going to be very stagnant mainly because the rent, which have been the main customers of manufacturers, have an excess of machinery and in this context economic become competitors of the manufacturers themselves. The only significant growth will occur outside Spain

ALHER This year has presented two new models, T-10 and lift the working platform on the mast fixed PM -100. The lift T-10 becomes more powerful, with 1500 kg. Cargo capacity for 18 people and a speed of elevation above the 40 m / min. The work platform on fixed mast, PM-100 completes the product offering, with its 20 m. maximum length is ideal for rehabilitation work through its small dimensions and weight. . Use the same triangular mast that the forklift T7-CR-600 lbs. de carga. load.

ACCESS SYSTEMS climb, SL A manufacturer and marketer of motor Scaffolding by pinion rack system, hoists and elevators work and continuing to market their products without news.

ALBA-MACREL Group SL is a known brand in 55 countries around the world, which pfrece soulicones to construction companies and workshops ferralla. Among its wide range of products are: hoists and lifts a zipper, hanging scaffolding, safety nets, transpallets labor, equipment traction, tronzadoras, ingletadoras, machinery cutting and bending manual.

ALBERT Böcker GmbH & Co. KG Manufacturer of loading lift operated mechanical lifts ladder-type hydraulic lifts vertical people type hydraulic lifts and hoists hoist designed for construction among others.

ALIMAK HEK, SL Since 2001, ALIMAK is part of the Group Intervect and at the same time, HEK sister company, specializes in working platforms. As part of the products ALIMAK, takes staff elevators, elevators permanent, as well as working platforms and equipment for use underground. The lifting of personnel and cargo are offered in capacity ranges from 400 kg (880lb) up to 3200 kg (7.000lb) by elevator. These can be used with single or double mast. It is possible to use two elevators at the same time, transporting personnel and materials from one side to the other. In the case of permanent elevators, relate to maintenance requirements in tall structures, curved or tilted applications. The equipment for use underground is used in applications for mining projects and Civil Engineering.

Realizing that MCWPs are being increasingly used as temporary work places that give variable height access to areas above ground level, the guidelines were prepared following numerous requests from industry bodies, platform users and manufacturers for a comprehensive document that would help them increase safety in the workplace. The guidelines are based on the European document Health and Safety Guidance for Mast Climbing Work Platforms, Guideline BS7981 and BS EN 1495, Lifting Platforms – Mast Climbing Work Platforms. It also includes input from ANSI A92.9, OSHA 1926 Subpart L “Scaffolds”, Cal OSHA’s specific MCWP guidance, and IPAF’s International MCWP Committee.

O’Shea, who also chairs IPAF’s International MCWP Committee, explains the importance of the guidelines: "The US is in the same position now that the UK was in, with legislation on design and safe use falling further and further behind the uptake of the product in all market sectors. The British equivalent of these guidelines, BS 7981, and the emergence of a strong design standard, transformed MCWP safety in the UK to the point where it is now considered to be one of the safest methods of powered access available. ANSI A92.9 (the US design standard) is currently being re-drafted and these Safe Use Guidelines will provide the final piece of the jigsaw. Users, installers, manufacturers, rental companies and regulatory bodies will all benefit from this document."

Copies of the “IPAF Guidelines for the Safe Use of Mast Climbing Work Platforms: US Edition 2008” are available free of charge and can be downloaded online at the Publications/Technical Guidance Notes section of www.ipaf.org or www.awpt.org.

Riwal the Dordrecht based aerial lift and telehandler rental company has acquired a 70 percent stake in the Valencia based Spanish rental company Clem.

With a fleet of around 2,000 units, 12 locations and around €25 million revenues the acquisition gives Riwal a significant market position in the dynamic Spanish market.

Clem emerged out of a company founded in 1945 by Jose Noguera and is managed by the third generation of the family which will retain a 30 percent holding in the business. No details of the transaction have been revealed.

Jose Jaime Noguera, the current owner and Riwal’s chief executive, Dick Schalekamp will sit on the Clem board of directors. No decision has been announced on whether there will be a name change or not, with the Clem name being so well known, it is unlikely.

Schalekamp, said: “With this acquisition, Riwal will enter the Spanish market and strengthen its European coverage, with the aim of becoming one of the biggest operators on the international access equipment market.”

Javier Gómez, Clem’s senior manager, said: “I am very confident about market developments, the current management team wants to make Grupo Clem a leader in its sector. Our goal is not just to do things better, but to develop and offer different services, some of which are operational now”.

“We think that Spain lacks infrastructures in terms of quality and quantity in comparison to other European countries and Clem is the perfect vehicle to make the most of this opportunity, given its reputation and the quality of its products and services. Our strategy, however, is not to increase the number of units but to be leaders in terms of service quality and results.”

This deal has been “in progress” for many months, and has involved the consolidation of a number of separate Clem group companies into a single corporate being. It gives Riwal a major stake in yet another market, cementing its position as the second largest aerial lift rental company in Europe.

Riwal has worked with Clem on a re-rent basis for a along time so the managers of the two businesses know each other well and have a high level of trust as well as a strong working relationship that goes well beyond the normal in such an acquisition.

Riwal has built its business on personal relationships and finding like minded local managers which generally hold a stake in the business. It prefers in fact to choose new markets by the following a key person rather than deciding on a market and then looking for a manager.

Add to this the fact that the Clem fleet already has a similar profile to that or Riwal, being mostly JLG and Holland Lift, and the absorption into Riwal should be a breeze.

With the Spanish market currently in the doldrums, but likely to bounce back sooner than most people think, not to mention the significant consolidation that has occurred there, this is likely to prove to be a great time to buy into the market.

He succeeds Andrew Reid of SGB Mastclimbers, and will serve a two-year term, with the aim of advancing the objectives of the federation to promote the safe and effective use of powered access around the world.

Addressing members at the IPAF Summit, Ball said: “IPAF is in a crucial stage of global development. In an industry which is not yet 40 years old, the future for IPAF is very bright.”

The next IPAF Summit will be held on 2 April 2009 in Dublin.

Subjects being covered this year include:
- Just how thorough does a Thorough Examination have to be?
- Exactly what does the law require?
- Is the CAP Card programme right for you?
- Who exactly will be recognised as a competent person?
- The implications of the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act?
- What do you have to do to ensure that you operate both safely and within the law?
- Does the rest of the EU require the same level of thorough examination?

Speakers include:-
Dennis Bar a lawyer, Roberto Cianotti- director of research at ISPESL a division of the Italian ministry of health and occupational safety, Peter Jones of Lavendon, Rupert Douglas Jones and Gil Male of IPAF.

The programme begins at 13:30 and runs through 17:00 or so. If you are an IPAF member you can also attend the IPAF Annual General Meeting which precedes the Summit and the 25th anniversary dinner which follows.

To reserve your ticket for the Summit email Jean.Harrison@ipaf.org or go to the IPAF website www.ipaf.org

“The MCWP International Committee has many challenges and opportunities to address in the next few years,” said

“Common standards and consistent, high quality will facilitate MCWP exports around the world and into new markets. The Committee has challenging work to do in the introduction of new regulation and training standards into new territories, and the representation of its members’ interests and best practice is always a priority. It has to inform and educate regulatory bodies so that they understand and accept standards, which IPAF has helped develop, and recognise the PAL Card (Powered Access Licence) and what it stands for.”

Romina Vanzi of IPAF-España continues her role as committee convenor. Ms Vanzi is adept in the erection of MCWPs and has attained instructor level. She is also convenor of the Transport Platform Working Group.

“Romina’s enthusiasm for the product and her tireless work on behalf of the industry are to be commended,” said O’Shea. “The Committee relishes the opportunity to tackle the challenges head-on and keep the mast climbing work platform industry highly productive, intrinsically safe, and highly flexible as manufacturing volume increases ever more significantly.”

Take drywall contractors, for example.

Some drywallers claim it is difficult to cobble together a skilled crew because some boarders see the stringent safety regulations as an impediment to the job at hand.

PCL’s guardrail requirement on scaffolding is one of their concerns.

While Ontario’s and other provinces’ Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) regulations require guardrails on scaffolding about 10 feet high or higher, one contractor said that PCL stipulates that guardrails must be installed on scaffolding six feet high and up.

Mike Freeman said while the company he works for, Excel Interior Contracting, won’t turn down an opportunity to bid on a PCL contract because of its safety policy, he understands why some contractors do — particularly those that hire piecework crews. Guardrails on scaffolding can pose an access/egress obstacle for workers and materials, said the assistant manager.

“It is so tough to try and swing a sheet of drywall over top of a guardrail when you’re working over your head,” he said.

Freeman suggested drywall boarders most likely see such safety regulations as overkill and are used to piecework in the residential sector where “two ladders and a plank” serve as a scaffold.

Safety has increasingly become a priority on construction sites over the past five or so years, and contractors are encouraged to go “above and beyond” OH&S standards to get the job done, explained Derek Petrie, health and safety instructor of the Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario (ISCA).

Contractors reluctant to change, Petrie said, are a minority — usually small contractors with crews of four or five workers.

Along with guardrails, they can rail about other safety regulations set by major contractors like PCL and EllisDon.

The requirement that safety glasses must be worn at all times on site is an example.

He said getting caught breaking the safety rules on a site is one thing, but having an accident because the safety rules weren’t met can quickly put a company in the red.

“For lack of a better term, you are playing Russian roulette when you don’t take safety seriously,” Petrie said.

Rather than complain about a company’s safety policy, Freeman suggested contractors look for alternative solutions to get the job done.

For example, if guardrails are a problem on scaffolding, consider a substitute — such as scissor lifts.

Scissor lifts typically rent for about $1,200 a month.

It is a small price when compared to the cost of labour assembling and disassembling scaffolding with guardrails on a big commercial job.

In his observations, younger construction workers more readily adapt to higher safety standards than older workers.

“These kids grew up riding a bike with a helmet on or skateboarding with a helmets and knee pads. Safety is an easy sell to them because it has been ingrained in them at a young age,” Freeman said.

Some older workers are more resistant.

“Maybe they made their own (safety) rules for many years and worked their whole career without an injury so imposing these regs on them is a tough sell,” he added.

Murray Corey, executive director of the B.C. Wall & Ceiling Association, pointed out another reason why large commercial sites often require more stringent safety standards than small residential ones.

“There are a significant amount of potential hazards in such projects. You have to be aware of what is going on from any and all sides, levels and angles,” he said.

Part of the conference includes workshop sessions for regional leaders to hear about new and exciting initiatives which could benefit their members. This year, Kevin O'Shea of Mastclimbers LLC in Grayson, Georgia, and Aerial Work Platform Training's mast climber representative, was asked to conduct a number of workshops on mast climber safety, the drive for "safe-use" regulation and, of course, AWPT's pivotal role in educating and training workers.

O'Shea described the opportunity, "Through my work with unions in recent months, it has become obvious that BAC members are some of the most frequent users of mast climbers, booms and scissors in the United States and the unions themselves have reached a high level of training and education through their apprenticeship programs. This invitation to present the Notre Dame workshop sessions was a 'top-drawer' opportunity to get to a huge volume of users. The question and answer sessions after the main workshop sessions were illuminating. We had representatives from Boston to New Orleans, all of whom brought different aspects of powered access use to the sessions. In analyzing the problems, and answering the questions, it's clear that consistent standards of training, measurement and quality are required now."

O'Shea is a senior instructor for AWPT, the North American arm of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), an international organization dedicated to the safe use of access equipment and creators of an ISO-certified training program that is recognized worldwide. Over 50,000 operators each year complete an IPAF training course at one of more than 250 training centers. Upon successful completion of a course, operators are issued a PAL Card (Powered Access Licensed-Registration). Said O'Shea, "The level of interest in IPAF training standards and the PAL card was tremendous, and the level of interaction in the workshop sessions proves that there are knowledgeable people out there with a thirst for increased safety. I believe that union members would benefit immeasurably from the PAL card program and third-party verification of their commitment to training and safety."

BAC President, John Flynn, is also quite clearly dedicated to training and high quality standards. BAC's training arm, the International Masonry Institute, based in Annapolis, Maryland, has just completed work on an impressive new training center, dedicated to the safety, professionalism and craft of its trainees. In addition, AWPT's Mast Climber Training Center in Boston, North East Work Platform Training (NEWPT), is working with local Unions to put together a structured approach that will turn out qualified, well-trained apprentices. Thirty five iron worker apprentices gathered in Boston from September 3rd to 7th for a program of training that, for the first time, included mast climber awareness.

Tom Lawler, NEWPT's president and an AWPT mast climber instructor, is delighted to get involved. He described the opportunity, "The key to good working practice is to catch employees early, so that we can instil a safety ethos from the very start. These apprentices are at exactly the right age and level of awareness to benefit from this exposure, and, vitally, the co-workers who will work with them in years to come will benefit too. It's my intention to introduce the Powered Access Licensed-Registration and AWPT Training throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to partner with like-minded employers, unions and organizations in the achievement of that goal."

About AWPT

Aerial Work Platform Training Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of IPAF that promotes safety and training in North America. Further information can be found at www.awpt.org

UCATT has called for companies to crack down on health and safety following the death of a worker in Swansea.

The man fell from scaffolding while working on a residential development at Ferrera Quay complex at Swansea Marina on 22 January.

He received emergency treatment but died in hospital several days later.

Nick Blundell, UCATT regional secretary for the Wales and South West, said: “This latest death underlines the dangerous nature of construction. While it is almost impossible to make the industry entirely safe, construction employers in general could be doing far more to make sites safer.”

Whatever the scale or demands of the housing development, the unrivalled product selection and wealth of experience available from SGB means complete peace of mind being brought to any project.

The extensive range of access solutions available from SGB are all employed to a greater or lesser extent throughout the home build market, and include traditional and system scaffolding; Mastclimbers®; temporary roofing systems; edge protection and fall arrest equipment; powered access in the form of self-propelled scissor lifts and telescopic booms – plus, of course, a huge range of light access aluminium and GRP equipment for light duty maintenance and fit-out applications.

Maybe it’s a traditional build, brick and block classic housing development, where flexibility and timing are of the essence in the provision of progressive scaffolding. Or possibly it’s a timber frame, where all the lifts have to be built at once. This form of construction, in particular, is increasingly meeting demands for fast-track housing projects. This has been recognized by SGB, whose CUPLOK® system scaffold can easily be adapted to meet these specific requirements.

Due to the ease and speed of erecting the system, CUPLOK® can be installed as a compliant Work at Height access solution during construction of the timber frame itself and, when this is completed, it can quickly be adapted to provide access for brickwork or external façade works.

Russell Adams, business development director of SGB, comments: “Modern methods of construction and fast-track construction programmes need fast-track access solutions and CUPLOK® offers a quick, cost effective and proven system. House builders and developers are increasingly acknowledging the safety and performance benefits that we can offer.”

Every situation is vastly different and needs an access partner with a real understanding of what is needed and the ability to provide it. Fast-track steel-frame affordable housing is another increasingly popular method of construction, where speed is everything and the built scaffolding needs to be both on-site first and adaptable. Regeneration and social housing projects often involve the complexity of brown field sites – and moving up the scale, the very different demands brought about by new build or refurbishment of multi-storey concrete frame structures present differing challenges, all which SGB is able to overcome.

In hardware terms alone, SGB has the most comprehensive stock inventory in the country and the largest network of branches. Added to that, is its unrivalled long-proven expertise in planning, design, scheduling, logistics, cost management and training – not to mention its total financial stability.

For complex projects, expert design and engineering skills are fundamental to creating safe and efficient, cost-effective access, and by combining its experience and extensive product solutions with the very latest design software, SGB is able to provide a complete structural analysis and arrive at the optimum solution every time.

When it comes to safety management, it is the implementation of proven health and safety control processes, coupled with effective training, communication and systematic risk assessment that has seen SGB’s safety record set the standard for the industry.

The company has even introduced a new ‘Tie tag’ scaffold safety system that minimises the risk of human error. One of the main causes of scaffold collapse is ineffectual inspection and for the first time, by using the pioneering new ‘Tie tag’ system, tie quantities and patterns can be visibly checked from the ground.

CUPLOK®, designed and developed by SGB, has grown to become the most widely used system scaffold in the world. It is a lightweight, fully galvanised multi-purpose steel scaffold system that can be used for general access and vertical load support on a wide range of applications – including continuous façade, circular scaffold, birdcage access and staircase access.

It is much quicker to erect than traditional methods and has a 'node point' or fastening method, by which four horizontals can be fastened at one time making a very rigid connection. The horizontals bear directly on to the verticals, are firmly clamped by the action of the top cup – and there are no loose parts to misplace. CUPLOK® is also highly resistant to site damage and accepts scaffold boards, battens or decking platforms and heavy duty access up to 3kN/sqm platform loading.

The uniquely diverse range of traditional and powered access solutions available from SGB is certainly demonstrated by the Mast Climbing Work Platform, an automated platform system that provides fast, efficient access for both men and materials to their precise work position at up to 100m. It is ideal for cladding, façade work, new construction, restoration and demolition, and the range includes double or single mast work platforms and transport hoists. Telescopic extensions can be tailored to suit the building profile and safety features include automatic levelling, safety limit switches to control travel, manual brake release levers and centrifugal brakes on motors.

Glasgow Harbour…
Mast Climbing Work Platforms are an ideal access solution for largescale refurbishment and over-cladding projects, but their advantages are also being acknowledged within the new build sector. A major development at Glasgow Harbour, comprising three blocks each up to 18- storeys high, is a good example, where a combination of twenty single and twin Mastclimbers® have been installed for the duration of the three-year project, which is due for completion in spring 2009.

This multi-storey development features balconies, which can present a major challenge to some access systems and on this project the balconies project up to 1.8m from the façade. The solution offered by SGB was to erect the work platform masts outside the balcony line, and then to fit the 24m long platforms with sliding cantilevered extensions that provide the operatives with access to the façade at any level.

Camden Housing…
Installing new curtain walling onto existing residential tower blocks can pose specific access challenges, particularly if it is a high block and incorporates residential balconies. Careful specification of the right type of access equipment is important for its impact on efficiency, safety and security on site.

Major refurbishment work was undertaken recently by specialist contractors Harley Curtain Wall UK, who needed to install external curtain walling on five, 22-storey residential blocks for Camden Council in London. Four of the blocks each required three single mast units and six twin mast installations, with the fifth block needing two twin masts and four single masts. Harley chose the system for the project because of its ability to provide fast efficient and safe working on 20m platform lengths, the installation time being days instead of weeks with traditional scaffolding, and the fact there are fewer façade anchor fittings.

The new Tie Tag system is a major safety breakthrough…
SGB was also appointed access contractor by Rialto Homes, part of Fairview New Homes Ltd, for a development in London Road, Croydon, where CUPLOK® system scaffold is being used for the access requirements. The focus here is very much on SGB’s innovative new scaffold tagging system, being the first project to use the system in full and be completely tagged.

The principle behind the system is to control safe use and access by keeping scaffold users clearly informed as to the status of the scaffold – whether it is incomplete, or fit to use – and, in addition, it clearly identifies scaffold ties as critical components of the scaffold.

There are other tagging systems used in the industry, but the SGB system is particularly simple and highly visible. It consists of a three-step ‘traffic light’ process. The first action is to ensure that immediately after the base lift and ladder fixings have been completed, red and white ‘Danger Incomplete Scaffolding Tags’ are secured to the scaffold at the access point. At step three, when the whole scaffold is complete, a green ‘Scaffold Inspection Record Tag’ is fitted and signed by the competent SGB person in charge.

The key element is step two, where during the building of the scaffold, a unique yellow ‘Scaffold Tie Tag’ is securely fixed to every single tie in the structure, stating “Do not remove this scaffold tie or tag”. These yellow scaffold tie tags can be seen clearly from either the ground or platform, so when the scaffold is being tied to an adjacent structure, everyone can monitor the progress.

For home builders, balancing safety responsibility with the need for high productivity at manageable cost has never been greater. This is especially true when working at height is involved. For safe, innovative, total access solutions, many organisations are turning to market leader SGB.

SGB is continually demonstrating its ability to deliver innovative, safe and cost-effective access solutions to home builders, and no matter how straightforward or complex the project, the company is committed to making a positive difference wherever it is on site.

The two companies have a fleet of around 2,000 units which operate from 25 locations it contributed around €30 million in revenues to the group in 2007.

Alexandre Saubot, Haulotte’s chief operating officer, said: “This handover will have a positive impact on the Haulotte Group 2008 accounts and will strengthen its financial and human capacity to develop its business in and outside Western Europe. The emerging markets will fuel Haulotte Group’s profitable growth over the next few years.”

Gérard Déprez, chairman of Loxam said: “LEV is recognised as a leader in lifting
equipment rental and will contribute to the development of Loxam’s lifting equipment division.”

Saubot has always said that Haulotte will only enter or remain in the rental business for strategic purposes. The justification to remain in the French market was hard to see, the company may well have also come under pressure from Loxam to exit?

There is no indication that any sales agreement is tied in with this deal, however it is hard to imagine that this subject was not discussed. Most companies in the same situation would have tried hard to have secured an annual purchase agreement as part of the transaction.

Haulotte may well look now to invest the proceeds from this sale to promote access rental in emerging markets, either through financial support or by entering key markets itself.

Questions will inevitably be asked about the future of UK platforms, its UK rental operation. Loxam has recently employed Steve Shaughnessy to head up its UK business. Many observers saw the move as a step down from his role at A-Plant, unless Loxam had major plans for its UK business which include further acquisitions?

IPAF is the worldwide not-for-profit organization that exists to promote safe and effective use of powered access equipment. Members include manufacturers, distributors, equipment owners and rental companies. AWPT is the organization that administers IPAF's North American Training programs. Members of IPAF are eligible to open an AWPT accredited training center after meeting the accreditation criteria.

While both IPAF and AWPT are dedicated to providing comprehensive training in the safe use of aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms, neither organization performs the actual training. Training is done by those members of IPAF who have met stringent requirements and are certified as Authorized Training Centers.

New member NES has been approved as an AWPT Authorized Training Center for aerial work platforms and is planning on opening multiple training centers in key metropolitan areas; and new member Midwest Aerials & Equipment has applied to open an aerial work platform training center in St. Louis.

New members Fraco Products in St. Mathias, Quebec and Northeast Work Platform Training in Boston, along with current IPAF members Alimak Hek and Mastclimbers LLC, both of Atlanta, Georgia, are opening or already have opened AWPT Authorized Training Centers for mast climbing work platforms. Other new training centers are also in the works.

Because of the quality and consistency of AWPT training programs, the Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) recognizes and promotes the PAL card as proof of training in the safe use of aerial work platforms and mast climbing work platforms. SIA also encourages its members to consider becoming Authorized Training Centers.

That is changing fast though, the company has completed its move into new purpose-built European headquarter premises in Oswestry, Shropshire. The new building includes a large office suite along with warehousing a replacement parts operation and an external yard.

The facility will be the hub for Skyjack Europe’s sales, service support, finance and administration operations. The new premises will also carry out some final assembly work, install options and ship directly to newly opened company stores in Germany and Sweden.

The company acquired its Swedish distributor N-C Liftteknik AB/Nordic Lift in August as its Scandinavia base, while in Germany the company has employed Ingo Regenbrecht to open Skyjack Deutschland in Witten.

This week Yannick Borgel, previously with UpRight France, has started work with the company in order to head up its new French operation. Prior to Joining UpRight France in May Borgel spent six years with Genie France See UpRight returns to France

Skyjack’s coverage of the European market has been patchy for many years reaching a low point when the company pulled all of its operations back to a UK base at the start of 2004. Since then its transatlantic shipments have grown rapidly, but largely on the back of its strong market position in the UK.

2007 is likely to be a record year for Skyjack Europe as it continues to expand its sales in the UK at the same time as it makes inroads into other markets. It has developed a strong reputation of being easy to deal with and is seen to be investing heavily in a personalised after sales support. Its new company stores elsewhere in Europe should help spread that reputation more widely.

If the trends it has established over the past 12 months continue Skyjack Europe could substantially exceed this year’s numbers in 2008, winning a few market share percentage points into the bargain.

The IPAF aerial work platform training programme adopts new lift categories from 1 January 2008. The changes do NOT affect the training already received or existing PAL Card (Powered Access Licences) holders.

IPAF has revised the categories within its programme in order to align with the international standards prEN 280 and ISO DIS 16368, standards that regulate the design and manufacture of access platforms worldwide.

The new IPAF categories, with abbreviations and brief explanations, are:

• Static Vertical (1a): Vertical personnel platforms (static)
• Static Boom (1b): Self-propelled booms (outriggers), trailers/push-arounds, vehicle-mounted platforms
• Mobile Vertical (3a): Scissor lifts, vertical personnel platforms (mobile)
• Mobile Boom (3b): Self-propelled booms
• Special (SPECIAL): Airport equipment

The following categories continue unchanged:

• Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MC)
• Insulated Aerial Devices (IAD)
• Telehandler Platforms – Integrated (TPI)
• Harness Use and Inspection (H)
• Loading and Unloading (LOAD)
• MEWPs for Managers (MM)

Posters Highlighting the new categories are also available from IPAF for those who want them.

Current PAL Card holders who need to replace lost cards will be issued duplicate cards with the original categories they have been trained in. This is because the categories listed on the PAL Card reflect the training received. Those who re-train or do upgrades from 1 January 2008 onwards will be issued with cards reflecting the new categories.

Site managers can check the validity of PAL Cards by calling the IPAF office.

More than a quarter of a million people worldwide currently hold a valid PAL Card with an additional 70,000 people being trained each year.

The scaffolding was being taken down from around Victoria Seaview Hotel which has been undergoing a revamp. The santas are: Dave Locker, Carl Welham, Dave Welham, Mark Taylor, Chris Taylor and Jason Smithson.

O'Shea described the opportunity, "Through my work with unions in recent months, it has become obvious that BAC members are some of the most frequent users of mast climbers, booms and scissors in the United States and the unions themselves have reached a high level of training and education through their apprenticeship programs. This invitation to present the Notre Dame workshop sessions was a 'top-drawer' opportunity to get to a huge volume of users. The question and answer sessions after the main workshop sessions were illuminating. We had representatives from Boston to New Orleans, all of whom brought different aspects of powered access use to the sessions. In analyzing the problems, and answering the questions, it's clear that consistent standards of training, measurement and quality are required now." O'Shea is a senior instructor for AWPT, the North American arm of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), an international organization dedicated to the safe use of access equipment and creators of an ISO-certified training program that is recognized worldwide. Over 50,000 operators each year complete an IPAF training course at one of more than 250 training centers. Upon successful completion of a course, operators are issued a PAL Card (Powered Access Licensed-Registration). Said O'Shea, "The level of interest in IPAF training standards and the PAL card was tremendous, and the level of interaction in the workshop sessions proves that there are knowledgeable people out there with a thirst for increased safety. I believe that union members would benefit immeasurably from the PAL card program and third-party verification of their commitment to training and safety."

BAC President, John Flynn, is also quite clearly dedicated to training and high quality standards. BAC's training arm, the International Masonry Institute, based in Annapolis, Maryland, has just completed work on an impressive new training center, dedicated to the safety, professionalism and craft of its trainees. In addition, AWPT's Mast Climber Training Center in Boston, North East Work Platform Training (NEWPT), is working with local Unions to put together a structured approach that will turn out qualified, well-trained apprentices. Thirty-five iron worker apprentices gathered in Boston from September 3rd to 7th for a program of training that, for the first time, included mast climber awareness. Tom Lawler, NEWPT's president and an AWPT mast climber instructor, is delighted to get involved. He described the opportunity, "The key to good working practice is to catch employees early, so that we can instill a safety ethos from the very start. These apprentices are at exactly the right age and level of awareness to benefit from this exposure, and, vitally, the co-workers who will work with them in years to come will benefit too. It's my intention to introduce the Powered Access Licensed-Registration and AWPT Training throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to partner with like-minded employers, unions and organizations in the achievement of that goal."

Paula most recently served as National Marketing director for Lewis Equipment Company and was the president of Elevated Marketing, LLC, a marketing firm specializing in the heavy construction equipment market. Previously, with Champion Elevators, Paula held the positions of director of Marketing, National Product manager and vice president. While serving as National Product manager and vice president, Paula helped to pioneer the transport platform industry in the United States and it is this experience that Alimak Hek Inc. will widely draw on as they re-enter the market full force in the coming months. Paula currently serves as a committee member for safety standards and product codes for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for mast climbing work platforms, ANSI A92.9, and Transport Platforms A92.10. As a charter member of the ANSI A92.10 Transport Platform standard committee, Paula has been a driving force in its development and approval. Publication by ANSI of A92.10 is expected this fall.

Wachovia Insurance Services' specialty insurance program for aerial lift equipment dealers is underwritten by a national insurance company with an A+ Superior financial strength rating by A.M. Best. In addition to general liability coverage, the program offers a comprehensive range of property and casualty insurance coverage, including inland marine, property and automobile.

AWPT training makes working at height both safe and productive. All AWPT training meets the demands of both U.S. and Canadian legislation and has been independently audited by TUV, the leading German and international standards accreditation organization, as conforming with the international standard ISO 18878:2004..

Successful completion of the program leads to the issuance of a PAL Card (Powered Access Licensed-registration) from an AWPT approved training center. Those companies who employ AWPT-trained operators are not only assured that they are meeting their ANSI-mandated obligations to provide proper training; they also may be eligible to receive valuable discounts on their insurance premiums.

For information on this insurance program and the potential for obtaining a 15 percent discount on general liability premiums, contact Bill Holler at 312-612-5039 or william.holler@wachovia.com.

Situated in South Bend, Indiana, 90 miles from Chicago, Notre Dame University is a world famous icon of American education. Established in 1842, Notre Dame has seen many famous Americans pass through its doors, including current US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice.

In August each year, one of America’s most prestigious Unions, The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers (The BAC), founded in 1865, and who represent hundreds of thousands of members throughout the US, hold their Annual Leadership Conference in Notre Dame.

Part of the conference includes workshop sessions for regional leaders to hear about new and exciting initiatives which could benefit their members. Kevin O’Shea, IPAF’s American mast climber guru, was delighted to be asked to conduct a number of workshops on mast climber safety, the drive for ‘safe-use’ regulation and, of course, IPAF’s pivotal role.

Kevin described the opportunity, ‘Through my work with unions in recent months, it has become obvious that their members are some of the most frequent users of mast climbers, booms and scissors in the US, and the unions themselves have reached a level of training and education, through their apprenticeship programmes, which is of a very high standard. Mastclimbers’ (Kevin’s US-based employer) sponsorship of my IPAF related activities, means that I can accept a wide variety of opportunities to present the IPAF ethos to people who are directly involved in the use of powered access. This invitation to present the Notre Dame workshop sessions was a ‘top-drawer’ opportunity to get to a huge volume of users. The question and answer sessions after the main workshop sessions were illuminating. We had representatives from Boston to New Orleans, all of whom brought different aspects of powered access use to the sessions. In analyzing the problems, and answering the questions, it’s clear that consistent standards of training, measurement and quality are required now. ’

Kevin continued, ‘The level of interest in IPAF training standards and the PAL card was tremendous, and the level of interaction in the workshop sessions proves that there are knowledgeable people out there with a thirst for increased safety. Every attendee in each session wanted information on IPAF and the PAL card.’

‘The BAC President, John Flynn, is quite clearly dedicated to training and high quality standards. Their training arm, the International Masonry Institute, based in Annapolis, Maryland, has just completed work on an impressive new training centre, dedicated to the safety, professionalism and craft of its trainees’.

‘I feel that, in an attempt to spread the impact of IPAF training, and certification across the broad spectrum of US construction, the unions are an integral, and vibrant, vehicle. I also believe that union members would benefit immeasurably from the PAL card program, and third-party verification of their commitment to training and safety’.

Persson, who took over his new role last week, replaces Nils-Erik Häggström, who has moved the the role of group business area manager, industrial.

Prior to joining Alimak Persson, 42, spent five years as managing director of Franke Futurum having been promoted from production manager. Franke Futurum is a leading manufacturer of cooker hoods in Scandinavia with a production of about 1000 units per day.

Persson also has more then nine years experience as a manager at Volvo Truck where he was involved with production, production engineering, product development and quality control.

Persson said: “I am honoured of been given the confidence and task to lead the largest entity and organisation within the Alimak Hek group".

"Alimak is a well-managed and healthy company, the management team and all employees have done a great job over many consecutive years."

Alimak Hek unveiled the full product range of its new Modular mast climber system in a well attended event at its Middlebeers facility in Holland yesterday.

The new system announced at Bauma earlier this year allows a wide range of Mast climbing work platforms and transport platforms to be built from a small number of interchangeable modular components.

While all of the parts are new, many of them have been designed to work with the existing HEK components in order to avoid obsolescence. The components can also adapt to work with the Alimak Hoist components.

The new system introduces three main components, a Base unit, Drive unit and Mast. Three different masts are available for Light, Medium or Heavy applications in work or transport platform mode. These then allow three ranges of mast climber, with the minimum number of interchangeable
-HEK L-350 – Light duty with one or two masts up to just under 3,000 kgs lift capacity and 100 metres height.

-HEK M-450 – Medium duty one or two masts with up to just under 5,000kgs lift capacity and 200 metres height.

-HEK H-650 – Heavy duty version for introduction in 2008 it will offer at least 6,000kgs lift capacity, up to a 51 metre long platform and at least 200 metres of standard height.

Hek says that the main principles behind this development are:

• To have a mast that can be used for both mast climbing work platforms and transport platforms.
• To cut the number of different components to the minimum
• To maximise the exchangeability of parts between different machines
• To have a product range that meets all of the demands from different geographical markets and applications without creating a wide range of incompatible products.
• To offer low maintenance costs, easy service, short erection times
• To offer higher payload capacities and lifting speeds
  

The reason for the soaring costs, said Cairney, was simply “sheer demand”. “There continues to be absolutely incredible demand for everything from cranes and cement to steel and scaffolding. That demand commands better prices and leads to higher costs for contractors,” he said.
According to a recent report by the organisation, by the end of the the first quarter of this year, labour rates rose by 20 per cent from a year ago. That pace has, however, slowed since. Another key input, steel, has also seen a huge spurt in prices, with steel beams and channel prices reported to have jumped by 80 per cent during the same period.

In the "high risk" plant areas this will mean Australia will have national licenses in areas such as Forklift, Cranes, Dogging, Rigging and Scaffolding. A key change in the new system is that assessing someone for a licence can only be done through a registered training organisation (RTO).

While waiting for some of this ongoing work and implementation to take place, Queensland, which has already developed a VET-RTO licensing system, will switch wholly to the Qld VET-RTO system on the July 1, 2007 for both NOHSC 7019 Loadshifting and NOHSC 1006 for Cranes and Scaffolding etc which use updated instruments.

This will mean that in Queensland all licenses in the "high risk" classes will be issued on the presentation of a statement of attainment by RTOs to OHS Queensland.

As from July 1, 2007 training by an RTO is now an integral part of gaining a licence in Queensland using the accredited Queensland courses and VET/OHS assessment instruments.

In Queensland the addition of the Self Erecting Tower Crane as a new licence class now available in the new OHS/VET model and training can only be delivered by an RTO in Queensland.

The requirements of the QLD/VET instruments are different to the national instruments in that they require that all elements of the instrument be correct to be deemed competent.

Easy Guides has prepared learning materials for the July 1 implementation of the Qld RTO-VET licensing system.

The FÁS Basic Scaffolding course was attended by 12 learners from all over the country.

In an important first for Kilkenny, it is Ireland’s only training centre specialising in scaffolding and will provide a crucial service to the booming construction industry, which is one of the biggest employers in Kilkenny and the South East.

The Training Centre will run monthly basic and advanced scaffolding courses, as well as regular Tower and Inspection courses. In the near future it will also start running FÁS’s New Entrant’s Programme, a four-day introduction which all new entrants into the industry will have to complete.

Other ‘Work At Heights’-related courses will also be offered, including MEWP (mobile elevated working platform), harness, teleporter, forklift and abrasive wheel training.

Dennis is one of Ireland’s most experienced scaffolding trainers, with over 35 years in the industry.

The pamphlets, which come from both federal and local agencies, contain information on the hazards of construction work and tips on how to stay safe. They also inform the workers of their rights.

"They have a right to a safe workplace. And these cards and the other information OSHA is handing out will let them know about safety harnesses,” said. DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster. “They should be wearing safety harnesses if they're up high on a building."

"We want them not to fear to reach out and to know they must be trained, and we want them to be well-informed about their rights,” added City Director of Immigrant Affairs Guilermo Linares.

"Workers should know that they have a right to a safe and healthful work place. And if they're exposed to safety and health hazards, they should complain without fear of retribution,” said OSHA’s Rich Mendelson. “It's illegal to discriminate against workers for filing a complaint with any regulatory agency."

One of the main messages of the campaign is, regardless of their immigration status, day laborers should call 311 to report dangerous conditions at work sites.

"I went to do some demolition work, so all the dust come to my eyes, and I was sick for two weeks,” said worker Julio Perez, through an interpreter.

Workers also learned about scaffolding safety and training regulations. The city says four people died last year working on suspended scaffolding.

City officials say a language barrier between workers and supervisors was a factor in the accidents. In response, the information cards are in both Spanish and English.

Meanwhile, contractors and hardhat unions are calling on the City Council to pass tougher legislation to protect workers.

The "three strikes and you're out" package would mandate a ten-day stop-work order for a first offense, a 90-day stop-work order for second offense, and a ban on all future permits for five years upon the third offense.

"Construction by nature is one of the more dangerous trades in the country and the city, so I think we have an obligation to take a look at the package to see that if we can make this industry safer as we go forward,” said Brooklyn City Councilman Erik Dilan.

"What gets lost sometimes is the amount of fatalities that happen on non-union sites and absolutely we do not care if a person in non-union or union, going to work is not a good enough reason to die," said Jack Kittle, a union manager.

Supporters of the bill say 86 percent of construction deaths occur on non-union sites.

For more information on construction safety week, log on to www.nyc.gov/buildings.

Richard Mendelson, the local director for OSHA, says the two regulatory agencies can accomplish more by working together.

"You get some very interesting and puzzled looks from the contractors when both regulators show up the same time they realize they can't just play one against the other but they have to be in compliance with public safety and worker safety at the same time."

Falcon Group of Houston is developing Galveston's East Beach with the construction of the $169-million twin high-rise Palisade Palms condominiums. General contractor Brasfield & Gorrie of Birmingham, Alabama, leads a construction team that broke ground on the project in the spring of 2005.

Terry Watson, senior project manager for Brasfield & Gorrie, says that although the construction is proceeding smoothly, "the weather has at times played a difficult role during construction, including the recent winter rain and fog. Although we escaped damage, Hurricane Rita caused some delays and small costs."

Palisade Palms, designed by architectural firm Kirkor Architects & Planners of Toronto, Canada, with Kirksey Partners of Houston as architect of record, features two radial shaped towers, each 27 stories with three levels of parking. All of the 288 condominiums have views of either Galveston Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.

Each tower has two stories of covered parking at ground level. The lobby and first floor of each tower is 28 feet above sea level. The ground floor has a 20-foot-high ceiling, and each tower will have three high-speed elevators made by Otis Elevator Company to allow residents access to living areas.

Jeff Hart, operations manager for general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie, says that Palisade Palms is "atypical of Gulf Coast condominiums in that it has a center loaded core with entrances from the interior into each unit, with each set of floors having a unique shape."

Civil engineering and surveying of the site was performed by Halff Associates, Inc., with Haynes-Whaley Associates, Inc., of Houston, drafting the structural engineering design. As the project progresses, W.T. Byler Co., LP of Houston continues with the on-site utility work. DBR Engineering Consultants designing the mechanical/electrical/plumbing features. Treadwell Electric of Houston and Mitchell Chuoke Plumbing Co., Inc. of Galveston have begun installation of the MEP, and Letsos Co., Ltd., of Houston, is installing the HVAC systems.

The soil composition of Galveston's East Beach, from the top down, consists of sand, followed by clay, then dense sand. The sand content dictated the use of skin friction pilings in the foundation, with partial displacement piles employed in the top sand layer, with soil being made denser as it is forced down and to the sides of the hole. A total of 1,202 deep piles were drilled and poured 100 feet deep into the dense sand layer. Additionally, 535 displacement piles, each 30 feet deep, were used in the top sand layer. Displacement piles were designed to meet two load requirements, with 334 of them having a 75-ton capacity and 201 of them having a 100-ton capacity.

Concrete reinforcing steel — 4,200 tons of it — is being supplied by Texas Cold Finished Steel, Inc., of Houston, and the rebar is being installed by CSC Steel Services, Inc. Metal Works Corporation of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is providing the structural steel and miscellaneous steel.

To avoid problems with cement and steel shortages, general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie purchased materials in advance and developed a schedule with suppliers to avoid delays. Cemex has provided 56,000 cubic yards of concrete with special additives to reduce corrosion of reinforcing steel in Galveston's saltwater environment, pumped on-site by Pumpco, Inc.

TAS Commercial Concrete Construction, L.P. is doing concrete placement work. According to Terry Watson, senior project manager for Brasfield & Gorrie, "most of the floor levels in the towers consist of concrete flat slab construction with conventional reinforcing. The parking deck and pool deck structures are flat slab with post-tension reinforcing by Suncoast Post-Tension of Houston." The roof will be installed by D. R. Kidd Co. of Overland Park, Kansas.

Most heavy equipment on-site is being rented locally, with two tower cranes being provided by Amquip. MDM Scaffolding Services, Inc., of Grapevine, is providing the eight mastclimbers. Personnel hoists are being leased from McDonough Construction Rentals, Inc., of Houston.

Haley-Greer, Inc. of Dallas will be providing and installing the glass exterior, using X-Clad to increase structural integrity and strength of the curtainwalls and punched opening window walls. Haley-Greer is using Efco for the swing doors.

Masonry work is being done by W.W. Bartlett, Inc., of Houston. Stucco is being provided and installed by Triangle Plastering, Ltd., of Mesquite, and Sigma Marble and and Granite, Inc., of Houston, is providing the hard tile. Framing, sheathing and interior drywall work is being performed by Marek Brothers Co. of Houston, with R&M Service Company of Houston doing all painting.

Jeff Hart says, "This project has the best subcontractors we've ever worked with. It's one of the biggest condominiums on the Gulf Coast, unique in the circular shape, and every unit has a view of the water."

George Barbour, national product manager notes some of the technical challenges that were faced and overcome:

Special brackets had to be designed, fabricated and fitted on the underside of each platform to support the 250m trailing cables which weighed in excess of 300 kg each.

The trailing cables had to be hard wired into switch boxes fixed to the chimney face at the halfway point to avoid voltage drop.

Standard cable trolleys had to be re-designed and fitted to prevent the trailing cables from being tangled around the mast during the regular periods of high winds.

A 30m high steel structure supporting a horizontal conveyor belt allowed only enough space between the structure and the stack face for the mast to pass through, which meant double deck platforms had to be installed, one below the conveyor so workers could access the façade from ground level up to 30m in height and the second was installed above the conveyor allowing access to the remaining full height of the chimney.

As the platform edges had to be profiled to suit the contoured shape of the chimney façade, and to keep and even distance at both ends of the working deck, the rigging team also had to overcome the natural effect of gravity which causes the mast to want to corkscrew during the erection process.

The project was completed on time, under budget and without a single LTI (lost time injury). The demand for Mastclimbers is growing at an exponential rate as more and more providers of specialised remedial works embrace the concept of rack and pinion work platforms and the benefits when compared to scaffolding and swing stages.

Alimak Hek also provide a cost calculation program which demonstrates the savings available when using this type of vertical access equipment.

AAA Scaffolding was fined £48,750 and Stone Tec £30,000 at the city's Sheriff Court.

Miss McGeachy spent nine days in intensive care after the accident.

The Royal Bank of Scotland worker was walking to get a bus for her first day back at work after the Christmas and New Year holidays when the scaffolding collapsed.

She spent two months in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and six months off work to recover from her injuries.

Ms McGeachy still suffers pain and has to take medication.

She said a curve in her spine might require further surgery.

Suffers pain

AAA Scaffolding, of Kirkliston, admitted failing to adequately stabilise the scaffolding on 30 December 2004.

The charge said that as a result it was left free-standing and on 4 January it collapsed and struck and trapped Miss McGeachy to her severe injury, permanent impairment, disfigurement and danger to her life.

Stone Tec, of Russell Road, Edinburgh, admitted failing to provide appropriate training to its contracts manager Angus Scott in regard to the inspection of scaffolding between 14 September and 22 December, 2004.

Fiscal depute Angie Main told the court that Stone Tec had been hired by the City of Edinburgh Council to carry out roofing and stone repair work on buildings in Palmerston Place and Lansdowne Crescent.

The Palmerston Place scaffold was left in place for the Christmas holidays.

It is still ongoing for me and will be for the rest of my life

Sarah-Jane McGeachy

Ms Main said it had been a windy night on 3 January and the following morning the scaffolding collapsed.

A health and safety inspection revealed that the scaffolding in Palmerston Place was secured to the building by only one tie.

Advocate Gavin Anderson, appearing for AAA Scaffolding, said the company's owner Scott Lawrie had failed to give adequate instructions on securing the scaffolding.

Mr Anderson said there was a suspicion that the workers were anxious to do the work as quickly as possible because of the New Year holiday.

Solicitor Clare Bone, acting for Stone Tec, said Mr Scott had not checked the scaffolding properly.

"He simply asked people how the scaffolding felt," she said.

She added that there appeared to be an insufficiency of training and knowledge about scaffolding industry-wide.

After the hearing, Miss McGeachy expressed her relief that the court case was now over.

She said: "It is still ongoing for me and will be for the rest of my life."

Among the suggestions presented were forcing contractors to alert the city when they hang scaffolds and increasing penalties for workplace violations.

Lawmakers say the task force it is a good first step.

“It's clear there's more need for coordination between the three levels of government when it comes to workers’ safety,” said Brooklyn City Councilman Erik Martin Dilan. “I think the fact that they're going to strive to meet quarterly on issues to coordinate rules and regulations and policy is a big help.”

The task force was convened in November after a string of deadly accidents.

Paul Wood will remain President and Chief Executive Officer and the existing senior management team will continue to lead Brand following the transaction.

In 2006, 20 accidents occurred on suspended scaffolding, which is not anchored on the ground, but hangs from the roof of a tall building by ropes or other adjustable means. Six workers were killed and five were injured in those accidents, according to the Buildings Department. The previous year, there were 11 suspended scaffolding incidents.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his administration is forming a scaffold safety unit at the Buildings Department, made up of inspectors who will conduct sweeps and crack down on safety violations, such as failure to provide harnesses for workers.

"It's dangerous working at great heights _ there's not a lot of room for error," he said. "But we think that if we are careful and insist that workers use harnesses, we can make a very big dent in the tragedy that every year seems to befall the people who are making our city better."

Through City Council legislation, the city is also aiming to nearly triple the penalties for violations, which could go from $500 to $1,250 in some cases.

Melbourne, FL- Beta Max Inc., a leading provider of affordable personnel and material lifting solutions, introduces the Gemini Plus and Scaff-Trac portable hoist mounting package that is adaptable to many mast climbing work platforms and a natural enhancement to dealer equipment offerings. Designed to withstand the rigors of the construction industry, the Gemini Plus and Scaff-Trac package is ideal for a variety of applications that require a lightweight, easily handled and efficient housing unit. Beta Max also offers a multitude of accessories to supplement the Gemini Plus and Scaff-Trac, making this versatile package one of the most resourceful lifting solutions available for the rental market and a means of maximizing rental revenue and customer profits.

"The Beta Max Gemini Plus and Scaff-Trac have immense lasting power and are well suited to withstand the demands of the high traffic rental market," said Dan Newman of Gilco Scaffolding Company in Des Plaines, IL. "This combination has remarkably reliable engineering; therefore, virtually nothing goes wrong unless the hoist is misused, a rare occurrence considering how user-friendly it is. Also, the safety devices are full-proof and the service Beta Max extends to their customers is outstanding."

Among Beta Max lifting solutions, the Gemini Plus portable hoist is the most popular and boasts a single line lifting capacity of 600 pounds and a double line lifting capacity of 1200 pounds. The overload sensing device ensures worker safety by halting when the maximum payload capacity is reached. The Gemini Plus comes equipped with a durable electrical controller, a non-rotating cable to help prevent loads from spinning while lifting and lowering objects and an upper limit switch to automatically stop the load when it reaches the top. Its failsafe brakes ensure there will be no free-falling even in the event of power interruption.

The popular Scaff-Trac mounting option offers versatility and ease-of-assembly, and is able to adapt to most pre-set scaffolding by attaching to the scaffolding and hanging under the horizontal members of a frame scaffold using Beta Max saddles and pins.

The Scaff-Trac works with frame scaffolds utilizing either 7 or 8 foot cross braces, and allows the load to be rolled back into the scaffold for unloading. The Scaff-Trac allows a cantilever of 3.5 feet. Unlimited system lengths are available using add-on 7 foot Scaff-Trac extensions. All Beta Max Hoists Systems meet or exceed ANSI and OSHA specifications.

Kennesaw, Ga.-based Brand Energy & Infrastructure says it is the largest North American provider of scaffolding services. It designs, erects and dismantles scaffolding for industrial and commercial customers and also rents scaffolding equipment and sells new and used scaffolding equipment.

First Reserve will acquire a majority of Brand's common stock from current owner J.P. Morgan Partners LLC.

Paul Wood will remain president and CEO and the existing senior management team will continue to lead Brand following the transaction.