Jan25th
Friday, January 25th, 2008
What a week on the Stock Market. All that worry and we ended the week in better shape, except of course for Societe Generale who seem to have given their pin number to the wrong person. However, the continuing impact of the credit crunch is being felt severely in the building industry with Equifax Business Failures Report revealing that the construction sector faired the worst in the last quarter with a 16.6% rise in failures. Its a time when credit control will earn its keep if the knock-on affects are to be kept to a minimum. (more…)
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Jan18th
Friday, January 18th, 2008
This weekend a wide area of the UK experienced extensive flooding which has again highlighted the inadequacy of our drainage infrastructure. We had a timely reminder from GroundSure, who provide environmental risk screening reports, saying their research shows one in ten homeowners and small businesses are now at risk of flooding and this demonstrates the value risk assessment and forward planning. From Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions came news that they are helping develop a pipe assessment camera and sensor system which will be able to detect water leaks from within a water main, without excavation. (more…)
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Jan11th
Friday, January 11th, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are very concerned about the alarming rise in the number of deaths last year on construction sites - up 28% and the first rise in five years. Living in London, I see loft conversions on almost every street, with a good many workers from eastern Europe clambering up and down scaffolding. It comes as no surprise to me that the greatest rise in deaths is in the refurbishment sector. Sensibly, the HSE are going to repeat their ‘Falls and Trips inspection initiative’ next month, with rigorous inspections in this sector. When they did this last summer, it resulted in enforcement action at nearly one in three sites inspected and 244 prohibition notices served, stopping work on site instantly. It sounds somewhat draconian but it is needed or we will continue to see more deaths despite the undoubted improvements in site safety elsewhere in the industry. (more…)
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