Working safely in challenging settings

Steeplejacks work in some of the most challenging environments, including on industrial cooling towers, power stations, castles and church spires. If property safety measures are not followed, the work can be hazardous because of height, limited access and the risks created by the weather. As a result each project must be planned very carefully and carried out by highly trained specialists. Continue reading

Avoid high dilapidations on your rented property

If you run a business which is based in a rental property, you will have certain responsibilities to take care of the premises and ensure they remain in good condition. Although every tenancy agreement will be different, you will usually be legally required to maintain high standards of safety in terms of electricity, gas and fire hazards, as well as making sure workers have sufficient space, drinking water and safe equipment and appliances. Continue reading

Don’t neglect gutters on commercial properties

Commercial property owners generally take all possible steps to protect their valuable stock and assets, such as installing secure doors and windows, alarm systems and even investing in security guards. All of these can help to keep the building secure and deter criminals. However, there is one important job that can also help to protect the contents of a property and the structure itself, but which is often neglected. It is crucial to regularly clean gutters and ensure they are structurally sound and functioning properly. Continue reading

Providing environmentally responsible lightning protection

Through our many years of service we have established a track record as being among the most reliable lightning protection service providers in the UK. We achieved this status by ensuring we use only the finest, most suitable equipment available for this form of protection. While the measures and equipment we use will vary depending on the environment, it is usually the case that the SafeStrike range delivers the comprehensive protection you need. Continue reading

Preventing surges in industrial settings

When lightning strikes, its immense electrical charge can cause a surge of high voltage electricity throughout the systems in your home and business, overloading appliances with more voltage than they can cope with and damaging circuits. In industrial settings, surges are not always caused by atmospheric factors such as lightning; it can also be caused by factors such as motor drives and capacitor banks switching. Continue reading

More funds set to be allocated for church restoration

Church restoration is an important concern at the moment, as many of the UK’s most important and historic places of worship have suffered damage and wear and tear over the years. Sadly, there have also been many reported cases of thieves taking lead from church roofs to sell on, resulting in extensive damage. There are approximately 1,100 historic places of worship throughout the UK which are currently on National Buildings at Risk Registers, which illustrates the need for urgent repairs to take place. Continue reading

The changing nature of the steeplejack profession

The term steeplejack refers to a person who climbs and works on a tall structure. Over the years, the profession has changed and evolved greatly. Historically it used to mean one which specifically had a spire at the top, but this is now seldom the case. While church towers and chimneys certainly fit into this category, we are required to climb and work on all forms of tall buildings. Nowadays, we are likely to be found working on blocks of offices and flats, industrial cooling towers, road or rail bridges, and many other types of tall structures. Continue reading

Sticking to animal welfare guidelines

In 2015 PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wrote to North Devon Council to offer advice about how they could tackle problems with aggressive seagulls in the area. The organisation identified a number of prospective solutions for the problem by working closely with their international affiliates. In the letter they suggest several things that can be done to manage the birds in a humane manner using techniques that would not require killing them or destroying their eggs. Continue reading