Safety Monday

This morning I was greeted by the sight of  builder backside hanging over the edge of my neighbour's roof parapet, he was manfully wrestling a window frame from his precarious perch, and ………..I did nothing,

spot the safety provision

Although this attitude might just about be acceptable in private life it is not acceptable in a work environment, where we all have a responsibility to prevent (if possible) and report dangerous behaviour.

Holding on with his backside

I am a little ashamed to report that I am a little tired of approaching people in the street and bringing to their attention the risk they are taking.  Surprisingly, not once have my heart felt pleas received grateful thanks.  The usual answer, to my respectful concern for their safety, ends in “….. off!” so today I just walked past - I hope he is OK!

And following up on the subject of our attitude to health and safety, I read an interesting article in the Guardian this morning, I don’t think I have got that paranoid yet.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/12/health-and-safety-eh

And finally we have mentioned a number of public consultations on H&S legislation in the past.  If you are interested in what the next step is follow the link to find the Final Impact Assessment from the “CD243 - Public consultation on proposals to simplify and clarify RIDDOR reporting requirements”

http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd243-update.pdf

It gives some interesting insights into how decisions are made - that is if you can get through the jargon.

I’m off home now, hopefully there won’t be one of those body shapes from the cop shows on my neighbour's front lawn.

Work safely or you may damage a perfectly good lawn

Latest Projects - Beautiful Interiors

For the fourth year running Up and Under Interiors are undertaking refurbishment works at an internationally respected medical research unit in Liverpool. The new offices and laboratories form part of a planned investment project. We are please that the quality and value we offer to this prestigious client means that we have been asked to complete more works this year.

On a recent site visit with Contracts Director Grant Williams, Andy, Group MD saw the scope of the construction process from start - removal of wall and existing services - to finish - newly plastered walls, suspended ceiling and beautiful glass partitioned offices.



Before



After



If you, like Andy, want your working environment transformed in this way, contact Grant on 01270 589615

Web site



Recent Projects - Keeping Warm

We were recently asked to combine our rope access skills and our fabrication nouse to solve a clients problem. Thermal movement had led to some slippage of the lagging and it’s protection in a steam generation plant. Working on live equipment we installed new lagging and purpose made covers to bridge the gaps.

Drilling newly fabricated covers

 The client was particularly pleased that the works were undertaken without significant disruption to the plants operations.

Installing new covers with power rivetters

 We have a range of experience of working in and around power plants including:

•  Pipe lagging
• Surface cleaning
• Painting
• Cladding repairs

 If you want to discuss a project please contact us 01270 589615

Latest Project - Structure Investigation

As you know we are the place to come to when you have a puzzling problem.  And so it was with a recent project.  "We want to know why our parapet posts are swelling" 

There were a list of likely causes suggested including internal gas pressure, fabrication errors or water in the posts.  Our team prepared a plan to safely investigate the issue, including for the risk of drilling into a gas filled vessel.

Paint thickness measurment on site

The works, undertaken overnight, included air sampling and the use of video recorded borescope examination.

The findings were reported to the client with the likely cause being less exotic than many postulated by others - but then isn't that often the case.

If you need a structure examined to determine the cause of a defect, as part of an assessment exercise or event to prepare 'as built' drawings Contact us 01270 589615

Recent Projects - Keeping Coffee Safe

After a few weeks of bridges, we have a building for you today.

A recent problem which faced not only the Up and Under specialist access team, but also the customers of a well know coffee shop chain was the spalling of concrete from a building in Reading, Berkshire (not what you want landing in your cappuccino).


 The temporary solution (until funds could be allocated to carry out a full concrete repair) was to protect the face using a fine mesh safety netting to protect the building. Of course the coffee shop did not wish to close and the owner didn’t want to cover the building with expensive scaffolding.

The solution was the use of rope access techniques although, as you can see, Andy had someone looking over his shoulder most of the time.

Look out Andy, you have an admirer

Up and Under (Specialist Contracts) provide many building maintenance solutions and dont miss our new web site www.pigeonpoo.co.uk