Turner Access makes it three out of five by achieving ‘Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the Year’ for the third time in the history of the awards.

Turner Access makes it three out of five by achieving ‘Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the Year’ for the third time in the history of the awards. The UK’s most accomplished specialist contractors were recognised with the coveted Construction News Specialists Awards at this year’s gala dinner at the London Hilton, Park Lane on March 5 2009.  Every year since its inauguration in 2005, Turner Access has been nominated Finalists. Adding the 2009 Award to its successes, Turner Access celebrates another victory in Health and Safety improvement.

Recognising and rewarding the best specialist contractors in the business, the Specialists Awards is one of the construction industry's most notable annual events. The judges recognised that safety and innovation are at the heart of Turner Access and said: “Its approach to developing safe systems of work has the potential to transform the industry in this high risk specialist trade.” 

Turner Access has been increasingly recognised for its commitment in providing Industry with safer systems of work. This year’s award focussed on the developments made by the company in producing specific training and detailed guidance.

As pioneers of ‘collective protection’ using Advance Guardrails, Turner Access was invited by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to attend its annual conference last year. The company was asked why Industry was not widely adopting fall prevention methodology during scaffold erection, dismantling and alteration. In discussing with the HSE why industry has so far failed to adopt this practice, Turner Access provided reasons including; lack of knowledge and understanding of current Industry guidance that in its detail relies, at best, on the sole use of Personal Protective Equipment. Also lacking is comprehensive Collective Protection Guidance for erectors and their employers that enable a system of work for the erection, dismantle and alteration of the generic form of scaffolding (Tube and Fittings). Being able to provide appropriate, additional and specific training that can only be developed and delivered from such guidance is also lacking.

The outcome of this was further discussions with lead industry bodies including Major Contractor Group members, SA-FE, and the NASC. From this meeting it was arranged that Turner Access would produce this much needed detailed guidance along with specific training courses. 

Having developed its own appropriate courses due to the gap in the market, training all its scaffolders as well as key clients, such as RBG Ltd, Turner Access is now drawing up the bespoke curriculum it has suggested to the HSE. This will meet the new SG4:05 Interim Guidance. 

Turner Access believes this necessary document will prove to be one of the most important contributions to safety improvement in the scaffolding industry.

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