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Newsletter - July 2010
The July 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: July Newsletter.
Newsletter - June 2010
The June 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: June Newsletter.
Newsletter - May 2010
The May 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: May Newsletter.
Newsletter - April 2010
The April 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: April Newsletter.
Paper - a Whymsical View
Watching the BBC News recently, I saw a family discussion about homework and how parents 'can no longer help their children' because they don't understand the teaching method now used for maths being taught to infants. A young girl, maybe a five year old, playing at a computer screen, stated whimsically that 'in the olden days, people used to work things out on paper'.
Well, I can resonate with a number of issues there! In the not-so-olden-days, only some 16 years ago, I well remember presenting the first version of ToolKit to the co-writer of the CDM regulations (known as the Condam Regs at that stage). The HSE policy maker was George Ventris; a bright chap. When he spotted my shiny and brand-new-for-the-occasion laptop, he said: 'I don't really understand the new technology. What you have to remember is to give the users a blank piece of paper and make them think.' Wise words indeed. The context was making risk assessments. George's point was that contractors in particular (in his experience) preferred marking check boxes on a list rather than having to think through from first principles the answer to each risk assessment. This way, they would save time and be able to get on with their other tasks in the shortest possible time.
I have said many times over the intervening years, that the current generation of senior managers are going to have a problem. When the college graduates reach their mid thirties and discover the power of IT and how that power can help them manage their working environment, there will be a real problem. They will have the potential to overtake the incumbent managers 'big time' and we are likely to lose a generation of managers because they will be seen to be unnecessary in the management chain.
Which is in fact what is going on. Umpteen layers of 'management' have been stripped from organisations large enough to sustain the shrinking. And construction related accidents are decreasing. Is that entirely because there is less construction in these recessionary times, or is it the younger managers with better IT skills pole vaulting over the 'old guard'? Are trees safer now than they were 15 years ago.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Knotweed: Louse Let Loose
For those that did not see it, there is news that an Asian insect is to be let loose to see if can stop the spread of one of Britain's most invasive weeds, the Japanese Knotweed.
First introduced by the Victorians Knotweed is a tenacious plant and can be found in many areas. Growing up to three feet a month with roots that go six feet deep it has proven difficult to control.
Scientists are introducing a psyllid louse, a sap sucking predator in a 'controlled' way in the hope they can find a solution for the many local authorities and industry from the huge cost of treating and killing this plant.
However, there are concerns that the introduction of the predator may affect other wildlife and other shrubs. Scientists have tested the pest on over 90 types of British plant including crops and garden shrubs. They have stated that it will only eat its host plant and once the Knotweed has been destroyed it then dies out.
Regulation Updates
Update 1: From 6 April 2010, if you are responsible for ensuring that conventional tower cranes used on construction sites are thoroughly examined, you must give the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) certain information about these cranes. Businesses responsible for ensuring that conventional tower cranes used on construction sites are thoroughly examined by a competent person must give the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) information about such cranes. Click to read more about this Tower Crane regulation update.
Update 2: Building Regulations - Construction businesses will have to comply with changes to the Building Regulations 2000. These will introduce for new buildings:
- a minimum water efficiency requirement
- a maximum temperature requirement for bath water
The rules will also be strengthened and clarified on:
- the safety of hot water systems
- the supply of water of suitable quality for personal and food hygiene
Update 3: From 6 April 2010, Street works supervisors and operatives - Supervisors and trained operatives will have to be reassessed every five years before they can re-register on the Street Works Qualification Register and continue to carry out street works. Click to read more about this Street Works regulation update.
Source: Business Link
Newsletter - March 2010
The March 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: March Newsletter.
Newsletter - February 2010
The February 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: February Newsletter.
Newsletter - January 2010
The January 2010 edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: January Newsletter.
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