Contractor Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions has been sentenced after exposing workers to a debilitating health condition over a nine-year period. Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd was fined £500,000 after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that workers at the company were exposed to hand-arm vibration between 2002 and 2011 which put them at risk of developing Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome …
Read More »
Ventilation manufacturer Nuaire, based in Caerphilly, Wales, hopes to prevent thousands of deaths caused by air pollution with what they consider to be a revolutionary technology for existing homes. To coincide with national Clean Air Day on 21st June, the company is launching the Noxmaster whole-house ventilation system for the retrofit market. The Noxmaster combines a powerful carbon filter with …
Read More »
Snickers Workwear says the new range of cool and functional Snickers Hi-Vis summer clothing is streets ahead of anything else. With an extensive range of Jackets, Trousers, Shorts, Toolvests, Shirts and Fleeces from Snickers’ LITEWork, FLEXIWork and ALLROUNDWORK families, there’s a host of different garments in the range to satisfy the specific requirements of Classes 1, 2 and 3 protection …
Read More »
Combining a lightweight athletic look with maximum breathability and safety features, the new Solid Gear VENT safety shoe is said to be ideal for workers who are constantly on the move. The Solid Gear VENT’s upper is made from lightweight mesh combined with Cordura and a TPU reinforcement to ensure cool comfort, maximum breathability and enhanced durability. While the shoe’s …
Read More »
The Dame Judith Hackitt Review into Building Regulations provides a blueprint for ensuring competence in construction should be extended across the industry.
Read More »
Almost 80% of builders are calling for more regulation in the construction industry to end the tyranny of cowboy builders, according to the FMB.
Read More »
The Extension project is now up to plate level so it’s time for Pythagoras’ theorem. “Plate level is the timber plate which is going to hold the roof structure including the roof joists, hips and roof rafters. “When you put this on you need to spend a lot of time getting this right because carpenters curse bricklayers like mad if …
Read More »
Ahead of the biggest DIY weekend of the year – the great Easter break – Skill Builder Editor, Georgina Bisby has been trying out some Poundland tools to see what you can get for your money. Georgina tries out a spirit level, hammer, screwdriver set, junior hacksaw and some tape measures to see which ones are a steal and which …
Read More »
This competition is now closed. Skill Builder has teamed up with Snickers Workwear to give away a set of premium workwear from the company’s brand new high vis range as modelled by Roger in this video. The prize package which is worth over £300 includes: Allroundwork Insulated high vis jacket RuffWork Heater Hat Flexi Work Wool ½ zip top Litework …
Read More »
Bricklayer and general builder Stephen Cheshire is, like many builders, often faced with the prospect of trying to hide a steel beam in the ceiling. The problem, as you will no doubt know, is not hiding the beam but how to safely prop the wall above the upstairs floor level so you leave the ceiling void clear to place the …
Read More »
Screwfix is calling for the next generation to consider a career in the electrical trade as new research shows a job in the trade could lead to higher wages than other career choices. Future electricians could earn at least £2,500 a year more than the national average by 2022, bringing their average salary to over £27,500. In addition, apprentices can …
Read More »
Lucie Stephens, the daughter of a teacher who died of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, is campaigning for schools to be obliged to warn staff and pupils of its presence. Please sign and share the campaign as we think it’s one that deserves our support. Here’s Lucie’s story: “Parents have been kept in the dark about asbestos risks for too …
Read More »
With the industry suffering from a lack of skilled workers, Cembrit is helping to educate the roofers of the future by donating roofing materials to Leeds College of Building for the Roof Slating and Tiling apprenticeship scheme. Cembrit has contributed approximately 1,000 Westerland fibre cement slates, 600 Glendyne natural slates and 120 angled ridges to help deliver valuable roofing …
Read More »
Two-thirds of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters as construction skills shortages hit a ‘record high’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Key results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey, the quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include: More than two-thirds (68%) of construction …
Read More »
Andrew Pass, Global Engineering Manager for Fall Protection Engineered systems at MSA Safety explains why he believes engineered simplicity is fundamental to success in fall protection and explains how this has driven the design of the company’s new V-Series range. Fall Protection – A Tall Order With new designs and modern substrates, fall protection systems need the agility to perform …
Read More »
Serena Kennedy, HR Manager for fit out and refurbishment experts, ITC Concepts, explains why she believes investing in the future of employees working in the construction industry pays dividends. In October 2017, ITC Concepts won the Croydon Business Excellence award for Employee Training and Development. We couldn’t have been prouder – investment in our employees, through various types of development …
Read More »
In the eighth and final test of our big Impact Driver round up we put the Bosch GDR 18 V-LI & GDR 18-LI Impact Drivers and Bosch GDX 18 V-EC impact wrench through their paces. These tests complete this series of cordless impact driver tests which has covered models from Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, Hilti, Metabo, Pansonic, DeWalt and Hitachi. Find …
Read More »
In Part 5 of our mega-roundup, Roger puts the Panasonic EY75A7 Dual Volt 18v/14.4v Impact Driver through its paces; see how he gets on. The Panasonic EY75A7 impact driver is a dual voltage model, which means it’s compatible with 18v and 14.4v Panasonic batteries. This particular version is the body only packaged without batteries or charger. Improvements over the previous …
Read More »
Roger Bisby talks through the beam and block floor stage of building an extension. Generally speaking there are two options for constructing ground floors. You can opt for a solid floor which involves laying wet concrete directly onto your ground surface or you can choose a beam and block floor which is also known as a suspended floor which allows …
Read More »
HSE is reminding companies of the necessity of monitoring workers’ health after a South Wales Housing Association was fined for exposing workers to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard how Charter Housing Association Ltd. reported six cases of HAVS following a health surveillance programme launched in June 2015. The affected employees were all part of the maintenance …
Read More »
Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
