Construction company, Balfour Beatty, has been fined after flooring at a house-building development gave way, injuring a worker. Newcastle Crown Court heard how a worker was on the first floor of a new build domestic property when the floor gave way at one side. The worker and approximately 70 building blocks slid 2.4 metres, vertically, to the ground. He suffered …
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Leyland SDM (LSDM) Limited has been fined after four workers fell more than three and a half metres whilst carrying a ventilation unit. Westminster Magistrates Court heard how LSDM had been in the process of redeveloping a warehouse in Wembley. However, when four workers tried to move a ventilation unit into position, the working platform became overloaded and gave way. …
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Redland, the UK manufacturer and supplier of pitched roof systems, has announced that it is to build a new manufacturing line for its plain-tile appearance product, DuoPlain, and large-format concrete tiles and slates. The multimillion-pound investment will help secure supply of these products into a UK market that is currently experiencing huge demand and extensive lead times. The new line, …
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A man has been fined and given a suspended prison sentence after working on a number of boilers without being Gas Safe registered. High Wycombe Crown Court heard how Philip Locke carried out work on a boiler in 2013 without being registered, faults were later found with the boiler. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuting issued a letter to …
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In February Skill Builder was invited to Festoool’s UK HQ for an exclusive demonstration of the new Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw. In this video Philip Beckley, Festool’s training officer, provides a comprehensive demonstration of the new machine and talks through some of its key features and benefits. www.festool.co.uk
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Skill Builder’s ‘Day in the life’ feature takes a look at a typical day in the life of different tradespeople. In this installment we talk to Carpenter and Joiner Robin Clevett. Name: Robin Clevett Trade: Carpenter and Joiner What time does your day start? Usually around 6am. What gets you out of bed in the morning? My mortgage!!! What does …
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In this video Roger and Duncan get stuck into Weber’s one-coat, through-coloured, water resistant weberpral monocouche render and find that it’s not quite as difficult as they expected. weberpral M is a one coat, ready mixed, cementitious, weather resistant, external decorative, through coloured render, suitable for most types of brick or blockwork. Factory produced from carefully selected raw materials for …
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A Cleckheaton engineering firm has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker suffered life changing injuries. H E Realisations Ltd (now in liquidation, formerly Hogg Engineering Ltd) of pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Reg 8(1) of the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Gateshead Magistrates’ Court heard …
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Roger Bisby installs a new Van Guard roof rack. When I sold my old Mercedes Vito I sold the roof rack with it. It was a Van Guard roof rack made for the van so there was little point in keeping it besides I really fancied the look of the new Van Guard roof rack with the aerodynamic Ultibars. All …
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Baxi has joined forces with Expert Trades to try and make life easier for its installers, by helping them to win more business and spend less time on admin and paperwork. Expert Trades was set up in 2013 to provide tradespeople with business tools (accessible online and via an app) to help them manage and grow their businesses more effectively. …
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Gas safety failings of a Preston Landlord lead to a suspended prison sentence after failing to ensure gas appliances were checked for safety.
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An emerging North/South divide could derail the Government’s plan to install smart meters in 50 million homes by the end of the decade, new research suggests. Uptake of the money saving meters has been relatively strong in the north with 19% of homes in the North West and nearly a quarter of homes in the North East already having a …
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An unregistered gas fitter from Farnborough has been prosecuted for carrying out illegal gas work which was found to be unsafe. Basingstoke Magistrates’ court heard how Mr Fergus Leask, who also trades as Eldan Plumbing, had assured the homeowner that he was Gas Safe Registered. When he was unable to supply the gas safe certificate months after installing the boiler, the …
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Pegler Yorkshire has extended its stainless steel XPress Press Fit range of fittings to included sizes up to 168mm – said to be a first for the UK market. The two new additions complement the XPress range offering a complete system from 12mm through to 168mm. “We are constantly looking at what the market wants and addressing needs of specifiers …
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Powertool manufacturer Fein has released its latest “Feeling FEIN’ video tool review, the FEIN Cordless MultiMaster review. The ‘Feeling FEIN’ reviews focus on getting FEIN’s products into the hands of professional tradespeople. Each tradesperson has been using a specific FEIN power tool and has given their honest feedback on camera. In this review Nicola Butcher, a carpenter and owner of …
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Three companies from Essex have been fined after a worker suffered brain injuries after falling seven meters through a fragile roof he was replacing. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Rafal Myslim was standing on the fragile roof at Dengie Crops Ltd in Asheldem, when the asbestos sheeting gave way and he fell 7.5m onto a concrete floor, hitting a number …
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‘First Layer’ underwear from Snickers Workwear is designed to keep workers dry and comfortable throughout the working day.
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Roger Bisby demonstrates how to fit a bath from Abacus Bathrooms. Incorrectly fitted baths can easily move and allow water to seep down the back so it’s very important that they are fitted properly. Roger Bisby talks through some key points to consider when fitting a bath including ensuring that the bath is level along both planes. www.abacus-bathrooms.co.uk
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Prices have been announced for the all-new Volkswagen Crafter, with UK Van Centres now taking orders ahead of the van’s launch in April. The all-new Crafter, International Van of the Year for 2017 is powered by a new 2.0-litre TDI (EU6) engine, developed specifically for commercial vehicles, which is available with four power outputs: 102, 122, 140 and 177 PS. …
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An asbestos analyst has been fined after he falsified an asbestos air clearance certificate, following licensed asbestos removal in Manchester. Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Manchester and Salford Court House, heard how, on 19th November 2015, Mr Barrie Lyons, a well-trained asbestos analyst with 29 years of experience, was contracted to carry out the final inspection and air testing, …
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