
SAEMA Test and Inspection course confirmed for April
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association – is pleased to announce that a three-day Test and Inspection course has been confirmed for the week commencing 19th April 2021. 2020 saw SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association) implement

SITE ACCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY MEASURES
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association – as the national trade body for the permanent and temporary façade access equipment industry, is keen to share the following report of an accident that occurred on site due to lack

SAEMA User Training – a simpler way to achieve safety at height
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – is proud to announce the launch of SAEMA User Training. This is a brand new and unique way for those who work at height to be assessed on their technical understanding

Act now on safety or face shutdown, says BESA
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association – is pleased to share the following content from Heating & Ventilation Review. SAEMA has a long history in delivering the best training and guidance in the temporary and permanent suspended access

Letter issued to the construction industry regarding lockdown
Andy Mitchell CBE, Chief Executive Officer of Tideway and Council Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), has written to the construction industry regarding the recent lockdown. Mr Mtchell’s letter referenced the letter sent by the Right Honourable Kwasi Kwarteng

SAEMA WELCOMES EHS FAÇADE ACCESS LTD AS A NEW MEMBER
SAEMA is delighted to welcome EHS Façade Access Ltd (EHS) as a new member. SAEMA has over 20 member organisations working in the temporary and permanent suspended access industry. Each enjoys peace of mind that their business is fully safe

FASTER HOUSE-BUILDING BOOSTS UK CONSTRUCTION GROWTH IN DECEMBER
SAEMA – Suspended Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – is keen to share the latest positive news from Builders Merchants Journal on the house building sector. While the UK is currently in the midst of the nation’s third lockdown, the

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPBEAT ABOUT EU TRADING DEAL
SAEMA exists to promote safety in the temporary and permanent suspended access industry through quality training and guidance. Monitoring the latest news that affect companies and individuals is something we do in our own news section. The construction sector is

CONSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIRD LOCKDOWN
Construction sites can stay open as and continue to operate during the latest lockdown. The prime minister’s announcement on 4th January 2020 informed the nation that there will be a lockdown until mid-February. It will be similar in nature to

TRADE CREDIT INSURANCE REINSURANCE SCHEME EXTENDED AND GUIDANCE UPDATED
The Construction Leadership Council guidance on trade credit insurance during COVID-19 has been updated to reflect the latest reinsurance scheme information. The Scheme has been extended by 6 months to 30 June 2021 and approved under relevant state aid rules.

The changing face of the office
There has been a 19% increase in demand for smaller flexible workspaces, driven by distributed working and employee demand to work closer to home, according to figures from IWG, operator of Regus. Once employees are no longer at significant risk

EU Exit Business Readiness: Final Checklist
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published a final checklist for construction businesses ahead of the end of the transition period within the EU. This one page checklist summarises the key changes that UK construction businesses will face at the

Manchester is a microcosm of construction industry health
SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association) delivers the best training and guidance in the temporary and permanent suspended access industry. Our aim is to advance safety through raising the standards in best practice amongst at-height workers. As well as

Sixth carbon budget published by Climate on Committee Change
SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association) delivers the best training and guidance in the temporary and permanent suspended access industry. Our aim is to advance safety through raising the standards in best practice amongst at-height workers. Our part of

Brexit uncertainty frustrates Construction
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – has keenly followed developments both regarding the coronavirus pandemic and how it impacts the construction sector, as well as Brexit and how decisions from the negotiating table will affect construction now

ONS REPORTS RISE IN CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT
Construction output saw a monthly increase of 1% in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is due to increases in both new workup (+0.3%) and repair and maintenance (+2.3%). The data shows that this is the

CONSTRUCTION PLAYBOOK LAUNCHED TO BRING TOGETHER BEST PRACTICE
Construction Leadership Council (CLC), in collaboration with the Cabinet Office and Infrastructure & Projects Authority, and with input from across the public sector, has developed and published the Construction Playbook. As the description on gov.uk says, the Construction Playbook captures

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR GROWS AT FASTEST RATE FOR SIX YEARS
SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association) delivers the best training and guidance in the temporary and permanent suspended access industry. Our aim is to advance safety through raising the standards in best practice amongst at-height workers. Our part of

NFB’s DECARBONISATION INITIATIVE
The National Federation of Builders’ (NFB) Major Contractors Group (MCG) is arming the construction industry with practical tools for main contractors to start or accelerate their journey towards achieving net zero carbon with a new decarbonisation handbook. Launched by Mark

A LIFE SHATTERED BY A FALL FROM HEIGHT
As the national trade body for the permanent and temporary façade access equipment industry, SAEMA’s aims include adherence to safe and best practice for the provision of access to buildings and other structures for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance.

HSE releases 2019/20 UK accident statistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released the latest statistics (2019/20) relating to workplace accidents. The HSE is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain.

ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDE INDICATION ON ZERO CARBON EFFECT ON FM
This week has seen a number of government announcements confirming its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Included within these have been its 10-point plan, confirming investment and the main areas of concentration, providing more clarity and

PLANS REVEALED FOR NEW AUTISM-FRIENDLY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN GATESHEAD
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – is pleased to share this news story from Bdaily, which demonstrates real progress in the way the construction industry is now directly catering for people with particular health requirements. A North

Do you need help assessing work at height risks
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – is pleased to share this blog from rams.or.uk (Risk Assessment Solutions Ltd.) Based in Stafford, West Midlands, Risk Assessment Solutions can help to identify potential problems and offer suitable solutions to

Business secretary says thank you to all construction workers
Business secretary Alok Sharma has written an open letter addressed “to everyone working in the construction sector” to express his gratitude for the work being done. “Thank you to everyone operating in the UK construction sector,” he writes. “You are

Safety warning regarding Skyclimber lightweight link units
SAEMA – Specialist Access Engineering & Maintenance Association – has become aware of a recent incident when a fault occurred with a temporary suspended access system. SAEMA received a report that a spigot of a Skyclimber lightweight stage had sheared under load. No

The latest advice on self-employment income support and self-isolation
Following the announcement of the new national restrictions in place from 5th November 2020 regarding COVID-19, Build UK has issued a flowchart showing what to do if a worker has contracted the virus or has to self-isolate. The flowchart can

LONDON BOROUGHS SEEK SUPPORT FOR GREEN RETROFIT WORK
London boroughs have identified 375 shovel-ready projects, representing a £1.35bn pipeline of work – including the retrofitting of 18 large public buildings, 29 schools and thousands of homes across the capital. The councils have found £950m for the work but

CONSTRUCTION AIMS TO MAKE WORKING CONDITIONS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE DURING SECOND LOCKDOWN
Feedback on how to keep construction sites going safely on the eve of England’s second national lockdown on Thursday is being called for by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. In a public letter, it flagged up its guidance on safe operation

Number of new homes registered this year so far ‘is down by 30%’
Much has been made of the downturn in new build after the start of the coronavirus pandemic in late March. There are very few industry sectors that haven’t been severely affected – travel and tourism and catering, for example, have

More women building careers in construction during COVID-19
Women looking for work during the coronavirus pandemic have told how a training programme has helped them secure new careers in the construction industry. Fifteen women have been trained by Capital City College Training (CCCT) and have been undertaking work

Job applications in the construction sector grow by 44.5% in Q3 as end of Job Retention Scheme looms
According to the latest quarterly job market report from CV-Library, job applications in the construction sector grew by 44.5% in Q3 2020 and by 21.2% year-on-year. The report looks at job market data throughout Q3 2020 and compares this with findings from the previous

RIBA publishes results of COVID-19 student survey
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published findings of its COVID-19 student survey, focusing on how architecture students have been affected by the pandemic. Architects are, of course, absolutely crucial in the construction supply chain, which is why

No Falls Foundation appoints its first Health and Safety Advisor
Following his retirement from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the end of September, Ray Cooke has kindly agreed to lend his invaluable and extensive experience to the No Falls Foundation, serving as its Health and Safety Advisor. The

SAEMA’s Test & Inspection Training in Full Swing
2020 has seen SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association) implement Test & Inspection Training at the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) head office in Bircham Newton, Norfolk. We are delighted to announce that 15 delegates have already successfully passed

Construction workers’ wages hit hardest during pandemic
Figures just released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the wages of construction workers have fallen more than in any other sector of the economy. The coronavirus has devastated economic output throughout the world, with many sectors

UK CONCRETE AND CEMENT SECTOR SETS OUT NET ZERO ROADMAP
The UK concrete and cement industry has launched a roadmap to become net negative by 2050, removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits each year. UK Concrete, part of the Mineral Products Association (MPA), has identified that

Promoting mental health in construction
The importance of sustaining the workforce, making sure there is a constant stream of upcoming skilled talent, is well-documented in the construction industry. It is pleasing to see that a growing number of organisations believe that hand in hand with

Cautious welcome for September’s construction boost
As we reach the latter stages of arguably the most turbulent year in living memory, construction industry leaders have cautiously welcomed the quickest rise in new business since lockdown. However, fears linger that construction is currently in the ‘calm before

Scotland publishes construction recovery plan
Scotland’s Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) has published a plan aimed at steering the sector’s recovery from the impact of Covid-19. The plan focuses on the joint action required between the industry and the public sector to respond to the pandemic.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) cracks down on dust
Health and safety inspectors across Great Britain will be targeting construction firms to check that their health standards are up to scratch during a month-long inspection initiative, starting on Monday 5 October 2020. This is the fourth health-focused initiative of

Government Announces £3bn Plan to Upgrade Buildings
Homeowners can sign up for big savings on upgrades to their homes under the government’s £2 billion Green Homes Grant, with an additional £1 billion announced to improve the energy efficiency of publicly owned buildings. The Green Homes Grant scheme

CLC: Industry must lead the way in take-up of NHS COVID-19 App
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has reported that industry leaders have urged businesses of all sizes in UK construction to lead the way in ensuring the widest possible uptake of the NHS COVID-19 app, which launched in England and Wales

Jenrick announces next steps to put beauty and design at heart of planning system
It was announced on Tuesday 22nd September that Nicholas Boys Smith has been appointed to establish a new design body, tasked with driving up design standards. He will lead an expert group advising the government on how to embed beauty

Construction furlough figures revealed
New data released by HMRC and reported in a number of publications has revealed that construction industry companies claiming through the government’s job retention scheme reached £3.2bn at the end of July. This puts construction firms behind only the retail,

2,000 residential buildings still awaiting safe cladding
The Grenfell disaster in 2017 was a tragedy that rightly prompted a greater emphasis on fire safety in buildings over a certain height. While there has been good progress in the public sector to replace dangerous cladding, many more “at

New talent retention scheme for construction industry
The Construction Leadership Council has launched the Talent Retention Scheme (CLC TRS) to keep essential talent within the UK construction industry. Sustainability of skilled personnel is one of the biggest issues facing the construction industry, and one which SAEMA is

Draft Building Safety Bill Update
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) is formulating its response to the draft Building Safety Bill, including a submission to the parliamentary pre-legislative inquiry on the Bill. SAEMA – Specialist Access and Engineering Maintenance Association – has observed this development with

As construction output increases, access industry offers unique solutions
It has been reported by the Construction Leadership council that monthly construction output grew by 17.6% in July 2020, following the record monthly growth of 23.5% in June 2020. However, the level of construction output in July 2020 was 11.6%

A “careful” return to work is still required
It is almost six months since we first went into lockdown in the UK as a result of COVID-19. Since then, there have been devastating consequences and one of the highest death rates in the world. While the situation is

Re-evaluating training and certification for the “new normal”
As the national trade body for the permanent and temporary façade access equipment industry, SAEMA – Specialist Access and Engineering Maintenance Association – is a keen observer of the latest developments and initiatives from the government post-COVID-19. The advent of

Government campaign to encourage a return to the office
The Transport Minister has told a London radio station that: “Our central message is pretty straightforward: we are saying to people it is now safe to return to work.” Grant Shapps, in an interview with LBC radio, revealed that the

Construction industry buoyed by third-quarter growth
The UK is reportedly on track for a record economic resurgence during the third quarter of the year, with the construction industry continuing to enjoy an impressive period of growth. City of London economists have predicted a 14.3% rise in GDP

Debate over wearing face masks on site continues
The coronavirus pandemic has raised all kinds of new health and safety concerns and a raft of new guidance measures for organisations in all sectors. In the construction and FM sectors, where the vast majority of work is carried out

Planning reforms to help government’s “build, build, build” campaign
SAEMA, as the national trade body for the permanent and temporary façade access equipment industry, has noted with interest the wholesale reform of the planning system in England announced by the Government. The planning system has been described as being

Help for apprentices – the lifeblood of the industry
The construction industry needs a constant flow of new skilled workers coming through in order to meet demand and be sustainable. Therefore, the following announcement from the government is very welcome. In addition to the funding of £1,000 already available

Green Homes Grants – green shoots of recovery?
The UK is now officially in a recession, with some speculating it could be the deepest for many years. The government’s commitment to “Build build build” offers some relief and hope for the construction and FM sectors and the Construction

Build, Build, Build
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD Following the publication of the National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline 2020/21, the government appears to have made a solid commitment to ‘Build Build Build’. This is obviously welcome news for the construction industry and supply chain,

CLC issues three new guidance documents for construction companies
CLC issues three new guidance documents for construction companies The Construction Leadership council (CLC) has published three new guidance documents to help companies in the construction sector to manage the impact of COVID-19 on their business. The first of these,

AIF National Work at Height Conference 14 November
The Access Industry Forum, the forum for the principal trade associations and federations involved in working at height, has released…

Health & Safety North, 8-9 October 2019
As part of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) – the forum for the eleven principal associations and federations involved in work at height…

Health & Safety Event at the NEC, 10-12 April, 2018
As part of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) – the forum for the eleven principal associations and federations involved in work at height…
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