Time for another rant from Roger, cliché warning, it’s health and safety gone mad!
See the article about Barratt Homes and an electrical subcontractor having been fined a total of £160,000 for failing to comply with working at height regulations: https://bit.ly/2L3FiRr
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
It is no longer news that the knowledge economy of today is largely driven by data.
Innovative disruptions have come to virtually all sectors of economies through the introduction of technological solutions and ultimately, personalization.
Examples of these are seen in the way people have moved from cable TV to streaming services, traditional retail setups to e-commerce, and so on.
A study by Accenture on hyper-relevant customer experiences show that 40% of consumers switched companies as far back as 2017 due to inadequate personalization features. Today, it is safe to say that this number would have doubled.
Customer Data Harvesting and its Downsides
To achieve the gains enjoyed by customers, these companies conduct customer data harvesting. These companies take raw data of their customers, compute them and transform them into actionable models which churn out results based on the computed data.
While this provides consumers with a more connected feel to the brand or business, it has its downsides – especially with respect to data privacy.
Data and Identity Theft: With the ravaging wave of cybercrime across the globe today, data theft is a major cause for concern, especially with the large volume of personal data collected by these firms.
Should these data fall into the wrong hands, cyber threats such as identity theft begin to set in. Eventually, the company loses revenue and customer trust which is often hardest to gain back.
Data Misuse
Asides this, there’s also the issue of overzealous companies collecting more data than required without permission and possibly trading them to other buyers within their circle. This of course, should be illegal but oftentimes users fail to read privacy policies before they accept them thereby sign off their personal data. To curtail all these issues, there are a number of precautions that can be taken by users and they are listed below:
Preventing the Adverse Effect of Customer Data Harvesting
Use Temporary Details: For services that require a one-time sign-on, it is usually advisable to use temporary email addresses that can be gotten off the Internet for registration and subsequent login. This reduces how much of your details you have out there.
Use a VPN: Asides accessing geo-restricted services, it is advisable to download a VPN for your devices as this provides an extra layer of security on your data when it transfers over the Internet. In addition, VPNs help shield your Internet activity from your ISPs.
Disable Location Settings: A number of applications make use of GPS locations to provide personalized services. Disabling this setting on your device, especially when not in use will help prevent your location data from being collected without permission.
Avoid Suspicious Mails and Links: A good rule of thumb is to look out for SSL encryption on emails and HTTPS prefix on website links in the search bar. More often than not, unsafe or phishing links are not secured.
Avoid Free Apps and Services: Lots of times, these free applications offer free services for something in return. As you might rightly guess, it is personal data which can either be sold, used to serve ads or used maliciously that are obtained in exchange for free services.
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
◾ Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we’ll remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.
Construction firm boss Richard Selby is urging businesses to act now to be ready for new trading rules between the UK and EU on 1 January 2021.
The Director and co-founder of Pro Steel Engineering worked with his accountant and used the checklist available on GOV.UK, to make sure the business was prepared for the end of the Transition period on 31 December. He’s now advising others to do the same.
Richard says: “It’s so important to use GOV.UK support. In addition, if working across borders ensure you are aware of additional administration requirements and talk to freight forwarders about the support they can offer.
“We found it helped to look at webinars and reach out to other organisations like the Institute of Directors for support.”
Pro Steel Engineering
Pro Steel Engineering employs 65 staff at its base in Pontypool, where it specialises in structural steelwork fabrication and construction.
Richard’s advice comes as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy continues to update gov.uk/transition with vital information to help companies understand the important actions they need to take to be ready for the start of 2021.
Support includes pre-recorded webinars taking businesses through the changes related to them.
Richard has checked the new rules on importing and exporting goods between the EU and Great Britain from 1 January 2021. He’s also made sure his company applied due diligence to exporting and importing timber from the UK to EU to meet legal harvest requirements.
He adds: “This is something very much front of mind for us, and that we need to create a list of suppliers and customers to be in a good place for the start of 2021”
Further information
Find webinars to help you understand what actions to take at bit.ly/UKTwebinar
Speak with your lawyer and accountant for more information, or answer questions using the checker tool to generate information tailored to your business, and to sign up for email updates.
The staff at the company got into the festive spirit by wearing an array of seasonally inspired sweaters and jumpers in return for a £2.00 donation.
Covers further bolstered funds by making a generous donation of £5 for every transaction completed across its chain of 14 depots on the day.
Covers Timber & Builders Merchants Staff in their Christmas jumpers.
The hospices to benefit from the funding are St Wilfrid’s in Chichester, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care in Farnham, Martlets in Hove, St Peter & St James Hospice in Lewes, Hospice in the Weald in Tunbridge Wells, Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity in Southampton, St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley, The Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville and St Barnabas House in Worthing.
The children’s hospices Chestnut Tree House in Arundel, Naomi House & Jacksplace in Winchester, and Demelza Hospice Care in Sittingbourne will also receive funds.
Henry Green, Managing Director of Covers, said:
“This year has been particularly difficult for charities so we are delighted to be supporting hospices in our communities once again with our annual Christmas Jumper Day.
Hospices rely heavily on funding to operate, so we hope this latest donation will help make a difference to the vital work they do taking care of patients and their families.”
The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with electricals retailer, AO, as they become a sponsor of the government-sanctioned institute.
Operating across the UK and Germany, AO has over 20 years’ experience selling, delivering, and installing household appliances for the public, as well as offering its unique proposition to B2B clients through, AO Business.
AO’s sponsorship plays an integral role in the support of the institute’s objectives, including the development of industry apprenticeships, something the organisation is focusing on over the next three years.
Anthony Sant, MD at AO Business, said: “We’re so proud to have come on board as a sponsor of the British Institute of KBB Installation. At AO Business, we offer a unique proposition to customers, with our trained delivery fleet equipped to install any appliance we sell into customers’ homes.
Whether we’re delivering to a vulnerable customer through our supported living team or installing 100s of appliances into new build homes with our housebuilder team, we truly understand the art of installation.
Our proposition ensures all deliveries are hassle-free for customers and we’ll even remove old appliances for safe recycling at AO’s plant in Telford!”
BiKBBI Chief Executive Damian Walters, said: “We’re working with some amazing businesses and we’re proud that leading brands continue to support our objectives via Corporate Sponsorship.
AO is another example of a robust, reputable industry-relevant business that understands the importance of installation and the work we do to make the industry a better place for all stakeholders. I am bowled over by AO’s support and I welcome them into the BiKBBI family with open arms!”
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, the global professional body for supply chain management has launched the new Construction Procurement Competence Tool after the development of a national suite of procurement competence standards following the Grenfell enquiry.
Building a Safer Future
In response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report, it was recognised that poor procurement practices can lead to decisions that compromise all aspects of building and life safety, and across the sector, there was a desire to improve the competence of people involved in procurement activities so that better decisions are taken at all levels of the construction supply chain.
Construction Procurement Competence Tool
The free tool allows users to benchmark themselves and other individuals against the recommended competency framework to understand the level of competency or additional training and skills required to meet these more rigorous standards.
Users select their job role, such as building safety manager, principle contractor, or procurement leader followed by job competencies set against RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) stages 0-7 with the required level indicated against each stage.
The stages cover definition, capabilities and knowledge which are matched to levels in the CIPS global framework highlighting skills and capabilities required in various job roles.
The user then receives a summary of skills and competencies and where there are gaps for improvement. The tool is designed for use by individual contractors and construction professionals, companies and project managers.
CIPS chaired Working Group 11, one of the 13 groups appointed as part of the Competency Steering Group (CSG) following the Hackitt report. The CSG was tasked with the development of a national suite of procurement competence standards required not just amongst builders but associated professions such as architects and surveyors when working on higher risk buildings.
Organisations can map what procurement competency levels are required at each stage of a build, identifying key roles and levels of understanding to support enhanced safety aims. Whole teams can go through the process of assessment.
Duncan Brock CIPS Group Director and chair of the procurement working group, said,
“The free tool is a result of a collaborative project to help support the construction sector to combat its common challenges and reach a balanced approach as the pressures of price, margin and safety remain.
We hope it will give the sector more confidence and knowledge about procurement and build a better future for residents of higher risk buildings.
“The Grenfell tragedy will stick in our minds for many years to come and CIPS is proud to have been part of the work to improve standards to increase competence and ultimately ensure the safety of citizens in their homes.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH MAKITA’S NEW CORDLESS EARTH AUGER.
Leading power tool manufacturer, Makita UK has announced the release of its Brushless LXT 36V (18Vx2) DDG460 – Earth Auger. Suitable for a variety of earth-boring tasks up to 200mm diameter, this powerful tool is breaking new ground in the field of cordless solutions.
Makita DDG460 Models
Powered by two 18V LXT lithium-ion batteries, the new Makita DDG460 T2X7 (with two 5Ah batteries and twin-port fast charger) and DDG460 ZX7 (body only version) Cordless Earth Auger is capable of producing a maximum torque of 136Nm.
Thanks to its 36V brushless motor, the solution is suited for even the most demanding tasks with the ability to drill approximately 155 holes with a 150mm earth auger, and 90 holes with a 200mm earth auger all from a single charge (figures may vary depending on ground conditions.)
The tool incorporates a number of features to protect the tool and battery from potential overuse, including Makita’s integrated Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT) that automatically changes the drilling speed according to the load condition, thus enabling more optimum operation.
To protect the operator, the tool also features a torque limiter, that will activate if the auger binds in the ground, which is required due to the high torque output generated by this machine.
Reverse Action
Here, the motor will disengage from the output shaft and the machine will stop. Should an auger bit jam in soil with high resistance such as clay, the reversing switch enables the operator to extract the bit in reverse rotation.
Makita has also included a Handle Set with a bar and auxiliary handle to assist the operator in controlling the rotation torque generated by the powerful motor and gearbox.
With a number of convenient controls such as soft-start function, an electric brake two-speed gearbox and variable speed control, the DDG460 can easily switch between tasks with its versatile auger bit adapter, whilst the twin LED job light makes working in low-light environments far easier.
Earth Auger Options
The power unit can be fitted with a selection of 100mm, 150mm and 200mm earth augers and Makita has also introduced a 540mm extension bar to achieve greater hole depth when required.
Speaking on the new release, Mark Earles, OPE Business Development Manager at Makita UK commented: “The new DDG460 Cordless Earth Auger is ideal for many fencing and landscaping companies, with the power and performance required to tackle a variety of soils without the constraints of petrol engine alternatives.
Powered by a brushless motor, the tool is engineered to run more efficiently for longer life and is fuelled by our LXT battery platform for fast charging and on-site productivity.
“We are looking forward to releasing more cordless, outdoor products as part of an exciting and expanding roadmap of cordless products in 2021.”
With verifiably sustainable fabric technology innovations.
With a focus on comfort, performance and sustainability in its new products, the 2021 digital catalogue has all you need to know about Snickers Workwear, including new products that now use REPREVE, the world’s number one brand of recycled performance fibre.
There’s also new AllroundWork Topwear with the cooling 37.5® moisture transportation fabric, as well as upgraded FLEXIWork Stretch Trousers with extra functionality and durability.
By popular demand, there’s also a stretchy hi-vis Work Jacket with great comfort and flexibility for high-performance work and high visibility in low-light conditions.
Added to which, there are the most innovative street-smart stretch fabrics in the ALLROUNDWork clothing range for mobile comfort and a Layered Clothing System that ensures you can choose clothes to suit the weather on site – rain or shine, wind or snow – plus an extensive range of EN-certified ProtecWork and PPE products.
Complimented by Snickers Workwear’s Profiling and Embroidery services and the most extensive range of garment sizes, this clothing system delivers the ultimate solution to make every man and woman’s workday easier and safer.
With verifiably sustainable fabric technology innovations. With a focus on comfort, performance and sustainability in its new products, the 2021 digital catalogue has all you need to know about Snickers Workwear, including new products that now use REPREVE, the world’s number one brand of recycled performance fibre.
There’s also new AllroundWork Topwear with the cooling 37.5® moisture transportation fabric, as well as upgraded FLEXIWork Stretch Trousers with extra functionality and durability.
By popular demand, there’s also a stretchy hi-vis Work Jacket with great comfort and flexibility for high-performance work and high visibility in low-light conditions.
Added to which, there’s the most innovative street-smart stretch fabrics in the ALLROUNDWork clothing range for mobile comfort and a Layered Clothing System that ensures you can choose clothes to suit the weather on site – rain or shine, wind or snow – plus an extensive range of EN-certified ProtecWork and PPE products.
Complimented by Snickers Workwear’s Profiling and Embroidery services and the most extensive range of garment sizes, this clothing system delivers the ultimate solution to make every man and woman’s workday easier and safer.
Incorporating some of the most advanced technical features in safety shoe design for tradesmen and women.
Sporty looks, best-in-class materials technology and superior comfort are hallmarks of Solid Gear safety footwear.
2021 sees the launch of the Marshal GTX boot and the Enforcer GTX shoe that both integrate best-in-class materials for water protection and durability.
The waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® linings keep your feet dry and comfy, while the Vibram® outsole and CORDURA® ripstop fabric offer great protection and rugged utility.
The unique BOA® Fit System also distributes lacing pressure evenly across your feet for a glove-like fit.
The Solid Gear footwear range is packed with market-leading features and hi-tech designs that combine top-quality materials for ultimate comfort, maximum safety and wellbeing at work.
Like the lightweight fibre-glass toecaps and technical composite plates that are lighter and thinner but still stronger than their predecessors for S3-class protection all day long.
The construction industry is accountable for more than one-third of the world’s energy consumption.
As a result, it also contributes around 40 percent of global CO2 emissions. This sector also produces hazardous waste that affects both the environment and people’s health.
While there is a demand for greener buildings, there is some hesitancy to adopt more sustainable practices.
The main reason for this is cost. Many firms believe that constructing green buildings will require higher expenditure.
However, for those construction companies that are willing to adopt sustainable methods, there are some considerable benefits, such as:
Perceived value – Owners and buyers often consider green buildings to be better and more valuable than traditional structures. If buildings are energy efficient, the operating costs will be considerably lower.
Lower waste fees – If the construction industry starts producing less waste, the fees charged by waste management companies will also come down.
Lower energy costs – Adopting fuel-efficient vehicles and discouraging unnecessary electricity usage can generate substantial fuel and energy savings.
The importance of BREEAM in the construction industry
BREEAM (an acronym for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s longest established method for rating the environmental impact and sustainability of a building.
The assessment covers every aspect of the process, from design right up to the operational phase.
Construction and development companies need a good BREEAM rating to assure local authorities that their buildings have the required sustainability credentials.
Usually, in order to obtain your planning permissions quickly, you will need to hire a professional assessor.
However, this site talks about how a BREEAM pre-assessment can also provide valuable insight to the building developer’s design team.
While this is a non-formal assessment, it can guide designers on the adoption of a suitable strategy to achieve the desired rating.
Modern Sustainable Construction
Illustration: BREEAM and building insulation
One area where a BREEAM pre-assessment is helpful is the building’s insulation. Traditionally, insulation has been considered to be the best way of ensuring a building is energy efficient.
Insulation works by preventing or slowing down any heat loss. However, insulating a building only controls the indoor temperature during cold spells and the winter season.
During the summer, the high demand on energy consumption due to artificial lighting and air conditioning can easily outweigh any savings made from the building’s insulation.
As buildings are designed to trap heat inside, people are very likely to turn on the air conditioning, which can in turn cause overheating.
Nowadays, building designers have to account for the various and sometimes contrasting energy needs, such as heating, cooling and lighting.
They also need to consider incorporating sustainable energy generating systems, such as solar panels. This will enhance the energy efficiency of their buildings.
Nevertheless, keeping a building thermally insulated and airtight will not suffice. It is also prudent to consider the ventilation, airflow rate and indoor air quality.
Accordingly, it is important to seek expert advice from a specialist in the field to ensure that the construction project is successful in making the building energy efficient.
Conclusion
Adopting sustainable construction processes and methods is a commendable objective. With this in mind, building designers should focus on making their buildings energy-efficient.
While constructing green buildings may be more expensive, the benefits will be significant. One way of keeping costs down, especially in relation to BREEAM, is to obtain a pre-assessment report first.
What is BREEAM?
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings.
It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.
BREEAM does this through third-party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance, using standards developed by BRE.
This means BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property investments.
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An Independent committee of experts should scrutinise the economic and technical feasibility of zero-carbon pledges by the CCC, says the Gas Users Organisation, that speaks for the 24 million households that use gas heating.
It would be hugely foolish to consider phasing out natural gas in people’s homes, which is clean, convenient and the cheapest option, in favour of a jam-tomorrow pipe dream which assumes a massive increase in supply of zero-carbon electricity.
Climate Change Committee
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has announced the target, in its new Carbon Budget Document released on 9th December, that “By the early 2030s … … all boiler replacements in homes in homes and other buildings are low-carbon – largely electric”
To achieve this, the CCC are proposing that the UK could have a zero-carbon electricity supply industry by 2035, including a huge increase in capacity
The Gas Users Organisation doubts whether these targets are achievable, and calls for caution over changes that would disadvantage households who currently use gas for heating.
Gas Users Organisation Technical Director, Andrew Newman, explains:
“These issues are both too important and too complex to be dealt with by the CCC, without a rigorous process of their decisions being challenged. The Gas Users Organisation calls for a separate “red team” committee of independent engineers, industry experts, trades union and economic experts to assess the feasibility and costs of achieving these very challenging objectives. In particular this committee should look at the investment needed to develop a local content supply chain after the BiFab collapse
“The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) are posing very ambitious targets, and we are not confident that they can be achieved, either economically, or in terms of engineering feasibility”.
“There is a huge risk that large scale commitments could be made for decarbonising the heating systems in our homes based upon unrealistic targets for future zero-carbon electricity that are unlikely to be met.
This would involve higher prices, additional costs and inconvenience for households; it would jeopardise jobs in UK supply chains; and destroy the jobs of the gas service engineers right across the country”.
“The CCC is saying that “electricity generation should be fully decarbonised by 2035. That will need to happen while meeting a 50% increase in demand“, and “doubling or even trebling by demand by 2050“. They are proposing that this increase in capacity would allow most homes to be heated by electricity.
“There are a number of problems with this. Firstly, just two years ago, the CCC itself concluded that for fully electrified heating, up to 4 or 5 times as much electricity capacity would be needed compared to today, a much larger increase than they are now estimating.
“Furthermore, the CCC calls for “additional ‘back up’ electricity generation capacity in excess of 100 GW – roughly equivalent to the size of today’s electricity system – could be required to meet electrified heat demand during peak periods.” Peak demand is easily met today by simply drawing more gas from storage.
Offshore Wind Farms
So, the CCC’s plan even in its own terms is not promising enough capacity to deliver zero-carbon electricity for all our homes. It would be hugely foolish to consider phasing out natural gas in people’s homes, which is clean, convenient and the cheapest option, in favour of a jam-tomorrow pipe dream.
“Secondly, the target of 90 GW of zero-carbon electricity looks very unlikely. To put the size of the change in context, the new Hinckley Point C new nuclear power will have the capacity to supply 3.2 GW zero carbon emissions electricity.
It’s the only new nuclear station commissioned to date. Wind farms have the current capacity for 10.4 GW electricity. Solar energy has a capacity of 2.2 GW of electricity. Good progress is being made in the zero-carbon emissions electricity journey, but the most difficult challenges are still ahead of us”.
“Furthermore, the CCC calls for more use of “storage” for electricity, but no details of how this huge engineering challenge would be met. Energy Storage is far from being “shovel ready”.
Both the costs and feasibility of the technology at the required scale are unproven. To put this level of requirement in perspective, there is currently just 4 GW of storage projects in planning, in addition to the just 1 GW of battery storage already in operation
“We also have very serious concerns about the lack of concern about jobs in the supply chain.
There are no UK based facilities to build the 2,700 giant wind turbines and jackets required to deliver 30GW of electricity by 2035. This is 180 turbines and jackets each year every year for the next 15 years.
The facilities to make just eight jackets at BiFab recently collapsed into administration and both the UK and Scottish governments said that state aid rules prevented them from intervening to save the company”.
“UK manufacturers currently lead the world in gas boilers, and a move to heat pumps would probably lead to them being replaced by imported systems from overseas”.
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