| |
June 2003 |
| |
 |
Accident figures tumble
New JIB figures for accidents in the electrical contracting industry have revealed a large fall in the number of incidents reported over the last 12 months.
|
| |
|
Amec man made ECA president
Charles McKinnon, former managing director of AMEC Mechanical & Electrical Services, has been appointed president of the ECA. He took office in a ceremony performed at the opening of the ECA's 2003 Electrical Industry Conference in Cyprus on 11 May.
|
| |
|
Fine art
Fine art: Hills Electrical & Mechanical has put the spotlight on works of art at the Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh. A scheme designed by WSP Consulting uses 110 iGuzzini fittings, which feature coloured filters to achieve the ideal setting for the works on display. A control system enables the brightness of the luminaires to be adjusted to create differing moods within the two galleries where works by Picasso, Bonnard, Joan Eardley, William Gillies and William Johnstone are featured.
|
| |
|
Presidential VIEW
The latest figures from the JIB show that reportable accidents to electrical contractors have fallen by 24% in 2002 compared to 2001. This welcome improvement in performance is a strong indication that the ECA’s Zero Accident Potential (ZAP) initiative is having the intended effect. Through ZAP we aim to increase awareness of health and safety issues, in particular how to manage major hazards such as falls, manual handling or working with asbestos. However, while the figures are a step in the right direction, there is still plenty of work to be done.
|
| |
|
Insolvency warning
The ECA has issued a warning that there may be a ‘hardening of the marketplace’ and as a consequence members should be vigilant and cautious.Key points to beware are: - business from a new source – always obtain credit checks;
- amendments to standard forms of contract;
- irregular payments and fluctuations in deliveries;
- staff and specification changes.
|
| |
|
ECITB review ordered
The ECA, in conjunction with SELECT, is responding on behalf of the electrotechnical industry to a government review into the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).The ECITB imposes a training levy on firms that have any substantial commitment, even temporarily, to work in the engineering construction field. This can include the erection, repair or maintenance of plant or equipment for oil rigs or other parts of the petrochemical industry.
|
| |
|
New national minimum wage rates
The main national minimum wage rate will increase to £4.50 per hour from 1 October 2003, a rise of 30p. This rate will apply from a worker’s 22nd birthday.
|
| |
|
Latham on report
After reading Michael Latham’s article in your May 2003 issue (‘Quality work’, p 21), I have to confess that I am confused as to the intent of the piece. And if I am confused, what would 85-year-old Mrs Jones make of it.Latham starts out by reviewing the purpose and intention of the Government’s Quality Mark Scheme and ends up by championing the case for household breakdown insurance.
|
| |
|
Hats off?
Can you tell me why I and my colleagues who carry out practical/electrical training for the JIB at Oxford College of Further Education have so much hassle when insisting trainees wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while in our training workshops?We are constantly bombarded with: “Why do we have to wear safety hats, goggles, gloves, boots and overalls when nobody bothers on site?”
|
| |
|
Emergency response
After years of product development dominated by legislation changes, emergency lighting manufacturers have turned their attention to aesthetics and new technology says Mark Faithfull.
|
| |
|
Putting principles into practice
How can the principles of ISO 9001: 2000 help your business? Chris Ottaway outlines the first four.
|
| |
|
Adapt or die, says CIBSE president
The new CIBSE president has warned the building services industry to respond and adapt quickly to changes in construction processes before the organisation is left behind and becomes obsolete.
|
| |
|
Job opportunities open up in Iraq
Staffing solutions company EPCglobal is seeking electrical contractors for reconstruction work in post-war Iraq.
|
| |
|
Show time
EMC is hosting the Electrical Roadshow at Old Trafford, the home of Premiership champions Manchester United, on 8 October 2003.
|
| |
|
Chloride Power Protection
Chloride Power Protection has won the contract to supply the ups infrastructure for BP1, the new Barclays Bank headquarters at Canary Wharf, London. The project, designed by H H Angus & Associates, will involve the building, installation, commissioning and post-commissioning monitoring of two distributed ups located on floors 4 and 32 of one of the largest new buildings in the area.
|
| |
|
Action plan to tackle diversity
The electrical contracting and plumbing sectors came together at a joint conference to devise an action plan to do something about the low numbers of women and ethnic minorities working in the industry.
|
| |
|
Electric shock death
An electrician has died after receiving a 240 V shock while working on a lift motor. The operative, who was working alone, was not found until the following day. The equipment within the lift motor cabinet that the electrician was working on had a separate, inadequately marked on/off switch that he had not noticed because the area was extremely poorly illuminated. While the rest of the cabinet was switched off, when the operative came into contact with the live equipment he received a shock that proved fatal.
|
| |
|
SummitSkills seeking to appoint new directors
After the appointment of Lindsay Gillespie as development director, SummitSkills is seeking to appoint six further directors from the building services market as it bids to become the sector skills council for the industry.If licenced, SummitSkills will be responsible for the setting of training and qualification standards throughout the sector as well as taking a lead in gathering intelligence about the market and encouraging entrants into the industry.
|
| |
|
Driving design
Driving design: The lighting at Nissan’s new London design studio is controlled by the latest equipment from Luxmate. The ex-London Transport maintenance depot now houses 50 international Nissan staff. A Luxmate LM-3DSIS module controls digital dimming fluorescent luminaires, while scene controllers use five and three-scene modules.
|
| |
|
DPS agrees buyout
Nottingham-based electrical contractor DPS (Beeston) has been acquired by its management team in a buyout deal negotiated with the retiring owner Peter Tomlinson.The company is now looking to achieve 20% growth per year for the next three years. DPS specialises in retail, leisure and commercial electrical contracting projects for clients including Dixons, Ikea and Regent Inns.
|
| |
|
Light control
Light control: Helvar digital lighting control technology was added to the Royal National Institute of the Blind’s London headquarters during a recent refurbishment. Project consultant Silcock Dawson worked with the manufacturer to develop a system that incorporated its Digidim control technology, low energy downlighters, uplighters and T5 fluorescent fittings, along with ceiling mounted sensors.
|
| |
|
The light protection
As the use of downlighters increases, so may the risks of fire hazards. Alan Rogers explains how to maintain building protection.
|
| |
|
Environmental concerns
What problems can be caused by installing structured cabling systems in difficult environments? John Kellow outlines the latest industry standards and solutions.
|
| |
|
It’s payback time
Energy savings are expected to give a two year payback for a college campus lighting scheme.
|
| |
|
One person's banter...
When does a joke become offensive behaviour? Kate Hodgkiss outlines the fine line between banter and harassment.
|
| |
|
For your eyes only
With only a few weeks to wait for the 2003 Building Services Awards, who’s on the shortlist for the much sought after trophies?
|
| |
|
Contractor fined for sacking mum
Patricia Hewitt, trade and industry secretary and minister for women, blasted the actions of P H Adams Electrical Contractors as “a woeful example of Victorian management practice”, after the company sacked receptionist Carol Bonehill while she was on maternity leave.Hewitt branded the Birmingham-based ECA member as a “disgrace” for sending a dismissal letter and P45 to the receptionist along with a congratulations card, after the birth of her daughter Abbie.
|
| |
|
Control Centre (Clearview Health & Racquet Club, Brentwood)
Can high-tech controls combine to provide user comfort and energy efficiency in a sports centre?
|
| |
|
Voice overs
How will the emergence of Voice over Internet Protocol affect future cabling installations?
|
| |
|
Unity in Cyprus
The ECA returned to Cyprus for the 2003 conference with a theme of partnering and alliances. Was there division over the realities of integrated teams?
|
| |
|
Diverse solutions
The industry has a poor record when it comes to attracting women and those from ethnic minorities. Andrew Brister reports on new initiatives.
|
| |
|
M&E institutions set to merge?
The boards of the IMechE, IEE and IIE are discussing plans for a three-way merger between the engineering institutions that would form a single body with over 250 000 members serving the UK's m&e sectors.
|
