the PeoPle - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research ...
the PeoPle - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research ...
the PeoPle - OPERC - Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Plant</strong> & <strong>Equipment</strong> Professional ISSN: 2041-1154 (Online) £2.50<br />
Interview with<br />
Richard Shore,<br />
MD, Mentor<br />
Never WaSte<br />
an opportunity<br />
Putting<br />
<strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>PeoPle</strong><br />
into <strong>Plant</strong><br />
August 2010<br />
DeWalt ® launch<br />
new 6kg SDS-Max<br />
hammer range<br />
excavators used as cranes<br />
hilti tackle <strong>the</strong> cost<br />
of owning power tools<br />
A-plant wins RoSPA / Severn Trent Gold award • CMPE introduce Gold Competency Card • JCB secures huge order with Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire
<strong>the</strong> NEW VOLVO mini EXCAVATORS<br />
HIRE EXPECTATIONS<br />
Volvo Construction <strong>Equipment</strong> GB Division<br />
Volvo Group UK Ltd<br />
Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QX<br />
Telephone: 01223 836636<br />
Fax: 01223 832357<br />
sales.vcegb@volvo.com<br />
www.volvoce.co.uk<br />
2<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS<br />
What do your customers look for in a hire machine? Productivity, user-friendly<br />
controls <strong>and</strong> cab comfort must all be high on <strong>the</strong>ir list of expectations.<br />
So <strong>the</strong>y won’t be disappointed by <strong>the</strong> new Volvo compact excavator range.<br />
And improved access for daily maintenance chores will make life easier for your<br />
team too. The new C series compacts: raising everyone’s expectations.
Editorial<br />
Have you ever wondered what preserves a company<br />
through a recession <strong>and</strong> what makes one company go<br />
from strength to strength whilst o<strong>the</strong>rs fall by <strong>the</strong> wayside<br />
or become swallowed by larger organisations? A review of<br />
<strong>the</strong> business world literature would suggest that company<br />
br<strong>and</strong>, partnering with customers, funding cuts <strong>and</strong> many<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r factors impact upon company survival but most miss<br />
that all important ingredient – innovation <strong>and</strong> invention!<br />
Traditionally, <strong>the</strong> accountant will take a hard look at <strong>the</strong><br />
books <strong>and</strong> make judgements upon <strong>the</strong> bottom line, i.e. where<br />
can savings be made. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong> manager may<br />
see <strong>the</strong> value of people as <strong>the</strong> main resource <strong>and</strong> try to<br />
protect good staff from redundancy. However, a recession<br />
(<strong>and</strong> let us hope that we are out of this current one soon) is<br />
actually an opportunity for change because it provides <strong>the</strong><br />
impetus that does away with complacency. In good times, it<br />
is all too easy to sit back on <strong>the</strong> laurels <strong>and</strong> continue to do<br />
things <strong>the</strong> way that <strong>the</strong>y have always been done – it certainly<br />
makes for an easier life – <strong>and</strong> it can take a strong will <strong>and</strong><br />
determination to push forward something new <strong>and</strong> innovative.<br />
In a recession an organisation must actively seek to adopt<br />
new, more efficient <strong>and</strong> effective practices, procedures <strong>and</strong><br />
protocols as a means of wea<strong>the</strong>ring <strong>the</strong> economic storm.<br />
But invention <strong>and</strong> innovation are part of what makes <strong>the</strong><br />
human race unique. A short look at <strong>the</strong> history books will<br />
soon show that necessity is indeed <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r of invention<br />
as illustrated by <strong>the</strong> Ancient Greeks, Romans <strong>and</strong> Victorians<br />
- great races of people who helped to shape <strong>the</strong> western<br />
world as it is today. Now, within <strong>the</strong> plant <strong>and</strong> equipment<br />
industry, <strong>the</strong> good <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> great are already stepping up<br />
to <strong>the</strong> mark to adopt new inventions or become far more<br />
innovative in dealing with customers (an outward perspective)<br />
<strong>and</strong> improving processes (an inward perspective).<br />
Innovation is somewhat different from invention though <strong>and</strong> in<br />
<strong>the</strong> next issue of PEP (October 2010), <strong>the</strong> editors will devote<br />
a large section of <strong>the</strong> journal to <strong>the</strong>se important aspects<br />
of modern management within <strong>the</strong> plant <strong>and</strong> equipment<br />
community. If you have a story to relate, a product you wish to<br />
promote or simply a view that you wish to share with o<strong>the</strong>r PEP<br />
readers <strong>the</strong>n please do contact <strong>the</strong> editor on: pep@operc.com<br />
Editorial Team<br />
Philippa Spittle, Karen Jones<br />
Published <strong>and</strong> Distributed by<br />
On-track Multimedia<br />
On Track Multimedia,<br />
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1384 356202<br />
Email: enquiries@operc.com (general)<br />
pep@operc.com (newsletter)<br />
Copyright © 2010 On-track Multimedia<br />
While every effort is made to ensure <strong>the</strong> accuracy of<br />
information published in <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Equipment</strong> Professional,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Editors cannot accept any responsibility for inaccuracies<br />
or omissions. The views expressed in articles are of <strong>the</strong><br />
author(s) <strong>and</strong> do not necessarily reflect those of <strong>the</strong> Editors.<br />
NEwS<br />
A-plant wins ano<strong>the</strong>r RoSPA/ Severn Trent Gold award 4<br />
Bachy Soletanche is cleaning up <strong>the</strong> River Ribble 5<br />
JCB secures huge order with Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire 6<br />
Sanmet opts for Volvo’s smooth operator 7<br />
Hewden shows support for a safer industry<br />
with second RoSPA Gold<br />
Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions invests in<br />
new fleet of tractors<br />
August 2010<br />
3<br />
8<br />
10<br />
Safer cleaning up with Herder vacuum flail mower 12<br />
Able UK invests in specialist Liebherr industrial reh<strong>and</strong>ler 13<br />
Speedy unveils Towerlight VT -1 Eco as<br />
Product Innovation Award winner<br />
14<br />
Firms fined after worker falls nine metres to his death 32<br />
Hire Trade Alliance takes part in new CEN workshop 60 32<br />
Going for Gold with NEw CMPE Competency Card 33<br />
<strong>OPERC</strong> announce next event 33<br />
Quarry firm fined after worker plunge in<br />
30-tonne wheel loader<br />
SPECIAL REPORTS<br />
DEwALT ® hammer home <strong>the</strong> message with increased<br />
durability, performance <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
34<br />
16<br />
Excavators used as cranes 18<br />
Interview with Richard Shore, Mentor 22<br />
Never waste an opportunity 26<br />
Tackling <strong>the</strong> cost of owning power tools 28<br />
Graduate despair 30<br />
<strong>OPERC</strong> helps sponsor <strong>the</strong> Tenovus mobile cancer<br />
support unit<br />
PEOPLE<br />
36<br />
At <strong>the</strong> hub of things in new HILTI position 38<br />
Speedy appoints McIntyre to lead expansion<br />
into new markets<br />
New London business development manager<br />
for Morgan Sindall<br />
Mentor appoints new product manager for<br />
extractives sector<br />
COMPETITION<br />
NEwS MEGAByTES<br />
CONTENTS<br />
38<br />
39<br />
39<br />
31<br />
CLASSIFIEDS 41<br />
42
NEwS<br />
a-plant wins ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
RoSPA/ Severn Trent Gold award<br />
A-<strong>Plant</strong> is once again celebrating<br />
winning one of <strong>the</strong> prestigious Royal<br />
Society for <strong>the</strong> Prevention of Accidents<br />
(RoSPA) <strong>and</strong> Severn Trent Water<br />
(STW) Occupational Health <strong>and</strong> Safety<br />
Awards in 2010. Awarded to A-<strong>Plant</strong><br />
for <strong>the</strong> second year running, this<br />
accolade provides ano<strong>the</strong>r element <strong>and</strong><br />
dimension to A-<strong>Plant</strong>’s unique attitude<br />
towards safety. A-<strong>Plant</strong>’s Gold Award<br />
was judged <strong>and</strong> awarded as a result of:<br />
4<br />
Excellent occupational health<br />
<strong>and</strong> safety management systems<br />
A rigorous approach to<br />
occupational health<br />
High levels of compliance with<br />
control measures<br />
Below average <strong>and</strong> reducing<br />
rates of error, harm <strong>and</strong> loss<br />
No fatal or major injuries<br />
At A-<strong>Plant</strong>, health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
management is a primary focus,<br />
covering both <strong>the</strong> company’s workforce<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> customers who use <strong>the</strong><br />
company’s products. To complement<br />
robust internal practices, <strong>the</strong> company<br />
has an ongoing programme aimed at<br />
educating customers in <strong>the</strong> ramifications<br />
of new health <strong>and</strong> safety legislation<br />
<strong>and</strong> how to meet <strong>the</strong> latest operational<br />
guidelines from <strong>the</strong> Health & Safety<br />
Executive (HSE). A-<strong>Plant</strong> offers a<br />
comprehensive fleet of safety products,<br />
which forms part of what is believed to<br />
be <strong>the</strong> best hire service in Europe. The<br />
ongoing investment in <strong>the</strong> A-<strong>Plant</strong> fleet<br />
ensures that customers can always hire<br />
equipment which meets or exceeds <strong>the</strong><br />
required safety st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
The Gold Award was presented at a<br />
ceremony at <strong>the</strong> National Exhibition<br />
Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. The<br />
RoSPA/STW Awards have been<br />
developed specifically for Severn Trent<br />
Water contractors, to recognise <strong>and</strong><br />
August 2010<br />
improve health <strong>and</strong> safety performance<br />
<strong>and</strong> demonstrate commitment to this<br />
important issue.<br />
A-<strong>Plant</strong> has one of <strong>the</strong> most robust<br />
<strong>and</strong> integrated Safety Management<br />
Systems within <strong>the</strong> industry <strong>and</strong> was<br />
<strong>the</strong> first national rental company in<br />
Europe to achieve dual certification<br />
to both <strong>the</strong> ISO 14001:2004 st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
<strong>and</strong> OHSAS 18001:2007 specification<br />
covering Health <strong>and</strong> Safety <strong>and</strong><br />
Environmental procedures <strong>and</strong> more<br />
recently has received accreditation to<br />
<strong>the</strong> quality st<strong>and</strong>ard ISO 9001:2008 to<br />
complete <strong>the</strong> safety system that A-<strong>Plant</strong><br />
prides itself on.<br />
A-<strong>Plant</strong> was also awarded <strong>the</strong> RoSPA<br />
Gold Award earlier this year as a result<br />
of <strong>the</strong> company’s continued efforts in<br />
occupational health <strong>and</strong> safety.
Bachy Soletanche<br />
is cleaning up<br />
<strong>the</strong> River Ribble<br />
Specialist geotechnical<br />
contractor, Bachy<br />
Soletanche, is working with<br />
main contractor KMI water,<br />
a joint venture between Kier<br />
Construction, J Murphy <strong>and</strong><br />
Sons <strong>and</strong> Interserve Project<br />
Services, on a project for<br />
United Utilities to treat<br />
<strong>the</strong> water that goes into<br />
<strong>the</strong> River Ribble using a<br />
storm water shaft solution<br />
involving deep diaphragm<br />
wall shafts <strong>and</strong> Cased<br />
Secant Piling (CSP).<br />
The project, which started in May of this<br />
year, is due to run until October <strong>and</strong> is<br />
worth an estimated £4.5m for Bachy<br />
Soletanche, <strong>and</strong> £70m in total for KMI<br />
Water. A 27m diameter shaft, adjoining<br />
22m deep 50x20m screening chamber<br />
<strong>and</strong> a 17m diameter shaft constructed<br />
by diaphragm walling will connect<br />
with nine additional cased CFA shafts<br />
on <strong>the</strong> north side via a 3.5km tunnel<br />
constructed 30m below <strong>the</strong> ground by<br />
KMI Water <strong>and</strong> will pave <strong>the</strong> way for a<br />
cleaner river.<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> south diaphragm wall shafts<br />
is formed by 14 interlocking panels<br />
1m thick by 20m deep. Between each<br />
panel a CWS waterbar is being installed<br />
to stop water leaking through <strong>the</strong> joint<br />
<strong>and</strong> ensure maximum water tightness<br />
between adjoining panels. Panels are<br />
dug under a bentonite suspension, <strong>the</strong>n<br />
reinforcement cages are placed <strong>and</strong><br />
concrete is tremied into <strong>the</strong> trench. All<br />
trenches are going to be approximately<br />
20m deep.<br />
The screening chamber will only be used in<br />
<strong>the</strong> case of extreme flood conditions when<br />
<strong>the</strong> shafts can’t manage <strong>the</strong> load of <strong>the</strong><br />
storm water in need of treatment. The 12m<br />
deep shafts on <strong>the</strong> north side of <strong>the</strong> River<br />
Ribble will take up <strong>the</strong> dirty water, feed it<br />
back under <strong>the</strong> river <strong>and</strong> into <strong>the</strong> treatment<br />
works on <strong>the</strong> south side.<br />
The cased CFA, CSP technique forms a<br />
closed structure to act as a barrier in water<br />
bearing soils <strong>and</strong> is ideal for a city centre<br />
project, such as <strong>the</strong> Preston Shafts, due<br />
to its flexible <strong>and</strong> compact operation. It<br />
has <strong>the</strong> advantages of better tolerance,<br />
better ultimate appearance <strong>and</strong> reduced<br />
overbreak than an uncased CFA secant<br />
wall <strong>and</strong> it is a speedier operation than <strong>the</strong><br />
more traditional ‘kelly / casing’ rotary bored<br />
pile method. As it is a cased system it also<br />
reduces <strong>the</strong> risk of distress to adjacent<br />
structures in certain soils such as s<strong>and</strong>s or<br />
gravels<br />
Steve Mallinson, Contract Manager for<br />
Bachy Soletanche Limited, said:<br />
“The large southside shafts are more than<br />
20m deep, hence <strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong> diaphragm<br />
walls which involve less construction joints<br />
than bored pile walls. On <strong>the</strong> northside<br />
verticality has also been key throughout<br />
this project due to <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong><br />
interlocking between <strong>the</strong> male <strong>and</strong> female<br />
piles to ensure a watertight solution is<br />
created. Water companies are heavily<br />
investing in waste water treatments at <strong>the</strong><br />
moment so <strong>the</strong> Preston Shaft project has<br />
been a great one to work on <strong>and</strong> one we’re<br />
sure will make a difference to <strong>the</strong> quality of<br />
water going into <strong>the</strong> River Ribble.”<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS<br />
5
NEwS<br />
JCB secures huge order<br />
with lynch <strong>Plant</strong> hire<br />
JCB has won a significant<br />
order– including 42 tracked<br />
<strong>and</strong> wheeled excavators –<br />
from one of <strong>the</strong> country’s<br />
leading plant hire firms.<br />
The multi-million pound deal has been<br />
secured with London-based Lynch<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> Hire <strong>and</strong> includes a fleet of 20<br />
JS220 <strong>and</strong> 20 JS130 tracked excavator<br />
models in addition to two wheeled<br />
excavators, a JS175W <strong>and</strong> a JS130W<br />
– all manufactured at JCB Heavy<br />
Products in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.<br />
The excavator order has been<br />
placed in response to increased<br />
dem<strong>and</strong> from Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire’s<br />
customers for machines which can<br />
operate in <strong>the</strong> dem<strong>and</strong>ing road <strong>and</strong><br />
rail sectors. The deal also includes<br />
40 JCB Loadall telescopic h<strong>and</strong>lers<br />
<strong>and</strong> six backhoe loaders made at<br />
JCB’s World HQ in Rocester.<br />
Several of <strong>the</strong> machines have already<br />
been delivered <strong>and</strong> are now performing<br />
on high profile projects across <strong>the</strong><br />
UK. This includes <strong>the</strong> JCB wheeled<br />
excavator models carrying groundworks<br />
6<br />
August 2010<br />
as part of <strong>the</strong><br />
M25 motorway<br />
widening scheme.<br />
Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire<br />
Director, Robert<br />
Lynch said: “One<br />
of <strong>the</strong> key criteria<br />
when selecting our<br />
plant is product<br />
quality – ensuring<br />
that our customers<br />
have access to <strong>the</strong><br />
best equipment<br />
available <strong>and</strong><br />
that it is always<br />
up to <strong>the</strong> task.<br />
“With this in mind,<br />
we have offered<br />
JCB Loadalls <strong>and</strong><br />
backhoe loaders<br />
for over fifteen<br />
years as <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are universally<br />
accepted as <strong>the</strong><br />
best machines on <strong>the</strong> market. When<br />
it came to exp<strong>and</strong>ing our tracked<br />
<strong>and</strong> wheeled excavator fleet we<br />
conducted trials of <strong>the</strong> leading models<br />
using our own operators to carry<br />
out <strong>the</strong> tests. We ultimately chose<br />
Left to Right are JCB Heavyline Sales Manager (South)<br />
Steve Bradley; UK <strong>and</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong> Sales Director Yvette Henshall-Bell;<br />
Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire Directors Merrill <strong>and</strong> Robert Lynch <strong>and</strong><br />
Greenshields JCB Major Accounts Director Paul Serby.<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
<strong>the</strong> JCB machines as <strong>the</strong> operator<br />
feedback was very, very positive,<br />
particularly regarding smoothness of<br />
controls <strong>and</strong> stability when digging.<br />
“Equally important to us is back-up <strong>and</strong><br />
both JCB <strong>and</strong> our dealer, Greenshields<br />
JCB have shown a great willingness<br />
to help us. We are confident <strong>the</strong>y<br />
will provide us with excellent service<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r it be working toge<strong>the</strong>r to<br />
enhance <strong>the</strong> safety features on our<br />
fleet or with on-site support to minimise<br />
downtime for our customers.”<br />
Founded in 1980, Lynch <strong>Plant</strong> Hire has<br />
developed into one of <strong>the</strong> country’s<br />
leading plant hire companies providing<br />
an extensive range of operated <strong>and</strong><br />
non-operated equipment to applications<br />
in <strong>the</strong> civil engineering, <strong>highway</strong>s, rail,<br />
groundworks, new build, demolition,<br />
recycling <strong>and</strong> geotechnical sectors.<br />
With offices in London, <strong>the</strong> Midl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> South East <strong>and</strong> an operations<br />
centre in Stanmore, North West<br />
London, Lynch can provide any model<br />
from its fleet on a next day basis.
Sanmet opts for<br />
Volvo’s smooth operator<br />
Sanmet Ltd, a local authority<br />
approved contractor based<br />
at Tickhill, Doncaster <strong>and</strong><br />
specialising in <strong>the</strong> provision<br />
of quality finished asphalt<br />
<strong>and</strong> surfaces has taken<br />
delivery of its fourth ABG<br />
paver from Volvo.<br />
The new Volvo ABG6870 wheeled<br />
paver continues a nine year association<br />
with <strong>the</strong> ABG product for Sanmet Ltd<br />
<strong>and</strong> according to managing director<br />
Duncan Donald was chosen principally<br />
for <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>and</strong> smoothness to <strong>the</strong><br />
finished mat. He commented: “In our<br />
opinion, nothing else can beat <strong>the</strong> ABG<br />
paver for its smoothness <strong>and</strong> quality.”<br />
Sanmet will also benefit from some<br />
significant improvements introduced<br />
on <strong>the</strong> ABG6870 over its predecessor<br />
such as up to a 25% fuel saving <strong>and</strong> a<br />
massive 9dB(a) reduction in external<br />
noise levels – an important point for<br />
<strong>the</strong> company who specialise in local<br />
authority, urban <strong>and</strong> private contracts<br />
working in close proximity to housing,<br />
shops <strong>and</strong> close built communities etc.<br />
The ABG6870 wheeled paver is <strong>the</strong><br />
first machine to feature continuous<br />
independent traction control over all six<br />
wheels. Powered by a Tier III 122Kw<br />
engine, <strong>the</strong> operator is able to use <strong>the</strong><br />
‘Smart Power’ setting to vary <strong>the</strong> power<br />
output depending on <strong>the</strong> conditions<br />
of <strong>the</strong> application. Running nominally<br />
at just 1600rpm <strong>the</strong> ABG6870 boasts<br />
significantly low noise emissions<br />
besides being highly fuel efficient. The<br />
6x6 ‘Smart Drive’ technology offers<br />
unparalleled traction. Even on <strong>the</strong><br />
most difficult bases, tractive effort is<br />
automatically adjusted according to<br />
ground condition <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> weight of<br />
material available in <strong>the</strong> machine’s 12<br />
tonne capacity hopper.<br />
The machine demonstrates a class<br />
beating degree of manoeuvrability<br />
thanks to <strong>the</strong> ‘Active Steering’ feature<br />
with an inside turning radius of just<br />
2.5 metres. This coupled to individual<br />
suspension struts means <strong>the</strong> paver<br />
can overcome obstacles in one go that<br />
competitive models can only do after<br />
several complicated manoeuvres. This<br />
high degree of flexibility found on <strong>the</strong><br />
ABG 6870 enables Sanmet to tackle a<br />
wide variety of contracts but especially<br />
in confined areas when working on<br />
urban roads, side streets <strong>and</strong> access<br />
drives etc.<br />
The ABG6870 has a<br />
variable screed width<br />
of between 2.5 <strong>and</strong><br />
5 metres in st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
configuration but can<br />
be fitted with optional<br />
extensions to provide<br />
a generous width of<br />
9 metres. With an<br />
output potential of<br />
up to 700 tonnes per<br />
hour, <strong>the</strong> machine can<br />
continuously pave up to<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS<br />
40 metres per minute. Whilst a normal<br />
layer thickness of 50mm at high speed<br />
is easily achievable, <strong>the</strong> ABG6870<br />
can, for certain applications, lay up to<br />
maximum thickness of 300mm.<br />
Operator comfort <strong>and</strong> user friendliness<br />
is an important factor for Sanmet’s<br />
road crews. For instance, <strong>the</strong> steering<br />
wheel, which allows for a particularly<br />
sensitive control of <strong>the</strong> machine,<br />
can be placed in various positions<br />
around <strong>the</strong> EPM (Electronic Paver<br />
Management) control panel. The large<br />
screen display is <strong>the</strong> only one of its<br />
kind on <strong>the</strong> market giving a bird’s eye<br />
view or map of <strong>the</strong> paver, allowing<br />
<strong>the</strong> operator to monitor <strong>and</strong> control all<br />
<strong>the</strong> important functions at a glance.<br />
The EPM control panel has backlit<br />
control buttons to facilitate paving<br />
at night. Besides a comfortable seat<br />
<strong>the</strong> operator is afforded an excellent<br />
view of <strong>the</strong> flow of material in <strong>the</strong><br />
hopper, <strong>the</strong> head of material in <strong>the</strong><br />
auger channel <strong>and</strong> material laydown.<br />
The flexible all wea<strong>the</strong>r roof can be<br />
hydraulically lowered along with <strong>the</strong><br />
exhaust pipe for transportation. With<br />
a good deal of work being undertaken<br />
at night time, Xenon lighting has also<br />
been included as an aid to <strong>the</strong> operator<br />
<strong>and</strong> crew.<br />
Reliability is also a key consideration<br />
for Mr Donald who said: “With <strong>the</strong> type<br />
of work we do, <strong>the</strong> machine has to be<br />
available five <strong>and</strong> a half days a week,<br />
52 weeks a year <strong>and</strong> we’ve enjoyed a<br />
relatively high reliability with <strong>the</strong> three<br />
previous machines.” For complete<br />
peace of mind, a full repair <strong>and</strong><br />
maintenance programme for <strong>the</strong> new<br />
paver is being take care of by Volvo<br />
Construction <strong>Equipment</strong> under its Gold<br />
customer support agreement.<br />
7
NEwS<br />
For <strong>the</strong> second year running, hire firm<br />
Hewden has won <strong>the</strong> RoSPA Gold<br />
Award from <strong>the</strong> Royal Society for <strong>the</strong><br />
Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in<br />
recognition of its robust health <strong>and</strong><br />
safety practices at each of its 63 depots<br />
across <strong>the</strong> UK. Recognition was given<br />
for commitment to occupational health<br />
<strong>and</strong> safety, a reduction in accidents<br />
<strong>and</strong> ill health in <strong>the</strong> workplace <strong>and</strong><br />
implementation of health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
management systems.<br />
The company is using this award win<br />
to highlight <strong>the</strong> ongoing importance of<br />
health <strong>and</strong> safety as Hewden’s health<br />
8<br />
August 2010<br />
heWDen shows<br />
support for a safer<br />
industry with second<br />
RoSPA Gold<br />
<strong>and</strong> safety manager, Martin Williams<br />
explains:<br />
“At Hewden, safety is paramount <strong>and</strong><br />
we work hard to make sure that <strong>the</strong><br />
welfare of our customers <strong>and</strong> our<br />
employees comes first; an initiative,<br />
which we see reflected across <strong>the</strong><br />
industry with major injuries falling by<br />
up to 17% in construction over <strong>the</strong> past<br />
quarter.*<br />
“This means that common reported<br />
incidents, such as slips <strong>and</strong> trips or<br />
falling from height are being reduced<br />
<strong>and</strong> we are keen to support our<br />
customers to make sure that this<br />
positive trend continues.<br />
“Hewden was <strong>the</strong> first hire company<br />
in <strong>the</strong> UK to achieve <strong>the</strong> ISO 9001,<br />
ISO 14001 <strong>and</strong> OHSAS 18001<br />
accreditations at every location, not just<br />
at head office level. This latest Gold<br />
Award win fur<strong>the</strong>r demonstrates our<br />
commitment to a consistent st<strong>and</strong>ard of<br />
health <strong>and</strong> safety both onsite <strong>and</strong> within<br />
<strong>the</strong> work place.”<br />
“In practice, this means that every<br />
operator or service engineer that is<br />
working on a customer’s site adheres<br />
fully to <strong>the</strong> company’s safety principles,<br />
including full pre-task assessments – no<br />
matter where <strong>the</strong> work is taking place.<br />
“In addition, before a machine is<br />
delivered, it is checked <strong>and</strong> inspected<br />
on two separate occasions for safety<br />
<strong>and</strong> reliability, so <strong>the</strong> likelihood of a<br />
fault occurring is minimal; meaning our<br />
customers can be confident that <strong>the</strong><br />
equipment is safe <strong>and</strong> fit for purpose.”<br />
*Figure taken from <strong>the</strong> Health <strong>and</strong> Safety<br />
Executive in-year RIDDOR analysis Q4 2009-2010
NEW 6KG SDS-MAX HAMMERS<br />
Email: construction@DEWALT.com<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
AND PROTECTION:<br />
NO COMPROMISE<br />
DURABILITY:<br />
•Chain drive<br />
•Oil lubrication<br />
PERFORMANCE:<br />
•1250 watts<br />
•12 joules<br />
PEACE OF MIND:<br />
•1 Year Free Service Contract<br />
SAFETY:<br />
*Product Shown D25602K<br />
August 2010<br />
9
NEwS<br />
Balfour Beatty utility Solutions<br />
Puller/tensioner<br />
installing conductor<br />
Straining tractors<br />
used to raise or<br />
lower conductors<br />
during installation/<br />
diversion work<br />
Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, one<br />
of <strong>the</strong> UK’s leading utility solutions<br />
providers, has invested more than<br />
£1.3m in 33 br<strong>and</strong> new John Deere 5M<br />
<strong>and</strong> 6030 Series tractors, all equipped<br />
with front loaders. The machines have<br />
been purchased to support ongoing<br />
overhead line projects <strong>and</strong> increase<br />
operational capacity.<br />
The company uses tractors extensively<br />
whilst installing <strong>and</strong> renovating overhead<br />
electricity lines. The new tractors will be<br />
equipped for one of two key roles; as<br />
ei<strong>the</strong>r winch or tow machines.<br />
The winch tractors will each be fitted<br />
with a 2000kg winch to enable <strong>the</strong>m<br />
to raise <strong>and</strong> lower insulators <strong>and</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r equipment to teams working on<br />
towers. Tow tractors are used to move<br />
equipment around sites as well as<br />
towing tensioners – machinery used to<br />
raise <strong>and</strong> tighten <strong>the</strong> main power cables<br />
– to <strong>and</strong> from site.<br />
In a change from <strong>the</strong> traditional green<br />
<strong>and</strong> yellow of John Deere tractors,<br />
Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions’<br />
machines have all been finished in <strong>the</strong><br />
10<br />
Tow tractor used for<br />
moving materials<br />
around site when not<br />
towing puller/tensioner<br />
August 2010<br />
Tow tractor used for<br />
moving materials<br />
<strong>and</strong> conductor drums<br />
around site when not<br />
towing puller/tensioner<br />
invests in new<br />
fleet of tractors<br />
Puller/<br />
tensioner<br />
Small winch tractors<br />
used to raise <strong>and</strong><br />
lower insulators <strong>and</strong><br />
moving equipment<br />
around site<br />
companies’ distinguishing blue, giving<br />
<strong>the</strong>m a unique <strong>and</strong> smart presence at<br />
sites around <strong>the</strong> country.<br />
Rob Sonnex, Mechanical <strong>Plant</strong> Manager<br />
for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, said:<br />
“We always buy <strong>the</strong> best when it comes<br />
to our plant <strong>and</strong> vehicles, <strong>and</strong> this<br />
investment is no exception. John Deere<br />
has an excellent reputation for quality<br />
<strong>and</strong> safety, whilst <strong>the</strong> technical support<br />
<strong>and</strong> dealership back up offered by <strong>the</strong><br />
company <strong>and</strong> its dealer, Agricultural<br />
Industrial Services, made our choice<br />
clear. The new tractors will increase<br />
TyPICAL PLANT RESOURCE FOR CONSTRUCTION<br />
OPERATIONS - NGT PROJECTS<br />
REFURBISHMENT OF EXISTING TRANSMISSION<br />
LINE ON EXISTING TOWERS<br />
Aluminium<br />
working platform<br />
Erection winch<br />
used for l<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
<strong>and</strong> sagging<br />
conductor<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
Small winch tractor<br />
used to raise <strong>and</strong><br />
lower insulators <strong>and</strong><br />
moving equipment<br />
around site<br />
our capacity for overhead line work <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>refore give significant benefits to our<br />
clients, especially on projects where<br />
time is a factor.”<br />
John Deere’s agricultural marketing<br />
manager Chris Meacock said: “John<br />
Deere <strong>and</strong> AIS are delighted to have<br />
won this important contract to supply<br />
our tractors to one of <strong>the</strong> country’s<br />
major utility businesses. It underlines<br />
our continuing efforts to provide market<br />
leading technology solutions to a wide<br />
range of customers.”
NEwS<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
11<br />
August 2010<br />
August 2010<br />
11
NEwS<br />
12<br />
Safer cleaning up with<br />
herder vacuum<br />
flail mower<br />
Councils’ efforts to clean up busy roadside verges could be carried out more safely - <strong>and</strong><br />
more cost effectively – with <strong>the</strong> Herder vacuum flail mower. Newly introduced to <strong>the</strong> UK by<br />
Mastenbroek Environmental, <strong>the</strong> Herder was recently demonstrated in yorkshire where its<br />
litter-picking capabilities were put to <strong>the</strong> test with outst<strong>and</strong>ing results.<br />
Local authorities, including<br />
Richmondshire District Council, have<br />
already registered strong interest in<br />
<strong>the</strong> machine, which could replace<br />
manual litter removal, a costly,<br />
labour-intensive <strong>and</strong> notoriously<br />
dangerous practice on busy roads.<br />
“We have to maintain <strong>the</strong> roadside<br />
environment, <strong>and</strong> that usually means<br />
manual litter-picking, which brings<br />
with it inevitable health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
issues. The Herder offers an attractive<br />
alternative,” explained Terry Thorpe,<br />
a supervisor with Richmondshire’s<br />
street scene department.<br />
Johnson Ramsay is a local plant<br />
hire contractor who put <strong>the</strong> machine<br />
through its paces <strong>and</strong> believes it has<br />
huge potential. “It is able to pick up<br />
all manner of waste from <strong>the</strong> roadside<br />
in a single pass. There are obvious<br />
safety benefits, as council operatives<br />
are not put at risk. In <strong>the</strong> long term,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re would be cost savings.”<br />
The machine is based on Herder’s<br />
successful Grenadier MBK 512 tool<br />
carrier, capable of accommodating<br />
a range of 15 different attachments,<br />
August 2010<br />
including flail mowers, weed mowing<br />
baskets <strong>and</strong> verge maintenance<br />
systems. The vacuum flail is<br />
available in 3 widths, weighing in<br />
at between 500 <strong>and</strong> 600kg, <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> articulated boom comes in five<br />
different lengths giving it <strong>the</strong> capability<br />
to reach most roadside situations.<br />
There is a choice of three different<br />
hydraulic sliding arms offering a wide<br />
selection of reach, travelling height,<br />
flexibility, weight <strong>and</strong> cost choices.<br />
The flail, operated by dual h<strong>and</strong><br />
controls, may be positioned to ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
side of <strong>the</strong> host vehicle, or directly<br />
in front of <strong>the</strong> driver’s vision. Once<br />
a job is completed <strong>the</strong> arm folds<br />
conveniently behind <strong>the</strong> cab permitting<br />
fast transportation to <strong>the</strong> next location.<br />
The hydraulic unit is fitted in <strong>the</strong><br />
three-point linkage as st<strong>and</strong>ard or,<br />
optionally, <strong>the</strong> pumps may be driven<br />
on a forward PTO, in which case <strong>the</strong><br />
hydraulic tank can be situated above<br />
<strong>the</strong> front wheel <strong>and</strong> hydraulic valves<br />
fitted next to <strong>the</strong> engine compartment<br />
in front of <strong>the</strong> cabin. Herder state that<br />
such an arrangement is ideal since <strong>the</strong><br />
vacuum unit will <strong>the</strong>n be positioned<br />
on <strong>the</strong> trailer, offering a st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
tractor-trailer hook-up configuration.<br />
A hydraulically driven auger (0-60l/min<br />
@ 150 bar max.) is situated directly<br />
behind <strong>the</strong> flail, feeding <strong>the</strong> waste<br />
centrally to <strong>the</strong> vacuum inlet, <strong>and</strong> is<br />
controlled from <strong>the</strong> cabin where <strong>the</strong><br />
driver has on/off, forward <strong>and</strong> reverse<br />
<strong>and</strong> stepless speed control. The vacuum<br />
unit operates on its own high pressure<br />
(420 bar max) closed circuit, hydraulic<br />
system (80l/min. at 1,900 rpm).<br />
Travelling speeds are typically in <strong>the</strong><br />
range of between 2mph-4mph (3-<br />
6km/h), depending on <strong>the</strong> density<br />
of <strong>the</strong> litter encountered or local<br />
circumstances. The hydraulic arm is<br />
controlled by low pressure hydraulic<br />
controls <strong>and</strong> optionally with one or two<br />
fully proportional electronic joysticks.<br />
The sequence <strong>and</strong> functions on <strong>the</strong><br />
joysticks can be chosen by <strong>the</strong> operator,<br />
depending on his personal preferences.<br />
Significant interest in <strong>the</strong> machine<br />
from <strong>the</strong> Highways Maintenance<br />
sector means that Mastenbroek<br />
Environmental is planning fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
demonstrations of <strong>the</strong> machine.
able uK invests in specialist<br />
liebherr industrial reh<strong>and</strong>ler<br />
Able UK Limited has<br />
taken delivery of a<br />
high-specification<br />
Liebherr A 934 C HD<br />
Litronic Industrial<br />
Reh<strong>and</strong>ler for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
ship recycling<br />
operations at <strong>the</strong><br />
Teesside Environmental<br />
Reclamation <strong>and</strong><br />
Recycling Centre<br />
(TERRC) at Able<br />
Seaton Port,<br />
Hartlepool. A longst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
Liebherr<br />
customer, Able UK has<br />
put its new specialist<br />
Liebherr machine<br />
to work as <strong>the</strong> main<br />
materials h<strong>and</strong>ler on<br />
this impressive facility,<br />
loading, stockpiling<br />
<strong>and</strong> managing <strong>the</strong><br />
scrap metal elements of<br />
<strong>the</strong> vessels as <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
dismantled.<br />
Able UK Limited is a privately owned<br />
independent organisation which<br />
was formed in 1966. A leading<br />
specialist in complex demolition<br />
processes, <strong>the</strong> company also has<br />
expertise in site reclamation <strong>and</strong><br />
associated brownfield property<br />
development. Drawing on its skills<br />
<strong>and</strong> experience, Able UK has<br />
evolved <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ed to become<br />
recognised as market leader in <strong>the</strong><br />
decommissioning <strong>and</strong> recycling<br />
of marine structures, including oil <strong>and</strong><br />
gas platforms <strong>and</strong> ships, operating a<br />
number of riverside facilities on both<br />
<strong>the</strong> Humber <strong>and</strong> Tees. Reclaimed scrap<br />
metals from <strong>the</strong> ship decommissioning<br />
<strong>and</strong> recycling process are sold on<br />
to secondary metals merchants,<br />
with a large proportion for export.<br />
Large volumes of material have to be<br />
h<strong>and</strong>led at Able’s TERRC facilities where<br />
<strong>the</strong> versatility, power <strong>and</strong> productivity<br />
of <strong>the</strong> new Liebherr industrial reh<strong>and</strong>ler<br />
is being fully <strong>and</strong> successfully put to<br />
<strong>the</strong> test. A 46 tonnes operating weight<br />
wheeled machine, <strong>the</strong> A 934 C HD<br />
Litronic is powered by a D 934 L turbocharged<br />
<strong>and</strong> after-cooled Liebherr engine<br />
complying with level IIIA / Tier 3 reduced<br />
emissions <strong>and</strong> developing 150kW at<br />
1800RPM. The heavy-duty axles feature<br />
front oscillation lock which can be ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
automatically or operator controlled <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> four wheels are fitted with Bergunion<br />
16.00-25/CSE solid tyres. Travel speed<br />
is infinitely variable <strong>and</strong> between 2.50<br />
kmh (creep speed) <strong>and</strong> 18 kmh (road<br />
speed), with four hydraulic outriggers<br />
providing optimum stability for stationary<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS<br />
operations. This machine is a longreach<br />
version <strong>and</strong> is equipped with an<br />
hydraulic swivel for grapple operation,<br />
an 8.60 metres straight industrial boom<br />
<strong>and</strong> a 7.50 metres angled industrial<br />
stick. Maximum load capacity is 4.90<br />
tonnes at 15 metres radius using<br />
outriggers; maximum lift height is 16<br />
metres. Central automatic lubrication<br />
is fitted.<br />
For optimum load visibility, <strong>the</strong><br />
ergonomically designed operator’s cab<br />
can be hydraulically elevated to give<br />
a line of sight raised to approximately<br />
6.85 metres. The Litronic engine<br />
<strong>and</strong> hydraulics management system<br />
provides complete operational data,<br />
air-conditioning is st<strong>and</strong>ard as is<br />
armoured glass, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fully adjustable<br />
seat is heated <strong>and</strong> equipped with an<br />
automatic ventral safety belt. The<br />
steering wheel is adjustable <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
twin joystick controls are integrated<br />
into <strong>the</strong> seat armrests, providing<br />
positive <strong>and</strong> accurate operation of<br />
slew <strong>and</strong> attachments. The cab is<br />
also equipped with a front screen<br />
safety grille <strong>and</strong> a FOPS top guard.<br />
13
NEwS<br />
SPeeDy unveils<br />
towerlight Vt-1 eco as<br />
Product Innovation Award winner<br />
Speedy has announced<br />
<strong>the</strong> winner of its inaugural<br />
Product Innovation Award<br />
2010 as Towerlight’s VT-1<br />
Eco lighting tower.<br />
Speedy launched <strong>the</strong> award earlier this<br />
year as part of its overall sustainability<br />
strategy which includes <strong>the</strong> industry<br />
leading GO Initiative (GO for Green<br />
Option) – which provides customers<br />
with independently verified energy<br />
efficiency data on certain products.<br />
The judges at Speedy were impressed<br />
by Towerlight’s VT-1 Eco’s energy<br />
efficiency features which include<br />
14<br />
August 2010<br />
intelligent light detection sensors<br />
that automatically switch <strong>the</strong><br />
lighting set on <strong>and</strong> off depending on<br />
predetermined brightness levels.<br />
The VT-1 Eco is already in use <strong>and</strong> a<br />
fleet of <strong>the</strong> environmentally beneficial<br />
lighting towers was supplied by Speedy<br />
to this year’s Glastonbury Festival.<br />
The lights were placed around <strong>the</strong><br />
festival campsites providing proper,<br />
dependable illumination, allowing <strong>the</strong><br />
festival revellers to move safely around<br />
<strong>the</strong> campsites during <strong>the</strong> night.<br />
Tests conducted by Speedy <strong>and</strong><br />
TowerLight have shown that,<br />
based upon <strong>the</strong> rental of twelve<br />
VT-1 Eco lighting units, savings<br />
of over £4,300 per month can be<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
created on operator time, fuel <strong>and</strong><br />
carbon savings on an average site.<br />
Andy Connor, supply chain director<br />
at Speedy, said: “The VT-1 Eco is an<br />
excellent example of how a product<br />
used every day on sites can be<br />
made to work far more efficiently.<br />
“As <strong>the</strong> leading equipment rental<br />
services provider we see it as our<br />
responsibility to make a product like<br />
this available to customers as well<br />
as to encourage manufacturers to<br />
develop innovative new designs. This<br />
is what <strong>the</strong> awards are all about.”<br />
Paul Hay, international sales manager,<br />
at TowerLight said: “We are honored to<br />
receive this prestigious award for <strong>the</strong> VT-1<br />
Eco, which is part of TowerLight’s ongoing<br />
policy to develop, with our customers,<br />
increasingly more environmental<br />
<strong>and</strong> innovative products, which offer<br />
contractors such substantial savings.”<br />
He added, “With Government<br />
departments, such as DEFRA, placing an<br />
increasing emphasis on reducing pollution<br />
on construction sites <strong>and</strong> civil engineering<br />
projects, we set about developing<br />
<strong>the</strong> VT-1 Eco with environmental<br />
considerations right at <strong>the</strong> forefront.<br />
The knock-on effect means that <strong>the</strong>se<br />
benefits will also apply to outside event<br />
managers, whose clients are often eager<br />
to use environmentally sound equipment.”
Best tools. New rules.<br />
Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.<br />
David pictured here working<br />
at home with his first mentor<br />
<strong>and</strong> best friend ‘Tom’ his Dad<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
TE 1500-AVR<br />
breaker<br />
TE 1000-AVR<br />
breaker<br />
TE 706-AVR<br />
breaker<br />
New generation<br />
Hilti breakers<br />
These tools redefine <strong>the</strong>ir own role, with<br />
polygon chisels for every application,<br />
impressive breaking power <strong>and</strong> low<br />
vibration, <strong>the</strong>y take electropneumatic<br />
breakers into a new dimension.<br />
Find out more at: www.hilti.co.uk/breakers<br />
TE 500-AVR<br />
breaker<br />
Hilti (Gt. Britain) Limited | 1 Trafford Wharf Road | Trafford Park | Manchester | M17 1BY | www.hilti.co.uk August 2010<br />
TE 300-AVR<br />
breaker<br />
15
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
DeWalt ®<br />
haMMeR hoMe<br />
<strong>the</strong> MeSSage<br />
With inCReaSeD<br />
DuRaBility,<br />
PeRfoRManCe<br />
anD Safety<br />
DEWALT ® , <strong>the</strong><br />
leading power tool<br />
<strong>and</strong> accessory<br />
manufacturer, has<br />
announced <strong>the</strong> launch<br />
of <strong>the</strong>ir new 6kg<br />
SDS-Max hammer<br />
range. Designed with<br />
durability, performance<br />
<strong>and</strong> added safety in<br />
mind, <strong>the</strong> new range<br />
is built to withst<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> toughest jobsite<br />
conditions. Here we<br />
take at look at some<br />
of <strong>the</strong> features of<br />
<strong>the</strong> new range.<br />
16<br />
August 2010<br />
DuRaBility / ReliaBility<br />
Due to <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> application<br />
of hammer tools <strong>the</strong>y are subjected<br />
to very heavy use <strong>and</strong> need to be<br />
extremely durable. DEWALT ® have<br />
introduced new key features to<br />
improve <strong>the</strong> durability <strong>and</strong> reliability<br />
of <strong>the</strong> range, including:<br />
Chain drive mechanism - <strong>the</strong><br />
inclusion of this instead of a<br />
conventional gear drive means less<br />
tolerance sensitivity, lighter weight<br />
(due to less parts as compared with<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ard gears), greater efficiency<br />
<strong>and</strong> much quieter operation (no<br />
gear noise).<br />
Oil lubrication – which in<br />
comparison to <strong>the</strong> use of<br />
conventional grease has <strong>the</strong><br />
advantages of causing less wear<br />
on parts <strong>and</strong> giving a quicker heat<br />
dissipation, especially during longer<br />
periods of use, which means that<br />
<strong>the</strong> tool lasts longer.<br />
PeRfoRManCe<br />
Users expect <strong>the</strong>ir tools to not only last<br />
long but to get <strong>the</strong> job done quickly too.<br />
To improve performance DEWALT ®<br />
have added several new features:<br />
More powerful motor with full<br />
electronic version (1100w <strong>and</strong><br />
1250w versions). Electronic version<br />
helps to stabilise <strong>the</strong> RPM’s giving<br />
more consistent drilling speeds.<br />
Increased RPM’s for greater<br />
drilling speed.<br />
Optimised hammer mechanism<br />
delivering higher impact energy<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore faster drilling/harder<br />
breaking energy up to 12 joules.
light Weight anD<br />
CoMPaCt<br />
In certain applications (e.g. render<br />
removal, cavity wall insulation, chasing<br />
for electrical wires) <strong>the</strong>se power tools<br />
can be used for long periods of time<br />
<strong>and</strong> any reduction in weight or size<br />
helps to make <strong>the</strong> job easier for <strong>the</strong><br />
user. DEWALT ® have made <strong>the</strong> units<br />
smaller <strong>and</strong> lighter than before by<br />
adjusting <strong>the</strong> position of <strong>the</strong> motor<br />
<strong>and</strong> introducing <strong>the</strong> new chain drive<br />
mechanism, which has less parts than<br />
a gear drive, meaning <strong>the</strong>se tools can<br />
be used more comfortably for longer<br />
periods of time.<br />
CoMfoRt / Safety<br />
Recent legislation has forced<br />
manufacturers into developing safer<br />
<strong>and</strong> more comfortable tools with<br />
hammers being one of <strong>the</strong> key product<br />
categories affected. To make this<br />
new range safer DEWALT ® offers <strong>the</strong><br />
following optional features:<br />
Complete Torque Control (CTC):<br />
this is a 2 step clutch that defaults<br />
to <strong>the</strong> low setting (40Nm) every<br />
time <strong>the</strong> tool is unplugged which is<br />
safer for <strong>the</strong> user as <strong>the</strong> drill is less<br />
likely to snag on <strong>the</strong> low setting. If<br />
<strong>the</strong> operator requires more torque<br />
to complete <strong>the</strong> job (e.g. in heavier<br />
applications where more torque is<br />
required such as core drilling) <strong>the</strong><br />
user can manually select <strong>the</strong> high<br />
torque setting of 80Nm.<br />
The new DEWALT ® 6kg SDS-Max hammer<br />
range will be available from all stockists<br />
during September 2010. For general<br />
enquiries, stockists, service <strong>and</strong><br />
technical advice, please contact<br />
customer services 01753 567055 or visit<br />
www.dewalt.co.uk or www.dewalt.ie<br />
Active Vibration Control (AVC):<br />
reducing vibration at source is<br />
critical <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> introduction of <strong>the</strong><br />
chain-drive mechanism (with less<br />
moving parts) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> optimised<br />
hammer mechanism helps to<br />
do this.<br />
Floating rear h<strong>and</strong>le <strong>and</strong><br />
vibration dampened side h<strong>and</strong>le:<br />
this unique design helps to fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
reduce vibration<br />
DEWALT ® has led <strong>the</strong> way in reducing<br />
vibration in its hammer range over <strong>the</strong><br />
past 10 years with <strong>the</strong> introduction<br />
of Active Vibration Control <strong>and</strong><br />
continues to lead this market in<br />
2010. What is most important is<br />
to increase performance but at <strong>the</strong><br />
same time deliver less vibration.<br />
The new range is testament to that<br />
philosophy <strong>and</strong> does indeed deliver<br />
better performance with less vibration.<br />
The end result is <strong>the</strong> tools are more<br />
comfortable for <strong>the</strong> end user, allowing<br />
increased usage time as well as<br />
improving <strong>the</strong> speed of application.<br />
<strong>the</strong> neW Range Will ConSiSt of 4 unitS:<br />
D25501K 1100w st<strong>and</strong>ard unit<br />
D25601K 1250w, electronic variable speed/impact, floating h<strong>and</strong>le<br />
D25602K 1250w, electronic variable speed/impact, floating h<strong>and</strong>le, CTC<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
D25831K chipping only unit with 1200w motor, electronic variable impact <strong>and</strong> floating h<strong>and</strong>le<br />
D25501K D25601K D25602K D25831K<br />
POwER INPUT 1100 Watts 1250 Watts 1250 Watts 1200 Watts<br />
POwER OUTPUT 500 Watts 615 Watts 615 Watts 615 Watts<br />
LOAD SPEED 400 rpm 210-415 rpm 210-415 rpm<br />
BLOwS PER MINUTE 2740 bpm<br />
1430-2840<br />
bpm<br />
1430-2840<br />
bpm<br />
August 2010<br />
N/A chipping<br />
only<br />
1420-2840<br />
bpm<br />
IMPACT ENERGy 11 J 1.5-12 J 1.5-12 J 2-12 J<br />
TOOL HOLDER SDS-Max SDS-Max SDS-Max SDS-Max<br />
MAx. DRILLING CAPACITy<br />
(concrete)<br />
MAx. DRILLING CAPACITy<br />
(breakthrough bit)<br />
40mm 45mm 45mm N/A<br />
55mm 65mm 65mm N/A<br />
VIBRATION 18.3m/s 2 9.2m/s 2 9.1m/s 2 8.3m/s 2<br />
COMPLETE TORqUE CONTROL<br />
(2-step clutch)<br />
COMBINATION<br />
(hammer drill <strong>and</strong> chopping)<br />
No No Yes N/A<br />
Yes Yes Yes Chipping only<br />
17
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
introduction<br />
The excavator, or more<br />
specifically its excavating<br />
arm <strong>and</strong> array of possible<br />
attachments, is well<br />
recognised for its multitude<br />
of practical uses. This<br />
applies to, for instance,<br />
<strong>the</strong> tracked excavator, its<br />
rubber wheeled cousin<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> dipper arm of<br />
a backhoe loader.<br />
In addition to excavating,<br />
<strong>the</strong> arm <strong>and</strong> chosen<br />
attachment might be used<br />
for a variety of tasks such<br />
as loading or moving<br />
spoil; grading or levelling;<br />
pushing, pulling or o<strong>the</strong>rwise<br />
moving heavy objects along<br />
<strong>the</strong> ground; breaking out<br />
hard materials <strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r popular application<br />
is to use <strong>the</strong> arm to lift,<br />
move <strong>and</strong> place materials<br />
or components – what we<br />
will term here as ‘using an<br />
excavator as a crane’.<br />
However, <strong>the</strong>re is a big<br />
difference between <strong>the</strong><br />
former ‘more general’ uses<br />
18<br />
August 2010<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter – a difference<br />
which exposes <strong>the</strong> machine<br />
<strong>and</strong> its owner to important<br />
relevant lifting legislation<br />
<strong>and</strong> brings with it additional<br />
significant hazards. We<br />
will consider <strong>the</strong>se issues<br />
of legislation <strong>and</strong> hazards<br />
relating to using excavators<br />
as cranes, in turn.<br />
using an excavator<br />
as a crane – some<br />
health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
legislation<br />
There is much health <strong>and</strong><br />
safety legislation that<br />
applies to excavator use<br />
<strong>and</strong> although this is not<br />
<strong>the</strong> focus of this article,<br />
two important items<br />
worthy of mention are The<br />
Provision <strong>and</strong> Use of Work<br />
<strong>Equipment</strong> Regulations<br />
(1998) <strong>and</strong> The Supply<br />
of Machinery (Safety)<br />
Regulations (2008). It<br />
is when an excavator<br />
is used as a crane that<br />
additional health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
legislation takes effect (on<br />
<strong>the</strong> owner <strong>and</strong> operator);<br />
but when exactly does this<br />
excavators<br />
used as cranes<br />
additional legislation apply?<br />
International St<strong>and</strong>ard EN<br />
474-1: 2006, identifies that<br />
<strong>the</strong> critical point at which an<br />
excavator is considered as<br />
being ‘used as a crane’ is<br />
when it commences ‘object<br />
h<strong>and</strong>ling’. Object h<strong>and</strong>ling,<br />
according to EN 474-1 is<br />
application of <strong>the</strong> excavator<br />
to, “...lifting, lowering <strong>and</strong><br />
transporting of a load by<br />
use of lifting accessories,<br />
whereby <strong>the</strong> assistance of<br />
a person or <strong>the</strong> operator<br />
of <strong>the</strong> machine is required<br />
for hooking, unhooking,<br />
or stabilising (while<br />
transporting) <strong>the</strong> load”. A<br />
typical ‘load’ in this instance<br />
might be a pipe that is lifted<br />
for placing into a trench<br />
that <strong>the</strong> excavator has just<br />
prepared. Lifting accessories<br />
includes things like chains,<br />
straps <strong>and</strong> shackles.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r excavator functions<br />
identified in <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
such as “...excavating,<br />
loading, transporting,<br />
spreading, compacting or<br />
trenching of earth, rock<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
Article by Gary Holt BSc(Hons), PhD,<br />
FCIOB, Loughborough University’<br />
or similar materials” are<br />
considered ‘earth moving’<br />
operations <strong>and</strong> not <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
prone to this additional lifting<br />
legislation. To avoid any<br />
confusion here, generally, if<br />
an excavator picks up a load<br />
in its bucket (or grab etc.)<br />
without <strong>the</strong> added assistance<br />
of a person for hooking,<br />
stabilising or unhooking<br />
it, <strong>the</strong>n this is not deemed<br />
to be object h<strong>and</strong>ling.<br />
When being used for<br />
object h<strong>and</strong>ling (i.e. using<br />
<strong>the</strong> excavator as a crane)<br />
excavators <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir lifting<br />
accessories are subject<br />
to <strong>the</strong> requirements of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Lifting Operations<br />
<strong>and</strong> Lifting <strong>Equipment</strong><br />
Regulations 1998 (‘LOLER’).<br />
Broadly summarised,<br />
LOLER requires that lifting<br />
equipment is: strong enough<br />
for <strong>the</strong> intended use; marked<br />
to indicate safe working<br />
loads (SWLs): used safely<br />
such that <strong>the</strong> intended lifting<br />
is planned <strong>and</strong> performed<br />
by competent workers; <strong>and</strong><br />
subjected to an ongoing<br />
inspection regime.
The latter will include daily<br />
<strong>and</strong> routine inspections<br />
along with ‘thorough<br />
examination’ by a competent<br />
person in accordance<br />
with specified cyclic time<br />
limits. The interpretation<br />
<strong>and</strong> implementation of<br />
requirements of LOLER are<br />
quite detailed <strong>and</strong> specific,<br />
so appropriate professional<br />
guidance on <strong>the</strong>m should<br />
be sought by owners <strong>and</strong><br />
operators as appropriate.<br />
using an excavator as<br />
a crane – additional<br />
significant hazards<br />
There have been several<br />
health <strong>and</strong> safety incidents<br />
(or near-misses where<br />
potential incidents were<br />
discovered in time) involving<br />
excavators used as cranes.<br />
The main two types of<br />
hazard are presented by:<br />
1. failure in lifting<br />
accessories; <strong>and</strong> 2. failure<br />
at <strong>the</strong> point of connection<br />
between lifting accessories<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavator (<strong>the</strong> latter<br />
may be via a dedicated eye<br />
on a bucket or quick-hitch<br />
for example). When a<br />
failure is catastrophic<br />
– that is, a component<br />
or accessory breaks or<br />
fails totally <strong>and</strong> without<br />
warning – <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> hazards<br />
of falling loads need no<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r explanation here.<br />
Of course, <strong>the</strong>se are not<br />
<strong>the</strong> only hazards. O<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
relate to things such as<br />
machine stability during<br />
<strong>the</strong> lift (especially when<br />
reaching or slewing), o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
workers in <strong>the</strong> machine’s<br />
operational area, use of<br />
incorrect accessories <strong>and</strong><br />
work being undertaken by<br />
non-competent persons<br />
(e.g. for slinging <strong>and</strong><br />
signalling). However, let<br />
us briefly focus on <strong>the</strong><br />
two main hazards relating<br />
to component failure.<br />
failure in lifting<br />
accessories<br />
This would be failure in<br />
an item such as a steel<br />
chain or a nylon strap.<br />
Although wear in <strong>the</strong> item<br />
might be noticed before<br />
failure occurs, <strong>the</strong> failure<br />
can often occur without<br />
warning. Typical reasons<br />
for this include <strong>the</strong> SWL<br />
of <strong>the</strong> accessory being<br />
exceeded or <strong>the</strong> presence<br />
of a weakness in <strong>the</strong><br />
accessory due to abrasive<br />
damage upon it. In practice,<br />
abrasive damage happens<br />
when an accessory comes<br />
into physical contact<br />
with <strong>the</strong> load or a part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> machine, such as<br />
when a lifting sling rubs<br />
against <strong>the</strong> back of an<br />
excavating bucket.<br />
For multiple slings, failure in<br />
one component places extra<br />
stresses into <strong>the</strong> remaining<br />
ones <strong>and</strong> so failure can be<br />
progressive, with typical<br />
results of this being that<br />
<strong>the</strong> load becomes unstable<br />
<strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> extreme, falls.<br />
Principal control<br />
mechanisms to avoid<br />
failure in lifting accessories<br />
include: using accessories<br />
appropriate to <strong>the</strong> nature of<br />
<strong>the</strong> work; using accessories<br />
with an appropriate SWL<br />
rating; <strong>and</strong> slinging /<br />
designing / carrying out<br />
<strong>the</strong> lift so as to avoid any<br />
physical contact between<br />
accessories <strong>and</strong> anything<br />
else. A freely suspended<br />
set of straps or chains<br />
attached using a master link<br />
to a dedicated lifting eye<br />
on <strong>the</strong> machine is optimal.<br />
failure at <strong>the</strong> point<br />
of connection<br />
The risk here is similar<br />
to <strong>the</strong> last, where <strong>the</strong><br />
connection may make<br />
Figure 1<br />
Diagrammatic<br />
Representation<br />
of Magnified<br />
Stresses<br />
Master link<br />
& quick-hitch<br />
contact<br />
Lifting sling or<br />
chains attached<br />
to load<br />
physical contact with<br />
<strong>the</strong> machine during <strong>the</strong><br />
lift. However, <strong>the</strong> failing<br />
mechanism is often<br />
different; ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
occurring as a result of<br />
damage due to abrasion,<br />
<strong>the</strong> risk is that a component<br />
will become lodged against<br />
<strong>the</strong> machine <strong>and</strong>, due<br />
to its configuration, <strong>the</strong><br />
stresses imposed within<br />
it become magnified due<br />
to <strong>the</strong> effects of leverage.<br />
That is, although <strong>the</strong><br />
component will have an<br />
adequate SWL for <strong>the</strong> load<br />
to be encountered, this<br />
magnifying effect causes<br />
stresses far in excess of<br />
this, sometimes by as much<br />
as a factor of 6, 7 or 8<br />
times (depending on <strong>the</strong> lift<br />
configuration <strong>and</strong> accessory<br />
size). Catastrophic<br />
failure often results from<br />
this kind of hazard.<br />
A typical example in<br />
practice would be where<br />
an operator moves a quick<br />
hitch about its knuckle joint<br />
(that has a master link <strong>and</strong><br />
set of lifting chains attached<br />
to it via a dedicated lifting<br />
eye); to fine-tune positioning<br />
during placement of a heavy<br />
component. If <strong>the</strong> master<br />
link is trapped against <strong>the</strong><br />
quick-hitch, fur<strong>the</strong>r crowding<br />
causes <strong>the</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>st part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> link to now act as a<br />
lever as it moves upward<br />
in an arc. This means that<br />
<strong>the</strong> load suspended from<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
Movement<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
D-shackle through<br />
lifting eye<br />
Quick-hitch with<br />
<strong>the</strong> attachment<br />
(e.g. bucket)<br />
removed while <strong>the</strong><br />
dipper arm is being<br />
used for lifting<br />
As quick-hitch is moved upward, master<br />
link is forced outward <strong>and</strong> upward<br />
inducing greater forces into it<br />
it magnifies <strong>the</strong> stresses<br />
within <strong>the</strong> link’s arms<br />
possibly to <strong>the</strong> point<br />
that failure will suddenly<br />
occur. Figure 1 shows<br />
this in diagrammatic form.<br />
(The above is but a brief<br />
description of this concept.<br />
For a more complete<br />
explanation with a worked<br />
numeric example, see<br />
<strong>the</strong> scientific paper by<br />
Edwards <strong>and</strong> Holt (2010)<br />
listed in <strong>the</strong> bibliography).<br />
Damage to <strong>the</strong><br />
accessories may not<br />
always be catastrophic<br />
– gradual component<br />
degradation<br />
can sometimes prevail.<br />
In such instances, <strong>the</strong><br />
‘flattening’ of metal<br />
surfaces might be noticed<br />
in <strong>the</strong> lifting accessories<br />
(master link for example).<br />
These should instantly<br />
be taken out of service<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> lifting method<br />
redesigned so as to<br />
avoid this contact from<br />
reoccurring.<br />
The principal control<br />
mechanisms to avoid<br />
failure at <strong>the</strong> point of<br />
connection are as for<br />
failure in lifting accessories<br />
described above, but also<br />
to always ensure that<br />
lifting accessories hang<br />
freely from <strong>the</strong> lifting eye<br />
<strong>and</strong> never become lodged<br />
or trapped against <strong>the</strong><br />
machine during a lift.<br />
August 2010<br />
19
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Summary<br />
Where an excavator lifts<br />
materials or components<br />
with <strong>the</strong> added assistance<br />
of a person for hooking,<br />
stabilising or unhooking<br />
such, this is deemed to be<br />
object h<strong>and</strong>ling (using an<br />
excavator as a crane).<br />
Using excavators as<br />
cranes will subject <strong>the</strong>m to<br />
additional health <strong>and</strong> safety<br />
legislation – particularly<br />
LOLER. This in turn places<br />
additional legal duties upon<br />
<strong>the</strong> owners / operators<br />
of such excavators.<br />
Using excavators as cranes<br />
brings additional health<br />
<strong>and</strong> safety risks, <strong>the</strong> most<br />
significant of which can be<br />
failure of lifting accessories<br />
<strong>and</strong> failure of <strong>the</strong> connection<br />
between accessories<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> machine.<br />
In addition to well<br />
entrenched health <strong>and</strong><br />
safety guidance on <strong>the</strong> safe<br />
use of work equipment,<br />
<strong>the</strong> best ways to offset <strong>the</strong><br />
Figure 2 Diagrammatic<br />
representation of a freely<br />
suspended load<br />
20<br />
August 2010<br />
risks of lifting accessory /<br />
connection failure are to:<br />
always ensure that<br />
loads are freely<br />
suspended from<br />
<strong>the</strong> machine; (see<br />
Figure 2) <strong>and</strong><br />
ensure that at no<br />
time are accessories<br />
allowed to make<br />
physical contact with<br />
<strong>the</strong> load, or any part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> excavator.<br />
footnote<br />
The content of this<br />
article is for broad<br />
information only <strong>and</strong> not<br />
in any way meant to be<br />
definitive guidance on<br />
this potentially complex<br />
subject. Readers<br />
who might own / use<br />
excavators as cranes<br />
(e.g. for object h<strong>and</strong>ling<br />
or ‘lifting operations’)<br />
should seek professional<br />
guidance where necessary<br />
if any doubt exists on<br />
this subject as to, for<br />
example, <strong>the</strong>ir liability<br />
under or compliance<br />
with, relevant law.<br />
Bibliography<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Earth-moving Machinery – Safety – Part 1:<br />
General Requirements. British St<strong>and</strong>ard BS EN<br />
474-1: 2006. The British St<strong>and</strong>ards Institution.<br />
Edwards, D. J. <strong>and</strong> Holt, G. D. (2010). Case Study<br />
Analysis of Risk from Using Excavators as ‘Cranes’.<br />
Automation in Construction. Vol.19, No. 2, pp.127-<br />
133. ISSN: 0926-5805 (print). Amsterdam: Elsevier.<br />
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2009.12.013.<br />
The Provision <strong>and</strong> Use of Work <strong>Equipment</strong><br />
Regulations 1998. Statutory Instrument 1998 No.<br />
2306. Accessible via <strong>the</strong> UK Statute Law Database<br />
at: www.statutelaw.gov.uk/Home.aspx.<br />
The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations<br />
2008. Statutory Instrument 2008 No. 1597.<br />
Accessible via <strong>the</strong> UK Statute Law Database<br />
at: www.statutelaw.gov.uk/Home.aspx.<br />
The Lifting Operations <strong>and</strong> Lifting <strong>Equipment</strong><br />
Regulations 1998. Statutory Instrument 1998 No.<br />
2307 Accessible via <strong>the</strong> UK Statute Law Database<br />
at: www.statutelaw.gov.uk/Home.aspx.
You can’t cure white finger<br />
syndrome you CAN prevent it<br />
“The HAVmeter not only empowers <strong>the</strong> workforce to<br />
personally monitor <strong>the</strong>ir own exposure levels but also<br />
enables managers to take a practical approach to <strong>the</strong><br />
management of vibration on a more long term basis.”<br />
Mike Rodgers, Head of Policy <strong>and</strong> Performance,<br />
Carmar<strong>the</strong>nshire County Council<br />
• The award winning HAVmeter is used by over 140<br />
organisations including more than 40 UK Councils.<br />
• Protect your workforce from HAVS with <strong>the</strong><br />
HAVmeter – for less than 60p per operator per day.*<br />
• Fully auditable tamper proof data at <strong>the</strong> touch of a button.<br />
For fur<strong>the</strong>r information please contact<br />
T: +44 (0) 131 221 0930 E: sales@reactec.com<br />
www.reactec.com<br />
* 60p per day is based on 3 year cost of ownership of typical deployment<br />
August 2010<br />
21
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Interview with<br />
Richard Shore<br />
Early days<br />
Richard grew up in <strong>the</strong> traditional mining<br />
village of Maltby, South Yorkshire <strong>and</strong><br />
went to <strong>the</strong> local Maltby Comprehensive<br />
School. Richard’s gr<strong>and</strong>fa<strong>the</strong>rs had both<br />
been coal miners but his parents were<br />
teachers. At his prime, Richard’s dad<br />
was actually a heavyweight boxer <strong>and</strong><br />
sparred with <strong>the</strong> British Heavyweight<br />
Champion of <strong>the</strong> time, Bruce Woodcock,<br />
but he went on to become a PE<br />
instructor teaching boxing <strong>and</strong> later<br />
technical drawing. Richard’s mum was<br />
an infant school teacher. Both parents<br />
22<br />
August 2010<br />
encouraged Richard at school <strong>and</strong><br />
advised him to take his O levels <strong>and</strong> A<br />
levels, which he did - Richard remembers<br />
his mo<strong>the</strong>r saying “Once you’ve got it<br />
<strong>the</strong>y can’t take it away.”<br />
On leaving school in 1974, Richard<br />
was keen to work <strong>and</strong> earn a wage,<br />
but unlike most of his friends who went<br />
to British Steel or <strong>the</strong> National Coal<br />
Board, he wanted something different,<br />
although, what that something different<br />
was he was not too sure. After some<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
In each issue of<br />
PEP we seek out<br />
interviews with<br />
leading figures<br />
within our industry<br />
to provide an<br />
opportunity to<br />
document <strong>and</strong><br />
learn from <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
experiences <strong>and</strong><br />
knowledge. In this<br />
interview, we speak<br />
to a highly respected<br />
<strong>and</strong> successful<br />
professional Mr<br />
Richard Shore,<br />
MD, Mentor who<br />
incidentally was also<br />
one of <strong>the</strong> founding<br />
members of <strong>OPERC</strong>.<br />
As his story unfolds,<br />
<strong>the</strong> traits of good<br />
business management<br />
emerge as helpful<br />
reminders to us all.<br />
discussions with his fa<strong>the</strong>r, Richard<br />
completed his UCCA (University) forms,<br />
applying for estate management degree<br />
courses, <strong>and</strong> subsequently accepted a<br />
place at Leicester Polytechnic (now De<br />
Montfort University). He studied <strong>the</strong>re<br />
for three years <strong>and</strong> graduated with a<br />
degree which gave full exemption from<br />
examinations to join <strong>the</strong> Royal Institute<br />
of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) <strong>and</strong><br />
become an Associate member (ARICS).<br />
Richard decided, however, that a job
in this field was not for him <strong>and</strong> on<br />
completion of <strong>the</strong> degree in 1978 he still<br />
didn’t know what to do. He w<strong>and</strong>ered<br />
for a while, taking up a number of jobs<br />
ranging from manual labouring to grape<br />
picking in France. Richard had met his<br />
first wife at school <strong>and</strong> being <strong>the</strong> typical<br />
business man with an eye for a deal –<br />
he combined <strong>the</strong> grape picking with a<br />
honeymoon! Better still he went on this<br />
trip with £50 <strong>and</strong> came back with £200<br />
– an early sign of his business flare.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> career<br />
ladder<br />
After <strong>the</strong> trip Richard came back to<br />
<strong>the</strong> UK, returning to Yorkshire, <strong>and</strong><br />
found a job as a trainee sales engineer<br />
at Jungheinrich, at that time a fairly<br />
small German fork lift company who<br />
were just getting established in <strong>the</strong><br />
UK. Finally Richard found something<br />
that he enjoyed <strong>and</strong> his career with<br />
<strong>the</strong> company progressed rapidly. He<br />
was <strong>the</strong> youngest ever regional sales<br />
manager at 27 years old <strong>and</strong> ran <strong>the</strong><br />
South East operations based in Essex.<br />
Richard became <strong>the</strong> head of a team<br />
who grew market share from virtually<br />
nothing to over 16% in just under four<br />
years, selling equipment <strong>and</strong> services<br />
to Ford Motor Company, Unilever,<br />
Safeway (now Morrisons), British<br />
Telecom, Sainsburys <strong>and</strong> many o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
blue chip companies. Richard cut his<br />
teeth at Jungheinrich for 9 years in<br />
total, leaving <strong>the</strong> company during <strong>the</strong><br />
early part of 1988.<br />
At this time, <strong>the</strong> Information Technology<br />
(IT) industry was booming <strong>and</strong><br />
Richard became tempted with a career<br />
change. He noticed how IT experts<br />
had a tendency to talk down to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
customers <strong>and</strong> users <strong>and</strong> he felt<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re was a much better way of<br />
communicating with o<strong>the</strong>rs. As a result<br />
Richard applied to, <strong>and</strong> successfully<br />
joined, Apple (THE company to be with<br />
at that time) as a salesman working<br />
with dealers to promote Apple products.<br />
Richard recalls that <strong>the</strong> initial training<br />
was amazing, consisting of 12 days<br />
of sessions from 8am-7pm, complete<br />
with <strong>the</strong> Apple company song – <strong>and</strong> it<br />
didn’t stop <strong>the</strong>n as any preparation for<br />
<strong>the</strong> next morning had to be done on<br />
<strong>the</strong> evening! Richard notes though that<br />
<strong>the</strong> Apple approach really inspired him<br />
<strong>and</strong> his colleagues to be part of this<br />
company.<br />
One of Richard’s dealers was an<br />
inspirational professional, Joe Exley,<br />
who had developed software for stock<br />
control <strong>and</strong> design of carpets so that a<br />
roll of carpet could be optimised when<br />
cutting to reduce waste. Joe was <strong>the</strong><br />
company owner <strong>and</strong> strongly believed<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re was a market in <strong>the</strong> UK for<br />
this software product that had been<br />
co-developed in Australia. Richard<br />
really liked Joe, <strong>the</strong> product <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Barnsley sense of humour so he<br />
joined <strong>the</strong> company as Sales Director.<br />
During his time <strong>the</strong>re (1988 through<br />
to 1994) <strong>the</strong> product did really well<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> company quickly became <strong>the</strong><br />
market leader in <strong>the</strong> carpet distribution<br />
industry. Sadly, Joe died prematurely<br />
leaving his majority shareholding to his<br />
3 sons <strong>and</strong> shortly afterwards Richard<br />
left <strong>the</strong> company <strong>and</strong> decided to return<br />
to his ‘fork truck’ roots.<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Jungheinrich had just bought Boss<br />
fork trucks in Leighton Buzzard <strong>and</strong><br />
Richard went to Boss to meet <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
Managing Director, Bob Bischof former<br />
Managing Director at Jungheinrich<br />
GB <strong>and</strong> a man that Richard admired<br />
<strong>and</strong> knew very well. He was offered a<br />
job as Sales Operations Manager <strong>and</strong><br />
was responsible for setting up rental<br />
divisions within <strong>the</strong> company to rent<br />
forklifts, <strong>and</strong> for providing technical <strong>and</strong><br />
marketing support to sales staff around<br />
<strong>the</strong> country. After three years Boss<br />
decided to set up separate businesses<br />
to give better company service to<br />
customers <strong>and</strong> Richard was made<br />
Managing Director in <strong>the</strong> South East.<br />
The business prospered over <strong>the</strong> next<br />
2-3 years but <strong>the</strong>re was a change in<br />
management <strong>and</strong> policy at Jungheinrich<br />
to have one company, not several, <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>y merged <strong>the</strong>m all toge<strong>the</strong>r. Up to<br />
that time Richard had been encouraged<br />
by Jungheinrich to organise a<br />
management buyout of <strong>the</strong> South East<br />
operation <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore didn’t agree<br />
with <strong>the</strong> new policy so he decided to<br />
move on to pastures new.<br />
August 2010<br />
23
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Acquiring <strong>and</strong><br />
growing Mentor<br />
Richard next took up <strong>the</strong> role, in 2000,<br />
of Commercial Director at Linde,<br />
based in Basingstoke <strong>and</strong> during his<br />
time <strong>the</strong>re crossed paths with <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n<br />
owners of Mentor who were planning<br />
to sell <strong>the</strong> business <strong>and</strong> retire. Richard<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> owners quickly agreed a basis<br />
for a deal, an arrangement that had<br />
particular attractions as it would mean<br />
amongst o<strong>the</strong>r things <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />
to move back to <strong>the</strong> north. The original<br />
plan was to work alongside each o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>and</strong> Richard would acquire shares in a<br />
ratcheted financial deal, acquiring more<br />
shares incrementally over time. The<br />
relationship worked well for just over<br />
a year as Richard learnt more about<br />
<strong>the</strong> training business <strong>and</strong> in April 2002,<br />
Richard <strong>and</strong> John Neal bought <strong>the</strong><br />
company with <strong>the</strong> support of Royal Bank<br />
of Scotl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir venture capital arm.<br />
Mentor was a sizeable provider of fork<br />
truck training, having been established in<br />
1988. By 2002 <strong>the</strong> company had grown<br />
from just a few instructors working from<br />
a back-bedroom to 50 instructors in new<br />
premises in Chesterfield. Since acquiring<br />
Mentor, Richard has consistently built<br />
on <strong>the</strong> strength in fork truck training <strong>and</strong><br />
now <strong>the</strong> company is at least four times<br />
bigger than its nearest competitor!<br />
Richard has also listened extensively<br />
to his customers <strong>and</strong> has improved<br />
24<br />
August 2010<br />
both training content <strong>and</strong> delivery,<br />
as well as diversifying <strong>the</strong> range of<br />
courses offered. Now, in addition<br />
to fork lift trucks, Mentor also offers<br />
training on cranes <strong>and</strong> access<br />
platforms – indeed, Mentor are now<br />
<strong>the</strong> largest independent IPAF training<br />
company <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifth biggest in <strong>the</strong><br />
country overall. Four years ago at<br />
<strong>the</strong> invitation of Cemex <strong>and</strong> Hanson,<br />
Mentor exp<strong>and</strong>ed into plant training<br />
within <strong>the</strong> extractives industry <strong>and</strong><br />
have been approved by MPQC<br />
since 2004. Today, major customers<br />
include Travis Perkins, Asda, Tesco,<br />
Homebase, Corus, DHL <strong>and</strong> a good<br />
wealth of o<strong>the</strong>r blue chip companies<br />
whilst in <strong>the</strong> extractives sector,<br />
Hanson, Aggregate Industries, Cemex<br />
<strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs are regular customers.<br />
So what differentiates <strong>the</strong> company<br />
from its competitors <strong>and</strong> why has<br />
Mentor been so successful? Good<br />
leadership <strong>and</strong> dedicated employees<br />
is one obvious answer – but Richard<br />
adds more: “About two years ago <strong>the</strong><br />
recession affected all companies;<br />
our solution was to go out <strong>and</strong> talk<br />
to people to seek new contacts<br />
within <strong>the</strong> industry. Traditionally<br />
conservative companies (‘we’ve<br />
always done it this way so we see<br />
no reason to change’) began to look<br />
at alternatives with lower costs but<br />
higher quality. Because we actively<br />
marketed Mentor’s services throughout<br />
industry, we were able to capitalise<br />
upon this economic turbulence by<br />
offering national coverage, good<br />
quality training, competitive costings<br />
<strong>and</strong> ready availability (short waiting<br />
lists/times to training). This strategy<br />
has worked because <strong>the</strong> company’s<br />
sales have grown exponentially. We<br />
now have 130 training instructors<br />
nationwide <strong>and</strong> are three times <strong>the</strong><br />
size as a business that we were in<br />
2002 - with satellite operations in<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Midl<strong>and</strong>s.”<br />
Most would agree that it is a<br />
remarkable achievement for<br />
a company to grow during a<br />
recession <strong>and</strong> this seems to be<br />
down to pure grit <strong>and</strong> determination<br />
backed by a quality product <strong>and</strong><br />
superb team of professionals.
The future at<br />
Mentor<br />
When asked about <strong>the</strong> future of<br />
Mentor, Richard said: “There are<br />
lots of complementary areas that<br />
we are currently exploring <strong>and</strong> we<br />
are constantly being approached by<br />
existing customers to provide <strong>the</strong>m<br />
with <strong>the</strong> same level of training but in<br />
different areas <strong>and</strong> on different pieces<br />
of equipment. And, we are finding<br />
growth in third party training – i.e. we<br />
do <strong>the</strong> training but under someone<br />
else’s banner.<br />
“There are lots of opportunities to<br />
branch out from plant operator <strong>and</strong><br />
instructor training <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong> into<br />
general health <strong>and</strong> safety <strong>and</strong> wider<br />
Lessons learnt<br />
Richard’s career has been a fascinating<br />
roller coaster ride, always on <strong>the</strong> move<br />
<strong>and</strong> looking for <strong>the</strong> latest opportunity –<br />
perhaps this keen eye is what makes<br />
him <strong>the</strong> successful professional he is<br />
today? So we asked him what lessons<br />
<strong>and</strong> advice he would offer to o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Richard said: “In <strong>the</strong> mining village<br />
where I came from, I was of a small<br />
stature in a tough environment. This<br />
taught me when to fight <strong>and</strong> when not<br />
to – fur<strong>the</strong>rmore to fight only when you<br />
absolutely have to <strong>and</strong> only if you have a<br />
really good chance of winning! There is<br />
a famous saying attributed to Theodore<br />
Roosevelt that I often remind myself of,<br />
“- speak softly <strong>and</strong> carry a big stick; you<br />
will go far…..”<br />
“Be careful with your choice of industry<br />
because even if you are <strong>the</strong> highest flyer<br />
in that industry of your generation, <strong>the</strong><br />
wrong choice means that your success<br />
is limited – you have to try to predict <strong>the</strong><br />
future <strong>and</strong> go with <strong>the</strong> industry with <strong>the</strong><br />
greatest opportunity.<br />
“It is important to communicate well<br />
with o<strong>the</strong>rs, to be clear about your <strong>and</strong><br />
your company’s goals <strong>and</strong> never give<br />
in. Always be on time - being late is <strong>the</strong><br />
ultimate rudeness.<br />
“As words of encouragement – be good<br />
at what you do <strong>and</strong> never be envious<br />
of o<strong>the</strong>rs. If you are good <strong>and</strong> enjoy<br />
training too <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> near future we<br />
are hoping to launch a range of new<br />
services using <strong>the</strong> same philosophy<br />
that has worked so successfully in<br />
recent times.<br />
“We have looked to extend <strong>the</strong> use of<br />
innovative technology solutions such as<br />
plant simulators but <strong>the</strong>se have proven<br />
not to have been as commercially<br />
successful as we would have liked.<br />
For larger plant items of a value of<br />
say a couple of hundred thous<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>n simulators may be worth it, but<br />
for smaller items of plant, it is far more<br />
efficient to buy a machine than pay out<br />
a substantial fee on a simulator.<br />
what you do, you will be successful.<br />
Look beyond <strong>the</strong> UK because we do<br />
live in an international market <strong>and</strong> be<br />
prepared to travel or move if that is<br />
important to you. Finally, never whinge<br />
because no-one likes whingers.<br />
“Perhaps <strong>the</strong> greatest asset is to have a<br />
good supportive partner to be <strong>the</strong>re with<br />
you during <strong>the</strong> difficult times. My wife<br />
Andrea was a childhood swee<strong>the</strong>art<br />
<strong>and</strong> we were both originally from <strong>the</strong><br />
same area in Yorkshire. She married<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
“We’re also looking at e-learning to<br />
facilitate an assessment of existing<br />
operators to determine if retraining<br />
is required or up-skilling on new <strong>and</strong><br />
relevant regulations that may impact<br />
upon plant <strong>and</strong> machinery operation.<br />
“As a progressive <strong>and</strong> upwardly<br />
mobile company we continuously<br />
scan <strong>the</strong> marketplace for new<br />
innovative solutions that ultimately<br />
have <strong>the</strong> potential to improve<br />
<strong>the</strong> training <strong>and</strong> competence of<br />
operators. We constantly seek<br />
extensive customer feedback <strong>and</strong> we<br />
do continually improve what we offer<br />
to <strong>the</strong> marketplace. “<br />
<strong>and</strong> moved to Venezuela but came<br />
back to Engl<strong>and</strong> in 1988 with two<br />
children <strong>and</strong> two suitcases. We met<br />
up <strong>and</strong> rekindled our romance. I have<br />
two stepchildren (Joe, 27 <strong>and</strong> Sofie,<br />
26), a daughter, Jessica, 24, from my<br />
first marriage <strong>and</strong> a fur<strong>the</strong>r child with<br />
Andrea, Edward who is now 17. Not<br />
only is Andrea very supportive, but she<br />
is incredibly strong <strong>and</strong> doesn’t listen<br />
to excuses, so we are very similar. She<br />
is <strong>the</strong> rock in my life <strong>and</strong> I couldn’t be<br />
without her.”<br />
Mentor FLT Training Limited<br />
If PEP readers would like<br />
to contact Richard or find<br />
out more about Mentor <strong>and</strong><br />
Burley Close, Turnoaks Business Park, Chesterfield S40 2UB<br />
<strong>the</strong> services it provides, Tel: 01246 555222 Fax: 01246 234184<br />
<strong>the</strong>n please contact:<br />
Examples of tilt tables E: richard.shore@mentortraining.co.uk www.mentortraining.co.uk<br />
August 2010<br />
25
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
never<br />
WaSte an<br />
opportunity<br />
Although waste is an accepted<br />
by-product of many human<br />
activities, we are growing<br />
increasingly aware of <strong>the</strong><br />
issues related to our waste<br />
production, such as waste<br />
minimisation, reuse, recycling<br />
<strong>and</strong> processing. Without due<br />
consideration to <strong>the</strong>se issues<br />
we are in danger of literally<br />
turning our planet into a rubbish<br />
heap. The exact figure for<br />
waste produced in <strong>the</strong> UK each<br />
year varies significantly across<br />
<strong>the</strong> various sources, with some<br />
suggesting that <strong>the</strong> figure is as<br />
high as 100 million tonnes of<br />
waste each year 1 !<br />
26<br />
August 2010<br />
The Department for Environment,<br />
Food <strong>and</strong> Rural Affairs (DEFRA) state<br />
that for every one tonne of household<br />
waste produced, a fur<strong>the</strong>r six tonnes is<br />
created within commercial, industrial<br />
<strong>and</strong> construction business. They fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
claim that manufacturers could save<br />
up to 1% of turnover through <strong>the</strong> use<br />
of simple, yet effective, techniques<br />
to minimise waste, such as reduced<br />
packaging. The recycling information<br />
centre www.recyle-more.co.uk 2 state<br />
that some 30 million tones of household<br />
waste is produced each year so<br />
multiply this by six to include industrial<br />
waste as per DEFRA’s figures, <strong>the</strong>n<br />
<strong>the</strong> total waste produced could be as<br />
high as 210 million tonnes of waste<br />
produced each year – a huge figure<br />
by any st<strong>and</strong>ard! Worryingly, of this<br />
30 million tonnes of household waste,<br />
approximately 6.7 million tonnes is<br />
attributed to food waste – given an<br />
exp<strong>and</strong>ing global population <strong>and</strong><br />
anticipated food shortages (<strong>the</strong> so<br />
called food security issue 3 ), this figure<br />
of food waste is a major concern for<br />
organisations such as Oxfam. Indeed,<br />
Oxfam stated in 2009 that 1 billion<br />
people need help right now to resolve<br />
<strong>the</strong> global food crisis.<br />
Given <strong>the</strong> aforementioned, a massive<br />
depletion of natural resources, food<br />
security, an exponential growth in <strong>the</strong><br />
global human population (fuelled in turn<br />
by an aging population <strong>and</strong> higher birth<br />
rates) <strong>and</strong> consequential environmental<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
concerns, <strong>the</strong> UK <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r governments<br />
around <strong>the</strong> world are in <strong>the</strong> process of<br />
implementing strict waste management<br />
regulations. This push to conserve<br />
resources has inadvertently created<br />
a boom in <strong>the</strong> increasingly profitable<br />
recycling industry – some would even<br />
suggest that recycling is becoming <strong>the</strong><br />
21st century’s equivalent to a gold rush!<br />
Re-use or recycle<br />
construction materials?<br />
Fashion can be a powerful force for good<br />
in a green revolution because bricks,<br />
steel, glass <strong>and</strong> many o<strong>the</strong>r products can<br />
simply be deconstructed <strong>and</strong> reused on<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r projects. Consider <strong>the</strong> high profile<br />
London Olympics 2012 which have<br />
specifically designed structures that can<br />
be de-constructed <strong>and</strong> rebuilt elsewhere<br />
after <strong>the</strong> games – moreover many of <strong>the</strong><br />
components for <strong>the</strong> main stadium have<br />
already been reused from <strong>the</strong> oil <strong>and</strong><br />
gas industry. The official London 2012<br />
website 4 claims: “We aspire to host <strong>the</strong><br />
Olympic <strong>and</strong> Paralympic Games in 2012<br />
in compliance with <strong>the</strong> British St<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
for Sustainable Events (BS 8901). As<br />
part of this approach we must ensure<br />
that <strong>the</strong> events we host leading up to <strong>the</strong><br />
Games are as sustainable as possible.<br />
We have published our Sustainability<br />
Guidelines for Corporate <strong>and</strong> Public<br />
Events to help us. A key aspect to our<br />
Guidelines, <strong>and</strong> indeed our approach to<br />
<strong>the</strong> Games overall, is ensuring that we<br />
only use or hire what we need.”
On <strong>the</strong> domestic front, we should<br />
not discount <strong>the</strong> vogue for old<br />
reclaimed bricks <strong>and</strong> roofing tiles<br />
to give new homes <strong>and</strong> gardens<br />
that rustic look <strong>and</strong> feel.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r materials such as asphalt<br />
<strong>and</strong> concrete often cannot be<br />
re-used without first processing<br />
<strong>the</strong> material – a procedure that<br />
involves breaking, removing,<br />
crushing <strong>and</strong> screening <strong>the</strong><br />
concrete into materials of a<br />
specified size <strong>and</strong> quality. Once<br />
processed, <strong>the</strong> screened material<br />
can be used for a wide range of<br />
applications including general<br />
bulk fill, drainage, road base,<br />
embankments <strong>and</strong> road barriers<br />
<strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
1 www.recyclezone.org.uk/iz_<br />
wastefacts.aspx<br />
2 www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/<br />
page2129.aspx<br />
3 www.oxfam.org/pressroom/<br />
pressrelease/2009-01-26/global-foodcrisis-will-worsen-1bn-hungry-peopleneed-help<br />
4 www.london2012.com/index.php<br />
For more information about<br />
waste management visit:<br />
www.environment-agency.<br />
gov.uk/business/topics/<br />
waste/default.aspx<br />
www.defra.gov.uk/<br />
Environment/waste/<br />
Case study<br />
Flannery <strong>Plant</strong> Hire<br />
(Oval) Ltd<br />
In tackling <strong>the</strong> issues of waste production<br />
we cannot just rely on <strong>the</strong> megaprojects<br />
such as <strong>the</strong> London Olympics<br />
2012; we must also turn to <strong>the</strong> many<br />
smaller enterprises <strong>and</strong> organisations<br />
throughout industry who can make an<br />
invaluable contribution to waste reduction.<br />
Indeed <strong>the</strong>re are a growing number of<br />
organisations who are adopting best<br />
practice to address <strong>the</strong>ir own waste<br />
production but also exploiting <strong>the</strong><br />
opportunities that are available in <strong>the</strong> area.<br />
Whilst considering how <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
industry is dealing with waste, let us<br />
take a snapshot look at Flannery <strong>Plant</strong><br />
Hire (Oval) Limited who are now helping<br />
to keep London clean <strong>and</strong> productive<br />
by recycling construction waste.<br />
About three years ago <strong>the</strong> company<br />
opened a recycling plant to take<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
advantage of a yard that came<br />
up for sale next to <strong>the</strong>ir present<br />
offices in north London.<br />
Patrick Flannery said: “We saw an<br />
opportunity to become greener as a<br />
company on one h<strong>and</strong> but open up a<br />
new business opportunity on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
So we purchased mobile crushers<br />
<strong>and</strong> screeners <strong>and</strong> can now crush <strong>and</strong><br />
screen to any specification required<br />
from type 1 <strong>and</strong> 2 to oversized, reject<br />
s<strong>and</strong>, recycled shingle <strong>and</strong> so on. As<br />
an incentive to hauliers, we offer a free<br />
tip for clean concrete although <strong>the</strong>re<br />
is a charge if <strong>the</strong> material is not so<br />
clean – mainly because of costly tipping<br />
charges today. The business has grown<br />
<strong>and</strong> today we recycle about 5,000<br />
tonnes of material per day <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re<br />
is growing dem<strong>and</strong> for our services.”<br />
As a company, Flannery <strong>Plant</strong> Hire<br />
certainly has its eyes firmly fixed on<br />
<strong>the</strong> growth <strong>and</strong> niche areas in which to<br />
operate – a sign of good entrepreneurs!<br />
More than that though, Patrick <strong>and</strong> his<br />
bro<strong>the</strong>r Martin have a real passion for<br />
<strong>the</strong> job <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> industry that <strong>the</strong>y serve.<br />
For industrialised nations to implement<br />
government targets for waste reduction,<br />
we need firms like Flannery <strong>Plant</strong> Hire<br />
to take on initiatives <strong>and</strong> adopt new<br />
<strong>and</strong> novel practices of which, recycling<br />
is perhaps <strong>the</strong> current growth area for<br />
any economy. Without <strong>the</strong>m, society<br />
would surely outstrip resources <strong>and</strong><br />
our environment would be ruined.<br />
For fur<strong>the</strong>r details, please contact:<br />
Flannery <strong>Plant</strong> Hire (Oval) Limited, Flannery House, Third Way, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 0EL<br />
T: +44 (0)870 6092187 F: +44 (0)20 8902 7357 E: info@flanneryplant.co.uk w: www.flanneryplant.co.uk<br />
August 2010<br />
27
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
28<br />
tackling <strong>the</strong> cost of<br />
owning power tools<br />
August 2010<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> last eighteen months, <strong>the</strong>re has been<br />
a rapid decline in <strong>the</strong> UK construction industry<br />
due to <strong>the</strong> global economic climate. During<br />
<strong>the</strong>se challenging times, a number of companies<br />
within <strong>the</strong> construction industry have realigned<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir businesses to <strong>the</strong> ever-changing market<br />
place. The majority of construction companies<br />
have had to tighten <strong>the</strong>ir belts <strong>and</strong> monitor<br />
spend, in particular <strong>the</strong>ir power tools spend.<br />
Cost of ownership<br />
Most construction companies today<br />
have large tool fleets, which are a<br />
significant expense throughout <strong>the</strong> year.<br />
It is important <strong>the</strong>refore, for customers<br />
to ensure that <strong>the</strong>ir tool fleets are<br />
procured in <strong>the</strong> most effective way to<br />
keep additional costs to a minimum.<br />
Purchasing a fleet of power tools is<br />
generally straightforward, as a company<br />
simply specs out <strong>the</strong> job <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong><br />
purchaser gets <strong>the</strong> best deal. Although<br />
that all depends on how <strong>the</strong> ‘best<br />
deal’ is defined. It is useful to consider<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r a ‘best deal’ is defined in<br />
terms of price or whe<strong>the</strong>r it is defined<br />
in terms of <strong>the</strong> cost of ownership.<br />
Cost of ownership is expensive;<br />
research shows that <strong>the</strong> costs for tool<br />
ownership are increased with multiple<br />
factors, including <strong>the</strong> frequency of<br />
re-purchase, <strong>the</strong> amount of downtime<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> direct costs of repair bills. An<br />
independent questionnaire conducted<br />
by LW Associates, revealed that power<br />
tool owners have to put up with long<br />
delays when having <strong>the</strong>ir tools repaired,<br />
with many waiting over 5 days for a<br />
tool to be fixed <strong>and</strong> returned. Overall,<br />
75% of those surveyed said that it was<br />
common for a tool to take over 1 week<br />
for repairs, with 60% citing downtime as<br />
<strong>the</strong> biggest problem during <strong>the</strong> delay.<br />
It is useful to remember that different<br />
tools have different lifetimes. In<br />
reality, construction companies often<br />
believe that tools have short lifetimes<br />
so <strong>the</strong>refore decide to replace not<br />
repair, which consequently adds to<br />
increased costs for ownership. The<br />
companies assume that <strong>the</strong> tools will<br />
last an average of 1 year <strong>and</strong> that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y will have to replace <strong>the</strong>m when in<br />
actual fact tools can often be repaired.<br />
Independent research shows that 64%<br />
of battery tools <strong>and</strong> 61% of grinders<br />
are replaced when <strong>the</strong>y break versus<br />
extending <strong>the</strong> life with a repair.<br />
For fur<strong>the</strong>r information on <strong>the</strong> Hilti Fleet Management<br />
programme, please visit www.hilti.co.uk/hfm or<br />
contact Hilti Customer Services on 0800 886 100
hilti fleet Management<br />
programme<br />
One UK leading tool <strong>and</strong> equipment<br />
manufacturer, Hilti has reinvented<br />
its business model by underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
that its customer’s needs are not<br />
ownership of power tools but are<br />
in <strong>the</strong>ir use to get jobs completed<br />
faster <strong>and</strong> safer, with tools that offer<br />
<strong>the</strong>m true value. Hilti consequently<br />
created <strong>the</strong>ir ‘Hilti Fleet Management’<br />
programme, changing <strong>the</strong> perception<br />
of <strong>the</strong>ir power tools from products<br />
to services, as well as assisting<br />
customers in <strong>the</strong> current challenging<br />
market place.<br />
Hilti Fleet Management is a service<br />
programme that offers customers<br />
br<strong>and</strong> new tools for a small monthly<br />
usage fee. This is an ideal programme<br />
for those companies who may have<br />
little cash outlay in <strong>the</strong>se tough times<br />
but still require <strong>the</strong> best tools to<br />
complete projects productively. One low<br />
monthly usage fee replaces <strong>the</strong> upfront<br />
cash outlay on tools <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fee covers<br />
all tool related costs, including tool<br />
usage repairs, servicing, calibrations,<br />
unlimited battery exchanges,<br />
personalised labelling, online tracking<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ft coverage – for up to 5 years.<br />
There are no unscheduled, or surprise<br />
repair bills, so any unknowns are<br />
eliminated.<br />
Tools supplied as part of <strong>the</strong> Hilti Fleet<br />
Management programme are each<br />
personalised with customised customer<br />
labels, which can incorporate <strong>the</strong><br />
customer’s logo if requested. These<br />
labels can be used to deter <strong>the</strong>ft,<br />
assign accountability <strong>and</strong> increase<br />
transparency. The element of <strong>the</strong>ft<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
coverage within <strong>the</strong> scheme limits<br />
financial exposure in <strong>the</strong> event of a<br />
<strong>the</strong>ft <strong>and</strong> provides a cost effective tool<br />
replacement.<br />
Hilti provide a good example of a<br />
company which has made fundamental<br />
changes to align its business model <strong>and</strong><br />
practices to customers’ requirements<br />
in today’s challenging market. The Hilti<br />
Fleet Management programme is a<br />
highly innovative service that will assist<br />
companies with <strong>the</strong> co-ordination of<br />
tool repairs, budgeting <strong>the</strong>ir yearly tool<br />
costs, managing <strong>the</strong>ir businesses more<br />
effectively <strong>and</strong> ultimately reducing <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
overall tool spend, which is increasingly<br />
more important in <strong>the</strong> current<br />
challenging climate. This innovative<br />
service is a proven programme that can<br />
reduce overall tool spend by between<br />
30% <strong>and</strong> 50%.<br />
August 2010<br />
29
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
Disappointment <strong>and</strong><br />
despair walk h<strong>and</strong> in h<strong>and</strong><br />
for <strong>the</strong> current glut of<br />
graduates who once again<br />
find that hard work, good<br />
results <strong>and</strong> perseverance<br />
do not, as led to believe,<br />
lead to employment – or<br />
at least not for <strong>the</strong> sixty<br />
eight unsuccessfuls<br />
who are chasing <strong>the</strong> one<br />
available job according<br />
to recent estimates.<br />
Nei<strong>the</strong>r do <strong>the</strong>se graduates see<br />
any positive outcome from <strong>the</strong><br />
encouragement <strong>the</strong>y were given by<br />
government <strong>and</strong> university recruitment<br />
incentives at <strong>the</strong> outset of <strong>the</strong>ir chosen<br />
careers of three or four years ago, when<br />
100% graduate employment <strong>and</strong> good<br />
salaries were a motivating force to<br />
balance out <strong>the</strong> worry of a hefty student<br />
loan repayment. But hey, never mind,<br />
if <strong>the</strong>y can manage to find a bar job<br />
30<br />
August 2010<br />
graduate<br />
despair<br />
instead <strong>the</strong>y won’t have to pay it back<br />
yet as <strong>the</strong> wage will be too low, <strong>and</strong><br />
even if <strong>the</strong>y want to live independently<br />
in <strong>the</strong>ir twenties does it really matter<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y can go back <strong>and</strong> be<br />
supported by <strong>the</strong>ir parents?<br />
Let us look at one sample case. Back<br />
in 2005 when Verity Beattie was<br />
embarking on her chosen career, <strong>the</strong>re<br />
was an emphasis on <strong>the</strong> recruitment of<br />
females into <strong>the</strong> worlds of engineering<br />
<strong>and</strong> construction.<br />
“Even in High School I was very keen<br />
on Design <strong>and</strong> Technology along with<br />
Ma<strong>the</strong>matics <strong>and</strong> prior to GCSE level<br />
I was being encouraged by my DT<br />
teacher <strong>and</strong> careers advisor to think<br />
about <strong>the</strong> opportunities in engineering<br />
<strong>and</strong> construction, particularly as a<br />
woman.<br />
“I fulfilled my potential both at GCSE<br />
<strong>and</strong> A level <strong>and</strong> felt excited <strong>and</strong><br />
motivated to be able to have a good<br />
choice of University courses in which<br />
I felt I could exp<strong>and</strong> my knowledge,<br />
skills <strong>and</strong> expertise. I gained 9 GCSEs,<br />
an AS level <strong>and</strong> 3 A levels all with<br />
good grades <strong>and</strong> got offers at all<br />
my preferred Universities. I chose<br />
Newcastle University because <strong>the</strong><br />
course in Surveying <strong>and</strong> Mapping<br />
Sciences in <strong>the</strong> Geomatics department<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Civil Engineering Faculty seemed<br />
ideally suited to my love of Ma<strong>the</strong>matics<br />
<strong>and</strong> Geography. Also, being a ‘h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
on’ practical learner, I liked <strong>the</strong> idea of<br />
<strong>the</strong> ‘doing’ side of <strong>the</strong> course“.<br />
Believing that she was on <strong>the</strong> right<br />
course of action <strong>and</strong> having no problem<br />
being accepted on <strong>the</strong> course, Verity<br />
did not delude herself by thinking<br />
that a good degree <strong>and</strong> having a<br />
conscientious work ethic would be<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
enough to guarantee a job at <strong>the</strong> end<br />
of things, so she set about finding work<br />
placements.<br />
“I worked as an overseen surveyor with<br />
Birse Civils who were building a new<br />
link road <strong>and</strong> was able to apply some<br />
of <strong>the</strong> technology <strong>and</strong> skills I had been<br />
learning on my course. But <strong>the</strong> most<br />
important learning was experiencing how<br />
<strong>the</strong> knowledge <strong>and</strong> skills are applied in<br />
a job <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> interrelation <strong>and</strong> teamwork<br />
which is so important when working<br />
in construction or any o<strong>the</strong>r industry. I<br />
felt that <strong>the</strong> work experience element<br />
was very important in consolidating<br />
<strong>and</strong> updating what I was learning at<br />
university so I applied for a job with a<br />
firm working on pilot studies for transport<br />
<strong>and</strong> road schemes. I am still doing some<br />
work with <strong>the</strong>m but like everyone else,<br />
although <strong>the</strong>y would like to be able to<br />
carry on employing me I am about to<br />
finish when <strong>the</strong> current scheme ends. It’s<br />
<strong>the</strong> same story everywhere- no money<br />
to spare“.<br />
“now it is all starting to<br />
look very bleak <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> goal<br />
i have worked towards for<br />
years seems out of reach.”<br />
Thinking that a good 2.1 degree<br />
might not be enough with <strong>the</strong> number<br />
of students entering universities to<br />
meet government targets for higher<br />
education, Verity was encouraged<br />
to do a Masters Degree. She chose<br />
Transport Engineering with Operations<br />
as this seemed <strong>the</strong> ideal route to<br />
develop her interest <strong>and</strong> talents.<br />
Verity told us: “It was a very hard<br />
decision to make at <strong>the</strong> time as my<br />
student loan was piling up already even<br />
though I had tried to spend carefully,
ut I thought that if I could carry on <strong>and</strong><br />
work part time that I could try to live off<br />
that <strong>and</strong> I would be able to recoup a bit<br />
when I got a job at <strong>the</strong> end of it. Now it<br />
is all starting to look very bleak <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
goal I have worked towards for years<br />
seems out of reach. I have worked<br />
so hard for years <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re seems<br />
to be nothing at <strong>the</strong> end of it. It’s so<br />
frustrating.<br />
“I recognise Graduate recruitment<br />
companies are finding <strong>the</strong>mselves in a<br />
difficult situation in <strong>the</strong> current financial<br />
climate, but <strong>the</strong>y are potentially missing<br />
out on a talented <strong>and</strong> enthusiastic<br />
workforce whose up to date knowledge,<br />
skills <strong>and</strong> initiative could energise <strong>and</strong><br />
inform a workplace. What happens ten<br />
years down <strong>the</strong> line?<br />
“I really want to work. It is demoralising<br />
to think that I am working towards<br />
a first in my Masters, have good<br />
work experience <strong>and</strong> have had<br />
good responses <strong>and</strong> feedback from<br />
interviews with my prospective<br />
employers but that like most firms <strong>the</strong>y<br />
just aren’t taking people on.”<br />
PRize CoMPetition<br />
M<br />
S<br />
No 8<br />
D<br />
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<br />
Clue: Item of PPE<br />
COMPETITION<br />
Construct-a-gram<br />
Construct-a-gram<br />
A T U S<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
S<br />
K<br />
Can you solve this anagram?<br />
Then email your answer to<br />
pep@operc.com, quoting<br />
“Construct-A-Gram No 8”, <strong>and</strong><br />
you could win a copy of Dr <strong>Plant</strong>’s<br />
Construct-A-Grams (RRP £5.99).<br />
The book contains ano<strong>the</strong>r 50 of<br />
<strong>the</strong>se brain-teasing anagrams, each<br />
with a humorous illustration by<br />
Geoff Tristram.<br />
Closing date for entries is<br />
Sept 30 th 2010 <strong>and</strong> four winners<br />
will be drawn at r<strong>and</strong>om<br />
from correct entries received.<br />
August 2010<br />
31
NEwS<br />
Firms fined after worker falls<br />
nine metres to his death<br />
An architect’s practice <strong>and</strong> a<br />
construction company involved in a<br />
Somerset development have been fined<br />
a total of £195,000 following a fatality<br />
on <strong>the</strong> site.<br />
Express Park Construction Company<br />
Limited (EPCC), of Harley Street,<br />
London, pleaded guilty on 29th July<br />
2010 to breaching Section 3(1) of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Health <strong>and</strong> Safety at Work etc.<br />
Act 1974 for failing to safely manage<br />
subcontractors working for it.<br />
The architects involved, Oxford<br />
Architects Partnership, of Bagley<br />
Croft, Hinksey Hill, Oxford, pleaded<br />
guilty to breaching Regulations 13,<br />
<strong>and</strong> 14, of <strong>the</strong> Construction (Design<br />
<strong>and</strong> Management) Regulations 1994,<br />
which require designers to take safety<br />
considerations into account.<br />
EPCC was fined £75,000 <strong>and</strong> ordered<br />
to pay costs of £68,000 <strong>and</strong> Oxford<br />
Architects Partnership was fined<br />
£120,000 <strong>and</strong> ordered to pay costs of<br />
£60,000 at Bristol Crown Court today.<br />
The court heard that on 26 January<br />
2005 David Cairns (64) was working<br />
for EPCC sub-contractors H&F Air<br />
Conditioning Limited, at <strong>the</strong> newly-built<br />
‘Exchange’ building at Express Park in<br />
Bridgwater, Somerset.<br />
Mr Cairns was working on <strong>the</strong> air<br />
conditioning plant, which was built on<br />
32<br />
August 2010<br />
a platform accessed via a ladder at<br />
<strong>the</strong> edge of a flat roof. The roof only<br />
had a low parapet, which was not high<br />
enough to prevent Mr Cairns falling<br />
nine metres to <strong>the</strong> ground.<br />
Speaking after <strong>the</strong> hearing, HSE<br />
Inspector Sue Adsett, said: “This is a<br />
tragic case where both <strong>the</strong> failings of<br />
<strong>the</strong> construction firm <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> architects<br />
led to Mr Cairns’ death. While it is<br />
rare for designers to be charged with<br />
breaching health <strong>and</strong> safety legislation,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y must be aware <strong>the</strong>y can be held<br />
responsible where bad design is an<br />
important contributory factor to a<br />
work-place fatality. Designers must<br />
ensure that plant <strong>and</strong> equipment<br />
can be accessed safely, <strong>and</strong> that<br />
safety harnesses are only used as a<br />
last resort. HSE will not hesitate to<br />
take enforcement action against any<br />
company or individual who fails to<br />
carry out <strong>the</strong>ir health <strong>and</strong> safety duties,<br />
especially when that failure results in a<br />
tragedy, as in this case.”<br />
Mr. Cairn’s family, who were at court,<br />
said: “The loss of David has deeply<br />
affected us all <strong>and</strong> he will be greatly<br />
missed. Our hope is that lessons<br />
are learnt within <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
industry so that o<strong>the</strong>r similar incidents<br />
are prevented. Safety should be<br />
paramount during all stages of <strong>the</strong><br />
building process so that ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
family doesn’t have to suffer <strong>the</strong> loss<br />
that we have.”<br />
The platform access point<br />
from which Mr Cairns fell.<br />
hiRe tRaDe allianCe<br />
takes part in new<br />
CEN workshop 60<br />
Hire Trade Alliance (HTA), <strong>the</strong> tool<br />
hire trade association dedicated to<br />
helping small to medium size tool <strong>and</strong><br />
equipment rental companies in <strong>the</strong> UK,<br />
recently sent a delegation of senior<br />
members to Brussels to participate in<br />
<strong>the</strong> newly formed CEN workshop 60.<br />
This workshop has been empowered<br />
by <strong>the</strong> European Committee for<br />
St<strong>and</strong>ardisation (CEN) to prepare a<br />
business plan with <strong>the</strong> eventual aim to<br />
produce st<strong>and</strong>ard terms <strong>and</strong> conditions<br />
for <strong>the</strong> rental industry throughout<br />
Europe.<br />
HTA delegates took <strong>the</strong>ir place<br />
alongside several o<strong>the</strong>r rental trade<br />
associations <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r interested<br />
representatives from within Europe.<br />
The day long meeting successfully<br />
agreed upon <strong>the</strong> formulation of a new<br />
business plan, ensuring that work can<br />
immediately start on drawing up new<br />
terms <strong>and</strong> conditions. It is expected<br />
that consultations will take place over<br />
<strong>the</strong> next 18-months, with <strong>the</strong> terms <strong>and</strong><br />
conditions <strong>the</strong>n being available for use<br />
by any country in Europe.<br />
“We will fully participate in <strong>the</strong> workshop<br />
in order to ensure that our members,<br />
principally small <strong>and</strong> medium sized tool<br />
hire firms, are fully represented <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir views are expressed”, promised<br />
Phil Lear, CEO of Hire Trade Alliance.<br />
“Having an HTA delegation within this<br />
group will help to balance <strong>the</strong> needs<br />
between <strong>the</strong> larger rental organisations<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> smaller independent outlets.”<br />
The European Committee for<br />
St<strong>and</strong>ardisation has put toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />
CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA)<br />
to draw toge<strong>the</strong>r st<strong>and</strong>ard terms <strong>and</strong><br />
conditions for rental equipment supplied<br />
without an operator. The intended<br />
outcome is to produce a document<br />
that can be used by associations as<br />
well as by rental companies, <strong>and</strong> as<br />
a reference point for developing <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own st<strong>and</strong>ard terms <strong>and</strong> conditions for<br />
<strong>the</strong> rental of equipment to consumer<br />
customers within <strong>the</strong>ir own <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
European countries.
Going for Gold<br />
with neW CMPe<br />
Competency Card<br />
The Contractors Mechanical <strong>Plant</strong><br />
Engineers (CMPE) has chosen<br />
Commercial & Professional<br />
Qualifications (CPQ) as its preferred<br />
partner in <strong>the</strong> provision of NVQs to<br />
support a new Gold card scheme.<br />
CPQ is a well-established <strong>and</strong> highly<br />
regarded provider of NVQs <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
construction based qualifications,<br />
with an enviable client list including<br />
numerous construction, plant <strong>and</strong> civil<br />
engineering organisations. CPQ has<br />
access to Train to Gain funding <strong>and</strong> is<br />
Matrix, Construction Awards Alliance,<br />
City & Guilds, CPCS <strong>and</strong> National<br />
<strong>Plant</strong> Operators Registration Scheme<br />
(NPORS) accredited.<br />
The CMPE Certificate of Competence<br />
(CoC) for plant operatives<br />
(administered by National Registrar,<br />
Mr Chris Miller) has been available<br />
to CMPE members for many years<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re are over 20,000 holders of<br />
this valued <strong>and</strong> well-respected proof<br />
of plant operating competency <strong>and</strong><br />
experience. In response to requests<br />
Mr Chris Miller, National Registrar for <strong>the</strong> CMPE’s<br />
Certificate of Competence (CoC)<br />
from many CMPE members, <strong>the</strong><br />
CMPE has streng<strong>the</strong>ned <strong>and</strong><br />
enhanced <strong>the</strong> existing CoC scheme<br />
<strong>and</strong> introduced <strong>the</strong> new Gold CMPE<br />
Competency Card. Now, if a CMPE<br />
CoC holder or future applicant holds<br />
an NVQ – Level 2 in <strong>Plant</strong> Operations,<br />
<strong>the</strong> CMPE will be able to issue <strong>the</strong><br />
operator with a Gold Card, which will<br />
st<strong>and</strong> beside <strong>the</strong> existing certificate,<br />
proving a greater level of skill <strong>and</strong> that<br />
<strong>the</strong> holder has been independently<br />
tested to nationally recognized<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
Commenting on <strong>the</strong> partnership,<br />
James McClean, Managing Director<br />
of CPQ, said: “We are delighted to<br />
be working with <strong>the</strong> CMPE which is a<br />
much respected, nationally recognized<br />
association that has supported its<br />
members for well over 50 years.<br />
We are pleased that our training<br />
strengths <strong>and</strong> experience can improve<br />
<strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing of an organisation with<br />
that pedigree by enhancing <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
competency certification scheme.”<br />
Mr James McLean, Managing Director, CPQ<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS<br />
oPeRC<br />
announce<br />
next event<br />
Following a successful summer<br />
event at <strong>the</strong> Health <strong>and</strong> Safety<br />
Laboratory (HSL) offices in Buxton,<br />
<strong>OPERC</strong> has announced that<br />
its next event is currently being<br />
arranged for <strong>the</strong> 19th November<br />
2010 <strong>and</strong> will be run in conjunction<br />
with Birmingham City University.<br />
The event aims to promote <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>me<br />
of innovation <strong>and</strong> guest speakers<br />
have been invited to give a 30 minute<br />
presentation on this <strong>the</strong>me to <strong>the</strong> 100<br />
dignitaries in attendance. If you have<br />
a product or service that you feel is<br />
highly innovative <strong>and</strong> would like to be<br />
considered to present, <strong>the</strong>n please<br />
contact <strong>OPERC</strong> at: enquiries@operc.<br />
com. All enquiries are welcomed.<br />
Attendees will learn about <strong>the</strong><br />
latest developments, network with<br />
<strong>the</strong> very best <strong>and</strong> brightest talent<br />
within industry <strong>and</strong> preview some<br />
highly innovative <strong>and</strong> exciting<br />
products. For more information<br />
about <strong>the</strong> event, please contact<br />
enquiries@operc.com<br />
19 th november<br />
Baker Hall, City North Campus<br />
Perry Parr, Birmingham<br />
Tickets are to be priced at £55<br />
33
NEwS<br />
Humberside Aggregates <strong>and</strong><br />
Excavations Ltd, of Newport Road,<br />
North Cave, East Yorkshire, was<br />
also ordered to pay £10,590 in costs<br />
after pleading guilty to three separate<br />
breaches of Quarries Regulations 1999<br />
in <strong>the</strong> prosecution brought by <strong>the</strong> Health<br />
<strong>and</strong> Safety Executive (HSE).<br />
On 28 July 2010 Beverly Magistrates<br />
Court heard that an employee, who<br />
does not wish to be identified, was<br />
being trained as a wheel loader<br />
operator at North Cave Quarry,<br />
Humberside Aggregates <strong>and</strong><br />
Excavations Ltd’s s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> gravel<br />
extraction <strong>and</strong> processing facility.<br />
On 30 October 2009, he was<br />
transporting s<strong>and</strong> from a stockpile<br />
when <strong>the</strong> access ramp edge he was<br />
driving on gave way, which caused<br />
34<br />
August 2010<br />
Quarry firm fineD<br />
after worker plunge in<br />
30-tonne wheel loader<br />
A quarry operator has been fined £30,000 after a<br />
30-tonne wheel loader vehicle overturned <strong>and</strong> slid<br />
almost 16ft down a s<strong>and</strong> stockpile.<br />
<strong>the</strong> machine to overturn <strong>and</strong> plunge<br />
almost 16ft because <strong>the</strong>re were no<br />
edge protection barriers in place. The<br />
trainee lost consciousness, suffered<br />
concussion <strong>and</strong> was hospitalised for<br />
two days.<br />
The Health <strong>and</strong> Safety Executive<br />
prosecuted Humberside Aggregates<br />
<strong>and</strong> Excavations for failing to assess,<br />
identify <strong>and</strong> minimise potential risk,<br />
<strong>and</strong> for ultimately failing to protect <strong>the</strong><br />
worker.<br />
Following <strong>the</strong> hearing HSE inspector<br />
Richard Noble said:<br />
“This accident could have been avoided<br />
had sufficient edge protection been<br />
put in place at minimal cost, which has<br />
been <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard within <strong>the</strong> quarrying<br />
industry for many years.<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
“Quarrying remains one of <strong>the</strong> most<br />
dangerous industries to work in.<br />
Since 2000 more than 3,000 workers<br />
have suffered an injury reportable to<br />
HSE <strong>and</strong> 24 people have been killed.<br />
Workplace transport is <strong>the</strong> biggest<br />
cause of fatal accidents within <strong>the</strong><br />
industry, <strong>and</strong> that is why <strong>the</strong> industry<br />
<strong>and</strong> HSE work toge<strong>the</strong>r in a joint<br />
advisory committee to introduce good<br />
practices for quarry operators.<br />
“We are working very hard to reduce<br />
<strong>the</strong>se accidents <strong>and</strong> fatalities. HSE<br />
produce much guidance on how to<br />
avoid <strong>the</strong>m, so <strong>the</strong> reasons why this<br />
accident occurred are inexcusable.”<br />
For fur<strong>the</strong>r information on<br />
quarry safety go to:<br />
www.hse.gov.uk/quarries
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
August 2010<br />
35
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
oPeRC helps sponsor <strong>the</strong><br />
tenovus mobile cancer<br />
support unit<br />
Article by Gary Holt,<br />
<strong>OPERC</strong> Member<br />
I recently had <strong>the</strong> pleasure of<br />
completing a sponsored walk with my<br />
partner’s daughter Hannah <strong>and</strong> a group<br />
of her school friends, who collectively<br />
were raising funds for <strong>the</strong> Tenovus<br />
charity to help purchase a new mobile<br />
cancer support unit for <strong>the</strong> County of<br />
Powys. Powys does not host a district<br />
hospital; so resident cancer patients<br />
have to travel up to 80 miles to receive<br />
treatment. Tenovus already operates<br />
one such mobile unit <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> present<br />
initiative aims to add ano<strong>the</strong>r to exp<strong>and</strong><br />
capability.<br />
The group were all from Builth<br />
Wells High School in mid-Wales<br />
36<br />
August 2010<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y undertook <strong>the</strong> fundraising<br />
campaign for <strong>the</strong> community<br />
participation component of <strong>the</strong>ir Welsh<br />
Baccalaureate qualification, with<br />
<strong>the</strong> sponsored walk representing <strong>the</strong><br />
culmination of a host of fund-raising<br />
activities that <strong>the</strong>y had performed.<br />
The walk took place around <strong>the</strong><br />
perimeter of beautiful LL<strong>and</strong>rindod<br />
Wells Lake, situated in <strong>the</strong> Welsh town<br />
from which it takes its name, in <strong>the</strong><br />
heart of Powys. This man-made feature<br />
covers approximately 14 acres <strong>and</strong><br />
was formed circa 1870 from digging out<br />
marshl<strong>and</strong>, to create a boating facility<br />
for <strong>the</strong> Victorians who came to <strong>the</strong> town<br />
to sample its ‘health-giving’ sulphur,<br />
saline <strong>and</strong> chalybeate spa waters.<br />
Indeed, if you are ever in <strong>the</strong> area,<br />
<strong>the</strong> lake <strong>and</strong> its abundant surrounding<br />
Victorian architecture are well worth a<br />
look at – <strong>and</strong> you can even sample <strong>the</strong><br />
spa waters as well if you<br />
want to!<br />
Notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing a baking sun <strong>and</strong><br />
soaring temperatures, <strong>the</strong> group’s<br />
target of ten circuits of <strong>the</strong> lake was<br />
completed in less than three hours,<br />
representing a total distance of 7<br />
miles. Blisters aside, <strong>the</strong> event was<br />
hailed an enjoyable <strong>and</strong> resounding<br />
success – credit really does go<br />
to <strong>the</strong>se schoolchildren for so<br />
enthusiastically taking up <strong>the</strong> cause<br />
<strong>and</strong> applying <strong>the</strong>mselves to it with<br />
such diligence <strong>and</strong> enthusiasm.<br />
While <strong>the</strong> final sum has yet to be<br />
accurately determined, between <strong>the</strong>m<br />
participants raised in excess of £1,000<br />
towards <strong>the</strong> Mobile Cancer Unit. Well<br />
done Emily, Chloe, Christian, Tom,<br />
Katy, Hannah, Charlie <strong>and</strong> Angharad.<br />
And of course, thank you to <strong>OPERC</strong><br />
for being such a willing sponsor!
<strong>the</strong> existing<br />
tenovus mobile<br />
cancer support unit<br />
Tenovus is <strong>the</strong> leading cancer charity<br />
in Wales <strong>and</strong> a part of <strong>the</strong> service <strong>the</strong>y<br />
provide for <strong>the</strong> community, is through<br />
its existing mobile cancer unit - ‘The<br />
Bus’. This item of very specialist mobile<br />
equipment provides cancer treatments at<br />
point of contact, including chemo<strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
<strong>and</strong> emotional / practical cancer support.<br />
The bus was launched in February<br />
2009. Up until <strong>the</strong> end of March 2010 it<br />
has been open for a total of 214 days in<br />
33 locations throughout Wales, during<br />
which time some 4,068 people have<br />
visited it <strong>and</strong> 736 treatments have been<br />
provided, with up to 25 patients receiving<br />
treatment on each day of opening.<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> last five months <strong>the</strong> range<br />
of treatments provided on <strong>the</strong> unit<br />
has continued to exp<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />
include Bolus 5fu, Mitozantrone,<br />
FEC, Gemcytabine, Continuous<br />
Ambulatory 5fu, Herceptin, Zometa,<br />
Pump disconnects <strong>and</strong> PICC dressings.<br />
Health awareness days <strong>and</strong> activities<br />
have also taken place. Additionally, <strong>the</strong><br />
bus is used to help promote Tenovus.<br />
More than 1,200 invited guests have<br />
visited <strong>the</strong> bus <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se have included<br />
HRH Princess Anne, Rt Hon. Rhodri<br />
Morgan (First Minister for Wales) <strong>and</strong><br />
Dr Tony Jewell (Chief Medical <strong>Off</strong>icer<br />
for Wales).<br />
Some facts <strong>and</strong><br />
figures about ‘<strong>the</strong> Bus’<br />
The Tractor Unit being used to tow <strong>the</strong><br />
bus is a MAN TGA that was generously<br />
donated to Tenovus in January 2010 by<br />
Man Truck <strong>and</strong> Bus. The bus unit is a<br />
Voyager 7 vehicle. The unladen weight<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
of <strong>the</strong> bus is 32 tonnes, its external<br />
height is 4m <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> internal area of <strong>the</strong><br />
bus is 57 square metres. The internal<br />
height varies between 2.2m <strong>and</strong> 3.3m<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> main access (including disabled<br />
access) is located at <strong>the</strong> rear of <strong>the</strong><br />
vehicle.<br />
The bus requires a flat space of 18m<br />
x 7m to set up (roughly 16 car parking<br />
spaces) <strong>and</strong> to achieve this takes<br />
approximately 2 hours. The bus has two<br />
hydraulically operated pods, which once<br />
opened, double <strong>the</strong> amount of interior<br />
space available. The unit has its own 30<br />
KVA generator toge<strong>the</strong>r with a built in<br />
air-conditioning <strong>and</strong> heating system.<br />
If you would like to donate to<br />
Tenovus, or would like more<br />
information, see:<br />
www.tenovus.org.uk<br />
August 2010<br />
37
PEOPLE<br />
at <strong>the</strong> hub of things in<br />
neW hilti PoSition<br />
Gareth Lewis has been<br />
promoted to <strong>the</strong> newly<br />
created role of General<br />
Manager Great Britain (GB)<br />
& Region Head of Nor<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Europe for construction<br />
products manufacturer, Hilti.<br />
The position, which replaces <strong>and</strong><br />
exp<strong>and</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> preceding Managing<br />
Director’s role, will see him initiate a<br />
new hub that will be responsible for<br />
sales, marketing <strong>and</strong> purchasing across<br />
several countries, including GB, Irel<strong>and</strong>,<br />
Sweden, Finl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Denmark.<br />
Lewis, who joined Hilti in 1999,<br />
previously held <strong>the</strong> title of General<br />
Manager South in North America. Prior<br />
to that he held senior positions for <strong>the</strong><br />
company in <strong>the</strong> USA, Europe <strong>and</strong> GB.<br />
38<br />
August 2010<br />
“The UK is <strong>the</strong> second biggest<br />
economy in Europe <strong>and</strong> coupled with<br />
<strong>the</strong> business <strong>and</strong> cultural similarities<br />
with Nor<strong>the</strong>rn European countries,<br />
it makes eminent sense to have <strong>the</strong><br />
significant presence <strong>and</strong> workforce<br />
in this country,” said Lewis.<br />
“Despite <strong>the</strong> recession, Hilti is in<br />
a very strong position in terms<br />
of br<strong>and</strong>, product innovation <strong>and</strong><br />
project expertise <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> company<br />
uses <strong>the</strong>se credentials to really<br />
add value to our customers.”<br />
“By utilising our strengths in key<br />
areas, such as supply chain<br />
management, technical support<br />
<strong>and</strong> health <strong>and</strong> safety, including<br />
our market leading products<br />
designed to minimise dust, working<br />
at height <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>-arm vibration,<br />
I see strong growth potential.”<br />
SPeeDy appoints Mcintyre to<br />
lead expansion into new markets<br />
Steve McIntyre joins Speedy following<br />
a five-year spell as marketing director<br />
for PPG Architectural Coatings (owner<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Johnstone’s <strong>and</strong> Leyl<strong>and</strong> paint<br />
br<strong>and</strong>s) <strong>and</strong> having previously headed<br />
up <strong>the</strong> marketing team at French utility<br />
giant Gaz de France (GDF Suez).<br />
Before studying marketing strategy at<br />
Chicago North Western University’s<br />
Kellogg Institute in 2001, Steve worked<br />
in an international marketing role in <strong>the</strong><br />
oil <strong>and</strong> gas sector for almost twenty<br />
years, which included several years in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Middle Eastern Gulf States.<br />
Speedy’s chief executive Steve<br />
Corcoran stated that McIntyre’s<br />
wealth of experience made him <strong>the</strong><br />
ideal choice to lead <strong>the</strong> FTSE-listed<br />
firm’s continuing expansion into<br />
industries outside its core client base<br />
in construction <strong>and</strong> into related support<br />
services, as well as its presence in <strong>the</strong><br />
Middle East.<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
He said: “We have evolved from an<br />
equipment hire firm to become a<br />
leading business to business support<br />
services company within <strong>the</strong> UK<br />
construction sector <strong>and</strong> are now<br />
establishing ourselves as a provider<br />
of choice to major asset owners in<br />
industries like infrastructure, energy<br />
<strong>and</strong> facilities management.<br />
“Steve’s experience in some of <strong>the</strong>se<br />
sectors both in marketing <strong>and</strong> at an<br />
operational level will make him a huge<br />
asset to <strong>the</strong> business.”<br />
Commenting on his appointment, Steve<br />
McIntyre said: “I’m joining Speedy<br />
at a hugely significant stage in its<br />
development as it continues to grow<br />
its presence in new markets as a total<br />
supply chain partner.”
neW london business<br />
development manager for<br />
Morgan Sindall has appointed<br />
Kathy Bagster as its new business<br />
development manager for London.<br />
Kathy, who began her career as a<br />
project engineer in Australia, will<br />
drive <strong>the</strong> strategic development<br />
of Morgan Sindall’s operations<br />
throughout London from <strong>the</strong><br />
company’s Golden Lane office<br />
at EC1.<br />
“I’m delighted to be joining <strong>the</strong><br />
Morgan Sindall team in London,” she<br />
said. “This is a particularly exciting<br />
time for us with <strong>the</strong> recent merger of<br />
our Group’s construction, design <strong>and</strong><br />
infrastructure businesses to create<br />
Morgan Sindall. The new business<br />
creates one of <strong>the</strong> biggest <strong>and</strong> most<br />
robust construction companies in <strong>the</strong><br />
UK, as well as creating significant<br />
new opportunities for fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
business growth <strong>and</strong> development.<br />
I’m looking forward to working<br />
towards our goal to be <strong>the</strong> leading<br />
construction <strong>and</strong> infrastructure<br />
company in <strong>the</strong> UK.”<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
August 2010<br />
PEOPLE<br />
MoRgan<br />
SinDall<br />
She added: “I hope to bring my<br />
experience to help us develop <strong>the</strong><br />
business with a particular emphasis<br />
on building long-term relationships<br />
with clients <strong>and</strong> design partners in all<br />
sectors, particularly in health, education<br />
<strong>and</strong> commercial. We are committed<br />
to delivering high-quality, value-formoney<br />
schemes which are sustainable,<br />
innovative <strong>and</strong> creative – delivered on<br />
time <strong>and</strong> to budget.”<br />
In London, <strong>the</strong> company is working on<br />
a £26 million design <strong>and</strong> build contract<br />
to carry out a roof refurbishment at<br />
Paddington Station for Network Rail, as<br />
well as a scheme to extend Stratford<br />
International Station ahead of <strong>the</strong> 2012<br />
Olympics <strong>and</strong> a contract to re-roof<br />
platforms one to four at Marylebone<br />
Station.<br />
As part of <strong>the</strong> MVB joint venture, Morgan<br />
Sindall is delivering <strong>the</strong> £400 million Lee<br />
Tunnel scheme for Thames Water, as<br />
well as <strong>the</strong> Brixton to Honor Oak Ring<br />
Main project, also for Thames Water.<br />
MENTOR appoints neW product<br />
manager for extractives sector<br />
Following a successful venture into <strong>the</strong><br />
quarrying <strong>and</strong> mining sector, Mentor<br />
Training has recently appointed Steve<br />
Parfitt as its new Product Manager,<br />
Extractives Sector. This follows a major<br />
surge in dem<strong>and</strong> for <strong>the</strong> company’s<br />
services within this sector of industry.<br />
Steve is highly qualified <strong>and</strong><br />
experienced for <strong>the</strong> role, having<br />
worked within <strong>the</strong> industry for over<br />
25 years since leaving school, 20 of<br />
which he served with Foster Yeoman.<br />
Within Mentor, Steve is responsible<br />
for all training on heavy plant, both for<br />
operators <strong>and</strong> instructors, <strong>and</strong> has also<br />
taken on a developmental role to ensure<br />
that courses are current, relevant <strong>and</strong><br />
cover all relevant legislation.<br />
Steve said: “I thoroughly enjoy<br />
working with Mentor because of <strong>the</strong><br />
professionalism inherent within <strong>the</strong><br />
company <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> vision for <strong>the</strong> future<br />
which aspires to make training both<br />
better for industry, more relevant to <strong>the</strong><br />
man in <strong>the</strong> machine <strong>and</strong> cost effective<br />
– high quality but simplistic. Customers<br />
want to know that <strong>the</strong>y get a good<br />
package of training <strong>and</strong> that at <strong>the</strong> end<br />
of it, <strong>the</strong>ir workforce is competent <strong>and</strong><br />
safe to operate <strong>the</strong> machine. I’m looking<br />
forward to <strong>the</strong> future <strong>and</strong> to progressing<br />
<strong>the</strong> company within <strong>the</strong> heavy plant<br />
sector.”<br />
Steve can be contacted at Mentor FLT Training Limited, Burley Close,<br />
Turnoaks Business Park, Chesterfield, S40 2UB, tel: 01246 555222<br />
39
CONVEX MIRRORS | CAMERA SYSTEMS | OBJECT DETECTION | STROBE LIGHTS | SAFETY WHIPS<br />
SPECIAL REPORT<br />
think safety<br />
think spillard<br />
Everything we do at Spillard has a single aim - to make mobile plant<br />
<strong>and</strong> vehicles as safe as possible for <strong>the</strong> workers on site <strong>and</strong> for <strong>the</strong><br />
people who operate <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
No o<strong>the</strong>r UK company offers such a complete range of specialised<br />
safety equipment <strong>and</strong> systems for use in this area.<br />
Because we’re dedicated to safety, we’re able to concentrate on<br />
key aspects of legislation – <strong>and</strong> we go to enormous lengths to<br />
meet <strong>the</strong> most dem<strong>and</strong>ing st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
Every item we supply is carefully developed using <strong>the</strong><br />
best available technologies. It’s stringently tested, fully<br />
guaranteed, <strong>and</strong> customised to meet <strong>the</strong> specific needs of<br />
<strong>the</strong> application.<br />
And it’s backed by <strong>the</strong> expertise of people who underst<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> industry inside out – with deep experience <strong>and</strong> a strong<br />
track record in every aspect of field operation, design,<br />
manufacturing, assembly, supply <strong>and</strong> service.<br />
As well as being one of <strong>the</strong> UK’s leading suppliers of specialised<br />
safety equipment to <strong>the</strong> quarrying <strong>and</strong> mining industries, our<br />
wide customer base includes many household names in<br />
construction, vehicle manufacturing <strong>and</strong> defence.<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL<br />
01902 797930<br />
email: sales@spillard.com www: spillard.com<br />
40<br />
August 2010<br />
VISION<br />
DETECTION<br />
RESTRAINT<br />
WARNING<br />
CONTROL<br />
SERVICE<br />
msc1884
Training <strong>and</strong> Testing<br />
Specialist in construction plant <strong>and</strong><br />
equipment operative training <strong>and</strong><br />
assessment.<br />
Courses tailored to suit client’s<br />
specific site requirements.<br />
Anywhere in <strong>the</strong> UK.<br />
Contact:<br />
Mr Mick Norton BEM,<br />
10 Pinders Grove, Wakefield, West<br />
Yorkshire, WF1 4AH<br />
Mob: 07880 743288<br />
Tel: 01924 210817<br />
Email: micknorton@spindoctor.co.uk<br />
www.cpcs-plant-training.co.uk<br />
BaRRy<br />
RoBinSon<br />
ConSulting<br />
Specialist Trainer in Quarrying <strong>and</strong><br />
Construction <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Equipment</strong>.<br />
Contact: Mr Barry Robinson, MBE.<br />
Mob: 07815 736 924<br />
aPPle<br />
inDuStRial<br />
Safety<br />
PLANT & SAFETy TRAINING;<br />
<strong>OPERC</strong> Safetynet testing, NPORS,<br />
RTITB, CPCS, IPAF, CCNSG, SPA,<br />
VCA <strong>and</strong> PASMA, UK & Europe.<br />
Mill 1, The Business Park, Mansfield,<br />
NG19 8RL<br />
Tel: 0845 505 2020<br />
Fax: 0845 505 2021<br />
Contact: Kay Knowles<br />
kay@applesafety.co.uk<br />
web: www.applesafety.co.uk<br />
RitChieS<br />
tRaining CentRe<br />
Construction plant training courses,<br />
LGV/PCV training, crane training,<br />
forklift training. NPORS, CPCS,<br />
LANTRA, OCR, FTA, RHA <strong>and</strong><br />
Department for Transport.<br />
Hobden Street, Glasgow, G21 4AQ<br />
Tel: 0141 557 2212<br />
Fax: 0141 558 8252<br />
Email: sales@ritchiestraining.co.uk<br />
www.ritchiestraining.co.uk<br />
taSC Solutions<br />
Providing educational resources <strong>and</strong><br />
consultancy on specialist plant <strong>and</strong><br />
equipment, <strong>and</strong> services on diamond<br />
drilling rigs, diamond cutting, masonry<br />
saw benches, floor saws <strong>and</strong><br />
abrasive wheels.<br />
5 Tavistock Close,<br />
Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 1JY<br />
Tel: 01795 436435<br />
Mob: 07515 994986<br />
info@adamsconsultancy.org.uk<br />
fielD SaleS<br />
tRaining gRouP<br />
Field sales training workshops<br />
individually tailored to <strong>the</strong> precise<br />
requirements <strong>and</strong><br />
aims of your<br />
company.<br />
ShaRP PRaCtiCe<br />
Management Consultancy with a deep<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>ing of <strong>the</strong> Capital <strong>Equipment</strong><br />
Industries <strong>and</strong> Markets. Specialists in<br />
Private Client research <strong>and</strong> analysis<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Capital <strong>Equipment</strong> Markets on a<br />
Global Basis.<br />
3 Hartwell Grove, Creswell Manor,<br />
Stafford, Engl<strong>and</strong>, ST16 1RW<br />
Mob: 07932 693 184<br />
Tel: 01785 606 677<br />
Email: info@sharppractice.eu<br />
www.sharppractice.eu<br />
RoBinSon <strong>Plant</strong><br />
SeRViCeS<br />
“Giving you full service,<br />
quality <strong>and</strong> value”<br />
7 Carsic Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield,<br />
Nottinghamshire, NG17 2AS<br />
Tel: 07812 148711<br />
For a free quote<br />
contact Field Sales<br />
Training Group<br />
info@fieldsalestraininggroup.co.uk<br />
Tel: 07788 480220<br />
richard@robinsonplantservices.co.uk<br />
CLASSIFIEDS<br />
MilleR<br />
<strong>Plant</strong><br />
Specialists in <strong>the</strong> supply of new <strong>and</strong><br />
quality used construction equipment<br />
for <strong>the</strong> UK <strong>and</strong> abroad; full service<br />
backup <strong>and</strong> training provided.<br />
Miller <strong>Plant</strong>, Woodside House,<br />
Pedmore Road, Dudley,<br />
West Midl<strong>and</strong>s, DY2 0RL<br />
Tel: 01384 262400<br />
Fax: 01384 350269<br />
Email: millplant@aol.com<br />
CaRl PalMeR<br />
Master engraver <strong>and</strong> craftsman.<br />
H<strong>and</strong> engraving for trophy prizes <strong>and</strong><br />
crystal wear.<br />
Contact: 07751 978731<br />
Geoff Tristram Ltd<br />
Artist, cartoonist <strong>and</strong><br />
comedy novelist.<br />
Fine art <strong>and</strong><br />
illustration, cartoons<br />
<strong>and</strong> caricatures.<br />
‘Live’ caricatures at<br />
corporate events.<br />
Humorous talks - ‘Confessions of an<br />
Artist’ - amusing anecdotes from 30<br />
plus years as a professional artist.<br />
Tel: 01384 442881<br />
Email: gt@geofftristram.co.uk<br />
www.geofftristram.co.uk<br />
e&P ConStRuCtion<br />
SKillS liMiteD<br />
Professional trainers offering a wide<br />
range of courses to <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
industry. NPORS Accredited Training<br />
Provider.<br />
Contact: 55 Oldfield Drive, Vicars<br />
Cross, Chester, CH3 5LT<br />
Tel: 0845 619 0910<br />
Steve: 07531 725 598<br />
Bobby: 07531 725 650.<br />
tyPing MatteRS<br />
your virtual office assistant<br />
Providing a 24/7 confidential,<br />
reliable <strong>and</strong> cost-effective on-line<br />
transcription service for<br />
all your typing requirements.<br />
Tel: 01785 606677<br />
Email: typingmatters@ntlworld.com<br />
August 2010<br />
41
NEwS MEGAByTES<br />
42<br />
MB<br />
neWSMegaByteS<br />
BBCel achieve million man<br />
hours without a RiDDoR<br />
The Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald Area 2<br />
team have reached a major milestone in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
journey to Zero Harm having recently completed<br />
one million man hours on <strong>the</strong> project without<br />
a reportable (RIDDOR) accident. The entire<br />
project team has worked extremely hard in<br />
driving <strong>the</strong> project commitment to ‘Make Safety<br />
Personal’ <strong>and</strong> striving to achieve <strong>the</strong> Zero Harm<br />
goals.<br />
Costain are tops in graduate<br />
training<br />
The Association of Graduate Recruiters<br />
(AGR) has named Costain <strong>the</strong> winner of <strong>the</strong><br />
Best Graduate Development title in its 2010<br />
awards. The latest award followed on from<br />
<strong>the</strong> AGR naming <strong>the</strong> Group top of two subcategories<br />
- strategic alignment <strong>and</strong> graduate<br />
inductions - in <strong>the</strong> field earlier in <strong>the</strong> year. That<br />
was enough for Costain to outpace seven major<br />
organisations including Barclays, Boots <strong>and</strong><br />
PriceWaterhouseCooper to <strong>the</strong> overall prize.<br />
mtrack service hot off <strong>the</strong><br />
mark<br />
The effectiveness of <strong>the</strong> mtrack tracker service<br />
was ably demonstrated in July, with four<br />
customers reporting assets stolen in just two<br />
days. The mtrack protected assets included<br />
two large items of plant equipment, a quad bike<br />
<strong>and</strong> a rare Ferrari, all found within hours. The<br />
tracking success reinforces mtrack’s reputation<br />
as <strong>the</strong> world’s leading Stolen Vehicle Recovery<br />
(SVR) tracker system.<br />
Production underway at JCB<br />
Brazil factory<br />
JCB is continuing its investment in global<br />
excavator production capability with <strong>the</strong><br />
opening of its newest factory in Brazil where<br />
<strong>the</strong> first 20 tonne machine, a JS200LC tracked<br />
excavator, has already rolled off <strong>the</strong> line. Carlos<br />
Hernández, Regional Director JCB in Latin<br />
America said “The Latin American region is<br />
undergoing strong growth this year <strong>and</strong> our<br />
decision to constantly invest in <strong>the</strong> expansion<br />
of production capability will help us achieve our<br />
objective of maintaining business growth <strong>and</strong><br />
increasing our market share in <strong>the</strong> region.”<br />
August 2010<br />
Ensure guarding is fitted<br />
to dangerous parts of<br />
machinery<br />
“Opportunity is<br />
missed by most<br />
people because<br />
it is dressed in<br />
overalls <strong>and</strong><br />
looks like work.”<br />
Thomas Alva Edison<br />
“everyone’s talking about it!”<br />
Have you thought about<br />
advertising in <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Equipment</strong> Professional?<br />
Email us at pep@operc.com<br />
for more details.
For more details please contact:<br />
Mr Chris Miller<br />
National Registrar<br />
Contractors Mechanical <strong>Plant</strong> Engineers,<br />
Woodside House, Pedmore Road,<br />
Dudley, West Midl<strong>and</strong>s, DY2 ORL<br />
Tel: 01384 352403<br />
Fax: 01384 350269<br />
Email: millplant@aol.com<br />
www.cmpe.co.uk<br />
Don’t be a monkey!<br />
Get trained!<br />
Get competent!<br />
Get <strong>the</strong> CMPE<br />
Certificate of<br />
Competence.<br />
Special reports, Latest news, Worldwide distribution & Expert opinions<br />
August 2010<br />
43
44<br />
August 2010<br />
NEwS