FEATURE Scaffex
n By Hajera Blagg
STRONG SHOWING AT SCAFFEX
Unite members put in a strong showing at Scaffex, Europe’s largest scaffolding expo, in Manchester in September last year.
More than a dozen Unite reps attended. During the conference, Unite delegates – part of Unite’s Scaffolding Forum – had a personal meeting with the CEO of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS), Clive Dickin.
Dickin discussed with Unite’s Scaffolding Forum important reforms to CISRS, the body overseeing the training and qualifications of scaffolders in the UK.
Some of these changes include measures to digitise training records and improve data collection; reducing minimum training centre heights to increase capacity; and the establishment of a new Quality Assurance Committee, among other measures.
Dickin also committed to working more closely with Unite as a partner. The meeting was chaired by Unite senior rep Ben Parry, pictured below, who’s worked for 28 years as a scaffolder, including 22 years at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station.
Ben explained the significance of the Unite Scaffolding Forum, which, he said, is “formed of Unite reps who work as scaffolders from all sectors and from all different parts of the UK.
“The knowledge of the forum members is vast – it’s something
that comes with time and experience, which cannot be bought.”
Ben went on to note that scaffolding is one of the “highest risk trades in engineering and construction, so having one of our forums and a Unite
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The knowledge of the forum members is vast – it’s something that comes with time and experience, which cannot be bought
Ben Parry, Unite senior rep and scaffolder
stand at Scaffex is essential – it puts scaffolders at the centre of conversation.
“Too often decisions regarding our trade are made without scaffolders – the men and women who actually do the work, day in day out – being involved,” he added.
“The forum gives Unite members a voice and functions as a platform to work alongside CISRS and NASC to strive for a clear, fair way of improving skills, safety standards, competence and training. This can only be a positive thing for Unite members and the industry as a whole.”
Meanwhile, Unite national lead organiser for construction Len Jones staffed Unite’s stall at the expo.
Commenting, Len said, “It was great to attend Scaffex and raise awareness of the vital role Unite plays across the industry – not only in health and safety, but also in raising standards for our members’ terms and conditions. Events like this allow workers to learn what Unite can offer, which is why they choose to join, making it important that we continue to attend.”
Unite puts ‘scaffolders at the centre of the conversation’
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