How well are we managing noise risks in the workplace? Date and location Manchester Occupational Health and Safety Group (MOSHG) event Wednesday 28 September 2016, from 13.45 St Antony’s Centre for Church & Industry, Eleventh Street, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1JF Event overview Afternoon meeting of Manchester Occupational Health and Safety Group that includes the above talk on ‘Ten years after…the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005’ – How well are we managing noise risks in the workplace? by Stephen Barnes, Chartered occupational Hygienist, Director & principal Consultant at Oak Environmental Solutions Ltd. A Workplace officer from the Health and Safety Executive is likely to be in attendance. Anybody is welcome to attend. Booking and information No booking required. Further information is available from cathy.nixon@mohsg.org.uk or visit the Manchester Occupational Health and Safety Group website. Source link

©Bloomberg Persimmon, the UK’s second-largest housebuilder by output, said it remained confident in its ability to deliver a long-term dividend programme even as Britain’s vote to leave the EU has sparked broad worries about the sector. But its shares sold off by 7.2 per cent on Tuesday, in line with its peers, as investors became increasingly pessimistic about the future of UK property. More On this topic IN Construction “We remain confident in our ability to deliver the capital return plan to our shareholders,” the group said in a trading update, referring to a planned £2.76bn payout plan over 10 years, as it reported a 12 per cent boost to earnings in the six months to the end of June. The company offered little formal guidance on trading since the referendum, but Jeff Fairburn, chief executive, said: “The market is still there — people are still buying. Our net sales were in line with the previous few weeks’ trading.” He said the group had not reduced its rates of construction, despite an index showing on Wednesday that overall UK construction dropped in June to its lowest level in seven years, partly due to a decline in housebuilding. Persimmon said its private sales were 1 per cent higher than a year earlier in May and June, again defying a broader slowdown in the housing market in the period leading up to the referendum. Revenues were up 12 per cent to £1.5bn, while completions of new homes increased 6 per cent from a year earlier to 7,238 and selling prices rose by 6 per cent to £205,500. The group said it expected its operating margin to be even higher than the 23 per cent reported a year earlier. Its share price had outperformed rivals this year until the referendum partly due to a big increase in its dividend payout plan announced in February. But the sector has since sold off, along with real estate investment trusts, on fears of a drop in property values. Persimmon said £462m of cash holdings gave it the “balance sheet strength to navigate future changes in trading conditions”. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

ABB and Fluor have formed a global strategic partnership for the execution of large turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects for electrical substations. By combining ABB’s world-leading technology and its market leadership position in power transmission and distribution with Fluor’s expertise and experience in delivering large EPC projects, the partnership will help meet the evolving need of power grids across the globe for safe, reliable and state-of-the-art electrical substations.   “We are proud to partner with Fluor to tap the vast opportunities of the ongoing Energy Revolution and related power infrastructure investments. Together, we intend to grow our businesses by complementing each other’s strengths in customer services for substation projects,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “Strategic partnerships like this are a core pillar of our Next Level strategy and help us to drive growth while mitigating risk.” Substations are key elements in power grid infrastructure that facilitate the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They control and protect power flows, connect power stations to the grid and link transmission and distribution networks as well as end consumers. “Fluor’s new global strategic partnership with ABB targeting the substation market is expected to bring unique synergies to our power clients,” said David Seaton, chairman and CEO of Fluor. “This approach exemplifies our focus on addressing client needs with our unique integrated solutions offering.” ABB is a leader in air-insulated, gas-insulated and hybrid substations with voltage levels up to 1,200 kV. These substations facilitate the efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity with minimum environmental impact. They serve utility, industry and commercial customers as well as sectors including railways, urban transportation and renewables. “This global partnership with Fluor reinforces our strategic focus on developing new business models as we continue to transform our business to generate enhanced customer value,” said Claudio Facchin, president of the Power Grids division. Source link

Poor plumbing is a major cause behind drinking water failing to meet quality standards in customers’ homes. A report has revealed that nearly a third of water that fails is as a result of poor plumbing practices and sub-standard fittings in private pipes and properties after it has been transferred from public water mains. The Drinking Water Inspectorate for England and Wales’ (DWI) annual report found that lead, nickel, taste and odour are some of the problems deteriorating the quality of drinking water. These are caused by wrong materials and fittings or inadequate protection from water ‘flowing back’ into internal pipework from household appliances. DWI chief inspector Marcus Rink said: “A skilled and competent plumber using approved materials provides confidence in water remaining wholesome right up to the tap.” WaterSafe, the national register for plumbers, is urging homeowners to use approved plumbers to help keep their drinking water supply safe. WaterSafe director Julie Spinks said: ²Water supplies in the UK are among the best in the world and we want to ensure that drinking water is as healthy when it comes out of customers¢ taps as it is when it leaves the water companies¢ treatment works and water mains. “The use of a nationally registered plumber such as the WaterSafe scheme goes towards securing safe clean water for all, delivering the high quality of water we have come to expect.” Each year, samples of water are taken from reservoirs, water treatment works, pumping stations, water mains and customers¢ taps to be tested for a range of substances and measured against standards set by the World Health Organisation. The overall pass rate for drinking water in England and Wales was 99.96 per cent. Source link

Clever kitchen design pays attention to tone and texture as much as overall style and functional excellence. Adding in spots of colour or creating interesting contrasts of tone within today’s modern kitchen can really make the difference between ordinary and exceptional. It’s an easy option to go all-white with kitchen design, and white high-gloss kitchens definitely look great. But if you really want your kitchen to stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to push the boundaries a little bit further. Using contrast in the kitchen is a great trick for creating a visually stunning space. It is understandable most people feel compelled to play it safe when it comes to a kitchen remodel. It is after all one of the most expensive home improvement projects you are likely to undertake (unless of course you are extending your home). If you don’t feel confident making decisions about using contrast in your kitchen redesign, you could consult a kitchen design expert, such as The Brighton Kitchen Company. If you are brave enough to go it alone, read on. We’ve put together some great design ideas to help you make the most of contrast in your kitchen remodel. Countertop sectioning It’s easy to assume that all of your countertops should be the same to create a sense of flow and continuity in your kitchen space. But demarking your kitchen into different spaces by dividing up your countertops and using contrasting materials can really bring a sense of interest to your kitchen. This is a great design idea for the larger kitchen, especially if it involves an element of living space. Carefully crafted, countertop sectioning can divide spaces and create a visually stunning look. Play with dark and light and different materials. A white countertop with a dark section to match base units looks very effective. Equally a stylish wooden breakfast bar is a wonderful addition to sleek high-gloss countertops. For a quirky twist, try adding in a section of reclaimed wood. The stand-alone island Why not make your kitchen island the centrepiece of your kitchen? In a contrasting colour to the rest of your kitchen cabinetry, your kitchen island can become a cool standout feature and the hub of your kitchen workspace.  Vibrant small cubby holes If you are looking to add a pop of colour to your new kitchen, using colour in a few of the on-show small cubby holes is a great way to stylishly brighten up your design. Bright colours such as yellow or orange look fabulous against a white kitchen and will give your nearly all-white kitchen a unique twist.  Mixing up the tones – base units and wall cabinetry Your kitchen cabinetry doesn’t all have to be uniform. Even a section in a slightly different tone can make all the difference. Dark muted brown can work with lighter beige tones and black works brilliantly with white and dark wood. Bringing some different textures in also helps to create interest in your kitchen design. It’s worth heeding a little constraint. Don’t go mad and introduce too many colours and textures as that will distract from the overall style you are trying to create. Wooden elements Wood is often left out of modern kitchen designs unless there’s a desire for a Scandinavian element. But, wood can add a really stylish element to any kitchen design. Wood grain can warm up a dark colour scheme, and can prevent a white kitchen looking too stark and unwelcoming. Modern wooden kitchen cabinetry creates a great contrast against neutral or dark colour schemes.  The statement floor If your heart is set on a single colour for your kitchen, using the floor as a springboard for some contrast is a great idea. Dark floors look great with white cabinetry and white walls, or patterned tiles can add an interesting vibe. The type of flooring you choose can make all the difference to the look you are trying to achieve. Black and white: the ultimate contrast Monochrome kitchen designs are popular and work surprisingly well, especially with classic black and white. Pitch black and white against each other, and you can create a stylish contemporary kitchen or more of a retro look. A great tip for using black and white is to make one shade dominant, rather than give both black and white equal prominence. Graphic patterned wallpapers look great too if used in moderation. Curves and sharp corners Using form to create contrast is another interesting design feature to play with. Curved countertops sitting proudly on sharp-edged cabinets create a real sense of opposites. Kitchens can feel very boxy with lots of square edges, so adding some curves cleverly softens the kitchen design. Good luck with your kitchen redesign. Use contrast cleverly and you’ll have the wow-factor kitchen you are hoping for.