Construction National

Kubota ‘Gold Digger’ raises £26,000 at the Lighthouse Club Summer Ball

Kubota UK, the market-leading supplier of high performance compact construction machinery, has raised £26,000 auctioning off its special edition ‘Gold Digger’ at construction industry charity The Lighthouse Club’s 60th anniversary Summer Ball.

Following the significant milestone of Kubota selling its 50,000th excavator in the UK and Ireland this year, the manufacturer produced a special edition gold Kubota KX-71 mini excavator, which it donated to the charity to be auctioned at the event to raise much needed funds. The successful bid was made by Anglia Crane and Plant Hire.

Read more: Kubota ‘Gold Digger’ raises £26,000 at the Lighthouse Club Summer Ball

Leading firms recognised at ECA Annual Awards

Top-performing building services and electrical firms achieved major accolades at the 2016 ECA Gala Dinner and Awards, attended by hundreds of industry leaders on 8 July at Celtic Manor in South Wales.

Read more: Leading firms recognised at ECA Annual Awards

NASC issues amended version of SG4:15 Management Guide

An amended version of the SG4:15 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations management guide has been posted on the NASC website, incorporating a foreword from HSE. The document is available to download free of charge, and will shortly be available for purchase from the NASC in hard copy format.

Read more: NASC issues amended version of SG4:15 Management Guide

Actavo|Building Solutions looks to the future with two new appointments

The UK’s fastest-growing offsite build specialist, Actavo | Building Solutions,has appointed Matthew Jeeves as site manager and Joao Ferreria (JT) as contracts manager in order to deliver projects to specific specifications, on budget and on time.

A seasoned site manager, in his previous position, Matthew was responsible for overseeing substantial contracts. He also served for 18 years as senior commander in HM forces constructing bridges and demolishing buildings and responsible for all aspects of his team’s health and safety. 

Read more: Actavo|Building Solutions looks to the future with two new appointments

SEH French director to lead the National Federation of Builders

Simon Girling, director of Ipswich-based construction firm SEH French, was sworn in as the national chair of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) at the federation’s annual general meeting yesterday.

The inauguration ceremony took place at Girton College, Cambridge where the previous NFB chair, Simon Carr, managing director of Henry Boot Construction Limited, handed over the chains of office to mark the beginning of the twelve-month term. 

Read more: SEH French director to lead the National Federation of Builders

Comparing the Carbon Footprint of Safety Barriers

There was a time when companies didn’t really have a choice on the type of barrier they implemented in their facility.

If a manager decided there was a need for a barrier – say, for protection, or segregation, or guidance – it usually meant a trip to the local steel fabricators with a pencil drawing, a few measurements and a request for them to ‘knock something up’.

Read more: Comparing the Carbon Footprint of Safety Barriers

Construction industry warned of early stage fire risk

Delays in installing passive fire protection could be putting workers at risk, according to one of the UK’s leading passive fire safety specialists.

The message, from Gunfire Limited, calls for the construction industry to consider fire protection, during the beginning stages of a build.

Read more: Construction industry warned of early stage fire risk

Do you engage Self-Employed Tradesmen?

Nick Pilgrim, Managing Director at EEBS Limited, a leading payroll specialist for the Construction Industry answers questions on how contractors are at risk and how to find a suitable solution.

Read more: Do you engage Self-Employed Tradesmen?

Self-sealing concrete now proved with recognised test

A US patent has recently been granted to a new test to prove and measure the self-sealing qualities of concrete mixes. This approval confirms the robustness of the test, therefore establishing a uniform way in which this property can be quantified within any mix of concrete, including those which incorporate speciality admixtures.

The patent was granted for ‘A Method, Apparatus and System for Testing the Self-Sealing Capabilities of a Concrete Sample’ to Kryton International Inc. Kevin Yuers, Vice President at Kryton, devised the test in conjunction with Rishi Gupta, assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Read more: Self-sealing concrete now proved with recognised test

Considerate Constructors Scheme to raise awareness on alcohol and drugs

The Considerate Constructors Scheme is taking action to raise awareness of the important issue of drugs and alcohol across the UK Construction industry.  The Scheme’s new 'Spotlight on...' campaign focuses on taking measures to protect and safeguard the entire workforce in relation to drugs and alcohol. 

The need for attention and consideration could not be more of a priority than within the already safety-conscious construction industry. A recent survey of over 1300 people working across the Industry discovered that 59% have concerns over the effects of drugs and alcohol in construction.

Read more: Considerate Constructors Scheme to raise awareness on alcohol and drugs