Clients will face greater legal scrutiny over health and safety standards following the introduction of the first new Construction Design and Management regulations for eight years. Among a range of measures, clients must ensure that sufficient time and resources are allocated to dealing with health and safety issues at appropriate stages throughout a project.
Construction industry reacts to Budget 2015
With yesterday’s Budget announcement George Osborne has highlighted a series of measures which should potentially benefit the construction industry. Here UK Construction Media takes a look at what people within the industry think of the announcement.
“Relief measures for energy intensive industries will really aid the construction industry.” Says Phil Foster of Love Energy Savings.
Face Fit – Train the Trainer
Mecsafe are now offering the Fit test operator training as an open course at the main head office in Doncaster.
This is designed to help train people how to conduct fit test, this is ideal for companies wanting to do fit testing themselves.
Mecsafe offers a maximum number of 6 Candidates on the Operators 1/2 day Course.
The training includes:
- Background to Face Fit Testing
- Set-up of Equipment
- The Sensitivity Test
- Fit Test Protocols
- Practical face fit testing
- Troubleshooting & Problem Solving
- Fit Test Failures and Re-Test
For more information on the Operator Training Please contact our us Via Telephone or email.
CDM Changes 2015
The New draft regulations and guidance for managing Health and Safety in the construction industry are now available to view for Duty holders and members of the public to familiarise themselves with before going live on the 6th of April 2015.
A number of new changes will come into force under the 2015 CDM regulations. According to HSE, the changes under the guidelines include:
Client – The new regulations recognise the client as the head of the supply chain and as the party best placed to set standards throughout a project. This is a significant change and means you will bare responsibility throughout the project for its safe delivery.
Principal Designer – The CDM co-ordinator role under CDM207 will be replaced by the new PD Role. It means responsibility for coordinating the pre-construction phase will rest with a member of the design team.
Competence – The requirements will be replaced with a more general framework which splits ‘competence’ into component parts of skills, knowledge, training and experience and organisational capability.
Documents of the new Regulations can be found on our Client Portal.
HSE Investigate Tower Bridge Lift Incident
A Lift maintanance company were fined £50,000 after tourtists were left with broken/fractured legs and ankles. The Lift fell from around 3 metres into a service pit after a mechanism fail.
HSE concluded that the uncontrolled fall could have been avoided had more in-depth analysis occurred, and that the fact this had not happened was indicative of wider failings.
HSE Targets London Basement Projects Following Fatalities
The HSE is launching a wave of safety checks on London Basement conversion projects from next week. The focal area’s of inspection will be Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham following a number of fatal incidents over the the recent years.
CITB in Row over Changes to Levy Tactics
CITB have been accused off being sly with the new changes to the levy payments.
Around 16% Of Firms will see their levy bills increase in 2017. Contractors are already warning that will start from this April. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this matter;
One construction boss spoke out saying: “The CITB is obviously sensitive about this issue and has been pretty sneaky in the way it has worded all this.”
Response from HSE after critisism of it’s ‘Beware Asbestos’ Campaign
The HSE recently started the campaign for Asbestos awareness which is aimed at trades people and workers who undertake jobs which intentionally or unintentionally disturb asbestos. The United Kingdom Asbestos training association have appeared to be arguing against the campaign as they claim it could lead to untrained people attempting to remove asbestos.
CDM Regulations await parmlamentary Approval
The changes of the CDM Regulations were laid before the parliament on the 30th January for approval. The new regulations will be coming into place on the 6th April. A draft guidance has been produced by the HSE for the 5 duty holders; clients, contractors, designers, principal contractors and principal designers. The draft guidance document is available to download from the CITB website. Click HERE to be directed to the draft guidance page.
Death was caused by exposure to asbestos
Exposure to asbestos left a pensioner facing an horrific disease later in life, an inquest has been told.