A UK based company is celebrating the arrival of new lightweight composite scaffold tubes set to change the way the industry utilises its materials. Scaffmag has been taking a closer look at the potential success of both lightweight tubing and brilliantly designed toe-boards clips.

Life is good when materials are easier to transport, handle and far less likely to lead to personal injury issues. It’s a goal the whole of the scaffolding industry is striving toward as we move deeper into the 21^st century.

Thanks to the bods at Kapiti Engineering Ltd and Forefront Scaffolding Hire and Sales, a new form of tube is set to be snapped up by site professionals across Britain and beyond.

While the external diameter of com-tube is the same as conventional steel or aluminium scaffold tubes it has several other attractive features. Firstly, the resilience of the composite materials comprising the com-tube makes them resistant to corrosion even in hostile chemical environments.

What’s more, they are ideal for applications in both onshore and offshore marine locations. In fact, com-tube is ideal for operations in the vicinity of high voltage electrical works such as power stations, transmission lines and railways.

Due to their non-sparking properties com-tube provides an ideal solution when operating around potentially combustive environments such as chemical plants, and oil and gas facilities.

It’s important to note this innovative tubing is made from an advanced composite of resilient thermoset resin binding both longitudinal and spirally wound reinforcing fibres. This means it’s stronger in bending than traditional steel scaffolding tubes.

Winter is on the horizon and if recent years have taught us anything, we must prepare for the unexpected in terms of weather.

Undoubtedly, there are more hazards on-site during the winter season. We’re being subjected to more storms and larger quantities of rain, and there is an ever-present risk of freezing temperatures, snow and ice. Taking the right precautions is essential to successfully enable workers to carry out their work safely.

Much progress has been made in our journey towards improved site safety. But it’s also clear that, as an industry, there’s more to be done. According to the Health & Safety Executive, there were 81,000 workers who suffered from work-related injuries in 2020, and sadly, 40 fatal injuries. This represented a slight increase on the yearly average.

Worker safety and comfort has never been more important and every tradesperson needs to get home safely at the end of the working day.

That’s why we’ve put together the following handy suggestions to help prepare you and your worksite for the colder weather.

Steven Gillmore the 36-year-old scaffolder also fell from height following the electric shock. He has remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition since the incident happened in Crawley on November 29.

“The injuries he sustained will result in life-changing conditions”, his partner Vicky Blackman said.

She has been travelling to the burns unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to visit him where he remains receiving treatment.

Doctors are unsure of the severity of his internal burns and how much of his hands and arms are going to survive. But surgeons have said it will be a long and rough road to recovery for Steven.

A new app, developed by the 38 card schemes displaying the CSCS logo, is set to radically improve the construction industry’s card checking procedures and site safety.

The CSCS Smart Check app represents a major step forward as, for the first time, all 2.1 million cards displaying the CSCS logo can be electronically verified using a single app.

The rollout of the app begins in April 2022, providing employers with a quick, easy and secure way of ensuring everyone on site has the right qualifications and training for the job they do.

The app will be free to use and available for Apple iOS and Android devices.

CSCS says that sites should require everyone working in construction to hold a card displaying the CSCS logo and they should be checking those cards regularly to ensure they are genuine and in date.

New research shows that almost two-thirds of UK scaffolders enjoy their job and nearly a half of scaffolders say they are proud of the work they do.

The research which forms part of a wider study by IronmongeryDirect shows that tradespeople are significantly more likely to love their jobs than the average working Brit.

UK tradespeople were asked about their level of job satisfaction and found that 56% are happy with their careers, compared to just 37% across all industries.

Additionally, nearly half (47%) of tradespeople are proud of the work they do and around a third say they are happy with both their work-life balance (32%) and level of income (31%).

Tradies were also asked exactly which parts of their work they find the most enjoyable. The most popular answer was interaction with customers (22%), while the ability to continually learn on the job also ranked highly (21%).