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Posts with the 'Construction' tag
Hard Hats Guidance
The HSE has stated that the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 and the Notification of Conventional Tower Crane Regulations 2010 have now been revoked. However they insist that being safe is crucial and the wearing of hats saves lives.
With this in mind they have published some guidance on Hard Hats; for more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis70.pdf
Basis of new CDM Regulations Explained
On March 13th 2013 the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) received a presentation from HSE on the revision to the CDM 2007 Regulations. The presentation has now been published on the HSE website - CDM Revised Regulatory Package Update.
The declared objectives of the new regulations are:
- Implementation - current law 'under-implements' since there are no duties on 'domestic clients';
- Simplification - the new package must be more user-friendly and less bureaucratic;
- Roles - align roles more accurately with the EU Directive requirements;
- Cost and bureaucracy - aim is to produce cost savings for businesses and less 'bureaucracy';
- SMEs - new regulations should improve compliance of SMEs; and
- Regulatory impact - regulations must meet better regulation principles.
The central principle governing the new CDM Regulations will be meeting the requirements set out by the related EU Directive. To aid readers, the main requirements of the Directive are reproduced below with key definitions and obligations underlined.
So what will this mean to those involved in CDM projects? Until we have the finer detail there doesn't look as though there is anything too complicated; however we need to know what impact the new regulations will have for those of us who are either Clients, CDM-C's, Designers or Contractors.
There were concerns that things would change for the worse; we don't believe this will be the case as the pragmatic approach the HSE is taking means things will be structured; they will only change things that require it (if it isn't broken don't fix it strategy). We look forward to the changes as we believe things will be improved in the long run.
Please leave us your thoughts on the proposed changes in this related forum post.
Main Requirements of EU Directive
Article 2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive:
(a) 'temporary or mobile construction sites' (hereinafter referred to as 'construction sites') means any construction site at which building or civil engineering works are carried out; a non-exhaustive list of such works is given in Annex I;
(b) 'client' means any natural or legal person for whom a project is carried out;
(c) 'project supervisor' means any natural or legal person responsible for the design and/or execution and/or supervision of the execution of a project, acting on behalf of the client;
(d) 'self-employed person' means any person other than those referred to in Article 3 (a) and (b) of Directive 89/391/EEC whose professional activity contributes to the completion of a project;
(e) 'coordinator for safety and health matters at the project preparations stage' means any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and/or project supervisor, during preparation of the project design, with performing the duties referred to in Article 5;
(f) 'coordinator for safety and health matters at the project execution stage' means any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and/or project supervisor, during execution of the project, with performing the duties referred to in Article 6.
Article 3 Appointment of coordinators - Safety and health plan - Prior notice
1. The client or the project supervisor shall appoint one or more coordinators for safety and health matters, as defined in Article 2 (e) and (f), for any construction site on which more than one contractor is present.
2. The client or the project supervisor shall ensure that prior to the setting up of a construction site a safety and health plan is drawn up in accordance with Article 5 (b).
The Member States may, after consulting both management and the workforce, allow derogations from the provisions of the first paragraph, except where the work concerned involves particular risks as listed in Annex II.
3. In the case of constructions sites:
-on which work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days and on which more than 20 workers are occupied simultaneously, or
- on which the volume of work is scheduled to exceed 500 person-days, the client or the project supervisor shall communicate a prior notice drawn up in accordance with Annex III to the competent authorities before work starts.
The prior notice must be clearly displayed on the construction site and, if necessary, periodically updated.
Article 4 - Project preparation stage: general principles
The project supervisor, or where appropriate the client, shall take account of the general principles of prevention concerning safety and health referred to in Directive 89/391/EEC during the various stages of designing and preparing the project, in particular:
- when architectural, technical and/or organizational aspects are being decided, in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession,
- when estimating the period required for completing such work or work stages. Account shall also be taken, each time this appears necessary, of all safety and health plans and of files drawn up in accordance with Article 5 (b) or (c) or adjusted in accordance with Article 6 (c).
Article 5 - Project preparation stage: duties of coordinators
The coordinator(s) for safety and health matters during the project preparation stage appointed in accordance with Article 3 (1) shall:
(a) coordinate implementation of the provisions of Article 4;
(b) draw up, or cause to be draw up, a safety and health plan setting out the rules applicable to the construction site concerned, taking into account where necessary the industrial activities taking place on the site; this plan must also include specific measures concerning work which falls within one or more of the categories of Annex II;
(c) prepare a file appropriate to the characteristics of the project containing relevant safety and health information to be taken into account during any subsequent works.
Article 6 - Project execution stage: duties of coordinators
The coordinator(s) for safety and health matters during the project execution stage appointed in accordance with Article 3 (1) shall:
(a) coordinate implementation of the general principles of prevention and safety:
- when technical and/or organizational aspects are being decided, in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession,
- when estimating the period required for completing such work or work stages;
(b) coordinate implementation of the relevant provisions in order to ensure that employers and, if necessary for the protection of workers, self-employed persons:
- apply the principles referred to in Article 8 in a consistent manner,
- where required, follow the safety and health plan referred to in Article 5 (b);
(c) make, or cause to be made, any adjustments required to the safety and health plan referred to in Article 5 (b) and the file referred to in Article 5 (c) to take account of the progress of the work and any changes which have occurred;
(d) organize cooperation between employers, including successive employers on the same site, coordination of their activities with a view to protecting workers and preventing accidents and occupational health hazards and reciprocal information as provided for in Article 6 (4) of Directive 89/391/EEC, ensuring that self-employed persons are brought into this process where necessary;
(e) coordinate arrangements to check that the working procedures are being implemented correctly;
(f) take the steps necessary to ensure that only authorized person are allowed onto the construction site.
Article 7 - Responsibilities of clients, project supervisors and employers
1. Where a client or project supervisor has appointed a coordinator or coordinators to perform the duties referred to in Articles 5 and 6, this does not relieve the client or project supervisor of his responsibilities in that respect.
2. The implementation of Articles 5 and 6, and of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not affect the principle of employers' responsibility as provided for in Directive 89/391/EEC.
Please leave us your thoughts on the proposed changes in this related forum post.
Source: HSE
PPE & Tower Crane Message From The HSE Forum
You may wish to note that The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 2013 came into force on 6 April 2013. These Regulations have removed thirteen measures that have either been overtaken by more up to date Regulations, are redundant or do not deliver the intended benefits. Further information is available on HSE's website. The measures removed include:
Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989
The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations have been revoked and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 1992 amended so that they apply to the provision and use of head protection on construction sites as well as to other forms of PPE.
Although the regulations have changed, the level of legal protection has not. Hard hats remain vital in protecting construction workers from head injuries. The necessity for hard hats on construction sites remains, and employers do not need to do anything differently to comply with the law. HSE is working with the industry (particularly small contractors) to ensure they understand this.
(Further information can be found at: Construction FAQs: Personal Protective Equipment and Hard hats: what you need to know as a busy builder [PDF]).
Notification of Conventional Tower Crane Regulations 2010
The revocation of the Notification of Conventional Tower Crane Regulations 2010 (including the closure of the Tower Crane Register) will reduce the regulatory burden placed on the construction industry without reducing safety standards for workers and the public.
HSE will continue working with industry to improve tower crane safety standards, including work to find a way in which the industry can continue to reassure the public about tower crane safety.
(Further information can be found at: Construction FAQs: Tower Crane Safety and Safe Crane Campaign.
Government Release 25M Funds to Remove Bottlenecks
We read in the Construction Enquirer that Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin has released the first £25m funding to enable the early delivery of improvements on the local highway Networks.
This has come about due to the government plans to tackle bottlenecks to keep the country moving and our economy growing.
For more on this article see First 10 pinch point road projects approved – List
Source: Construction Enquirer
New Chief of Construction for HSE Announced
The SHP reports that The HSE has announced today (8th March 2013), that its new chief inspector of construction is Heather Bryant. Ms Bryant takes over from current chief inspector Philip White, who leaves at the end of March after four years in the post.
The HSE's chief inspector of construction heads a division of 260 specialist inspectors, policy officials and support staff. Despite significant improvements in recent years, construction remains one of Britain's most dangerous industries – 49 people were killed and 2,884 seriously injured in 2011/12. If you would like to read more about this story visit SHP online.
It is good to see more women senior roles within the industry especially on International Women's Day!
Source: SHP Online
Blacklist Investigation Not Going Forward
The Construction Enquirer reports that the government is ruling out an investigation into construction blacklisting unless new evidence is produced that the practice is still going on.
This decision has not pleased shadow business secretary Chuka Umanna who has called for a 'full investigation'. He believes that the government should be making those responsible for the blacklisting compensate those affected.
For more on this story visit Government rejects call for blacklist investigation
Source: Construction Enquirer
Regulators to assess new nuclear reactor design
The ONR and the Environment Agency has received a formal request from the Minister of State for Energy to start generic design assessment work on a new nuclear reactor for the UK. The aim is to ensure that it meets high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management.
This project, when built will be the first of its kind in the UK and will set the standard for future works.
For more information visit Office for Nuclear Regulation
Ai Solutions CDM Co-ordinator Service
Ai Solutions continue to work hard to provide 'best value' for our customers and this New Year we are proud to announce that we can now offer a 'Complete CDM-C service'.
The CDM-C Service and Consultancy is an option we can provide to aid you in effective CDM management. We will provide a fully qualified and competent CDM-C to manage your project from design start through to handover of the health and safety file. This allows you to fulfill your duties as a Client as well as providing you with peace of mind.
This service will help you to fully comply with the CDM regulations and other related regulations (Fire, COSHH etc.) providing total support and assistance for clients and construction professionals. The CDM-C will ensure all required documentation is complete and approved as well as ensuring all parties are deemed as competent to carry out the work they have been contracted to do. Additionally the CDM-C will provide health and safety advice and carry out regular audits and inspections and instigate improvements as required.
With this new service and the use of the ToolKit CS Software we can aid your organisation in ensuring compliance with the CDM2007 Regulations. If you would like to know more about this service give a member of the team a call on 01525 850080 or email us on info@aisolutions.co.uk
HS2 Stage 2 Award Announced
HS2 has named the successful bidders for key engineering and environmental consultancy work for phase two of the £33bn high-speed rail project. The winners include Mott MacDonald who were awarded both the environmental and engineering framework packages.
The latest consultancy packages for the £13bn Y-shaped stretch of the link north of Birmingham come after the Government confirmed it would publish details of the proposals for Phase Two within the next few weeks.
For more on this story, see HS2 awards Phase II framework contracts
Green Light for Redevelopment of Paradise Circus
The Construction Enquirer reports that developer Argent has gained planning for its ambitious project to transform Birmingham's Paradise Circus.
The £450m scheme involves demolishing the old Central Library and constructing 10 new buildings around a series of new squares and streets in the heart of the city. This is good new for Birmingham and will hopefully create a first class sustainable development for future generations.
For more on this story visit Green light for £450m Paradise Circus in Birmingham
The Secret of Success
Loughborough University were asked to produce a report on why the Olympics was so successful; identifying factors which have contributed to the London 2012 Olympic Park being delivered on time, on budget and with an exemplary health and safety record.
Their report "Pre-conditioning for success Characteristics and factors ensuring a safe build for the Olympic Park" highlighted the more human factors like respect, trust, clarity, pre-emption, challenge, consistency, collaboration, motivation, empowerment, communication, open-ness, fairness and assurance. Their practical influence on approaches to, and effectiveness of, leadership, worker involvement, cultural change, communication systems, risk management, monitoring and assurance are brought out.
At Ai Solutions we believe that interaction is key to successful management within CDM and many of our customers have already reaped the benefits of our collaborative approach. Much of what the report identifies should be common sense, the problem within the construction industry is the "silo approach" and the "its not my problem" style of thinking. The sooner we learn from the experiences at the Olympics the better.
If you would like to read the report please go to www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr955.pdf
£200m London School Improvement Up For Grabs
The London Borough of Hillingdon is looking for contractors to build and improve several schools in the borough. up to 15 schools. There will be a 'framework' of firms to complete the works over four years.
Firms have until 7 January to register their interest at procure4london.com using access code 29HB5FM3PD or contact Mark Holmes on 0189 555 8396.
For more on this article visit buildingproducts.co.uk
Lancashire builder risked lives on scaffolding
A Lancashire builder has appeared in court after he ignored a formal warning to stop working at the top of a dangerous scaffolding tower.
The HSE Inspector could see there were no handrails or toe boards around the platform at the top of the tower to protect the workers from falling some seven metres to the ground. He immediately issued a Prohibition Notice ordering the men to come down from the unsafe scaffolding.
For more on this article see HSE Press
Firms fined after crane crashed down on building site
The HSE have prosecuted two companies after a serious failure in communications led to an 80 tonne mobile crane toppling over, narrowly missing workmen and a busy road.
The incident happened on a building site in Fernbrook Road, Gillingham, on 18 August 2009 during construction of a new nursing home. The HSE's investigation found the lift itself was carried out unsafely as the crane was overloaded and being operated on poor ground. As a result the 80-tonne crane overturned and its extended 50 metre jib fell across the site, narrowly missing the workers and a nearby road. The HSE said a larger crane should have been used and ground mats were needed to spread the load of the crane's outriggers due to the poor ground conditions.
For more on this story visit HSE Press
Source: HSE
HSE Online F10: What are your views?
Our customers and other readers will be interested to know that we have been discussing the online F10 Notification form with the HSE recently. We have approached them as we believe that, based on feedback from our customers and readers, the online form has its downsides. We have offered them some feedback which was well received and now we would like to involve our readers in the debate.
The HSE Online Forms team are in the process of reviewing their current forms and would like further feedback. If you have some comments to make we would ask you to take this very short survey to put forward your views. The aim is to ensure that any work the HSE does regarding the online F10 notification form has considered the feedback from those that it is aimed at.
If you would like to take part visit bit.ly/F10Survey. We will keep our readers informed of any developments made.
London Airport Investment Programme
London City airport has announced a £15m improvement programme. This year the airport celebrated its millionth flight, welcomed its 36 millionth passenger and hosted an anniversary visit from the Queen.
Declan Collier, chief executive, said: "With the investment we've announced today and further infrastructure work over the next three years, we can reach our permitted capacity, maintain our high standards and absorb some European air traffic from other airports in the South East that are beginning to feel the strain."
The £15m improvement work will begin early next year. For more on this story visit London City Airport marks 25 years with £15m improvements
Source: BBC News
Green is Good For Growth
The TUC has held a conference recently, with some interesting key speakers. The thrust was about a "green is good for growth" and the belief that a low-carbon future can create sustainable growth.
Ai Solutions supports this theory; we believe that as a country we need to make provision for the future of our children. We can do this is by re-thinking "how" we build, utilizing new technologies and ensuring the government invests in a greener future.
If you are interested in this article then visit the TUC website.
The following video is of Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP speaking at the conference.
Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP speech at the TUC's Green is Good for Growth conference 2012.
Source: TUC
Construction For Growth
We read recently that the UK's construction workforce has declined to its lowest level since 2001 with a total of 1,996,000 workers according to recent Office National Statistic (ONS) labour market statistics. Figures show that there have been over 45,000 jobs lost and a 5% reduction in construction output contributing to the return of recession.
However this month (September) we understand that a new industry campaign has started; Construction4Growth is calling on Government to invest in construction as the best route out of recession and back to growth.
Ai Solutions supports this campaign as without assistance and investment from the government, the construction industry will not provide the much needed boost to the economy that this country needs. The government needs to increase investment, develop skills and encourage the green agenda in driving growth through construction.
Summary of the Proposed Planning Changes
For those of you that are interested, the Government has announced changes regarding planning. This has come to a head as, due to the current economic climate, the Government wanted to give the construction industry a well needed boost.
Additionally David Cameron wanted to 'simplify' the planning process for home owners and businesses alike. The Do I Need Planning Permission web site takes you through a summary of the proposed planning changes
Government Agrees To Major Industries Shake-up
The government is set to transform the skills of those joining the construction industry by transferring hundreds of millions of pounds for training programmes from local colleges to employers.
This is a long awaited and very welcome strategy as Britain goes through the current decline in skills and lack of investment has hindered progress.
For more on this article visit Government agrees to major industry skills shakeup
What if you didn't notify the HSE about a notifiable project?
There is an interesting discussion on the HSE Construction Forum.
With the lack of HSE 'to cover' all the works happening at the moment a query was raised that if you were undertaking a fairly low risk project and the works went over the threshold to make it a notifiable project but a CDM-C was not appointed what would the HSE do – even if the works completed without accident or injury?
If there was a major accident then the situation is obvious and the Client would be prosecuted accordingly. Nevertheless it was pointed out that there were probably many jobs that fitted into the 'no accident model' and the HSE would be completely unaware of what was happening. This is all true, however the regulations are there to ensure those working on constriction sites are safe and that those responsible are 'held to account' should the worse case happen. It has been an interesting discussion.
For more on this discussion and to have your say, see What If?
Source: HSE Construction Forum
HSE Cost Recovery Scheme Starts October 2012
The cost recovery scheme introduced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Fee for Intervention (FFI) - will start on 1 October 2012 subject to Parliamentary approval.
New detailed FFI guidance has been published on HSE's website setting about how the scheme will work in practice. Developed in consultation with representatives from industry, it explains how FFI works and includes examples illustrating how it would be applied.
Will this new scheme aid the HSE recover costs? It is hoped so as the ones who break the law will be the ones that get fined.
For more on this item visit HSE Media Centre
Mouchel to cut another £3m in costs
The Construction Enquirer stated that Mouchel are to cut another £3m in costs.
The consultant was originally looking to save £18m during the economy drive but that figure has been revised upwards to £21m. The business has been reorganised into two divisions – Mouchel Infrastructure Services and Mouchel Business Services managed by ex BT man Craig Apsey.
This news reflects the effects of the current financial climate. For more on this story see the Construction Enquirer
Source: Construction Enquirer
UK Construction Slowed in May
A recent article on the BBC web site states that the UK Construction sector has continued to slow to a low in May this year.
The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) for construction fell to 54.4 last month, from 55.8 in April. However, the reading indicates that the sector is still growing, as a figure above 50 implies expansion.
If you would like to know more please see www.bbc.co.uk/news/business
Source: BBC News
1 In 5 Construction Sites Fail Safety Checks
We read that nearly one in five construction sites failed safety checks during a national initiative to improve construction site safety. This is a slight improvement on previous years which is good news, but is this trend down to less construction work being carried out?
The investigation was carried out by HSE staff and concentrated on high-risk activity including working at height and ensuring sites were in 'good order', being clean and tidy with clear access routes.
If you would like Ai Solutions to aid you in your construction duties (Client, Designer, CDM-C) then give a member of the team a call on 01525 850080 or email us on gen@aisolutions.co.uk
Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP)
The Welsh Government has published the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs to ensure that its future capital investment is used to deliver the maximum benefits to Wales.
A number of capital projects are planned worth over £15bn which will see the Welsh economy move forward. This is excellent news for the local community as well as the Welsh construction industry.
If you are interested in any of the projects more information can be found on wales.gov.uk/funding/wiip2012
Safety Event for Scottish Construction Firms
The HSE has teamed up with the construction industry's Working Well Together campaign to organise an event focusing on safety issues for construction workers, especially during the ground-works phase.
This free event has been organised to get to grips with health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries, especially within the smaller and medium sized construction companies.
For more information see HSE Press
Center Parcs Civils Deal
Birse Civils has been confirmed as winner of a £26m contract to build all the roads and technical infrastructure at Center Parcs new holiday development at Woburn.
Ai Solutions are very interested in this particular Center Parc as it is local to us.
Source: Birse wins £26m Center Parcs road deal
Latest Crossrail Contract Awarded
A Costain Skanska joint venture has won the latest £40m Crossrail contracts to build ventilation and access shafts in east London.
Work will start on the C360 contracts at Eleanor Street and Mile End Park during the later half of this year. The ventilation shafts along the Crossrail route have been designed to ensure optimal air movement within the tunnels.
For more on this story go to Costain and Skanska win latest Crossrail contracts
Pedestrian Hit By Falling Hoarding
A woman has been airlifted to hospital after she was hit by a metal site hoarding which fell from a new academy site in Kidderminster yesterday.
The main contractor at the site is Thomas Vale who are converting the historic Piano Building into a new academy for Kidderminster College and Birmingham Metropolitan College.
For more on this story see Woman hit by falling site hoarding from academy job.
Green Construction Gets £1m Boost
Image by christgr, sxc.hu
And now for some positive news; we read that the Green Construction Board (GCB) has secured an extra £1 million in finance from the government in order to provide added support to its operations. This funding will aid them in promoting 'green construction'.
Green construction is a growing industry and one which requires support so that those trained in traditional construction techniques can change their ways of working to fit new targets and guidelines.
Ai Solutions and their partners Waste Plan Solutions support green construction and waste management. For more on this story go to Aviva Risk News.
Source: Aviva Risk News
Construction Still 'Under Pressure'
In Northern Ireland the construction sector remains under extreme pressure despite a marginal improvement in its downward trend, according to the latest RICS Construction Market Survey.
It seems that we are still getting mixed messages regarding construction work in the UK. In London there are plenty of large projects happening, mostly due to the Olympics as well as the length of time that a lot of larger projects tend to take to complete. It is not the same story in the rest of the country as many of our readers can verify.
Are we on the turn yet? We think not, mostly down to the economic climate and the worries over currency in Europe.
If you would like to receive the regular Ai Solutions newsletter and receive more news on what is going on then please register via our web site.
Local Contractor - Dumper Truck Fine
A local contractor in Northamptonshire has been fined after a six-tonne dumper truck ran over a worker's foot.
Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard that Maypine Construction was main contractor on the job where Ross Smith (23) and a colleague were filling the roadway with stone, in preparation for surfacing.
The HSE said: "Many construction transport incidents are usually the result of inadequate separation of pedestrians and vehicles, and by inadequate control of vehicle movements on site."
For more on this story see Dumper truck runs over ground worker's foot
Source: Construction Enquirer
Summary of Duties under CDM
As leaders in software to manage CDM and Asbestos the team here at Ai Solutions are often asked questions in regard to CDM.
One of the most prevalent is "What are my duties under CDM2007?" The HSE has summarised these CDM related duties in a excellent table on their web site - HSE Summary of CDM duties
If you would like further help of guidance please visit our web site on www.aisolutions.co.uk or call a member of the team on 01525 850080.
BAM Wins Multiple Schools Deal Worth £50m
We read in the Construction Enquirer that 'BAM Construct' has been confirmed as builder of five new school and academy jobs worth £50m.
This is a huge multi-site project that will create work locally. The areas in question are Buckinghamshire, Bristol and Plymouth.
Some of the work is going to start this Summer which is good news as this will be a good kick start for the industry. The whole works are scheduled to be completed by December 2014.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Boost In Sales Versus Changes In Legislation
Barratt, the UK's largest homebuilder, saw its best spring selling season in five years as government moves to boost the market helped to raise prices and sales. Aided by government schemes that have helped to raise the prices of new houses, homebuilders have seen their sales rise.
This is good news then within the industry? At the moment we are glad to hear this with the current financial climate spreading its doom and gloom. However, with the recent changes in the asbestos regulations and the construction regulations under review, we all need to keep up to date with legislation.
At Ai Solutions we pride ourselves on keeping abreast with legislative changes as they happen. If you would like our help with CDM and/or asbestos then contact a member of the team on 01525 850080!
HSE Campaign Could Cost Industry £1.5m+
The HSE's annual enforcement initiative could cost the construction industry more than £1.5m.
The HSE intends to introduce a system for recovering the cost of enforcement activity from those who contravene regulations from October 2012. The scheme, known as Fees for Intervention (FFI), is aimed at ensuring those who contravene the law pay for the cost of HSE enforcement activity.
For more on this, see the consultation document (PDF). In the HSE's proposal for extending cost recovery it defines how they plan to reinstate existing fees and to extend the range of activities for which HSE recovers costs.
Huge Fine for Crane Collapse
Main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland and structural engineer Bingham Davis have been found guilty of breaking safety laws following a crane collapse in Liverpool which left the driver paralysed.
Bowmer & Kirkland and Bingham had both denied the charges following the collapse in July 2009 when the tower crane toppled onto an apartment block at Chandlers Wharf in Liverpool city centre.
The companies were fined £280k and £1k respectively for the accident where crane driver Iain Gillham, 55, from Woolton, fell from his cab onto the roof of the apartments and through the hole created by the counterweights.
For more on this story go to Construction Enquirer.
Source: The Construction Enquirer
£70m Highways Contract Up For Grabs
Northern borough councils, Halton and Warrington, are teaming-up in a joint procurement race for a £70m highways maintenance contract. The councils are hoping to appoint a single contractor for both areas with work evenly split over the six year deal between the two authorities.
If Ai Solutions can aid you in your tender applications, especially in the CDM and Asbestos areas, then please call a member of the team on 01525 850080.
The works will include reactive maintenance, signage, response repairs to highways, road marking, bridges, retaining walls and similar structures, street furniture, drainage, winter maintenance and lighting. Interested firms have until June 12 to contact the council.
For more information and contact details, see Councils team-up for £70m highways contract.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Chelsea FC Bids for Battersea
We read that Chelsea football club have submitted a formal offer to purchase the site of Battersea power station which, if accepted, could lead to the club leaving Stamford Bridge and the development of "one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world" at a cost of more than £1bn.
It would be a definite boost to the construction industry in the Battersea area if they are successful in their bid, and nice to have some good news for a change!
For more on this story visit Guardian.co.uk.
Source: The Guardian
Dorset contractor sentenced over worker death
A building contractor has been fined over serious safety breaches after a worker was killed by a piece of falling cob wall being demolished by his son.
Two agency workers Jamie Ford 24 and his father, Stephen Ford, 50, were working under the control of Do It All to demolish a barn at Dunbury Farmhouse in Winterbourne Houghton near Blandford in November 2008.
The court heard no plan of work for the demolition was in place and Alaister Copland had no experience in demolition work of this kind. The HSE Inspector said that "This is a tragic case which clearly demonstrates the dangers of carrying out demolition work without suitable planning".
For more on this story see HSE Press.
Source: HSE Press
Work Picking Up For Specialist Contractors?
The Construction Enquirer reports that workloads are picking-up among specialist contractors as nearly half of firms reported an increase in enquiries during the first quarter of this year.
The latest statistics showed that 44% of specialists enjoyed an increase in enquiries in the first quarter of 2012 - up from 32% the previous quarter. The small recovery has sparked cautious optimism among specialists with 47% of respondents anticipating an increase in workload over the next 12 months.
So are things finally turning? Is business starting to move? One would like to be optimistic but with the grey clouds of the banks overhead it seems we are a long way from recovery.
At Ai Solutions we fully support our customers and their contractors. We have been busy forming collaborative partnerships to form a framework of services that is available to all.
If you would like more information contact a member of the team on 01525 850080.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Leeds Inviting Bids for Damaged Tunnel
Those of you in the northern area may be interested to hear that Leeds City Council are looking for a contractor to Carry out works to the A58 Woodhouse Tunnel.
The tunnel is suffering from severe concrete damage and deterioration as a result of prolonged extensive chloride ingress from winter de-icing salts.
If you need to have a system in place to support you in your CDM related endeavors you may be interested in CDM ToolKit CS™ as the tool to demonstrate your compliance to Leeds (the Client under CDM2007).
The PQQ documentation is required by the end of the month if you are interested in this project . For more information contact Leeds SCMS.
Construction Funding Under Pressure
The market, which funds projects in areas such as railways, hospitals, airports and power generation, has apparently contracted amid pressures on bank balance sheets and regulatory changes according to the Financial Times.
If this is true it does not bode well for the Construction industry. We have seen a huge downturn in building in the UK and in some areas many smaller companies are going bust. It would be really nice to see an upward trend in construction.
Nevertheless, building still continues as the skyline in London shows. Let us hope the Olympics bring more funding into the market so that we can bottom out this downward trend.
Source: Financial Times
Crossrail Shortlist
The Construction Enquirer states that Crossrail has announced their shortlist for the design, installation and commissioning of its £25m central section Traction Power system.
The contract is expected to awarded in Spring 2013. This massive project will hopefully create many jobs in the area (Westbourne Park, Stepney Green, Custom House and Plumstead). Some good news for contractors in these districts!
If you would like to read more on this story go to Balfour, Costain and Murphy in £25m Crossrail race.
Construction: Downward Turn?
The BBC reported yesterday that he UK has returned to recession. A sharp fall in construction output was behind the surprise contraction, the Office for National Statistics said. This has lead to the economy shrinking by 0.2% in the first three months of 2012.
However in London and the surounding area we see nothing but cranes on the skyline; are we to believe the latest figures? Apparently it is the more impoverished areas where businesses are going under. Additionally house building has slowed considerably and this has impacted many suppliers and smaller construction companies.
What will it take to get things moving in a more positive vein?
For more on this see UK economy in double-dip recession.
Source: BBC News
Bank Station Upgrade Shortlist
We read on the Construction Enquier that Bank underground staion is having an upgrade and London Underground has announced their shortlist.
All four will now go through the new Innovative Contractor Engagement (ICE) procurement process to select a winner by July 2013.
For more on this story, including details of the shortlisted bidders, go to Four bidders shortlisted for £500m Bank station upgrade.
Source: Construction Enquirer
HSE Latest Figures
The HSE have published the latest fatal injury figures (based on RIDDOR) for the period up to December 2011 for deaths to workers and members of the public in the workplace.
Showing the continuance of a 'downward trend' - does this mean we are getting better within construction? Many think not as the amount of construction work continues to fall.
Student Eco-House
Midlands based contractor Thomas Vale Construction has worked with a local school to build and fit-out an environmentally friendly 'eco-house' within a stringent budget.
A business partnership with Washwood Heath Technology College enabled 250 students to take part in the day long challenge to establish their own teams and consider elements such as design, cost, renewable technologies and the effects they have on a building and on the environment.
For more on this story see Pupils display 'impressive knowledge' through Environmental Challenge
Local Good News - £50m Contract Won by Keir
Center Parcs is delighted to announce that it has received approval for the development of its 5th Forest Holiday Village in Woburn, Bedfordshire. The new site will be the fifth holiday village to be built by Center Parcs in the UK. Keir has won the £50m contract to build 625 lodges at Center Parc's new development at the Warren Wood Forest Village, near Woburn.
The contract for the lodges has been tendered separately from the main construction package on the £250m development which has gone to Bowmer & Kirkland. For more on this story go to Center Parcs
Construction Company Fined: Roof Fall
A construction company has been fined £30,000 this week for breaking work at height regulations after a man was injured in a seven metre fall from a roof.
The incident happened to Romanian worker Vasile Ionel Vatca whilst he was employed on the refurbishment of a property in Belgravia, London. The work being carried out on the site included a roof replacement.
Read more London construction company fined after worker badly injured.
Source: HSE
HSE Clampdown: Month Long Campaign
Be aware that construction sites are being targeted between 20th February and 16th March 2012 as part of an intensive inspection initiative. They will be targetting high-riskactivity and working from height to mention a few.
The aim is to reiterate the need for better awareness for all parties, clean and tidy sites, clear access routes, as well as evidence of site waste management.
For more on this go to HSE campaign targets refurb sites.
Source: The Construction Index
UK Construction Workers To Strike?
Press TV state in a recent article that UK Construction workers at Balfour Beatty have voted 'overwhelmingly' to strike over the termination of long-held agreements and de-skilling. This action, organised by Unite, could have a serious impact on larger construction projects.
Unite says that the termination of long-held agreements will lead to de-skilling of workers and pay cuts of up to 30 percent, along with poorer terms and conditions for key construction staff.
For more on this article see Construction workers to strike in UK.
Source: Press TV
Expectations Soar in UK Construction Industry
According to a recent survey within the construction sector, Britain's construction companies are more optimistic about their prospects than they have been for eight months.
At Ai Solutions we believe there are a lot of 'mixed messages' going around at the moment. Some areas, like the larger scale projects, seem to be commercially active; the large number of cranes on the skyline is proof of this. However could this be due to the fact they take so long to procure and implement? On the other hand we have read that smaller projects, such as housing, seem to have slowed over the last few months. Either way, we still cant be sure which way things will go, we are still in a recession and the affects will be longer term.
For those in the 'Client Role' the issues are:-
- Watching what you spend; many budgets being cut, careful consideration as to 'how' you distribute your budget.
- Get the most out of your staff; many are being made redundant, will this impact the skill set of those left behind?
- Provide the service required to the given standard; it is still expected but it is the toughest to provide in the current climate.
- 'Optimise' your systems; much time is wasted on data duplication, why are you duplicating? What are you duplicating?
Ai Solutions can help you with all of these! With our ToolKit™ Compliance System we can save you money, optimise your data, and help you get the most out of your staff, while still allowing you to provide the service levels required.
Give a member of the team a call on 01525 850080 or email us at info@aisolutions.co.uk and let us show you how we can help your business.
Chinese Firm Erect 30 Storey Building in 15 Days
A Chinese firm, the Broad Group, has built a 30 storey building in just 30 days without injuries to workers. Astounding!
Their key to success was that all the key components were prefabricated off-site. The builders took just 46 hours to finish the main structural components and another 90 hours to finish the building enclosure.
To view the time-lapse video see The Construction Enquirer.
Source: The Construction Enquirer
Weather Damage
There are a lot of stories about weather damage in the news at the moment, wind, storms and tree damage. The met office has issued weather warnings as they believe we are not out of the woods yet.
As an example, just weeks before St Helens rugby stadium was due to be handed over for the opening fixture, high winds ripped off part of the roof. The Contractor 'Barr' will wait for the winds to die down before workers examine the damaged sections. However, it apparently looks 'worse than it is' as a lot of insulating materials came loose. Hopefully they will be back on track within a week.
Construction Set to Fall in 2012
Economists at the influential Construction Products Association have downgraded their previous forecasts of a 3% decline in workload in 2012 to an eye-watering 5% drop.
Contractors will feel the squeeze as public spending slows and this won't just be within the housing market; it looks like contractors who undertake larger projects will start to suffer. There is a possibility that the 'recovery' will be as late as 2014 which may well mean that many smaller businesses may go under.
For more on this story see Construction Enquirer.
Hammersmith Flyover Closed
The Hammersmith flyover is closed for the week after serious defects were found in its structure. TfL (Transport for London) revealed that a "serious structural defect" on the Hammersmith Flyover, on the strategically vital London A4 route, has forced its closure.
Investigations are underway by structural engineers to gauge the full impact of the damage, meanwhile commuters will have been told to alter their journeys until a full report has been made.
For more on this story, including video footage, go to Engineers inspect Hammersmith Flyover damage.
Update: The damage was caused by Concrete Cancer.
Source: BBC News
Knighthood For Olympic Construction Chief
Credit where credit is due, we understand that John Armitt, the chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority, has been knighted in the Queen's New Year's Honour list for 2012.
This is in recognition of his contribution to construction and engineering, in particular the Olympic Park as well as his involvement in the Channel Tunnel.
If you would like to know who else has been honoured go to BBC News.
Milton Keynes: Retail Development (MK1)
As many of you know, we are based near to Milton Keynes and we are glad to hear that yet more construction work is about to happen at Stadium MK (the home of the MK Dons football team).
This is very good news for local businesses as the £56 million investment will bring much needed jobs along with leading retailers like M&S, Primark, Arcadia and River Island making this a vital new area for shoppers. This in turn should bring further investment into the surrounding area.
Milton Keynes seems to be the new 'place to be' at the moment with further construction going on in Central Milton Keynes, with its direct links to London and The North it is becoming a very popular place to be. Even Network Rail have decided to build their new central office here, so watch this space!
Get Britain Building Programme - Get Involved!
The Homes and Communities Agency has issued detailed guidance for developers seeking a slice of the £420m Get Britain Building programme. The Get Britain Building fund hopes to unlock up to 16,000 new homes by December 2014. It will operate by making loans available to projects on commercial rates, or taking equity stakes to share risk.
We believe this is exiting news and we hope that this new programme will give the British Construction Industry a welcome boost.
Developers and builders have until 30 January 2012 to submit a expression of interest, which will be assessed by the HCA liaising with local authorities through February and early March. If you are interested, download the Get Britain Building Prospectus.
Short listed projects will be invited to enter a due diligence process with final decisions and contracts expected from May with work anticipated starting up on sites across the country from June.
To read more on this news item visit Bidding opens for £420m Get Britain Building loans.
Source: The Construction Enquirer
London Bridge Revamp
The London Bridge re-vamp work has finally been approved by Southwark Council. The contractor, Osborne, will start initial non-disruptive preparatory work in 2012 under a £10m-plus contract.
The work will involve removing and transferring key station services and assets, such as telecoms cabling, around the station by 2013. Work will continue after the Olympic Games next summer, with major work on its £400m contract due begin in 2013. The station will remain operational throughout the redevelopment and will be complete in 2018.
David Higgins, Network Rail's chief executive, said: "London Bridge is one of the busiest stations in the country and this investment is vital for passengers who want more space, less congestion and better services"
Further details and architecht's impressions of the new station can be found on the London Bridge redevelopment pages of Network Rail's website.
A video is also available:
HSE: Plan of Work 2012
On the HSE web site we found an interesting document which outlines their plan of work from 2011 through 2012. In particular we noted their target sectors include:-
- Asbestos
- Small Sites/Projects
- Refurbishment
- Major clients/projects
We think that covers most of our readers! it will be interesting to see how they will achive this.
If you are interested in reading more about the HSE's plan go to HSE Work Plan 2011-12.
New Water and Environment Management Frameworks
The Construction Enquirer reports that the Environment Agency has started the search for a new line up of contractors and consultants for its next generation supplier arrangements. The agency said the new set up would help it achieve greater focus on outcome and performance specifications.
The asset delivery partner contracts will be worth up to £750m in total, covering inland and coastal flood defence work, water resources, river restoration, habitat creation and mechanical, electrical and instrumentation control.
This is an interesting article; it seems like more and more collaborative alliances are happening which means best use of resources and knowledge. Along with this we believe that the Environment Agency will get 'value for money' as well as providing more sustainable fresh water and coastal protection work.
For more on this story see Bids called for £1bn Environment Agency deal.
Source: The Construction Enquirer
Some Good News
We read in the Construction Enquirer recently that procurement chiefs at National Grid have started the search for groups of engineering and construction firms to build a series of high voltage transmission stations around the country. This is indeed good news; not only are they investing over £650 million over five years they are supporting 'collaborative working arrangements' between contractors, engineers and architects. Thsi is something Ai Solutions has been advocating for many years.
In addition to this we need to see more of this type of investment going on, it would be good to see things moving again with in the construction sector and to see more organisations working together!
For more on this story go to The Construction Enquirer
Retirement in Construction: Timebomb
It would seem we have another hurdle in front of us within the construction industry. New figures published by CITB-Construction Skills show that there are less youngsters coming into the construction indusrty. This means that construction firms face a retirement timebomb with one in six workers due to retire within the next decade and too few youngsters left to replace them.
The trend has continued over the last few years and now we are also getting more migrant workers who are less skilled than those trained to British standards. This will have a serious impact on the quality of construction within the industry.
This apparent timebomb will not just affect the trade occupations, the effects will also include professional trades like architects, surveyors and engineers. What we need is a big push to get more youngsters into the industry and boost our skilled professionals. What can the goverment do to facilitate this?
For more on this article see Retirement Timebomb to Hit Construction.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Construction: Falls From Height Still a Common Occurence
We have noticed that there are still a lot of 'falls from height' being reported within the construction industry. Much of this occurs because of bad planning and lack of proper and detailed risk assessments.
Is this lack of risk asessments because we are all being too lazy, or that due to a lack of resources at the HSE, we think we can 'get away with it'? We would hope not!
Even so, the fact that someone can, and does, get injured should make us realise how the 'good practice' of doing a risk assessment actually means less accidents and potentially saves lives. Cut backs should not mean lack of assessment nor should it mean lessening of standards. Lets look after our employees!
The HSE's web site gives out guidance on risk assessments.
Toughest Construction Job In The World?
One of our customers sent us an interesting link to maybe the toughest construction job going at the moment.
Chinese workers have been tasked with building a 3ft-wide path made of wooden planks on the sheer cliff face of a mountain that is thousands of feet high.
The Shifou Mountain in Hunan Province, where they are building the pathway, stands vertical at 90 degrees without any slopes or alcoves.
We also saw this as a video news article - Construction cliff work 'not for the faint-hearted' - and were very surprised at how few safety measures are in place. In addition, this video does not show what they have in place for convenience and refreshment for the workers.
You wouldn't see this type of thing happening in the UK, or would you?
Network Rail Winners Announced
Network Rail has announced the contractors chosen to handle the planned and reactive maintenance for building and civils works.
This is a considerable amount of work spanning over three years, which is good news for the industry.
Network Rail have named 11 contractors in total over the three regions. Firms will design improvements when applicable and carry out maintenance to a whole host of structures from bridges and viaducts to tunnels and embankments and cuttings.
Much of the planned maintenance is now published to give advanced notice of works to the industry.
To find out who the contractors are see the Construction Enquirer.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Race for Large Blackpool Scheme
The Construction Enquirer stated this month that Blackpool's development partner Muse has started the race to find a contractor to build new council offices as part of its Talbot Gateway scheme.
Any contractors interested in this work have until 5 July to get hold of prequalification documents. These can be obtained from Mr Lord at Davis Langdon's Salford Quays office or by sending an email to blackpoolcounciloffices@davislangdon.com.
For more on this story go to Race on for £15m Blackpool office job.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Olympics Safety Success - A One-off?
The SHP (Safety & Health Practitioner) reports that Mike Williams, the Principal Inspector of Construction for London said, that given the recent cuts to the regulator's budget and the consequent impact on how it carries out its proactive work, the success of the 2012 project "was, perhaps, a one-off".
Speaking at a health and safety forum held at the Olympics site in east London last week, Mr Williams described the level of health and safety achievement on the site as "fantastic".
Overall, he said, this approach was "constructive" and, while there were lessons to be learnt, and some minor incidents did occur, "the statistics can't be bettered".
We believe this is a fantastic achievment. Those involved need to be applauded for all their hard work and attention to detail along with better management of the construction process. It is good to see that excellence can be achiveved along with the health and safety of those involved in such a large project.
For more on this article see SHP Online.
Monitoring of Carbon Use by Subcontractors
The Construction Enquirer reports that Mace has asked its subcontractors to submit monthly performance reports detailing carbon use on its sites. They are being told to record information about water, waste and diesel use. This will be fed into the Credit 360 Platform programme currently being used by clients like British Land.
This is very interesting as more and more clients are concerned about 'Environmental Issues'. We understand that Mace hopes the initiative will help it to avoid heavy penalties under the Government's carbon reduction commitment scheme when it comes into force next year and the scheme will also give clients hard data to benchmark Mace against rival contractors when bidding for work. Mace aims to use the information to build a database detailing its carbon footprint on building sites by the autumn.
For more on this article go to Mace vets subcontractors for carbon use.
Source: Construction Enquirer
London Bridge Station Rebuild
We have read that Network Rail has now revealed plans for the complete overhaul of London Bridge station over five years. Together with resignalling works and on-going Thameslink improvements, the scale of investment will soar to £800m around the busy London station site. The plans include a new concourse that is bigger than the pitch at Wembley, which will sit underneath the tracks.
It is good to see some exiting projects are still happening! Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of 'positive' change in construction & development; we would like to think so.
For more on this story go to £800m London Bridge station rebuild unveiled.
Source: Construction Sector Network
Construction Deaths Rise As Cuts Come In
SHP reports that the number of deaths in the construction industry rose by around 15 per cent last year, fuelling concerns that the cost-cutting measures being implemented by the HSE will reverse the downward trend of recent years.
The regulator's head of construction, Philip White, revealed the increase at a conference in London on April 5th on Safety Schemes in Procurement, indicating that competence - or lack of it - was "clearly a feature" in many of the fatalities.
We would wholeheartedly agree with his statement, the first cuts are always in training and, as a consequence, the competence of staff/contractors then suffers. In addition many clients believe that checking competence is a costly and unnecessary exercise. We believe that the lessons we have all learned over many years have shown that cutting out training/development can be a costly error should you (the client) be taken to court!
For more on this story go to SHP Online.
Olympic Stadium Complete
We have probably all heard that the Olympic stadium is complete but what is good to hear is that it was completed on time and under budget without any major accidents.
This is fantastic news! A complicated project such as this completed in under three years is testament to the skill and professionalism of the UK construction industry, we send congratulations to all those involved.
For more on this story, including a video report see Construction work in the Olympic stadium ends
Source: BBC News
Construction Jobs Still Falling
More doom and gloom I'm afraid. Latest Government employment figures for construction have intensified the pressure on Government to stimulate growth. The trend shows that jobs in construction have continued to fall which some believe is a result of cut backs on housing and new large building projects.
Let us hope that the Government will do something to stop the trend and maybe even invest in further housing.
£700m Super Framework
Several East London Boroughs plan to run a £700m super framework for housing, schools and general building works the Construction Enquirer reports.
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is leading the way and has entered talks with Redbridge, Havering, Newham and Tower Hamlets. All councils hope to find extra savings by pooling their work into a single framework.
Procurement chiefs at Barking and Dagenham have got the process started by inviting bids for its forecast £79m annual spending programme, split between £39m on housing and £40m on education and other services.
It is good to see more 'collaborative' work going on, at the end of the day we are all trying to save costs. But we must not forget to keep Health & Safety high on our agendas!
For more on this idea and who to contact if you are interested in the scheme see East London councils invite bids for £700m framework.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Mid-March Protest - A Sign of the Times?
The Construction Enquirer reported that Police and angry construction workers had a tense stand-off at the entrance to the Vivergo biofuel site near Hull recently as a row over a trade package on the job escalated.
Is this a sign of the times as more and more construction companies lay off staff, or worse, go bust? Hundreds of workers contracted to build the plant have been told they have no job after pipework subcontractor Redhall Engineering Solutions fell out with Vivergo. About 25 police officers, along with two police horses, were sent to the site to ensure the protest did not get out of hand. There were heated arguments as officers refused to allow protesters to get on to the construction site.
How much more can the Construction Industry stand as more and more cut-backs occur and employees lose their jobs? It's a sad state of affairs.
For more on this article go to Police and construction workers clash over site row.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Building firm fined over trench-collapse death
A Buckinghamshire construction company has been fined £5,000 after a contractor died when a trench collapsed on him.
This recently reported story from SHP (Safety & Health Practitioner) is very sad and it really brings it home to us how easily a life can be lost due to lack of planning and no risk assessment. The lad who died is local to us (Leighton Buzzard) our thoughts are with the family.
For more on this story see Hard-up building firm to pay £5000 over trench-collapse death.
Source: SHP Online
HSE February Blitz - Construction Site Visits
The HSE is starting a month long blitz on the construction industry by carrying out surprise visits to hundreds of sites across the country.
The inspectors will be concentrating on refurbishment, repair and maintenance sites which they say accounted for nearly three-quarter of deaths last year.
For more on this see The Construction Enquirer
Source: The Construction Enquirer
Welsh Solar Panel Plan
We, at Ai Solutions support 'green' ideas, especially in construction. We have recently read in the Construction Enquirer that a forward thinking Welsh Government has started the search for contractors to deliver an ambitious plan to exploit solar energy throughout the country. The first phase of the programme is expected to be worth up to £100m over the four-year framework agreement.
If this is something your organisation may be interested in then you have until 23 February to prequalify.
For more on this see Bids invited for £100m Welsh solar panel plan.
Bowmer & Kirkland Win Ocado Contract
Bowmer & Kirkland is believed to have won the contract to build a £210m distribution centre for supermarket giant Ocado.
There has been lots of comepetion around for this prestigious development including Vinci, Simons and Buckingham. This construction will be one of the UK's biggest warehouses.
Ocado confirmed in a trading update on Monday that a contractor had been appointed for its "Customer Fulfilment Centre" on the 35-acre site on the Birch Coppice Business Park in Dordon, North Warwickshire.
Groundworks are currently underway and Ocado is expected to officially confirm B&K as winner this week. For more on this story see the Construction Enquirer website.
Fire Safety In Construction
This is not new but we thought a very valuable resource from the HSE. The second edition of 'Fire safety in construction' explains how everyone involved in construction projects can comply with their legal duties relating to fire risks. It is aimed at all those with a role for developing and managing construction sites, including clients and designers, and is relevant to all construction projects, including small refurbishment sites.
Much of what is contained in the guidance is not new, but the sections covering multi-storey buildings and high risk buildings (such as timber frame) have been strengthened to include lessons learned from recent fires.
For your free download go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg168.htm
HSE looks to industry
Although a long-term downward trend is still clear, the rate of decrease has slowed over the last 15 years and there has been very little change in the overall rate over the last five years.
In construction there were 77 fatalities, equivalent to 3.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. Over the last 15 years there has been a statistically significant downward trend in the rate of fatal injury to workers; on average a 3.9% year on year decrease. However, the higher number and rate for 2006/07 changes a pattern consistent with continued reduction up to 2005/06 into one of no change since 2002/03.
Sir Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health & safety Commission, said, "It is disappointing to see that the overall number of deaths has risen. We have worked hard with industry and trade unions over the past few years to bring the number down. Behind every one of these numbers was a man or a woman, with a life, friends and family... I have to remind you that safety is ultimately the responsibility of those who manage and direct companies and those who work for them. Today's statistics are disappointing and distressing but improvements can still be made. They must be made. HSC/E is taking action. The ball now lies firmly in the industry's court."
HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger added, "Those who are putting the lives of their workforce at risk should know that HSE takes this very seriously. In the past year we have approved 25% more prosecutions than the year before and our inspectors have served 1000 more enforcement notices. No one should believe that they can get away with serious breaches of health and safety."
Source: HSE Website
Construction company fined £43,000
The company admitted at Salisbury Crown Court to failing to ensure the safety of its employees, after 62-year-old George Rogers was killed when he was thrown from a dumper truck, which then ran over his body. The delay in bringing the matter before the court was due to a lengthy investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Though he had not been authorised to drive a dumper truck, Mr Rogers had helped tidy up the site before it closed for the day by driving a dumper truck filled with spoil to get rid of the load. The truck went over a sunken trench and the jolt had thrown him out of his seat, over the front of the dumper truck's bucket and on to the ground. The truck had then driven over his body.
Ian Dixey, for the prosecution, said it was a well-known hazard with dumper trucks within the construction industry and precautions should have been taken. He said the company's failings included inadequate training for employees on using plant and machinery, no adequate system of checking plant and machinery - three of the truck's tyres were severely under-inflated - no training verification system, no site traffic plan or control of speed on site machinery and no adequate system for controlling use of plant or machinery on site.
But, he said, since the accident, Castleway had taken steps to correct all these issues, including proper training for employees using machinery.
Fining the company £30,000 and ordering them to pay £13,714 costs, Judge Keith Cutler said the company's failings had been "contributory to a degree" to Mr Rogers' death, but were not so important as Mr Rogers' own wrongful actions in driving machinery.
The case was brought by the HSE.
Source: Builder and Engineer online
HSE investigates two fatalities from falling bricks
Reece French, a worker on a Kier Western site at Cattedown Enterprise Centre, was hit on the head by a skip or pallet of bricks. It is believed that he was walking under a telehandler carrying the bricks when the accident happened.
A Kier Western spokesperson said: "We confirm that a fatality occurred early this morning at our Cattedown Enterprise site in Plymouth when an employee was struck during an operation involving a telescopic handler. We are co-operating with the authorities in trying to establish exactly what happened. We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic situation involving a Kier employee and our thoughts are with his family and the site team."
The day before 18 year old Gareth Ritson, working on a building site in Troon, died when a pallet of bricks fell from a lorry-mounted crane while he was underneath it.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is understood to be investigating both accidents.
One third of refurbishment sites dangerous
He continued, "We stopped work on site immediately during 244 inspections because we felt there was a real possibility that life would be lost or ruined through serious injury. It is completely unacceptable that so many lives have been put at risk. Our inspectors were appalled at the apparent willingness to ignore basic safety precautions.
"The simple fact is that despite knowing what they should be doing, too many people are prepared to allow bad practices to continue, even though last year 39 people died on refurbishment, repair and maintenance sites.
"We are determined to tackle this issue head on and will continue to take enforcement action against those rogues who flout safety precautions. Let me be clear to all those who put lives at risk - we will continue to carry out further inspections and will take all action necessary to protect workers, including closing sites and prosecution."
Source: HSE website
Construction Awareness
We are continuing to support HSE, by publicising their Health & Safety in the Construction Industry pages. This is part of our remit to improve health & safety in the construction industry with audited management information systems.
Summary of Proposed Changes
May 2006
Callsafe Services have provided the following summary of the proposed changes to the CDM Regulations for you to download.
Summary of Proposed Changes to the CDM Regulations (53KB)
Principal Changes
The main changes for the existing regulations are summarised as follows;
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (amended 2000) and the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 will be amalgamated into one set of regulations entitled the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2006.
- The new CDM regulations will apply to ALL construction work, but will only require the appointment of a "Coordinator" and "Principal Contractor" if the project is notifiable (Involving over 30 working days/shifts or over 500 person days/shifts).
- A Construction Health and Safety Plan will only be required if the project is notifiable, involves significant structural demolition or is of significant risk.
- The Pre-tender Health and Safety Plan is re-named the "Information Pack", which must be supplied to the designers and contractors for all construction work.
- The "Planning Supervisor" becomes the "Co-ordinator", with more responsibilities and power, and a specific duty to advise, assist and educate the client.
- The client will no longer be able to transfer the client's legal obligations to a "client's agent" as this role ceases to exist. This was always an idiosyncrasy of the current regulations as in all other health and safety law it is not possible to transfer legal obligations by contract.
- The client will have a specific legal obligation under the new regulations to monitor the management arrangements of the project, throughout the duration of the project.
- The design will have to address the health and safety aspects of the use of what is being designed, which was not included within the requirements of the existing regulations. The existing CDM regulations only require the designer, and planning supervisor, to address construction, maintenance, repair, commissioning, de-commissioning, testing, demolition, dismantling and cleaning risks.
For further details, please view the full summary:
Summary of Proposed Changes to the CDM Regulations (53KB)
CDM Regulations Update
December 2005
On 6 December the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) decided that HSE should produce a 'shortish' Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), but that guidance should be produced by industry and, possibly, endorsed by HSC/E. (An ACoP contains practical guidance on how to comply with Regulations, it would not include the interpretation, best practice or 'sales pitch' that you find in the draft guidance - as included in the Consultative Document.)
Work on the analysis of the responses, etc. has been delayed as the result of an enquiry from the European Commission about the way we implement aspects of the European Directive that underpins much of our existing and proposed construction regulations. Preparing this reply is quite time consuming, but the exercise is useful in helping us to make sure that we properly implement the Directive. It is impossible to predict the outcome or extent of the delay at present, but most of the possible changes are minor.
The paper that HSC considered at their meeting on 6 December is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/hsc/meetings/2005/061205/c123.pdf and provides further information about these issues.<< Useful interesting document!!
Before Christmas I hope to post an outline of the key changes proposed to the draft regulations in the light of the comments that we have received (Look in the documents section at http://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/.../cdm2006/). At the same time I also hope to post an initial statistical analysis of the responses to the easy questions. Later, probably in late January or early February, we will publish the full, anonymised responses to the Consultative Document along with a summary.
And its good-bye from him!
I want to close with a personal note. After about 5 years of work on CDM, starting with the revision of the ACoP, I am moving on to another job in HSE's Construction Division. I had hoped to complete the revision of the Regs, but the latest delays have made that impossible. (Who said: "Typical government construction project!") Richard Boland will formally take over responsibility at the end of the month. We are working together to make the transition a smooth one.
Its been an interesting time and I really appreciate all of the support and helpful advice that so many of you have given me. I hope that the new regulations, when they finally appear, encourage people to invest in teamwork and the planning and management of projects. I am convinced that this will reap dividends - not only in health and safety terms, but also in increased profitability.
-- Stephen Wright
Working at Height Regulations 2005
April 2005
The new Working at Height Regulations have revoked the working at height parts of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996. These regulations are now applicable to all places of work.
An extract from our new knowledge base entry about the Working at Height Regulations is available here; this entry has been included in the latest Service Pack of our ToolKit CS™ software.
HSE Inspections
February 2005
The HSE are planning a nation-wide blitz throughout March. Inspectors will be visiting construction sites to assess standards of management of health hazards on site. The information in the PDF document below sets out what inspectors will be looking for and sources of further guidance on individual topics.
Healthy Handling 2005 - HSE Advice (1.6MB)
CDM Regulations Update
Stephen Wright, HSE Head of Construction Policy - Legislation, HSE
January 2005
Stephen Wright gave a presentation at the Chiltern Branch IOSH meeting on 20th January 2005. Below is a summary of the main details. You can also download a copy of his presentation from our Powerpoint Presentations download page.
Timings
- CONIAC have agreed the consultative document
- March/April 2005 proposals to go to the HSC
- April/July 2005 consultative document made available
- October 2006 new regulations
Summary
The new regulations will merge with the CHSW regulations of 1996.
The name of Planning Supervisor will disappear and become Co-ordinator. Their role will be to support and educate the client and to co-ordinate the design phase. The emphasis will be on management and monitoring. The role will have teeth and the co-ordinator will need to be appointed early on.
There will be 5 key areas for change;
- Planning and Management
More emphasis on the client to ensure suitable management arrangements are in place. The co-ordinator will support the client and co-ordinate and monitor the design phase. The principal contractor will plan and manage the construction phase and contractors will manage their own work. - Communication
There will be no regulation to say there has to be a pre-tender health and safety plan. The emphasis will be upon getting the right information to the right people at the right time. The focus will be upon avoiding bureaucracy and mountains of paper but communicating effectively with all parties involved including the workers on site. The health and safety file should be linked with the Building Regulations log book. - Scope
The new regulations will apply to all construction work as all work needs to be properly managed. If demolition is involved there needs to be a written system of work (method statement) This will always need to be written down. - Clarify Designers Duties
The designer needs to accept the balance between Health & Safety and other reasonable design creations and avoid risks by their design rather than in the construction process. - Involvement of Workforce
The principal contractor must consult with their workforce.
Please download a copy of Stephen Wright's presentation here.
Selection of Designers and Contractors
Developing guidelines for the selection of Designers and Contractors under the CDM Regulations.
HSE has commissioned a research study on this topic. It is intended to ascertain the current position in respect of the 'competence and resource' requirements of the CDM Regulations (Reg 8&9) and to propose changes for the future. The study is part of the overall review of the regulations which is currently underway.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdmguides.htm
Designers Can Do More
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) are 10 years old – but despite time, effort, money and forests of paper there is plenty of evidence that the designer aspects are still not working well.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/
Work Related Injuries & Ill Health in Construction
Latest statistics from the HSE about Injuries and Ill Health in Construction.
Follow this link: Latest Statistics.
Source: HSE
Bronze memorial for dead workers
About 200 people gathered in Tower Hill in the City of London as the £100,000 "Building Worker" was uncovered.
The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (Ucatt) had the sculpture made as part of a campaign for a new corporate killing charge.
Sculptor Alan Wilson created the figure which sports a hard hat, weighs 300kg and holds a spirit level.
Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie unveiled the sculpture, which is close to the Tower of London, during a ceremony on Wednesday.
A total of 351 construction workers have died on sites since 2001 and a two-minute silence was observed in their memory.
Watching the unveiling was Mary O'Sullivan. Her 54-year-old husband Patrick O'Sullivan was working on the new Wembley Stadium in 2004 when he was killed. The cause is still not known and a criminal prosecution has not been ruled out.
"He was crushed to death that morning," she said. "And they crushed us to death as well."
Mr Ritchie said: "Our union will continue campaigning for a new law so that individual directors and senior managers are held accountable for accidents at work," he said.
It is hoped wreaths will be placed by the statue each year on 28 April which is Workers' Memorial Day.
For more pictures and streaming video of the news report, see BBC News
Source: BBC News (includes video)
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