New practical hardtops for Volkswagen Amarok

Truckman Amarok hardtops

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched two new Truckman hardtops for its Amarok pick-up. Available in a wide range of colours, the RS and Utility hardtops are said to offer customers a practical yet stylish storage area. Volkswagen says they differ from the current ‘luxury’ GLS and Grand hardtops as they have been designed for more commercial use. Features of the …

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Dewalt unveils 54V battery which provides power of corded with freedom of cordless

54V power tools

DEWALT is claiming to have “changed the game” in the power tool market as it unveils a range of 54V power tools that offer new levels of runtime and performance. With the new XR Flexvolt range Dewalt promises tradespeople they will be able to undertake heavy-duty construction applications without the need for mains power. This innovation means that you can …

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Young entrepreneur designs kneepad to reduce osteoarthritis

Recoil Kneepads

A young entrepreneur from Glasgow has redesigned the traditional kneepad to launch a product aimed at tradespeople which reduces pressure on the knee by 76%. Vicky Hamilton, 25, a product design engineering graduate from the University of Strathclyde, originally developed Recoil Kneepads as part of her final year project. She was inspired to help her dad, Gordon Hamilton, 48 who …

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How to: Lay floor levelling compound

how to lay floor levelling compound

Further to popular demand on Skill Builder’s YouTube channel, in this video Roger Bisby provides an indepth guide that shows how to lay floor levelling compound in association with Bostik. The first point Roger makes is that these are floor levelling compounds and not screeds, a screed is something that’s put down on top of concrete to form a level …

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Construction industry and Samaritans join forces to tackle mental health

mental health and workplace stress

The Building Engineering Services Association (the BESA), the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the CIBSE Patrons are joining forces with the Samaritans on a campaign to address the growing problem of mental health and workplace stress in the construction industry. This initiative will begin with a jointly hosted seminar to be held in central London. BESA chief executive Paul McLaughlin, …

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Suspended prison sentence for unregistered gas fitter

Construction deaths rise

A gas fitter from Walsall has received a suspended prison sentence after he fitted a hob at a house in Tamworth when not on the Gas Safe Register. Alan Nicholas Price’s work came to the attention of HSE after a registered fitter subsequently carried out repairs on the gas hob. The unregistered gas fitter from Pelsall, was charged with breaching …

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UK pricing for Fiat Fullback pickup announced

Fiat Fullback pickup

Pricing and specification for the hotly anticipated Fiat Fullback pickup truck have been announced today ahead of its UK launch on July 4th. Available as a double cab only and with all-wheel drive standard on all versions you can own one of Fiat’s first pickup’s from £20,995 (excluding VAT, VED, delivery and plates) for the SX version. The FIAT Professional …

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Stonemasonry firm fined after apprentice injured by power line

Construction deaths rise

A stonemasonry company in Perth has been fined after an apprentice stonemason was seriously injured from contact with an overhead power line. Perth Sheriff Court heard how 20 year old apprentice Rodd McFarlane was working for T& M Stonemasonry, carrying out repairs at Waulkmill Cottage in Perth. During this work, McFarlane erected a tower scaffold to carry out some re-pointing …

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ForgeFix launches power tool accessories range

forgefix

ForgeFix,  has introduced a new range of power tool accessories. The range was developed drawing on ForgeFix’s thirty years of industry experience as well as specialist input from a panel of trade professionals including joiners, plumbers and general builders. Products, which will be sold under  ForgeMaster brand,  include high speed steel , SDS hammer drills for masonry, flat wood and auger …

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BT Fined £500,000 After Fragile Roof Fall

Construction deaths rise

British Telecom plc (BT) has been fined £500,000 after an engineer fell seven metres from a loft in London, breaking his back and his ankles. The Old Bailey heard how a BT engineer, David Spurgeon, was fixing a telephone fault in the roof void of a residential block of flats in Tower Hamlets, East London. Mr Spurgeon was working alone …

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Origin simplifies online ordering

origin windows

British manufacturer of bi-folding doors and windows, Origin, has launched an online quoting and ordering system to help trade partners to quote and order products from the company’s Origin Home range with ease, accuracy and efficiency. Origin’s Sale Safe (OSS) system, which is said to be the first system of its kind, was built in house to improve the ease …

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Costs of solar PV could tumble by 59 percent.

Costs of solar

The average costs for electricity generated by solar and wind technologies could decrease by between 26 and 59 per cent by 2025, according to a report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).  The Power to Change: Solar and Wind Cost Reduction Potential to 2025, suggests that with the right regulatory and policy frameworks in place, solar and …

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O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream review

O'Keeffes Working Hands Hand Cream

Roger Bisby tries out O’Keeffes Working Hands Hand Cream. They used to say, back in the day, that when the revolution comes everyone will have to hold out their hands and those with soft hands will be put up against the wall and shot. A tad extreme, I grant you, but I always knew I would be safe from the …

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Breathe new life into patios and paved areas

concrete paint

Adseal Colours has launched two new DIY concrete staining kits which include all the products needed to recolour or completely change the colour of both interior and exterior concrete surfaces. They contain a stain from a choice of 12 different solid colours as well as a paving sealer, an applicator brush, protective gloves and easy to follow instructions. Kits are …

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Gas engineer sentenced for putting tenants at risk

Construction deaths rise

A gas engineer has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service for putting tenants at risk in rented homes in Chelmsford. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that James Wilkinson was Gas Safe- registered for some types of gas appliances, but had been carrying out work for which he was not competent. Wilkinson was contracted to work on gas warm air …

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Plasterboard you can fix to without plugs

gyproc habito

In this video Roger Bisby finds out more about the new Gyproc Habito plasterboard which you can screw straight into without the need for plugs or special fixings. The high-performance plasterboard from British Gypsum is the latest addition to the Gyproc performance board range and has been designed for use in the residential sector. You can hang radiators and kitchen …

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Free apprentice for a year

Free apprentice

A new apprenticeship scholarship programme has launched today, which will give two construction companies the chance to benefit from the placement of an apprentice who will be completely funded to work for them for 12 months. The initiative is being launched by the construction audit, contract and payroll provider, Hudson Contract, to celebrate its 20th anniversary and also provide opportunities …

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Contractor fined for safety failings

Construction deaths rise

A company based in Cardiff has been fined for safety failings during a property development which included breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court heard Ziman Trading Limited, formerly Ziman Investments Limited (Ziman), was acting as the principal contractor at the property development of the former New York Hotel, York Street, Porth. An investigation by the …

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Roofer fined after passer-by reports unsafe work

Construction deaths rise

A Bracknell based roofer has been fined for safety failings after a complaint was made to the HSE regarding unsafe roof work. No-one was injured in the incident at Sabine Gates, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell on 27 August 2014, however members of the public were endangered by the potential for falling objects. Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that Terry Colwell trading …

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Further fall in construction inspections

Construction deaths rise

The number of unannounced construction inspections being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive continued to drop last year according to construction union UCATT. In 2015/16 there was a total of 9,219 inspections compared to 9,656 in 2014/15, a decrease of 4%. The number of construction inspections has been declining steadily in recent years with figures revealing that in three …

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