Metabo continues their dedication to improving employee health and safety on the jobsite The safety of man and machine is Metabo’s top priority. Because the solutions from the Nürtingen-based power tool manufacturer ensure safe working in every area. Now Metabo is expanding its existing tool safety programme to include an
Work is nearing completion on two housing developments in Shortstown, where all but a few homes have now been sold. Bellway is building 23 homes at Eastcotts Place – all of which have been reserved by buyers – and 163 homes at Eastcotts Green, of which just seven properties remain
An employee from one of the Midland’s largest social landlords has been honoured with a prestigious apprenticeship award. Ellie Steel from Platform Housing Group won Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year at The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards earlier this month. The annual event organised by The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership held the
Metabo continues their dedication to improving employee health and safety on the jobsite The safety of man and machine is Metabo’s top priority. Because the solutions from the Nürtingen-based power tool manufacturer ensure safe working in every area. Now Metabo is expanding its existing tool safety programme to include an anchoring strap and a safety system for battery packs: the power tool manufacturer is launching three new battery packs with a safety strap. In addition, the Metabo tool securing straps have been equipped with an extra loop to secure the battery pack. Part of the battery securing system is also a new securing connection with which the battery pack is attached to the extra loop of the tool securing strap. “Working high up on scaffolding or roofs has its dangers: Tools can fall down and cause damage. This also applies to battery packs,” explains Metabo Product Manager Alexandra Haas. “So that users can secure the machine and battery pack in future, we have developed a system for securing the battery. This is how we are consistently continuing our safety offensive.” The three new LiHD 18-volt battery packs with safety clip are available as 4.0 Ah, 5.5 Ah and 10.0 Ah battery packs. Safety for man, machine and battery pack To secure the battery pack and machine, the user first selects one of the three Metabo tool securing straps: For machines weighing up to five kilograms, there is the safety belt with carabiner and loop – or as a “Quick Connect” variant with carabiners at both ends for power tools with an eyelet. For machines weighing up to 20 kilograms, the tool safety belt is equipped with an aluminium carabiner and a robust, so-called twist-lock opening that prevents unintentional opening – because to open the carabiner, the rotating sleeve must first be turned 90 degrees before the catch can be slid open. All three tool safety straps have a new extra loop to which the battery pack can be attached. For this, the user also needs the Metabo battery securing connection, which is available in lengths of 30 or 60 centimetres – depending on the machine size. The battery safety connection consists of a carabiner and loop: the loop is pulled through the safety clip on the battery pack and the carabiner is attached to the extra loop of the tool safety strap. And the battery pack and machine are already secured. If there is no suitable attachment point for the carabiner of a tool safety strap, for example because the scaffold is too wide, the new anchoring strap provides a remedy: it can be flexibly looped around the scaffold. The carabiner of the tool safety belt is then hooked into the eyelet at the end of the safety belt. Safe all round The safety belts and the new anchoring belt are certified according to the standards of the American International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). “With the straps, we can secure almost any power tool. And thanks to our new battery securing system, now also battery packs. Users, machines and battery packs are protected all around with our solutions,” Haas sums up.
Work is nearing completion on two housing developments in Shortstown, where all but a few homes have now been sold. Bellway is building 23 homes at Eastcotts Place – all of which have been reserved by buyers – and 163 homes at Eastcotts Green, of which just seven properties remain for sale. The last few properties at the Eastcotts Place developments in Shortstown will be handed over to their new owners in the coming weeks, while construction at Eastcotts Green is also nearly complete and will be finished early next year. The final homes available to buy at Eastcotts Green include a choice of four and five-bedroom detached houses, including two showhomes which are not yet on the market. They are still open for potential homebuyers to look around and will be the last plots to be released for sale. “Homes are certainly selling fast in Shortstown. It’s proving to be a popular place to live and there’s clearly a growing demand for new houses in this part of Bedfordshire. We’re looking forward to welcoming the final few homebuyers into their new properties at Eastcotts Place in the coming weeks, while things are moving quickly at Eastcotts Green too,” said Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, Luke Southgate. “Our showhomes are still open for viewing, so homebuyers who want to find out more and look around our house styles are most welcome to get in touch and make an appointment. There is a lot to look forward to as next year we will not only complete work on this development, but we will also start a whole new phase of construction within the wider neighbourhood at our New Cardington Fields development, to help meet the local housing need.” Bellway and Ashberry Homes, which is part of the Bellway Group, are to launch two new developments on the consortium site next year. New Cardington Fields will be built by Bellway and New Cardington Gate will be built by Ashberry. The final homes available to reserve at Eastcotts Green are a choice of four and five-bedroom detached houses, with prices starting from £475,000. The two showhomes yet to be released are the four-bedroom Nene and Misbourne house types.
An employee from one of the Midland’s largest social landlords has been honoured with a prestigious apprenticeship award. Ellie Steel from Platform Housing Group won Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year at The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards earlier this month. The annual event organised by The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership held the virtual awards ceremony to recognise the hard work of both apprentices and their trainers and honour them with the prestigious apprenticeship award. “I am absolutely over the moon to have won this award! I work at Platform as an Apprentice and Qualifications Administrator and thoroughly enjoy my job. I am motivated and mentored and am proud to work for Platform. I would like to thank everyone who continues to help me along my journey,” said Ellie. Platform’s apprenticeship strategy focuses on embedding apprentices into its core business, recognising their value and supporting and coaching them beyond the completion of the apprenticeship. It’s strategic recruitment process brings a huge range of apprentices into the business, from aged 16 up to 45, in both office and trades positions. The company works with 20 training providers with an overall aim of 10 per cent of its workforce working towards an apprenticeship. “We are all so proud of Ellie; winning this award is testimony to everything about her! Her commitment and contribution is second to none. Ellie always seeks to develop her skills and learning; her energy and engaging style is infectious! She always handles challenges with a smile and champions apprentices both inside and outside work. Importantly, Ellie has played a critical role in developing our apprenticeship strategy, something she should be immensely proud of. Well done Ellie,” commented Linda Gittings, Apprenticeships and Qualifications Manger at Platform Housing Group. The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Partnerships was set up in 2015 by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership – or LEP – to recognise the important part apprenticeships play in planning for the future of business and employment within the county. The awards are now in their 6th year.
