December 2006

Certex Commitment Rewarded

Nigel Edwards, Account Manager for Certex was presented this week with a Red Letter Day experience by Mark Hesslegrave, Checkmate UK Sales Director for his outstanding achievement and effort during the recent Certex sales campaign.

2nd July 2006

Highly Successful Roof Exhibition Builds Contacts for Checkmate

The Sales team for UK based height safety equipment manufacturer Checkmate Safety, has returned from a highly successful exhibition in the Middle East. The exhibition and conference Roof Middle East was being held for the fourth time at the Expo centre in Sharjah, UAE and was aimed towards the booming regional construction industry.

Checkmate manufacture a comprehensive and innovative range of fall arrest and height safety equipment including CheckLine, a single wire lifeline system which is technologically advanced to offer the user total security and freedom of movement while working at height. Together with their representatives in the Middle East, PCT Group Ltd based in Dubai, Checkmate is able to offer a comprehensive design and install package of fall prevention systems to suit the client’s requirements. Recent projects in the Middle East include the IKEA and Hypermarket buildings at Dubai Festival City and Dubai International Airport. The company has also designed and supplied the vertical rail system for the world’s tallest unsupported flagpole at the Royal Palace in Amman Jordan.

The Expo was supported by Ahmed Mohammed Al-Midfa, Chairman-Sharjah Chamber of Commerce who visited Checkmate’s stand. Sales Director Mark Hesslegrave and Safety Division Manager Oliver Auston said “We were pleased with the level of interest shown in our products. We are keen to develop the business we already have in the Middle East and the Expo gave us the opportunity to increase our contact list and develop some positive leads for the future.”

Checkmate has fitted systems on many prestigious British buildings including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.

In 2004 Checkmate was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the company’s contribution to international trade.

15th August 2005

Checkmate’s Fall Arrest Equipment Expands Down Under

New Zealand’s largest distributor of steel and allied products will be adding a range of fall arrest height safety equipment to its extensive steel product portfolio.

Steel and Tube Distribution, part of the Steel and Tube Holdings Ltd group has signed an agreement with British manufacturer Checkmate UK Ltd, to sell their range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including their Pro Body Harness, Pro Lanyard, Temporary Lifelines, Anchorages, Fall Arrest Blocks and Rescue Equipment through their 16 service centres.

Checkmate launched their PPE range to the British market in 2001 and the ground breaking new products will enable employers to provide safety and protection for more users in much broader and diverse situations than ever before. The innovative range includes the world’s first all composite safety harness and composite lanyard. It also encompasses modular temporary and permanent lifeline systems, both rigid and flexible, vertical and horizontal to suit every conceivable application.

In 2004 the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for their contribution to International Trade. 85% of the company’s production is exported outside the EU to Scandinavia, Canada, United States, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Japan, Indonesia, Australasia, Equatorial Guinea and most recently Afghanistan. All Checkmate’s fall arrest products are designed and manufactured in the UK.

Steel and Tube Distribution has an existing product range of over 23,000 items for use in construction. Steve Pearce, National Manager for Chain & Rigging said “The addition of PPE to our product range will give customers a one stop shop for their lifting gear and safety requirements and reflects the importance that we as a company place on safety in the workplace.”

Checkmate’s Business Development Manager Fred Margerrison will be providing technical support and training.

Steel and Tube Holdings Ltd is New Zealand’s largest distributor of steel and allied products, has approximately 800 employees and a turnover of NZ$400 million (£157 million).

8th August 2005

Tower of London Roof Access System Helps Win Conservation Award

A roof access system designed by Online Safety, part of the Checkmate Avon group of companies, contributed to the project to restore part of the Tower of London that has won a prestigious conservation award.

The project, managed by Historic Royal Palaces, was awarded the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Conservation Award 2005, for its stone conservation repairs and lead roof installation at the Wakefield Tower.

Online Safety designed and installed an easy-to-release gas strut controlled lifting mechanism enabling a 300kg octagonal lead covered hatch to be lifted by one person. This hatch allows for inspection of the underside of the roof covering and access to the winding mechanism, that safely raises and lowers the lighting corona in the throne room below.

Improved roof access was also provided by installing specially shaped walkways designed to match the octagonal hatch and fixed with clamps to the lead rolls to avoid penetrating the roof.

The Wakefield tower was built in the early 13th century and housed the crown jewels from 1870 until 1967. The tower has two chambers, the ground floor acting as a guardroom to the postern, which lead to the royal apartments above. The upper floor contains a large and magnificent octagonal vaulted chamber and an oratory. Not without its share of the Tower of London’s bloody history, Henry VI died in the Wakefield Tower on May 21st 1471, allegedly murdered on the orders of the Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III.

Director of Online Safety Roger Townsend said “We are extremely pleased to have been part of the project which received this prestigious award. The Tower of London is a marvellous building, steeped in history, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to design a system which satisfies the demands of Health and Safety legislation that is sympathetic to the fabric of the building.”

Other recent On Line safety projects include Buckingham Palace, the University of Greenwich and St Paul’s Cathedral.

For further information contact: Roger Townsend 01795 580333

8th November 2004

CHECKMATE’S NEW PPE RANGE - JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Market leader in the manufacture of personal protective equipment Checkmate UK Ltd, has taken doctor’s orders into account when designing their new Professional range of harnesses and lanyards. The Kent company, which was awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise this year, asked Registered Osteopath and Naturopathic physician Dr Jon H Leigh to work with them on the design of their new range and provide an assessment of its capability.

Dr Leigh, who has 32 years experience of treating patients with industrial injuries, including falls from height, tested and examined the equipment assessing its comfort, wearability and physiological benefits.

Dr Leigh’s report stresses the importance of any safety harness being fitted correctly and being comfortable for the user. Checkmate’s harnesses have a strap, which acts as a seat to relieve pressure on the leg loops together with a wide back strap to give support to the lower and middle back. Abdominal straps hold the vertical straps in place to prevent separation whilst it is being worn and, in the event of a fall, stops the torso pitching forward out of the harness.

One of the most commonly heard complaints voiced about safety harnesses is that they are difficult to put on. Checkmate has addressed this issue by integrating additional material into the design to make it as easy to put on as a jacket. This prevents the harness from being put on back to front or even inside out.

In his report Dr Leigh describes the type of injuries the body is subjected to during the trauma of a fall from height and explains the physical stress on the body caused by the action of falling. He also stresses the importance of preventing the motion of fall arrest from being transmitted through the wearer’s body as this can cause serious damage. The PAL shock absorbing lanyard, as developed by Checkmate, addresses this issue by paying out more progressively over a greater distance. This reduces the whiplash effect and minimises damage to the soft tissue, which is in contact with the safety harness.

Dr Leigh concluded “In my examination of Checkmate’s personal protective equipment I found that the key issues likely to cause death or injury of the worker in the event of a fall from height had been well researched and has led to the production of an excellent product.”

The new Checkmate Professional Range of harnesses and lanyards, in the new distinctive red and black colours, is now available.