Modern high tech site security to protect your property and people Theft and vandalism costs the construction industry over £800 million per year in terms of the losses and the costs involved in taking remedial action after thefts and acts of vandalism. As a result, good construction site security is
As the UK Government pledges to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the urge for sustainable buildings is stronger than ever. According to the UK Green Building Council, an estimated 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint is attributed to the built environment, half of which comes from energy
Two of Cavanna Homes’ Site Managers have received top national awards for delivering the highest standards of housebuilding in the UK. Adam Smith and Charlie Baker have been recognised by the National House Building Council (NHBC) for their work at Moorland Vale in Bodmin and Alfred’s Gate in Newton Poppleford,
London Build has been celebrating women within the construction industry since 2015, hosting an annual Women in Construction networking attended by over 1,200 women working across all sectors – making it the UK’s largest meeting of Women in Construction. This free-to-attend session gives professionals the opportunity to learn from a
No matter how carefully you drive or how much attention you pay, the risk of you being involved in a car accident is highly probable due to the increased number of road users. If you have been injured in a car accident, then this guideline should offer the support you
First-time drivers may feel that they already know everything that they should do when they are on the road but actually, there are still a lot more that they have to know before they can ride their cars freely. You may not really think about car insurance when you are
Modern high tech site security to protect your property and people Theft and vandalism costs the construction industry over £800 million per year in terms of the losses and the costs involved in taking remedial action after thefts and acts of vandalism. As a result, good construction site security is paramount both in terms of ‘self policing’ in the way construction site personnel observe good security and through using expert help from site security professionals. Why site security is needed As the above figure shows, good site security is imperative to avoid falling victim to the huge losses experienced by the industry as a whole – or at least being able to hopefully apprehend those committing criminal acts if the worst happens. A major theft or act of vandalism not only costs money to recover from, it can put progress back considerably if work is suspended or curtailed in the aftermath of an incident. Good security is cheap at the price if it helps prevent these. Outside help Specialists offering the latest in building site security tech and expertise can help monitor a site round the clock and organise a response to incidents, and modern CCTV systems help protect construction sites of all types and sizes. Modern cameras and alarms developed for site surveillance can run without mains power, and can be moved easily so as to be in the best position as and when the site changes its configuration as work progresses. Inside help: good security practices A sad fact about many construction sites is the sometimes poor standards of diligence when observing everyday good security procedures. There have been instances of ID of site personnel not being checked properly, entrances left open – especially parts of fencing when moved aside temporality to allow a large machine access to the site or for a large delivery to be made. Basics such as doors left unlocked and keys left in machines abound unfortunately. While human error is perhaps inevitable from time to time, many sites could benefit from more stringent internal security procedures. Benefitting Health and Safety Building site security isn’t only about safeguarding premises and property; it’s also highly beneficial in helping maintain good Health and Safety standards throughout the site. This can encompass various aspects: Site access – you should run your site without putting members of the public at risk. Using CCTV and access control systems is a major step in ensuring only authorised personnel access the site. Fire – hazardous and flammable materials are to be found on many sites, and some have even more if, for example, demolition work is being carried out. Therefore, good fire alarms and CCTV systems can monitor and protect so as to keep a fire hazard area as safe as possible. General monitoring – diligent CCTV monitoring can help areas stay as safe as possible; a potentially hazardous or other wise dangerous situation can be flagged up quickly if caught on CCTV to help ensure a safe working environment. Identification – It is important for your site staff to be recognised. Having the right ID is important and will help from any unauthorised staff being where they should not. You can see examples of this from fake ID cards topfakid. There is much more legislation concerning building, design and construction. Ultimately, good site security will help your business in terms of avoiding the disruption and heavy expenses involved in dealing with an incidence of theft or vandalism. Also, further disruption and injury to personnel can be avoided if your site security provisions are used to monitor Health and Safety related activities too.
As the UK Government pledges to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the urge for sustainable buildings is stronger than ever. According to the UK Green Building Council, an estimated 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint is attributed to the built environment, half of which comes from energy used in building. Heating alone created 10% of the country’s carbon footprint. Yet sustainability is still out of reach for many property owners and managers. Old buildings, small budgets, tenants’ varying needs – there are many factors that make it hard for a property manager to truly measure the sustainability of a building and to act upon any findings. Considering this, Frankie Bryon, Sustainability Surveyor at LSH discusses why smart technology can help buildings improve on sustainability as well introduce other benefits that include promoting health and wellbeing and enable agile working. Smart is sustainableFirms’ sustainability strategies have been a major driver of the rollout of smart technology. By providing more efficient controls over energy usage, it can deliver significant reductions in energy consumption. It is no coincidence that some of the smartest office buildings in the world are also rated by BREEAM as among the greenest. Smart systems allow lighting, heating, air conditioning and ventilation to be monitored and adjusted according to a building’s usage and occupation. Energy wastage can be minimised by turning off heating and lighting when an office is unoccupied. Intelligent building facades may also be used to control the heat and light entering the building in response to changing weather conditions. The next generation of energy efficient smart buildings have their own sources of power generation and some are even able to generate more energy than they consume, with surplus energy going back to the grid. Workplace wellbeingSmart technology is increasingly recognised as having an important role to play in promoting health and wellbeing. It can help to create environments that support alert, energised workforce. Sensors can monitor air and water quality, light, temperature and noise levels. Issues known to affect workers’ concentration levels such as poor air quality or a lack of natural light can thus be detected and fixed. More advanced smart office technology can also make use of data from wearable biometric devices monitoring the health and comfort of workers. In fact, research by Instant Offices shows 45% of the UK workforce would feel comfortable with sharing information via wearable devices for the purpose of protecting their health and wellbeing. Ambient conditions can be adjusted when workers show signs of discomfort, or an individual’s immediate working environment can be changed according to their personal preferences. Work smarter Sensors, smartphones or wearable devices may collect data monitoring environmental factors such as temperature, light, air quality and noise, as well as data on employees’ usage of the building. The data collected can deliver building managers with actionable insights on how to improve a building’s performance, or it may feed through to automated systems controlling the office environment. With smart technology continually evolving, it is being used to support an increasingly wide range of applications, providing multiple benefits to building owners, investors, occupiers and employees. Enabling agile workingSmart technology is providing occupiers with a better understanding of who uses the office at any given time, how they work and with whom they collaborate. These insights can enable increasingly agile, flexible working. Some of the newest generation of smart buildings have fewer desks than workers. Instead, employees may reserve a workspace using an app, with a choice of spaces depending on whether they would prefer a collaborative workspace, private meeting area or a quiet space. Smart systems may thus facilitate a move away from the convention of employees ‘owning’ a desk, which then goes unused for periods when they are out of the office. Flexible workspaces can be used more efficiently and may be continually adapted to changing employee demand and new work styles. Improving workplace experiencesAs well as enabling desk and room bookings, workplace apps can also be used to order food and drink, book gym sessions or reserve parking spaces. They may allow employees to control ambient settings, as well as providing new ways of connecting and collaborating with colleagues. Workplace apps are thus developing as important interfaces between employees and office buildings, giving individuals greater control over their office experience. This will help to align the modern office with the expectations of a younger workforce for whom smart technology already plays an integral part of their lifestyles outside of work. The benefits of being smartOverall the advantages that smart offices offer are in terms of the following: Sustainability Employee wellbeing Agile working Workplace experience Smart offices also aid talent attraction and retention, by creating spaces in which people want to work, while appealing to workers’ environmental values. Modern, sustainable offices can help to reinforce a company’s brand values and define a progressive, forward-thinking corporate culture.
Two of Cavanna Homes’ Site Managers have received top national awards for delivering the highest standards of housebuilding in the UK. Adam Smith and Charlie Baker have been recognised by the National House Building Council (NHBC) for their work at Moorland Vale in Bodmin and Alfred’s Gate in Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth. Adam and Charlie are among just three percent of 16,000 site managers nationally to be presented with the NHBC’s Pride in the Job ‘Quality Award’ which rewards attention to detail, leadership, technical expertise and health and safety. Adam Smith, Site Manager at Moorland Vale said: “This award is an outstanding achievement and reflects the dedication, pride and hard work of the team at Moorland Vale. Building beautiful homes is a complex process and our team’s attention to detail throughout the construction process has been reflected in delivering an outstanding end product”. Charlie Baker, Site Manager at Alfred’s Gate added: “The design for the new homes at Alfred’s Gate were really stunning and our team has delivered a very high specification development. The NHBC monitors our work over a 12-month period, so all of our activities are scrutinised. Winning this award is a real testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to building new homes our customers are proud to own”. Head of Construction Fred Sureshkumar said: “We’re very proud of our young Site Managers, Charlie and Adam, for being presented with Quality Awards – to be in the top 3 percent out of over sixteen thousand entries is a fantastic achievement. “At Cavanna Homes we pride ourselves on building high-quality new homes which homeowners can be proud of. These awards are a reflection of our commitment to building beautiful new homes across the Westcountry”. David Blackman, NHBC Inspection Manager said: “This is the 39th year of the national competition and each year the standard of entries gets higher. “These awards cannot be won without the right support from the team on site, support and guidance from the company, and the right attitude. Congratulations to both Adam and Charlie, you should both be very proud!”. Last year two of the homebuilders Site Managers, Russell Gibson and Paul Whitlock, were also awarded the NHBC Pride in the Job Award ‘Quality Awards’ for the firm’s developments at Greenspire in Clyst St Mary near Exeter, and Market Quarter in Holsworthy.
London Build has been celebrating women within the construction industry since 2015, hosting an annual Women in Construction networking attended by over 1,200 women working across all sectors – making it the UK’s largest meeting of Women in Construction. This free-to-attend session gives professionals the opportunity to learn from a panel of established experts and rub elbows with some truly inspirational women who have made a significant impact on the industry. The event will look at issues of gender imbalance and inequality within the built environment, as well as highlighting the outstanding achievements of those who are driving change across the industry. Kicking off at 10.30am on day two of London Build (28th Nov), we’ll see the Women in Construction panel take over the main stage – an upgrade from 2018 in order to accommodate the ever-increasing audience. Moderated by Cristina Lanz Azcarate, London and South East Chair – NAWIC, the panel will feature five renowned speakers: Ruby El-Kanzi, Senior Design Manager I Construction London – Wates Pamela McInroy, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager – High Speed Two Sharon Duffy, Head of Transport Infrastructure Engineering – Transport for London Michelle Hands, Director – N J Engineering Michaela Wain, Managing Director – We Connect Construction After the panel, the event will move to the Built Environment Networking Hub – a chance to network with established experts including the event’s Women in Construction Ambassadors and discuss the untapped opportunities for both women and men working in construction, diversity and equality. Becoming a Women in Construction Ambassador Part of London Build’s commitment to amplifying the voices of Women in Construction is its active recruitment of professional and talented individuals driving change within the construction industry. We seek out ambassadors to represent the extraordinary skill sets and expertise the industry has to offer. Both women and men are welcome! London Build focusses on showcasing the advantages of being a woman in construction, and strives to have a strong female line-up in its content programme. This mission to ensure that businesses within the construction industry have every opportunity to thrive, by telling inspiring and motivating stories from exceptional women, is something that we encourage industry professionals to become a part of. You can get involved by joining industry-leading names such as Christina Riley, Angela Brady, Alison Coutinho and Angela Dapper in becoming a Women in Construction Ambassador. By promoting the Women in Construction Networking Event and London Build to your contacts, you’ll have a WIC Ambassadors’ badge, priority seating at the conference, first-hand introductions during the networking event to help you gain an active role in promoting the WIC initiative and keep striving to make incredible change in the UK’s construction industry. Anyone of any gender who is passionate about driving change in the UK’s built environment, from students to architects to CEO’s, is welcome to get involved. To find out more or to sign up, visit www.londonbuildexpo.com/wic. Women in Construction at the London Construction Awards The London Construction Awards are the leading construction awards for London, recognising achievements, developments and innovation in London’s booming construction industry. A recognised industry accolade, the London Construction Awards have niche award categories to suit each specialism – and continues the London Build theme of championing equality, diversity and inclusion with its tailored Women in Construction and Diversity and Inclusion awards. Both categories are free to enter, and entries close at 5pm on 27th August 2019 (an extension on the deadline). For further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at wic@londonbuildexpo.com or call 0203 058 2350.
No matter how carefully you drive or how much attention you pay, the risk of you being involved in a car accident is highly probable due to the increased number of road users. If you have been injured in a car accident, then this guideline should offer the support you need whether you are a passenger, driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian. What Should Be Done At The Scene Of A Car Accident? When involved in car accident you have a legal duty to stop at the scene, as well as your legal duty, it is also beneficial for you to stop to make sure you can assess the situation effectively, making sure no one is injured, what (if any) damage has been caused to the vehicles involved and if any other property has been damaged. Being involved in an accident is not something someone starts their day predicting, therefore, if an unfortunate event happens, it is likely you will be left in a state of shock and could struggle to process what has happened. It is important to try to remain calm and collect all the necessary details you may need, especially if you pursue to make a car accident claim for the loss and suffering you have experienced. Important information to collect at this stage would be: Vehicle Damage Evidence – this can be obtained by taking photographs via your phone, but try not just to gather evidence of your own vehicle, try to obtain pictures of any damage caused to the other parties’ vehicle as well. If the vehicle is heavily damaged, you need to get professional advice from your car insurer. Obtain The Other Driver’s Information – details including name, address, and contact details. If they are not the owner of the vehicle, then be sure to get the owner’s information to Vehicle Information – including registration, model of the vehicle and the colour Insurance Information – including the name of the insurance company and the driver policy number. Again if the driver is not the owner of that particular vehicle, try to obtain their insurance information also Independent Witness Details – this means someone who has not been involved in but has witnessed the accident and can give a clear statement if needed. They also must be unknown to either party involved to ensure they can be classed as independent. While gaining independent witness details, ensure you have gained their full name, contact number and address Photographs That Can Help Explain What Has Happened, e.g. taking photographs of road markings, how the vehicles have positioned themselves after the accident etc. It is important to try and remain calm and keep yourself and any passengers you may have safe, therefore if you feel your safety is at risk or someone has been badly injured then call the emergency services and seek immediate medical attention. If the police were involved, make sure all information given by them is kept safe, most importantly the reference number they provide you Gaining The Medical Attention You Need After An Accident However minor or major your injuries feel due to the accident, it is important you seek the appropriate medical attention to ensure there is no underlying condition caused and to ensure you have received all the treatment you need. Depending on the severity of your injuries will depend on what type of medical attention you seek, if your injuries are severe you may want to call the emergency services to get an ambulance, however, if they seem minor in nature you could attend your GP or a local NHS walk-in centre. A common occurring injury brought on by RTAs (Road Traffic Accidents) is known as whiplash. This type of injury is caused by a sudden forceful movement which is caused by the impact of your vehicle colliding into something. Common tell-tale signs of having whiplash are discomfort and stiffness in your neck area when moving, along with headaches. Who Is Eligible To Make A Claim? All road users have a legal right to make a claim when they have been injured in an accident that isn’t their fault, this includes: Vehicle drivers Passengers – whether you are a passenger on public or private transport Pedestrians Motorcyclists Bicyclists A passenger can start a claim regardless of whether it is the driver of the vehicle they were in who is at fault. If you were in a passenger in your family member’s or friend’s vehicle, in a taxi or on a bus/coach, whether it was your driver who has caused the accident or not you could be eligible to claim. A passenger could also be eligible to make a claim if they have sustained an injury due to careless driving. The driver owes their passengers a duty of care to ensure they do not drive carelessly causing anyone to fall, they should also ensure care is taken when passengers are entering or exiting the bus. Making A Claim For A Car Accident Starting a claim for compensation for your injuries and other losses sustained in an accident can be quick and easy, simply contact specialist solicitors, and they will guide you through the entire process. Often as a passenger, it is confusing to know if you are eligible to claim and who from, especially if you feel the driver of the vehicle you were in may be at fault. This is where your solicitors will be able to help you, letting you know from the first point of contact if you have a claim and whose insurance you would be claiming from. Starting Your Claim Starting a claim is quick and easy, once you have begun speaking with a solicitor you will find out if you have a valid claim and be able to gain tailored advice that will best suit your situation. After gaining the advice, if you wish to make a claim, the setup will require the following details: Your personal details – e.g. Name, Address, Phone Number, DOB, National
First-time drivers may feel that they already know everything that they should do when they are on the road but actually, there are still a lot more that they have to know before they can ride their cars freely. You may not really think about car insurance when you are driving for the first time. You will probably think about where you are going to use your car, how you are going to use your car, and what your friends will think of the car that you have. Car insurance may be the least of your concerns. You should know now that car insurance is going to be important. You can check https://www.cheapautoinsurance.com if you want more details about the car insurance policies that are available for first-time drivers like you. The Most Cost-Effective Way The most cost-effective way that you can get car insurance is when you are added to another person’s policy. It is very possible that someone in your household already has car insurance. When you get added, this means that you will get the right benefits whenever you drive. When you are a first-time driver, you will be considered as a high-risk driver by insurance companies which means that your premium will be higher as compared to those who have been driving for a long time. The only option that is available for you is to make sure that you will be added to the insurance plan of a driver that already owns car insurance. Possible Discounts You May Get There are some potential discounts that the original car insurance owner may have that will lower all of your premiums even further: Bundling the car insurance with other cars of the household Bundling your car insurance with other insurance policies like home insurance, and so much more. Getting additional driving courses You need to prove that you are a good driver if you would take some driving courses that will show that you take driving seriously. Shop Around One of the best things that you can do is to check the different car insurance companies that are available. You can get several quotes from different companies and you should find the one that will provide the lowest rates possible. There are also some people who would like to pay the full amount the moment that they get their chosen policy. This can be very effective too especially when you are trying to save up. You will pay a lower amount initially and you also do not have to worry about subsequent payments until such time when you need to renew your policy again. In addition, every first time driver can also use a lawyer for many reasons. The most common reason is because lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to help individuals who have been involved in car accidents. They understand the laws surrounding car accidents, and they can help their clients to receive the compensation that they deserve. In addition, lawyers can also help first time drivers to avoid costly mistakes. For example, many first time drivers do not know how to negotiate with insurance companies. As a result, they may end up paying more for their insurance than they need to. Lawyers like Dennis Hernandez & Associates can help them to get the best possible rate. Finally, lawyers can also help first time drivers to navigate the legal system. This is especially important if they have been charged with a traffic violation. A lawyer can help them to understand their rights and options, and he or she can ensure that they receive a fair hearing. In short, there are many good reasons why every first time driver needs a lawyer. Good Student Discount Who says that your grades will not have an effect on the things that you have to do in life? The fact that you can get a discount when you have good grades may inspire you to pay more attention to your education more. You need to have a GPA average of 3.0 or higher so that you can get this type of discount. You may be required to provide them with a transcript that will show your recent grades so that you can prove that you have the grades that will make you eligible for this type of discount. Having good grades can make your parents proud and can lessen the amount that you have to pay for car insurance too. Consider the Right Vehicle Let us say that you are looking for the right vehicle that will be given to you by your parents or you will purchase with your hard-earned money. How are you going to pick the one that will work best? When you pick a luxury vehicle, you are going to pay more not only because the cars are more expensive. It will be ideal if you would check the vehicle that will work best for your needs. Since it is your first time to own a car anyway, you do not have to spend a lot of money on a vehicle yet. You can even get an older vehicle first and learn how to drive better with the use of this vehicle. The more that you know, the better that you will feel. Another way to travel would be by bus, you can find out more on how to book your Lubbock bus here. How to Minimize Premiums Further Young drivers can always minimize their premiums if they would make an effort to keep their driving record clean at all times. You can also install a safety device on your car so that you can have even lower premiums. When you commit yourself to drive with a clean driving record, you will have a chance to get lower premiums.
