Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA has announced two limited-time finance offers to make purchasing its latest range of class-leading plant equipment simple, accessible and hassle-free. For all excavators, carriers and wheel loaders purchased before 30 November 2020, the customer can freeze hire purchase repayments until 2021.* A simple 10% deposit payment
Civil and structural engineers RWO, has secured an undisclosed six-figure contract to support the new Rockingham Logistics Hub at the former Rockingham Speedway site near Corby in the East Midlands. This is a 250-acre site with planning for end-to-end automotive processing, which when open will have storage capacity for 50,000 cars along with
~ Endurawood releases infographic on how aluminium supports the construction industry’s environmental footprint ~ UK building and outdoor living product supplier Endurawood has released an infographic outlining the benefits of aluminium as a construction material. The supplier, which specialises in wood-effect aluminium products for applications including cladding, decking and architectural
Network Space Investments Limited has completed the off-market purchase of a modern single let industrial building on Hellaby Business Park, Rotherham, for £2.45million. The building, Unit 6, is situated in the heart of the Hellaby industrial estate, immediately adjacent to J1 of the M18 and within easy access of the
Being a landlord isn’t an easy job. While you may not have to sit at a desk all day, the work that comes with this can be just about endless. It will take a long time to find the right tenants for your property, but this won’t be the end
In the current “Covid” climate, concerns are increasing over traditional air conditioning units and recirculating systems redistributing contaminated air within rooms. Consequently, the importance of Natural Ventilation is growing as we look to provide healthier environments that are less “virus friendly”. Natural Ventilation is a method of supplying fresh air
Housebuilders have defended proposed planning changes allowing up to 40 to 50 homes to be built before an ‘affordable homes’ quota kicks in. Last week the Local Government Association criticised the government for the proposals, which it claimed would have resulted in 30,000 fewer homes being built over the last
A Cornish construction company has appointed a new managing director. Peter Sadler joins St Austell-based Gilbert & Goode with more than 25 years experience in the construction industry, specialising in the residential sector. His impressive experience features commercial, development, and managerial roles within the South West for organisations including Kier
This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19,
Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA has announced two limited-time finance offers to make purchasing its latest range of class-leading plant equipment simple, accessible and hassle-free. For all excavators, carriers and wheel loaders purchased before 30 November 2020, the customer can freeze hire purchase repayments until 2021.* A simple 10% deposit payment is required up front, alongside VAT in full and a small document signing fee. Alternatively, for select models across Yanmar’s tracked excavator, wheel loader and wheeled excavator portfolios (B75W, B95W, B110W, V70s, V80, ViO80-2PB, ViO82, B7, SV100, SV100-2PB and SV120), hire purchase customers can benefit from 0% APR for 36 months.** A minimum deposit of 10% applies, alongside payment of VAT in full and a small document signing fee. David Cockayne, UK & Ireland sales manager at Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA, commented: “Perfectly blending stylish Japanese design with pioneering European innovation, the Yanmar compact portfolio sets the global standards in performance, capability and reliability. “Our unbeatable finance packages offer a helping hand to construction professionals nationwide, making purchasing the latest range both simple and accessible. As with all our promotions, they’ll only run for a limited time, so interested parties should take advantage while they can!” A leader in the design and manufacture of compact construction equipment, Yanmar’s comprehensive portfolio offers the perfect solution for almost every earthmoving application. From an extensive range of tracked excavators (0-10 tonnes), to a class-leading selection of wheel loaders, wheeled excavators and tracked carriers, operators benefit from reliable, robust, rental-tough machines built to the highest standards. For more information about the latest sales initiatives, or to find your nearest dealer, visit www.yanmarconstruction.co.uk.
Civil and structural engineers RWO, has secured an undisclosed six-figure contract to support the new Rockingham Logistics Hub at the former Rockingham Speedway site near Corby in the East Midlands. This is a 250-acre site with planning for end-to-end automotive processing, which when open will have storage capacity for 50,000 cars along with several vehicle maintenance buildings and 40,000 sq. ft. of office space. The contract involves re-evaluating the plans for the vehicle maintenance buildings, which are being built on a concrete raft specifically designed by RWO to replace the original cost prohibitive piled solution, spreading the load of the building over a wider area. The work also sees the preparation of designs and supplying a package of engineering services to ensure a successful structural infrastructure build programme, which is due for completion in spring 2021. The news comes as RWO, which has maintained a resilient performance in the face of economic uncertainties caused by the pandemic, continues to build on planned strategic growth, which sees revenues exceed turnover forecast of £1.75m in the past 12 months. Head of RWO Leeds, Andrew Fairburn, said: “This is another high-profile project working to create one of the UK’s foremost independent automotive logistics centres. It’s great to be involved, reflecting the skills and expertise available to support multi-million pound national investment projects. “We have a very healthy forward order book and expect to see further national contract success and expansion over the next 12 months.” Alan Cooper, director at contractors Core Special Projects, said: “We are working in close partnership with the RWO team to develop a successful engineering solution. They have the skills and experience to deliver service and quality for this important project, which will benefit so many in the local area.” Photocaption: RWO has won a contract to provide engineering services at the Rockingham Logistics Hub
~ Endurawood releases infographic on how aluminium supports the construction industry’s environmental footprint ~ UK building and outdoor living product supplier Endurawood has released an infographic outlining the benefits of aluminium as a construction material. The supplier, which specialises in wood-effect aluminium products for applications including cladding, decking and architectural facades, understands the multiple advantages of using aluminium over traditional building materials. Currently, the construction, operation and maintenance of the built environment accounts for 45 per cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions — a figure that demonstrates the industry’s impact on the environment. Concrete, steel and timber are globally used building materials that have been trusted in the construction of buildings for years. These materials, however, can prove harmful to the environment — with concrete responsible for eight per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions, steel production claimed to be one of the most carbon emitting industrial processes in the world and the use of timber, which encourages deforestation. Aluminium is formed through chemical extraction of bauxite, an ore that is mined to create alumina, which is smelted to form pure aluminium. Although this process emits CO2 emissions,aluminium is highly recyclable. Apart from its environmental benefits, aluminium is also lightweight and naturally corrosion resistant. “The potential that aluminium has to improve the quality of a build, plus reduce overall emissions, is greatly underestimated,” said Endurawood’s managing director, Nick Cowley. “Aluminium’s inherent corrosion resistance can improve the durability and quality of a build and its lightweight means that it’s more manageable onsite. This requires less energy and transport to handle the material to and from site, helping to further reduce fuel consumption in the industry. “Its lightweight property also makes aluminium a suitable candidate in modular and offsite construction, as the easy installation and handling of aluminium supports quicker completion times that modular construction is renowned for. “While the production of any metal is not hazard free, the effects of aluminium production can be counteracted by its circularity potential — a quality that is not applicable to building materials such as concrete. Endurawood uses volatile organic compound (VOC) free coatings and lead-free finishes, making it more environmentally friendly to use,” added Cowley. “The UK’s population is expected to reach 70 million by 2031, increasing the demand for more buildings and homes. With almost half of emissions produced attributed to the built environment, it’s vital the industry makes changes to reduce this figure. Relying on a lightweight, eco-friendly building material such as aluminium, could certainly help to support this.” For more information about Endurawood’s products, applications and the advantages of aluminium, visit www.endurawood.co.uk and download the infographic.
Network Space Investments Limited has completed the off-market purchase of a modern single let industrial building on Hellaby Business Park, Rotherham, for £2.45million. The building, Unit 6, is situated in the heart of the Hellaby industrial estate, immediately adjacent to J1 of the M18 and within easy access of the M1, Doncaster and Sheffield. The building extends to approximately 40,000 sq. ft and is currently occupied by a FTSE 100 listed long-term tenant. Martin Mellor, Managing Director of Network Space Investments Limited commented: “We are delighted to have acquired this building to add to our growing investment portfolio. “The property is both well located within the South Yorkshire conurbation and has been excellently maintained by the current tenant who has been in situ for eight years. The acquisition precisely matches our investment criteria to acquire good quality modern buildings in urban areas where there is significant future value growth potential.” Network Space Investments has appointed Doncaster-based NSM property and asset management specialists to manage the property. Network Space Investments was represented by CPP.
Being a landlord isn’t an easy job. While you may not have to sit at a desk all day, the work that comes with this can be just about endless. It will take a long time to find the right tenants for your property, but this won’t be the end of the work that you have to do. There is a big difference between good and bad landlords, though it doesn’t have to be too hard to achieve the right results with something like this when you’re prepared to put the work into it. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the key elements that make a good landlord. Communication Communication is absolutely key when you’re a landlord. Your tenants need to be able to talk to you when they need help, and you need to be able to talk to them if there are ever any issues with things like rent. Having multiple forms of communication available is a great way to do this, with things like phone calls and WhatsApp giving your tenants loads of options when they want to get through to you. Property Management Property management is another crucial job that landlords have to handle. Even if you put loads of work into maintaining a property, it will always need to have things done to it from time to time. In some cases, this can involve minor work, but it can get a lot more difficult when you have a serious issue to deal with. A property management company for landlords can be a great service to take on when you’re worried that you can’t give your tenants the management they need. Flexibility Your tenants are likely to have ever-changing situations, especially if they are young people. While you can’t be expected to give your properties away for free, a certain amount of flexibility should be exercised to make sure that you’re not putting too much pressure on them. Having rent a couple of weeks late isn’t the end of the world, and you can probably afford to deal with issues like this as long as you stay on top of it. Care & Attention Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about the care and attention you give the place your tenants call home. Good landlords are always looking for ways to improve the lives of their tenants. Making small improvements to properties that already have people inside them will make your tenants very happy, essentially adding to the good deal you’ve already given them. Of course, though, this sort of work has to have limits. Being a landlord can be an exciting and fulfilling role. Of course, though, even when you work extremely hard at something like this, it can be a challenge to make sure that you have the time to throw yourself into it. As time goes on, it should get much easier to be a good landlord, avoiding all of the little issues that could make you a bad one.
In the current “Covid” climate, concerns are increasing over traditional air conditioning units and recirculating systems redistributing contaminated air within rooms. Consequently, the importance of Natural Ventilation is growing as we look to provide healthier environments that are less “virus friendly”. Natural Ventilation is a method of supplying fresh air to a building or room by means of natural forces (wind speed or air buoyancy). Passive ventilation with Heat Recovery (PVHR) is a Natural Ventilation system capable of recovering heat without using electricity. It ensures that all of the air we breathe, within the built environment, is fresh and can be introduced comfortably without the need for further power, heating or inefficient cooling. Ventive®, a building services innovator, design and manufacture ventilation solutions for schools and other high occupancy buildings. It pioneered the design of naturally intelligent ventilation systems that deliver fresh, comfortable air at minimal energy cost. Its proven, ‘displacement’ ventilation systems not only reduce the reliance on costly, energy- hungry mechanical systems but also ensure that stale, contaminated air is safely removed from occupied spaces without mixing with incoming air (which is the case with both recirculating and mixing mechanical systems). Ventive has worked with top UK university researchers from Imperial, UCL and Brunel and the development of its technology has received multiple industry awards and central government support (BEIS’s Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, Innovate UK and the Energy Systems Catapult); Ventive is also part of the Made in Britain campaign. The company is based in West London. To date, Ventive systems have been installed to over 20 schools (primary and secondary, state/free/fee-paying), a number of high occupancy buildings and over 200 homes in the UK. The main advantages of their systems are: 100% Fresh air – reduces the risk of recirculating aerosolised viral particles Displacement ventilation – the most effective way of reducing infection risk according to science Reduction in Carbon emissions; each system runs by harnessing nature and is net-zero in terms of emissions Cheaper to install and operate than full mechanical plant; the Carbon Trust found that commercial buildings with natural ventilation saved an average of £30,000 per year Requires less maintenance than air conditioning or fan-driven systems Free night cooling reduces daytime starting temperatures and cools the building for free Remote monitoring of air quality and remote system adjustments The systems are Cloud connected and “smart”, autonomously reacting to their environment and transmitting data, allowing remote monitoring and over-the-air upgrades to optimize performance. Ventive’s award-winning Windhive® system combines passive ventilation, heat recovery and system intelligence to supply up to 200 litres of fresh air every second. It adapts to real-time conditions to deliver an optimal balance of ventilation and comfortable temperatures, whatever the weather. Ventive systems (prices from £5,000) are presently being installed at Crest Nicholson’s development at Bicester Eco Village and are installed at over 20 schools including: o Guildford High School, Surrey Horniman Primary School, Forest Hill o Petra’s Place, Fulham Talbot Heath Girls’ School, Bournemouth o o Beechwood, Reading Southwark Pupil Referral Unit Connah’s Quay High School, Deeside Southend High School for Girls
Housebuilders have defended proposed planning changes allowing up to 40 to 50 homes to be built before an ‘affordable homes’ quota kicks in. Last week the Local Government Association criticised the government for the proposals, which it claimed would have resulted in 30,000 fewer homes being built over the last five years. But the National Federation of Builders, NFB, said raising the limit from the current ten homes threshold to 40 or 50 wouldallow more small developers to build homes. NFB housing and planning policy head Rico Wojtulewicz said: “Negotiations on affordable homes has meant that developments have been delayed by up to two years. If you raise the threshold for building affordable houses then more homes will be built throughout the country.” Affordability challenges being addressed Mr Wojtulewicz that added first-time buyers’ access to help-to-buy would still enable them to get onto the first rung of the property ladder even in hotspots like the South East. Currently, developments of more than ten homes must have a 20 to 30 per cent ratio of affordable properties. Mr Wojtulewicz said this had acted as a deterrent for many smaller developers. LGA housing spokesperson and Swindon borough council leader David Renard said: “Proposals to exempt developers from having to build affordable housing on certain small sites are of huge concern. With rising housing waiting lists and record numbers in temporary accommodation, we desperately need to be building more affordable housing, not less.” Mr Wojtulewicz said since 2018when the cap on local authorities’ housing revenue accounts was lifted, it was now possible for them to contractlocal builders to create council homes. He pointed to forthcoming first home legislation where local first-time buyers are to be given a 30 per cent discount on new build homes in their area as another affordable homes measure. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said the changes would help SME developers especially in the wake of the current Covid-19 crisis survive and make it easier for them to gain construction loans.
A Cornish construction company has appointed a new managing director. Peter Sadler joins St Austell-based Gilbert & Goode with more than 25 years experience in the construction industry, specialising in the residential sector. His impressive experience features commercial, development, and managerial roles within the South West for organisations including Kier Living, Midas, and Mowlem, as well as international positions in the Cayman Islands. “Gilbert & Goode has a strong reputation for building high quality homes with a personal approach, which is what attracted me to the role,” said Peter Sadler. “There is a fantastic team here, and I am looking forward to working with them to take the business through the transition from a regional builder to a developer, enhancing private open market sales, and delivering aspirational environments and communities for our customers to live.” Established in 1972, Gilbert & Goode is now one of the largest Cornish construction companies. It provides high quality homes in key locations across Cornwall and West Devon, with customer experience at the heart. Work will commence at Copper Hills, the company’s newest project comprising 160 homes in Hayle, this autumn. The scheme will be a mix of 35% affordable and 65% open market houses, with a show home opening in spring 2021. Peter continued: “I am excited to be starting work on my first development in Hayle. The area is undergoing huge regeneration, offering a coastal lifestyle with great transport links within Cornwall, meaning there is extremely high demand for new homes in the town. “Long term, we have seen new trends emerging from the coronavirus pandemic, including an increased number of people needing to work from home. As part of our new strategy, we are aiming to create functional and sustainable homes, introducing new technologies and flexible living methods which adapt to changing environments. “We are keen to learn about land opportunities throughout the region for us to be able to deliver a range of open market and affordable homes, developing communities and providing people with safe, stylish, and high quality places to live.” Gilbert & Goode plans to break ground on three new developments in 2021, with 44 homes in Bodmin, 24 homes in St Teath, and 19 homes in Trewoon. Each development will have a mix of affordable and shared ownership properties. Ocean Housing Group is the parent company of Gilbert & Goode. Its chief executive Mark Gardner said: “The group is delighted to welcome Peter Sadler as managing director of Gilbert & Goode. He has an excellent track record, and has the calibre and experience the company needs to continue its growth and success.” New homes are now for sale at current developments in Lelant and the suburbs of Truro, with stamp duty incentives available until the end of March 2021. For more information about these developments visit five-truro.co.uk or lannantaforge.co.uk.
This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them to improve industry standards. The introduction of the app could have a huge impact on the almost 50% of asbestos removal contractors licensed by ARCA – and more importantly, the operatives who work for them. Amid concerns from labour unions about the ramifications of the app, here’s everything you need to know about ALFA, and what it could mean for the asbestos removal industry. What is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA)? The Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA) is a mobile app which allows ARCA licensed asbestos removal contractors to rate the performance of short-term operatives from labour suppliers. They can do this using nine key metrics covering employee performance and behaviour on a particular assignment. The ratings for each assignment undertaken by that operative are then averaged to produce an overall star rating. This rating is visible to ARCA member contractors when using the app, alongside an average rating for each of the nine categories. Contractors can then use this information to ensure competence and identify training needs. Why is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App necessary? With asbestos still present in huge quantities across the UK, demand for asbestos removal professionals is as high as ever. Yet many asbestos removal contractors have listed the quality of labour available to them as a primary concern, with contractors apparently lacking the competence, skills and behaviour needed to manage and remove asbestos safely. As a result, licensing body ARCA opened discussions with its members in the asbestos removal industry, with the aim of finding a way to improve performance and raise standards among operatives. The result of this process was the creation of the app, with the hope that widespread uptake would highlight areas for improvement, and motivate people to undertake training. What are the benefits of the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? The ALFA is designed to reassure asbestos removal contractors that the operatives they are receiving are competent, and have a good attitude towards their work. This will help to improve the quality of the work being done by contractors and ensure it is done safely, reducing their liabilities and protecting the operatives in the process. By rating operative performance, both operatives and contractors have the opportunity to encourage improvements, and identify where further training may be required. The app also allows operatives to manage their certificate information (helping to keep track of expiring certificates), as well as automating part of the supply agency process. What are the concerns around the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? Labour union Unite has been quick to raise concerns around the use of the app, claiming that the use of a ratings system for operatives could be abused. This system could lead to operatives receiving unfair ratings with little recourse, and being effectively blacklisted as a result of poor ratings, preventing them from gaining further work. Unite has called on ARCA to evidence any safeguards within the app against blacklisting and discrimination, and to suspend the rollout of the app if these do not currently exist. This is likely to be unwelcome news for ARCA, having gone through a 20-month development process and pilot scheme for the service. I’m an asbestos removal operative – what should I do? It’s likely that your agency will inform you if they are planning to adopt the app, and you may find that you are required to use it. In this instance, you may want to contact your union if you have one. However, it is important to note that the end goal of the app – improving safety standards and general quality of work – is an admirable one, and not something that should be opposed by default. ARCA is only one of the licensing authorities in the UK, with BOHS and ACAD being the other popular standards. If your agency is not ARCA registered and you do not work with ARCA registered removal firms, you will not need to worry about using the app. However, it may be helpful to familiarise yourself with it in case you ever consider changing roles. Ultimately, the best way to safeguard yourself against the potential for upheaval is to improve your level of training. This will not only provide you with qualifications that will undercut any accusations against you, but will also give you the skill set to more readily demonstrate your abilities, and build up credit with your agency and employers. This is likely to take the form of advanced training specific to asbestos removal, such as ARCA’s Industry Refresher for Operatives course or Use, Inspection and Routine Maintenance of RPE course. Other certifying bodies include UKATA (Asbestos Removal Operative Refresher Training) and the CITB (Asbestos Removal Operative). Asbestos removal continues to be a valued service across the UK and beyond, owing to the huge amount of asbestos that still exists in public and private buildings. As this asbestos degrades, the need for qualified operatives is likely to continue. This may either mean that the app falls by the wayside in the push for adequate numbers, or that the app continues to gain ground as a way to find the most qualified operatives. The best way to ensure a position in the industry is to continue learning and training yourself to the highest possible level. Anyone who is interested in becoming an asbestos operative – or entering the asbestos assessment and removal industries – may want to start with an online asbestos awareness course, helping you to learn about the substance, how to identify it and how to deal with it safely.
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19, which has left high streets and out-of-town malls bereft of shoppers for months. Indeed, the surge in online sales shows no sign of abating. Sales are expected to grow 19% year-on-year, up from pre-pandemic estimates of 11% – rising from a total of £66bn in 2019 to almost £80bn this year. Some retail experts expect that 2020 will see domestic e-commerce trade increase in value by as much as £5.3bn. Supermarket supply chains also continue to see surges in demand, placing additional pressure on their distribution and supply chain links. Indeed, this summer online grocery sales grew 92% year-on-year in the four weeks up to 12 July 2020, increasing at a slightly faster pace than the previous four weeks despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, according to research by Kantar. Realigning operations So, as the UK’s warehouse and logistics industry responds on multiple fronts, realigning operations and investing in additional resources to meet the impact of extra demand, sector operators must work out how to balance the need to protect workers – and limit risk in what can be a hazardous working environment – while maximising productivity. The volume of people working under one roof to shift and store goods and load / unload vehicles means that warehouses and storage facilities can be particularly risky workplaces. Annually, dozens of injuries are reported to the Health & Safety Executive; so they’re clearly dangerous environments, with hazards and risks ranging from slips and trips to people colliding with equipment, racking, corner sections and walkways. It also highlights the critical need for workplace safety if incidents and accidents are to be avoided. In addition, protecting people entering / exiting premises during shift changes must be considered if serious harm or injury is to be prevented. It may be facile to say that safety may sometimes slip under the pressures and strains to realign operations and meet KPIs to accommodate expansion and growth, but under UK law, warehouse operators must observe a duty of care to their workforce. In short, they must identify the health and safety risks each person faces at work – even more so during these current times where additional risk comes as businesses recruit and bring in more resources to meet demand. A duty of care comes into force when a person or group of people do something that might reasonably harm somebody, which includes the possibility of physical injury. In the context of work, duty of care is legally binding on an employer. Simply put, owners and operators must abide by what the law refers to as a standard of reasonable care, and this applies to any work-related matter where injury can occur. It’s important that a site risk assessment should be undertaken to identify critical safety issues. If not, and an employer fails to abide by their obligations, an employee may be able to proceed with a claim of negligence if a problem occurs, with all the associated financial penalties, legal costs and reputational damage. Best practice What should be considered best practice when managing workplace risk? Success in managing risks is based on effective assessment: the process of evaluating the risks to workers from hazards to determine appropriate measures to eliminate, or at least reduce the level of incidents/accidents. An assessment should identify the key health and safety priorities within and around the warehouse so that efforts can be concentrated on these important areas. A thorough risk assessment will involve considering a raft of workplace factors, the dangers they may pose and who might be harmed by them. This work should involve gathering information such as current shift patterns, work arrangements and then evaluating it before an assessment to decide on the most appropriate measures and strategies to cut risk. For example, wheeled pallet trucks, racks, or trolleys can strike warehouse workers; so designated routes should be established wherever possible and marked by safety barriers and railings that are clearly visible. Here, a risk assessment will also identify what other hazards could be present. Vehicle movement in and around warehouses requires careful auditing and constant management to prevent accidents. This requires workplace traffic routes that allow pedestrians and vehicles to circulate safely. Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there should be adequate clearance between them and, if possible, complete separation of vehicles and pedestrians. The racking in aisles must be organised and protected to allow for safe access to goods and movement of FLTs. The aisles should be sufficiently wide, with adequate clearance room overhead. Pedestrians and vehicles must be able to circulate in a safe manner. The areas in which FLTs operate should, if possible, should be clearly separated and marked from the areas where pedestrians are likely to be. One area where workers can be at particular risk is during shift changes. People rushing to get home at the end of the working day, not looking where they are going or accidently knocking colleagues into rails or pylons in their haste to exit the premises, can all lead to injuries and should be considered as part of any risk audit. Good practice around managing the health and safety issues to do with shift-work should see employers carry out a suitable assessment of the associated risks as part of an organisation’s overall health and safety management procedure. You should record and review this periodically and whenever changes to working arrangements are considered or made. As well as a responsibility to the workforce, employers have a responsibility towards visitors, contractors and members of the general public. Everyone needs to be shielded as far as practically possible from accident and injury while on-site, inside and outside of buildings. Health and safety matters are not irreducible. Continuous improvement