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I think the new look magazine is excellent, the CPD element and the Awesome section is a great idea.

Adam Mitchell, by email

What a revolution. Well done, a real change for the better. I do a lot of health and safety training in the industry and noted the comments about drugs by Tony Buon with interest (CM March, Letters). My experience shows that most site managers are not up to speed!

Mike Fuller, by email

Having just read your leading article in (CM March) I feel disappointed as another opportunity to highlight the genuine problems in the industry has been missed.

I try to look at the positives, but with each passing year the negatives are coming to the fore. If by industry achievements you mean huge profits, and by innovations, unbuildable designs, then you are miles off the real issues.

You ask: ‘Would you recommend a career in construction to your kids?’ What, long hours, weather-dictated work places, tight programmes, tighter budgets, mediocre wages, more unskilled workers, higher quality standards, not to mention health and safety issues, I could go on.

I’m one of the sad people who actually likes the job, but the ‘best job in the world’, steady!

Craig Turner, by email

On receiving my copy of the March Construction Manager my eyes were immediately drawn to the middle of the front cover that something didn’t look right. The ladder only extends about 500mm above the working platform.

For those of us who have been in this industry longer than we care to remember, not to mention the international company I work for, would always expect the ladder to extend at least 1050mm above the platform level, unless an alternative hand hold is provided.

It appears to me the swivel bar above the ladder cannot be the handhold as it can move away as soon as someone touches it from outside, and the standard to the left is too far away from the ladder.

Denis Llelliott, MCIOB

I was appalled your publication should have such a photograph on the front cover, the CIOB has such high standards for construction professionals and you publish such a photograph and send it to the industry!

Here’s what’s wrong:

1. Ladder should be a minimum five rungs above the landing platform.

2. No self-closing safety gate at landing platform.

3. Netting inside scaffold, forming a sail in high winds, a cause of many scaffold collapses.

3. Two sleeve couplings in the same location on handrail.

4. Horseplay on a ladder.

5. Some transoms seem to be spaced more than 1200mm c/c max.

6. Protection caps missing on tube ends around ladder access.

7. Location of lattice beam probably means an access way below scaffold, not a good place for the ladder location.

8. Toe board on the right not clipped to the standard.

Nick Coates, ACIOB

As a non member of the CIOB who came across your magazine I feel it necessary to write to you about the cover picture from a health and safety aspect. The ladder shown does not comply with HSE regulations. Only one of the operatives is wearing gloves and none are wearing eye protection. If the CIOB wants to send a message, surely it should be a safe one.

Andrew Pearce, by email