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‘’ audits offer a comprehensive review of and advice on the usage of fabrication screws throughout the manufacturing process, and provide valuable insights into where production operatives could be risking serious injuries as a result of poor component choice.

It is a service that Rapierstar customers are increasingly utilising as part of their health and safety strategy, to help address issues such as screws slipping during insertion because the drill point is poorly formed, and fasteners excessively wobbling or breaking during insertion.

The latest data from the HSE (2017-18) estimates that workplace injuries cost businesses in Great Britain around £5.2bn annually, 20% of which is picked up by employers and more than 57% by employees.

The costs to employers go well beyond personal injury claims by employees, with the HSE estimating that the hidden cost of accidents can be up to 10 times greater than the insured costs. including lost time, sick pay, extra wages, overtime working and production delays. More serious reputational damage could also result if a prosecution case results and this is reported in the media.

David Furness, MD of Rapierstar says: “Whist we don’t have current data on the extent of injuries in the UK door and window industry, we know from experience that some horrific injuries are caused because the fabrication screws are not fit for purpose. Making a few small changes in respect of the fasteners used for specific applications, supported by training for operatives, is something that we know can have a massive impact on safety.”

With more than 25 years’ experience as a specialist fastener supplier to the window and door industry, Rapierstar is uniquely positioned to offer technical guidance, training and support. Operating from its 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse and distribution centre near Macclesfield, Rapierstar works with fabricators and installers across the UK and Ireland to provide a complete product range, competitively priced and delivered next day.

The Rapierstar service is backed by industry-leading technical support team with a collective experience in the fastener market of more than 150 years. Customers are assisted further through the company’s in-house R&D and technical centre which, in addition to testing every single batch of fasteners for quality assurance, helps industry manufacturers and fabricators to deliver safe, secure, high performing finished products.