Contract Journal articles from August 2007

Contract Journal archives from August 2007

06 Plant.(using hitches)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Where is the problem with quick hitches? Around 13% of accidents involving excavators are attributed to quick hitches - mostly fatalities and serious injuries. And this excludes 'near misses' we don't hear about. Are you targeting any...

06 Plant.
August 1, 2007... Manitowoc has purchased Indian tower crane manufacturer Shirke, which it says will boost its worldwide production capacity. The company, based in Pune, manufacturers Potain tower cranes under licence and distributes the machines in India,...

06 Plant.(safety rules for using hitches)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The Health & Safety Executive has confirmed that quick hitches are covered by Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) as well as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. According to the Construction Plant-hire...

06 Plant.(Construction Plant Competence Scheme )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk Objections to the proposed changes to the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) have emerged during a series of roadshows explaining the change. Under the proposed scheme, anybody will be able to train...

05 Products and Materials.(Marshalls PLC's hybrid safety paving )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... PLAYING IT SAFE Marshalls has launched a new hybrid safety paving - PlayPave. It is supplied in a 450mm x 450mm x 57mm size with a chamfered edge and is installed the same way as standard paving flag. It is available in Smooth - for functional...

H+H becomes first aircrete firm to gain EEAS approval.(05 Products and Materials)
August 1, 2007... H+H UK has staked a claim to being the first aircrete manufacturer and the first firm in the precast concrete sector to achieve accreditation under the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (EEAS), the UK's independent benchmark for energy...

Egger axes green dye for greener results.(05 Products and Materials)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Chipboard manufacturer Egger UK has removed a green dye from the production of its moisture-resistant Weyroc flooring products to make them more environmentally friendly. The dye was originally added to visually differentiate between...

Accord and ASI unite to promote Rhinophalt.(05 Products and Materials)(ASI Solutions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Both firms claim the new surface treatment can extend the lifespan of existing roads. Highway maintenance contractor Accord and road surfacing product specialist ASI Solutions have formed an alliance to offer an integrated solution to...

14 Back Page.(designing underground pipelines)
August 1, 2007... Historic 'as built' records of underground utility assets are not accurate enough. The government's solution is the new 'Mapping the Underworld' initiative, which is in the pipeline, but far from becoming reality. Incomplete data creates a...

01 News.(construction safety)
August 1, 2007... HSC points to lack of trained competent supervisors, as fatalities hit five-year high. Improve supervisor skills or risk more deaths on site neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has warned that construction...

Insurance repair firms create trade association.(01 News)
August 1, 2007... Insurance repair contractors have joined forces to form a national trade association to improve confidence in the sector. The creation of the National Insurance Repairs Contractors Association (NIRCA), set to be launched officially in...

Gangmasters pose new threat to safety on siteGangmasters switch focus to construction.(01 News)
August 1, 2007... GLA chief predicts 'horror scenario' unless there is a crack-down on rogue operators. neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk Evidence has come to light that gangmasters have infiltrated the construction industry, Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA)...

01 News.
August 1, 2007... FUNDING CRISIS The Joseph Bazalgette-designed Crossness Pumping Station in Bexley, Kent, is one of 16 'basket cases' highlighted by English Heritage as being in desperate need of cash. But repairing the 142-year-old structure would cost...

Welsh firms shut after insolvency investigation.(01 News)(Welsh Construction Co.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The High Court has wound up two Welsh construction firms after an insolvency service investigation revealed that a prominent manager in both companies was already under an 11-year disqualification from acting as a director. The judge said...

Wates doing the Lambeth work.(04 Contracts)(Wates Building Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Wates has stifled three rivals to knock up a [pounds sterling]22m housing revamp deal in south London. Higgins and Hill Partnerships were also in contention during the three-firm final run-in for the Bolney Meadow scheme in Lambeth. A...

Six win share of [pounds sterling]85m Haringey BSF scheme.(04 Contracts)(Building Schools for the Future)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Haringey Council will run mini-tender competitions to decide how work is split. brian.warner@rbi.co.uk Six contractors have done their homework and will now share in [pounds sterling]85m-worth of education sector work in north London....

Seven share [pounds sterling]80m new-build scheme.(01 News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Seven contractors have won [pounds sterling]80m-worth of new-build housing work in the West Midlands. The line-up for Sandwell Borough Council's deal is Lovell, Wates, Barratt, Gleeson Regeneration, Mansell, Bellway Homes and David Wilson...

Mulalley joins big guns on housing job.(04 Contracts)
August 1, 2007... Family-run contractor Mulalley has joined major league players in the line-up for a [pounds sterling]300m housing revamp deal in south London. Also earmarked to revitalise the run-down Clapham Park Estate are Wates, Rydon, Countryside,...

01 News.(contracts of HBG Construction to construct Glasgow museum )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Costs escalate on Glasgow museum build Costs on Glasgow's new Riverside Transport museum have rocketed by [pounds sterling]14m and its opening date delayed by 18 months. A recent report by Glasgow council revealed the flagship project,...

02 Business.(building audits)
August 1, 2007... When our auditors came a-knocking Auditors: regardless of what one's thoughts are on them, the very fact that they will be checking my work doesn't exactly fill me with confidence when driving to the office in the morning. But alas,...

01 News.(construction workers' safety)
August 1, 2007... Comment: A shocking indictment There is little doubt that the UK's construction business is the busiest it has been for years - and it's likely to become even more frenetic after last week's Green Paper on housing. All good news on the...

RNLI saves Lagan and its dummy.(09 Focus)(Royal National Lifeboat Institution)(Lagan Construction )
August 1, 2007... Contract Journal visited Warrenpoint Harbour in County Down to witness Lagan Construction and the RNLI working together on safety measures. One morning in the misty waters off County Down in Northern Ireland, the volunteers of RNLI Kilkeel...

Constructing Better Health up and running.(01 News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The long-awaited Constructing Better Health scheme was launched today (Wednesday) as the largest ever industry occupational health contract was awarded on the London 2012 site. Constructing Better Health has suffered a series of delays...

01 News.(contracts of Transport for London)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Transport for London (TfL) leaders have put a figure of [pounds sterling]2.5bn on the scheme to cool the capital's overheated Tube network. A six-strong construction and engineering team is now being assembled to oversee trials, which are...

Bosses paid less in construction.(01 News)
August 1, 2007... Senior construction executives are still being paid less than bosses in other industries, new research has shown. The study, by executive compensation consultancy Halliwell Consulting, revealed the average construction chief executive...

Heritage skills in high demand.(08 CJ2)(restoration of historic buildings)
August 1, 2007... With so much emphasis on new build, the heritage sector is the Cinderella of construction, but it's growing in importance. Emma Penny investigates. It's not often that the UK's Head of State wants for much. But the Queen is facing the same...

Unions set to accept ODA employment conditions.(01 News)(Oympic Development Authority)(Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians)(General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union)(Unite)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... A memorandum of agreement on employment conditions on the 2012 Olympic construction project looks set to be signed by all parties. Unofficial reports this week suggest the three unions - UCATT, Unite and the GMB - are ready to accept a...

Plumbers set to accept 9% pay increase.(01 News)
August 1, 2007... Plumbers are set to agree a new two-year pay deal worth upwards of 9%. The offer from plumbing employers is worth 4.5% in 2008, followed by 4.5% or the retail price index (RPI) figure - whichever is greater - in 2009. A further boost...

10 Legal.(United Kingdom. Disability Discrimination Act 1995)
August 1, 2007... The other week I had the joy of a trip to Ikea. The main entrance comprised a large revolving glazed door with discreet double-swing doors to the side. These operated automatically with a push button and were signed for use for disabled people...

10 Legal.
August 1, 2007... In what circumstances, if any, should a temporary stay (halt) be granted to restrain court proceedings until an adjudication of the underlying dispute has taken place? Surprisingly, it appears that the courts had not been asked this question...

Lindum unveils record pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]5.9m.(02 Business)(Lindum Group Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Lindum Group's turnover of [pounds sterling]80m has left the Lincoln-based construction group with a record pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]5.9m. The figures cover the 12 months to 30 November 2006. The previous set of results, covering...

May Gurney buys FDT for [pounds sterling]3.5m.(02 Business)(May Gurney Integrated Services)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... May Gurney has bought FDT, a Manchester-based mobile telecoms inspection and maintenance specialist, for [pounds sterling]3.5m. FDT has 90 employees. Following a management buy-out in 2002, it has been owned by the current management team....

Climbing the ladder: Mark Johnson 60 seconds on safety.(13 People)(Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions)(Interview)
August 1, 2007... Ian Renwick, safety, health and environment manager, SIAC Construction (UK) Why did you go into construction? I chose construction because I wanted to work in a creative environment where I could work with my hands as well as my brain...

Renew acquires Seymour Civils.(02 Business)(Seymour Holding Corp.)(Renew Holdings PLC.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Renew has bought Seymour (Civil Engineering Contractors), which operates in the water sector, for [pounds sterling]6.8m. Based in Hartlepool and founded in 1978, Seymour is active in water infrastructure maintenance, flood alleviation and...

02 Business.(Skanska UK Ltd.'s earnings)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Hospital PFI work contributes to [pounds sterling]610m turnover, as firm reports strong orderbook. Skanska in rude health with 44% turnover hike john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Skanska UK's turnover in the first half of 2007 jumped by 44%...

New minister announces agenda for construction.(01 News)
August 1, 2007... Timms promises to act as a 'critical friend' key industry figures are optimistic. tom.bill@rbi.co.uk New construction minister Stephen Timms has set out five priorities one month into the job. Speaking publicly for the first time...

A McAlpine to demerge two firms due by 2008.(02 Business)(john.leitch@rbi.co.uk)(Alfred McAlpine PLC)
August 8, 2007... Slate and PFI concessions up for sale, with the remainder to be reshaped into two firms. john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Alfred McAlpine's torrid times have triggered a drastic response as the group's PFI concessions are to be sold as well as...

Modest growth in Q2 new orders.(03 Benchmark)
August 8, 2007... New construction orders in the three months to June were boosted by public sector investment and private commercial work. Justin Stanton analyses the latest data. New orders in the second quarter were worth [pounds sterling]13.4bn in...

Hitachi to open new Japan factory.(06 Plant)
August 8, 2007... Hitachi is to open a new factory in Japan and is considering restructuring its global manufacturing. The company wants to increase output of mid-range and large excavators, streamline production, reduce transport and logistic costs (and...

06 Plant.
August 8, 2007... WORKING FLAT OUT The salesforce at Leach Lewis Plant drives a hard bargain as HE Services' chairman Hugh Edeleanu (pictured) found out when trying to negotiating a discount on the 26 Bomag rollers (13t, 16t and 19t) he recently ordered from the...

06 Plant.
August 8, 2007... Nationwide Skylift has taken delivery of the UK's first 37m working height Ruthmann truck-mounted access platform. This is the first of five 37m units and is part of a 47-truck/[pounds sterling]4m investment programme in Skylift and...

06 Plant.
August 8, 2007... A Cat375 with a 25m boom belonging to long reach excavator specialist WM Plant Hire undertakes emergency stabilisation of the rail cutting east of Tewkesbury where heavy rain caused several landslips along the Birmingham to Bristol main line....

Zenith Aerial Platforms aims to be high achiever.(06 Plant)(colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... New company will offer high-reach access equipment at the large end of the market. colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk Zenith Aerial Platforms is a new hire company specialising in high-reach access equipment set up by long-serving industry figures...

06 Plant.(New Holland N.V. introduced E175B and E195B machines)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... New Holland has continued the roll-out of its E-series excavators sporting Stage IIIa engines with the introduction of the E175B and E195B machines. In addition to cleaner engines, the machines have longer undercarriages, higher breakout...

Barrus rolls out its Cub Cadet all-rounder.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Barrus has officially launched its Cub Cadet Utility vehicle on the UK market. The selectable two/four-wheel drive unit has a 15kW, three-cylinder Caterpillar engine and can travel at speeds of up to 40km/h. The street-legal machine is...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... [pounds sterling]85m Wiltshire NHS LIFT project flatlines The [pounds sterling]85m Wiltshire and Swindon NHS LIFT project has been abandoned due to cost pressures and a lack of schemes, leaving the shortlist of three consortia empty-handed....

01 News.(briefs)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Ronnie Wood's neighbours: Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood has had the builders in to install a sound-proof party room at his [pounds sterling]12m mansion after his neighbours complained about the noise. Stylish astronauts: Norman Foster has been...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... Late deliveries and quality issues emerge as Cemex introduces new ordering system. Cemex restructure brings criticism from civils firms neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk Civil engineering firms have hit out at the restructuring of Cemex's...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk Big contractors are forcing smaller firms to accept extended credit terms to avoid being branded late payers, a report by the Institute of Credit Management has claimed. The warning comes as the ICM published the...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... The Financial Times analysed the path the much-delayed Crossrail (planned to link east and west London) could take over the coming years. The paper said that political momentum behind the project was growing, with the green light coming as...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... Construction design, management and consultancy firm Symonds Group faces a claim for more than [pounds sterling]3m for breach of contract and/or negligence after two garage forecourts it helped build suffered serious movement and deformation....

Four chase Stockport college scheme.(04 Contracts)(contracts of HGB, Norwest Holst, Laing O'Rourke and ISG Totty and Aquinas College)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... A [pounds sterling]26m sixth-form college deal in the Greater Manchester area has attracted four hopefuls. HGB, Norwest Holst, Laing O'Rourke and ISG Totty have all been shortlisted to pitch for the redevelopment of Aquinas College in...

Five in frame for [pounds sterling]60m Crewe college.(04 Contracts)(South Cheshire College)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Five rivals are swotting up for a flagship education deal in Crewe, Cheshire, with an overall value of [pounds sterling]60m and construction costs expected to range between [pounds sterling]42m to [pounds sterling]47m. The line-up for the...

Costain wins [pounds sterling]76m S Wales bypass work.(04 Contracts)
August 8, 2007... Costain has accelerated past four rivals to take the chequered flag for a delayed [pounds sterling]76m roads deal in south Wales. This means that Carillion, Alfred McAlpine, Birse and Nuttall have all been left by the wayside for the Church...

Carillion faces competition in race for HA's Area 8 MAC.(04 Contracts)
August 8, 2007... Four challengers look to topple incumbent from [pounds sterling]217m roads maintenance scheme. brian.warner@rbi.co.uk Five firms will pick up the tender paperwork later this month for a Highways Agency (HA) road maintenance deal worth...

Eric Wright set to bag Blackpool hospital deal.(04 Contracts)
August 8, 2007... Insiders are putting their money on David to cut Goliath down to size in the battle for a PFI hospital deal in the North West, worth up to [pounds sterling]48m. Sources say that after a best and final offer contest, local firm Eric Wright...

Full of Eastern promise.(08 CJ2)(ISG Jackson's Bernard Clarke)(construction industry)
August 8, 2007... Kathy Watson reports on the state of the market in the East of England. East of England builders must be the shyest on the planet. Of the dozen or so CJ contacted, only a few were willing to talk and two of them turned out to be muscling...

East of England to get [pounds sterling]80m framework deal.(01 News)
August 8, 2007... An [pounds sterling]80m regional framework contract is to be launched in the East of England CJ can reveal. The four-year deal will deliver all building work above [pounds sterling]150,000 for at least seven county councils and 54 district...

Row as Tube boss bans hire of Metronet workers.(01 News)(London Underground Ltd.)
August 8, 2007... Unions angry at leaked email telling LUL managers not to offer jobs to any Metronet workers to avoid exodus. carol.millett@rbi.co.uk Union leaders are seeking urgent talks with London Underground (LUL) after a leaked email revealed a...

01 News.(cash transactions rules)(Carillion Construction)
August 8, 2007... Carillion has blotted its copy book this week for being slow to pay its suppliers (see story, right). According to new research from the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), it takes an average of 80 days to pay, while its sister firm...

Ford improves diesel offering.(06 Plant)
August 8, 2007... Ford has announced new and more powerful diesel engines in the double-cab versions of its Thunder and Wildtrak 4x4 Ranger pick-ups. The new 3-litre engine produces 116kW (up from 107kW with the 2.5-litre engine). In the Thunder version...

14 Back Page.
August 8, 2007... Walcott finally skips off the bench Sven-GA[paragraph]ran Eriksson wasn't sure what to do with him at last year's World Cup. Then he made a handful of starts for Arsenal last season. But now it seems that schoolboy footballing wonder...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... By Grant Prior CARILLION has been dumped from a [pounds sterling]15m office job in Aberystwyth, Wales, despite being lined up to build an identical block next door for the Welsh Assembly. It was made preferred bidder last October for...

01 News.(United Crane Operators' Association's forum)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Crane drivers pledge to stamp out victimisation CRANE drivers will demand an end to victimisation and intimidation at a major industry safety summit due to start tomorrow (Thursday). The Strategic Forum-organised meeting will hear how...

01 News.(construction accidents)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... The main contractor on a Manchester site where a Polish builder was killed last week was served with a trio of improvement notices on a neighbouring job in May, CJ can reveal. Jan Tobolski, 47, died after a metal girder fell on him during...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... STAGE RIGHT Vivid Interiors is working on a [pounds sterling]1m revamp of the famous Gielgud Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, London, as part of owner Sir Cameron Mackintosh's five-year scheme to modernise his seven West End venues. The job is...

01 News.(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Plasterers are still the hardest trade to find, despite a general easing in skills shortages, according to Construction Confederation (CC) figures. Latest statistics from the CC show 61% of contractors are still finding it difficult to...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... Direct employment to rise 20% by 2010 One in five subcontractors is expected to switch to direct employment between 2007-2010, according to CITB-ConstructionSkills. The 20% swing is being used by the training board as the basis for its...

01 News.(contracts of Transport and General Workers' Union and Olympic Delivery Authority)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Unions accept ODA's terms of employment A deal on employment conditions on the London Olympics has been ratified by all three construction unions. Bob Blackman, national secretary of the TGWU section of Unite, said: "The memorandum of...

AWG hopes Morrison sale will earn [pounds sterling]300m.(01 News)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... The 'For Sale' sign is about to be hung over Morrison plc. Its owner, water utility group AWG, is reported to be expecting bids of around [pounds sterling]300m. Bankers were called in last week by AWG with a view to setting up a timetable...

02 Business.
August 8, 2007... Northern Bear just grows and grows Northern Bear enjoyed a share price rise of close on 13% in July. After floating on AIM just seven months ago, at an issue price of 88p, shares are now trading at 170p. The business might still be a...

01 News.
August 8, 2007... Space Decks has been bought out of administration by Artguide, a new investment vehicle. The move leaves the glass-cladding specialist's unsecured creditors in the lurch. Simon Wheatley, previously sales director, has been appointed to the...

08 CJ2.
August 8, 2007... The ConstructionSkills Network forecasts annual construction growth in the East of England will reach 3.5% on average, the third highest in the UK after Greater London and Northern Ireland. Infrastructure will benefit from a number of port...

09 Focus.
August 8, 2007... Early contractor involvement, or ECI, is the latest stage in the evolution of procurement strategies for public sector highway construction. Lowest cost bidding begot the two-envelope process, which begot design and build, which begot DBFO and...

10 Legal.
August 8, 2007... It's been a long time since the working groups were convened to consider what changes, if any, were needed to the Construction Act - three years in fact (seven for the adjudication working group). Since then, we've had Sir Michael Latham's...

10 Legal.
August 8, 2007... What rights do fathers have to paternity leave at present? Fathers who qualify for paternity leave can take either one or two weeks' paid leave within 56 days after the child's birth. To qualify, the father must have 26 weeks' continuous...

Aggregate Industries buys Bucbricks.(05 Products and Materials)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Aggregate Industries has acquired Bucbricks, a family-owned firm based in Colchester, Essex, which has extended the range of its specialist sand business. Bucbricks currently produces more than 20 grades of sand. Aggregate Industries...

Industry collaborates to give concrete a green makeover.(05 Products and Materials)
August 8, 2007... Work needed to put concrete's sustainability profile on a par with steel and timber. james.stagg@rbi.co.uk Senior memberS of the concrete industry have met to thrash out ways of working together on an industry-wide strategy to promote...

Strong housing activity boosts products sales.(05 Products and Materials)
August 8, 2007... Strong activity in the commercial and public new housing sectors has been the driving force behind the increase in construction output during the second quarter of 2007, with the rise in activity boosting product sales volumes. According...

Donaldson & Sons unveils 193% profit leap.(05 Products and Materials)(James Donaldson Timber Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... Fife-based timber firm James Donaldson & Sons has posted a 193% increase in profit for the group, with turnover up 12.8% from [pounds sterling]66.9m to [pounds sterling]75.5m. Pre-tax profit at the family-run firm, which was founded in...

Job spotlight: geologist and drilling manager, Sirius Drilling Services60 seconds on safety.(13 People)(Andrew Thomas)(Interview)
August 8, 2007... Dennis Butcher, health and safety manager, English Architectural Glazing What is the best thing about your job at Sirius? It would have to be the recent challenge of setting up a new business, within a very supportive company, with a...

10 Legal.
August 8, 2007... Variations abound on many construction contracts and both clients and contractors often lose sight of the fact that, just because they almost invariably occur, they should not be treated as the norm. All well-drafted construction contracts...

11 Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 8, 2007... The Lighthouse Club would like to thank... On behalf of The Lighthouse Club, East Midlands Branch, can I thank everybody who attended this year's SED show at Rockingham Raceway, back in May, for their generous support of the Club's...

01 News.(McGee Group Ltd. demolited P&O Building)(Brief article)
August 8, 2007... bottoms up This is the P&O Building in the City of London, midway through its unconventional demolition by McGee Group. The 15-floor block, built in 1965, is being dismantled from the ground up. Each floor is hung from the one above, connected...