The British Constructional Steelwork
Association (BCSA) has revised its Safe
Site Handover Certificate to include
safety measures introduced by Public
Health England (PHE) to prevent the
spread of COVID-19.
The revision includes the two-metre
rule for self-distancing and information
on regular cleaning of surfaces, such as
access and egress points (where hand
sanitisers are needed), canteens and
welfare facilities.
The updated certificate has been
circulated to all BCSA steelwork
contractor members. They are advised
not to go on site until the client and
main contractor have put all the health
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Apr 20
and safety measures in place and signed
the certificate.
It has been reported that there
is confusion over construction sites
remaining open and whether they are
safe places to work. Workers are worried
and concerned for their safety and
consequently some sub-contractors have
decided to remove staff from sites.
The BCSA understand that in order
to retain workers on site some main
contractors are using contractual threats,
while others are trying to off-load their
site health and safety responsibilities to
their sub-contractors.
Following recent feedback from its
members, the BCSA is reminding clients
and main contractors that they have a
duty of care under the Health and Safety
at Work Act. This means they have to
adopt measures to reduce or eliminate
the risk of harm where their activities
could result in harming people other
than their own employees.
Tim Outteridge, President of
the BCSA said: “This epidemic is
unprecedented and more than ever at
this time it is essential that clients and
main contractors understand their
health and safety responsibilities and
stop putting our workers in danger.”
Colin Taylor who was instrumental in
helping to develop the design standards
for structural steelwork died on 5th
February 2020 at the age of 84.
He was born in the West Midlands and
lived in Dublin, Liverpool, Birmingham,
Wales and India before settling down in
Epsom in 1970. He was married to Jose
and had two children and a grandson.
Colin graduated from Cambridge
and became a Chartered Engineer and
a Fellow of the Institution of Structural
Engineers. After working for W S Atkins
& Partners, he joined the
Steel Construction Institute
in 1987 shortly after it was
founded in 1985 where he
was part of the ‘portacabin
generation’ as the offices
were not built until later.
For more than 35 years
Colin was synonymous with
the drafting of structural
steel design standards including BS
5950 Part 1 and more recently BS EN
1993. It is said that he contributed more
than anyone else to the
development of these
standards and it is through
his dedication and technical
knowledge that the UK steel
construction industry has
some of the best standards
in the world.
For his work, Colin
received the BSI
Distinguished Service Certificate that
marks his contribution to British,
European and International standards for
steel structures.
Throughout his life, he maintained
an interest in the development of
structural steel design standards and up
to very recently he was working on the
European standard for the design of crane
supporting structures.
British Constructional Steelwork
Association CEO Dr David Moore said:
“His knowledge and pragmatism will
be a great loss to the steel construction
industry, and he’ll be sadly missed by his
family, friends and colleagues.”
Project stakeholders have held a topping
out ceremony at the Ovalhouse theatre
scheme in Brixton, south London.
Working on behalf of main
contractor Galliford Try, Mifflin
Construction has fabricated, supplied
and erected 575t of structural steelwork
for the theatre.
Forming part of Lambeth Council’s
regeneration of Brixton’s Somerleyton
Road, the new steel-framed theatre is
being constructed as the focal point of
a project that also includes 300 homes,
workspaces and community facilities.
The Ovalhouse has been designed
by Edmund Wilson of Foster Wilson
Architects as a fully accessible space
for both artists and audiences. It will
contain two theatre spaces, rehearsal
studios as well as high-quality training
facilities and spaces designed to be used
by the local community.
Ovalhouse, which is currently based
in nearby Oval, has built its reputation
on supporting new artists, working with
young people and communities, and
putting on shows.
According to Foster Wilson
Architects, the design of the new theatre
building is purposefully robust, with
exposed materials, such as the steel
frame, that are capable of adaption to
individual performances, in keeping
with the spirit of studio theatre.
Externally, the design of the building
relates to the industrial architecture
of Brixton and the early street lighting
of nearby Electric Avenue, with a
new anodized aluminium facade that
incorporates a range of lighting and
signage.
“Using structural steelwork was the
obvious choice for this project as a
lightweight frame was required because
the Victoria underground line runs
directly below the site, preventing any
piling,’’ explains Conisbee Associate
Denis Kealy.
‘We also needed a framing solution
that could efficiently provide the long
spans and column-free spaces within
the building.”
The Ovalhouse is scheduled to open
its doors in spring 2021.
News
BCSA revise safety measures to
prevent the spread of COVID-19
Steel construction sector remembers Colin Taylor
Steelwork tops out at Brixton theatre scheme
Coldharbour Councillor Scarlett O’Hara, Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment
and New Homes Matthew Bennett, Dulwich & West Norwood MP Helen Hayes, and
Lambeth Council Leader Jack Hopkins, help to tighten the ceremonial bolt in the new
Ovalhouse theatre
/Construction
/Health_and_safety
/Fabrication
/Construction#Steel_erection
/Braced_frames
/Residential_and_mixed-use_buildings
/Leisure_buildings#Theatres_and_auditoria
/Design
/Facades_and_interfaces
/The_case_for_steel#Take_a_load_off_your_foundations
/Leisure_buildings#Ability_to_span_long_distances