Articles by Date : May 27 2002 - June 02 2002

HSE criticised over presentation of accident statistics
Research undertaken to improve the quality and scope of training for operators of access platforms has highlighted a number of recurring causes of.... more
(31 May 2002 11:38)

Scottish social housing gets a new approach
A new draft policy that aims to change the way Scottish social housing is built and maintained has been developed by Communities Scotland. more
(31 May 2002 11:25)

Body to monitor plant training moves a step closer
The formation of an umbrella body responsible for setting and monitoring standards of plant training is a step closer following a meeting of plant.... more
(31 May 2002 10:33)

Plant hire industry's Best Practice Guide a "burden"
Fears have been raised that the Construction Plant-hire Association's (CPA) Best Practice Guide for Crane Hire and Contract Lifting imposes both.... more
(30 May 2002 15:49)

CC hits out at HSC for throwing construction a "red herring"
Contractors are being thrown a "red herring" by the Health & Safety Commission (HSC) in its drive to increase company reporting on health and safety.... more
(30 May 2002 14:55)

Weather cited as biggest problem for construction firms
The majority of UK construction companies cite weather problems as being more troublesome than problems with suppliers, labour or planning issues,.... more
(30 May 2002 13:23)

Contractors sought to redevelop Doncaster Race Course
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council is looking for contractors to redevelop Doncaster Race Course using private finance. more
(30 May 2002 11:50)

Plant industry criticises CITB health and safety test again
The Construction Industry Training Board's (CITB) health and safety test has come in for further criticism from representatives of the plant.... more
(30 May 2002 11:03)

Dome to host top sports and music events
Contracts have finally been signed for the sale of the Millennium Dome and the development of the Greenwich Peninsula. more
(30 May 2002 10:29)

Blair recreates Department for Transport
As expected, Tony Blair has bitten the bullet and reformed the Department for Transport with Alistair Darling at the helm. more
(30 May 2002 10:15)

New Tyne Crossing applies for TWA powers
The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) has applied for TWA powers to build the £139m New Tyne Crossing. more
(29 May 2002 14:27)

CPA concern over independent advisor role in Accelerating Change document
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has voiced its concerns over the role of the proposed independent client advisor in its final comments on.... more
(29 May 2002 12:08)

2001 a record year for Taywood
Taylor Woodrow has revealed today that 2001 was another record year for the company. more
(29 May 2002 11:15)

Darling succeeds Byers as transport chief
Alistair Darling, the secretary of state for work and pensions, has replaced Stephen Byers as transport secretary. more
(29 May 2002 10:42)

Geoff Brewer of Brewer Consulting considers withholding of payment
What is the "withholding of a sum due" under a construction contract? Put another way, when is it necessary to serve a withholding notice in.... more
(29 May 2002 10:19)

Taking care of Norwich
In March 2000, Morrison Construction formed CityCare, a joint venture with waste management firm Cleanaway, to take on all of Norwich City Council's.... more
(29 May 2002 10:18)

Site Clearance cleans up
Visitors showed serious interest in the Site Clearance Zone, reports Ian Brown. more
(29 May 2002 10:16)

In all their glory
There were plenty of surprises in the SED Showground as manufacturers unveiled new models. Paul Howard and Mark Darwin toured the stands. more
(29 May 2002 10:16)

YJL fit-out division targets four markets
YJL has launched a new fit-out business, Cornhill Interiors. It is headed by Peter Kilby who was previously joint managing director of Jarvis Newman,.... more
(29 May 2002 10:15)

Work winners this week
Who's winning the work? Contracts Hotline is your at-a-glance digest of the latest contract awards around the UK. Data supplied by ABI Building Data..... more
(29 May 2002 10:14)

What is experience worth?
Sir, I was reading the 15 May edition of Contract Journal and saw the letter on safety so I thought I would have a gripe about my episodes with the.... more
(29 May 2002 10:12)

Specialists sound skills alarm
Increased skills shortages, a high level of complaints about abuse of the retentions system, and a warning on e-mail bidding are the dominant.... more
(29 May 2002 10:11)

Skanska puts design first
Skanska is giving 600 of its staff training in design management. The group has an in-house design team of 160 in the UK and its latest move is aimed.... more
(29 May 2002 10:10)

Setting in stone
The Concrete Show arrived at SED this year and with it over 60 specialist firms from across the world. Bill Holdsworth visited the Concrete Pavilion.... more
(29 May 2002 10:09)

Scottish quality register approved
Scotland's long-awaited voluntary register of bona fide contractors has been launched with the backing of the Scottish Parliament and the country's.... more
(29 May 2002 10:09)

Red card for miserable bosses
Almost 40% of construction workers could miss seeing the England v Argentina World Cup match on Friday 7 June thanks to their heartless bosses. more
(29 May 2002 10:08)

Railtrack pushing for contractors' engineers
Railtrack is pressing rail contractors to sign up to Professional Services Contracts (PSC), which would result in them having to hand over many of.... more
(29 May 2002 10:07)

Oral drug testing beats taking urine samples
A new method of testing employees for drugs, which could replace the traditional approach of urine sampling, is being introduced to the construction.... more
(29 May 2002 10:07)

On-site facilities are substandard
The comfort and hygiene of construction workers is being compromised in adequate on-site toilet, canteen and changing/drying facilities. more
(29 May 2002 10:06)

NEWSBRIEF
Bids wanted for science centre deal Construction of a new £22m biotechnology centre in Manchester is up for grabs. Systemcost Trading is asking.... more
(29 May 2002 10:05)

NEWSBRIEF
Tenders to go out for South Wales school A new church school has been commissioned by the Archdiocese of Cardiff. The school, to be built at.... more
(29 May 2002 09:59)

NEWSBRIEF
Bath demolition companies fined Two Bath demolition companies have been fined £22,660 for burning waste on unlicensed land and other offences. At.... more
(29 May 2002 09:54)

Modular industry is hot on innovation and standards
Sir, Some of the recent comments on Lord Falconer's endorsement of prefabricated housing (CJ 9 May) have provided a sad reminder of the misplaced.... more
(29 May 2002 09:53)

MEPs want closer links
Members of the European Parliament who want to get a better understanding of the concerns of the construction industry have set up the Forum in the.... more
(29 May 2002 09:52)

Marketers win over managers
Construction marketers are winning over their sceptical bosses by arguing that effective marketing can boost the bottom line. more
(29 May 2002 09:51)

Manslaughter: builder is jailed
The owner of Stoke-on-Trent-based Brian Dean Builders and Civil Engineers is the first construction director to be jailed on manslaughter charges. more
(29 May 2002 09:51)

Manchester tenders second housing PFI
Manchester City Council has advertised its second private finance initiative social housing contract - a £100m scheme to regenerate 2,200 council.... more
(29 May 2002 09:49)

Local firms shunned as Durham thinks big
Controversy is raging around Durham County Council's five-year £25m civils framework contract this week following its decision to shortlist national,.... more
(29 May 2002 09:49)

Latest KPIs show benefits of M4I
Movement for Innovation (M4I) demonstration projects have fewer defects, fewer accidents and much greater predictability, according to headline Key.... more
(29 May 2002 09:47)

Keeping under wraps
The Pavilion played host to a myriad of companies from a wide range of industry sectors. Geraldine Faulkner, Justin Stanton and Ross Pearman toured.... more
(29 May 2002 09:46)

Inspectors slam sites
The Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) construction blitz across the North and Scotland has produced more disappointing results. more
(29 May 2002 09:46)

Does size matter? It does in Durham
Rarely is a point made quite so clearly as that expressed by the two north-eastern civil engineering contractors on page 1. Their complaint is simple.... more
(29 May 2002 09:45)

CPA meets DTI staff for VAT review
The Construction Products Association (CPA) met with Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) officials last week to discuss the proposal of an.... more
(29 May 2002 09:44)

CITB and MCG vow to see all workers qualified
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has teamed up with the Major Contractors Group (MCG) to fund new administrative posts across member.... more
(29 May 2002 09:43)

Ceres to buy up PFI equity stakes
A trio of property firms has formed a joint venture to acquire and manage stakes in private finance projects. more
(29 May 2002 09:42)

Caught between a rock and a hard place
Local authorities seem powerless to stem the rising tide of their roads maintenance backlog. Justin Stanton investigates. more
(29 May 2002 09:42)

Barking selects four
Four firms are lined up and ready to pitch for a reactive repair and maintenance housing contract in east London worth a potential £130m over 10.... more
(29 May 2002 09:41)

Architect slams lack of training
A leading architect has accused construction's professional institutions of being "totally rubbish" in providing training on health and safety.... more
(29 May 2002 09:40)

10-year plan under threat
The construction industry's skills shortage is "a serious threat" to the government's 10-year transport plan, according to the Transport, Local.... more
(29 May 2002 09:39)

"CDM not the whole answer," says Myers
The industry must move away from relying on the forthcoming revised Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations to change the industry's.... more
(29 May 2002 09:23)