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CIC Cascade6 August 2004
1. Help reshape future education and training in construction The recent Built Environment Professional Services Skills Survey demonstrated a general concern about skills gaps with both existing staff and recruits. Further consultation is now being carried out by ConstructionSkills to guide steps toward improving recruitment and reshaping education and training provision. Over the next few weeks CIC, as a partner in ConstructionSkills, will be consulting with its key stakeholders and groups that are central to any future change of approach to education and training – the employers, the professional bodies and the education and training providers themselves. To give your views visit www.constructionskills.net and click on ‘Have your Say’ 2. Sustainable Development Commission launches new websiteThe Sustainable Development Commission - the government’s independent advisory body – has launched a new electronic news and discussion service www.sd-commission.org.uk The commission supports all level of government and major companies in their efforts to put sustainable development at the heart of their activities. The SDC particularly likes to work in long term partnerships, highlighting the benefits of sustainable development, and offering guidance to initiatives of strategic importance. For further information including details of recent achievements and to access the online resources and publications visit www.sd-commission.org.uk 3. CUB Conservative Party Conference Fringe Meeting The Construction Industry Council will be participating in a fringe meeting “Investing in better public services” at this year’s Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth . The event, hosted by CUB (Construction Industry Council, Construction Confederation, Construction Products Association), will take place on Tuesday 5 October 2004, 5.45 – 7pm in the Green Room of the Tralee Hotel (West Hill Road, Bournemouth). Security passes cost £210 and can be obtained on application from the Conservative Party, telephone 020 7393 4955 or e-mail marketing@ccocl.co.uk 4. Electrical Safety in dwellings introduced into the Building Regulations From 1st January 2005 all electrical installation work in dwellings will need to meet the standards in BS 7671 (the ‘wiring regulations’). The Government consider that this will help reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty electrical installations. The Building Regulations on electrical safety come into force on 1 January 2005 . The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the new approved Document P - electrical safety, and an explanatory circular in July. Self certification schemes operated by BRE Certification Limited, British Standards Institution, ELECSA Limited, NICEIC Certification Services Limited and Zurich Certification Ltd have been approved by the Government. These schemes are aimed at those carrying out electrical installation work as the primary activity of their business, and will be operational by 1 January 2005 . Other schemes are currently being considered for those who carry out installation work only as an adjunct to or in connection with the primary activity of their business. The new Approved Document P and ODPM Circular 05/2004 are available for viewing on the ODPM website www.odpm.gov.uk 5. BIAT gets deal the winning card British Institute of Architectural Technologists full members (MBIAT) are now eligible to apply for a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card in recognition of their full membership qualification. This is an important advance in BIAT’s demonstration of recognition of Architectural Technologists (MBIAT) The scheme, administered by CITB-ConstructionSkills on behalf of the industry is now in its ninth year and has over 600,000 registered operatives and 171 occupations, and is well on its way to achieving its primary aim, which is to extend skill certification across the whole of the construction industry. CSCS is owned and managed by Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd, representing construction employers, trade unions and clients, including BAA, the NHS and most local councils are behind it. An increasing number are demanding the proof of competence that CSCS offers before they allow firms to tender or workers onto their sites. BIAT President Paul Burton said of the scheme “I am delighted that BIAT has received this recognition as a demonstration of its status within the professional membership route, and the competence of its members.” Graham Medcroft, Vice-Chairman of CSCS said “CSCS is very pleased that BIAT has become a partner with us and enabled us to offer entry through membership of their institution to our scheme. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.” For more information about the scheme call the CSCS hotline on 01485 578777 or visit www.cscs.uk.com For more information about BIAT contact Huw Morrison, Communications and Promotions Officer tel 020 7278 2206 email info@biat.org.uk or visit www.biat.org.uk 6. IStructE makes its recommendations on changes to codified structural design A framework for the successful migration to the Eurocodes from British Standards has been delivered to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). The IStructE authored report makes wide ranging recommendations for a national strategy for the implementation of the EU wide design codes. The Eurocodes will be published between 2004 and 2007, and by 2010 they will have effectively replaced the current British Standards as the primary basis for designing buildings and civil engineering structures in the UK . ‘National strategy for implementation of the structural Eurocodes: design guidance’ calls for the UK structural engineering community to be properly supported during this transition process, suggesting that if this fails to happen much competitive advantage, in terms of both defending the UK home market and enabling exports overseas, will be lost. The other principal recommendations being considered by ODPM are:
IStructE was invited by ODPM to coordinate the study through a strategy committee established under the chairmanship of IStructE President Professor David Nethercot, he commented: “Notwithstanding the short duration of the project, it proved possible to identify the key challenges, and to indicate those measures that must be taken to ensure that UK designers can continue to flourish in their traditional markets as well as benefiting from the opportunities provided by the transition and to estimate the level of resource that needs to be provided collectively so as to ensure that the task is properly discharged.” For further information contact: Kieran Miles , IStructE: 020 7201 9104 or 07971 442003 Sue Doran , IStructE: 020 7201 9110 The full report is available to download at www.istructe.org.uk/eurocodes 7. Society of Light and Lighting publishes new Code for Lighting An updated edition of the Code for Lighting is now available from the Society of Light (SCL). The Code for Lighting 2004 is published on CD-ROM and includes significant extra and updated information for lighting designers and other professionals responsible for interior lighting. The new edition has an improved presentation, an index to the Code for Lighting section and a new section to the Schedule reinstating most of the information which was included in the earlier 1994 Code for Interior Lighting but not covered by the European Standard on lighting of indoor workspaces. The Code is packed with tables showing the recommended illuminances in virtually every type of working location and room type: hospitals, hotels, restaurants, libraries, offices, schools and many more. The CD-ROM also includes a new edition of Lighting Guide 7: Office lighting and a Guide to obtrusive light which was written for the Society by Peter Wright and James Patterson. The list of Lighting Industry Federation Technical Statements has been updated and numerous other Society documents have been added. The Code for Lighting CD-ROM costs £83.73 (inc VAT excl postage) for SLL and CIBSE members or £139.84 (inc VAT excl postage) for non-members. The CD-ROM plus the A4 format printed version costs £102.73 (inc VAT excl postage) for SLL and CIBSE members or £158.64 (inc VAT excl postage) for non-members. The printed 2002 edition of the Code for Lighting extracts is not being revised, but is now being issued with an addendum which includes the material added to the Schedule on the CD-ROM. To order the Code for Lighting contact publication sales on 020 8772 3618 or email pubsales@cibse.org The publications can also be ordered online at the CIBSE Bookshop http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=home.show&PageID=63&TopSecID=4 The Society of Light and Lighting is the senior and largest professional body in the UK representing the interests of those involved in the art, science and engineering of light and lighting in their widest definition. It is part of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. 8. Health and Safety Executive needs more investment A recent report by the House of Commons Work and Pension Committee has called for the number of field health and safety inspectors to increase by 100% Recent figures show that from April 2002 – April 2003 there were 226 work-related deaths with an alarming 28,426 major injuries reported. The report stressed that the need to double the number of inspectors to 540 was an urgent requirement to combat this issue, and backed an estimated £48 million over a seven-year period. Committee Chairman Sir Archy Kirkwood said, "Health and safety at work is a subject which has the potential to affect all of us in our daily lives. The report is a comprehensive review of the subject which has a common thread: the HSE is under-resourced." The report goes on to highlight the growing need to monitor those companies employing migrant or temporary agency workers who are particularly at risk. With long term illnesses related to stress and muscular-skeletal problems also on the increase the challenge is to address this issue which can ruin the quality of so many lives. It has been estimated that 33 million days a year are lost through occupational health problems, compared to 7 million days due to physical injury with 25,000 people a year leaving work prematurely from work-related injury or illness. Michael Brown CIOB Deputy Chief Executive commented, “Whilst this report covers all industries we recognise its particular relevance to the construction industry. Too many of our workforce are not protected from the dangerous conditions that can be found within our industry where proper health and safety procedures are not applied. We want to see the HSE receive the necessary funds from government to inspect those workplaces that are the very source of the problem, and to take on offending employers in court.” For a copy of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee report please go to: - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmworpen/456/456.pdf For copies of the CIOB’s Improving Site Conditions campaign please go to: - http://www.ciob.org.uk/iande/changeinoursites.jsp 9. Events The events page of the CIC website is frequently updated visit the events page for details. |
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