Last week we were extremely delighted to be sponsoring Sefton Chamber at this month’s event.
The event was held at Formby Golf Club and had an excellent turn out.
Jonathan gave attendees a background on himself and the company and then moved on to WOW everyone with XtremeSTORM.
Please find a link below to the XtremeSTORM fly through shown at the chamber event last Thursday.
For more information on XtremeSTORM then please visit www.xtremestorm.com or call XtremeSTORM HQ on 08458946342
Please follow the link to view our latest video which features footage of our latest technical fit of one of our obstacles.
It took a team a whole day to fit and test the massive 1/4 tonne net that will lead competitors up Southport Pier.
This weekend, some of the Xtreme Team cast their sights on Southport Pier to carry out a technical rehearsal for one of XtremeSTORM’s most anticipated obstacles. The team arrived at 0800hrs to set up the 1/4 tonne net to the iconic pier.
The test took the whole day to complete and allowed time for some of our team to climb the net.
Spectators gathered on the pier and were extremely curious to find out what on earth was going on. The feedback from the general public was extremely good, everyone is excited about the event taking over Southport and can’t wait for April!
Please visit www.xtremestorm.com for more information and how to enter.
Photos by Colin Angus at Colin Angus Photography XtremeSTORM XtremeSTORM Southport 20th & 21st April
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at STORM Consultancy and XtremeSTORM!
At a time when money is tight the recent successful prosecution of two asbestos surveyors David Harold and Shaun Hodgson were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after they failed to identify the presence of asbestos at 32 different locations in the former Sale Hotel on Marsland Road in Sale brings to light how possibly saving money could costs lives!
Trafford Magistrates’ Court was told that Mr Harold, 49, and Mr Hodgson, 32, were hired to carry out a full asbestos survey at the disused pub ahead of a major refurbishment project to bring it back into use.
They produced a report following a visit to the site on 31 May 2011, which was used by the principal contractor to identify which areas were safe to refurbish and which required a licensed company to remove asbestos before any work could take place.
However, the report failed to identify large amounts of asbestos in the basement. As a result, workers were exposed to potentially-deadly fibres as they carried out refurbishment work, installed pipes and fitted cabling.
The company overseeing the project immediately stopped the refurbishment work and brought in a specialist firm when one of its employees raised concerns that additional unidentified asbestos may be present in the basement.
The asbestos insulation material was not hidden, and was easily spotted in the second survey.
David Harold, of Balmoral Drive in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and Shaun Hodgson, of Sherbourne Cottages in Newton upon Derwent, York, each pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after they put the health of workers at risk.
They were each ordered to carry out 40 hours of community service in the next year and to each pay £1,500 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Matt Greenly said:
“Asbestos consultants and surveyors perform a vitally important role in the construction industry and are relied on to keep workers safe.
“Construction companies trust their expert opinions to help prevent workers from being exposed to asbestos fibres. It’s therefore essential that they do not take their minds off the job when carrying out asbestos surveys.
“Sadly Mr Harold and Mr Hodgson’s work fell way below acceptable standards, despite them being well trained and seemingly experienced asbestos surveyors.
“It is hard to understand how they could have missed so much asbestos material during their survey when it was so plainly obvious to others.”
This degree of incompetence is unforgivble for a company whoes expertise is asbestos surveying. This poor degree of workmanship could cost people their lives ironically what these contractors where there to safeguard. If the asbestos had been extensively hidden or difficult to access then a degree of understanding could be given but this asbestos was open and unexposed.
A word of advice when clients seek an asbestos surveyor – cheap is not always the best! Ensure the company commissioned is competent and understands the task.
Top Tips for Selecting a Asbestos Surevying Company:
1. Ensure the asbestos company has the experience – ask to see previous reports of a similar property type.
2. Ensure the company has experienced staff – when did they qualify?
3. Ensure the company has correct indemnity insurance.
4. Have they provided a pre inspection survey before the full pre-demoition survey?
5. Do they look as if they know what they are doing? Are they safe - do they conduct the survey in a methodical manner?
6. Do they charge by the sample or do they provide a all inclusive price? A good compnay will already have an idea of how many samples they will need. Less experienced will charge by the sample.
7. Do they have more than one surveyor – good companies survey with 2 surveyors for quality control reasons?
8. Do they liaise direct with the demolition company and turn up for the demolition to watch the critical stages – good companies will provide this as part of their fees?
9. Do they take pride in their work – or are they keen to get off site as quick as possible?
10. Do they penetrate every part of the building to ensure they access all parts of the structure – do they undress the construction – if the place doesn’t look like a bomb site or disturned after they have left then something might be wrong?
STORM Consultancy are experience asbestos surveyors who take pride in their work. If you don’t believe then have a look at our many asbestos surveys filmed and currently on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/user/STORMConsultancy?feature=mhum. Or contact us on 0845 894 6342 or info@stormconsultancyuk.com
This weekend some extremely lucky members of Team Xtreme got to test some of what is set to be XtremeSTORM’s most grueling obstacles. The event is going to feature four swims in and around Southport’s very own Marine Lake. The temperatures are set to be around 3 degrees by the time competitors get to join in in April and the temperature was slightly colder this weekend!
Some of the guys got into their swimming gear and powered through the swim, hot chocolate was definitely on hand to greet them afterwards!
It’s been an exciting two weeks for STORM and Team Xtreme… we’ve had the launch of our website and have seen XtremeSTORM unleashed into the public eye. Something that has been the brainchild of STORM Managing Director Jonathan for a while..something that one could only dream of creating..the dirtiest, toughest, nastiest endurance event in the UK!
We managed to feature in the Southport Visitor and many other publications. Please click the thumbnails to view the images in full.
Asbestos is a natural mineral widely used in the construction of our UK schools in the 1950′s to 1980′s. But once again we fool ourselves into thinking that our children are safeguarded at school. Current parental fears focus on predatory pedophiles on line or waiting near play grounds. The reality is that poor management and awareness of the lethal dangers of this toxic mineral could be the greatest danger facing our children.
Cwmcarn High School in Caerphilly county South Wales was shut late on Friday after a structural report identified asbestos. The question is why after the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 made it clear that all commercial premises have a legal due to manage asbestos? – why is it that schools suddenly close due to a building report? The CAR 2006 is quite clear that asbestos must be well managed – to have a survey conducted is not sufficient to comply. The management of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) is not as hard as many would think:
1. Ensure you know where the asbestos is located within your premises- get a competent asbestos survey company such as STORM Consultancy.
2. Ensure you are aware of the activities that are routinely conducted within your premises including future plans or expansions / alterations.
3. Ensure you understand the type of asbestos found and its condition – this allows you to correctly risk assess the material – some asbestos is better left in place – some is better protected (e.g. to encapsulate i.e. contain or paint) or to in serious cases to remove it.
4. Now you know where the asbestos is located ensure you inform people who need to know about it. Protect them by briefing them – show them a copy of the asbestos register and ensure it is labelled correctly. How about those who do not speak English or Welsh?
5. Also those who might come in contact with it – ie those who conduct maintenance or interfere with the building fabric must be asbestos aware – especially know the emergency procedures.
6. Finally ensure those in a position of management know how to manage asbestos correctly.
So, the question remains why if it is so simple do we still have asbestos scares in our schools? The sad fact is that many organisations still do not take the risks seriously enough. Staff are not aware nor trained, asbestos registers are incomplete and sometimes seldom checked or reviewed and contractors are poorly managed on site.
Its time to take it seriously….Asbestos kills!
STORM Consultancy is an asbestos company that conducts asbestos surveys, removal, consultancy and staff training. If you have a school and you are concerned that your asbestos is not being managed correctly – phone STORM to arrange a FREE consultation. Phone STORM on 0845 894 6342 or info@stormconsultancyuk.com
We are happy to announce that the XtremeSTORM official website has now gone live!
This weekend team Xtreme have been out at various events giving out our XtremeSTORM fliers and giving the public a taste of what madness is to come…
Please click the picture below to be taken to XtremeSTORM’s website.
XtremeSTORM is something different…
13 Miles…35 Obstacles…set to take the UK by STORM
Monday 1st October saw STORM’s 3rd Birthday, and we couldn’t of celebrated it with a better team!
’3 years, 3 apprentices’… STORM now have three young apprentices working in the office heading up what will be one of Southport’s biggest events!
XtremeSTORM is going to be one of the UK’s dirtiest, toughest, scariest extreme obstacles/run courses! With 18 KM of pain and 35 obstacles set to weaken the mind and body this event is definitely not something to be taken lightly.
STORM are extremely excited to run this event out to Southport and things are going extremely well at the moment. We also continue to be involved in some of the UK’s biggest music festivals, many different events, and are still very much focusing on other aspects of the business.
If you would like any more information on any of the services that STORM consultancy offer then please get in touch on 0845 894 6432.
