FWB Weekly Roundup

York division of British Steel Sold to French-based Group

TSP Projects, an engineering firm founded in York in 1987, has been sold by the Official Receiever to the UK subsidiary of the French-based Systra Group. Reported by the BBC, the sale is said to have no impact on the sale of the remainder of British Steel, which is reportedly due to be sold to the Turkish Ataer Holdings group.

With offices in Manchester, Birmingham, Reading and Bristol, TSP Projects has been involved in a number of major rail projects, including Leed's Railway Station's roof and concourse, and the Transpennine rail route upgrade. The company is also involved in the energy from waste, security and construction industries.

The original article can be found at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-49524427?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c8xm9y6p796t/steel-industry&link_location=live-reporting-stor

Wales Named Biggest DIY Procrastinator

In a recent survey conducted by MoneySupermarket, the situations in which most Brits are most likely to tackle a DIY job themselves, rather than hiring a professional, have been revealed.

The survey revelead that over half of the British population regularly avoid completing DIY tasks around the home, with Wales having the highest level of "DIY Procrastination". It is reported that 68% of people in Wales regularly avoid completing DIY tasks.

The top five DIY tasks that Brits are most likely to tackle themselves, and the five they are most likely to hire a professional for, were also revelead.

The top five tasks that Brits are most likely to tackle themselves are:

• A blocked sink - 85%
• A blocked toilet - 77%
• A blocked drain - 64%
• Broken or blocked gutters - 44%
• Broken electrical switches - 38%

The top five tasks that Brits are most likely to hire a professional for are:

• Roof damage - 88%
• A broken boiler - 85%
• A blocked chimney - 82%
• A broken window - 77%
• Problems with electrical wiring - 75%

The Risks of Working at Height

In an article writted for SHP Online by Professor Andrew Sharman, the risks of working at height, and just how seriously those risks are considered in practice are revealed.

Falling from height is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in the UK, USA and other developed countries. It is also in the top ten causes of accidental death for most of these countries. Sharman points out, that it is not just ordinary workmen who are suffering from these accidents, as both Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, famous Hollywood actors, have been injured from a fall from height in the workplace in just the last twelve months. It is curious therefore, if falls from height are such a common cause of injury and/or death, why attitudes towards working at height have not developed to truly see the risks for what they are: life threatening.

In the article, Professor Sharman, explores the reasons why these accidents still occur so regularly. One key factor identified is the lack of thorough risk assessment. In each case study explored, which included a 23 year old bartender falling through a cellar hatch, a worker in Pakistan falling from a crane, and a worker plunging into the North Sea as a result of his access rope being severed, it was found that the risk assessment carried out in each case was lacking at best. Other key factors identified include the misinterpretation of rules and guidelines, and worker's attitudes.

The article is a very interesting read, and emphasises how important it is to consider all aspects of safety when working at height, and to assess each job individually as the risks may differ depending on the job, location and conditions of the work environment. To find out more, read the original article at: https://www.shponline.co.uk/working-at-height-3/working-at-height-people-simply-dont-see-the-risks/

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