Scaffolding and Skip Hire - The Tuxebo Blog

Scaffolding Hire

rob — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:24:16 +0000

If you’re thinking of building your own home, or doing a significant amount of work on your extension, then you may need to think about using scaffolding. Part 1

Scaffolding is an arrangement of metal tubes and wooden boards which are built together in order to provide a platform above ground level for people working on a building. The nature of scaffolding means that if it is not put up correctly, it could be a potentially fatal health and safety hazard.

How does scaffolding work?

The kind of scaffolding you see at most domestic building sites is made up of four major components:

Upright metal tubes (standards)
Horizontal metal tubes (ledgers)
Shorter metal tubes (transoms)
Wooden platform (battens)

The standards are joined to the ledgers, and then the transoms are added at right angles to support the wooden battens. In order to give the structure stability and strength, diagonal braces are added and often scaffolding clips are used to tie the structure together. In addition, guard rails or netting may be added for additional safety.

Products called “system scaffolding” are becoming more commonly available and are better suited to the DIY market. These systems slot together and have built-in strength and flexibility. The same safety regulations apply to both systems and whether you are building yourself or using a contractor, you should be aware of all the relevant safety issues.

Can I put up scaffolding myself?

Although the basic principles of erecting scaffolding are very straightforward, you need to be absolutely sure that you can put up a safe structure. Not only will you be using the scaffolding yourself, but the tradesmen you employ will also be using it, and there may be people at your plot who are not involved with the building, such as utility engineers, building inspectors and your family and friends. If the scaffolding is dangerous and any of those people are hurt, either by falling from the scaffolding or being hit by scaffolding, you could face a huge personal insurance claim. More relevant than whether you put the scaffolding up by yourself is whether you need scaffolding at all.

When do I need scaffolding?

If you are building a single storey extension, or a bungalow, you may not need scaffolding at all. If in doubt, speak to your builder. Scaffolding won’t be the most expensive part of your budget but, depending on how long you need it for, it will make a dent in your pocket, so make sure you only use the scaffolding if you need it. It is possible to erect a two storey building without scaffolding, but most builders would advise that scaffolding is used.

Where do I find a scaffolding contractor? Tuxebo offer a large data base of scaffolding contactors who can provide a quick and easy quote ranging from Scaffolding Hire in London, Scaffolding Hire in Tyne and Wear or Scaffolding Hire in Manchester to Scaffolding Hire in Bristol. If you are looking for a different location near you then just click below to find your area at:

http://www.tuxebo.co.uk/scaffolding/uk

The Most Holy Scaffolding in the World?

rob — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:15:13 +0000

Last year the statue of Christ in Rio got a $4 million facelift. Heavy rains have eroded portions of the face and hands of the statue. It has also been damaged by lightning strikes over the years. Perched atop a mountain above Rio’s white-sand beaches, the 38-meter (125 foot) statue was inaugurated in 1931. It was designed by local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, possibly making this scaffolding the holy grail of all scaffolding.

Meanwhile back in the UK a Lorry has just ripped down Dorchester scaffolding.

There she goooeeessss!

The lorry driver was apparently trying to turn into North Square in Dorchester from High West Street. Several levels of scaffolding in front of a jewellers store were brought down and ended up on top of the vehicle. Dorset Police said nobody was hurt but the main road through the town had to be closed for several hours. The Health and Safety Executive was informed.Sgt Anita Arliss, of Dorset Police, said: “It appears the the lorry has been coming up High West Street, has attempted sharp right turn, has missed the turn and caught the scaffolding tower causing it to fall.” The scaffolding was dismantled and removed and the road was later reopened. Not like the scaffolding holding up the statue of Christ in Rio, Dorchester city counsel are probably on the lookout for some new scaffolding. I know a couple of places where they could take a look: skip hire in London or maybe skip hire in Essex or skip hire in Bradford. If they really want to go wild then i would strongly suggest looking up north to skip hire in Glasgow or skip hire in Edinburgh.

Man Jailed for Dumping One Million Tyres

rob — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:09:43 +0000

Should Have Got a Skip Hire…

The man from Lincolnshire claimed he was very tyred and won't be available for any interviews

Officials have warned of the penalties for waste crime after a Lincolnshire man was jailed for 15 months for dumping more than one million tyres. At Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, Carl Steele, 33, from Chapel Farm, Deeping St Nicholas, admitted breaking the terms of his environmental permit.He offered cheap collections and dumped tyres at sites in Lincolnshire, Essex, Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Norfolk.The Environment Agency said offenders faced up to five years in prison. It added that tyre dumps presented a serious risk to the environment and human health. The court heard that Steele was under investigation by the Environment Agency after officers found 3,000 tyres at a site in Lincolnshire. During the investigation the number rose to 400,000, but he was only allowed to store 6,000. Investigators later uncovered 800,000 used tyres at four other dumping sites. Mat Crocker, from the Environment Agency, said: “Stockpiles [of tyres] are a significant fire risk, as they can burn for several years, releasing dangerous gases such as hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide and sulphur dioxide.

“Waste crime is a serious offence with tough penalties including up to five years in prison, unlimited fines and the confiscation of illicit profits.”

The Steele case is significantly bigger than the last major conviction for tyre dumping. In 2009, 175,000 tyres and 290 tonnes of tyre wire were dumped by three people across England and Wales. The clean-up costs for the site owners in that case were up to £122,000, suggesting the bill for this case could be more than half a million pounds. Landowners are having to clear up at their own expense.

Around 55m waste tyres are legally disposed of annually, according to estimates from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Cost varies across the country, but on average, it costs 80p to legally dispose of a tyre. Flytippers illegally dumping tyres can face five years in prison, unlimited fines and confiscation of profits. If only the man from Lincolnshire saw skip hire in Lincolnshire, skip hire in Yorkshire, skip hire in Essex he wouldn’t be serving 15 months behind bars.

Who invented cranes

kenneth — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:27:03 +0000

As you know a crane is the machine used for lifting heavy objects horizontally whereby carrying them with human labour would be far too costly and inefficient. A crane is equipped with a hoist and the human operator will command the machine to left seeming impossibly weighty objects up to the skyline of a city. But did know the crane was invented by the ancient Greeks, not much surprise there since they’ve invented most mechanics and even modern day giant debts that can’t be payed back. Archaeological record shows that no later than 500BC appeared on a stone block of a Greek temples. From than on, holes point at the use of a lifting device and they are found either above the centre of gravity of the blocks. The invention of winch and pulley hoist cause a popular method to carry heavy materials and equipment to higher levels of a building succeeding the ramps. During the archaic age, there was a tendency to increase block size as Greek temples of the classical age such as Parthenon became more spectacular and grand. Even though the reasons of transition from ramp to crane was unexplained, it is clear that at that time of Greece it was more efficient and effective to be employ small groups of well trained profession rather than a large groups of unskilled labour.

Containerization

kenneth — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:22:01 +0000

Containerization is a new word I’ve discovered today. It is a system transport based on steel containers, this was introduce after the second world war and it greatly reduced the cost of transporting goods over long distances. Containers could be stacked on top of each other and they could be transfer from one kind of transport to another without unpacking the goods inside. In the 50s economist Chinitz foreseen containerization could reduce shipping cost between New York and the Southern states of the US but wasn’t able to predict that containerization could make imported goods over sea significantly more efficient. There has been a lot economic studies on containerization focused on shipping companies would replace their outdated methods. However none could anticipate containerization would have direct influence on the choice of producers and increase the total volume of trade. There is a standard container size across the globe to remove the problem of compatibility when transporting through different transport systems. Containers keep the anonymity of the cargo to reduce the chance it would be stolen. The container doors are sealed so tampering between location is more visible. Containers with important goods would have electronic monitoring device to track it’s location. The device could detect air pressure for when the doors are opened. All these could make you feel safe when putting your valuables into a container.

Things to watch out for when using a tipper truck

kenneth — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:12:23 +0000

Tipper trucks are built to protect the driver, it does this through reinforced chassis to avoid the structure of the vehicles from crushing inwards. It also heightens the driver’s seat and have high bumpers to increase ground clearance. These factors are particularly important because tipper trucks are usually expected to off-road operations and construction site driving. However this increase safety to the driver is at the expenses of reduced line of sight due to the position of the driver. Also if there was a collision with a standard car, the car is likely to go under the truck. This would cause significant damage to the passengers in the car, much more than a collision with other standard road cars. Most countries these day have special regulations to tipper trucks, for example tipper trucks should have bumpers around 16 inches above the ground to protect the safety of other drivers during collision. Also there are rules about how long the load could go beyond the rear bumper to stop other motorist that rear end the tipper truck from going under it. Also the level of the truck before unloading needs to be taken into consideration as well. This is because if the truck is not parked on a relatively horizontal ground, a sudden change of weight could disrupt the balance by lifting or dumping materials can cause the vehicle to slide. Lastly due to their size and the limited sight contact to workers in construction site, tipper trucks could be a threat especially when reversing. Some may argue they have back mirrors and back-up detectors to help the driver to avoid accidents, it only provides very limited level protections. It is often better to have a spotter to help the driver to ensure the safety of others.

Cherry Picker’s usage

kenneth — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:48:22 +0000

A cherry picker is a type of aerial working platform lifted by hydraulic lifting system and often mounted onto a large vehicle. The working platform has a bucket and is design for a worker or a small group of workers to stand in. It has barriers to avoid accidents like falling off the platform. Most cherry pickers will have an additional sets of control on the bucket so the worker can operate their position for ease of working and flexibility. The lifting arm itself are to adjust the reaching device, usually with automatic safety controls to prevent tipping over. While articulated boom lifts are more appropriate than stick booms when operating in tight spaces.

The machine named cherry pickers because it was originally meant for orchards and they still use them today for cherry picking. Other industry such as telecoms see it usefulness in reaching high areas with relative ease when repairing and installing cables. Even in the fire service they use cherry pickers are like known as snorkel in place of a ladder. This is especially useful when fire fighters need to carry heavy equipment into high floors with no alternative access. At the same time window cleaners use them to reach high places too.

Skip it or Grab it?

kenneth — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:10:42 +0000

Grab hire are often more efficient at removing large amount of heavy waste. This is because if you want to remove heavy waste such as soil and concrete, large skips are not an option. As skip trucks cannot left large amounts of heavy material at once. Therefore if you want to remove heavy waste you’ll need to hire many small skips which are not efficient. To work with grab hire all you have to do is to leave your waste in a pile at an accessible point and let the grab truck work itself. Unlike the skips, grab trucks don’t need a road permit. The lorry’s crew will operate the loading for you and on average the loading takes about 30 minutes. Grabbing truck is far more flexible than a skip as it could reach places where a skip cannot. For example you could dump your pile of waste behind a wall or on uneven ground and the grab arm could take remove your waste for you. A single load on a grab lorry is around two builder skips, that’s around 50 bin bags! Most of the grab hire trucks have a on board weighting system so the operators could always maximise the capacity making the most efficient out of your money. Grab hire are suitable for most situation, whether you are hiring for domestic, trade and commercial.

Grab hire suffer from a few negatives though. It cannot load from the front nor the back of the vehicle as the grab arm isn’t long enough. There shouldn’t be any cables or tree on the overhead of the waste since it may damage the grab arm. The grab arm have limited length so the waste have to be with in 5 metres from the side of the lorry. Lastly the grab truck may have difficulty getting to the site if there are low arches on the way. Keep in mind many of these down sets are shared with skip hire too.

Under the right circumstance grab hire could be significantly cheaper than skip hire. You can always ask our operator for advice to save you some money and get a bang for a buck.

The interest history of portable toilets

kenneth — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:57:03 +0000

The first portable toilet was seen in the docklands in London, in the 1930s. This idea came to mind because if a ship worker needed to use the lavatory they would need to travel all the way into the centre area of the dock. In scientific management every minute a work spent traveling every minute is lost in a waste motion and therefore a higher cost. Therefore the shipbuilding firms and dock logistics asked for portable toilets to be placed closer to the ships. The first generation of a portable toilet was a wooden cabinet with a small holding tank. This concept soon came into demand with the construction industry and other off site work.

These wooden toilets had a metal tank so it was heavy to transport especially if it has content. The wood would absorbed the odors and liquid making sanitary to be impossible. 40 years later fiberglass portable toilets were created, they were lighter to transport and cleaning was manageable, but odors was still absorbed by the fiberglass holding tanks and cabana. Additional research and development were invest to create polyethylene portable toilets. This materials was both light and easy to clean and most importantly it didn’t absorb odors like the 2 previous models. That is the evolution process of the portable toilets we see today.

The key competitive advantages of portable toilets are self contained, have no moving parts, do not require a power source, usage of non-porous material and smooth surface areas. Meaning portable toilets are much more competitive than the high cost permanent toilet, this lead to a greater development in the portable lavatory industry.

Skip permit

kenneth — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:55:02 +0000

Why do I need a permit?
If you want to place a skip anywhere but your own property you are mostly like to need a permit from your local council. Otherwise you could be fine. A permit is needed due to health and safety regulations and it allow the skip owner to place a skip on roads. It is the supplier of the Skip’s responsibility to obtain a permit and to ensure all the regulations are in place, however the site owner should always verify whether the supplier needs a permit before the delivery. The permits could last for 1 up to 14 days while for additional time extra applications are need. Also only one skip is allowed at any given time in the permitted site.

My Responsibilities?
Skips should always to be place on road. If permission is available, the skip could be placed on pavement but protecting care should take place by the consumer. When leaving a skip on the road should have at lease 4 traffic cones on the approach side to guide traffic past the skip. Flashing amber is placed on the skip when visibility is poor While putting lamps on each traffic cone. The skip should also be cover at most time to limit the content from escaping on to the road. The skip should be removed when full and shouldn’t be overloaded at the only time. No flammable, explosive or toxic materials should be placed in the skip.