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New data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has shown that almost a quarter of British workers have thought about retraining or switching to a different career over the last year. The study suggested that many Britons want physical activity and time spent outdoors to form part of their working day - two things which construction roles can provide. Some 13% of the respondents to the sur ... more
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has identified ex-service personnel as a group that could become the next generation of construction managers. Military qualifications such as an HNC in Military Clerk of Works or Design Draftsman Class 1 are already recognised by the CIOB for its membership programmes. To highlight the opportunities available in construction, the CIOB is running a s ... more
Scotland's traffic commissioner, Joan Aitken, has revoked the licence of Micro Plant Ltd to operate HGVs and made an order to disqualify director Stewart Rae from operating vehicles for two and a half years. Miss Aitken also refused to give Mr Rae's other firms, S&G Rae Agricultural Ltd and Forestry Contractors Ltd, permission to run vehicles from his West Riverside Farm in Carron Valley, ... more
HSE has appointed a new committee to provide independent expert knowledge and advice on workplace health. The workplace health expert committee (WHEC) will be made up of nine members who will provide expert opinion on emerging issues and trends, new evidence relating to existing issues and, on the quality and relevance of the evidence base on workplace health issues. Working under the leader ... more
A die casting and injection moulding firm has been sentenced after an employee fell from one of its machines, suffering severe injuries. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard was told that Mr Sekou Camara had been working on top of the machine at Lesney Industries Ltd at the request of his supervisor- in order to clean the hopper, in preparation for a change of material used in the machine ... more
A farm company was sentenced last month after admitting safety failures after a worker falling five and a half meters through an abattoir skylight as he cleaned the gutters in June 2014. Eastbourne magistrates heard Mr Bus was given a ladder that proved too short for the task so he went around to the other side of the building where a set of stairs gave him access to the roof of the abattoir. ... more
Roger Smith Installations Limited of Warwickshire has been prosecuted after a worker fell four metres causing bleeding on the brain, damage to his lungs and ribs. The incident happened at a residential address in Cubbington on 3 April 2014, when an employee of the company fell whilst working on a soffit and fascia installation. The platform he was working on fell from the ladder brackets which ... more
In May, Ascendant, Facelift’s manufacturing arm, received an order for two brand new Ascendant 12.5m, 3.5t self-drive van mounted access platforms from Light Power Ltd, a rapidly expanding specialist lighting and highway services company based in Birmingham. Light Power Ltd wanted to add some van mounted platforms to their fleet in order to support their growth and workload. Discussi ... more
Italian LEGO fans have set a new record for the world’s tallest LEGO tower, standing at an impressive 35.05 metres high. The tower was built in the Italian city of Milan and was completed after a five day building process that involved more than half a million LEGO bricks. In addition, more than 18,000 volunteers were enlisted to help put up the structure. The Italian tower has taken the ti ... more
The trade body for the private security industry is urging construction firms throughout the UK to give information about their security requirements, and has launched a survey aimed at finding out more about how building companies buy and invest in security measures. According to the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the results of the poll will make it easier for the construction se ... more
