Nick Child

How to Clean Marble Countertops Without Damaging Them

Marble is a gorgeous material that can serve as a long-lasting and attractive feature in your bathroom or kitchen. However, once your dream of having marble countertops installed is fulfilled, you may be wondering how to clean them without damaging them. Because marble is a porous material, the products and

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Top Security Technologies That Every Building Designer Needs To Know

45 million square feet of commercial property is built annually in the UK. Commercial building designers aren’t going out of business any time soon – unless they fail to provide functional and attractive designs. As well as ensuring that their designs are attractive and functional for businesses and commercial customers,

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Why Are the Stakes So High In New York Construction Accident Cases?

Every year, several construction projects are executed in New York City and other areas across New York State. Unfortunately, accidents and mishaps often occur on construction sites and may result in minor or severe injuries. According to statistics from the NYC Department of Buildings, there were about 712 construction-related incidents

Read More »

How to Create a Travel-Inspired Interior Design

The Covid-19 pandemic has limited people’s ability to travel. And since they had to spend most of their time at home, their spaces’ appearance had become of great importance to most of them. Thus, the interest in travel-inspired interior design has increased. However, even now, with many restrictions being lifted

Read More »

5 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home

Buying a home is a long and tiresome process. Regardless of the current market conditions, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that come into it. However, a few well-hidden secrets can make the whole affair much more manageable. With their help, you could find

Read More »

Three stunning stadiums of World Cup 2022

There were more than a few murmurs of discontent and surprise when FIFA announced their World Cup 2022 would be staged in Qatar. There were a few reasons for the surprise of football fans across the globe. This will be the first World Cup played in the Arab World and

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8 Reasons To Use Bid Management Software In Your Business

If you’re still manually handling your company’s bidding process, you might miss out on the perks of using automation tools or software. With complex documents and tight deadlines, keeping track of various bids can be a real challenge, and using the right tools can make a huge difference between losing

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The Construction Projects Changing the Face of Blackpool

Blackpool is a town that has had to reinvent itself on countless occasions. While it might be known as a seaside resort today, it was once nothing more than a few small villages which turned into a fashionable place for sea bathing in the 18th century; back then, this was

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Nick Child

How to Clean Marble Countertops Without Damaging Them

Marble is a gorgeous material that can serve as a long-lasting and attractive feature in your bathroom or kitchen. However, once your dream of having marble countertops installed is fulfilled, you may be wondering how to clean them without damaging them. Because marble is a porous material, the products and techniques you use to clean the other hard surfaces in your home may actually end up ruining it. Of course, you could hire a professional marble cleaning service to do it for you. But, if you prefer a more hands-on approach, read on for the dos and don’ts when cleaning your new marble countertops. Supplies You’ll Need You’ll need a few supplies to clean and maintain your marble countertops. Soap, water, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and a liquid cleaner are essential for daily cleaning. For maintenance, purchase a food-safe sealant for your marble kitchen countertops and #0000 steel wool. Following the guide below will help keep your marble sparkling clean and beautiful. Cleaning and Maintaining Marble Surfaces As we’ve mentioned, marble is more porous than other materials used to create countertops – such as quartz, granite, or soapstone. This means it is more prone to stains, scratches, and changes in the structure of the stone. To keep your marble countertops looking pristine, you’ll want to keep them clean and seal them regularly – more on this below.    Preventing Damage Whether you have marble countertops in your bathroom or kitchen, sealing them every three months is the best way to maintain them. While sealants won’t make them completely stain-proof, they will make them more resistant to staining. Regular sealing will give you extra time to clean up spills as they won’t get absorbed by the stone right away. Contact the supplier of your marble countertops and ask for recommendations for the best marble sealants. If your marble is in your kitchen, it’s very important to make sure the sealant you use is food-safe. You should also invest in some coasters to prevent spills and watermarks from forming in the first place – prevention is always better than cure. Daily Cleaning For daily cleaning and spills you can clean immediately, use warm soapy water – just be sure to rinse the surface well so no soap residue remains and dry it thoroughly. Another thing to note is that acidic substances can damage marble – so keep acidic beverages like lemon juice and wine away from your countertops whenever possible. Acidic cleaning products that contain vinegar should also be avoided at all costs. If you do have spills on your marble, tend to them immediately. Abrasive substances can also ruin your marble, so always wipe it down with a soft cloth – trying not to drag dust and debris along the surface. Removing Stains If you can’t tend to a spill immediately, it might not be the end of the world. Most organic substances (like red wine, food, and fruit juice) can be cleaned with a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a couple of drops of ammonia. For oily stains (like olive oil or butter), clean the surface gently with a liquid cleaning product that contains mineral spirits, acetone, or household detergents.   Correcting Scuffs, Scratches, and Watermarks For scuffs, light scratches, watermarks, and nicks, dry-buff your marble countertops with #0000 steel wool. If you have deeper scratches that penetrate below surface level or stubborn acidic stains, you’ll need to call on a professional marble cleaning service.

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Top Security Technologies That Every Building Designer Needs To Know

45 million square feet of commercial property is built annually in the UK. Commercial building designers aren’t going out of business any time soon – unless they fail to provide functional and attractive designs. As well as ensuring that their designs are attractive and functional for businesses and commercial customers, building designers must also ensure they design building security with functionality and aesthetics. So, which security technologies do building designers need to ensure their buildings are attractive and functional? This guide is designed to help building designers ensure tight security that does not interfere with the look and usability of the building. Keep reading to learn about the top security technologies every building designer needs to know. Integrating Video Security And Access Control Building designs can be complex, making it difficult for security camera installers to find optimal camera placement and ensure no blind spots. Building designers can ensure that the camera system in the building captures the identity of all visitors by installing video security integrated with access control. If you have a camera at your building’s entrance, you can capture high-quality footage of your visitors and ensure there is no way for any user to enter the building without being caught on film. Integrating video security and access control creates the potential for streamlined and user-friendly identity verification. With any access control system, there is always the chance that an unauthorised third party could steal mobile credentials, keycards, or fobs from building occupants and use them to enter the building without triggering an alarm.  Identity verification eliminates the possibility of any user entering the building without confirmation that they are who they claim to be. Building security staff will be able to view access logs and video surveillance feed on a single interface in a more user-friendly approach to security. If you did not integrate video security and access control in your building design, then building security staff would have to correlate data from different sources and match timestamps to investigate incidents involving stolen access credentials. You could even consider installing identity verification software to automate the process, creating a system that will never permit users to enter unless AI confirms their identity. Regarding access control and video security, you can choose to integrate two different technologies or merge them into a single device. A video intercom reader offers high-definition video and touchless access control in one unified tool. Since this is a cloud-based solution, building security staff can view security data remotely on a mobile application and receive alerts when a potential security event is detected. Want to know the best thing about a video intercom reader? It has a minimalist design and will seamlessly fit with the rest of your building’s design. The reader is a compact device that will not be an eyesore in your new building. Reducing Security Hardware When designing a building with security in mind, designers decide whether to opt for a cloud-based, on-premise, or hybrid security system. If you choose an on-premise security system, you must be prepared to allocate space for servers. You will also need to design how the security system wires will travel throughout the building layout. On-premise systems are generally the most reliable and provide fewer outages. However, they can be expensive and time-consuming to maintain. On the other hand, you could consider investing in a cloud-based security system. With a cloud-based security system, you do not need to allocate space for server rooms. Nor do you need to plan out how you will wire the system. Cloud-based systems are wireless and do not require hefty servers. Additionally, they facilitate remote operation and the remote observance of security data. Many building designers are choosing to opt for a hybrid approach, as it combines the strengths of each security system. There will be fewer servers and thus less demand for space. Additionally, you can operate a hybrid system remotely and access security data from anywhere. Hybrid systems offer the reliability of an on-premise system while reducing the amount of security hardware necessary to keep the system running. Using Seamless Access Control Systems Building designers aren’t just responsible for improving the visual appeal of the building – they must also ensure that the building is convenient for users and provides clear pathways for evacuation procedures. Building designers should consider the benefits of commercial door entry systems to ensure that building security does not interfere with the daily activities of building users. Modern cloud-based access control systems do not require keycards and fobs. So, building users will not need to replace their fobs if they lose them. Instead, they can simply download access credentials and store them on their mobile devices. When users need to enter the building with their mobile credentials, they can do so without touching anything – or even removing their mobile device from their bag or pocket. They can enter with nothing more than a wave of their hand. So, if the user is carrying shopping bags, boxes, or even hot cups of coffee, they can enter quickly and conveniently. Touchless entry also ensures smoother evacuation procedures. The access reader will have built-in motion sensors. The reader will remotely communicate with the user’s mobile device when the motion sensor is triggered. The reader uses three separate modes of communication (WiFi, cellular, and Bluetooth) to ensure that there is no failure and the user can enter on their first attempt.  If users can enter the building so effortlessly and seamlessly, you will be able to ensure your building design isn’t just attractive but entirely functional and user-friendly. Summary Cloud-based technologies are the future of effective building design and security. The technologies listed above can help you to design a future-proof building that supports easy entry and tight security. You can also make the building design and security installation process more practical by eliminating the need for wires. Consider which technologies provide the best solution to your building design difficulties.

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Why Are the Stakes So High In New York Construction Accident Cases?

Every year, several construction projects are executed in New York City and other areas across New York State. Unfortunately, accidents and mishaps often occur on construction sites and may result in minor or severe injuries. According to statistics from the NYC Department of Buildings, there were about 712 construction-related incidents in New York City in 2021, causing 505 injuries and 9 fatalities. Thankfully, there are New York State laws designed to protect the rights of employees who are injured in work-related accidents or suffer an illness while on the job. If you’re a construction worker who has been hurt on the worksite, you may be eligible to seek fair compensation for your injuries. Your available options to recover damages may include seeking worker’s compensation benefits, filing a personal injury claim, or filing a lawsuit against the negligent third-party. However, recovering damages for your construction accident injuries often involves a lot of complexities. In the post, we will be discussing why the stakes are really high in New York construction accident cases. Common Causes of Construction Accidents in New York Here are some of the most common causes of accidents and injuries on construction sites in New York State: OSHA’s Fatal Four hazards – construction falls, electrocution (electrical exposure), caught-in/between situations, and struck-by an object. Poorly constructed scaffolding Slip and fall Defective or unsafe equipment Inadequate protection for construction site workers on elevated structures Inadequate protection for construction workers in trenches Tripping hazards from debris and other construction materials Unsafe conditions of the construction site or property Inadequate safety precautions when working beside power lines Collisions with support beams Workers are exposed to several risks on the construction site. If you’re injured in a construction accident, you need to reach out to an attorney immediately to enlighten you about your legal options to recover damages. What Are Your Legal Options? What’s more, when you’re involved in a construction site accident, here are some of the available legal options to seek financial compensation for your injuries: Workers’ Compensation Under New York laws, every employer in the state must provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Hence, a construction worker who suffered an injury or illness while on the job may be eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits, including medical care, lost income, and benefits for survivors. Personal Injury or Third-Party Claims Alternatively, you may file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a third party for their negligent or careless actions that caused the construction accident. For instance, you may file a lawsuit against a contractor who failed to repair damages on the property or an employee who failed to adhere to safety guidelines, thereby leading to your injuries. Why the Stakes Are High – Challenges In New York Construction Accident Cases However, seeking financial compensation in your New York construction accident case isn’t usually straightforward. Here are some challenges and complexities you may encounter when filing a claim or lawsuit after a construction accident: Proving Fault and Liability A crucial aspect of your personal injury or third-party claim is proving fault and liability. To recover damages, you need to establish that the other party was negligent, violated the law, breached their legal duty of care, and you suffered an injury. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to prove fault and liability in a construction accident case. Legal Paperwork Also, the insurance carrier may request legal paperwork and additional documentation to verify your claims. Failure to provide the relevant information, evidence, and paperwork may delay your case or ultimately get it thrown out. Pre-Existing Illness or Injury Furthermore, your pre-existing injuries or medical conditions can have a significant effect on the outcome of your case or the amount of compensation you may recover. For a successful personal injury claim or lawsuit, you must prove that the negligent or careless actions of the other party affected or worsened your pre-existing injuries. Motion to Dismiss In addition, the other party or contractor may delay resolving your construction accident case through a motion to dismiss. This is a motion filed by one party in a case requesting that the court should stop all legal proceedings and close the case. The defendant may petition a motion to dismiss, stating that there is not enough evidence or facts to proceed with the case. Settlement Offer Dealing with insurers often involves a lot of complexities. The insurance provider may push for an out-of-court settlement. Initially, the insurer will offer you an absurd first settlement offer to test your patience. In most cases, the settlement offer may be lower than what you deserve. This is why you need an attorney to review the offer and help negotiate an improved settlement. Insufficient Documentation Documenting your injuries after a construction accident involves taking photos of the injuries, witness statements and testimonies, and taking notes of your personal account of the incident. Also, you have to document how the injuries have affected your day-to-day life and work. Unfortunately, most people don’t document their injuries. Without proper documentation, proving your case may be extremely difficult. A personal injury lawsuit involving a construction accident is often drawn out unnecessarily and may take an extended period to settle. At the end of the day, you may lose the case or receive lower compensation than expected. Therefore, when involved in a construction accident, it is crucial that you retain a highly-skilled personal injury attorney for proper guidance and to protect your legal rights. How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Being involved in a construction site accident can be a devastating experience and can affect your financial, physical, and mental health. Nevertheless, you don’t have to suffer the challenges and financial ramifications alone. If you or someone you know were injured while working on a construction site, you should hire an experienced personal injury attorney immediately to advocate for your best interests. A skilled construction accident lawyer can review every surrounding detail of your unique situation and conduct a thorough investigation. Your attorney will help

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How to Create a Travel-Inspired Interior Design

The Covid-19 pandemic has limited people’s ability to travel. And since they had to spend most of their time at home, their spaces’ appearance had become of great importance to most of them. Thus, the interest in travel-inspired interior design has increased. However, even now, with many restrictions being lifted and people being able to travel again, you want to go on the road again but suddenly realize that you only have two weeks off and probably a thousand places that you’d wish to go. So maybe instead, it would be a good idea to start by turning your favorite room into your favorite travel destination? There are countless ideas on how to let your space be soaked in the tropical sun or remind you of your favorite ski resort. But let’s start with keeping it all authentic – you don’t want your space to look cheesy after all. For instance, you can incorporate some travel photos and your own souvenirs – but remember, you don’t want to overdo it. You want to be respectful to the culture you’re inspired by – and your own personal style has to shine through all your holiday endeavor-inspired interior design. Let’s explore some more ideas below! Pick a Theme The first step in creating a travel-inspired interior design is to choose a theme. Even if you can’t travel yet, you still want a place where you won’t have to think about things like “how long does probate take”, but instead, could call it your own. A theme will be the base of your design, so you want it to be perfect. You can find inspiration in a specific country or city you’ve been to or by one particular type of vacation, like a beach vacation or a mountain trip. Your theme can be as specific as you want it to be. For example, you can choose to design your room around your favorite beach in Hawaii or a famous ski resort in Colorado. Find Inspiration Once you’ve decided on a theme, it’s time to find some inspiration. You can do this by looking through travel magazines or websites, browsing Pinterest, or just taking a look at your own travel photos. Be bold – if you discover that you’ve always wanted to have a canopy bed, art deco coffee table, or perhaps epoxy garage floor, there’s nothing stopping you from getting them! If you want to design your room around a specific country or city, it might be a good idea to look for some interior design ideas from that place. For example, if you want to design your room around Italy, you can look for some patterns or colors associated with Italy. Choose Colors and Materials Once you’ve found some inspiration, it’s time to start choosing colors and materials. This is where you can really let your imagination run wild. If you want to design your room around a beach vacation, you might want to use some light and airy colors, like white, blue, and green. For a mountain trip, you might want to use some darker and richer colors, like brown, red, and dark green. When it comes to materials, you can use anything that reminds you of your chosen theme. For a beach vacation, try using some natural materials, like wood, rattan, and stone. For a mountain one, you might want to use cozy materials, like wool and fur. Add Furniture and Accessories Once you’ve chosen your colors and materials, it’s time to start adding furniture and accessories and bring your chosen theme to life. If you want to design your room around a beach vacation, you might want to add some furniture that reminds you of the beach, like a rattan sofa or a wooden coffee table. You might also want to add accessories like a seashell lamp or coral vase. Again, if you want to design your room around a mountain trip, you might want to add furniture that reminds you of the mountains, like a leather armchair or a stone fireplace. You might also want to add accessories, like skis or a set of antlers. Hang Artwork and Curtains Now, it’s time to finish off your room by hanging artwork and curtains. This is where you can really make your space your own. For a beach vacation-inspired place, you might want to hang some artwork that reminds you of the beach, like a painting of the ocean, a photograph of the sunset, and a pair of white linen or blue and white striped curtains. If you want your room to recollect a trip spent in the mountains, you might want to hang some artwork that reminds you of the hills, like a painting of the snowy peaks or a photograph of the forest and a pair of brown velvet or plaid flannel curtains. Conclusion Whether you’re a disciple of the “No Clutter” school of thought or you’re a fan of “Go big or go home,” you can still get inspired by travel and start planning and plotting your next vacation whether you’ve got a couple of weeks off –  or even just a few days. So why not incorporate that inspiration into your interior design? With so many ideas out there, the last thing you want to do is get stuck in a rut. So start with the best room in your house, and let the road be your guide! Once you’re done, sit back and enjoy your new space. You’ll be surprised at how different it feels when you’ve put your own personal touches on it. Have fun!

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5 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home

Buying a home is a long and tiresome process. Regardless of the current market conditions, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that come into it. However, a few well-hidden secrets can make the whole affair much more manageable. With their help, you could find and buy a suitable home faster than you might think. Whether you are after a cheap freehold estate located in the Thomson Garden enclave or want to settle for a humble abode somewhere in the suburbs, you can get your dream home without breaking the bank. All it takes is following a few simple steps. For starters, you should inspect the property and its surroundings. This way, you can find out if the neighborhood is good and if there are any security issues you should know about. Other than that, you might want to have the house inspected, get pre-approved for a mortgage, and hire an experienced real estate agent. Looking for homes under your budget so you can bid up is also a good idea. Here are a few valuable tips for buying a home to help you get the best offer in an ultra-competitive seller’s market: Commission a Home Inspection The home inspection process is critical to uncover any potential problems with the property before you buy it. A professional real estate inspector will thoroughly examine the property, its systems, equipment, and proximity to neighboring residences. The inspector will also check for various structural defects, such as cracked foundations and rotten wood, water damage, or electrical faults. If some issues are discovered, you might have to replace an old water heater, strengthen the foundation, or resolve problems with the floor, for example by getting some reclaimed terracotta tiles. It would be best to look for an experienced inspector with a good reputation in the industry. Once you know about all the issues, you can use them to negotiate a lower price. A good inspector will also recommend the necessary repairs that you can do without breaking the bank. If you are not pressed for time and have a little more cash on hand, you should consider purchasing the property at a lower price and paying for some inexpensive fixes or doing them yourself. This way, you can significantly reduce the cost of buying a home. Check the Neighborhood When looking for a new home, it is essential to research the neighborhood and see if it is the right fit for you. Fortunately, many online resources can help you learn more about a particular area. It would be best to look for crime rates, schools in the area, and the amenities nearby. You should also drive around the neighborhood at different times of the day to get a feel for the place. Remember to ask around about the reputation of the neighborhood. If it is safe, you can live there for years without worrying about break-ins or assaults. Furthermore, you should pay attention to things like local traffic and noise levels as well as the overall development rate. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage If you plan to finance your new home with a mortgage, it is a good idea to get pre-approved for one. Doing so will give you an idea of how much money you can borrow and what your monthly payments will be. Lenders give pre-approval letters after verifying your income and appropriate credit rating. Once you have it, you will be able to bid on all homes in your price range with the confidence that they will provide you with a loan. Otherwise, you might end up bidding on a property you can’t or can barely afford. It would be best to shop around for the best mortgage rate before applying for a loan. You can use an online mortgage calculator to compare rates from different lenders. Hire an Experienced Real Estate Agent It is a common mistake to begin your home search on your own. However, this approach is unlikely to get you good results. This is because the real estate market can be quite tricky to navigate. Besides, it requires a vast amount of knowledge to understand everything it entails. To get the best price for your home, you should enlist the help of an experienced real estate agent. They will have access to listings that are not yet on the market and can help you negotiate a better price. As a general rule, only experienced agents can evaluate the market conditions accurately, so they can offer you a suitable price. On the other hand, if you go with a fresh-faced agent, chances are their inexperience will negatively impact your sale price. Look for Homes Under Your Budget One of the most important parts of the home buying process is finding a nice place you can afford. When searching for a new home, it is a good idea to look for properties priced below your budget. This way, you will have some room to negotiate when making an offer. You could start looking for homes online or in print. Once you find a few that might be suitable, you can schedule an appointment with a real estate agent to take a look at them. The more properties you visit, the better. This way, you can compare and contrast each home to see which one meets your needs. If it turns out that none of them does, you can look for another one. It is better to wait for a cheaper home instead of paying more and having a mortgage that will only work against you in the long run. Make sure you don’t bid more than what you can! Conclusion Buying a home is one of the best investments you can make. It offers outstanding potential returns and will give you a place to call your own. However, such an endeavor is not easy, and it takes extensive knowledge to succeed. You will need to handle a lot of things and, most importantly,

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Three stunning stadiums of World Cup 2022

There were more than a few murmurs of discontent and surprise when FIFA announced their World Cup 2022 would be staged in Qatar. There were a few reasons for the surprise of football fans across the globe. This will be the first World Cup played in the Arab World and the first tournament of its kind not to be played during June and July. World Cup 2022 will occur between November and December, with the final played a week before Christmas. This measure was brought in to help safeguard players, officials and spectators against the searing temperatures of summer in Qatar. Qatar isn’t a nation known for its love of football. Still, FIFA was blown away by Qatar’s bid, with organisers promising a competition that leaves a legacy of comfort, accessibility and sustainability. Plans were put in place to build brand new sports stadiums capable of hosting thousands of fans and the world’s top players. It was difficult to imagine Qatar having the infrastructure in place to host football’s best-loved games. Still, as we approach the opening ceremony and big kick-off in game one, everything looks to fall into place for Qatar. The World Cup is fast-approaching, and fans can begin to dream of a memorable month of play with the stadium builds on schedule. Followers have been busy preparing for the matches, buying merchandise, planning watch parties and even making predictions on which side will lift the famous trophy. Betting apps specialising in major sports allow registered members to bet on NFL games, horse races, and NBA matches are able to wager on the World Cup. Pick the nation you expect to win the tournament or play one of the many exciting specials offered on the outright and each fixture. Qatar will be competing in the World Cup for the first time, having secured a place without having to qualify due to their status as the home nation. Fans hope that home advantage gives their players an edge, but what can we expect from the stadiums in Qatar? Let’s look at three stadiums you will become familiar with this winter. Lusail Iconic Stadium This will be the main attraction of Qatar 2022 and will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the final match, where the venue will be packed to its 80,000 capacity. This nation’s biggest stadium enjoys excellent transport links, located less than 25km from Doha. Construction of the Lusail Iconic Stadium began in April 2017 and is on course to be unveiled in time for the first game. The opening ceremony and first round of matches from the World Cup will double as an introduction to this arena which was designed by British giants of construction Foster and Partners with Populous and MANICA Architecture. Solar power will keep the stadium cool and leave a zero carbon footprint. Some of the games you can expect to find at Lusail Iconic Stadium include Argentina v Saudi Arabia, Brazil v Serbia and Portugal v Uruguay during the group stages. It will also provide the backdrop for Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and the final matches. Al Bayt Stadium This is the second most important stadium of the World Cup, and with a 60,000 capacity, this state-of-the-art venue will provide the backdrop for some crucial matches. Another stadium that will be unveiled in time for the World Cup, the likes of England, Spain and Germany will play here during the groups. Al Bayt Stadium, which is 35km from Doha, also hosts Round of 16, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Al Thumama Stadium Complete with a 40,000-seater capacity, Al Thumama Stadium is the third biggest in Qatar and will play a major role in hosting the tournament. One of the more interesting stadiums, it was designed by Ibrahim Jaidah, who is the chief architect of the Arab Engineering Bureau. This stadium has a bit of a jump on the others as it has seen competitive action before November, having hosted the Emir Cup Final played last October. It was awarded the MIPIM/Architectural Review Future Project Reward in the sports and stadiums category.

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Known Risk: Reducing Your Chances of Serious Injuries on the Job Site

Workplace injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. They can lead to missed work, lost wages, and other complications. In fact, workplace injuries are the leading cause of disability in the United States. When a workplace injury occurs, it’s important to know the key ways to reduce your chances of getting injured in the first place. If your company is liable for the injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. You can hire a personal injury lawyer that’s dedicated to helping those injured on the job. There are also some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting injured in the first place. Follow All Safety Protocols And Guidelines Make sure all safety protocols and guidelines are followed at all times. This includes things like wearing the correct equipment, using proper tools, and avoiding dangerous work environments. Stay Alert And Watch For Hazards Be alert for any potential hazards on the job site. This includes things like unstable ground, slippery surfaces, and electrical hazards. Make sure you know how to safely handle these hazards. Report Injuries Immediately If you’re injured on the job, immediately report the injury to your supervisor or manager. Let them know what happened, what you did to avoid getting injured, and what steps you’ll be taking to ensure a similar incident doesn’t happen again.  Educate Employees And Customers About Safety Make sure everyone knows about workplace safety. This includes educating employees and customers about the dangers of workplace injuries, how to avoid them, and what to do if they happen. What To Do In A Workplace Injury When a workplace injury occurs, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This includes getting checked for injuries that may not be immediately visible, such as concussions. After you’ve received the care that you need, it’s time to explore your options moving forward. The severity of your injury will determine whether or not you can return to work. In most cases, you’ll be allowed to return following a doctor’s approval and a complete evaluation. Returning to work too soon can lead to further injury, so it’s important to seek the advice of an experienced workplace injury attorney. If you’re left permanently disabled from a workplace injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In most cases, you’ll need to file an application with your state’s department of labor. Be Prepared For The Future Make sure you’re prepared for any workplace injury that may occur in the future. This includes keeping up to date on safety protocols, understanding your employer’s liability policy, and having a financial plan in case of an injury. The Process Of Workplace Injury Lawsuits Workplace injuries are common, and as a result, many people file lawsuits in order to receive compensation for their injuries. Workplace injury lawsuits typically involve two parties: the injured person, and the employer. In order to file a lawsuit, the injured person must first take steps such as reporting the injury to their employer or union representatives. Once this is done, the injured person will likely undergo an evaluation by a doctor in order to determine whether they are eligible for compensation. If so, then they will file a lawsuit with their local court system. Once a lawsuit is filed, both the injured person and employer have the right to have legal representation. This can be important because it allows each side to have an expert look at the evidence and argue their case in court. The outcome of a workplace injury lawsuit can vary depending on many factors, including the severity of the injury, whether any negligence was involved, and how much money is available in damages. Negotiations take place between the parties before a trial ever takes place. This is because each side wants to reach an agreement that will result in the least amount of damages being paid out. If no agreement is reached, then a trial will take place and the court will give a verdict. Generally, employers are reluctant to pay out large settlements in workplace injury lawsuits. This is because it can create a negative public image for the company, as well as lead to future lawsuits from other employees who feel they were not given fair treatment when filing claims. As you can see, knowing how to reduce your chances of getting injured on the job site is important. By following some simple safety precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming seriously injured.

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8 Reasons To Use Bid Management Software In Your Business

If you’re still manually handling your company’s bidding process, you might miss out on the perks of using automation tools or software. With complex documents and tight deadlines, keeping track of various bids can be a real challenge, and using the right tools can make a huge difference between losing and gaining business deals. Fortunately, there are various tools you can use to simplify your company’s bidding process and gain more business opportunities. One of these tools is called bid management software, which is designed to simplify bid management. However, you can only make the most out of bid management software if you use quality platforms like Bidhive and others that make the bidding process manageable and hassle-free. If you’re unsure about using bid management software in your business, here are the reasons to consider it today: Better Security A primary reason to use bid management software is that it helps ensure the security of your information. This tool typically allows control over what users can do and see. It protects your business while providing the right access to staff and several contributors. The sign of secured bid management systems is accreditations. These accreditations cover information security management systems. They also include technical, legal, and physical controls involved in a company’s information risk management process. Gain Better Control Over Documents Unlike the traditional bidding process, using a reliable bid management solution enables you to control your company’s documents better. For instance, placing a bid for a big construction project may need input from third parties when creating bid proposals. Traditionally, bid proposals are done via email and other document-sharing platforms, making it hard to document all stages of the process. With the best bid management software, each contribution of third parties is entered directly into the system, enabling your sales team to see every step of the process in a single dashboard. As a result, it saves your precious time because you don’t need to switch from every system. Streamline The Bidding Process Creating and sending an Invitation to Bid (ITB) document can be time-consuming. After identifying the required trades, you must determine which subcontractors can work in the project area. To avoid wasting time, consider using bid management software for your business. Once you use the software, fax machines and plan rooms are no longer necessary because plans can be retrieved or sent via email instead of post or fax. The ability to identify who to invite for bidding, create ITBs, and share specs and plans all at once can be a huge time-saver for every business. Improve Reporting Methods Typically, bid management software offers comprehensive features that allow you to create reports for essential meetings. Staff may decide when reports must be generated, who they must be sent to, and what details to include. Bid management software also keeps a comprehensive audit trail of the employee responsible for the process. This way, keeping on top of compliance monitoring is made easy. Make Your Business More Professional Most bid management tools come with built-in templates, making it much easier for the bidding team to craft professional-looking documents without spending more money and time on designers. Having such professional-looking and high-quality bid documents make your bids set apart from others and may increase the odds of winning business. Bid Coverage Guarantee Bid management tools allow businesses to monitor which vendors have responded quickly and the bids they’ve received for every trade. Such tools also enable access to a wider network of vendors, enabling you to invite more potential interested companies to bid on your projects. With this, you can also increase your network for future projects and ensure that every bid covers all aspects of your projects.  Improve Communication Projects that communicate effectively are more likely to succeed. As budgets and schedules become tighter and most projects become more complicated; collaboration is crucial to ensure the project’s success. By using bid management tools, businesses can easily share addenda and information with their bidders. It’s also possible to track the files or documents that have been viewed and accessed, which makes communication easy. With good communication, you can guarantee that all parties involved will better understand the project. Save More Time Generating estimates might take up a certain amount of time when bidding for contracts. Since your company isn’t the only one bidding, you must use bid management software to speed up the bidding process and automate quotes. So, if you want to save time and improve your company’s bottom line, never hesitate to take advantage of the software to automate the bid management system of your company.  Conclusion In today’s modern business world, your company should keep up with the changes and adapt to the latest technological advances to stay ahead of the competition. The best quality management software will help streamline the process of managing your projects, submitting bids, and receiving bids. It won’t only make your life easier, but you can be assured of a smooth project that’ll benefit your business over time.

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Five Different Ways to Store Screws, Nails, and Other Fasteners

Small items like screws, nails and other fasteners can easily get misplaced or lost if you do not have an effective storage solution. To ensure you can always find the fasteners you need when you need them, check out the following five helpful storage tips. 1. Buy an Organiser with Compartments You can purchase a wide variety of organisers and boxes with compartments that are ideal for storing your screws, nails, and other fasteners. Just make sure there are plenty of differently sized compartments so that you can store screws, nails, and so on of varying sizes. Also, ensure you always put the right fastener in the right compartment, otherwise, you might only be able to find a short nail when you need a long one, for instance. Clear plastic storage containers are best because you will then be able to see into the compartments to find the right fasteners and identify when you are starting to run out of certain types. 2. Use a See-Through Bag for Assorted Fasteners No matter how careful we all are in placing nails, screws, and other fasteners in the right places, we all end up with some oddball fasteners, so it is a good idea to keep a sturdy see-through bag where you can place all of your spare screws and nails. Whenever you need that one nail or screw that you do not generally keep, you can simply delve into your bag of assorted fasteners. 3. Use a Piece of Foam to Store Fasteners You Will Be Reusing If you need to store screws or nails that have come out of an item of furniture that you are repairing or moving, it is imperative that you keep those fasteners safe and make them easy to identify and use in the right place when it is time to reassemble the item of furniture. An excellent solution is to use a piece of foam. You can simply stick the nails, screws, or other fasteners into the foam in the order that they have been removed. To make things easier, write on the foam to show where each screw or nail belongs. You could even draw a basic diagram of the piece of furniture on the foam and place the fasteners in the appropriate places. This technique will save you a lot of time when you are ready to reassemble items like furniture. And speaking of furniture, you may be interested in the current furniture trends. 4. Consider Getting Flat Pouches Printed to Clearly Label Different Screws and Nails To ensure you can find the right fasteners for the job at hand, it is a very good idea to clearly label the different types of fasteners you have. One simple way of doing that, and storing your fasteners safely, is to get custom flat pouches that are clearly labelled, identifying the different screws and nails inside the pouches. You can then easily store all of the pouches inside a strong box, bag, or another container. 5. Use a Wax Ring as a Temporary Storage Solution If you require temporary storage for your screws and nails while you are working on a project, consider using a wax ring, or indeed any kind of block of wax. The material is ideal for sticking screws and nails into so that they do not get lost while you are working on construction projects. There is nothing worse than losing that one screw you really need, so using a wax ring is a simple but very effective solution. Furthermore, an added advantage of using a wax ring is that the screws will be lubricated when you pull them out of the wax, making it easier to drive the screws.

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The Construction Projects Changing the Face of Blackpool

Blackpool is a town that has had to reinvent itself on countless occasions. While it might be known as a seaside resort today, it was once nothing more than a few small villages which turned into a fashionable place for sea bathing in the 18th century; back then, this was seen as a cure for many ailments.  The town really came alive in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it became the first town to install street lighting. Tourists flocked from all over to get a glimpse of this new technology for themselves, a tradition that lives on to this day.  However, today’s Blackpool is very different from the town in its heyday, when it was the place to be for Brits from all across England who were looking for a fun break away from work. Cheap international air travel facilitated by low-cost airlines put an end to that.  While Blackpool is not the must-visit tourist destination it once was, it still attracts more than 18 million visitors each year. Those guests bring a huge boost to the local economy, spending £1.5 billion with local businesses.  But to keep these visitors coming back, Blackpool has had to reinvent itself several more times as it looks to stay fresh and appealing to visitors of all kinds. To do that, the town has had to invest millions in construction projects to improve the built environment. Some of these projects are already complete and providing benefits to locals and visitors alike, though others are still in the planning stages.  New Hotels Blackpool has a very broad range of hotel options that extend from quaint bed and breakfasts all the way up to a giant castle-shaped complex packed with a whole range of amenities.  However, aside from a few exceptions, much of the accommodation in the town feels a little tired as chronic underinvestment and tough economic conditions have driven standards down.  A new project that will see the redevelopment of a large section of the central part of the town promises several new hotels opening near the seafront. It will include the Sands Resort Hotel & Spa, a Premier Inn, and a Holiday Inn.  The bulk of this construction work is due to be completed in 2022.  A Casino Blackpool has long flirted with the idea of building a large casino. The town already has several small gaming establishments ranging from the arcades where you can play coin pusher games, to slot salons where you’ll find a range of different fruit machines to spin.  In the 2000s, Blackpool bid to be the home of the country’s only “super casino” but it ultimately lost out to Manchester.  In recent years, politicians have begun to revive the idea of opening a large casino in the seaside town, arguing that it will help to create jobs and attract even more visitors to Blackpool.  Unlike hotels, building a casino requires a lot more regulatory approval before you can even start breaking ground. It’s unclear as to whether this one will happen, though, because the entire gaming landscape has changed since the original plans were put forward. For a start, casino gaming has become much more accessible through the internet, with online casinos offering numerous convenient options.  Competition among these sites is incredibly strong, with many looking for ways to set themselves apart from the crowd. They’ve all taken different approaches, with some focusing on bigger bonuses and others creating unique games that can’t be found anywhere else. Another tactic has been to develop slot games that have higher return-to-player rates. These higher RTP slots mean that players can theoretically expect to receive more of their wagers back if they were to play for an exceptionally long time, so, while not a guarantee, it is a good way to measure expected average payouts.  With more people choosing to play online, any potential casino operators will need to assess the economic viability before committing to making such an investment.  New Transport Infrastructure Blackpool is one of few places in Britain that retained its tram service, even as the mode of transport fell well and truly out of fashion. Despite these road-going trains still being in operation, the town has become very car-centric.  Major changes to the town’s roads and footpaths have already been undertaken to help make it easier for pedestrians to get around on the seafront, with many more changes in the works.  In addition to £20 million that’s been spent to avoid stormwater flooding, a total of £7.84 million will be spent on upgrading streets to make them more appealing and will involve resurfacing works, new trees, upgraded crossings to improve accessibility and safety, enhanced street furniture, and additional public art.  In addition to improving the look, the work will help make cycling easier, boosting the uptake of active travel around the town. 

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