ToolKit CS Release 11

We have now shipped our latest updates to all of our customers; if you think you should have received a copy and have not, then please contact us immediately. The latest Release contains some major changes which will be of interest to all our ToolKit™ users.

For full details, please see our October Newsletter.

HSE Blast Designers' Risk Assessments

Callsafe Services inform us that the HSE has published a report on its findings of the safety performance of designers. The report shows continued improvement over the last three years. However, the HSE is concerned that many construction projects are still producing vast quantities of useless paperwork. The findings come after HSE construction inspectors met with designers at 124 building projects across Scotland and Northern England in April this year. The investigations found the following;

- 69 per cent of designers have a good or adequate knowledge of their legal duties under CDM
- 57 per cent of the designers interviewed had received training
- The majority of the design risk assessments seen by the HSE inspectors were generic
- The design risk assessments failed to adequately cover site-specific issues
- The design risk assessments concealed the real areas for concern and added no value to the design process

The report hopes that the HSE 'less is more' message and ongoing consultation on CDM will help designers move from the false comfort of producing vast quantities of untargeted and generic paperwork. Copies of HSE (Construction Division) Scotland, North West and Newcastle upon Tyne Offices can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/constr.../report05.pdf

ToolKit CS™ Release 11 (Service Pack 7)

We plan to ship the next version of our highly successful ToolKit™ Compliance software at the end of September. This will be sent to all our current CS users as part of their annual maintenance package. There are no update charges for this service.

HSE raise the bar for Olympics

Eight weeks on from the successful London bid, and the announcements from both Lord Coe and Ken Livingstone of the most fantastic Olympic Games yet have huge implications for the construction industry.

With the sharp increase in the number of major construction projects needed to fulfil the promises, Rosi Edwards, the Health & Safety Executive's acting Chief Inspector of Construction said: "The Olympics is a wonderful opportunity for the UK construction industry to showcase what it can do. Maximum cooperation and collaboration will mean a well planned construction phase and design." She pointed out that the HSE's construction division is currently at its highest ever staffing level, with 189 construction inspectors and a recent intake of trainers. "We are doing all we intend to do," she said.

For more, please see our September Newsletter.

New XML Feed

The old Atom feed will continue to work, but there is now a new feed available at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/aisolutions

Hazard Warning On Asbestos Scan Vans

The TUC is warning that the arrival in the UK of US-style 'scan vans' that screen workers for occupational lung disease is not the best way to deal with Britain's asbestos disease epidemic. In the US, the mobile clinics tour shopping malls and community centres in search of workers to screen, often using CT scans, and recruit for asbestos-related lawsuits.

TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson said: 'These companies play on people's fears, and are interested not with the health of the worker, but whether they can make commission on compensation claims for any illnesses they find. However, this is not just ambulance chasing. There is growing concern over unnecessary or speculative screening - in particular the use of CT scans, which may increase the chances of certain cancers developing.'

The Health Protection Agency says the risk of developing a fatal cancer as a result of a chest CT scan is one in 2,500, compared with a risk of one in a million from a chest x-ray. Ian McFall, head of asbestos litigation with Thompsons solicitors, commented: 'If you're concerned about your health go see a doctor. You don't see a lawyer and you don't see some unregulated claims farmer running a scan van in a hotel car-park.'

According to TUC's Hugh Robertson: 'Anyone who is concerned they may have an occupational illness should contact their GP and make sure they let their doctor know why they are concerned, their work history and symptoms.'

The Department of Health is investigating one claims company using scan vans, Freeclaim IDC, based in Northumberland, to check it is in compliance with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations.

Revisions To CDM Regulations - Consultation Complete

The consultation stage of the review of the CDM regulations being orchestrated by the Health & Safety Executive is complete. The HSE's timetable anticipates the enforcement of the regulations from October 2006 with only a 3 month lead in with the guidance. Once ratified, the legislation will take immediate effect. There will be no lead in period; no period of grace; immediate.

August Newsletter now available

The August edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available. August Newsletter

Remorseless Progress of the Asbestos Epidemic

The following quotation from a recent TUC E Bulletin highlights the extent of Britain's asbestos cancer epidemic. "The combined toll of asbestos-related lung cancers and mesotheliomas is estimated to be killing in the region of 10 people a day, and the number is rising."

Newspaper reports this week covered the inquest into the death of Royal Navy veteran Ken Batty, killed by the asbestos cancer mesothelioma aged 69, after exposure to asbestos lagging on HMS Barfleur. William Nelson, a Royal Navy stoker in the Second World War who also worked in the building trade, died aged 79 from the same cancer, another inquest heard. Peter Luce, 63, a former senior Royal Navy officer, died after working with asbestos on submarines, an inquest was told. Former pub landlord Joe Clarke died of mesothelioma this month aged 66, the result of coming into contact with asbestos while working in demolition in the 1960s. Retired plumber Geoffrey Clarke, 63, died just four weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Another retired plumber, Graham Buswell, died aged 69 on christmas eve last year from mesothelioma. Plasterer Robert Martin, 63, worked with asbestos throughout his 25-year career and died of mesothelioma, an inquest heard.'

Revisions to CDM Regulations - Final Stages

The consultation stage of the review of the CDM regulations being orchestrated by the Health & Safety Executive is now in its final stage. If you have not already done so, please review the HSE site information and get your response in before the end of July.
The HSE's timetable anticipates the enforcement of the regulations from October 2006 with only a 3 month lead in with the guidance. Once ratified, the legislation will take immediate effect. There will be no lead in period; no period of grace; immediate. ToolKit CS™ users will be prepared!

July Newsletter now available

The July edition of the Ai Solutions Newsletter is now available: July Newsletter

Asbestos Deaths

According to the TUC's weekly updates issued 31 May 2005, Britain is one of the worst hit countries in the world for asbestos deaths, a global epidemic currently claiming at least one life every five minutes. Cases are so commonplace in the UK these days they only merit a few lines in local newspapers.

Inquest reports this week include a Stourbridge man who died from asbestos exposure after working as an electrician at a pig farm, where he drilled holes through the asbestos cement roof. Geoffrey Norris died aged 65 on 19 January; at Dudley Coroners Court, Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease. Retired builder John Dickerson, 73, died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma on 7 April, Derby Coroner's Court heard this week; deputy coroner Dr Turlough Farnan recorded a verdict that he died from the industrial disease of malignant mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.

Revisions to CDM Regulations

The consultation stage of the review of the CDM regulations being orchestrated by the Health & Safety Executive is now past the half way stage.

The HSE web site is running an interesting discussion forum on its web site at consultations.hse.gov.uk.

Anyone who is a designer or is otherwise involved in the delivery of projects with a CDM input is sure to find the discussion interesting; You have until the end of July to make your views known.