Newsletter November 2004
Customer Satisfaction Survey
We received an outstanding result from the recent survey conducted by TNS Prognostics on behalf of Microsoft. We are delighted with the outcome and would like to say 'Thank you' to all the customers who responded so positively. Here are some of the comments;
"I cannot think of any way of improving an already excellent relationship"
"I have a very good relationship with the firm and the staff."
"The company has all the hallmarks of a truly personal service"
"The after sales service is excellent"
"Always willing to listen and help."
"Over the last 8-9 years Ai Solutions have given good service and technical backup."
"Ai Solutions work with you to find solutions to support their clients."
If you would like to register your interest in taking part in the next survey - due in January 2005 - we would like to hear from you. Please register here.
Asbestos Fines
I am grateful to our partners, Callsafe Services for the following information which I know our readers will find interesting;
Poundstrecher
The supermarket chain Poundstrecher was ordered to pay £15,000 in fines and costs after a court heard how staff were exposed to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres at one of its stores.
Asbestos insulating board in the stores unloading area had become damaged as a result of pallets bumping against it, leaving debris containing asbestos on the floor. As a result the court heard that staff were exposed to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres during routine work activities, including sweeping debris from the floor near the damaged boarding.
The court further heard that although an asbestos survey undertaken in 1995 had identified the presence of asbestos in the store, the company had failed to put in place an adequate system to manage it. In particular, Poundstrecher should have identified and labelled the asbestos boarding and monitored its condition.
The prosecuting inspector also told the court that the survey was treated as a paper exercise, with the presence of asbestos being subsequently forgotten. Poundstrecher were found guilty under Section 2(1) HSWA for failing to ensure the health and safety of employees.
Dalebrick Ltd
Dalebrick Ltd of Nuneaton, Warwickshire and its officers were fined a total of £245,000 in relation to the removal of asbestos from premises in Birmingham. Dalebrick Ltd were contracted to remove asbestos from the premises and hired a team of temporary workers to carry out work on site but did not warn them of the risk of asbestos exposure. HSE were alerted by a member of the team of workers and ordered work to stop.
Work had not been carried out in accordance with HSE guidelines and no lavatories or running water had been provided for the employees. The company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Control of Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1987 and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987.
Fines of £50,000 for each offence were imposed and, in addition, the company were ordered to pay costs of £65,000. Mr Morris Edward Williams was fined £10,000 for each of four offences, ordered to pay £10,000 costs and disqualified from holding any directorship for two years Ms Joanne Carroll was fined £2,500 for each of two offences, ordered to pay £500 costs and disqualified from holding any directorship for one year.
New Multimedia Product Overviews
Following much discussion with some of our prospective users, we have replaced our on-line demonstration with new online overviews about each of our main products. These presentations, can be viewed in a standard web browser. The presentations go into more depth than their predecessor and run in an e-learning environment favoured by a number of our bigger customers. Those users without sound cards can read a script provided within the presentation.
The product overviews are designed to answer all those initial questions prospective users have about our software so if you fit into that category, please view them here.
London Seminar at the RAF Club
This is advance notification of our plans to hold a seminar at the RAF Club, Piccadilly London on Tuesday 1st March 2005. Please make a note in your diary now. More details to follow in next month's newsletter.
Web Redesign
As part of our refocusing for next year, we will be launching our new web site with both sales and marketing and community areas for our users. We have some exciting plans to take us into online asbestos management as well as CDM with the integration and updating of a number of our current services. More details to follow in next month's newsletter.
More Information
Please review our web pages or call us for more information on our CDM and Asbestos Management products. Product data sheets are available as PDF file downloads from our web site.