Digital Thumbs Up With Safety Shield

Following on from a recent trial regarding our Plant interface, we are continuing to invest in our workforce’s safety and mitigate any risk to ensure the safety of everyone involved in our operations and provide our team with the best toolkit.

To support this initiative, we facilitated a demonstration morning on site alongside Safety Shield Global, who delivered an engaging presentation and a show-and-tell workshop centred around the Digital Thumbs Up system.

This enabled further opportunity for feedback and conversation with a handful of our key clients who were invited along to experience this interactive session with us. Seeing first-hand the impact of adopting and embedding a new yet simple control measure to boost existing operational approaches was hugely insightful.

Jonathan Milnes, HSQE Director, commented:

Today offered a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate a quality system that we’re committed to incorporating on new Plant kit moving forward. We hope those who attended will come away with increased confidence in our operations and applaud our attitude regarding safety innovation.

What?

Safety Shield which includes the digital thumbs up display allowing the site user to safely communicate with the machine operator. When a site user wants to approach the machine, they give a thumbs up gesture from a safe distance to the operator. Once the operator has seen the thumbs up signal, they will bring this machine to a controlled stop. By pressing the in-cab Digital ‘Thumbs Up’ button the machine will then be disabled, and the exterior LED sign will change from a red no entry sign to a green thumbs up sign with an audible external acceptance message. This then allows the site personnel a safe way to approach the machine without any doubt they have been seen.

 

Image courtesy of Safety Shield Global

How

The AI cameras look for Human Form and when detected they provide an audible warning to the operator and persons that has encroached a working radius and provide a visual in-cab warning showing the operator where the person has entered the working radius. When giving the thumbs up signal, the operator can push a button which in turn isolates the machine and displays a thumbs up externally giving an audible signal to approach with caution – this however proves clear communication between the operator and the operative on the ground.

Image courtesy of Safety Shield Global

Where

Safety Shield AI cameras have already been installed on a crawler crane at our Hull CDC site.

Why

To improve the safety of the workforce and rise beyond industry standards.

Image courtesy of Safety Shield Global

We’d like to extend our thanks to Safety Shield Global for showcasing this product in further depth with us, and we look forward to adopting this efficient system across our Plant.

UK’s First WOLFF 6523.12 Clear Crane

Recently, we were delighted to acquire the UK’s first WOLFF 6523.12 Clear crane. This crane has been put straight to work to aid the construction of the £36m Sunderland Eye Infirmary. This advanced crane has been erected with a 54m tower height and 50m jib and will play a pivotal role in constructing the new hospital and regional cataract treatment centre in the North East of England.

As part of a two-crane scheme, the WOLFF 6523.12 Clear will be accompanied by a second crane, the WOLFF 6017 to help  construction efficiency with its 36m tower height and 35m jib.

Comprehensive deal

”After initially considering WOLFF a decade ago, Moortown Group has now opted for the WOLFF 6523.12 Clear. This decision was supported by extensive technical assistance from our UK team and regular updates on the Sunderland Eye Infirmary project. This demonstrates the WOLFF 6523.12 Clear with its 50m jib as the ideal choice for Moortown Group’s current and future projects. Furthermore, a comprehensive service agreement ensures up to a decade of major parts warranty, with our technical specialists handling all maintenance needs.” 

– Dave Holder, WOLFFKRAN’s European Operations Director.

Exceptional Performance of the new crane

WOLFF 6523.12 Clear offer up to 8.3 tons in 2-fall operation with a 30-meter jib and 12 tons in 4-fall operation with a 21.5-meter reach. Mounted to 2.0 x 2.0 meters (UV 20/TV20 offered by default), it can be mounted freestanding up to 69 meters. Using a 2.9 x 2.9-meter tower, it can even operate at 106 meters without tie-ins.

The WOLFF 6523.12 Clear can also be equipped with a New WOLFF High-speed positioning assistance system, an innovation that revolutionises the way loads are moved by enabling control of the load precisely and without swaying.

Patented jib design for optimised assembly and operation

Instead of a bolt connection, the jib sections of WOLFF 6523.12 Clear are mounted on the front with a patented design- mandrel and wedge type connection enabling easier assembly without a hammer.

“This new development also provides advantages during crane operation… thanks to the smooth jib transitions, trolleys equipped with lateral guide rollers run more steadily and smoothly along the jib.”

– Dr. Mohamed Abouelezz, Head of Product Management and Business Development at Wolffkran.

   

Sunderland Eye Infirmary 

“The WOLFF 6523.12 Clear has been on the Sunderland project for a couple of months now and we’re already seeing the benefits of operating quality machinery. We are thrilled to add another piece of valuable kit to our existing fleet and expand our Plant facilities even more. This new addition will be in action at SEI for at least the next 12 months.”

– Pat Stapleton, Transport and Lifting Coordinator.

The Trust’s new eye infirmary aims to enhance its position as a leading eye care provider in the UK and address the needs of an ageing population. It will feature an emergency department, medical retina, diagnostic imaging, outpatient services on the ground and first floors, and additional clinical services on the second and third floors. The project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2026.

New Health Facility in Hull City Centre

Works have commenced on a significant city centre development in Hull, where a new £18m facility for NHS Hull University Teaching Hospitals has begun. The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Albion Square will feature a range of services including MRI, X-ray, CT scanning and ultrasounds to help identify health problems earlier and reduce waiting times on acute hospital sites. Working alongside one of our key clients Vinci, our project scope includes:

• Substructure RC Works – Pile Cropping
• Pile Caps
• Lift & Stair Core Foundations
• Ground Beams
• Ground Floor Slab
• Waterproofing
• Service Entry Pits & Walls
• Underground Drainage
• Superstructure RC Works – 1^st & 2^nd Floor Suspended Floors (1,000m² per each floor) 
• Lift & Stair Core Walls 
• Columns  
• Roof Parapet Walls
• Stairs (stair master)
• Craneage.

   

Key items

• 2,000m³ structural concrete
• 350t Reinforcement
• 6,000m² Formwork
• Waterproofing.

Our works are currently in their infancy, with preparatory work underway. So far, these works include:

• Stair and lift core pours
• Foundation pours ­
• Formwork to the foundations
• Installation of perimeter wall
• Removal of arisings
• Crawler crane arrival in couple of weeks

We look forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming months, and the transformation which will capture the public’s interest.

Official Opening of the new Sports Facility at Cockburn School

Last month, we reached final completion on a new all-weather sports facility at Cockburn School in Leeds. With a project value of over £3m and a 26-week construction programme, we came on board as the Principal Contractor working alongside Leeds City Council.

The new pitch (suitable for football and rugby) and triple tennis court/netball court will play a vital role in the outdoor sport provision for Cockburn School. They are located to the south of the school site, on a section of the former private South Leeds Golf Course which closed in November 2019. They had a shortage of outdoor sporting facilities at the school (65% below the required provision) associated with the growth in student numbers over recent years.

We undertook a pre construction services agreement with the School and Council on the feasibility, initial design, and costings to get the scheme to RIBA Stage 4. We later offered a series of value engineering options which saved 10% off the overall price. After a period of market testing, we were selected to commence works on the project deliver this design and build contract.

Our works package included:

• Full drainage system design and install including land drainage around the new pitch, the permeable design underneath the courts/MUGA and a guided auger boring to install outfall pipe through a flow control device
• 19,000m³ cut and 12,000m³ filling exercise to the site area, including retaining structures to cope with levelling such a sloped site
• Incoming services installed from existing school plant room to provide power to safety lighting around the new courts and CCTV functions
• Supplied and installed 10,000m² 3G MUGA pitch with equipment for full size rugby and football and long with 5-7 aside games and full fence enclosure
• Supplied and installed 3x full size tennis courts, including equipment and fence enclosure
• Installation of full hard landscaping package including steps, DDA ramps, tactile paving, and tarmac surfacing
• Supplied and installed soft landscaping to new area including new trees, scrub, and grassed areas
• Replaced trees removed in the initial works with new trees within the old golf course area
• Full site boundary weldmesh fencing 2.4m high including main access gates.

Cockburn School proudly named this new facility in memory of Kyle Asquith, former student of Cockburn School who passed away in 2013. His organs saved the lives of 5 people and since then, The Kyle Asquith Foundation has gone on to raise thousands of pounds for the NHS Blood and Transplant Trust and to support children from Cockburn School to achieve their aspirations. The school continues to raise funds and the awareness of organ donation.

Kyle’s parents, trustees of the charity, presented representatives from the Leeds NHS Blood and Transplant Trust a cheque for £1000 on behalf of the charity before they cut the ribbon to officially open the facility.

Executive Headteacher and trustee of the Kyle Asquith Foundation, David Gurney, said:

“Naming this excellent new sports facility after Kyle will ensure that he continues to be remembered. This excellent new sports facility will help to ensure that all our students continue to learn about being healthy and fit while developing their practical sports skills”.

Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United also played their part, both of whom work with Cockburn School to support the development of rugby and football within the school. The event was attended by Rhinos first team players Sam Lisone and Mickael Goudemond who made time to speak to the students involved and have some group photographs. 

The official opening was a brilliant way of bringing together lots of people to acknowledge and appreciate these new sporting facilities.

If you wish to contribute to The Kyle Asquith Foundation, please contact the school at info@cockburnschool.org and title the email ‘Kyle Asquith’. They also have a JustGiving page and you can make donations online at www.justgiving.com/kyle-asquith 

A visit from the Mayor of Teesside

It was a delight to meet Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Teesside who we invited to visit our new regional office in Billingham last week.

Discussing all things construction related including the work pipeline, challenges to overcome, training, new technology, getting younger people into the industry and having a reliable supply chain in place. Very reassuring and insightful conversations were had.

It’s a fascinating industry and delivering what you say you’re going to deliver is absolute gold dust to people. There’s a lot of work going on here.

Ben Houchen, Mayor of Teesside.

When reflecting on the next 12 to 18 months in Teesside, we were happy to share our vision and goals moving forward.

I’d like to see growth, get established. We’ve signed up for 12 months in this office at Billingham. Our reputation in the industry is very good, we’re established and self-sufficient and part of the reason for putting our stamp in this area is that we aim to be here for the long-term.

Richard Mitchell, Operations Director.

It would be great to open a yard, have a bit of plant coming and going out of it, ultimately a mixed facility. As well as maintaining the long-term relationships we already have here. We want to continue to be good quality and value for money.

Steve Wilson, Contracts Manager.

 

When referring to upcoming challenges, we acknowledged what these were…

We’ve worked in Newcastle previously, the next challenge is getting the right skill sets and the right trades on board with us.

Richard Mitchell, Operations Director.

It’s a fast-changing world, the guys aren’t just pulling leavers anymore. These machines operate with GPS control systems and the driver has to be quite technically minded. New technologies and new ways of doing things happen all the time and we want to be at the forefront of this changing landscape.

Steve Wilson, Contracts Manager.

With a large mountain to climb, we’re keen to engage further and make the right connections and partnerships in the region.

Testing in progress

It’s essential that the reasons for conducting drugs and alcohol testing are clearly explained to the workforce and the correct testing equipment is used for this process. Drug and alcohol misuse is a serious societal problem and impacts the workplace significantly. Testing plays a vital role in order to ensure the safety of everyone at work.

Last year the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) were called to tackle on-site intoxication of plant operators.

Plant workers disclosed in a Considerate Constructors Scheme survey that:

• 59% had concerns over the effects of drugs and alcohol in construction
• 35% have noticed their colleagues under the influence
• 25% agreed that drugs and alcohol affected them at work through tiredness

Credit: https://constructionwave.co.uk/2023/04/19/drugs-and-alcohol-major-problem-on-site/

There is also a significant economic impact of substance misuse, with lost productivity due to alcohol in the UK costing around £7.3 billion per year in an impact assessment paper produced by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS).

Credit: https://www.britsafe.org/safety-management/2023/drug-and-alcohol-testing-at-work-getting-started

Addressing the Issue

We recently took proactive measures at one fo our sites in the North East region, to mitigate the impact of substance use. These steps covered the following:

1. Promoting a Safe Work Environment:
   Enforcing drug and alcohol policies helps maintain a safe workplace, reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, and potential legal liabilities.
2. Enhancing Productivity and Quality:
   By addressing substance use, employers can improve productivity, reduce errors, and maintain higher quality standards by ensuring that employees are working at their optimal level of performance.
3. Supporting Employee Well-being:
   Addressing substance use issues demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, providing opportunities for intervention, treatment, and support programs that can help individuals overcome addiction.
4. Attracting and Retaining Skilled Labour:
   Creating a safe and supportive work environment sends a positive message to potential employees, making the company an attractive choice and increasing employee loyalty and retention rates.
5. Compliance with Regulations:
   Employers have a legal obligation to ensure a safe working environment and comply with regulations regarding drug and alcohol use. Failing to address substance use can lead to legal consequences and damage the organisation’s reputation.

By prioritising employee well-being, safety, and productivity, employers can take proactive steps to address substance use, create a supportive work environment, and foster a culture that promotes responsible behaviours. It is essential to recognise the long-term negative consequences of neglecting this issue.

Credit: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/substance-use-uk-construction-industry-impact-decision-adam-hillaby/

Meet our Apprentices

As part of National Apprenticeship Week we’d like to share with you some of our fantastic apprentices who haven’t been with the business for very long. It’s been an absolute delight to hear such positive feedback from every single one of them.

A big thanks to the site teams and mentors who continually invest their time and energy in training up and supporting the young blood. It’s very clear to see how much they appreciate it and feel accepted and valued already.

We feel it is important to nurture new talent in order to keep the construction industry going strong. For the past several years, we’ve focussed on offering a range of apprenticeship opportunities throughout the year. You can read more about these  apprenticeships here: https://www.moortowngroup.com/vacancies/apprenticeship-opportunities/trainee-engineer-apprenticeship/

Here’s a summary of some of the faces we caught up with:

 

New North East office is open for business

Starting the year strong, we’re delighted to announce the opening of a new Regional Office based in Billingham, located in the Tees Valley area. It’s an exciting time for us growing our operations further up North following a successful period of securing and delivering projects in the region.

To date, we have completed projects including the Boho X Building and the Lumen Building, both commercial office space in Middlesbrough and Newcastle. We’ve delivered works for Project Sofia in Redcar as part of an onshore and offshore wind farm development, as well as working on Cramlington Hospital in Northumberland. We see the region as a key area in our Company’s growth plan and are committed to providing employment opportunities and training as we expand our workforce.

     

Boho X Building                                                                  Project Sofia

Having spent the past couple of years working on various projects with our long-standing clients in the area, it made perfect sense to form a permanent residence in Teesside. At the helm will be Steve Wilson, who was recently promoted to Contracts Manager and will be overseeing current and future projects.

It is no secret that the Government has pledged to invest over £2bn as part of a regeneration scheme to tackle regional inequalities across its infrastructure. We are keen to be part of this initiative and believe our regional office base will not only benefit our existing connections there, but we’ll be able to facilitate a huge recruitment drive by employing numerous local labour teams as well as collaborating with more local supply chains.

Pictured: Steve Wilson, Contracts Manager

Our Operations Director, Richard Mitchell commented:

After completing several projects in the North-East over the last calendar year, the opening of a new Regional Office in the area will provide us with a permanent base from where we aim to further develop our reputation and put down long-term roots in the region. Steve Wilson will take up a leading role in the region where we aim to increase our presence working alongside our existing client base as well as exploring further opportunities with new clients.

Our current and future projects so far include:

• University Hospital of North Durham
• HMP Northumberland
• Sunderland Eye Hospital
• Catterick Integrated Care Campus
• Sunderland Magistrates Court

Since the business began in 1998, we have been committed to delivering projects of quality and value across multiple industries. Having our own Plant facilities has enabled the business to be self-sufficient and scale up quickly to meet demand.

With three strategic locations placed across the country in which to operate from, we consider it a privilege to have many repeat clients, and it is testament to the dedication and hard work of our expert workforce who are the foundation on which our leading reputation has been built upon.

We take pride in everything we do and believe in making a positive difference wherever we go. Our focus as we move forward, is to continue to be resilient against the ever-changing economic landscape, nurture close partnerships with our clients and supply chain, and support our fantastic team who work tirelessly throughout our business.

Plant Awareness Demo Day

    

Last week, we began hosting the first of many Plant Awareness demonstration days held at one of our MoJ projects with our client Kier Group. The set up involved utilising a large and clearly marked area of site to position one of our 20 tonne excavators in the middle of this safety zone. This task was accompanied by several Health & Safety signage with the ‘Thumbs up’ graphic placed in and around the area to communicate the objectives.

   

Members from various departments of the Kier workforce, attended the Plant Awareness workshop, which was facilitated by our HSQE Director, Jonathan Milnes and Operations Director, Richard Mitchell. The process began with a group induction, followed by a 360 walk around the excavator stopping at several points to flag any key points to note. This was then followed by offering each attendee the opportunity to sit inside the cab area and go through a step-by-step mirror and camera check to test and find where all the blind spots lurked.

     

     

The response from Kier’s workforce was very positive and allowed anybody to voice questions and concerns at any point during the demonstration. It was acknowledged how difficult it is to maintain full vision when machines are in operation, and how a person’s proximity is not always detectable with the onus being on the individual to communicate with the driver a simple ‘thumbs up’ approach to ensure it is safe to pass.

We look forward to conducting further Plant Awareness demonstrations across our sites and hearing further feedback from our clients. So far, we are delighted with the high level of engagement from all.