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April 29, 2020

BIM and Lean Construction well-established in major firms, but lacking altogether within the industry’s SMEs

Cristina Diaconu April 29, 2020

Construction’s SMEs, who make up 80% of the industry often working as sub-contractors for larger firms, are in danger of missing out on cutting-edge techniques, according to new research  THE construction industry can be transformed by adoption of the practices termed Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean Construction.  But research

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Minister echoes CICV Forum call to keep key workers safe from abuse during essential construction work

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2020

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum is providing greater visibility on what constitutes ‘essential work’ to prevent key workers being harassed and verbally abused during vital construction projects. The Forum’s members have reported an increasing number of tradespeople being intimidated and verbally abused by the public while carrying out legitimate

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Clear Safety Glasses – Eye Protection for Welders

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2020

When you are welding, which equipment do you need? Why is it essential to wear gears that can protect you? For many people, welding may be a simple job, and you need to stay away from the sparks that are flying left and right. But to the people who are

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April 29, 2020

BIM and Lean Construction well-established in major firms, but lacking altogether within the industry’s SMEs

Cristina Diaconu April 29, 2020

Construction’s SMEs, who make up 80% of the industry often working as sub-contractors for larger firms, are in danger of missing out on cutting-edge techniques, according to new research  THE construction industry can be transformed by adoption of the practices termed Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Lean Construction.  But research at the University of Huddersfield has led to a warning that the smaller firms that form the bedrock of the sector are in danger of missing out on cutting-edge techniques that lead to radical improvements in efficiency and productivity. The research is described in an article published by the long-established and globally-respected Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering.  Titled Lean Construction and BIM in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Construction, it has been named as one of the journal’s “editor’s choice” papers of 2020.  This means it is one of a small number that can be freely accessed worldwide, so that its findings have greater impact. Study Construction Project Management and Architecture at Huddersfield The research was carried out at the University of Huddersfield’s School of Art, Design and Architecture, in collaboration with colleagues at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in Ireland.  Lead author of the resultant article is Dr Algan Tezel, who is Senior Lecturer in Construction Project Management at Huddersfield’s Department of Architecture and 3D Design. He explained that 80 per cent of the construction industry is made of SMEs, often working as sub-contractors for larger firms.  But when Dr Tezel and his colleagues made an in-depth study of published research that had been carried out into the adoption of BIM and Lean Construction in the building sector, they found that there was a dearth of material dealing with SMEs. “This is a problem,” said Dr Tezel, “because these two concepts – BIM and Lean Construction – have the potential to change the dynamics of the construction industry.  But if you can’t get them into those smaller and medium-sized players, which make up the majority of the industry, then that promise will not materialise.” There needs to be a much greater focus on the smaller operators, continued Dr Tezel. “They might not have the profile of the larger companies and might not be responsible for the flashier projects, but they are the core people at the building workface.” The article explains the background to BIM and Lean Construction.  The former is described as a process that encompasses the creation and use of a digital representation of a building or project. BIM increases the potential for wider and deeper collaboration between stakeholders and other benefits include speeding up the design and build process; better designs via rigorous assessment; accurate prediction of environmental and life-cycle data and improved customer service, because of better visualisation. The term ‘Lean Construction’ refers to the adaptation of lean manufacturing techniques that originated in the Japanese motor industry.  It is focussed upon “better meeting client expectations while using less of everything,” explains the article by Dr Tezel and his colleagues. They conclude that, “despite the hype, investigations show that the wholesale uptake of BIM and Lean Construction at SMEs is problematic”. “It is not possible,” they continue, “to realise the rhetorical promises of BIM and LC, two of the prominent concepts challenging the traditional practices in construction management, without giving sufficient consideration to SMEs.  This is accentuated especially when there are policy initiatives in many countries towards improving productivity in the construction industry.”

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Minister echoes CICV Forum call to keep key workers safe from abuse during essential construction work

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2020

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum is providing greater visibility on what constitutes ‘essential work’ to prevent key workers being harassed and verbally abused during vital construction projects. The Forum’s members have reported an increasing number of tradespeople being intimidated and verbally abused by the public while carrying out legitimate projects in line with CICV Forum guidelines. One contractor said: “On one commercial job, our engineers were subjected to a barrage of abuse by residents and staff. Our guys were upset and didn’t want to be there, so in the end, the local authority had to put up posters explaining that we were carrying out essential work. It was the only way our engineers could be left alone to do the work. “Not all essential obvious work is obvious to the public, but that is no excuse for the behaviour that some of us in the construction industry are having to put up with.” To try and diffuse the situation, the Forum has produced a checklist of projects to help the public understand the range of work classified as ‘essential’. It also plans to offer on-site signage to help workers make it clear to the public they are carrying out essential work only. Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, said such measures were essential to provide clarity and reduce tension between the wider public and workers. He said: “The general public may not be aware of the full range of projects that constitute ‘essential work’, but these are workers who are performing a vital role safely and responsibly. “At a time when the Scottish Government is asking people to remain in their homes it is even more important that these homes are watertight, safe and have essential working facilities, such as water, gas and electricity. “Builders and plumbers’ merchants are also needed to provide supplies for essential repair and maintenance, such as heating and hot water breakdowns, roofing repairs, and electrical and fire safety.” Mr Stewart added: “It is important that the public understand that there is still a need for essential works to be carried out in these challenging times and industry professionals should be able to complete repairs in safety, without fear of criticism and rebuke.” His words were echoed by John McKinney, secretary of Forum members the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Stone Federation and the Scottish Contractors Group, who said: “Essential construction work is not confined to building a major hospital for COVID-19, but we know that people might not be aware of this. “There are dozens of other construction works that are classed as essential to keep the fabric of Scotland intact. At the very least, homes need to be watertight and safe both inside and out for people to be able to live in them. That’s why the construction industry is working hard across Scotland to ensure people can stay at home during these times to protect the NHS. “Greater understanding is needed among the public to understand that the key workers carrying out such work aren’t flouting the rules – they are performing essential tasks and should be allowed to do so without fear of abuse.” To help the public, the Forum has now compiled a list of essential work that is permitted to be carried out, including: Removal of elements in danger of collapse, e.g. cladding Repair and construction of critical road and utility infrastructure Emergency call-out services, e.g. electrical, plumbing, glazing and roofing Making inhabited buildings safe and watertight, e.g. after storm damage Domestic repairs to ensure occupants’ safety and wellbeing, e.g. the elderly Repair and maintenance of essential buildings, e.g. fire and police stations Safe operation of faulty heating and water systems Essential inspections to prevent health outbreaks, e.g. legionnaires Supply of materials for these and other essential COVID-19 projects. In addition, the Forum is developing a series of free signage for contractors to use to make it clear that any work being carried out is essential. Designed to be printed out and inserted in van windows and properties, the read: “Key Worker: Carrying Out Essential Construction Work.” Andrew Renwick, Managing Director of Caltech Lifts, who represents Forum member the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, said it was vital that this new collateral was used responsibly. He said: “It is imperative that this material is only displayed and worn by individuals undertaking qualifying work, so employers should also issue employees with appropriate paperwork so that they can provide evidence if question by the police. “Anyone caught abusing this material should be dealt with and the employer spoken to by the authorities.” Set up in March, the CICV Forum has already played a major role in clarifying conflicting information for the sector and issuing practical guidance for companies, clients and employees. It has also established a series of influential sub-groups dealing with mission-critical aspects such as health and safety, skills and future planning.

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Clear Safety Glasses – Eye Protection for Welders

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2020

When you are welding, which equipment do you need? Why is it essential to wear gears that can protect you? For many people, welding may be a simple job, and you need to stay away from the sparks that are flying left and right. But to the people who are doing this kind of job, welding involves a lot of risks. There are risks of electric shocks, injuries, toxic fumes, burns, and eye blindness. For people who are doing arc welding, the work is a source of ultraviolet and infrared lights. In many processes, safety goggles, shields, helmets, and clear safety glasses are used to protect the eyes. Some vicinities screen the welding process so that the arc is not visible through the metal or glass. Most operators use goggles and clear glasses to protect their eyes from hot metal, glare, heat, and flying fragments. The safety of each welder and the job starts from the personal protective equipment. These can include the following: Welder’s Mask/Respirator – Many gases and fumes are produced every second when you are in the welding process. A filter mask that is highly recommended, or if it’s not available, you can use a half-mask respirator. If you are doing a grinding process, note that some particulates and fumes can go inside your lungs. Most welders may want to use N95 masks as it filters 95% of air particles with a size of 0.3 micrometers and more. Eye Protection – An approved eyeglass protection should be worn at all times. You can use goggles or safety glasses that are clear. The lenses should fit correctly, and they must be in excellent condition. You should wear them to protect your eyes at all times. Note that the colored lenses will not be able to protect your eyes. You should wear something that is only approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). You can know more about ANSI when you click here. Choose ones that are comfortable, flexible, and light. There are also new technologies such as scratch-resistant and non-distorting ones that are available on the market. Most of them can block ultraviolet and infrared rays. Hearing Protection – You can get silicone earplugs that have string attachments on them for more comfortable wear. Most of the devices that produce noise in a welding area can damage one’s hearing. Most of the workers also face a situation where some debris can go inside their ears. A foreign object’s penetration to the ear canal can cause damage. Loss of hearing is the most common in many welders. With this said, hearing protection can be in the form of ear mufflers or washable stringed earplugs. This is to reduce noise, and they are useful in letting you concentrate more on your job. Gloves – The hands should be protected at all times while welding. Gloves that are made of leather are always the ones that are popular among workers. The thickness of the leather should depend on the kind of work that you are doing. Most people recommend thicker leather gloves for flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) or shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) work. When you are doing gas metal arc welding (GMAW), medium-weight gloves are ideal. There are times when gloves should not be used when you are working on a rotating machine. Examples of these are grinders. In these instances, there are manuals that you can follow on how to protect yourself in these areas best. Clothing – The right clothes can cover the entire body and provide adequate protection. Most of the apprentices are required to wear clothes made from natural fibers. Most of them opt to wear wool or cotton. Long sleeves and pants are also recommended. Jackets such as the fleece ones are also advised to be worn at all times while working. Some closed-neck hoods and jackets are recommended if what you are welding are pipes above you. Most of the pants are not required to have cuffs so that they won’t catch hot slags or sparks. Most of the clothes should be ironed beforehand, as sagging is not allowed. Frayed gears with holes on them are also prohibited. Shoes – Wear safety shoes that comply with your country’s regulations and standards. Read more about safety shoes here: https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/1076/safety-shoes. Most of the protective footwear can prevent falling objects and hot sparks for coming in contact with your feet. There should be toecaps to protect the toes from suddenly getting crushed from falling objects. Note that there are standards that don’t approve the strap-on types of caps. The toecap should be initially designed and made in the shoe when one manufactures it so that it is an integral part of the whole shoes. This will further protect the feet from accidents. A Final Word Other than these, there are helmets, face shields, goggles, and other protective clothing that you need to consider. One of the most important things that you need to remember when buying is the equipment should meet the standards of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Your supervisor should also approve of them.

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