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NEWSBRIEF
00:00 02 Dec 1998
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HUMBER TO LEAVE hbf
Roger Humber, chief executive of the House Builders Federation, has decided to take early retirement after 25 years' service to the HBF. Humber will step down at the end of June 1999 because he wants to devote more time to his young family. In his time at the HBF, Humber has fought vigorously, and at times controversially, for the housebuilding industry. HBF president Andrew MacKenzie said: "During his period as chief executive, Roger has presented the industry vigorously and with unflagging enthusiasm. He is widely respected and will be sorely missed."
ADVICE ON VIBRATION WHITE FINGER
The Health and Safety Executive has published two reports that show how to diagnose for vibration white finger - the disease that afflicts operatives who use hand-held drills and tools. An estimated one million people may be exposed to hazardous levels of vibration and that around 35,000 could be suffering from advanced states of HAVS (hand-arm vibration syndrome - of which vibration white finger is the most common). The reports: Standardisation diagnostic methods for assessing components of the hand-arm syndrome (CRR197/98); and Cold provocation tests for the diagnosis of vibration-induced white finger - standardisation and repeatability (CRR173/98) are available from HSE, priced £25 and £15 respectively. For details, tel: 0541 545500.
WARNING ON northern ireland HOUSING CUTS
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is warning that the Government's proposed cut of 10 per cent in the housing budget will pose grave difficulties in meeting the need for 10,000 new homes in the province, of which 2,600 are for the social housing sector. NIHE chief executive Sid McDowell warned: "This could have serious implications in our ability to tackle housing need and improve housing conditions across Northern Ireland." NIHE has estimated that £1 billion is required between April 1999 and March 2002 to fund the key housing programmes. These include clearing part of the backlog of 25,000 NIHE homes that require improvements and delivering social housing in areas of high need.
CONCRETE ADVICE from concrete society
High-strength concrete is the subject of a new design guide issued by the Concrete Society, The guide gives advice on how to design high-strength concrete structures, using concrete mixes of up to 100N/mm2. As well as design advice, guidance is also given of producing high-strength mixes and how the concrete should be placed. The guide costs £120 to non-Concrete Society members (£40 to members). For details, tel: 01753 693313.
MOVING ON UP
Citex, the three-month-old facilities management group formed when quantity surveyor Bucknall and US investment bank Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette bought Bucknall out of the Stock Exchange, has a new chairman - John Jack. Previously Jack was managing director FM provider Procord and UK chairman of Johnson Controls. Greg Jones is the new environmental advisor for Amec Construction and will work within the contractor's safety, health and environmental department. The new managing director for Alfred McAlpine Homes Southern is Terry Massingham who has held senior positions with competing housebuilders Bryant and Trencherwood. Consulting engineer Hyder has a new global marketing manager in Suzan Audras.
Roger Humber, chief executive of the House Builders Federation, has decided to take early retirement after 25 years' service to the HBF. Humber will step down at the end of June 1999 because he wants to devote more time to his young family. In his time at the HBF, Humber has fought vigorously, and at times controversially, for the housebuilding industry. HBF president Andrew MacKenzie said: "During his period as chief executive, Roger has presented the industry vigorously and with unflagging enthusiasm. He is widely respected and will be sorely missed."
ADVICE ON VIBRATION WHITE FINGER
The Health and Safety Executive has published two reports that show how to diagnose for vibration white finger - the disease that afflicts operatives who use hand-held drills and tools. An estimated one million people may be exposed to hazardous levels of vibration and that around 35,000 could be suffering from advanced states of HAVS (hand-arm vibration syndrome - of which vibration white finger is the most common). The reports: Standardisation diagnostic methods for assessing components of the hand-arm syndrome (CRR197/98); and Cold provocation tests for the diagnosis of vibration-induced white finger - standardisation and repeatability (CRR173/98) are available from HSE, priced £25 and £15 respectively. For details, tel: 0541 545500.
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WARNING ON northern ireland HOUSING CUTS
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is warning that the Government's proposed cut of 10 per cent in the housing budget will pose grave difficulties in meeting the need for 10,000 new homes in the province, of which 2,600 are for the social housing sector. NIHE chief executive Sid McDowell warned: "This could have serious implications in our ability to tackle housing need and improve housing conditions across Northern Ireland." NIHE has estimated that £1 billion is required between April 1999 and March 2002 to fund the key housing programmes. These include clearing part of the backlog of 25,000 NIHE homes that require improvements and delivering social housing in areas of high need.
CONCRETE ADVICE from concrete society
High-strength concrete is the subject of a new design guide issued by the Concrete Society, The guide gives advice on how to design high-strength concrete structures, using concrete mixes of up to 100N/mm2. As well as design advice, guidance is also given of producing high-strength mixes and how the concrete should be placed. The guide costs £120 to non-Concrete Society members (£40 to members). For details, tel: 01753 693313.
MOVING ON UP
Citex, the three-month-old facilities management group formed when quantity surveyor Bucknall and US investment bank Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette bought Bucknall out of the Stock Exchange, has a new chairman - John Jack. Previously Jack was managing director FM provider Procord and UK chairman of Johnson Controls. Greg Jones is the new environmental advisor for Amec Construction and will work within the contractor's safety, health and environmental department. The new managing director for Alfred McAlpine Homes Southern is Terry Massingham who has held senior positions with competing housebuilders Bryant and Trencherwood. Consulting engineer Hyder has a new global marketing manager in Suzan Audras.
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