The UK’s construction industry adapts to new post-Covid-19 regulations
Today reinforced its ‘business as usual’ message, as builders across the UK return to work. On 15 May 2020, The UK’s Construction Industry Training Board (‘CITB’) issued a set of essential Covid-19 safety checks to ensure that the workforce is protected, and the risk of infection on construction sites is minimised.
Prior to Covid-19, construction output in the UK was worth more than £110 billion per annum and contributed 7% of GDP (ref. Government Construction Strategy). There are over 314,000 registered construction companies in the UK.
As construction companies now review their plant and equipment needs, after their industry ‘Lockdown’, many are turning to Uni-Prop to supply the next generation of Acrow props. The special feature of being able to quickly convert Uni-Prop into a hydraulic Acrow has two proven benefits: significant savings in time and labour as well as improved safety in the operation process.
The Construction Leadership Council (‘CLC’) has contributed to the comprehensive range of interactive safety checks and forms to assist construction industry employers. The resources will ensure that those who are permitted and able to return to work have a clear understanding of how they can apply the CLC’s COVID-19 Guidelines:
LINK: https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/citb-produce-a-range-of-covid-19-site-safety-checklists-and-forms/
Covid-19 Guidelines include:
- Site operating procedures compliance
- Health, safety and environmental risk assessments
- Toolbox talks
- Weekly site operating procedures
Invented in Britain, Uni-Prop is an innovative adjustable building support that can be quickly adapted to also deliver controlled hydraulic power. The device is widely regarded as a major development for the general building industry; the first such upgrade on steel temporary supports in over 80 years. Uni-Prop is creating positive shock waves in the industry because of its detachable hydraulic assembly, which is supplied as a sealed unit in a bespoke HDPE case. It is the addition of this option that makes Uni-Prop so special and sets it apart from existing devices that are used on virtually every building site across the globe.
Managing Director, David Marr commented, “Never more so has the construction industry been focused on health and safety, and that’s the reason that builders are actively replacing Acrows with Uni-Props. As well as ‘business as usual’ for us, we are also developing our version of the standard trench strut. The Uni-Prop Trench Strut is galvanized and has special new features that include anti-slip pins and a simple foldaway handle design (no more having to use tape).” More details of this innovation will be available soon.
Uni-Prop is available to buy or hire across the UK. The product is shortlisted to win the 2020 Construction News Award for Innovation AND National Building Awards for Innovation and Health and Safety. Indeed, the product has already attracted much media attention and was recently featured in the Daily Express, BBC Radio Essex, The Concrete Jungle Blog and Health & Safety Matters. An online explainer video can be seen at www.uni-prop.com.
The product is available in three sizes, namely the Mini, Midi and Maxi models, which correlate with Acrows 0, 1 and 2. Uni-Prop is failure load tested to BS EN 1065 and can deliver up to 2000 kgs of controlled hydraulic power via the CE marked Hydraulic Assembly.
