Tickets for this year’s BALI National Landscape Awards, the largest landscaping Awards ceremony in Europe, are now on sale. With the Awards’ expert Adjudication Panel, led by Chair of the Adjudication Panel John Melmoe having completed their site visits for applicable schemes earlier this month and final deliberations set to
It is unlikely that businesses with operations in Hong Kong or sending employees to the region will be unaware of the current unrest. But some employers may be uncertain about the scale of the risks and what guidance to give to employees. Sebastian Liu, Global Threat Analyst for the Asia
With the industry under increasing pressure to use sustainable materials in road construction, Aggregate Industries has launched Superlow, a low temperature asphalt enabling quicker, more environmentally-friendly project completion. Specially formulated for use on highways and road infrastructure schemes, this range of asphalt is mixed at 20°C-40°C lower than hot mix
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access
Having gained considerable momentum over the past few years, modular construction makes up 60-70% of the offsite manufacturing sector and reduces build times by an impressive 50-60%. At the forefront of offsite approaches, volumetric modular methods have a remarkable impact on reducing costs while increasing quality and safety measures in
Full-service law firm Ward Hadaway has successfully defended a judicial review claim in respect of planning permission for a multi-million pound garden village development in County Durham. Specialist planning lawyers within the organisation’s Built Environment Team provided advice during the planning application process and negotiated a substantial Section 106 agreement
Working in a confined space has been part of the job description for workers in a large variety of industries, from construction and city development to agriculture, aerospace, marine, mining, and many more. As dangerous as they are, however, confined work spaces cannot be completely avoided, and so the next
A building is a place where you do business, work, live, or play. Read more about buildings in this link. This is an asset that will serve you for a lot of years if proper maintenance or preservation is followed. When you are doing business, you will make the impression
Major construction projects can play a critical role in improving workers’ understanding of health risks and championing ‘universally high standards’ across the industry, new research suggests. A three-year research project, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), aimed to explore the management of health, safety and wellbeing
Adding Strength And Sturdiness To Your Tubular Design Ensure your product design is entirely robust by using tube connectors to add the finishing touch. Tube connectors are the final part of a tubular design that acts to bind the finished product together. So, take for example a school chair made
Tickets for this year’s BALI National Landscape Awards, the largest landscaping Awards ceremony in Europe, are now on sale. With the Awards’ expert Adjudication Panel, led by Chair of the Adjudication Panel John Melmoe having completed their site visits for applicable schemes earlier this month and final deliberations set to take place on 27, 28 and 29 August, excitement levels are rising for the industry event of the year. With a record number of entries submitted since 2009, the BALI Award Adjudicators have been busy over the summer judging schemes up and down the country, with early indications showing once again a very high standard of quality has been achieved. Looking to attend at a discounted rate? Early bird tickets are available, priced at £175 per person (full price £195) or tables of 10 for £1,550 (full £1,750) and 12 £1,860 (full price £2,100) ex VAT respectively. The early bird rate is only available until 23 September, so act fast to take advantage of the saving. The host for 2019, sport and lifestyle presenter Mark Durden-Smith, is looking forward to leading the ceremony on Friday 6 December at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London which also sees the return of Headline Sponsor Green-tech. With over 1,000 members, guests and VIPs expected to attend, tickets will sell quickly on a first-come-first-served basis. To purchase your tickets, visit baliawards.co.uk.
It is unlikely that businesses with operations in Hong Kong or sending employees to the region will be unaware of the current unrest. But some employers may be uncertain about the scale of the risks and what guidance to give to employees. Sebastian Liu, Global Threat Analyst for the Asia Pacific region at Healix International, the global provider of travel risk management and international medical, security and travel assistance services, has identified some of the key issues that firms should consider. “Overall, Hong Kong is assessed by Healix International as a LOW security risk country owing to the relatively low levels of crime, conflict, and militant activity. However, over recent weeks, ongoing unrest in the territory has resulted in significant operational and travel disruption, and has eroded confidence in the territory being a safe and reliable global hub for economic activity. Therefore, Healix currently assesses the risk of unrest to be HIGH in Hong Kong. “The likelihood of protests taking place in the short term is determined to be LIKELY and whilst the majority of the initial demonstrations were concentrated around government buildings in the vicinity of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Central, more recently the protesters have changed their targeting patterns. Protests are increasingly impacting transport infrastructure, including Hong Kong International Airport [HKG], as well as the Mass Transit Rapid (MTR) network. Protests took place at HKG airport from 9th – 13th August, and resulted in the disruption of hundreds of flights on 12th and 13th August. Clearly this presents a very disruptive issue for businesses. “The risk of foreign nationals being caught up in the protests has also increased as the decentralised nature of them is making it more difficult to project the next protest location; ‘hit and run’ tactics are increasingly being used, with demonstrators avoiding prolonged confrontation with the police and moving from location to location on foot or via the metro. “Whilst the unrest is the current focus on Hong Kong, there is also a HIGH risk of natural disasters in the region, predominantly deriving from typhoons. The rainy season tends to run from April until October annually and the highest risk period for typhoons runs from July to September. Strong intensity typhoons can cause damage and localised flooding, and result in a significant impact to business operations. “The risk to foreign nationals from crime is, however, considered LOW. Non-violent and opportunistic crimes, notably petty criminality in the form of pickpocketing and snatch theft, are the most common. And there is a slightly increased incidence of such crime in areas frequented by foreign nationals, including the Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai districts, particularly around nightlife areas. Areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as the large marketplaces throughout the city and the MTR network, present attractive targets as perpetrators are able to utilise crowds to remain undetected. Other pickpocketing hotspots include tourist attractions, like the Peak Tram and Star Ferry.” Healix advice to travellers visiting Hong Kong Travel to Hong Kong can continue but itineraries should be flexible owing to likely operational disruption in the short-to-medium term. Developments regarding the ongoing unrest should be closely monitored via social media, local news outlets, the Telegram encrypted messaging platform, and local internet forums, like the LiHKG website. Routes should be planned to bypass the vicinity of planned protest locations, and flashpoints for unrest. It is important to not stop, watch, film or take photographs of protests owing to the incidental risk of violence. Civilians, journalists and bystanders have all been targeted or indirectly impacted previously. In the event of encountering a potentially hostile demonstration, move from the area and return to a secure accommodation or office location. Black and white clothing have both been associated with protesters and counter-protesters; it’s advisable to refrain from wearing these colours on protest days. Also, limit carrying any items that may give the impression to the authorities of involvement in protests; this includes masks, hard hats and umbrellas. Refrain from political discussion in public and making statements on social media. If travel is essential through protest locations, the MTR is likely to be a better option as opposed to over-ground transport. However, business people should be aware that MTR services have been disrupted previously and delays may be encountered. Airport Express services may also be impacted on days when protests are due to be held at Hong Kong International Airport [HKG]. Remain aware of surroundings, especially when using the public transportation system or in high congestion areas such as tourist attractions. Abide by all official directives issued by the relevant authorities. Take note of typhoon warnings issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the type of signal issued. Businesses and facilities are expected to close when a Typhoon Signal 8 or above is issued. Utilise the ‘Watch Country’ function on Healix’s Travel Oracle app to receive notifications on alerts for potential security incidents and disruption. For more information about the security and health risks in Hong Kong visit https://healix.com/sharing-knowledge-and-news/hong-kong-travel-advisory/
With the industry under increasing pressure to use sustainable materials in road construction, Aggregate Industries has launched Superlow, a low temperature asphalt enabling quicker, more environmentally-friendly project completion. Specially formulated for use on highways and road infrastructure schemes, this range of asphalt is mixed at 20°C-40°C lower than hot mix asphalt. As it requires less energy to manufacture than conventional asphalt, Superlow ensures a lower carbon footprint. The launch of this innovative solution comes just a month after the UK became the first ever country to legally commit to cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to ‘net zero’ by 20501. Under the Construction Sector Deal set out last year, the UK has ambitious targets to halve emissions in the built environment by 2025, reduce the initial and whole life cost of a project by a third, and speed up the delivery of vital new build and refurbishment projects. To help contractors meet these objectives, Superlow offers a whole host of real time and cost benefits. For instance, it reaches trafficking temperatures quicker than conventional hot asphalt enabling earlier reopening of carriageways to the travelling public, resulting in less road occupation, less traffic disruption and reduced build cost. With the equivalent performance characteristics of hot mix asphalt, when it comes to workability, however, Superlow remains compactable for longer at lower temperatures. This allows more time for full compaction and, as a result, enhanced durability. It’s also longer lasting, as lower asphalt temperatures during production reduces binder ageing and enhances in service life expectancy. Reflecting Aggregate Industries’ commitment to safety, low temperature asphalt is much safer than conventional solutions as it reduces nuisance fuming and lowers the risk of burns from material handling. Jo Wilkins, Head of Business Development for Asphalt and Ready Mix Concrete at Aggregate Industries, said: “With contractors and clients under increasing pressure to meet the Government’s ambitious sustainability targets, often the first step will be specifying more environmentally-friendly construction materials. “That’s why we’ve developed Superlow, a new range of low temperature asphalts which have a lower carbon footprint than traditional asphalt. As with all our products, our in-house team of technical experts will work with customers to enable quicker and more cost-effective project completion.” For further information about Aggregate Industries, visit www.aggregate.com
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access into and around the centre, by easing congestion and improving transport links. GRAHAM’S work has been recognised, with the scheme named ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2019 Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) North West Awards. Leo Martin, Executive Director at GRAHAM, said: “This has been a really successful project and our teams have worked incredibly hard on a scheme which benefits millions of people who will use this link road. “It forms a key part of an extensive access plan for Stockport town centre. High-levels of expertise were required in order to complete the work – especially when you take into consideration the Grade II listed viaduct and tunnel. “Our work has been praised for meeting the key objectives of achieving best value, minimising disruption and efficient delivery.” GRAHAM was appointed through the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework. The project didn’t come without its challenges, with innovation required to support the exposed rock face beneath the Viaduct foundations, whilst also restricting movements to negligible level during the construction phase. Pre-stressed rock anchors were utilised with a near vertical hard shotcrete facing. The retaining structure was then covered in mass concrete, to protect against vehicle impact and corrosion. Output and benefits Impact: Our collaborative design and construction effort reduced the overall project costs for SMBC, while providing a visually improved overall landscaped scheme. Bridge strikes: Our work has helped to reduce bridge strikes on George’s Road where regular strikes had previously caused significant disruption to the road and rail networks. Segregated pedestrian and cycle lanes: These have created an important east-west local sustainable transport link north of the town centre. Engineering fill: 10,000 tonnes of excavated brickwork were recycled by crushing and turned into engineered fill for the construction of the embankments and temporary works piling. Collaboration: Our construction methodology was designed to enable a key road (providing access to B&Q and Decathlon) to be opened at weekends in recognition of busy retail trading.
Having gained considerable momentum over the past few years, modular construction makes up 60-70% of the offsite manufacturing sector and reduces build times by an impressive 50-60%. At the forefront of offsite approaches, volumetric modular methods have a remarkable impact on reducing costs while increasing quality and safety measures in the construction arena. Modern methods of construction are making headway following the announcement that the government would adopt a presumption in favour of offsite construction for all public sector building projects. As offsite construction is rapidly becoming the preferred delivery model, it is important that volumetric modular building technology is considered for all areas of construction. Although housebuilding gains a lot of media and industry attention – modular solutions are also widely used in the healthcare and education sectors. What are the Benefits of Modular Construction? Modular building is revolutionising the construction industry. While traditional build processes are laced with pitfalls, hidden costs and are highly disruptive – volumetric modular buildings are easy to plan, budget, and are quick to erect, as most of the work takes place in factory-controlled conditions. Modular technology brings a host of benefits to the construction industry, contributing to healthier, safer and more cost-efficient environments. •A step forward for productivity in construction, the prefabrication of units leads to shorter build times, which, by extension, leads to net savings of around 7%. •Each material is selected specifically for its performance characteristics, ensuring it is suited to its industry use in every way. •The modular industry operates an environmental approach, using sustainable building materials and recycling waste for future projects where possible. •Components are available in a range of sizes to expand facilities whenever necessary. •Modular constructions can have unlimited floor space. •Modular buildings can be customised to blend in with any surrounding – they are designed to be adaptable and meet clients’ specific requirements. •Interiors can be designed and refurbished to meet exacting requirements, using internal and external finishes. •Modular construction enables site work and building processes to be completed simultaneously, reducing labour costs. •Pre-fabrication relieves the constraints of weather dependence, meaning that materials remain in ultimate quality and efficiency is improved. •Pre-constructed, self-contained units can be easily transported to virtually any location, providing quick solutions for new buildings. •Modules are designed to withstand long-distance transportation and craning onto foundations, meaning that they are stronger than traditionally constructed buildings. •Pre-engineered units are transported to construction sites in varying levels of completeness: from empty shells to complete rooms with facilities. •All facilities can be achieved on a permanent or temporary hire basis. Rental units can also be provided as an interim measure while permanent units are procured. Meet the Modular Experts at Offsite Expo on Stand B5 As the single recognised voice for promoting and marketing members’ products and services, the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) is a silver sponsor for the inaugural Offsite Expo, taking place on 24-25 September at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Not only will the exhibition host a Buyers and Specifiers Forum for over 100 VIP buyers, a summit representing 28 countries and 100 world-class exhibitions, delegates will also have access to over 40 masterclasses to learn from leading offsite specialists. Chaired by the MPBA’s Technical Director Andy King, the Modular and Volumetric Sessions will feature insights and guidance from multiple experts, including: Ben Drake – Associate Structural Engineer, Peter Dann: Ben will provide a structural engineer’s perspective on how to optimise for offsite by implementing DfMA principles during the early stages of planning. Nick Griffin – General Manager, Portakabin: Nick will talk you through a widely acclaimed case study on Royal Stoke University Hospital. Volumetric modular technology made the build of this 64-bed ward possible in under four months. Patrick Hayes – Head of Structures and Offsite Construction, Greenwich Scheme: Patrick will be running a case study on the Essential Living Greenwich Scheme, exploring how early engagement with modular suppliers in the building design process improves modular integration. There is still time to book one of the final places for Offsite Expo. Entry is free of charge and tickets available at www.offsite-expo.co.uk About MPBA The MPBA plays a key role in the connecting of sectors in the modular and portable building industry. The association collaborates with specialist technical advisors to enhance innovation in the design and manufacture of modular buildings. These can be designed and manufactured from timber, steel or concrete, in any size and shape to meet individual client needs while ensuring full compliance with building regulations. To discover how modular building can benefit your offsite construction plans go to: www.mpba.biz
Full-service law firm Ward Hadaway has successfully defended a judicial review claim in respect of planning permission for a multi-million pound garden village development in County Durham. Specialist planning lawyers within the organisation’s Built Environment Team provided advice during the planning application process and negotiated a substantial Section 106 agreement on behalf of North East-based contractor Tolent and its subsidiary Coolmore Land Limited for the £175m South Seaham Garden Village project. The project team also worked closely with Home Group who are also heavily involved in the project. The 77.75ha development, which will be located close to the A19 near the Dalton Retail Park in Seaham, will bring 1,500 new homes of mixed tenures to the area including shops, a café, a new primary school, a park and village square, community health and wellbeing village, community allotments and a world class business innovation and research hub surrounded by extensive green open space. Working closely with Home Group, Tolent will build around 1,000 of the new homes, of which 750 will be affordable homes (representing 50% of the housing on the site) designed for a range of buyers from first-time buyers to those in need of assisted living creating a truly inclusive community. Land for the remaining 500 homes will be sold on the open market with other national housebuilders likely to become involved. The ten-year project is expected to be home to some 4,000 residents and will create an estimated 1,000 jobs. The garden village project is one of 19 schemes announced in the UK and development is expected to start on site this autumn. Ward Hadaway has had a long-established relationship with Coolmore Land Limited, part of Tolent, having acted for Coolmore since 2009 when it first acquired an interest in the site with a view to future developments. Melissa Flynn, an associate in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment team, said: “This has been a significant project and one which fully demonstrates the range of skills and capabilities of our team. Our dedicated planning experts have worked with our client from initial concept, advising on legal matters around the planning, judicial review and section 106 agreement with colleagues in the wider Built Environment Team also advising on the sale of the site to Home Group and other developers. “The garden village scheme will significantly boost the local economy, providing quality affordable homes, investment, innovation and jobs. We are proud to have assisted Tolent in this significant development project and we look forward to seeing the development come to fruition.” John Wood, director of Tolent, said: “Receiving garden village status is befitting of such a great development that really will be a national exemplar. Our vision to create a truly sustainable community with a mix of distinctive, high quality housing that improves quality of life is what we’re doing here, as well as creating jobs for the next decade and beyond. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Ward Hadaway for their support.”
Working in a confined space has been part of the job description for workers in a large variety of industries, from construction and city development to agriculture, aerospace, marine, mining, and many more. As dangerous as they are, however, confined work spaces cannot be completely avoided, and so the next best option we have is to learn to stay safe while working in these conditions. What is a Confined Space? Before tackling a problem, we must always start by identifying it. A confined space is defined by both OSHA and Safe Work Australia as a space that is not designed for a person to work in, but can still fit a person regardless to perform certain actions. These spaces may be fully or partially enclosed with limited or restricted entry and exit points. A few examples of confined spaces include vaults, tunnels, wells, manholes, sewers, tanks, silos, pipes, shafts, and culverts. In an ideal work scenario, workers are not supposed to and should be restricted from working in confined spaces for extended periods of time due to the wide range of hazards to which workers may be exposed while in the confined space. These hazards include: Unsafe oxygen levels – Certain confined spaces may not have a direct access to fresh air, limiting the oxygen supply in the space. This places the worker at risk of injury over time due to a lack of oxygen. Harmful gases – Some confined spaces may contain certain substances such as ammonia and methane that can significantly degrade the quality of the air inside the space, placing the worker at risk of poisoning. Methane and similar substances are also highly flammable and can be ignited by an electrical tool or a discharge of static electricity on the worker without the appropriate safety precautions. Engulfment – Confined spaces with limited exit points are at risk of engulfment by solid or liquid materials, as is often the case with grain silos and large fluid tanks, which can trap workers that are still inside. Areas that are considered as confined spaces aren’t necessarily small; many of them, in fact, can fit an entire adult without fail. In addition, it should also be noted that areas that may not be considered confined spaces may also become confined spaces when they fulfil further conditions of what a confined space is – for example, a standard shipping container with full-sized doors is not generally considered as a confined space, but can become a confined space if its entry points are restricted or blocked completely. Staying Safe in Confined Spaces Minimising the risk of injury to workers while they operate in confined spaces will require a process with three general steps. The first step is to assess risk – this involves identifying all of the hazards that are already apparent in the confined space, as well as any additional dangers that may arise from the worker’s presence in the space, such as the tools that the worker brings into the confined space. The second step is to inform. The appropriate personnel must be informed of the key aspects of working in confined spaces. They must be aware of all of the apparent and possible hazards of the confined space to be used, know how to conduct a proper risk assessment for the involved space, and implement the appropriate control measures to ensure the safety of the worker or workers who will operate in the confined space. In addition, agencies in both the industry and the government have regulations in place that legally restrict worker entry into confined spaces that have been found to contain a significant safety hazard – Australian regulations in fact require that companies must obtain a confined space entry permit before they are authorised to work in a confined space. Work supervisors and managers, therefore, should be aware of the process of obtaining the said permits. The third and final general step is to train. Work Health and Safety Regulation 69 dictates that any workers operating in a confined space must be able to continually communicate with a worker or supervisor outside of the confined work space that should be able to monitor the confined space from the outside and provide immediate assistance should it be needed. These and other WHS Regulations require that workers who will be operating in confined spaces be given the appropriate training and equipment. For all your confined space equipment needs there must be a certain level of quality. The gear must allow workers to be able to move and operate in a manner that ensures their own safety – this involves identifying and responding appropriately to hazardous situations. Workers must also be trained to assist those inside a confined space by identifying potential hazards that a worker inside may not be able to see, and to provide assistance accordingly.
A building is a place where you do business, work, live, or play. Read more about buildings in this link. This is an asset that will serve you for a lot of years if proper maintenance or preservation is followed. When you are doing business, you will make the impression to your customers, investors, and competitors that you observe proper cleanliness and hygiene when you regularly schedule cleanings. As a building owner you won’t to scrub several floors every minute of the day as you can always get the service of building maintenance companies to do those for you. Building maintenance is important because weather elements such as rain or ultraviolet rays of the sun can make the walls deteriorate easily. If you are a hospital facility, you need to pass the regular inspection of the government and other health organizations. You can prevent dilapidation, broken glasses, and loosened tiles when there’s regular maintenance. Maintenance is a necessary investment especially if you want to excel over your competitors, make your employees feel safe, and make a good first impression. You can also avoid unnecessary costs such as injuries due to damaged roofs or walls, repairs, and loss of profits when you have reliable maintenance staff working for you. Here are other reasons why maintenance is good for your business. Maintenance is important, but so are materials. If you go to the Materials Market, you will be able to get what you need. Why Get Maintenance? Save on Staff Employment Costs Asking your staff to scrub the whole facility on top of their work can be too much especially if you own a big building. They will be unhappy because they might need to do overtime. They will not perform well when they feel that they have to work for something that they did not sign up for. In addition to this, you need to pay them overtime wages, pay for the cost of training, and buy special equipment that is tailor-made for cleaning. This can blow up your expenses in a month. On the other hand, hiring building maintenance services that are in the business of cleaning huge facilities will help you a lot. You maintain cleanliness at all times. You don’t need to train them because they are already trained for the job, and they have their own equipment. When your employees see that you make an effort to have a clean environment, they can work more efficiently and will stay longer in the office. Outsourced Cleaning Companies have the Right Skills and Tools Whether it is for carpets, floors, or windows, outsourced companies have the right microfiber cloth or sanitizing wands that are great for removing allergens and germs. Expect to walk in an office where you can see gleaming floors, soft carpets, clear windows, and polished doorknobs. Some companies can guarantee you an excellent service whether you are in the manufacturing industry or you are maintaining an office space. The right skills of workers will save you lots of stress and hassles in the long run. Walking in a spotless lobby first thing in the morning will be worth the investment. The orderly and neat fashion that you can get from trained staff and a reputable cleaning company will allow your business to flourish. Daily Cleaning Service With building maintenance, you don’t have to worry about trash, dirty comfort rooms, or dusty chairs. The trash is removed every day, so you won’t have to worry about flies inside your establishment. They clean common areas such as lounges, dining rooms, elevators, stairwells, offices, and a lot more. Every corner is cleaned and there are inaccessible areas that they can reach through their tools. You can hire them to do the cleaning daily. This ensures that you will have welcoming lounges, spotless dining rooms, and vacuumed carpets every single day. You can read more about vacuums here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_cleaner. Your employees or the tenants will appreciate it a lot if the building is well-kept. The Bottom Line A clean working environment is what you need for your business to flourish. Maintaining your building will keep it looking new and it will last longer. An injury-free workplace is an advantage because it will invite clients, investors, and other people who are interested in what you have to offer in your business. You only have one space. Make it pleasing to the eye and boost your employee productivity while you are at it. Hire the best cleaning company today!
Major construction projects can play a critical role in improving workers’ understanding of health risks and championing ‘universally high standards’ across the industry, new research suggests. A three-year research project, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), aimed to explore the management of health, safety and wellbeing interventions on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. Members of the research team from Loughborough University were integrated into each of the construction teams working on the Tideway project and monitored key health and safety processes, personnel, documentation, events and activities. In a new paper titled ‘Raising the bar for occupational health management in construction, published in the Institution of Civil Engineers’ journal Civil Engineering, the research team highlights practical measures from the Tideway project to help stakeholders improve the management of health risks in construction. The Loughborough team suggests major projects have an important role to play in upskilling the workforce, and that construction managers must take responsibility for health risk management, supported by skilled OSH and health professionals. Interventions included working with occupational hygienists to improve understanding about health risks and how to manage them and coordinating training sessions for project managers, engineers, supervisors and others who contribute to risk assessments focusing on practical control measures. Alistair Gibb, Professor of Construction Engineering Management at Loughborough University, said: “The construction industry faces many unique challenges when it comes to managing health risks and protecting workers. Across the industry there is poor understanding about the standards of health assessment which are legally required and low motivation among many employers to pay for health checks for workers who may soon move to other employers. “Major projects such as Tideway are critical to developing universally high health management standards and are well-placed to champion good OH services and to use their expertise and influence to embed change within their own supply chains. To achieve long-lasting improvements, these standards must be adopted throughout the sector, particularly within the SMEs which employ the majority of the workforce.” The study suggests a consistent approach to occupational health management and health surveillance is needed across the construction industry with a commitment to improved portability of OH data. The researchers also argue that health needs to be given higher visibility and clarity at prequalification and in tender documents. Mary Ogungbeje, Research Manager at IOSH, said: “This research goes a long way towards addressing what is a very prevalent and complex issue in the construction sector. “For health to truly be treated like safety in construction there needs to be a shift in the perception and practices of employers and workers, and acceptance in industry that high standards should not be an exceptional practice but the necessary norm. “The study highlights practical measures to help all stakeholders address barriers and improve the management of health risks in construction.” Steve Hails, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Tideway, said: “Our commitment to transformational health, safety and wellbeing standards at Tideway is intended to set a new benchmark for the industry. Achieving parity between health and safety is a strategic objective for our programme and understanding the specific challenges emerging in the course of construction is imperative to our future direction. “The support from IOSH and Loughborough University has been invaluable in identifying our progress. This unique approach to conducting a longitudinal study with skilled researchers embedded into our construction teams, has allowed us to compile legacy information in real time rather than, as has historically been the case, at the end of the project. This gives Tideway objective feedback during our works and informs our future direction. “There are additional wider industry benefits for future projects to learn from our experiences through this approach and realising the benefits of industry working collaboratively with academia during the planning and construction phases of work.” An additional recommendation from the research includes further training for frontline workers, particularly to compensate for low visibility of health hazards including noise and respirable dust, and greater awareness of health conditions with long latency periods, including those caused by silica dust and asbestos exposure. IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign aims to explain the causes of occupational cancer and help businesses take action. Information about the dangers of silica dust, asbestos and other carcinogens and how to prevent exposure is available on the website:https://www.notimetolose.org.uk/ The paper, titled ‘Raising the bar for occupational health management in construction’ is published in the Institution of Civil Engineers journal Civil Engineering. The research is funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The paper is available here:https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/jcien.19.00029 In a second paper, published in the journal Safety Science, the research team explore in more detail the challenges to achieving lasting improvements to worker health in construction, this is available here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1ZWj63IVV9gluI
Adding Strength And Sturdiness To Your Tubular Design Ensure your product design is entirely robust by using tube connectors to add the finishing touch. Tube connectors are the final part of a tubular design that acts to bind the finished product together. So, take for example a school chair made with metal tubes as the legs and feet. To connect each of the tubular legs to the bridge which sits beneath the plastic seat, you’ll need to use tube connectors to create a sturdy design. By doing so, you can be assured that the chair won’t buckle and break a leg off when a child sits on it. The tube connectors bind each of the individual tube legs together to create the finished product. Of course, this is just one example where a tube connector might be used. But in any tubular design, you’ll need to bear the following factors in mind. Plan Your Tube Configuration When considering the number and type of tube connectors you might require, begin by making a plan of your final design, including the number of tubes you have and where exactly you’ll need them to join together. From here, you can work backwards to determine the role of tube connectors in your plans. Tube connectors are incredibly versatile and can join together 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 tubes where required. Ensuring A Perfect Fit The connectors simply sit within your hollow tubing but must be the same shape as your tubes to provide a great fit. Typically, tube designs are made from either round or square tubes, so you’ll need your connector to match. If you require a particularly solid structure, as with your school chair, then you’ll likely require a connector with a solid steel core. Fitness equipment including treadmills and weight machines will undoubtedly require this type of connector due to the requirement for them to be robust. But lighter designs such as children’s toys can make do with a plastic moulding that consists of two clip parts. Considering The Purpose Of Your Connectors When looking at the configuration of your tubular design, consider the purpose of your connectors and how you’ll need them to be positioned. Some connector designs allow for rotation which is useful if you need your tubes to be able to be manipulated at various angles. Connectors are available that provide rotations of 0-190 degrees, 45-195 degrees, 60-300 degrees and 45-200 degrees, and some can move in small increments for better control. Aesthetics Tube connectors aren’t usually meant to be a core aesthetic focus of your design and in many cases you’ll either want to opt for a regular black colour, or match them more closely to the shade of your other tubes. So, with this in mind, you’ll need to choose connectors that come in the same material as your existing tubular components. If you’ve been wondering how to pull the various components of your tubular design together to create a robust product, then tube connectors are an essential item to have on your shopping list. Remember to take note of the internal diameter of your existing tubes to ensure you select a set of connectors that add the perfect finishing touch to your design.