Latest annual planning performance statistics for 2020/21 showing a 17 week increase in the average decision time for major housing development to 54 weeks are unacceptable, according to home building body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figure represents a +40 per cent rise on the previous year and is more
Following the publication of the Building Safety Bill today, I am sharing commentary from Scott Steedman, Director-General, Standards at BSI. He said: “We welcome the new measures set out in the government’s Building Safety Bill. The Bill provides a new regulatory framework that will steer the improvement of practices in
Building surveys are often misunderstood by the general public as an unnecessary report relating to the purchase of a property. There’s also a misconception that surveys are only necessary if you’re purchasing a residential property, but commercial surveys are just as important and necessary. Surveys of commercial properties vary in
With SMEs most at risk according to industry experts While the UK construction sector has been one of lesser impacted industries in the pandemic, it is being hit by another ever-growing malaise – theft of plant machinery is at an all-time high according to new research. Since shocking statistics revealed
Colliers calls on RICS to Regulate Ratings Industry and Introduce Register of Rating Surveyors to prevent “cowboy” surveyors take advantage of business rates distress. “A group of conmen” “exploiting small businesses to sign unfair contracts”. This is how Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Member for Thirsk and Malton described rogue rating
The Fire Safety Bill clarifies where responsibility for fire safety lies in multi-occupied buildings in England and Wales and is set to receive Royal Assent today, 29 April. The Bill has gone through many rounds of votes as the House of Lords and some MPs tabled amendments in attempts to
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’re entitled to file a personal injury claim. But, before filing a claim for personal injury, there are various things you should know. One of these is that filing a personal claim is a complicated process. Fortunately, once you choose the best personal
A digital construction consultancy is working with some of the country’s leading social housing organisations, architects and developers in a Government-led initiative to ensure there is never a repeat of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Operance is providing both practical expertise and software to the Golden Thread Initiative (GTI), a collaboration
Although the premises are pretty similar, truck accidents are different from your typical car accidents. They have a higher mortality rate and can lead to more catastrophic damages to the surroundings. As such, the compensation will be relatively higher than usual, so dealing with a truck accident is much different
When people lose their lives or their homes because of these accidents, the survivors are left with massive financial liabilities that are often beyond their capabilities to pay. So, to get justice and compensation for all their losses, they hire the services of an injury lawyer. There are many reasons
Latest annual planning performance statistics for 2020/21 showing a 17 week increase in the average decision time for major housing development to 54 weeks are unacceptable, according to home building body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figure represents a +40 per cent rise on the previous year and is more than three times the statutory requirement of 16 weeks. Decision times were quickest for “business and industry” at 22.4 weeks. HFS Director of Planning Tammy Swift-Adams said: “It was to be expected that the processing of planning applications would be affected by Covid-19 but the scale of change in relation to major housing applications is difficult to understand, particularly given the +40 per cent drop in the actual number of applications in the corresponding period and the fact that figures for business and industry have improved. “In light of the economic lifeline that has been delivered by construction over the last year or so, and with demand for new homes of all tenures remaining high, why should this crucial sector take more than double the length of time to determine when compared to applications for business and industry? Such delays only exacerbate existing supply problems and do not bode well for new affordable housing targets. “Regardless, it is unacceptable that any applications take more than a year. Only last week, the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals reported that it had avoided accumulating any backlog in case work despite the pandemic. It is disappointing local authorities were not able to adjust business practices as quickly or effectively and highlights the need for planning services to be better resourced.”
Following the publication of the Building Safety Bill today, I am sharing commentary from Scott Steedman, Director-General, Standards at BSI. He said: “We welcome the new measures set out in the government’s Building Safety Bill. The Bill provides a new regulatory framework that will steer the improvement of practices in the design, construction and building management sector, particularly in relation to safeguarding the safety of residents in high-rise residential properties. “BSI is working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the new Building Safety Regulator to support the implementation of the Bill in our role as the UK National Standards Body. Our Built Environment Competence Standards programme, launched last year, will support the new legislation, along with the industry training and qualification schemes that will follow and provide a basis for third party accreditation of building safety competence at all levels and across all roles, functions, tasks and activities. We will be publishing specific standards aimed at the competence requirements of the three key roles regulated under the Building Safety Bill, which are those of Principal Designer, Principal Contractor and Building Safety Manager. “Over time we expect that the combination of the new Bill and the competence standards will bring a much needed change of culture to the entire Built Environment sector and long term benefits to the public, living and working in buildings, to the workers in the sector and to the building owners.” Please do let me know if you have any question about the Build Environment Competence Standards programme.
Building surveys are often misunderstood by the general public as an unnecessary report relating to the purchase of a property. There’s also a misconception that surveys are only necessary if you’re purchasing a residential property, but commercial surveys are just as important and necessary. Surveys of commercial properties vary in terms of the necessary requirements of the party commissioning the survey and they are often more detailed and complex than residential surveys. Whether you’re selling, buying or leasing a commercial property, there are several commercial building surveys to consider. Building Survey If you’re interested in purchasing a commercial property, a building survey provides you with a detailed report of the condition of the property you’re buying, selling or leasing. It highlights any defects the building may have, as well as advising any maintenance that might be needed in the future. A building survey explains the state of the building, the materials it’s made from and if any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, have been used in the building. The nature of commercial leases means that the tenant is often liable for repairing the property, so a building survey is an essential report to invest in prior to signing on the dotted line to clarify that the building is in good condition. It’s important for tenants to understand if any costly repairs will be necessary in the future, as this could affect lease negotiations and budgets considerably. Technical Due Diligence Reports Property due diligence is a series of steps that investors need to make before purchasing an investment property, ensuring that everything is in order and in good condition before you complete the sale. A Due Diligence Report fully evaluates the property before you buy it, highlighting if there are any potential risks involved with the purchase. This includes whether the price reflects the value of the property, the local area, potential rental yield and the buyer’s property investment strategy. Specialist building surveyors will review the leases associated with the property, any related construction information and warranties, as well as service charge agreements. Schedule of Condition Report A Schedule of Condition records the condition of the property at the time of the survey. For those signing a lease on a commercial building, it might be possible to limit your liability for maintenance and repairs if you undertake a Schedule of Condition survey prior to signing the contract. This report can wind up saving tenants thousands of points at lease expiry and will include a detailed overview of the property, including photographs and descriptions of each element of the property. This report doesn’t just protect tenants though – it can also protect the interests of the owner, who might have invested in refurbishments for an incoming tenant and wants to make sure it stays in good condition when the lease ends. Schedule of Dilapidations A tenant has many responsibilities when they take on a commercial lease, from redecoration and reinstatement to repairing the premises if there’s been any damage or mistreatment. Failure to complete these repairs or necessary changes could mean a breach of their lease, which results in a landlord issuing a Dilapidations claim against them. Dilapidations claims can either be made during the lease term or once the lease has expired. A building surveyor can carry out a Schedule of Dilapidations survey which reviews any repair obligations that the tenant is responsible for and advise the best strategy for a settlement. The surveyor, in this instance, may act on behalf of the landlord or the tenant, to present different arguments which will be used in the negotiation process once the schedule has been served. Final thoughts Commercial property surveys are essential to ensure that both tenants and property owners are protected, but also to prevent unforeseen costs that come with buying, selling or leasing a property. Understanding the differences between the various commercial surveys and reports available is key to making sure that you are taking the right steps with your commercial property. It’s vital that commercial property surveys are undertaken by a qualified and experienced surveyor, and that the individual carrying out the survey is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This is because you can be sure that the surveyor has undergone on-going training and has the experience to back up their knowledge, but also because they will have comprehensive public liability insurance which not only protects them but also the tenant.
With SMEs most at risk according to industry experts While the UK construction sector has been one of lesser impacted industries in the pandemic, it is being hit by another ever-growing malaise – theft of plant machinery is at an all-time high according to new research. Since shocking statistics revealed that plant and tool theft increased by 50% in the first few months of the pandemic shut down periods1, according to leading GPS vehicle tracker installer Trackershop construction businesses are continuing to face increased levels of plant and machinery theft; and more businesses are now taking matters into their own hands to stop the thieves in their tracks by installing state-of-the-art tracker technology. Faced with shocking figures which show that on average less than 10% of plant machinery is ever recovered (if not fitted with a tracker)2, and with statistics showing thefts are on the rise, Trackershop-uk.com has seen enquiries rise by 80% over the past 12 months3. In a further survey by the company, more than three-quarters of Trackershop customers said that they think machinery theft is more of a threat now than before the pandemic, and two out of three say the problem is showing no sign of decline. According to Trackershop owner Shaun Carse, this is forcing plant owners into safeguarding their equipment with sophisticated trackers rather than relying on law enforcement or other previously used security measures, which are not proving effective. He commented: “Plant machinery theft has always been a huge issue for the construction industry, with some reports claiming more than £400 million worth of machinery is stolen in the UK every year. But the events of the past 12 months have created a perfect storm – giving organised crime gangs more opportunity and impetus to target construction sites, which can often leave themselves vulnerable compare to, say, sports vehicles of the same value. “Rather than the number of thefts decreasing since lockdown has eased, we are hearing that this continues to be a growing problem and the industry is struggling to protect itself from criminal activity. “Plant machinery is hugely expensive, easy to sell for profit and, historically, has been difficult to track and recover. Thefts within the sector are seen as a relatively low risk gamble due to the pitifully small percentage of equipment that is ever recovered. “The Police do a brilliant job in trying to retrieve stolen vehicles and having the correct identifying marks, installing CCTV and tight security are all good measures to reduce loss of equipment, but adding a tracker means there is an immediate response activation – and with advancing technology this is fast becoming the most effective way to combat burglaries of this type. “Trackers with in-built immobilisation heightens security further than any other safekeeping measure. It enables the customer to immobilise their machinery remotely from their tracking app at any time. They then override it through the same process when they need to use it again. Many customers implement this when they are leaving plant/machinery on-site or in storage unattended. If anyone moves equipment illegally (by lifting onto a flatbed or towing away with the ignition off) site owners receive an instant notification or automated phone call to alert them. “Thankfully today’s technology means that we can win the war on organised crime gangs targeting the industry, but more still needs to be done to make sure that businesses are not leaving themselves vulnerable to theft. “Overall, it’s estimated that the UK construction industry loses more than £800 million per year due to machinery theft, taking into account all associated costs. These include the cost of plant replacement, hire of replacement equipment, loss of business and increased insurance premiums. “While theft has a detrimental effect on all size of business, given the knock on – it’s smaller to medium sized enterprises that face the biggest risk, often leaving them struggling to survive.” Trackershop customer, a construction and groundworks company based in the South East of England, explains the impact of machinery theft on his business: “We didn’t anticipate how the pandemic would make our plant machinery so vulnerable. On the day that we downed tools and shut our site during the second lockdown, we had a digger stolen. In fact, CCTV later showed that the thieves had entered our site within five minutes of us locking up and leaving- they were clearly waiting in anticipation of us vacating. As this kit did not have trackers installed, we had absolutely no way of recovering them. “We have, however, had Trackershop trackers in our fleet of vans for over five years now. This is mainly for monitoring from a logistics standpoint during the working day. What has proven to be invaluable is the additional security they bring – as we were recently able to recover two stolen vans instantly, using the live tracking information. “Based on the success rate and effectiveness of our Trackershop devices used in our vans, we are in the process of rolling out the same trackers across all of our new plant when they arrive next week. “Plant trackers were just never something that we had considered before now. However, it now seems thieves are making a beeline for diggers and plant in general. “Due to our success so far, and the overall quality of service we have received from Trackershop, we will feel a lot better about leaving our machinery unattended now with tracking devices installed.” Shaun continues: “When you consider that plant machinery trackers start at £54.00 with a rolling monthly subscription of less than £10 per month, it is clear why this is fast becoming the go-to security measure of the industry with the potential to save businesses losses that could amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
Colliers calls on RICS to Regulate Ratings Industry and Introduce Register of Rating Surveyors to prevent “cowboy” surveyors take advantage of business rates distress. “A group of conmen” “exploiting small businesses to sign unfair contracts”. This is how Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Member for Thirsk and Malton described rogue rating surveyors in a Parliamentary debate today focusing on reports of a significant escalation in the number of cases of “cowboy” rating surveyors targeting struggling businesses looking to reduce bills during the pandemic. Mr Hollinrake named and shamed rogue agents who he claimed are “effectively conning” small businesses into signing long term contracts, which are not in their interests , for reliefs they would have receive anyway and then pursuing them through the courts for payments. The Westminster debate on the “Regulation of business rates reduction services” called for industry regulation to protect vulnerable businesses who are suffering financial distress, in part because of high business rates, from falling victim to such rogue rating surveyors. Mr Hollinrake has called for the Insolvency Service to step in, but so far this body has not agreed that it is their role to regulate. According to the rating team at Colliers, it should be the RICS, The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors that urgently needs to step in and regulate the rating industry. According to Colliers, and borne out by the debate today, an increasing number of businesses, including Colliers clients, are being approached by rogue rating surveyors promising to obtain a marked reduction in their business rates bills. Some businesses, unaware they are entitled to reliefs are being targeted by the rogue agents to secure Small Business Reliefs or “Covid” reliefs despite the fact the businesses are in sectors that would have received them for free – by purely writing to the local authorities. The small business involved is then charged an annual fee of up to 52% of the “saving” for the length of the contract. In some cases, businesses have been tied in for 10 or 12 years. And it is not only the smaller businesses that have suffered from unscrupulous rating surveyors. According to Colliers numbers of such incidents has particularly grown during the lockdowns, when many office based businesses, who did not receive the business rates holidays seen in other sectors, struggled to pay their rates bills and therefore become more vulnerable to such a cowboy element. A particular spike was seen at the beginning of the year when businesses were led to believe that the government’s Valuation Office ( the VOA) had agreed to a 25% reduction on business rates for those mounting an MCC, or material change of circumstance, appeal and rogue surveyors made promises they could help obtain this relief. There is no such relief on offer. “Businesses are getting desperate, “says John Webber, Head of Business Rates at Colliers. “Some who are entitled to reliefs were not aware of them and have therefore been targeted by rogue rating surveyors. Others who are not receiving any support, but with no announcement by the Government of any forthcoming, have been clutching at straws. Rogue agents are able to take advantage of this distress. The current business rates system with its high multiplier and complex system of reliefs has created an unsustainable system, as has the widely criticised and calamitous system of Check Challenge Appeal introduced by the Government in 2017. Both have played into the hands of cowboys extracting money up front.” “We believe the situation will only get worse after the end of June, when the 100% rates holiday comes to an end for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries and Government support lessens. Businesses must beware of false promises.” Webber continued, “We have long been campaigning for the rating industry to be properly regulated and we are supportive of Kevin Hollinrake MP raising this issue in Parliament. We believe there should be a register of appeals professionals, which should be regulated by the RICS, in the same way the FCA regulates financial advisors.” He continued, “The lack of such a register gives a cowboy element the opportunity to gain credibility and persuade vulnerable businesses that it can save them serious funds. In the current crisis this situation is getting more out of hand. We call the RICS to take robust measures to effectively show these cowboys for what they are. Instead of infighting and navel-gazing, the RICS should take some leadership on a problem which has existed for many years.”
The Fire Safety Bill clarifies where responsibility for fire safety lies in multi-occupied buildings in England and Wales and is set to receive Royal Assent today, 29 April. The Bill has gone through many rounds of votes as the House of Lords and some MPs tabled amendments in attempts to try and ensure leaseholders would not have to pay for required safety works. As the Bill becomes law it is important that agents understand the implications for building owners and residents with regards to any additional checks and costs. What it means The Fire Safety Bill amends the Fire Safety Order 2005, and along with the draft Building Safety Bill, is part of a collection of new legislation that aims to tackle the recommendations within the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The Fire Safety Order 2005 brings together different pieces of fire legislation and designates those in control of premises as the responsible person for fire safety and managing risks. The Bill clarifies that for any building containing two or more sets of domestic premises the Order applies to the building’s structure and external walls and any common parts, including the front doors of residential areas. It also clarifies that references to external walls in the Order include “doors or windows in those walls” and “anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).” This now means that building owners or managers in multi-occupied residential buildings must include an assessment of risk related to fire and take precautions to reduce the risk of fire spreading in respect of these parts of the relevant premises. As a result, Fire and Rescue Authorities have the relevant enforcement powers to hold owners or managers to account. Following the disaster of the 2017 Grenfell fire, it is promising news that the Fire Safety Bill will finally receive Royal Assent today. It’s a significant step to ensuring that everyone feels safe in their own homes. The Bill will clarify who is responsible for fire safety in multi-occupied buildings. There will now likely be a more joined-up approach between owners and authorities, providing greater enforcement to prevent any further tragedy. Agents must now ensure they understand the implications put onto owners and residents with regards to any additional checks and costs. Mark Hayward – Propertymark Chief Policy Advisor Propertymark campaigning In September last year, Propertymark provided written evidence to the Housing Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny of the Draft Building Safety Bill highlighting a number of concerns. These include the recruitment, training, and the role of Accountable Persons and Building Safety Managers as well as gaps between the new Building Safety regime and legacy stock. We also highlighted the impact on material information and the remediation of any unsafe cladding because there is a huge lack of awareness amongst letting agents and estate agents who buy, sell, and rent property that falls within the scope of the new regulatory regime. To this end, we are working with other professional bodies in the sector and the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team to update guidance relating to the Consumer Protection Regulations and ensure agents provide the correct information to consumers.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’re entitled to file a personal injury claim. But, before filing a claim for personal injury, there are various things you should know. One of these is that filing a personal claim is a complicated process. Fortunately, once you choose the best personal injury lawyer from a reputable Denver PI Firm to handle your claim, the entire process will run smoothly. However, it’s still essential to keep the following things in mind before you decide to file a claim: 1. Know if Your Insurance Policy Covers the Accident If you think your injuries or the accident are caused by someone’s negligence, you might want to determine if that person has insurance coverage that would cover the injury claim you’ll take. For instance, if you’ve suffered from injuries due to a workplace accident, know if the company has insurance coverage for this or if your employer has a workers’ compensation policy. It’s crucial to do this since it can determine whether or not you’d be able to get a fair settlement. 2. Filing Personal Injury Claims Have Time Limits When filing a personal injury claim, you need to consider the time limits or statute of limitations to obtain a more desirable outcome for your case. Typically, the majority of personal injury claims are subject to strict time limits, which require court proceedings to be commenced within three years of the incident’s date. Other claims are also subject to shorter time limits. Therefore, it’s necessary to take legal advice immediately and never delay the process if you want to file a claim. Remember, by keeping the statute of limitations in mind, you’ll be encouraged to file your claim promptly. If you know you have a limited amount of time to initiate your case, you’re more likely to do so sooner rather than later. This can help ensure the evidence isn’t lost or destroyed and that the witnesses’ memories are still fresh. 3. Medical Evidence is Crucial to Support Your Claim Depending on the injuries you’ve sustained, you must seek medical advice from a doctor or any hospital. Medical evidence is needed to support your personal injury claim. If you can’t get your medical report because you’re still recovering, let your lawyer obtain it for you. 4. Insurance Companies are Involved in Personal Injury Cases Most personal injury cases often involve insurance companies, including claims that involve medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, or other accidents that happen in private homes or businesses. Insurance companies are vested in protecting your insurance company’s financial interests. The settlement offer that insurance providers make might not always be fair since they limit their company’s financial exposure. 5. Take Note of Your Expenses and Losses You should provide evidence of the financial losses claimed. If possible, keep some receipts for the expenses you’ve incurred. Keep a record of the costs incurred due to the accident. These may include loss of earnings, damaged items, medical fees, and travel expenses. 6. Gather the Statements of Your Witnesses If you can, speak to your witnesses and gather some vital information about your accident. Jot down their personal contact details, such as email address, phone number, and name. They may have other information you didn’t catch before. For instance, the other driver might be driving fast or hit your car at a red light. 7. Take Videos or Photos of the Accident If you or someone can take photos or videos of the accident, don’t forget to do it. Such can be a good piece of evidence that may disappear immediately when the emergency team and police arrive and start to clean the accident scene. 8. Decide Whether or Not to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Regardless of the complexity level of your case, it’s best to discuss it with a lawyer specializing in personal injury. Take note that talking with a lawyer isn’t the same as hiring one. Many personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation where they’ll discuss your case’s merits and outline all the available legal options for you. In many lawyer-client agreements in a personal injury case, the lawyer works on a contingency basis, which means the client won’t pay anything unless there’s a settlement or judgment in favor of the client. If your case wins or you’ve received compensation successfully, your lawyer will take an agreed-upon percentage of the judgment or settlement as a fee for the services. Depending on the complexity of your case or the amount of money at stake, it’s always worth it to have a lawyer to fight for you. However, it’s essential to note that there are specific signs you may need to seek legal assistance. These include: If you experience any of these situations, it would be advisable to consult an experienced personal injury attorney. This could enhance your understanding of your case and potentially improve your chances of securing a more favorable outcome. 9. Never Sign Anything Before Consulting a Lawyer Insurance adjusters might convince you that you won’t need a lawyer to settle your claim but bear in mind that insurance companies don’t care about your best interest. Most of them want you to deal with them directly in the hopes that you’ll settle for less than your case’s worth. With this in mind, it’s essential not to sign anything before speaking to personal injury lawyers because doing so can prevent you from recovering your compensation. Conclusion Filing a personal injury claim is never easy. By understanding the whole process and considering the above mentioned things, you’ll be more equipped with knowledge that may come in handy once you decide to file a claim for personal injury. If you’re still confused with the process, take legal advice and never hesitate to let your lawyer handle everything for you.
A digital construction consultancy is working with some of the country’s leading social housing organisations, architects and developers in a Government-led initiative to ensure there is never a repeat of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Operance is providing both practical expertise and software to the Golden Thread Initiative (GTI), a collaboration of industry professionals launched to trial Government proposals on the “golden thread”. The golden thread is a digital way of working to enable a systematic, controlled approach to the management of building safety information throughout the design, construction, refurbishment and management of occupied buildings. It was one of the key recommendations of the Hackitt Report into the failures that led to 72 people losing their lives in the Grenfell tragedy. The process will produce an audit trail of information about a building, the decisions made about it and who made them. In doing so, it will provide increased accountability and ownership of decision-making through the design, build and occupation phases. Sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the purpose of the GTI is to bring together industry professionals to work collaboratively for the benefit of the built environment and to trial methods of producing a standardised digital golden thread for building safety information that will satisfy the requirements of the future Building Safety Bill. The eight-month initiative, led by housing association L&Q on behalf of the MHCLG, launched in November and is split into specific working groups. Participants from the GTI will produce a report for the Government later this year revealing the findings of its work, sharing lessons learned, and potential options on implementing a digital golden thread. As a leading digital estates software developer and consultancy practice, Operance was invited to join the GTI and is represented across several of the working groups. The company is developing its own pioneering software to define, coordinate and audit building operations and maintenance (O&M) information. Scott Pilgrim, Chief Product Officer at Operance, is a member of the GTI’s Information Management Platform working group. He said: “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise with the GTI to help transform the construction industry, making buildings safer and protecting lives. “Our vision to create a digital golden thread is completely aligned to that of the GTI. A disaster like Grenfell must never be allowed to happen again and for that to happen, it’s imperative leading industry professionals come together in this way to drive fundamental and lasting change. “As well as being able to provide our own insights through this forum, Operance’s participation in the project means we can listen and learn from all of those involved to understand fully what the industry needs. “This will be a huge benefit to the development of our platform, ensuring it is truly revolutionary.” Operance’s new information management platform, Operance O&M, is a purpose-built desktop-application to define, curate, audit and maintain information about a building from design to occupation. Accurate and easy to understand building and asset information will be shared with owners, operators and occupiers via the pioneering Operance FM mobile-application, providing users with crucial detail in real-time. With this building information in the palm of their hand, users can easily search, share, update and utilise their data to operate and maintain their facilities, whilst managing risks and continuously developing the golden thread. Both the Operance O&M and Operance FM applications are currently in beta-testing with a full release planned for the summer. Operance is offering a limited number of social housing associations and other organisations the opportunity to test the software and help shape features to suit their needs. To help social housing associations get ready for the new legislation and begin digitalising their portfolio, Operance is also providing strategic digital transformation and Building Information Modelling (BIM) consultancy services to enable them to define and articulate their digital estate ambitions. Operance’s Digital Transformation Lead, Tom Oulton, one of the country’s leading BIM professionals, is a member of the GTI Project Management working group. He said: “We’re on the cusp of revolutionary change to the design, construction and management of our built environment. “Following Grenfell, we must take this opportunity to work collectively to ensure it’s never repeated. This is a chance to affect change that we must not let pass us by.” The Hackitt Review was published in May 2018 following an independent review of building regulations and fire safety at Grenfell, led by Dame Judith Hackitt. It included 50 recommendations on how to improve the design, build and operation of buildings and facilities to make them safer and more efficient. A public inquiry into the Grenfell disaster is ongoing. The first phase focused on the factual narrative of the events on the night of 14th June, 2017. The second phase of the inquiry is examining the causes of these events, including how Grenfell Tower came to be in a condition which allowed the fire to spread the way it did. Any social housing association or other organisation that would like to take part in the beta test of the Operance software can register their interest by emailing beta@operance.app. The Operance team is also available to provide advice and guidance about the implementation of the golden thread and what it will mean for the construction industry. Email info@operance.app to get in touch or, for more information, go to www.operance.app or follow @OperanceApp on Twitter or Operance on LinkedIn. Any organisation that would like further information about the GTI should contact the Programme Manager Kirsty Villiers by emailing kvilliers@lqgroup.org.uk
Although the premises are pretty similar, truck accidents are different from your typical car accidents. They have a higher mortality rate and can lead to more catastrophic damages to the surroundings. As such, the compensation will be relatively higher than usual, so dealing with a truck accident is much different than when you’re involved in a typical car accident. This guide will discuss the things you need to do when you’re involved in truck accident cases so you don’t get the short end of the stick. 1. Get To Safety The first thing you need to do after a truck accident is to get to safety. You can start by driving to the side of the road since your vehicle may become an obstacle to emergency services that will arrive on the scene and cars that pass through the road. If the accident happened at night, it’s advisable to turn on your hazard lights for passersby to see. 2. Call Emergency Services After getting to safety, it should be safe to start calling emergency services, such as 000 or 911. If you don’t have a phone with you at the moment, try asking a passerby to make the call instead. Furthermore, if you think the truck is carrying hazardous materials, make sure to inform the dispatcher of this since they might need to prepare extra equipment. This step is also essential when there is a truck accident in a work site. 3. Document The Scene Emergency services typically arrive one hour after the call, depending on the distance between the accident scene and the nearby station. In the meantime, you can document the scene. You can start by taking pictures of your vehicle, preferably the areas showing the damage. Make sure to take photos of your injuries as well. If there are people who witnessed the accident, you can try to get testimonies from them. But, if they don’t have time at the moment, you can simply get their contact information and names. By documenting the scene, you can gather enough information to ensure that you’ll get compensation from the truck driver. It may also serve as a great tool to convince your insurance company to cover the expenses on repairs. 4. Exchange Information With The Other Party Once the emergency services arrive, they’ll be busy filing an accident report, so you should exchange information with the other party (the truck driver) in the meantime. At the very least, you need to collect the following information: With these pieces of information, it should be difficult for the other party to get away from their mistake if they’re at fault, and this will help greatly in the settlement process. 5. Seek Medical Attention Even if you feel like you’re completely fine, it should still be in your best interest to seek medical attention along with other parties involved in the accident since there’s a chance the injuries are internal and have no immediate signs. Since there are already emergency services on the scene, you don’t have to trouble yourself by going to a nearby hospital. But, just in case, make sure you also go to a hospital after getting checked by the responding officers so you can get a medical record from the doctor. This will come in handy during negotiations later on. 6. Check Your Vehicle Just like your body, your vehicle might’ve sustained internal damage that you’re not aware of, so it’s a good idea to get your vehicle appraised before settling the truck accident claim. That way, you can minimize the compensation for your vehicle’s repairs. Take note, however, that when getting your vehicle appraised on a body shop, you need to remind them that it’s not up for repairs, at least not until you’ve settled the claim. 7. Call Your Insurance Company Call your insurance company immediately to inform them of the accident. However, remember that they will aim to cut on their losses, so they’ll push you to settle immediately so the compensation will be as little as possible. On that note, you need to take control of the call. Here are some tips for pulling this off: Wrapping Up Truck accidents cause 5000 deaths every year, and if you’re not careful, you might become a part of such numbers. Hence, it’s only natural to panic after getting involved in a truck accident, but that will only be counter-productive. If you want to achieve a favorable outcome from this incident, your best bet would be to follow the tips above.
When people lose their lives or their homes because of these accidents, the survivors are left with massive financial liabilities that are often beyond their capabilities to pay. So, to get justice and compensation for all their losses, they hire the services of an injury lawyer. There are many reasons why a construction worker needs to hire an injury lawyer. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of construction accidents based from this source. Before taking up the task of hiring one, however, it’s essential that you’ve some good reasons for doing so. 1. Help Make Your Case There are so many types of accidents that may occur at any construction site. Some of them may include road accidents, slip, falls, defective products, and other such accidents. Most claims related to these types of accidents will be handled by accident claim adjusters, who’ll verify the validity of the case and prepare the necessary documents that’ll help you make your claim. So, if you’re an employee in a large construction company, you can easily contact your human resources department and find out how much your legal compensation should be after an accident. This will save you a lot of time and effort. You also need to consider other factors, such as the amount of time you’ll miss from work due to the injuries suffered. However, if you work for an individual contractor, it’s your responsibility to take responsibility for your safety. In case you’re involved in an accident that has caused severe injuries, you can contact a personal injury attorney and file a legal claim against the contractor. A personal injury lawyer is a right person to consult if you’ve suffered any kind of injury at work. Most claims filed by employees result in huge compensation, which gives them added security at work. 2. Get the Right Amount of Compensation You Deserve Personal injury lawyers can also help you get the right amount of compensation you deserve. However, this depends on the severity of the injuries you deserve and whether the company is responsible for the accident. A construction worker may be able to claim thousands or even millions of dollars for the loss of wages and suffering caused by the injuries. If you’re filing a personal injury claim, an attorney will make sure your case gets the maximum amount of compensation. 3. Help You File A Claim in No Time Perhaps another reason why construction workers must hire personal injury lawyers is the fact that it’ll take time to process your claim. The insurance company may have to verify your claims against them, and then they may decide to approve or deny your claims. It can take from one to three months for the company to process your claim. Even after the company processes your claim, it may take a while before they pay you anything. So, hiring an attorney to act on your behalf will give you more time to receive your money. 4. Give You A Peace of Mind Hiring a personal injury attorney not only means getting a compensation check for your pain and suffering from your construction work but also peace of mind that you’ll be taken care of properly. You don’t need to worry about whether you’ll be able to work your way through the legal system to get what you deserve. You don’t need to wonder if the person at fault will be held accountable for any legal consequences resulting from your injuries. If you hire a personal injury attorney, you’ll be confident that the person handling your case will handle it properly, so you can focus on recovering and building your life back together. If you’ve been involved in an injury case, you know how important it is for you to get a good attorney to help you. Many times, an injury attorney will be able to get much better compensation for you because of their experience and understanding of personal injury laws. An experienced injury attorney will understand all of the details of injury laws better than a non-experienced person. This understanding can make a huge difference in how much money you receive. Final Thoughts A construction worker is prone to a different kind of accident. These are just a few of the reasons why they need to hire a personal injury attorney. Once you hire a personal injury lawyer, the whole process will be much quicker and easier for a construction worker to deal with especially if you’re an individual contractor. You won’t have to waste time trying to make a claim by yourself which could take weeks or months. Instead, you can simply hire an injury lawyer to do this work for you. The overall result is that you should be able to receive the appropriate compensation for your injury.
