Skills
44 | JULY 2024
Skills
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
BUILDING OUR SKILLS HAILS TRAINING SUCCESS
KEYLITE LAUNCHES NEW SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
A new campaign to highlight safety when working at heights in construction is set to be launched by Keylite Roof Windows ( Keylite ) in a bid to protect roofers from life-threatening accidents .
Keylite ’ s ‘ Work Smart , Stay Grounded ’ campaign will see the team visit builders ’ merchants across the UK and Ireland to encourage merchants and their customers to get involved with a ‘ Challenge yourself , not your safety ’ virtual reality game .
The game aims to start a conversation around working safely on-site and at heights with the support of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors ( NFRC ).
The campaign supports NFRC ’ s mission to provide standards and guidance within the construction industry and ultimately do the best job possible to ensure working conditions are safe .
The Health and Safety Executive reported that a total of 40 fatalities were attributed to falls from height , an increase from last year ’ s reported 29 , highlighting the critical need for enhanced safety measures in this category .
Keylite feels this is far too high and that all manufacturers should be doing more to protect construction workers by keeping their feet firmly on the ground .
This is why all Keylite roof windows are designed so that they can be fitted from the inside of a building , with the glazes sash already in place – thanks to its patented Flick-Fit brackets and sash hinge finger springs .
In fact , an Expanding Integrated Thermal Collar and Flick-Fit bracket are integrated as standard on all Keylite roof windows , resulting in safer installation .
Keylite believes that through the ‘ Work Smart , Stay Grounded ’ campaign they can positively impact the lives of construction workers .
Gary Walpole , Safety , Health & Environmental Officer at the NFRC , said : “ NFRC supports safe working initiatives and welcomes the Keylite ‘ Work Smart , Stay Grounded ’ campaign .
“ We welcome forward-thinking stakeholders within the supply chain , who produce innovative designs within their project ranges to reduce the risk of working at height .”
Keylite ’ s ‘ Work Smart , Stay Grounded ’ campaign will go live this April . It follows the award-winning success of last year ’ s merchant demo day initiative .
For more information on Keylite , visit www . keyliteroofwindows . com . Alternatively , call 01283 200 158 or email info @ keylite . co . uk . For more information on the NFRC , visit www . nfrc . co . uk
Eighteen-year-old Oliver Wells ( Ollie to his friends ) may only have been in the fenestration industry for a couple of years , but already he has been awarded a Distinction upon passing the Apprenticeship Standard in Fenestration Installation Level 2 .
The young Fitter at Harveys Windows & Conservatories in Leicester is being supported by employers who are keen to nurture his talents and help him develop and attain the skills and qualifications he needs to forge a successful career in the industry .
Sally Roberts , one of the Directors at the company says :
“ Huge congratulations to Ollie . He ’ s a great example of someone who is going places in the fenestration industry . Here at Harveys we ’ re committed to staff development , and we strongly believe that training and the achievement of vocational qualifications is the way forward in this regard . That ’ s why we ’ re advocates of the work being done by Building Our Skills and why we ’ re very pleased to be representatives on their Advisory Panel . We strongly recommend other companies in the industry get on board and support Building Our Skills ’ aims of attracting new talent to the fenestration industry and nurturing those employees we already have . We need to see more young people like Ollie going down the apprenticeship route so that we can all help to safeguard high standards in the industry .”
Ollie adds : “ Getting the qualification has been really good for me . I had coursework to do where I learnt all about building regs , health and safety and risk assessments - things you wouldn ’ t necessarily learn about just being out on site . Then , I had to have my practical work assessed too . It ’ s been a great experience and I think training and qualifications are the way to go for me . I just want to keep on learning . Maybe one day I ’ ll then have my own business !”
Ollie ’ s training was provided by Glass & Fenestration Training Solutions ( GFTS ). A range of courses offered by GFTS includes an introduction to fenestration for beginners , window and door installation , curtain wall and glass technology , intermediate and advanced programmes , along with specialist opportunities and surveying , in addition to theoretical training options . GFTS ’ s practical training centres offer hands-on , real-world training in the fenestration industry .
Samantha Tinker , GFTS ’ s Director of Business and Quality who also sits on the BOS advisory panel says :
“ Congratulations to Ollie from us here at GFTS too . It ’ s great to see Harveys supporting its staff through apprenticeships . Qualifications and good-quality training are a means of helping learners to carve out a career in the industry and help business managers to retain their staff and compete competitively . We ’ re very pleased to be part of Building Our Skills ’ network of training providers .”
www . buildingourskills . co . uk