Newsletter March 2010

QCF Approved Centre for CDM Management

Ai Solutions are pleased to announce that they have achieved accreditation and are now an approved centre to deliver and manage learners undertaking QCF awards offered by them.

Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) is a new framework for recognising and accrediting qualifications. The framework is at the heart of a major reform of the vocational qualifications system designed to make the whole system simpler to understand and use and more inclusive. The intention is to make both the system and the qualifications offered far more relevant to the needs of employers and more flexible and accessible for learners.

Ai Solutions offer their first QCF course in CDM Management pertaining to an OU accredited level 3 award. The course provides Clients, Designers, Principal Contractors, Project and Facilities Managers, a qualification employees can utilise as evidence of competence in their role applying the CDM 2007 regulations.

Call on 01525 850080 for more information

Annual Conference 2010: The Art of Compliance

We now have our speakers confirmed for the Annual Conference 2010. We are back at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly London on Thursday 20th May. As usual we have excellent support which includes Philip White from the HSE, Dave Carr from Callsafe Services, Gerard O'Brien and Steve Luck from Crossrail, Keith Stafford & Michael Coulston from Open University Awarding Body & Kevin Fear from CSkills.

Throughout 2009 we have all been affected by the effects of the recession. So what has changed? As organisations we still have to comply with the Asbestos and CDM regulations, supporting the business goals along the way. But how can we do that effectively and save money in the long run? Well we believe there is a definite art to it. We have been working with some very well known organisations that do it very effectively indeed. So how do we do it? Well we would like to share our experiences with you.

In addition, by signing up to our awards scheme, we would like to discuss how clients can ensure their knowledge is up to date and relevant and that the people they employ to carry out work on their behalf are competent and have the skill sets to do the job within the boundaries of the regulations.

The cost is £95 + VAT. The cost for customers will be discounted. The seminar fee includes refreshments and buffet lunch. CPD certificates will be issued after the event for those who request them. To book your place please register here

Corporate Manslaughter Legislation Starts to Bite

'People Management' reports that the first prosecution for corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homocide Act 2007 started last week. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings was in court accused of a "gross breach" of duty over the death of employee Alex Wright. Wright, who worked as a junior geologist for the firm, died in September 2008 when a trench collapsed on him as he collected soil samples in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire.

Peter Eaton, the company director, also faces a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. Eaton could face a life sentence if convicted, while the maximum sentence for his firm, which is charged with breaching health and safety rules, is an unlimited fine.

The Sentencing Guidelines Council has recommended that fines for organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter "may be measured in millions of pounds and should seldom be below £500,000". A health and safety expert from law firm Mills & Reeve suggests that this is unlikely to apply in practice to very small companies.

The Ministry of Justice has announced that organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter may be ordered to publicise details of the conviction and the sentence imposed. This could include requirements for press advertisements or a statement on the organisation's website.

In 3 recent cases in Ireland, courts have imposed fines of up to 350,000 Euros and a 12 month suspended prison sentence for serious breaches of health and safety legislation which resulted in fatalities (not corporate manslaughter). There seems to be a trend towards tougher action.

Why Invest in Training?

High quality training and development is one of the cornerstones of any successful business today. Developing a highly skilled workforce helps ensure businesses operate competitively, aids retention and makes businesses more productive - ever more important during a difficult economic climate.

• Train to gain: To gain market advantage in any business requires a workforce that are motivated and have all the tools required to carry out their role. The tools referred to are academic tools; training provides knowledge, skills, leading to competence. Competent people make organisiations competent.
• Train to retain: To retain you workforce they must be given the opportunity to improve themselves, gain promotion, paid better. They will not stay loyal if no self benefit. Providing them with training, aids retention, improves organisation competence and makes them more productive.
• Invest to save: Training is an investment not a cost! Costs are findings resulting from court cases through employers or employees being incompetent. Investing in the right training for your organisational needs produces competent workers, conversant with legal requirements for their sector.

First to market with our CDM management systems we now offer CDM Management Courses - These fill the organisation and individual training gap regarding competence and the CDM regulations 2007 for Clents, Designers, Principal Contractors, Project and Facilities Managers.

For more information on booking a course please call 01525 850080.

ToolKit CS: March 2010 Release

For all our ToolKit CS users! It's that time of year again and to allow you to plan and manage your installations: the March 2010 release is due out shortly.

We have a dual aim to keep our software current with the HSE's regulations (so that our users are able to comply with them), and in keeping our software up to date (so that it is easy to use). This month, we will finalise our next biannual release and make it available for distribution in early April. This release is an 'update'.

We will be running our regular workshop on Tuesday March 23rd so please book your place now to avoid disappointment. This is an opportunity to allow users to evaluate the new release and meet our development and support team.

Places are limited to 1 per customer; call to reserve yours on 01525 850080.

Asbestos: Managing the Hidden Killer

On Tuesday 23th February we held a seminar 'Asbestos: Managing the Hidden Killer'. We were supported by Ken Hill, Policy Advisor, from the HSE as well as one of our clients, Steve Taylor from East Riding of Yorkshire council. The seminar was well received by all attendees and we are pleased to say the attendees did well on an asbestos 'test' that we ran. Originated by Steve it was a welcome ice-breaker in the style of 'who wants to be a millionaire', with our hand held devices and, not a million pounds prize (but a great prize nonetheless), of an Asbestos board game (provided by Rhodar). Steve told the audience about his 'utopia' and how he is actively promoting asbestos awareness throughout their portfolio of schools and corporate buildings. Thank you Steve for an innovative and interesting presentation!

Ken updated us all on the new HSG 264, which replaces MDHS 100, and is called 'Asbestos: The Survey Guide'. The new full publication is now available; ISBN: 9780717663859, Series code: HSG264 with a price of £10.95. However a shortened version is available to download from the HSE website for free. Ken took a lot of questions from the audience as well as providing 1-1 help with individuals. Ai Solutions would like to say a big thank you to Ken for his support on the day.

Of course the acid test is 'why' do we need these regulations? Well, at the end of the seminar Ken ran a video diary of a lady whose partner is dying from the effects of Mesothelioma. It demonstrated how the effects of asbestos are far-reaching. Not just for the sufferer but their families and loved ones. This video is one of several the HSE will have available on their web site; take a look, it puts it all into perspective.

Close to Home

Readers will be aware of recent press reports regarding the fatality of a child in a buggy in the vicinity of Chiswick Town Hall in the London Borough of Hounslow. A lamppost on a construction site collapsed, trapping the buggy in its fall. Our thoughts go to all those in the family involved in this tragic loss of a young life. LB Hounslow are a valued ToolKit customer of ours. Needless to say Ai Solutions are providing all the advice and guidance we can in regard to ToolKit and we will  continue to support the Highways team involved and the HSE investigation which is underway.

More Information

We regularly receive updates from our customers and contacts about changes to legislation, the latest rumours and so on. We try to be selective with what we pass on and acknowledge our sources as appropriate. If you have information of general interest in the Health & Safety, and particularly, CDM and Asbestos Management arena, then please let us know by e-mail if possible.