Clearview South October 2013 - Issue 143 | Page 5

industrynews BUILDER FINED AFTER WORKER SUFFERS LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES A Leicestershire builder has been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he plunged six metres while repairing a second floor window. The 50-year-old worker from Leicester, had been sub-contracted to repair wooden window frames at a house in Hazel Grove, Hallaton, near Market Harborough in Leicestershire. He was working from a ladder extended to just under the window when he dropped a piece of window bead. As he started to climb down the ladder to retrieve it, he fell to the patio below, smashing his workbench on the way. He was airlifted to hospital with head injuries, five fractures to his spine and a fractured pelvis and wrist. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and prosecuted Peter Steans for safety failings at Leicester Magistrates’ Court. HSE’s investigation found a suitable tower scaffold was on site that could have been used to remove the risk of working from a ladder. Peter William Steans, 61, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £353. HSE Inspector Tony Mitchell said: “The injured man will never be able to return to his normal job, yet the incident and the lifechanging injuries it caused could have been prevented.” “Builders should not think that just because they use casual workers, they are not responsible for their safety. If you are in control of the work then you will be held accountable should things go wrong.” Further information go online at www.hse.gov.uk/falls CLADDING FEATURES ON CHANNEL 4 TV SHOW Freefoam Building Products is delighted to announce that the new Fortex Clic Cladding was featured on prime time TV show ‘Double your house for half the money’ with well know TV presenter and property guru Sarah Beeny. Homeowner Ben Barratt came across Freefoam and the Fortex Clic cladding at consumer home improvement show ‘Build It Live’ and instantly saw the potential for the exterior of his home extension. The existing 1970’s property in Maidstone, Kent featured hanging tiles on the first floor elevation and Ben was looking for a more contemporary replacement that was easy to fit and easy to maintain. Ben Barratt explained, “With a young family and a busy life we needed to make this property renovation work for us. We wanted low maintenance products that would last, maximising our investment. We like the ‘New England’ American style weatherboard cladding, which is becoming very popular, particularly here in the South of England, so were really pleased when we came across the PVC Freefoam Fortex Clic cladding. It not only looks good, but means we will have minimal maintenance and is guaranteed for 10 years!” Call 01604 591110, email sales@freefoam. com or visit www.freefoam.com TAKE OVER SAFEGUARDS SKILLED MANUFACTURING JOBS LDG Group Ltd, one of the North West’s largest window companies, has just completed the purchase of Formes Alutek Limited, safeguarding over 50 skilled manufacturing jobs at Ellesmere Port in the process. Formes Alutek Limited, privately owned and originally formed in 1978, is a multi-systems fabricator providing a complete supply, fix and glaze package for Aluminium Curtain Walling, Windows and Doors to the Construction and associated industries, specialising in curved aluminium to both the Trade, Architects/ To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com Councils and other major Construction clients nationwide. At its peak, Formes Alutek had a turnover of over £7.5m and has been involved with many prestigious projects, including the M&S retail store at Cheshire Oaks, Manchester Airports Terminal 2, Royal Preston Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. LDG Group is already investing and supporting the business and Formes Alutek is fulfilling existing orders, with more orders being placed from both new and existing customers, comprising a mixture of supply only projects and supply and installation projects. It is reassuring for LDG that Formes Alutek’s existing customers are continuing to have confidence in the new ownership with the backing of LDG. OCT 2013 5