For the second year running, the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best new building is in partnership with the BBC News Online.  The BBC will cover architecture’s most important prize in-depth through a series of video features focusing on the shortlisted buildings and an online vote. From Friday 10 October, for six consecutive days, the BBC will run a series of online video features on each of the six buildings shortlisted for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize; films will also be broadcast on the BBC News Channel. An online vote will launch on Friday 10 October until Wednesday 15 October, inviting people to select their favourite of the six shortlisted buildings – the winner of the vote will be announced on Thursday 16 October.  The films and voting details will be available at www.bbc.co.uk/stirlingprize In addition to the partnership, the winner of the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced live on BBC News Channel at around 8.20pm on Thursday 16 October.  The 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize event is being held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 66 Portland Place W1 on the evening of Thursday 16 October.  The RIBA Stirling Prize party is supported by Champagne Taittinger and Heineken.  To book tickets for the event go to: http://www.architecture.com/WhatsOn/October2014/RIBAStirlingPrize2014.aspx The Architects’ Journal is professional media partner for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize.   Notes to Editors: For further press information please contact Beatrice Cooke in the RIBA Press Office – beatrice.cooke@riba.org; or 020 7307 3813/07805 173681 For further information on the 2014 shortlist and the judges for the prize go to: http://www.architecture.com/StirlingPrize/RIBAStirlingPrize.aspx Images of the six shortlisted buildings are available via this link:  https://app.box.com/s/1v1q7ddnrodn56ha1n8i The RIBA Stirling Prize is the UK’s most prestigious architecture award. Given to the architect of the building thought to be the most significant of the year for the evolution of architecture and the built environment, the RIBA Stirling Prize is judged on a range of criteria including design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction. www.architecture.com/ribastirlingprize   The Architects’ Journal is professional media partner for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize www.architectsjournal.co.uk The RIBA Manser Medal is sponsored by Hiscox Private Insurance. Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange   (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting divisions in the Group – Hiscox London Market, Hiscox Re and Hiscox Retail (which includes Hiscox UK and Europe, Hiscox Guernsey, Hiscox USA and subsidiary brand, DirectAsia). Hiscox underwrites internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance through Hiscox Re and Hiscox London Market. Through its retail businesses in the UK, Europe and the US Hiscox offers a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as homeowners.  For further information visit www.hiscoxgroup.com Hiscox UK’s affinity partnerships team creates long term commercial relationships with leading brands.  Hiscox are able to offer RIBA members a 10% discount on their home insurance or office insurance which can also include cover for architectural models (subject to terms and conditions)  – call 0844 248 1644 or visit www.hiscox.co.uk/riba The 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize is sponsored by Brockton Capital. Champagne Taittinger is the official champagne partner for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Party. Taittinger, the only major Champagne House to remain owned and actively managed by the family named on the label. Champagne Taittinger is the second largest vineyard or domaine owner in the region giving them ultimate control of quality from vine to bottle. The Champagnes are Chardonnay dominant which gives the elegance, delicacy and finesse. Champagne Taittinger is widely distributed around the world in 140 countries. Hatch Mansfield is the sole UK agent for Champagne Taittinger. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com  @RIBA  #StirlingPrize     Posted on Thursday 9th October 2014 Source link

OFTEC warns heating businesses to beware of scams Published:  09 September, 2016 The Oil-Fired Technical Association (OFTEC) is warning technicians to be extra vigilant after being alerted to a growing number of heating businesses that have been contacted by fraudsters.   Fake advertising opportunities are a particularly popular tactic used by scammers. One recent example involved a technician who received a call from a person claiming to be selling advertising for a magazine on crime prevention. The call appeared genuine and they began by confirming the technician was OFTEC registered. Others have attempted to pray on the goodwill of victims by asking them to advertise in magazines for charities and other similar good causes, which turned out to be fake. If the victim becomes suspicious and attempts to cancel the arrangement, they will often claim to have taped the phone call and threaten to use it to enforce the ‘verbal contract’. Another approach used by fraudsters is to use deception to obtain bank details. These so-called ‘phishing’ scams – when fraudulent calls, emails or texts are sent in an attempt to gain personal information or payment – include impersonating public sector bodies and placing large orders with businesses, establishing that payment must be made before work is undertaken so invoicing details are required upfront. Other variations on this tactic include pretending to be from banks or from HMRC, wishing to discuss self-assessment tax returns. Fake invoices are another ploy increasingly used by scammers, who masquerade as a supplier and contact the business to say the account details on an outstanding invoice need to be changed in order for it to be paid. The business then innocently amends the details only to later find they have been sending money to a conman rather than a genuine supplier. Figures from GetSafeOnline, the government-backed cybersecurity body, show that such ‘phishing’ attacks rose by 21% during 2015. Furthermore, over half of all the attacks on businesses reported last year were made against small firms. Malcolm Farrow, marketing and communication manager at OFTEC, said: “Heating firms, like other small businesses, can be especially vulnerable to scams and it’s not unusual for criminals to harvest contact details from online directories such as those on the OFTEC or GasSafe websites. “Understandably, the majority of heating businesses we work with don’t feel the need to put formal security systems or procedures in place due to their size, and it’s very easy for owners to be caught unawares, especially when they are busy. “We urge anyone who receives unsolicited phone calls, texts, emails or letters to ignore them. Avoid entering into conversation with someone you don’t know online or over the phone and never place orders which are initiated via cold calls.” To help protect heating businesses from fraudulent activity, OFTEC has put together some top tips to avoid getting caught out: Always ask for written details before committing to anything Always compare email addresses and other details to previous correspondence If you are dealing with a public body representative you have not previously communicated with, don’t be afraid to ask for proof of identification If a delivery address is different to usual, query why. There could be a simple explanation but it’s always best to check Never open a suspicious email or click on a suspicious link. Web viruses don’t just ruin your computer, they can be used as a way to steal money. Free anti-virus software is widely available Poor grammar or bad spelling can often be a tell-tale sign. Genuine companies will spend time proof reading correspondence Be wary if you are asked to pay upfront for anything – play for time and do some online research to confirm whether the offer is genuine Numbers starting with 084, 087 or 09 are now premium rate so most reputable companies have stopped using them. However, they are used by scammers to trick people out of money If you receive an offer that sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Mr Farrow concluded: “If you have been scammed, don’t panic. End all communication with the fraudster immediately and don’t pay them any money without first seeking advice – fraudsters are unlikely to take legal action so don’t give in to their threats. If you think your security has been compromised, inform your bank straight away. They will step up security on your account to stop other unauthorised transactions. They should also be able to refund any money that has been taken. It is also worth contacting Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website – www.actionfraud.police.uk – for further advice.”   Source link

Book Course HSL is to run a 1/2 day course on Stair Assessment. 14 September 2016 Stairs present significant potential for harm to their users. A fall on stairs often leads to serious injury or even death. In the UK there is a fall on stairs every 90 seconds (BS 5395-1:2010). The HSL Falls Prevention Team investigates several fatal stair accidents each year, often in seemingly innocuous environments like retail premises and restaurants. There are approximately 100,000 accidents on stairs in leisure environments each year, and several thousand more in the workplace. Negotiating stairs is a largely subconscious task and, as such, falls are often blamed entirely on human error. In reality, the design of a stair plays a critical role in helping a pedestrian make their subconscious judgments accurately and therefore safely negotiate the stair. HSL forensic investigations into the causes of fatal stair accidents have found that poor stair design is a significant factor in many cases. Fatalities are often predated by a history of less serious falls which have not prompted careful scrutiny. Good stair design reduces the risk of falls. Simple, cost-effective improvements to existing stairs can significantly reduce the risk of a serious fall. There is a clear need to understand the risks posed by specific stairs by way of assessment. This course will help you understand the design features of stairs which can give rise to a risk of falling, and identify simple remedial improvements to reduce the likelihood of a fall. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills to assess stairs in your own premises, and identify examples of good and bad practice. This will allow appropriate changes to working practices and the work environment to be considered and planned in proportion with the risks and costs involved. How to undertake a stair fall assessment Common design issues that give rise to a risk of falls on stairs Examples of HSL stair investigations and the findings Simple tools for assessing common stair features (stair assessment tools will be provided to take away as part of the training) An opportunity for you to assess stairs yourself and discuss with the expert Anyone who is interested in understanding falls on stairs or who has responsibility for managing health and safety. We can run bespoke courses at your premises tailored to your specific requirements. This includes a free expert assessment of your stairs. The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport. Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk Cost The full cost of the course is £395 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments and assessment tool developed by HSL). Book Course     Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this. For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unitat HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806. Back to Health & Safety Training Courses Source link

Power resistor manufacturer Cressall has achieved the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 certification. The company’s new accreditation is a testament to its dedication to safe and reliable practices. In recognition, Cressall was issued a certificate of approval on 22 February 2016.  Source link

When Hinkley Point was first talked about in the mid-2000s, Tony Blair was prime minister, the UK’s position in the EU looked secure and the project was being run by British Energy. On Thursday night board members at EDF, the French utility now running the project, decided to give the scheme the final go-ahead, but they did so against a completely different political backdrop. The UK is on its third prime minister since Mr Blair, it is on its way out of the EU and British Energy is no longer. Nothing more clearly illustrates the change in political background than the decision by UK ministers, immediately after news of the French approval, to delay the project once more, with officials saying Theresa May wants to examine the case in full, having become prime minister this month. It is not only the political background that has changed since Mr Blair’s government first started talking of the UK’s “nuclear renaissance”. The project itself has become far more protracted and expensive than it was ever supposed to be. The problems started early on in the life of the scheme. EDF bought out British Energy for £12.4bn in 2009 and, with it, acquired the company’s eight new nuclear sites. Even then, however, it appeared the timetable was slipping. Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF in the UK, had said he expected Britons to be cooking their Christmas turkeys using power from the first new nuclear plant by 2017. But by late 2008 the company was talking about 2018, while British ministers were saying it would be finished “well before the 2020s”. The main reason for the slipping timetable was that a nuclear power plant of the same design was being built in Olkiluoto in Finland, and that project was proving harder and costlier to build than anyone had expected. The design, known as the European Pressurised Reactor, was supposed to be the safest in the world, built to withstand even a terrorist flying a commercial aeroplane into it. But it was these complex and expensive safety measures, experts say, that have seen the EPR delayed almost everywhere it is being built. In 2013, EDF suffered a significant setback to its plans when Centrica, a co-investor in the project, pulled out. Iain Conn, Centrica’s current chief executive, sounded a sceptical note on the scheme on Thursday, just hours before the EDF board meeting. “It is an expensive way to get electricity,” he said. Centrica was replaced by CGN, a Chinese state-backed nuclear power group. £92.50 Payment ministers agreed for every megawatt-hour of electricity produced at Hinkley. The current wholesale price is £40 At around the same time, EDF executives commissioned a report from auditors in the company about the likelihood that Hinkley Point could be built on time and on budget. That document, which was called the “Cardiff report” and which the Financial Times has seen, warned that there was only a 50 per cent chance that it could be produced for its £16bn price tag. The report, which one board member said they had not been shown, recommended a budget of £18bn — a figure that was accepted by the company only in 2015. Despite all these problems, one thing that remained secure about Hinkley Point — until last night — was political support for the scheme on both sides of the Channel. In the UK, where ageing coal power stations are closing faster than the government expected, ministers showed their support in 2013 by agreeing to pay £92.50 for every megawatt-hour of electricity Hinkley Point produces. The current wholesale price is around £40. London’s decision last night to hold yet another review of the project shows how much has changed since the UK voted to leave the EU and David Cameron, one of the scheme’s biggest backers, resigned as prime minister. Officials said Mrs May’s cautious approach lies behind the delay but the company will now worry that the political consensus could soon break. We aren’t supposed to be spokespeople for a union or the state. I’m really ill at ease with this project Paris, however, remains fully committed, with ministers seeing Hinkley Point as crucial to maintaining the competencies of the French nuclear sector and supporting its suppliers. Until the last-minute UK intervention, that political support had driven the project to the finishing line in the face of a host of delays and potential obstructions. Those delays included opposition from within the board, which was more divided than had been expected. Before Thursday’s meeting, the project had led to the resignations of two senior people within EDF. The first was Thomas Piquemal as chief financial officer, the second, Gérard Magnin, a state representative on the board. And even after those resignations, opposition remained. As the board prepared to meeting on Thursday afternoon, one director told the Financial Times: “We aren’t supposed to be spokespeople for a union or the state. I’m really ill at ease with this project.” The announcement by Greg Clark, the business and energy secretary, late last night, to delay the project once more, suggests that person is not alone. Source link