safety alert
Content
PEOPLE
NEWS
SI has announced the revision of BS 7121-2:2003 – ‘Code of practice for safe use of cranes – Inspection, testing and examination’ in response to industry’s call for a safer working environment, particularly within the construction sector. The law says that all lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner. Cranes and lifting accessories such as slings must be of adequate strength, tested and subject to the required examinations and inspections. Despite this legislation, since 2001, according to the HSE, there have been 61 accidents involving tower cranes, nine people have died and 25 have been seriously injured, with poor maintenance being highlighted as the root cause of many of these accidents. A comprehensive review of the British Standard BS 7121-2:2003 is the industry’s solution to help address these concerns. Working with experts, BSI has split this code of practice for safe use of cranes into six sub-parts, to bring more focus on specific
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INDUSTRY REQUESTS REVISION OF STANDARDS TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION OF CRANES AND REDUCE CASUALTIES
types of cranes. This will ensure BS 7121-2:2003 will continue to provide current best practice for the inspection, maintenance and thorough examination of the principal types of cranes used within the UK and overseas. These updates will offer critical guidance for all users and operators of cranes throughout the UK but will also have worldwide applicability. The standard is currently being developed by influential experts in this field, including the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) and Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). Also participating on the committee are representatives from the Safety Assessment Federation Ltd (SAFed), Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). BSI is also eager to get feedback, comment and input on these Drafts for Public Comment from wider industry sources. All comments received during public consultation on the drafts will be reviewed by the BSI Technical Committee MHE/3/11 ‘Crane safety and testing’ and may be incorporated into the published British Standard. The current schedule for release of the drafts is as follows: • BS 7121-2-1 General http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46090 • BS 7121-2-3 Mobile Cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46112 • BS 7121-2-4 Loader Cranes DPC expected October 2012 • BS 7121-2-5 Tower Cranes DPC expected October 2012 • BS 7121-2-7 Overhead travelling cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/456115 • BS 7121-2-9 Cargo handling & container cranes DPC expected October 2012 Each draft will be available for a period of two months from the date of issue. To get involved and comment on these, or any other British Standard drafts, please visit: http://drafts.bsigroup.com/
GTC contracted for first ‘Get Britain Building’ HoMes
TC today announces a substantial new contract with Crest Nicholson to install gas and electricity infrastructure at the first site to be awarded under the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA’s) ‘Get Britain Building programme’. GTC will provide the utility infrastructure for over 1,100 new-build homes and 70,000 square metres of business floorspace, as well as for shops, a community/sports centre, library, church, health centre and primary school, at the Cheesemans Green development, near Ashford, in Kent. The HCA has granted £2.3m of funding to release 100 new homes as part of the first stage of this phased scheme, which will be known as ‘Stour Meadows’ Clive Linsdell, Managing Director at GTC, says: “The funding will provide a great kickstart to the development and the economic benefits will be felt by the much wider community. The timings of the connections and energisation are crucial as they must coincide precisely with the house builders needs and the programme aims to deliver the much needed new homes. We have, therefore, been working closely with Crest Nicholson and they aim to benefit from our independent status, which allows full control of timescales and costs. 6 BUILDING ENGINEER July 2012
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GTC works extensively with Crest Nicholson and this significant housing development further cements the strong and well established working relationship. Mark Osborn, Development Executive, at Crest Nicholson comments: “We were pleased to award GTC this contract following their previous performances on existing developments. Their ability to provide project assurance and delivery within our programme is essential, particularly under the HCA’s scheme.” Cheesmans Green has presented numerous challenges as the development has culverts under the main access roads, this means that the mains can not be sited under the road surface. GTC has resolved this issue, proposing to lay mains in bridle paths, which are at a suitable elevation. With further development still being finalised, GTC has designed a network that will allow for possible future expansion. Further information from Trudy Mudd, GTC, Energy House, Woolpit Business Park, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9UP. Tel: 01359 240154. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.gtc-uk.co.uk
PASSIVE HOUSE REGIONS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGIES
aking frontrunners visible – supporting potential frontrunners.’ This is the motto of the PassREg project, funded within the European Commission’s Intelligent Energy Europe programme and headed by the Passive House Institute. As reflected in its name, the project supports the growth of Passive House Regions in which ‘energy efficiency first’ through Passive House is promoted, enabling remaining energy needs to be feasibly covered with on-site or nearby Renewable Energy sources. To do this, the project looks to regions such as Hanover, Brussels and Tyrol – frontrunner regions already actively and successfully supporting this approach. By investigating what makes the varied models these regions employ so successful as well as by making their successes more visible, the project aims to help other aspiring regions to become frontrunners themselves – taking, adapting and implementing best practice examples as well as the lessons learned throughout the project to facilitate the implementation of the EU’s 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive on the basis of Passive House with renewable energy sources.
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NEWS
SI has announced the revision of BS 7121-2:2003 – ‘Code of practice for safe use of cranes – Inspection, testing and examination’ in response to industry’s call for a safer working environment, particularly within the construction sector. The law says that all lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner. Cranes and lifting accessories such as slings must be of adequate strength, tested and subject to the required examinations and inspections. Despite this legislation, since 2001, according to the HSE, there have been 61 accidents involving tower cranes, nine people have died and 25 have been seriously injured, with poor maintenance being highlighted as the root cause of many of these accidents. A comprehensive review of the British Standard BS 7121-2:2003 is the industry’s solution to help address these concerns. Working with experts, BSI has split this code of practice for safe use of cranes into six sub-parts, to bring more focus on specific
B
INDUSTRY REQUESTS REVISION OF STANDARDS TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION OF CRANES AND REDUCE CASUALTIES
types of cranes. This will ensure BS 7121-2:2003 will continue to provide current best practice for the inspection, maintenance and thorough examination of the principal types of cranes used within the UK and overseas. These updates will offer critical guidance for all users and operators of cranes throughout the UK but will also have worldwide applicability. The standard is currently being developed by influential experts in this field, including the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) and Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). Also participating on the committee are representatives from the Safety Assessment Federation Ltd (SAFed), Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). BSI is also eager to get feedback, comment and input on these Drafts for Public Comment from wider industry sources. All comments received during public consultation on the drafts will be reviewed by the BSI Technical Committee MHE/3/11 ‘Crane safety and testing’ and may be incorporated into the published British Standard. The current schedule for release of the drafts is as follows: • BS 7121-2-1 General http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46090 • BS 7121-2-3 Mobile Cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46112 • BS 7121-2-4 Loader Cranes DPC expected October 2012 • BS 7121-2-5 Tower Cranes DPC expected October 2012 • BS 7121-2-7 Overhead travelling cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/456115 • BS 7121-2-9 Cargo handling & container cranes DPC expected October 2012 Each draft will be available for a period of two months from the date of issue. To get involved and comment on these, or any other British Standard drafts, please visit: http://drafts.bsigroup.com/
GTC contracted for first ‘Get Britain Building’ HoMes
TC today announces a substantial new contract with Crest Nicholson to install gas and electricity infrastructure at the first site to be awarded under the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA’s) ‘Get Britain Building programme’. GTC will provide the utility infrastructure for over 1,100 new-build homes and 70,000 square metres of business floorspace, as well as for shops, a community/sports centre, library, church, health centre and primary school, at the Cheesemans Green development, near Ashford, in Kent. The HCA has granted £2.3m of funding to release 100 new homes as part of the first stage of this phased scheme, which will be known as ‘Stour Meadows’ Clive Linsdell, Managing Director at GTC, says: “The funding will provide a great kickstart to the development and the economic benefits will be felt by the much wider community. The timings of the connections and energisation are crucial as they must coincide precisely with the house builders needs and the programme aims to deliver the much needed new homes. We have, therefore, been working closely with Crest Nicholson and they aim to benefit from our independent status, which allows full control of timescales and costs. 6 BUILDING ENGINEER July 2012
G
GTC works extensively with Crest Nicholson and this significant housing development further cements the strong and well established working relationship. Mark Osborn, Development Executive, at Crest Nicholson comments: “We were pleased to award GTC this contract following their previous performances on existing developments. Their ability to provide project assurance and delivery within our programme is essential, particularly under the HCA’s scheme.” Cheesmans Green has presented numerous challenges as the development has culverts under the main access roads, this means that the mains can not be sited under the road surface. GTC has resolved this issue, proposing to lay mains in bridle paths, which are at a suitable elevation. With further development still being finalised, GTC has designed a network that will allow for possible future expansion. Further information from Trudy Mudd, GTC, Energy House, Woolpit Business Park, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9UP. Tel: 01359 240154. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.gtc-uk.co.uk
PASSIVE HOUSE REGIONS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGIES
aking frontrunners visible – supporting potential frontrunners.’ This is the motto of the PassREg project, funded within the European Commission’s Intelligent Energy Europe programme and headed by the Passive House Institute. As reflected in its name, the project supports the growth of Passive House Regions in which ‘energy efficiency first’ through Passive House is promoted, enabling remaining energy needs to be feasibly covered with on-site or nearby Renewable Energy sources. To do this, the project looks to regions such as Hanover, Brussels and Tyrol – frontrunner regions already actively and successfully supporting this approach. By investigating what makes the varied models these regions employ so successful as well as by making their successes more visible, the project aims to help other aspiring regions to become frontrunners themselves – taking, adapting and implementing best practice examples as well as the lessons learned throughout the project to facilitate the implementation of the EU’s 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive on the basis of Passive House with renewable energy sources.
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