Nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, has announced that it has been recertified with its three ISO accreditations following a five-day audit. The accreditations are for ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS) – a recognised world leading standard, ISO 14001:2015 – the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the
Bureau Veritas has launched Circular+, a new approach to sustainability, built on a comprehensive suite of services to help companies transition to a circular business model. The launch comes at a time where sustainability is at a turning point, with governments and businesses around the world seeking ways to meet
A Bristol recycling company is celebrating after achieving ISO 45001 accreditation. ETM Recycling Limited has been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of ISO 45001: 2018, the new international standard for occupational health and safety. The new management system has replaced the OHSAS 18001, which ETM previously had in
Beginning as a local scaffolding company just over fifteen years ago, and mainly servicing local construction sites in various restoration and renovation works, SCA Group targeted the lucrative ship-building industry and has since achieved national acclaim. Now firmly established as the UK’s leading scaffolding contractor to the ship repair industry,
“So often, an approach to health and safety is characterised by compliance and audits can be seen as a major headache for contractors,” says Beverley Holden, Director of DCM Surfaces. “I’m of the opinion that I’d rather know if something is unsafe than not and auditing is very much a
“In this day and age, programme is critical to contractors and businesses,” attests Angus Cormie, Chief Engineer at J&D Pierce, one of the UK’s leading structural steel provider. As a champion designer, supplier and installer of quality steelwork, J&D Pierce offers an end-to-end service that dramatically reduces the supply chain
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, has announced that it has been recertified with its three ISO accreditations following a five-day audit. The accreditations are for ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS) – a recognised world leading standard, ISO 14001:2015 – the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the most widely used EMS in the world, and ISO 45001:2018 – an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. Obtaining these recertifications involved significant effort from the Fortis Vision team and included a – a site audit, a remote audit and three days at the office and warehouse. The team worked collaboratively to ensure management systems conformed to the requirements of the audit standard, providing procedure and policy documentations, as well as statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements. Organisation was also key to the effective implementation of the planned management system and making sure the system was meeting its specified objectives. The recertifications are every three years and verify the quality of work as well as the financial, administrative, operational and health and safety practices carried out by the company. David Borthwick, managing director at Fortis Vision, said: “This a huge achievement for Fortis Vision and our three ISO Certifications place us in a very select group of companies that prioritise best practice. “Quality and assurance have always played a vital part in the delivery of our work, which is all about continual improvement and driving innovation. Not only do these awards showcase the hard work of our team and our quality and sound practices, but they can inspire confidence in our existing and new clients as we continue to grow.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bureau Veritas has launched Circular+, a new approach to sustainability, built on a comprehensive suite of services to help companies transition to a circular business model. The launch comes at a time where sustainability is at a turning point, with governments and businesses around the world seeking ways to meet commitments to preserve scarce resources, combat climate change, and reduce pollution. Earlier this year, the UK government continued to lead the march on climate change, becoming the first major economy to set out new legislation designed to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. Meanwhile, for years, businesses have focused on managing environmental impacts: today, they are looking to go beyond that to meet future regulatory requirements and exceed customer expectations. For many, this means evolving towards a circular economy model – a regenerative business model in which resources are continuously reused and recycled. “Public awareness of the threats posed by climate change has grown dramatically in recent years, and governments and companies are increasingly focusing on reducing energy use, resource consumption and waste generation along the product or service life-cycle”, said Sébastien Fox, Vice-President Certification at Bureau Veritas. Many are turning towards a more circular business model to understand and optimise their use of energy, as well as natural resources such as wood, metals and minerals. However, the circular economy is disruptive: it requires businesses to rethink their existing linear business models which generate waste at each stage of production and consumption, and demands new skills for product and process design. It can be challenging to adopt, particularly for large companies in traditional industries. As a global leader in environmental and sustainability certification, Bureau Veritas is now supporting organisations of all sizes with its suite of sustainability advisory, training, auditing and certification services. Ours is a powerful, customisable, standards-based approach that works for all businesses and achieves buy-in from employees and clients alike. Bureau Veritas’ Circular+ services provide organisations worldwide with a practical framework to rethink their processes step-by-step. “Circular+ is a holistic approach that offers process audit and management system services to help organisations manage both their environmental and social impacts,” explained Sébastien Fox. “A range of advisory, training, independent verification and certification products enable businesses to tackle both individual processes and entire business models at a customised speed, revealing supply chain issues and improving transparency. Audits provide a way to identify issues, report on the effectiveness of controls, and track the achievement of objectives over time.” The ISO 14001:2015 standard for environmental management systems is central to the Circular+ approach; it encourages a lifecycle view of products and services, and provides a framework for addressing impacts. Bureau Veritas is also supporting clients on energy management via training, audits and certification to ISO 50001. Risks relating to raw materials are addressed through dedicated schemes, for example FSC and PEFC for wood-based products, or ASI for aluminium. Companies today also face a number of social concerns: two of the most important being health and safety and ensuring the use of ethical labour practices throughout the supply chain. To accompany clients in these areas, Bureau Veritas offers accredited certification the new ISO 45001:2018 standard for health and safety management, can conduct ethical trade audits (SMETA), and delivers social accountability (SA8000®) certification. For more information on Circular+, to download a copy of the whitepaper, please click here: https://www.bureauveritas.co.uk/sustainability-services/circular-economy Alternatively, please call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
A Bristol recycling company is celebrating after achieving ISO 45001 accreditation. ETM Recycling Limited has been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of ISO 45001: 2018, the new international standard for occupational health and safety. The new management system has replaced the OHSAS 18001, which ETM previously had in place, and enables an organisation to provide safe and healthy working conditions, prevent work-related injury and ill health, and continually improve its occupational health and safety performance. The standard was developed by a committee of occupational health and safety experts and follows other management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. Amy McCormack, Director of Bristol-based ETM Recycling, said: “We are delighted to have achieved ISO 45001 accreditation as it puts us in an elite category of businesses and the level of excellence is internationally recognised. “Our staff are hugely important to us, so it is vital that we provide them with a safe place to work. ISO 45001 accreditation is also about being proactive about health and safety and continuous improvement, which we strive for at ETM Recycling. Part of the ETM Group, ETM Recycling offers waste management, recycling and skip hire from a fully equipped waste transfer centre at Ashton Vale in Bristol. The Group, which is also made up of ETM Contractors, has also achieved ISO 45001 standard. “Achieving ISO 45001 across the whole group has been important as it creates a consistency throughout ETM that is built around best practices,” said Amy. “It has been a great effort from everyone involved and we are excited to be at the forefront of this new accreditation.” It rounded off a great 2018 for the company, having achieved a 35% increase in turnover for the year, and having been appointed on a three-year deal by Bristol Sport to handle all Ashton Gate stadium’s waste. And it’s set to be an even better year for ETM Recycling in 2019, with its new £4million state-of-the-art zero waste to landfill recycling facility set to open in April. The new facility will double the amount of waste the company can process, as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Amy added: “It really is an exciting time at ETM Recycling and we are looking to grow even further this year. The ISO 45001 accreditation is another feather in our cap and will contribute to us moving forward in the future, and 2019 is going to be a great year for ETM.” For more information, visit https://recyclingbristol.com/ or telephone 0117 953 3654.
Beginning as a local scaffolding company just over fifteen years ago, and mainly servicing local construction sites in various restoration and renovation works, SCA Group targeted the lucrative ship-building industry and has since achieved national acclaim. Now firmly established as the UK’s leading scaffolding contractor to the ship repair industry, the company is contracted to be the sole supplier of scaffolding services to the A&P Group and to BAE Systems Surface Ships, and continues to work on restoration, renovation and new build projects. Scaffolding remains amongst the most high risk equipment in the construction industry and its failure represents the real risk of fatality. Effective delivery of the service then requires keen attention to detail in erection, maintenance and operation, and it’s in health and safety that SCA Group stands out. Despite operating in a number of different sectors and working on a diverse range of projects, the company retains a clear health and safety policy throughout. From initial installation, through to continuous support and maintenance, SCA Group’s committed health and safety taskforce carries out complex site management programmes and site visits while assisting with external and internal audits. It’s with a strong on site presence that the company is able to ensure the quality and safety of its various services. Complemented by the use of remote monitoring software, its hands-on approach enables SCA Group to promote a positive health and safety culture from the bottom up. It also represents the opportunity to consult with those installing and working on the scaffolding and identify areas for praise as well as concern. As Garry Dow, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager at SCA Group explains, “Some of the best feedback you can get is from the operatives themselves. They know the machinery, they know the situation on site, and they have first-hand experience of any issues that have arisen. The team are therefore the go-to when it comes to determining areas for improvement and developing strategies for implementation.” The company extends this attentiveness when partnering with contractors and suppliers and, in doing so, is able to grant ultimate safety and security. With the highest of expectations, and unwilling to compromise on the health and safety of its operatives, SCA Group is discerning when it comes to the selection of partners and materials. The team are similarly observant during projects; most recently, an SCA operative recently received an award for preventing a potentially fatal accident, having noticed a third party’s negligent conduct. With continuous development programmes aimed at all levels of the staff infrastructure, SCA Group maintains the knowledge and skill of its team and reiterates the importance of health and safety. Association membership has been invaluable in supporting that esteem; with registry under the SMAS Scheme, SCA Group been able to assess further market sectors as well as offer an added level of reassurance to existing clients. As a result of its association membership, close monitoring and robust health safety policy, the company has produced exemplary Accident Statistics year-on-year, which are approximately 30% better than national average as published by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC). Accident free for three years, the company also boasts accreditation to OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2015 standards. An expanding yet determinedly clear-sighted company, SCA Group continues to exceed customer expectations: providing an indisputably considerate service. And with a strict philosophy of health and safety cascaded throughout all levels of the business, SCA Group maintains an exceptionally high level of safety and is setting the bar for others to follow.
“So often, an approach to health and safety is characterised by compliance and audits can be seen as a major headache for contractors,” says Beverley Holden, Director of DCM Surfaces. “I’m of the opinion that I’d rather know if something is unsafe than not and auditing is very much a way of doing that.” Expressing utmost respect for employees and observing keen emphasis on health and safety, DCM Surfaces is one of the few subcontractors in the sector to express its unwavering commitment to the needs of its staff, as well as those of clients, which is why the company is regularly billed an exemplar of corporate responsibility. Established in 1995, DCM Surfaces has developed a unique identity in the sector, revered for its knowledge and flexibility when it comes to outdoor surfacing. Whilst the company was originally borne out of local and national initiatives to increase safety in public parks and playgrounds, the business has since grown exponentially to include a range of outdoor surfaces beyond purely safety surfacing. With the recent purchasing of a separate tarmacking business, the company is also able conduct civil engineering, groundworks and tarmacadam as Macadamize. As a result of an extending portfolio of services, DCM Surfaces now works for clients across industries and on a nationwide basis, acting as subcontractor to private and public sector clients. With new office and warehouse space, DCM Surfaces is well-equipped to handle its growing client base and widening repertoire. The new facilities represent a significant gain in efficiencies, and the company has gone from a storage capacity of 90t to 400t. Now able to mobilise material more quickly, serve projects of greater size, DCM Surfaces performs at a pace to outstrip any other. The company has established a loyal client base and is favoured for its quality and responsibility. DCM Surfaces aspires to much the same standard as the biggest and brightest in the construction industry, pertaining to the same principles and standards as one would expect of a main contractor. The company benefits from a close-knit team of specialists in design, installation, management and delivery, all operating in synergy. As Holden corroborates, “By directly employing all our staff, we safeguard the quality of work and encourage repeat business. More importantly though, it improves the morale of our team and inspires pride in the job. They get to know one another; each have the same over-arching ambition and the same ethics of safe, efficient and effective project delivery.” On-site safety continues to be challenged by the interfacing it demands between contracting parties involved. The same is true within a firm; safety requires everyone, from directors to installers, to take accountability for their own practice so as to prevent placing themselves or others at risk. Alongside a strong staff ethic, DCM Surfaces regularly unites on-site operatives to deliver toolbox talks, ensures each member understands his duties and responsibilities on a daily basis, and sources relevant health and safety training for all employees. On-site operatives each have an up-to-date CSCS card while supervisors and managers have been through the Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) or Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) as appropriate. With the addition of CHAS membership, DCM Surfaces evidences that strict code of practice and is provided not only a framework for its ambitions, but a means of testifying its continuous ethic to potential clients and partners. “CHAS is a means of differentiating the serious contractors from the ordinary,” attests Holden, “And it has always been our ambition to be a leader in surfacing design and installation. Alongside ISO 9001 accreditation, CHAS membership has provided us key competitive advantage and a quality assurance that simply isn’t available elsewhere.” One such client attracted by DCM Surfaces’ strong corporate values and exceptional quality products was one the of the UK’s leading main contractors, Kier Construction. A discerning client with exacting expectations, Kier posed distinct challenges for the sub-contractor as Holden explains: “During projects in Halesham and New Haven, we had to adapt our working methods so as to meet their health and safety requirements, purchasing four new mixers fitted with emergency stop buttons. Flexibility is a core value of the business and whether we’re working for a main contractor like Kier Construction or a small school, we always strive to deliver and produce something we can be proud of.” With ongoing audits and a growing order book, DCM Surfaces is determined to retain the quality workmanship by which it is known. And as it continues to promote employee development and welfare, and boasts a health and safety ethic beyond that of any like competitor, the company’s prestige is only set to enlarge and, with it, comes the opportunity to develop further capabilities and services.
“In this day and age, programme is critical to contractors and businesses,” attests Angus Cormie, Chief Engineer at J&D Pierce, one of the UK’s leading structural steel provider. As a champion designer, supplier and installer of quality steelwork, J&D Pierce offers an end-to-end service that dramatically reduces the supply chain and provides clients a competitive edge in terms of both time and cost. As Cormie continues, “With an all-encompassing structural steel service, we eliminate the need for multiple parties, manage interfaces and offer guaranteed excellence, every time, for every client.” Established in 1975, J&D Pierce has retained its family-run approach while diversifying and expanding into areas beyond purely steel fabrication and is now able to provide a comprehensive service from early design right through costing, fabrication and protective treatment to erection. A specialist in design and fabrication, J&D Pierce has continued to develop further capabilities, and can effectively carry a project through from inception to completion. Although subcontracting can be an economical way of procuring specialist works, it can also give rise to various kinds of problems. Within differences of opinion, organisation and interfacing issues, it can present significant delays and programme slippages for main contractors and become a cost burden to which clients simply cannot subscribe. Attending to that concern and delivering an end-to-end service, J&D Pierce offers an alternative, financially risk-free mode of construction, as Cormie makes clear: “Because we don’t sub-contract any services out, we have complete control over a project. Main contractors like to de-risk; if they can hire a single firm to carry out all works they will because it prevents problems of coordinating works on site and allows them to concentrate on their own objectives. We allow them programme certainty; our wide range of skills and expertise more than capable of shouldering an entire contract.” J&D Pierce has established itself as a one-stop-shop in structural steelwork and boasts divisions dedicated not only to design, production, erection, roofing and cladding, but stretching right the way across transport, delivery, crane, and access. It’s with concentrated investment that the company has been able to develop its services and establish manufacture, delivery and erection processes which are each unrivalled in both speed or quality and, combined, provide significant advantages to customers. That broad spectrum of capabilities is only set to widen as the development of new facilities adjacent to J&D Pierce’s existing site gets underway. The 15-acre development beside their existing facilities will host a new steel fabrication process for the manufacture of plate girders. The company is investing millions in state-of-art tooling equipment and technology for this for external sales and with a view to gaining even greater production efficiency. Primarily though, the new facilities will enable the company to take on an even greater proportion of works, as Cormie details further, “There are some specialist products that are used, particularly in high-rise buildings, that we would ordinarily have to outsource from specialist manufacturers. The new facilities will allow us to start manufacturing those ourselves therefore affording us greater control over production, as well as the ability to shorten the lead-in times and enhance the programme we can offer our clients.” Indeed, the company’s development has long been informed by the desire to exceed clients; expectations across the board. Despite widening its catalogue of services, J&D Pierce has only further emphasised quality within their expansion, with state of the art machinery incorporating intelligent software and direct linkage with J&D Pierce’s design system, it is also highly efficient, can identify how best to to minimise wastage and produce a precise replica of the computational drawing on-screen. So esteemed in design is J&D Pierce that it regularly offers both partial and full design, as well as design advice on projects. Whether approached at the stage of conception, integration, value engineering or connection analysis, the company is able to provide critical design solutions via a number of industry standard software operated by experienced engineers. With unrivalled expertise in design at a planning, development and operational level, the company’s manufacture and erection processes are significantly enhanced and J&D Pierce has, on more than one occasion, found itself heading the pack on construction projects. During a recent contract at Bristol Sports Club, the company was tasked to redevelop the West Stand and, as an informed contractor, paved the way for others to follow, as Cormie outlines: “The aim was to tie in work with the existing stand and erect a complicated three-dimensional roof design with a main trusse spanning 108m. We carried out the interface detail and, despite having our own cladding division, worked alongside an external cladding supplier and the precast supplier sourced by the main contractor. “We had a very tight footprint in which to erect the project and immediately envisaged the difficulties that would pose to both ourselves and the cladders. We re-thought the engineers’ methodology of erection (a system of building temporary towers to build the truss on) and suggested that we could, in fact, build the entire truss from the ground and lift it into place with two large cranes. While it took intricate crane movement for final placement, it meant that we had much better safety control because the majority of work was conducting on the ground rather than at height, as well as giving us significant advantage in programme, preventing stoppages and delays in schedule.” Characterised by its ability to add value and decrease the costs associated with programme, J&D Pierce also designed bespoke hinge details on the supporting rafters; the innovative solution allowed the company to pre-erect the rafters in pairs and then swing them up to the truss and complete the structure in less than a day, As a specialist in design, manufacture and construction, the company has a key understanding of each phase of development and effectively guarantees a project’s success with quality and control endowed. Of course, those ethics and successes come as the result of focused attention on training and development. J&D Pierce has worked hard to up-skill its
