Demolition Hub Magazine - August/September 2023

I have never previously experienced so many OEMs opening their doors to us and welcoming us in. Between issues I have been with SANY and Caterpillar, and was supposed to be with Volvo until a fire scuppered those plans, which have now moved to mid-August. Further future plans involve a tour around JCB and then with Sennebogen, Germany in September and I am also with CASE Construction that month.

We have obviously made waves with these leading OEMs as the positive PR people and as we celebrate three years, we have also been able to realign our values and goals with the NFDC.

This week, I was guest of NFDC President John Lynch and CEO Duncan Ruddell at Resurgam House, where after an enjoyable interview that felt like a thorough, therapeutic industry chat, we discussed working together.

As of time of press nothing has been signed, but we are ready to deliver and promote the NFDC to its members and those who should seriously consider joining – watch this space.

John has invited me to the NFDC Convention, where I will officially take my title as the Convention Crasher as this will be my third convention this year, having being with the NDA in Phoenix and the EDA in Amsterdam.

Clearly we really should be working with the NFDC and both parties realise this. I look forward to seeing you in Ireland at the end of August.

So thank you all for noticing what we are doing and have done since day one, there is no other medium that promotes this industry quite like us and we are here for you whatever part you play in it.

After launching in the last issue, our joint venture demolition industry specific mental health charity fundraiser DEMOLISTEN now boasts three signed-up contractors. I give huge thanks to Metro, Colemans and Collard. You can find out more and join them via: www.demolisten.co.uk.

Depending on when you read this, we will either have four weeks to go until the fifth annual British Demolition Awards, held at north London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, or it will all be a fading memory.

If you fancy bagging an award, entry for the eight demolition (and five asbestos) categories is open until 10 August, so do get in quick: www.britishdemolitionawards.com/enter-the-awards.

I have no say in who wins what at our independent celebration of all things demolition, something the CEO of the NFDC (a judge last year and attendee this year) confirmed when I was asked about this recently. This year’s judges Dr Terry Quarmby, Wayne Bagnall and Richard Vann will tell you the same. So enter via the address above, but do be quick. Enjoy this issue and stay in touch.

PUBLISHER

Ben Chambers ben@globalnews.media

01903 952 648

EDITOR

Toby Wilsdon toby@globalnews.media

01903 952 645

DEMOLITION EDITOR

Paul Argent paul@globalnews.media

07813 064 590

COLUMNISTS

Richard Dolman Jaqueline O’Donovan Terry Lloyd

SALES

Luke Chaplin luke@globalnews.media 01903 952 643

DESIGN

Nicki Chambers nic@globalnews.media

Joe Bers joe@globalnews.media

Alex Jarrett

PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY Global News Media Ltd Suites 5 & 6, Chapel House, 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1EX demolition@globalnews.media 01903 952 640

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association Demolition Hub is the media partner for the European Demolition Association and the Indian Demolition Association

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6 NEWS

Gove overturns Marks & Spencer’s plans for demolition of Oxford Street store

NFDC statement on the government’s ruling on M&S, Oxford Street

Morrisroe integrates Cantillon Demolition brand Dorton Group makes iconic Brighton hotel safe

12

EUROPEAN DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION NEWS

EDA Annual Convention 2023

Mark Coleman delivers speech on Power Alternatives for Demolition Sites

Frank Berbée joins the EDA Club of Honor European Demolition Industry Report 2023 arrives Spanish Deconstruction Forum 2023 getting closer

EDI Special Publication 2023 is here

All the latest members of the EDA

18

NATIONAL DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION NEWS

Understanding pay equity, by Paige McAllister

OSHA citation liability 2023: Don’t miss the forest for the trees, by Adam R Young and Mark A Lies II Jackson's demolition excellence at power plant, by Monica Roselli

28

DEMOLITION DISCUSSION

With Mark Coleman of Colemans

34

CASE STUDY

Making Shorts work of it by Paul Argent

38

NFDC INTERVIEW

A breath of fresh air: Ben Chambers speaks to NFDC President, John Lynch

46

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

FEATURE

Agg-Pro

Anaconda I12-R Impact Crusher, supplied by Global Machinery Solutions

Rubble Master supplied by Red Knight 6 Retec Equipment

Keestrack I4e tracked mobile reversible impact crusher, supplied by Warwick Ward

54

INTERVIEW

60 years of Italian hydraulic attachments manufacturer, Mantovanibenne

56

CASE STUDY

MGL Group: Pilgrim’s Quarter redevelopment, Newcastle upon Tyne

62

EVENT

The British Demolition/Asbestos Awards 2023. Featuring last year’s winners:

• Brown & Mason

• Cawarden

• Clifford Devlin

• FHOSS

72

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FEATURE

Clifford Devlin: working with ex-offenders to close the skills gap and reduce reoffending

Anglian: Putting community at the heart of everything it does

Colemans: Putting CSR at the heart of its family values

Hughes and Salvidge: Helping Hands initiative

Keltbray: Bridging the gap for alternative education students in the construction industry

McGee: Building a legacy of positive impact

Number 8 Group: Socially responsible resourcing

Global News Media – DEMOLISTEN

Rye Group: Delivering social value is more than a corporate responsibility

94

DEMOLITION HUB ON SITE

Getting on site with the best of Britain’s contractors

102 CASE STUDY

All roads lead to Rome by Paul Argent

104

INDUSTRY

Discover the advantages of Liugong-europe.com

Liebherr and Leica Geosystems expand range of semi-automatic machine control systems for crawler excavators

DEVELON appoints Andreas Lohner in dual roles

Cable processors warned to inform EA or risk losing RPS 276

Cawarden takes part in circular plasterboard case study with Loughborough University, ENVA and British Gypsum

Cawarden Highly Commended for SME of the Year at Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards

Doosan Bobcat appoints Gary Hornbacher as EMEA President

Agg-Pro appointed as exclusive distributors of Jonsson crushing and screening equipment in England, Scotland and Wales

90,000 data points reveal the shocking truth behind construction waste compliance

Powerday becomes first business in London to place order on two new electric skip loaders

122

OPINION

Terry Lloyd: Taking stock

Jacqueline O’Donovan: Your health is your wealth

Richard Dolman: The industry skills gap

Gove overturns M&S plans for demolition of Oxford Street store

Marks & Spencer has been denied permission to demolish and rebuild its flagship Oxford Street store in a ruling by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove on 20 July.

M&S had submitted plans for the redevelopment of the 1929 Art Deco building to Westminster City Council, which were approved in November 2021.

Heritage and environmental campaigners, including from Architect’s Journal had argued that the decision should be overturned, resulting in Michael Gove launching a public enquiry in June 2022.

Matthew Fraser, speaking for Save Britain’s Heritage, said constructing new premises would release almost 40,000 tonnes of CO2 — “the equivalent of driving a typical car 99 million miles – further than the distance to the sun”.

A spokesperson for Gove’s department argued at the time that it was “right that a project of such significance should be considered by the independent Planning Inspectorate and ministers”.

Marks & Spencer had said that it would be forced to close the shop if it were not granted permission to redevelop with a more modern replacement.

“Any heritage harm will be significantly outweighed by the benefits,” said Russell Harris KC, speaking for M&S at the inquiry.

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development said: “The Marks & Spencer application had significant implications for the environment so it was right the case should be tested robustly. The council’s position is to encourage landowners to refurbish buildings, not demolish them.

“Clearly this is a disappointing day for M&S but we hope they return with a revised scheme which meets the new tests presented by the climate emergency.”

Marks & Spencer’s Chief Executive Stuart Machin said: “The suggestion that the decision is on the grounds of sustainability is nonsensical. With retrofit not an

option – despite us reviewing sixteen different options – our proposed building would have ranked in the top 1% of the entire city’s most sustainable buildings. It would have used less than a quarter of the energy of the existing structure, reduced water consumption by over half and delivered a carbon payback within 11 years of construction.

“We have been clear from the outset that there is no other viable scheme – so, after almost a century at Marble Arch, M&S is now left with no choice but to review its future position on Oxford Street on the whim of one man.”

NFDC statement on Government’s ruling on Marks & Spencer’s Oxford Street store

The decision to refuse approval of the rebuilding of Marks & Spencer’s flagship Orchard House store on Oxford Street has serious implications.

Unfortunately, the decision to intervene and reject the demolition of a building which had been approved by Westminster Council and the GLA creates uncertainty in the planning process and more risk for investors. This further impacts the growth and competitiveness of the built environment, which has seen a 34%, year-on-year increase of insolvencies.

What may now follow, without any guarantee of success, is an expensive and lengthy retrofit of three poor-quality, asbestos-riddled buildings dating from the 1920s, whose very design and fabrication fail to pay heed to the principles of net-zero.

The conversations surrounding this decision have revealed a total

misunderstanding and implicit bias against demolition as a modern, highly skilled practice for enabling growth.

A structure that was never designed to be energy efficient should be treated with as much caution as a house built on sand. Given the very fabric of a building needs to be changed, it is important to understand that a full-scale refurbishment can be just as carbon intensive as demolition.

Let’s be clear. Demolition is tightly regulated, carefully planned and considered. It should never be viewed as the unsustainable option by default.

NFDC members recycle over 90% of materials arising from demolition (by weight) and have done so for many years. Many materials are repurposed, reclaimed and recycled, while all metals are recycled or reused and concrete is crushed and reused, therefore locking in carbon.

Recycling and upcycling materials is not only beneficial to sustainability objectives, but also the bottom line of the many businesses that make up the built environment and the demolition industry especially. Any assumption that when a building is demolished those materials are wasted is misguided.

We must be mindful that retrofit it is as much a “one-sizefits-all” solution to sustainability as demolition is. Both have their place, and we must work together to find real solutions that can be applied at scale, without more lengthy, disruptive interventions.

Demolition and retrofit should be considered fairly and on their own merits, so that informed decisions can be made for future developments. Committing solely to one or the other ignores the fact that they both work towards the same goal. Both are necessary if we are to push towards a more circular economy that delivers on both sustainability and growth.

Failure to take an objective view that considers all viable options will hamstring the UK’s built environment, which needs to be supported and empowered to deliver the necessary change that will help drive both growth and sustainability, now and in the years to come.

Morrisroe integrates Cantillon Demolition brand

Morrisroe is pleased to announce an important step in its ongoing integration following strategic acquisitions made in recent years. Its niche blend of specialist services delivered under an integrated self-delivery model is steadily being recognised by its target market as a strong model for value-led project delivery.

The company is working hard to ensure the reality exceeds expectation, implementing a series of measures to both merge and further align operational systems and processes for seamless project delivery. To support the culture shift it is making internally to working as one, it has rebranded Cantillon and A J Morrisroe so that as of 24 July this year, Cantillon Demolition Limited moves forward as Morrisroe Demolition and A J Morrisroe Limited will trade as Morrisroe.

The rebrand will also present a clearer message to the market about who the company is and

the services it delivers.

Brian Morrisroe, founder and CEO of Morrisroe Group (right) said: “I believe it is the right moment for us to further align our brand. GSS Piling and Cantillon Demolition have been strong cultural fits, allowing us to leverage the many synergies between our businesses. Together, we are one of a handful of specialist trade contractors able to self-deliver a broader scope of specialist packages to the London and Birmingham markets with a single point of contact.

“Our large diameter piling capability has already been brought under Morrisroe branding and complements our integrated offer, particularly in relation to large and complex basement works.

“Our demolition business increasingly represents us in

the early procurement stages, communicating our unique value proposition to our clients. The idea of our integrated specialist delivery model encompassing demolition through to the completion of the structure has gained considerable traction in our market, so it made sense that our intention to work seamlessly together as one should be reflected in our branding.

“I believe this will create greater internal alignment and will add momentum to our ongoing improvement and future growth plans.”

Dorton Group makes iconic Brighton hotel safe

On the evening of Saturday 15 July, fire ravaged the 200-yearold Royal Albion Hotel on Brighton’s seafront, where Prime Minister William Gladstone, 1809-1898, often stayed.

With high winds whipping the flames, the blaze took more than 24 hours to bring under control, however by 11 am on 17 July, Dorton Group was on the scene making initial assessments.

Although concerns were raised about the Grade II listed building, by 14:45 on the same day preparation for the demolition had begun and at 7pm Brighton and Hove City Council indicated that demolition work would begin as soon as possible, an indication of the seriousness of the damage.

Dr Terry Quarmby of Dorton Group said: “Having worked for and with Brighton and Hove City Council Building Control on a number of dangerous structures,

following fire and or premature collapse, our response was immediate to the call to attend. In all these types of cases it is imperative get personnel and equipment to site quickly in the event that structures may threaten the health and safety of the public as well as the integrity of any adjacent buildings.

“The Royal Albion Hotel is a landmark on the Brighton seafront and while the heritage of the building is an important aspect, unfortunately it comes secondary to public safety and it is with regret that we find ourselves having to take down a large swath of the structure to make it safe and to give further access to the fire brigade to make sure the fire is out within the basement.”

Demolition is expected to take two to three weeks. Demolition Hub hopes to be able to bring a fuller case study in a future issue.

All images CREDIT @brightonsnapper

EDA Annual Convention 2023

This time, the host city was Amsterdam, which welcomed more than 200 participants from all around the world, including our Founder of Demolition Hub,

Starting strong from day one

As always, EDA pulled out all the stops in terms of activities, allowing participants to take part in conferences, lectures and round tables on the industry’s most important topics.

Starting on Thursday morning, the convention kicked off with a workshop on nuclear decommissioning, in association with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Over the years, the European Demolition Association has worked closely with the IAEA, which organised the workshop in collaboration with Recycling Assistance, an EDA member. This presentation dealt with the IAEA activities on the topic while providing an overview of the organisation in the nuclear field.

During the workshop some IAEA publications were mentioned as important sources. Three of them were especially relevant to the topics of the conference: the IAEA Bulletin about Nuclear Decommissioning; the Global Status of Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations; and Training and Human Resources considerations. All three are available for free on the EDA and IAEA websites.

This was followed by the professional programme of the convention, where three conferences were held with a common theme – the environmental impact of the demolition industry. EDA members then attended the General Assembly, one of the

Ben Chambers. This event was organised in collaboration with the European Decontamination Institute, EDI, as well as the Dutch demolition association, VERAS.

most important meetings of the association. They discussed the association’s key issues such as its current status and future projects.

To end the day on a high note, literally, a welcome cocktail party was held in the SkyBar of the main venue, the Corendon Hotel, where guests could chat and form closer connections under the starry Dutch sky.

An event full of activities and surprises

Friday arrived, the most intense day of the convention. Four conference sessions with three lectures each, filled with tough debates, discussions, presentations and case studies; an excellent atmosphere, supported by the presence of the exhibition hall. There, guests had the opportunity to take networking further, elevating it to a European level.

Finally, the evening arrived, and with it the gala dinner. The Amsterdam Maritime Museum was the perfect place to host this event, with its magical atmosphere. Something very special took place during the Gala Dinner. Marc Berbée, current CEO of DEHACO, granted his father, Frank Berbée, a medal of the EDA Club of Honour. Accompanied by a speech, this emotional moment was a highlight of the evening.

Saturday, as usual, was a day of rest and relaxation, and what better occasion than the leisure programme? A guided tour of the Dutch capital was a perfect closing to such a unique event.

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that we have a long journey ahead of us. The next five to ten years will prove to be pivotal for any business aiming to excel and seize the numerous opportunities that lie before us. By doing so, we can position ourselves as leaders and innovators in our sector, while actively contributing to the circular economy and engaging in the early stages of the design process.

I can’t stress enough how important it is for us in the construction industry to reduce our environmental impacts as much as possible, as it is responsible for emitting 30-40% of all global emissions, of which 30% comes from steel/concrete and cement. We must come together as an industry and work to adopt, embrace and innovate to reduce these emissions and thrive for a better and greener industry. We have a responsibility to stand at the forefront of the next wave of environmental mitigation, taking the steps to reduce our environmental impacts, embracing alternative fuel sources and contribute to a greener world.

We must embrace these upcoming years as a critical window of opportunity. By staying ahead of the curve and leveraging these possibilities, we can not only safeguard our own interests but also demonstrate our commitment to pioneering design and technology. Colemans Engineered Deconstruction aims to be at the forefront of this movement, showcasing our dedication to sustainability and our ability to adapt to the evolving needs of our industry. Together, we can shape a future that fosters innovation, environmental consciousness, and lasting impact.

Frank Berbée joins the EDA Club of Honor

With the EDA Annual Convention, 2023 came another important announcement: the EDA Club of Honor has a new member.

Frank Berbée is the founder of DEHACO BV, a Dutch supplier. It joined EDA in 2014, almost ten years ago, and has been an active member and participant ever since.

During the Gala Dinner at the National Maritime Museum, the President of the association, Stefano Panseri, made a surprise speech announcing the incorporation of Frank Berbée in the Club of Honor.

“There is one special friend,

a colleague on many nights of conventions, somebody that knows how to create a delegation a mobility the orange spirit,” he said.

Mark Berbée, Sales Manager of DEHACO and Frank Berbée’s son, also delivered a speech. Afterwards, Stefano Panseri presented the new Club of Honor member with his medal.

On behalf of the EDA, we congratulate Frank Berbée for his well-deserved incorporation into the Club of Honor. It is always a pleasure to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that the professionals of the industry pour into their work.

European Demolition Industry Report 2023 arrives

The end of June brought a new EDA publication: the European Demolition Industry Report 2023. This study collects the most recent data regarding the current state of the demolition industry in different European countries. It provides useful information about contractors and suppliers

in this sector, such as their turnover, workforce evolution and others.

The members of the EDA and the companies that took part in the study can consult it for free. Other companies have the opportunity to purchase online access for €100.

Spanish Deconstruction Forum 2023 getting closer

The European Demolition Association has big plans for the autumn.

The Spanish Demolition, Decontamination, Cutting and Drilling and Recycling Association, AEDED, is putting together its annual event, the Deconstruction Forum 2023. It will take place in Madrid, on 27 September and attendance is free of charge.

AEDED is a member of the EDA and has continuously attended the association’s events. Now, Stefano Panseri, the EDA President, will return the favour.

Throughout the day, several conferences related to those topics will be presented. Most of the presentation will be centred around demolition, decontamination and recycling. Among them, the attendees can find a round

EDI Special Publication 2023 is here

table about dust in demolition and recycling works, conferences regarding the European framework about decontamination and several case studies about demolition, decontamination and recycling.

If you are a demolition, decontamination or recycling professional, we highly encourage you to register for the event. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet fellow professionals and companies, as well as debate and discuss different questions related to the sector.

The European Decontamination Institute, EDI, recently released its third annual document: EDI Special Publication 2023.

This project, born at the hands of the EDI Working Group on Hazardous Substances, collects useful information related to this topic. The publication has grown and expanded since its first edition in 2020, when it was conceived under great limitations for travelling and face-to-face events.

On its pages, EDI Special Publication 2023 reunites a handful of technical articles, case studies and general activities of the association. Some of the main topics are pre-demolition audit, decontamination of nuclear plants and soil contamination, as well as laboratory tests.

EDI Special Publication 2023 represents the hard work and dedication that the professionals of the decontamination industry put into their work and it cannot be underestimated.

EDA has already begun working on the EDA Yearbook 2023. Don’t miss out.

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EDA

welcomes new members

bespoke machinery.

XL INDUSTRY defines its core values as innovation, safety and reliability, always striving to “increase the state of the art by inventing new systems”.

HAMMERGLASS AB

HAMMERGLASS defines its core values as reliability, competence, and engagement. Sustainability also plays a great role in the company’s policies, since it adapts its actions to fit the goals of sustainable development of the United Nations.

XL INDUSTRIES

XL INDUSTRIES was founded by Xavier Lombard in France in the late 90s. With its core principle being the adaptation of the access systems to the clients’ projects, the company has grown to an international level.

As of now, XL INDUSTRIES is present in France, the United Kingdom and Brazil. The company specialises in underground works, civil engineering, demolition and remediation, as well as other structures. Among its works are the Grand Paris MRT, Grande Arche refurbishment, Harbour Control Tower and Louis Vuitton Foundation. Equipment used includes elevators, mast-climbers material hoists and

HAMMERGLASS AB is a Swedish manufacturer of replacement and unbreakable screens for carriers. It began developing its products in 1993, aiming to reduce the cost of replacing broken glass.

The company operates subsidiaries in Norway, Denmark and Germany, supplying its products to European and other international markets. HAMMERGLASS manages three main business areas, centred around property, infrastructure and automotive. Among its products, the manufacturer offers safety and replacement screens, window systems, add-ons, anti-explosions and bulletproofs. The infrastructures include, but are not limited to, travel centres, weather protection bridges and wall coping.

Rototilt Group

Rototilt Group is an international company whose focus is primarily on the excavator operator. Founded in 1953 under the name Br. Jonsson, it began by selling excavators, slowly expanding towards other products.

Today, Rototilt Group operates in dozens of countries all over the world, having dealers and service providers in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Among its products, Rototilt Group produces couplers, tiltrotators and control systems, as well as tools and other smart solutions.

This company also stands out

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due to its commitment with the environment and sustainability, based around “long-term perspective, where engagement, a systematic approach and participation at every stage are of crucial importance”.

Rototilt Group defines its core values as quality, focus on customers and capacity, as well as a high attention to details.

TÜV SÜD joins EDI

TÜV SÜD (Technischer ÜberwachungsVerein south), based in Münich, is a leading inspection, certification and testing company with an extensive international network of more than 1,000 locations and 25,000 specialist staff worldwide. The company specialises in providing testing, inspection, auditing, certification, training and consulting services.

For more than 150 years, TÜV SÜD has been committed to protecting people, property and the environment from technologyrelated risks, delivering tangible value that is defined by the brand’s

expertise, vision and impartiality.

In 2016, the German company announced the largest acquisition in its history with the integration of Grupo Atisae, a Spanish benchmark in industrial safety inspections and technical assistance. Through Grupo Atisae, the company has more than 50 years’ history a team of more than 1,400 professionals and an extensive network of more than 70 centres in Spain alone.

At the national level, TÜV SÜD has more than 70 centres and 1,400 professionals in the sector. It is also certified by the National Accreditation Entity (ENAC) in areas such as waste, landfills and atmospheric emissions, among others.

TÜV SÜD leads the industry with its commitment to environmental control. Among its services are waste characterisation, environmental inspection and monitoring of landfills, environmental characterisation studies, decontamination of contaminated soil and water and environmental control and monitoring of facilities and activities.

Among TÜV SÜD’s objectives, it highlights its commitment to positioning the environment in a “more strategic place in an increasingly demanding market”.

Jesús Rubio Flamarique, Technical Manager of Industrial Environment of TÜV SÜD, values the company’s membership as “a great opportunity to strengthen our activity related to the fields of demolition and decontamination, and construction and demolition waste management, enhancing international networking and collaboration opportunities for TÜV SÜD in a constantly evolving industry”.

Technischer ÜberwachungsVerein is the hallmark of the technical inspection associations in Germany, although it represents distinct and independent entities. In order to differentiate themselves, each company has its own suffix: TÜV SÜD (south), which dates back to the company’s origins after the merger of the southern German states Bavaria, Hessen, BadenWüttermberg and Saxony.

As part of its strategy of digitalisation, internationalisation and growth, the company provides services to customers around the world to increase efficiency, reduce costs and manage risks, inspiring confidence and providing security.

Understanding pay equity

by Paige McAllister, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice President for Compliance at Affinity HR Group Inc

60 years after the law was passed, women earned 82 cents (17% less) for every $1 made by a male worker. Following this rate, experts calculate that women will not receive equal pay until 2059, almost a century after the passage of the EPA.

Gender pay differences in the whole workforce show even larger disparities for women of colour, with Black women being paid 60 cents and Latinas being paid 55 cents for every $1 earned by white, nonHispanic male workers.

advanced degree and advancement in the role, as women have fewer opportunities for advancement and salary increases. For example, among Fortune 500 CEOs, women make 95 cents for every 41 made by a man, however, only 8% of these CEOs are women.

To help level the playing field, many states have or are looking to pass laws to better ensure equitable pay impacting nearly one out of five people. In general, these laws fall into three categories:

Pay equity means compensating all employees equally for equal or similar work, regardless of factors such as race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion and age. Compensation is anything of value including salary, benefits and perks.

Several federal laws, including the Equal Pay Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, have been enacted to prevent pay inequity; however, they have resulted in slow progress in the gender pay gap. In 1963 when the Equal Pay Act became federal law, overall, women in the workforce made 59 cents for every $1 earned by male workers. In 2022, almost

Disparities continue when looking at education level. Women entering the workforce with a bachelor’s degree earn 18% less than their male counterparts, with an average salary of $52,266 per year, as compared with $64,022, respectively. These inequities continue with advanced degrees and by age. Over the course of a career, this equates to a loss of income of $700,000 for women with a high school degree, $1.2 million for women with bachelor’s degrees and $2 million for women with professional graduate degrees.

Even when looking at pay with all factors being equal, overall, women still on average only earn 99 cents for every dollar with no justifiable reason. Even in these groups, disparities increase with age,

• Pay transparency laws are intended to require employers to pay all new hires fairly and consistently for the job they will be doing. They require companies to develop goodfaith pay ranges for all positions based on the job duties regardless of who applies or is hired. Some states require this information to be included in any external or internal job posting, while others require it be given to any current employee who asks for it. Laws vary as to how this applies to remote employees who are located within or outside of a state with this law.

• Pay history laws are intended to mitigate the impacts of lower past pay by compelling employers to pay for the

job duties the person will be performing, not based on what they were paid before. These laws prohibit current and prospective employers from asking an employee or applicant for their past salary history to use as a guide for future salary offers. Some states prohibit just pay while others prohibit asking about any compensations such as commissions, bonuses, or benefits.

• Pay reporting laws require employers to submit comprehensive data to the state so their wage practices can be monitored. Normally these reports require wage information by job, gender, race and ethnicity, similar to the EEO-1 report.

It should also be noted that the NLRA allows employees to discuss their own salaries, so prohibiting employees from discussing pay is not a valid strategy.

Even employers in states without such pay equity laws should consider making pay equity common practice as equal pay attracts better employees and demonstrates the equal value placed on all employees for their job duties, not their demographics.

There are several ways employers of all sizes and industries in any state can progress toward better pay equity:

• Educate your organisation on pay inequity, its impacts and thoughts to reduce it in your

Article: https://bit.ly/3DSO3FX

company. Some good resources are Forbes Advisor’s: What is pay equity and why Is it important; Pew Research Center’s: Gender pay gap in U.S. hasn’t changed much in two decades; PayScale’s: 2023 Gender pay gap report; and Forbes Advisor’s: Gender Pay Gap Statistics in 2023.

• Develop a compensation strategy that reflects the company’s values that will dictate how much you will pay, how you will compare to the market, when exceptions will be made, what factors will be considered and who can make comp decisions. Ensure that anyone empowered to make pay decisions is properly trained on the possible impacts of discrimination, implicit or unintentional bias, and disparate impact.

• Conduct a thorough comp/pay review to understand what each employee is earning. Include factors such as race, gender, seniority, experience, education, etc., to factually evaluate equity among groups. Engage an outside resource to provide an unbiased, well-researched evaluation so you know the starting point and where you need to improve.

• Update job descriptions with accurate job duties, responsibilities and requirements to determine legitimate pay differentiators.

• Create pay bands that encompass the pay for every

employee in that position. Have enough difference to allow for advancement but not so much that the band becomes arbitrary.

• Link compensation to DEI strategy to give all employees access to not only equitable pay but to the same tools for their success such as opportunities, training, mentorships, feedback and access to management.

• Regularly review and update all of the above to ensure they are current and consistent. Even employers with the best intentions may face challenges to consistent pay equity practices given the changing nature of the business world:

• Economic impacts, such as an increasing cost of living, give employees fewer options to work for less just because they like a company.

• The workforce is changing, becoming smaller, younger and more diversified, so overall, potential employees have different priorities and more options for employment.

• The workforce is more remote, so it may be harder to compare job duties or working conditions or to create a salary band that satisfies the varying cost-ofliving rates in the areas where employees or applicants live. At the end of the day, pay equity is about fairness. Pay equals value, and all employees should be valued equally for what they bring to your organisation, not due to their gender, race or lifestyle.

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association and credit for this article goes to the NDA. Thank you for working with us.

Demolition excellence at an electricity plant

by Monica Roselli

“We were detail-oriented and came in with a good plan,” said Jackson Project Manager Josh Kelly, CSP, SMS. “We showed our commitment to safety and environmental affairs and we were attentive to the client’s needs and making them successful. This was not just about making money.”

Jackson’s alternative approach was ultimately accepted by the client and work began in June 2020 – just months into the COVID-19 pandemic – on felling two stacks, three boiler buildings and a silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR) building.

Demolishing the tall chimney

reinforced plastic (RFP) liner and stack manually/robotically.

“This process took a considerable amount of time as the liner was much thicker than the construction drawings referenced,” said Kelly. “Working from the inside of the stack, the crew sawed sections of the liner free and dropped them down to the ground to be handled for transportation and disposal at an authorised landfill.”

Situated at the junction of Baker Creek and the Mulberry Fork of Black Warrior River is the site of the retired Gorgas Electric Generating Plant. Having opened in 1917, the plant was shut down in 2019 in response to clean energy initiatives by its owner, Southern Company.

Bids to demolish units 8, 9 and 10 on the property opened in February 2020, but with a catch: the base scope of the demolition work could not include explosives, only manual demolition means. Soon after the bid period opened, NDA member Jackson Demolition Service Inc. submitted a base bid but also an alternative proposal that included explosive means that would add value, safety and cost efficiency to the project.

Standing at 750 feet tall, the Jackson crew quickly realised the chimney was too tall and too close to multiple assets on the property to fell in one event. Therefore, the crew needed to develop a new approach to safely remove the structure.

“It was too tall to be felled in one event without potentially damaging critical and live assets such as high voltage power lines and critical transmission and distribution switchyards, which needed to remain energised,” said Kelly. “Additionally, there was a private cemetery within 150 feet of the stack that we needed to be mindful of.”

Working from the bottom up and top down, the crew removed the top 380 feet of the fibreglass

Once the liner was completely removed, the crew installed a Spyder demolition robot on the top of the stack to begin removing the thick concrete and rebar reinforcements. Scaffolding and robotic demolition proceeded from this point onward, which allowed the team to bring the stack down to approximately 380 feet from the ground.

“At this height, the team felt confident the rest of the stack could be safely demolished explosively without impacting the schedule,” said Kelly. “We went to work protecting the switchyard assets, constructing mounds of dirt over 50 feet high along the only road that separated the boilers from the live switchyards. Netting and chain link fencing was also installed on all shot floors of the boiler and SCR building.”

Due to safety concerns involving the switchyard assets during the tall stack’s explosive felling, the three boiler buildings and

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smaller, 250-foot-tall stack were all explosively felled ahead of time in one event in August 2021. This provided the Jackson team the opportunity to clear the site of scrap and debris in the basement of the boiler and turbine buildings so that the taller stack could be felled toward the basements of these former structures in January 2022.

Removing the storeroom building

Another critical part of the demolition project was removing a 60,000-square-foot storeroom building that was built on over 480 piles directly over Baker Creek, a protected body of water.

“The storeroom building was originally going to be demolished mechanically,” said Kelly. “But the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) voiced concerns to the client about debris dropping into the water. Prior to the start of work, at the request of the client, we revised our approach to remove the building so that materials would not fall into the water.”

The new approach required additional controls, cranes, saw cutting and underwater demolition of the piles at the mudline of the creek, but it resolved all concerns from ADEM and the client.

The challenges

Throughout the project, the crew faced many challenges, particularly with the job site being near major waterways. “Bakers Creek opens up into the Mulberry Fork River, which is a navigable waterway,” said Kelly. “We not only had to work near, in and over the water, but we had to be careful not to have our work impact the waterway. The removal of a 140-ton barge loader that sat out

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over the river needed special care to prevent any oils or fluids from being released from the machines into the water and disrupting the area during dismantlement. The crew ended up utilising a system of barges in the water and poly sheeting on the deck of the barges to capture materials before they could enter the waterway, along with proper draining and fluids recovery.”

Additionally, the close proximity of each of the structures on the job site posed some logistics challenges as well. “Managing multidiscipline work in several areas in close proximity to each other proved to be a significant challenge on this project,” said Terry Polena, Jackson Demolition project manager. “We had 40 workers removing asbestos-containing materials inside the boiler buildings, 25 demolition workers doing day-to-day tasks, 13 workers removing assets over and under the water and eight workers dedicated to the tall chimney working all at once. With this many people in one relatively small area, especially while running trucks in

and out, we had our hands full at times.”

Despite the challenges and the ever-changing COVID-19 environment, the project was a success according to Mark Ramun, Jackson Demolition’s Vice President of Industrial Services. “The project was very successful and the client had a great on-site team,” said Ramun. “Collectively we all managed a very complex project, during a global pandemic, without any significant issues or incidents. We were also able to recycle over 70,000 gross tons of scrap and more than 35,000 tons of 2-inch-minus crushed concrete was recycled on-site as backfill.”

The team now looks forward to the next project with the plant owners as the site restoration and civil construction activities on the project conclude.

In February 2023, at the conclusion of the 2023 National Demolition Convention, Jackson Demolition was awarded the 2023 National Demolition Award –Category 3: Projects Over $2m for their work at the Gorgas Plant.

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association and credit for this article goes to the NDA. Thank you for working with us.

OSHA citation liability 2023: Don’t miss the forest for the trees

by Adam R Young and Mark A Lies II, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

It is important to have a clear vision of the potential legal and other negative consequences that can arise from receiving an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation in 2023 and beyond. Most employers are likely unaware that OSHA has emerged from the pandemic with a number of structural changes, not the least of which is a very aggressive campaign to replace significant manpower losses of experienced personnel, many of whom were the baby boomers who formed the original cadre of the agency.

What does this mean in terms of future enforcement and the potential for receiving a citation and whether the employer should challenge it? As these new OSHA compliance officers began to conduct their initial inspections, employers can expect that many inspections will be conducted in a cursory or incomplete manner because the compliance officer:

• Lacks experience in how to conduct a proper inspection either on-site or virtually.

• Lacks the substantive understanding and knowledge regarding the scope and interpretations of the underlying regulations and recognised industry safe practices.

• Lacks experience with the many elements necessary to establish an OSHA citation and a misguided sense that the mere occurrence of an “accident” or “employee injury” is all the evidence necessary to establish a citation.

Citations lacking factual or legal foundation

Frequently, because of the foregoing factors, an employer may receive a citation that:

• Has no factual foundation (i.e., the citation lacks a credible factual basis for the alleged violation description (AVD) as to how the employer allegedly committed the violation or the underlying incident actually occurred).

• Has no legal foundation – that is, the regulation does not apply to the underlying factual scenario in the AVD, for example confusing the requirements for machine guarding with lockout/tagout (LOTO).

• Has no factual or legal foundation.

Failure to consider potential defences

In addition, because of the foregoing factors, the compliance officers (and

perhaps their supervisors) frequently may not consider that the employer may have bona fide defences to the issuance of any citation either due to lack of knowledge or experience in assessing the factual information that is forthcoming from the inspection, including:

• A citation is time-barred by the statute of limitations (that is, the citation was not issued within six months from when the alleged violation actually occurred, not when OSHA learns about it).

• Unavoidable employee misconduct is the cause of the alleged violation (that is, the employer took all reasonable and feasible actions to avoid the violation from occurring).

• Strict compliance with the regulation is simply not feasible from either existing technology or economically and the employer has developed equally effective alternative means to comply.

Employer dilemma

Once the employer receives a citation, the clock starts running on the day following actual service of the citation and if the employer does not reach a satisfactory settlement or files a written notice of contest by the close of business on the 15th

working day after service, the citation becomes final, the employer can no longer contest and the employer must abate the citations, whether or not there was any violation in the first place. Note: This time frame may vary in a non-federal (state plan) OSHA jurisdiction.

Thus, the employer will have to conduct a timely investigation of the citation to determine a) whether the violation occurred, b) whether the classification of the violation is appropriate (non-serious, serious, repeat, wilful), c) whether the penalty is based upon consideration of all the facts and d) whether abatement is feasible.

Penny wise and pound foolish

We often hear this scenario where an employer decides not to contest a citation that may have a monetary penalty that appears nominal, without considering that there are many additional negative liabilities that must be considered and the employer later regrets taking such peremptory action.

Consider the forest and the trees

Before deciding to accept a citation based on the assessment of the penalty, an employer must consider the following negative consequences in a typical scenario. Your company has just received a set of federal OSHA citations. A typical set of citations may have a total penalty of $15,000-$30,000. You have 15 working days from the date of receipt to contest or appeal the citations, or they will automatically become final. You are considering attending an informal conference with OSHA and accepting the citations to “put them behind you” because of the rather nominal proposed penalty. Putting citations “behind you” may set the company up for additional higher-

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gravity citations, greater penalties, criminal liability and lost business down the road. Employers often fail to appreciate the numerous adverse legal and negative business consequences of accepting a set of OSHA citations. In the long term, an

employer often will be better served by contesting the citations (especially those to which it has strong defences) and reaching a settlement with exculpatory, non-admission language that protects the company in collateral litigation.

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association and credit for this article goes to the NDA. Thank you for working with us.

Business reputation

Establishment search

OSHA citations are public records and are made publicly available. All OSHA inspections, citations and failure to contest are publicly available on OSHA’s Establishment Search website. As the name suggests, the website is searchable by employer name and location. The Establishment Search identifies the classification, regulation and status of any citation. State plans (23 states where state agencies enforce occupational safety and health for private employers) may choose to upload additional factual information to that listing.

Press releases

OSHA issues press releases relating to many citations where the agency often alleges unsafe acts and failures by the employer. The Obama and Biden administrations have used this press release tool more often, allegedly to “shame” employers and amplify the effects of the agency’s limited enforcement resources. Press releases can be widely reviewed and result in lost business opportunities, jeopardising existing relationships with business partners, and lost confidence from consumers in publicly facing industries. Bloomberg and other new outlets track OSHA citations and may draft articles about citations issued to and accepted by employers.

Commercial tracking services

Many sophisticated businesses use commercially available third-party tracking services to run suitability checks on potential business partners. The best services track OSHA citations and can flag the employer as a “yellow” or “red” based on the history of the employer’s acceptance of citations. Serious classifications can result in a “yellow” or “red” rating, as can any citations associated with a fatality. Conservative business partners

may blacklist employers based on their third-party listing, including those who have a “red” rating. If your business works in industries where potential business partners utilise these third-party tracking services, especially construction, OSHA citations can have a major negative business consequence.

Future citations Repeats

Any citation that the employer accepts goes onto the OSHA Establishment Search database and can serve as the basis for a repeat. During inspections, OSHA reviews that database and can use any accepted citation as a “predicate” for a repeat classification for five years. The repeat must be issued for a substantially similar hazard, normally cited under the same regulation.

Repeats are enhanced classifications that result in five or 10 times the penalty, currently up to $145,020. These citations are much more costly to employers and deleterious to business reputations. OSHA penalties are adjusted and increased annually by the agency based on a number of factors.

Wilfuls

Because accepting a citation admits knowledge of an alleged hazardous condition, accepting a citation can also result in a basis for a future wilful citation in the future. Wilful violations have a 10 times enhanced penalty currently up to $145,020. In the case of a wilful citation relating to a fatality, there is potential criminal liability, prosecution and imprisonment of managers.

Severe Violator Enforcement Program

OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) tracks alleged serious offenders of the OSHA standards. The agency maintains a publicly available list and includes

employers based solely on the allegations in OSHA citations. A repeat or wilful associated with a fatality results in the employer being placed in the SVEP, as can multiple high gravity citations. The SVEP can result in increased inspections, citations and bad publicity.

Tort litigation

The acceptance of OSHA citations may provide evidence for use in tort litigation. When an employee is injured in a typical accident, the workers’ compensation program usually provides the exclusive remedy for employee compensation and recovery.

In some states like Wisconsin, Ohio and California, following the occurrence of an accident and issuance of citations, an employee can pursue and receive an enhanced workers’ compensation payment (by up to 50%) based on the acceptance of the citation if the injury were due to a violation of a safety regulation. In certain jurisdictions, a citation depending on the classification can allow an employee to avoid worker’s compensation and pursue direct civil action against the employer.

However, if the injured worker is a non-employee (such as a contractor or staffing agency employee), the worker is not similarly barred from bringing a negligence action. Depending on the state and circumstances, the acceptance of OSHA citations may be admissible in those actions. A plaintiff may use non-compliance with OSHA standards as evidence of negligence.

Conclusion

We regularly advise employers on the defenses they may have to OSHA citations and the bases to contest them. We also provide compliance training, including complimentary webinars to employers and associations. If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

DEMOLITION DISCUSSION

Interviewee: Mark Coleman

Role: CEO Company: Colemans

QHow did you start out in the industry?

I was born into it, literally. I remember my father and mum dragging me around pricing up jobs and it developed from there. I would be involved on a Saturday morning and in summer holidays cleaning plant and equipment, then I would move the plant and I’d be up and down the belt of a crusher (I was skinny at that time), going to and from sites etc. That’s how I got into it.

QHow has your career developed to where you are now?

I joined Coleman’s in 1993 but the five years preceding that at Henry Boot Construction was really where I learned my craft. Project management, health and safety, quantity surveying, estimating, planning, these were all key skills that I had when I came into Colemans.

It felt like a playground for me. It didn’t always go my way obviously, but it was very much that background. There have been a number of milestones along the way, including doing my first blowdown at

Mark Coleman then and now (below)

28 years old; working on Birmingham Town Hall, a Grade 1 listed building; New Street; various jobs in Glasgow, blowdowns and facade retention. This year alone we have been working in a prison, a nuclear power station, rail terminal, blue chip, car plants, gas holders. We find ourselves in the most extreme environments, where we are trusted – “Leave it to Colemans, we trust them.”

QHow did Colemans start?

It started with my grandparents coming over from Ireland, meeting before the second world war, labouring – digging tram tracks and then having the opportunity to resource and help support people in Birmingham, rebuild the city, demolish bombed buildings, with shovels and labour. Then they had the opportunity to buy a lorry.

They used four cubic yard lorries not 20 cubic yard lorries, they were not hydraulic and had no air conditioning. It was rack and pinion, wind them up. But the worst thing was that you couldn’t just let them down, you had to wind them back down after tipping.

My grandfather had a couple of “Coleman businesses” excavating, demolition and lorries. The postwar government nationalised the haulage fleet, took all the lorries and used them for clearing up after the war. My father was born in 1947 and the company that’s been going for 60 years now began in 1962.

A lot of businesses over that time have either failed, stopped, been bought out and rebranded, but we are definitely one of the few still trading, a 100% privately owned family business.

QWhat’s Colemans’ work culture?

When we are looking to employ somebody, you look after me and I’ll look after you. Most times they are known to us, family members, so we have got husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and sons. It really is a true family business and that creates a community. It creates this belief, this trust, this work ethic that is much more than just turning up and getting paid. It’s about doing well, taking pride in your job, really feeling as though you are a part of something and to do that you have to trust people.

I give trust on day one and it’s for you to lose. It can ebb and flow, all relationships have good and bad points. There are certain points when the trust dissolves and you have to do something about that.

Eighty per cent of our staff have over five years of service. I’ve given out probably four or five gold watches over my time. Funnily enough when it was my time to get a gold watch they forgot and then later in the year they bought a yellow Casio and presented me with that.

QWhat are your standout projects?

It has to be Birmingham New Street. Six years from 30 weeks, national coverage, ITV news, World Demolition Award winning, the best of the best. It was a true accolade.

QHow do you gain business and how do you spread the word about your services?

I’m big into LinkedIn, not every day, I don’t believe in saying something unless you’ve got something to say, and I haven’t got something to say every day.

We have four pillars – research and development, wellbeing, the environment and quality. Within that there are subcategories of innovation, people, project wins, successes, awards and the like. It comes back to those four things. Hopefully when we share something it’s seen as interesting, informative, not braggy. I think that’s key so marketing for us is really about showcasing what you’re about.

QTell us about any memberships Colemans has Colemans has been a member of the NFDC for approaching 30 years. We are members of the EDA and have been associated with them for 10 years after being asked to speak for them in Milan. We became

members six or seven years ago. We have a lot of Members of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. I employ structural engineers and civil engineers so they are all associated with all their professional bodies as well.

QWhat do you think responsible companies such as Colemans need to be doing in regard to their communities and society in general?

More. Not to just see it as a project – you’re in town and then you move out and its done. You have to create a long lasting legacy and that involves help, support and investment. It’s really surprising how little it costs but you do need to have that commitment and that desire. Once you have that you

inspire people to get involved. The Birmingham BMX club’s start ramp broke and we were able to come down with our engineers and they got it up and running.

QWhat measures is Colemans taking in regard to the climate crisis and sustainability? I have always been passionate about the environment. I watch the news, I can feel what’s going on with the weather and the climate. With the help of an external consultant (Auditel) we have committed to get us accredited to carbon neutrality within the next 18 months.

To get to net zero is different from carbon neutrality. You get to carbon neutrality by offsetting, investment in planting trees and the likes, which we are doing now. Carbon taxes are coming but that’s not the driver for us, though it does mean that when it comes, we’ll be ready.

QHow do you see the demolition industry developing over the next few years?

I see massive changes. The types of jobs we do are going to change because of embodied carbon issues. Thirty or forty per cent of emissions are concrete, steel, cement and all the energy to knock it down, move it, recycle it, mine it, reprocess it, reconstruct it. Alternatively you just take the building, strip it out and repurpose everything we take out of it. We’re going to alter it, we’re going to strengthen it, we’re going to make it more sustainable.

The Cheesegrater, Gherkin and Colemans

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Labour Solutions

The Labour Desk provides the demolition industry with labour solutions, from a labourer for a day to a whole project team, we can get it covered.

Attending the British Demolition Awards

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We have an extensive network of qualified operatives nationwide please call if you have any requirements big or small we will be happy to assist.

I know from my work with the Chartered Institute of Building and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors that typically a building has a lifecycle of 30 to 40 years. They are already talking about making buildings last 60 to 80 years again, so they don’t have the problems we are encountering now with poor housing stock from the 70s, for example.

So huge jobs, massive excavations – I don’t see so much of that. I don’t see it stopping altogether but a big reduction. In terms of the type of equipment used and the method; more cutting, lifting, electric hydrogen mix, renewables on the cabins. I think it’s going to look and feel very different.

QHow do you envisage Colemans in 5 to 10 years?

I feel like I’m the custodian for something that’s been passed to me. It’s presented me with a life that I’ve lived within it and its very important for me to carry that on. I have three children, the first two are girls. I wanted five but once I got to three I had to stop – it was too much. I’m grateful that my son Paddy has come into the business because the plan is for it to continue being private and to continue it to be good at what we do.

I’m 52 and my brain doesn’t ever stop – it’s a nightmare, it’s always racing with thoughts and plans. I get more emails from myself each day than from anybody else. I have an

pad next to my bed but I don’t have the phone next to my bed, that’s something I don’t do. I think you should go to bed for an hour or two without your phone because as soon as that phone is switched on, I’m looking at it.

I’m not just involved with Colemans. I’m developing a wellbeing retreat in Kerry, Ireland (below) and I’m also involved with Ultimate Cell.

QTell us about Ultimate Cell. You have fitted most of your X machines with the Ultimate Cell.

Ultimate Cell (right) was invented by a friend of mine in a cow shed in a remote part of Ireland called Duchalla in south-west Kerry. For a few hundred euros, you fit this device on to your engine and it adds a small amount of hydrogen into your air intake valve. That hydrogen mix maximises fuel efficiency, reduces the carbon by 80% and improves fuel consumption by up to 20%.

This device has sold 40-50,000 units across the world and is now produced at such a scale that they make massive ones worth 1.5m euros to put on the side of cement plants, power stations, steel works, cutting their emissions by 80%. So, it’s world leading technology.

Colemans team at Waterloo Station, London

Impression of the Kerry retreat

And finally

Who would you be in an alternative life?

Probably Robert de Niro. I think he’s the best actor in the world.

Greatest artist?

Banksy

What do you do for fun?

I meet friends, spend time with the family and enjoy my holidays. I’m not a culture vulture, I’m not an extreme sports guy, I just like the simple things in life with people who are close to me.

Money no object, what would you do for a company excursion?

I’ve already done it. I took all my guys to Kerry and we went to The

Europe, a five-star hotel owned by Liebherr. I put on a wellbeing training programme; we did tai chi on the beach (right), meditation, wellbeing training and we obviously had some Guinness too. It did cost but the benefits were huge and that’s what inspired me to develop the retreat.

Your tipple of choice?

It’s called a Skinny Bitch – it’s quite embarrassing when ordering in bars. Basically, it’s a vodka, soda water and fresh crushed lime, tall glass, lots of ice.

Are you a be person or a do person?

Do. If I set out to do something, it happens.

This image and above: Living well on the Emerald Isle

Mark Coleman (right) and film producer, Jez Alsop, in Ballinskelligs, Kerry, Ireland

Making Shorts work of it

by Paul Argent

Striving to meet the demand of tenants looking for storage solutions, many property owners are turning to redevelopment of their existing facilities in a bid to attract long term leases. The area adjacent to the M6 in Birmingham is one such location where property owners are looking to meet these demands.

Bracknell-based Shorts Group completed a project to demolish the former Carlsberg Tetley distribution centre, which was located just a couple of minutes’ drive from one of the busiest sections of the UK motorway network. The sprawling site was home to a pair of singlestorey sheds joined together with a similarly constructed link and a twostorey office block at the entrance to the site.

With a sixteen-week programme of works to demolish both structures and remove the footings before crushing, the experienced team from Shorts had their work cut out. We met Operations Manager Bryony Morten-Short to take a look around the site.

The site is bounded on two sides by the River Tame and the River Rea and lay in the centre of a densely populated industrial zone, which meant that both noise, vibration and dust were closely monitored. Bryony said: “We have paid close attention to the dust, especially in the later stages as the slabs were being broken up. We have used both a trailer mounted DustBuster and water hoses to dampen the material down, but with an eye on the considerable use of water at such a time of shortages, we have been extremely careful when turning the taps on and keeping track of our usage. We also ensured that any drains running into the nearby water courses were bunged immediately to prevent any water from site from entering them.”

Once stripped out, the steel framed office block was the first building to be demolished, with the arisings being stockpiled for later

crushing. Bryony continued: “We had very little in the way of licensed asbestos within this structure, just a handful of pieces were found, with even less in the sheds. The biggest issue we had was the roof coverings to the sheds themselves. They were covered in asbestos sheeting and while we looked at putting operatives up in MEWPS to take them off individually, the risk of working at height and manual handling in the full glare of the sun throughout the summer led us to investigate a wet drop method. This method was by far the best way to take down the units and we managed to get the entire 25,000-m2 roof off without any issues before the talk of hosepipe ban came to the fore.”

During the works the units were individually set up as exclusion/ respirator zones to manage operatives moving in and out of the work area and to minimise any cross contamination. This was further backed up by regular air monitoring and personal monitoring throughout the demolition phase.

With the sheeting cleaned, cleared and sent away through ISP waste specialists Windsor Waste, the relatively simple task of removing the huge steel portal frame with its brick infills remained. Using its own fleet of machinery sourced through Avonmouth-based ISP Molson Group, which consisted of a 21-t Kobelco SK210, 52-t Hyundai HX520 and 60-t Kobelco SK550D, the structure was razed to the ground in just a couple of days.

Bryony said: “We try and ensure as much of the material we produce is sent for recycling, whether that is the material we crush or the steel we cut down. Following on from an NFDC Regional Meeting, I got in touch with Steve Patterson from Cleveland Steel as their presentation spoke about a potential use for steel sections in the complete form.

“Usually, we five-foot them and send them off for recycling but following a site visit by Steve, we

agreed to salvage several of the columns and beams, with Cleveland paying extra over the scrap rate for the material and we eventually shipped out 100 t of material to Cleveland. It is something we will look at again in the future. If we had more time we would have looked to salvage more through Cleveland steel, however time is something that we are not afforded on most projects.”

With the building gone, attention turned to the huge slab left under the building, along with the roads and car parking areas that spanned the entire site. Bryony said: “We knew there was an existing holding

tank for the trucks at one end of the site along with several pits and forklift charging stations. We also found several other chambers associated with the vehicle wash bays and these were the only real below ground structures requiring any excavation.”

To aid with the huge task of quickly removing the slab, stockpiling the material before crushing and screening it, Bryony approached one of the largest hire companies in the country for assistance. “Apart from the three machines we had on site, everything else was busy completing other projects,” she said. “We struck a deal with M O’Brien for a pair of

case study

25-t machines for general work a and a big 70-t machine to help us lift the tanks and slabs. They helped us out enormously and gave us the push we needed to complete on time.”

The smaller machines in the Shorts fleet have all been upgraded with the addition of Steelwrist SQ couplers designed to allow the rapid changeover of attachments, something Bryony is very keen to have on the fleet. “The addition of the Steelwrist couplers supplied by ISP Inmalo has made a big difference on some of our jobs,” she said. “It’s already making each machine more productive.”

The big Hyundai also had a new toy in the shape of a Montabert V4500 breaker, again from Inmalo, which was used to pepper the slab prior to the Kobelco and 70-t Komatsu ripping it up. With the material in long stockpiles the Sandvik crushers we are looking to produce 13,500 m3 of screened 6f2 and 5,500 m3 of type 1 ready for the incoming developer to use.

Thankfully, the project didn’t throw up any issues for the Shorts team, who were able to stay on site thanks to a handful of Bunkabins

ensuring the hours were put in and everything remained secure on site at all times.

“So far, this has been the furthest north the Shorts team have ventured as we’ve got a constant and steady flow of work closer to home,” Bryony

said. “We would consider traveling further afield for our clients as long as it worked out financially. We have a good pool of regular clients and will always try and work with them to reach their end goal, the safe and profitable delivery of a project.”

A breath of fresh air

Ben Chambers was invited to NFDC’S home at the new Resurgam House, where he spoke to John Lynch about his background, vision and priorities as President of the NFDC

BCCongratulations on your presidency. Now over the four to five months you’ve been in office how has this impacted on your time? How much is dedicated to demolition matters?

JLProbably before becoming President, I would say 30% of my time – now 90% of my time, it’s a big commitment and it’s a commitment I’m happy to make.

Tell me about your history, how did you get into demolition, it’s clearly a family thing.

Yes, my dad’s business was haulage, knocking down and selling the brick hardcore and selling the materials, so from a very young age we used to go down to the depot and mess with the machines, mess with the lorries

so really, I’ve been in it all my life. My father passed away when I was 17 while I was at college, I then went into the business and have been there for 51 years. My brothers came in at a later stage when they had finished their university degrees, so we are a family business.

Pre-presidency you found these offices for the NFDC. You’ve done a superb job, it couldn’t be better. But why did you want to get involved with the office move and what makes you qualified to do so?

I know quite a bit about property; my brothers and I own a property investment company called Merlin Properties Limited. We have a civil engineering company as well as some other property companies,

so I got involved with selling the old building and buying this and the board put me through for that.

I agree, this is an excellent property and to be honest we haven’t had to do a lot to it, just putting some partitions in and decorating. In fact, we could have moved into it without decorating. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Michael Gove) blocked the demolition of Marks & Spencer’s flagship Oxford Street store, Orchard House this week. What’s your take?

Alex (NFDC Marketing Manager) has put out a statement (read it on page 7). In my opinion the government are chasing around, vote catching. They’re not looking at the core of

what it’s all about in my opinion. Mr Gove also appears to be doing a bit of a U-turn on replacing gas boilers with heat pumps.

Firstly, they can’t let it as a store so what do you actually do with it? It probably doesn’t suit being converted into apartments. It’s not as easy as saying you’re going to convert something into apartments because you’ve got to deal with the fire regulations, you have to deal with the regulations for insulation, especially after Grenfell, and all the other the building regulations.

We take a building down and we’ll probably put up a more sustainable building up in its place. They don’t look at it with people who know what they’re talking about in demolition and recycling. We’re the big bad bully, we go in and knock things down with a sledgehammer but it’s not like that.

We don’t knock anything down without planning permission. Section 80s, everything we do is planned and if you think about it we’re probably the only industry that has been recycling since the 1940s. You knock a building down and clean the bricks or you crush the bricks, you crush the concrete, you take the steel out and reuse it you take the timber out and reuse it. What other industries have been recycling for 80 years? No other industry I know.

The opponents basically want demolition stopped, full stop. With that in mind what can the NFDC do to educate nondemolition people and what can Demolition Hub do to help the NFDC in that?

I think we’ve got to be involved in the debate and at the minute we’re not. If we’re involved, we can explain things better. They say that they don’t want to knock buildings down, what do they want to do then, build on greenfield sites? Do they want to redevelop what they’ve got? What are they planning then?

Tell me an alternative and then I

can agree with it if it’s right. There’s thought going into everything that’s happening and yes there are buildings we, the NFDC, would say should never be knocked down. You wouldn’t knock a listed building down, we wouldn’t condone it.

The problem is that you have architects and others saying: “You can’t knock this down, you can’t knock that down,” and yet they are the ones whose buildings were not designed to be reused in the past.

With twenty months left of your presidency, could this be an opportunity for you to get your defining moment, to get the NFDC sitting at the top table, to speak to the lobbyists and the MPs directly?

Yes. We definitely would, Duncan [Rudall, CEO of the NFDC] has been in the industry a long time. He has been to see ministers and we’ve had good results talking to them but I don’t think they actually understood the ins and outs of demolition, what we’re actually doing and not doing. If they involve us more, we could talk about it. There are buildings that that are in a very poor state and need to come down. There are buildings that are not fit for purpose and can’t be adapted for any other use and there are buildings that need to remain. There needs to be more thought going into it and it needs to be all parties talking together and finding a solution to the problem, not just saying “stop demolition”. It’s like saying stop diesel cars without having the alternative fully in place. You’re going all electric; where do you get the power from, where are the charging points, what’s used to make the cars?

NFDC is no longer a member of Build UK, can you explain why the NFDC cancelled its membership?

I’ve been lobbying our board since

the days of David Keane when he was President (1999-2001 and 2018) that I thought it was a waste of members’ money being a member of Build UK for the simple reason that they do not stipulate to any of their members that they have to use NFDC members.

Quite a few of the major builders had left Build UK and we thought we were getting nothing out of it, so we left for the simple reason that they were not promoting the use of NFDC members. We believe it is very important for the construction industry to use NFDC members.

We audit all our members. There are other companies out there that are not NFDC members, that are good and they’re probably at the same standard as our members, but I would say the majority of the other demolition contractors are not. You know that if you employ an NFDC member they are being audited every year, you know that we’re giving them our backup and guidance notes.

The reason we don’t release the guidance notes to every Tom, Dick and Harry is because it’s a bit like giving a razor blade to a child. You’re giving somebody guidance notes on high reach machines and they read the book and think: “Oh boy, I researched the machine and now I’m going to knock this building down.”

The guidance notes go with trained operatives, method statements, risk assessments and people with a knowledge of how to do the job, so it would be very dangerous for us to issue the guidance notes to anyone else.

We know our members are competent, we offer the training to the demolition contractors here. We have superb training facilities here, we have superb trainers, we have staff who know what they’re talking about.

We are a very professional organisation. We’ve had our critics – “Why do you need a trade body

in demolition?” Well if you look back at what we’ve actually done, who has done all the training to get operatives trained over many years?

If you look at pictures of the 1940s, it was people on roofs with flat hats, no fencing on the road. The traffic wasn’t as bad then, but look at how far the industry has come from those days. We formed the NDTG in 1978, the training that we’ve given to all those operatives is just mindboggling. Without us it might have been achieved at a later stage, somebody might have come in and done it but you can’t train somebody if you don’t know what you’re training. You can’t just get somebody out of a college and say: “Come and give us a course, you’ve done a degree in engineering, we want you to tell these chaps how to do demolition.” It doesn’t come as easy as that, it’s totally different and every job is different.

Our members get backup from us, we say to our members don’t take on something if you don’t think you’re capable of doing it because there are members who can do it for you. For instance, we were the first to bring in and to get expertise in facade retention. When I first joined the federation in the 1980s a member, David Sinclair, was doing facade retentions in London and was an expert on it. He and Safedem are experts in explosives. We don’t do explosives in our business and if we needed to do explosives we’d sub it out to an NFDC member who does do explosives like Safedem or any of those that are experts in it.

There’s so much knowledge that can be gained from here so if I had an explosive job I would pick the phone up to William Sinclair or Nick Brown and say would you like to price a job as a subcontractor for me, come and do it and they would probably come along give me a price and do it.

I would go to an expert in that field and being a part of the NFDC

they’ve already done their checks, they’ve had great guidance and they’ve had their due diligence done so you know what you’re getting. I know Brown and Mason and I know Safedem are doing jobs all around the world. At the NFDC we can call on other members to sub work that is too difficult.

Another benefit with the NFDC is the meetings and the biannual meetings. You have the golf days where people can get together and learn what each other does. New members can find out whose speciality is whose. The other element is loosely termed as a club of people that come together, share ideas and can network and sub from each other perhaps.

We are a community. Touch wood, nobody wants accidents but I’m afraid they do occur, but we actually learn from our accidents, and we talk about it to all the other members to try and make sure that there are lessons learned from it.

Disasters happen, it is a very dangerous industry but the industry safety record must be getting better and better by process of members coming together talking. We’re learning from people and for instance it’s not just a fatality or an accident, collapses etc. We learn from the collapses and if somebody does have a collapse or even if they are not a member we’re interested to know if there’s a collapse happened on somebody else’s site, we are very interested to know what actually went on and why it happened. This is another thing that we’re pushing.

We’re running some seminars with the HSE, it’s not public yet but please print it. We’re working together with an agent as we want to get as many clients there as we can. We’re running three the pilots, one at South and City College in Birmingham, one at the Komatsu factory at Birtley and one in London.

We are also we’re working with one of the chief HSE principal inspectors very closely on these and the IDE will do a paper on it and they will have a representative there as well. The idea is that the IDE will send it out to all their members, the NFDC send it out to their client list and members and the HSE will send it out to their client list. The idea is we’re focusing on CDM regulations and the responsibilities of those CDM regulations because we want to get over to the client as well as everybody else that we’re all in it together.

In other words, the client lets it to a principal designer, the principal designer does his work and lets it to the principal contractor but there’s legal responsibilities on the client that the client probably isn’t aware of so we’re actually going to explain those legal responsibilities and what he should be looking at and what he should be doing. The principal contractor has responsibilities, the principal designers have

responsibilities, so the seminars are to actually explain to everybody their responsibility in the chain.

Our members, I’m sure, are aware of what the principal contractors are. A lot of the developers, who are the clients, think that they can pass the package over and say here you are this is the problem, it’s yours. Now that isn’t actually the case because they’ve got responsibilities they need to identify things too all the way down the line and they’re in the boat with us.

They may not be aware of these when they could have legal ramifications, quite serious ones. Your opening gambit to them is: “Look this is really in your interest to take.”

But also it’s in their interest to realise that by going for an NFDC member they might be saving themselves a lot of stress and problems in the future because if they go with an NFDC member they’ve got a competent contractor, so if something ever did go wrong, touch wood it never does, they’ve fulfilled a lot of their responsibility by actually choosing an NFDC contractor.

It’s an extra notch on their belt so not only could prove it’s yet another USP you’ve given me about becoming an NFDC member.

I’m on site all the time with members and non-members and I ask the question every time, would you become NFDC members and the answers are frequently positive. There are good contractors out there and they are ready.

I want to see our membership grow in my presidency, any person we will help them to join this federation. If they need training, we’ll put them in on the right lines to get the training from the NDTG. If they need any other help to just get over the line, we will help them to do it,

“I want to see our membership grow in my presidency, any person we will help them to join this federation”

obviously they’ve got to come up to the standards.

There’s a lot of contractors out there who we should have in this federation and the more that we get into this federation they will benefit from it, we will benefit because we’ll have a stronger voice with the government so it’s in everybody’s interest to get more corporate members into this federation. They’ll benefit from it, we’ll benefit from it so it’s a win win.

They are very welcome to give me a call personally. I will talk them through anything and we will send them the paperwork, we’ll help them fill it in, we’ll help them to see whether they are deficient on any training they need, we can help them achieve that. We have an excellent facility here, we can do outside training, we can do indoor training, we can do ad hoc training from computer screens, we can do all this all in house, and we’ve have the courses that they might need. We can get them through so they can be trained up on CCDO cards. We can help with everything they need, so if you have a list of people who you think would make good members, we will contact them tomorrow. I want to see more members in this federation.

John I agree with what you said 100%. It’s really refreshing to hear that. I do think there’s a step before that though –utilising us with our traction and the people we go out to, that being everybody, not just NFDC members.

Why don’t we set up a day in your very fancy meeting room with these companies and invite them here and you do a presentation on what the benefits of NFDC membership are?

If you’re happy to do that we would happily host that, we’ll get some caterers in and we’ll give them

a full presentation. Bring them here and let us show them what we do and let us show them the benefits of being a member. I think they may be quite surprised.

We definitely would like to work closely with you. The thing is with bringing members in we will help them to get there. It’s a bit like saying I’ll help somebody to pass their A levels. We can bring them here but if they’ve got no knowledge on demolition we can’t help. There are a lot of companies out there that should be in this and the very capable contractors who would literally walk in here, no problem at all. We’re not just saying that unless you’re a member you’re no good, we’re saying there are a lot of companies out there that are good but they should get the badge to prove it.

Are new ISP members a focus for you as well?

As far as I am concerned ISPs are very important to our industry and I’ll tell you why. I have just met with an ISP today here.

We also have machine manufacturers that attend our meetings, the ISPs that come along. They’re meeting the main people in these businesses and I was talking to the machine manufacturers the other day and they were saying the market’s dipped a bit and they said there’s some good deals to be had now and we’re giving interest free credit and we’d like to present that to your members. We need them to help our members and in return they get a pool of clients, they get preferential rate. It’s a benefit.

What I’m saying is the ISPs give to us and we give to them and to be honest with you a lot of these ISPs get a lot back from us as well. We have all sorts of different ISPs, from bigger excavator manufacturers to insurance.

I want to see ISP membership growing as well. We took a new

member in the other day who I sold a generator on a job that we’ve got, and then I said to the lady who bought it: “Why don’t you join the federation, you’ve given me more than I could have got anywhere else,” and so she’s actually joined.

Lizzie Dallimore (A&E Diesels)? I know her well.

I said to her come along do a presentation at the meetings. Our members are going to benefit from her being a member and she’s going to benefit by being an ISP. It’s about getting that message out there to them.

I think there needs to be an ISP Day and a contractor day. If you want to do that and run it here I’d be very happy.

It was going around that it was hard to join the NFDC and that if you applied you wouldn’t get in. I can assure anybody who wants to join that is not the case. I’m President and I want the members in. There’s no blackballing. We have a system in place where you come in on merit and we’ll help you get to that merit. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a competitor of somebody in a region who is a member, that doesn’t make one iota of difference to me or to the board. I can assure anybody who thinks they won’t apply because they applied 10 years ago and didn’t get in that isn’t the case. I applied in 1982 and it took me three attempts to get in.

Do you have a target number of members?

In 20 months’ time I want contractors to be over 160 and I want ISPs to be over 120.

The only problem the natural wastage; obviously we lose people who have retired and we’ve lost a lot of members through tough times. There’s a 34% increase in insolvencies and contractors in construction year on year but we’re still optimistic.

How much does it cost to join the NFDC?

Three grand for a contractor, two grand for an ISP.

I’ve been told some funny things then. I’ve heard amounts as high as eight grand per year. There is a contractor who I invited to come for opening night here, I’ve known him for a long time. He is not a member, he’s got the application form and assures me wants to join. He rang me up and said he was now of the size that he didn’t mind spending £10,000 a year. “What are you spending £10,000 a year on,” I asked, and he said the membership. I told him the membership is £3,000 a year.

Where are you from?

Leicestershire

Golf’s a penchant of yours. What else would be of interest, what you do away from work?

Boating, not sailing, I drive a boat but I don’t sail, that’s too much hard work. I tried it when I was younger, but no. We go down to Cornwall –Padstow on the estuary and I do the same in Spain. I’m into boats, my brother has one in Lymington.

You mentioned so much about training, which is wonderful, but how do you see its development as an academic subject?

Obviously, they’re trialling that at Wolverhampton, Richard Dolman has been hugely involved with that.

I’m a member of the IDE and as President of the NFDC I sit in on the IDE board. Yes I would like to see it progress but to put a lot of money into it to write a new degree course etc, we’d have to see that there was going to be a big enough take up on it. Now here at the moment we’re doing a scheme educating people coming out of prison and we’re

actually getting them a CCDO card, labourer’s card and we are providing them with all the PPE to get started and trying to place them in jobs.

Well Clifford Devlin will be all for that.

I know Tim, he’s a lovely man we’re looking to progress with degrees and yes I’d love to see it happen but you’ve got to convince me that it’s money well spent. I don’t mind spending money but it’s not my money. I’m the custodian of the NFDC’s money so if we put money into those things I’d need to make sure that the industry is going to get something back out of it. I’d just like to see proof that we’re going to get take up on these things before a lot a lot of money is spent on it. I couldn’t sanction or put to the board of directors to spend money if I didn’t think it was going to be a successful thing. The jury’s out on it. I said to Richard Dolman, convince me of it and then I’ll try to support you. What’s your feeling on it?

I actually I took on the course for two or three months. I did the first three modules and I enjoyed the camaraderie. We did it over Zoom as it was during COVID, rather than being sat together at the University of Wolverhampton, so far from ideal. Stephen McCann and his colleague were really engaging, a lovely man who has become a friend because of it. However my hands were tied because I needed to be in demolition, I needed to know projects. When I asked friends in the industry I was told it was classified, the client won’t allow that I can’t divulge that.

I couldn’t do it and Stephen said another time, if this comes up we could find you someone to guide you through, so I did it for a few months and I enjoyed

it but it’s not the experience they’re doing now. It’s more classroom based so I’ll be very interested in doing it again when I’ve got some more support behind me.

Any education in this industry is good but we’ve not got unlimited resources. These sort of things should in my opinion be supported by the CITB etc and the CIPD. The CITB are giving nothing to it – these are things that they ought to be promoting. If we think it’s positive for the members then we will support it, but putting money into it we’d need to be convinced that it’s worthwhile.

Going back to Demolition Hub, we began over three years ago now. We started with the goal to be positive and to champion demolition and nothing we have put out has been negative to the industry. But what are you going to do as President to combat those who are not so positive? To be honest with you there are people who are at us. Why are they at us, why aren’t they at the IDE, ARCA and all the others? Surely they can’t throw everything back at us just because we’re the NFDC. I think we’ve got to just say: “Well, they need to throw it at us, throw it at us, but look at the good we do.”

If you look at all of the most difficult demolition jobs done in this country I would say 90% of them have been done by NFDC members. Look at the work that Brown and Mason do, look at the work that Erith do, you look at the work that Scotdem do and all the other really tricky jobs, nuclear decommissioning for example. Look at our track record and that’s the answer to your question.

Thank you John an absolute pleasure, I really enjoyed that. Here’s to industry successes and collaboration.

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Agg-Pro

Agg-Pro provides a personal, customer focused approach to the supply of equipment for the quarrying, demolition and recycling industries. Established in 1996, the company is currently experiencing an exciting period of growth but continues to retain its core values with many long-standing, dedicated employees who are passionate about the service they provide.

Agg-Pro sources the best performing and highest quality products from industry leading brands including GIPO, Jonsson, McCloskey, Lippmann, Tesab, McCloskey Environmental, CRS NI and MWS in England, Scotland and Wales.

Its head office in Tamworth includes a 3,700 m3 workshop and two storage yards with a team of skilled on-site engineers to offer refurbishments, and the company employs 34 people. Thanks to its exclusive manufacturer partnerships, Agg-Pro also stocks an extensive range of genuine spare parts.

The company is proud of its reputation for excellent customer service and the highly experienced team offers innovative solutions from Agg-Pro’s extensive portfolio creating longstanding and collaborative partnerships with customers.

Over the last eight months, AggPro has been building a partnership with new customer GRS Integrated Solutions Ltd, which offers a

complete end-to-end materials handling service from the supply of aggregates at any volume to excavation and recovery of waste for recycling. GRS also delivers a range of contracting services to the construction industry including groundworks, civil engineering and land remediation.

Following extensive discussions between Jonny McNaugher, Area Sales Manager at Agg-Pro and Ross Rolfe, Operations Director at GRS, the company has already received two machines from Agg-Pro and just taken the plunge with a bespoke GIPO machine costing seven-figures scheduled for delivery to its central London site this October.

Jonny said: “During this period, Ross has had two other Tesab machines from Agg-Pro and by working closely together, ensuring minimal downtime and keeping GRS and its customers happy, GRS has had the confidence in us to proceed with this project.

“We had first discussed a cheaper alternative incorporating a threemachine setup to try and achieve the same job, but this solution wouldn’t have reached the tonnage levels required.”

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Jonny took Ross on several site visits to show him the machines in action and as part of Agg-Pro’s solutions-based approach they identified that the new GIPO R131 FDR demolition specification impact crusher would replace two existing processing units and associated heavy plant.

It will pre-screen, crush, grade the material and clean up any contaminants within it, which is shovel fed by one operative, reducing the fuel bill significantly and producing a more desirable product.

Capable of producing 350 tph of clean type one material, its features include a 1.3 m diameter x 1.2 m heavy duty impact rotor, demountable double deck recirculating screen and underpan feeder beneath the chamber to prevent belts ripping. Weighing 85,000 kg, the machine has a EU Tier V-compliant Scania engine.

It also includes optional extras specific to GRS’ requirements, in particular the demolition material with metal, rebar and plastic within. A three-step independent 3.5 m prescreen system removes any fines so only clean material enters the impact chamber and a top mounted

in-line magnet removes metal in the same direction in which the material is flowing, making it very efficient. In addition, a bespoke air separation system removes plastics, wood and other contaminants, eliminating the need for additional operational staff.

GIPO is a well-established company based in Switzerland. It produces 80 to 90 units per year and every machine is bespoke, made without compromise. It is very much in favour of building heavier machines of an exceptional build quality, built to last.

Jonny added: “Once Ross and his colleagues set eyes on a GIPO machine, they appreciated the quality and bespoke nature of the design. We are excited about building a long-term relationship with GRS and look forward to continuing to work together.”

After more than 25 years in the business, Agg-Pro is a market leader in providing an extensive range of crushers, screeners, stackers, shredders, fixed recycling plants and washing systems to the quarrying, demolition and recycling industries and it builds trusting and long-standing partnerships with its customers.

Anaconda I12-R Impact Crusher, supplied by Global Machinery Solutions

Anaconda Equipment, owned by McLanahan, designs, manufactures and supplies a diverse range of products for the material processing industry. The company was formed in 2005 as a subcontract specialist before branching out to compact contractor-oriented equipment bearing the Anaconda brand in 2008. Anaconda continues to consolidate its reputation as a leading supplier of material processing equipment across the globe.

Features and benefits

The I12-R Impact Crusher is the latest in Anaconda’s series of mobile crushing solutions and is taking the industry by storm. This powerful, mid-sized impact crusher is designed to offer operators and contractors excellent reduction of initial feed material, continuous production and consistent product size and shape, along with some impressive features.

• All new 3,660 x 1,525 mm double-deck recirculation screen

• Option to recirculate over-size, or stockpile to the side

• Optional mid-size conveyor to create another product without the need for a separate screener

• 1,090 mm x 1,140 mm

McLanahan crushing chamber

• Direct hydraulic drive

• Variable rotor speed

• Grizzly feeder

Designed predominately for quarrying and recycling applications, this versatile crusher gets straight to business with the impressive four bar rotor universal crushers impact chamber.

The crusher is fitted with a large hopper area and an aggressive vibrating pan feeder with a twotier grizzly section to help facilitate the movement of the feed material towards the impact chamber. The grizzly section allows for fines and smaller dirt to be eliminated from entering the chamber by discharging it onto the side dirt conveyor or directly onto the main conveyor. There is also an underpan option that transfers material from the chamber to the main conveyor. This is used in recycling applications to stop rebar from causing damage to the main conveyor’s belt.

Power and emissions

The I12-R is powered by a Stage V Cummins L9 Performance Series engine that offers excellent specifications and low emissions levels. The new after treatment system uses SCR and DPF, which eliminates Exhaust Gas Recirculation. Removing EGR has made installation and maintenance easier than ever, generated less to cool throughout the engine and allowed for the power and torque to be increased creating a higher machine capability for the I12-R. Improved fuel consumption and low noise emissions are also a notable benefit of this model.

The recirculation kit has been designed with the end user’s needs in mind. This is used with the addition of a double deck screen box after the crushing chamber feeding

into either the auxiliary recirculation conveyor or the tail conveyor to join the finished product. The recirculation screen can also be quickly detached which will then convert the machine to a standard I12 unit.

Industry confidence

Anaconda Crushing Engineer, Barry McCullagh said: “The Anaconda I12-R combines the productivity of the super-efficient unique direct drive Universal 45” impact crushing chamber with the versatility of a full screening and recirculating system that allows operators to produce a crushed and screened product with one machine. The combination of the impactor with the high energy screen and recirculating conveyor offers maximum productivity on a small footprint. The return offers the option to recirculate oversize to the hopper or radial out 90° to stockpile material.”

All design aspects are with the concept of creating a reliable,

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efficient machine with the capability of reaching optimum performance in the given application. The robustness, quality, low running cost and time saving aspects of the I12-R set the machine apart from the rest.

Global Machinery Solutions

Not only does Global Machinery Solutions provide world class machinery but it offers an unrivalled parts and aftersales service. The company lives by the motto “A sale is where the journey begins, not ends.” Whether customers are in need of a part or an engineer on site, Global is there to support.

With an extensive team of mobile engineers throughout the UK,

Ireland and Germany, a complete aftersales support can be offered. Everything from machinery breakdowns to scheduled servicing is catered for within a rapid response timescale. The company has a wellequipped parts department with an extensive range of parts and substantial levels of safety stock to support VOR requirements. Its expert team includes dedicated brand representatives, so expertise is guaranteed.

With more than 7,000 lines and over £2.9m-worth of parts in stock, Global ensures it can supply the right parts to ensure minimum machine downtime as the company understands what every second of that downtime costs the customer.

6

Rubble Master, supplied by Red Knight

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Philip Cassidy is the newest member of the Retec Equipment team and joins us as a Sales Professional Consultant to support the recent expansion of our distribution areas.

He will be covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Bristol and Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

Born and raised in Ireland, Philip is a qualified industrial engineer who moved into the world of crushers and screeners in March 1993 and started his journey with Extec.

Philip’s journey took him across the pond to the States where he worked from 1993 to 2018 with Extec and Sandvik at the American distributor, Promac Group. During Philip’s time in the US he worked in various states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts and New York.

Retec Equipment

Philip now lives in Somerset, where life has a very different pace from that in the US. His main hobby is golf, which has taken him to many a tournament at some key courses including Firestone and Baltusrol as well as courses in Portugal and Spain. Philip is a keen member of his home golf club, Mannan Castle and heads to the green whenever visiting his home town.

His favourite machine is the Sandvik QH331. Philip says the machine does a fantastic job at creating a premium product without the need for a constant feed.

If you are operating in any

of the above areas and need a Sandvik to enhance your crushing and screening operation, please email philip@retecequipment.com to discuss all of the Sandvik machines available or visit www.retecequipment.com.

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Keestrack I4e tracked mobile reversible impact crusher, supplied by Warwick Ward

A complete new mobile concept is the new tracked mobile horizontal reversible impact crusher. Due to the innovative RIC (Reversible Impact Crusher) technology, this machine can be used in secondary and tertiary crushing of rock, oversized gravel and recycling building materials (e.g. asphalt). The specific design of the reversible horizontal impact crusher with a large variable crushing chamber, powerful rotor (Ø 1,100 mm; four blow bars) and electronically monitored hydraulic gap adjustment (+80 to -220 mm with new tools) allows feed sizes up to 250 mm and ensures consistently high-quality end products of up to 0/2 mm in closed circuit.

Secondary and tertiary crushing can be combined in one highly mobile solution, which makes the Keestrack I4e a real alternative to mobile

cone crushers or vertical impact crushers, especially with regard to its outstanding production capacities from 100 to 250 t/h. According to Keestrack, the system offers also lower wear, better quality end products (grain shape) and significant energy savings in typical applications, for example in sand production 0/4 mm, approximately -30% compared to cone crushers and -30 to -40% compared to VSI impact crushers. The advanced electric ZERO drive concept, backed up by the drop-off engine/gen-set consisting of a 447 kW diesel engine and 300 kVa generator add to the operator’s energy savings.

Electric drives for the crusher (160 kW), feeders and conveyor belts as well as the system hydraulics enable particularly cost-efficient and emission-free plug-in network operation. Three specific patents

illustrate the innovative potential of the new Keestrack I4e concept.

The material enters the hopper of the I4e, the loading apron feeder, which grants no loss of fine material and ensures a long lifetime is then gradually feeding the reversible loading conveyor, which has an integrated metal detector. When metal is detected, the conveyor reverses and a drum magnet separates it.

The compact system (transport dimensions: 15,270 x 3,000 x 3,310 mm), weighing 42 t includes a single-deck afterscreen with return conveyor of oversized material. The closed circuit ensures a production of 100% final material with very high quality for any European norms. The full range of Keestrack crushing and screening equipment is available from Warwick Ward (machinery) Ltd.

60 years of Mantovanibenne

Mantovanibenne, an Italian company specialising in the design and manufacturing of hydraulic attachments for construction and demolition equipment, has a rich history that spans several decades. From its humble beginnings in 1963 to its present-day prominence, Mantovanibenne has established itself as a leading player in the industry.

The story of Mantovanibenne begins in 1963 when Alberto Mantovani (near left) founded the company in Mirandola, Italy. He started by manufacturing simple agricultural tools and buckets. However, he soon recognised the growing demand for specialised attachments in the construction and demolition sectors.

In its early years, Mantovanibenne focused on developing hydraulic attachments, initially catering to the local Italian market. The company quickly gained a reputation for producing robust and reliable equipment, which helped it expand its customer base beyond Italy’s borders. By the 1980s, Mantovanibenne had started exporting its products to other European countries.

As the company continued to grow, Mantovanibenne diversified its product range to include various attachments such as crushers, pulverisers, shears and grapples. These attachments were designed to be compatible with a wide range of construction and demolition

Mantovanibenne CEO Paolo Mantovani (left) and company founder, Alberto Mantovani

machinery, offering versatility and efficiency to their customers.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mantovanibenne strengthened its presence in the global market. It focused on developing innovative technologies and refining its attachment designs to meet the evolving needs of the industry. The company’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction helped it forge strong partnerships with equipment manufacturers and dealers worldwide.

In the early 2000s, the company expanded its production facilities to accommodate the growing demand for its products. Mantovanibenne invested in advanced manufacturing technologies and automated processes to increase efficiency and maintain consistent product quality. This expansion enabled Mantovanibenne to further solidify its position as a leading provider of hydraulic attachments. From 2000 to 2013 the company expanded into the global market and to ensure a worldwide presence, launched foreign branches: MBI France in 2000; MBI Bulgaria in 2006; Zhejiang Mantovani Machinery (China) in 2011; and MBI Deutschland (2013).

In recent years, Mantovanibenne has continued to innovate and adapt to the changing landscape of the construction and demolition industry. It has focused on developing environmentally friendly attachments that reduce noise pollution and improve energy efficiency. The company has also embraced digitalisation by incorporating smart technologies into their products, enabling remote monitoring and control for enhanced performance and safety.

Today, Mantovanibenne remains a family-owned business, with Alberto’s sons Paolo and Roberta, and grandsons Lorenzo and Jacopo leading the company with management roles. The company operates globally, with a vast network of dealers and distributors in various countries. Mantovanibenne’s commitment to

quality, innovation and customer satisfaction has made it a trusted name in the industry, serving the needs of construction and demolition professionals around the world.

Throughout its history, Mantovanibenne has stayed true to its core values of integrity,

craftsmanship and technological excellence. The company’s ability to adapt to market demands and consistently deliver high-quality products has propelled its success from 1963 to the present day, making Mantovanibenne a respected and recognised brand in the hydraulic attachment industry.

Lorenzo, Paolo, Alberto and Jacopo Mantovani

MGL Demolition: Pilgrim’s Quarter, Newcastle

MGL Demolition, part of MGL Group, is playing a crucial role in the redevelopment of Newcastle, paving the way for an impressive new government hub that will become the regional home of HMRC in the north-east. Pilgrim’s Quarter is an ambitious project that will see around 9,000 government employees relocate to the city centre.

The Durham-based contractor was appointed by Bowmer + Kirkland to undertake extensive demolition and clearance works to Dex Car Park, Commercial Union House, Bamburgh House and Carliol House to open up the 13,500 m2 site.

Mark Davison, Joint Chief Executive of MGL Group, said: “MGL Demolition is delighted to be part of this prestigious scheme, which is transforming the city of Newcastle’s skyline and enabling a significant economic boost to our region.

“Working together with the client project team our primary focus has been to carry out demolition works at an accelerated pace without compromising safety and quality standards. We have demolished several structures with totally differing deconstruction methods, requiring bespoke demolition plans, to clear the way for a new urban development.”

Dex Car Park

In November 2021 work began to demolish the former Dex Car Park (below). The 1930s seven-storey reinforced concrete structure originally opened as a car showroom, workshop and petrol filling station. After it was decommissioned, it later became a multi-storey car park. The demolition of the structure provided

The Dex Car Park comes down

Demolishing Bamburgh House

access behind the main buildings and room for material processing and storage.

With a variety of occupied buildings such as the city library, an art gallery, student accommodation and a cinema near the perimeter of the site – it was crucial to maintain a good working relationship with the key occupiers to execute the works

case study

in a bustling city centre location.

The presence of Nexus Metro tunnels running below further complicated matters. The tunnels were monitored 24/7 by technical partners ensuring that the work complied with stringent safety requirements. The vent shaft building was protected at all times.

Commercial Union House

The 10-storey reinforced concrete building was designed by Howell Brooks Tucker and Partners in the late 1960s. Extensive soft strip and asbestos removal works were carried out prior to the physical demolition of the building.

The soft strip started from the basement, working up. To maintain the project timescales this ran in tandem with the asbestos removal work to all buildings, which delivered considerable contractual, programme and costs benefits.

MGL Demolition’s fully trained inhouse asbestos team removed both licensed and non-licensed materials found on every floor of the building. With eight storeys projecting over two bus lanes on Pilgrim Street, the demolition required meticulous preparation and detailed planning. Road closures between New Bridge Street West and Market Street junctions were implemented. Protection measures for roads, footpaths and services were put into place including timber bog mats and a 750 mm layer of 6f5 stone.

Much of the demolition work was carried out during planned night works, including the cantilever section, to minimise disruption to the public. The methodology was approved by an independent structural engineer and then verified by a second structural engineer.

Employing modern demolition techniques ensured precision and safety throughout the project. The use of a demolition curtain contained all debris within the designated works perimeter. The

building was demolished to ground level using a Liebherr 954 with a 32-m high reach arm.

All materials were brought back into the site for processing by two Komatsu 490 excavators. They were equipped with OilQuick head brackets and Rotar pulverisers, which maximised fuel efficiency and reduced downtime when changing the attachments. The materials were then processed to 6f2 aggregate which was used by MGL Earthworks for the piling mats and capping layers. This was part of the remediation work and piling platform subcontractor package the team delivered.

Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) resulted in the development of an effective strategy, harnessing the expertise of all stakeholders to facilitate informed decision-making and seamless project delivery.

All contaminated waste was accurately classified before being hauled and either disposed of at landfill or taken for off-site treatment. This included the classification and disposal of numerous hazardous and nonhazardous waste streams, including shale, ash and significant volumes of asbestos contaminated hardcore. Following the contamination removal and breakout of relic buried structures, over 40,000 tonnes of imported recycled aggregate and 12,000 tonnes of site-recycled aggregates were placed for the terraced pile mats.

High reach demolition of Commercial Union House

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Bamburgh House

In November 2022, demolition of Bamburgh House, once renowned as the iconic Tuxedo Junction nightclub, commenced. This 1970s reinforced concrete structure featured cladding panels and two basement retaining walls that provided support to the main road.

Following asbestos removal and soft strip processes, the demolition methodology underwent comprehensive validation by an independent structural engineer. Additionally, another structural engineer conducted a thorough review to ensure the highest safety standards.

The 11-storey building was carefully separated from the neighbouring Carliol House using floor-by-floor demolition. During a series of nightshifts, the building was systematically deconstructed to ground level, including the removal of all substructures and basement slabs. To minimise dust, water cannons were used to control the arisings, while high-pressure hose attachments were used on the high reach pulverising attachments. All demolition waste was transported to the company’s nearby licensed facility for recycling.

Carliol House

The Grade II listed building on Market Street was built in the mid1920s and constructed of Portland stone over a steel frame with reinforced ribbed concrete floors. Developers were keen to retain as much of its original features as possible and the facade was carefully preserved.

Through effective coordination and collaboration with all stakeholders, the facade retention installation and design team seamlessly navigated the preplanning phases of the project.

During the soft strip operations, a bespoke scaffold rubbish chute

was installed at the rear of Carliol House to facilitate efficient waste removal. Simultaneously, segregated asbestos waste was safely removed by a scissor lift via designated transit routes.

As facade retention projects go, it is about as ambitious as they get. The 130-metre-long, 10-storey building is one of the longest and highest retention schemes in the UK. Given the intricate challenges associated with facade retention and separation, the demolition works required meticulous planning. The methodology underwent a rigorous Category 3 Temporary Works Review and Approval, which involved the scrutiny of an independent structural engineer.

The team conducted meticulous floor loading assessments, considered the need for propping and carefully evaluated various temporary work scenarios during the separation phases.

The interior of the building was partially dismantled using floor-byfloor techniques, the demolition team using remote-controlled demolition excavators facilitated the removal of three floors and the steel frame.

Once the building height had been reduced, a comprehensive separation from floor four to the basement divorced the structure from the facade. Remote demolition using the Liebherr 954 safely demolished the remaining structure.

The retained facade of Carliol House

Floor by floor demolition of Carliol House

Looking to the future

The demolition, earthworks and remediation strategy are almost complete. The project team has delivered a complex package of services with a focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability, including diverting 97% of waste from landfill to be recycled.

Paul Anderson, Contracts Manager for Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “It’s fantastic working with MGL Demolition on such an exciting scheme, our partnership approach has been instrumental in the delivery

case study

of fantastic results through true collaboration.

“Pilgrim’s Quarter will breathe new life into the area, bringing much needed jobs and investment and promoting Newcastle as a destination to live, work and thrive.”

The building work will continue until 2025, when it’ll be handed over to HMRC to be fitted out ready for the arrival of civil servants in 2027. This will be one of the most significant office schemes ever proposed in central Newcastle, leaving a legacy for generations to come.

High reach demolition of Carliol House

CGI impression of the redevelopment CREDIT - Ryder Architecture

The fifth staging of the only independent, open to all celebration of all things demolition across the British Isles is imminent and this issue of Demolition Hub will be found throughout the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With a total of 13 awards on offer for the demolition and asbestos removal industries, it will be nice for Tottenham to have some trophies on show if only for one night.

Japes to one side, I like Tottenham; they brought Klinsmann, Sherringham and Gazza to the TV screens, leaving me in awe of their talent as a boy. With six strikers in the mid-90s they were quite the eventful team.

I am so pleased with the professionalism of the Tottenham Hotspur events team, who have assisted us at the world’s most technically advanced stadium. We really are lucky to be there and I hope the industry enjoys its night. We reached out to all of last year’s winners to ask what the British Demolition Awards meant to them. I look forward to seeing you all on the evening of 1 September.

Ben Chambers, Founder, British Demolition Awards

Brown and Mason

As the previous winner of the Demolition Project of the Year award of 2022, Brown and Mason Group takes great pride in describing our experience, entry and the significance of winning such a distinguished tribute. Last year’s victory may now be further in the past, but it continues to serve as a testament to our commitment to excellence in the demolition industry. Our award-winning project showcased our expertise, innovation and unwavering dedication to safety and environmental responsibility. It involved dismantling a large industrial complex that posed unique challenges with the reengineering and stabilisation of thixotropic soils to provide a construction platform suitable for constructing an energy from waste plant. Brown and Mason provided an integrated solution that had seen the business pull on all its internal resources, leveraging team members’ strengths to provide a management team of like-minded professionals that strive

for excellence, including geotechnical engineers, water and waste management engineers, demolition engineers, civil engineers and other specialisms for the delivery of this integrated solution. Through this design and build contract, Brown and Mason provided an enabling, demolition ground remediation solution that clearly identified the most technically and economically feasible remedial solutions to manage potential demolition and contamination risks to human health and controlled waters that may arise as a result of works.

The entry itself was developed during the final phases of the works, with months of meticulous planning, the success was entirely dependent upon collaboration across the wider design team and dialogue among the team members was critical to developing an innovative approach to the award.

Winning the Demolition Project of the Year award was an incredibly gratifying experience for our entire

organisation, serving as validation of our hard work, expertise, and relentless pursuit of excellence. The recognition from industry experts and peers reaffirmed our position as leaders in the demolition/enabling works industry and increased our reputation in the remediation sector.

Additionally, the award brought a sense of pride and satisfaction to our team members, who had poured their passion and skills into the project. It was a collective achievement that further strengthened our companionship and motivated us to continue pushing boundaries in the industry.

Looking ahead to this year’s awards, we are excited about once again showcasing our expertise and innovation, however, this year’s submission will showcase works of a different nature and complexity, exhibiting our breadth of expertise and in-house capabilities. Our team has been tirelessly working on several high-profile projects, each presenting its own unique set of challenges, we are confident that our entries will highlight the best of Brown and Mason’s capabilities, demonstrating our ability to deliver exceptional results while adhering to the highest safety and environmental sustainability standards. Winning this year’s award would be a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to excellence.

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Cawarden

Last year, we had the honour of being presented with the Environmental Innovation of the Year award at the fourth annual British Demolition Awards, which were held at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.

Our winning submission highlighted various environmental initiatives and best practices that we have implemented to enhance sustainability in our projects and operations. The judges recognised our efforts as exceptional and we are proud to have been acknowledged in this way.

Winning this award was a testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of the Cawarden team. It is through these endeavours that we are able to attain awards like this and demonstrate our delivery expertise to our valuable clients, with sustainability always at the forefront.

William Crooks Hall of Fame 2022 Inductee

At the event, William Crooks, our Managing Director, received an incredible honour.

Demolition Hub inducted him as the first member of the Demolition Hall of Fame for his outstanding service and commitment to the demolition industry.

After accepting the award, William gave an inspiring speech that left both the Cawarden team and the industry feeling proud.

Looking ahead to the fifth annual British Demolition Awards

Kudos to Demolition Hub for organising this industry showcase event. It’s a fabulous celebration that honours the outstanding accomplishments of companies and individuals in the industry and one that we always look forward to attending.

The event recognises the foremost national and international players in the demolition industry and provides industry professionals like us with a forum to meet,

socialise and talk business. It’s a celebration of all that is great about the demolition industry.

We can’t wait to join the British Demolition Awards 2023 and look forward to a night celebrating the demolition and asbestos abatement industries’ achievements.

Good luck to all those entering this year.

Clifford Devlin

Clifford Devlin entered the awards last year after celebrating our 60th year in the industry and we felt that our team, from top to bottom, had demonstrated the reason why the company deserved to win Demolition Contractor of the Year. Writing our submission was a proud moment for us as company, we felt that it was a reflection of our hard work throughout the year.

We were absolutely delighted to hear our name being read out for Demolition Contractor of the Year last year. We weren’t expecting it at all, especially with the great talent in

the room. Walking up to collect our award was a proud moment for us all and the award sits in our office as a reminder of our achievement. It was brilliant to see such excitement in the team, especially in our 60th year of business.

We are grateful to Demolition Hub for organising such a great event, to the judges for selecting us as their demolition contractor of the year and to all attendees who made it a memorable night.

We are all looking forward to this year’s awards and we look forward to networking again.

Winning the Safety Innovation of the Year award two years in a row has not only reaffirmed our position as leaders in the industry, but also brought about a host of positive impacts that continue to resonate within the organisation. As the 2023 British Demolition Awards approach, we at FHOSS eagerly await the opportunity to showcase our unwavering commitment to safety and innovation once more.

The recognition from industry experts and peers alike instilled a profound sense of accomplishment within the team, validating all the hard work that goes into developing and improving upon systems that have real world impact, keeping pedestrians safe from severe injury and death.

One of the most significant impacts of winning the award was the heightened visibility and credibility FHOSS garnered within the industry. Media coverage and industry-wide recognition has amplified our presence, attracting the attention of forward-thinking individuals and businesses, that believe in getting their workers home safe every single day.

The award acted yet again as a powerful endorsement of our team’s capabilities, opening doors to new business opportunities and collaborations. Clients seeking toptier safety solutions turned to FHOSS with increased trust, reinforcing the company’s position as the premier safety innovation partner.

Internally, winning the award sparked a wave of enthusiasm and

FHOSS

pride among Team FHOSS. The achievement serves as a source of motivation, fuelling the team’s passion for excellence and pushing the boundaries of on-site pedestrian safety. The award has highlighted the value of teamwork and creativity, fostering a collaborative work environment where ideas flow freely, innovation thrives, and most importantly – lives are saved.

Kocurek

Having attended the British Demolition Awards for the first time in 2021, Kocurek was really on board to get involved further in 2022, which meant submitting our first entry for the awards. The company entered the Supplier of the Year award, which was sponsored by Brown and Mason.

We were extremely proud to win the award as it further helps cement our reputation of being the leaders in excavator modification. As a company it is important that we keep reminding people that we are still here and are busy working away creating truly bespoke machines that go into the UK market for our many longstanding UK customers.

The awards are a great way to showcase this and to win is the icing

on the cake. It is great to be able to support the event by way of attending as well as being an entrant. It has been good to witness the awards grow in popularity and gain further recognition, no easy task but one that Global News Media is not shying away from. To see the enthusiasm for the event from companies in the UK is brilliant as more so than ever the industry faces on going challenges. To see the industry come together to recognise the achievements of many UK companies can only be a positive thing.

Kocurek is very pleased to be sponsoring the Demolition Contractor of the Year award for 2023, a very tough category and definitely one that is special to win. Good luck to all the 2023 entrants.

Our own entry for Supplier of the Year 2023 has already been submitted so fingers crossed for this year. We look forward to attending the event again this year which has extra appeal for a few members of staff who rather liked the venue selected.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FEATURE

Clifford Devlin: Working with ex-offenders to close the skills gap and reduce reoffending

In 2022, Clifford Devlin began a planned series of prison visits across the south-east of England, co-ordinated with New Futures Network, with a view to establishing stable work opportunities for people due to be released from custody.

Clifford Devlin is working to close the gap on skills shortages in the construction industry by

reinforcing the importance of having skilled construction workers and continuously push for more training in prisons to ensure that ex-offenders leave prison ready for a construction site.

Clifford Devlin has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice since the government committed to investing £200m per year by 2023

on reducing reoffending, including in prison leaver employment schemes. To work closely with the MOJ, Clifford Devlin has accepted a position on the Employment Advisory Board at HMP Chelmsford to provide employment schemes and influence the training inside prisons.

Clifford Devlin has successfully employed numerous returning citizens into its demolition and asbestos division and is still actively recruiting from prisons that release in its area.

The company is fully committed to the professional development of all its staff and so at the end of November 2022, two of the returning citizens based on one of its large projects in London were placed on demolition apprenticeships run by the NDTG.

The course run by the NDTG is for a duration of two years, during which time the apprentices will gain qualifications in:

• CCDO blue card

• CPCS slinger signaller (lifting operations)

• Remote controlled demolition plant

• IPAF

• PASMA

• First aid

• NPORS plant machinery marshal

• Site access traffic marshal

• Safe use of oxy fuel cutting

• Non-licensed asbestos removal

• Abrasive wheels

• Cable avoidance

• Temporary works awareness

• Introduction to BIM and CAD

• COSHH awareness

• Spillage and pollution prevention While the course takes place, the

individuals will be mentored on a demolition, soft strip and structural alterations project in London’s financial district. The project will allow for the two apprentices to gain a broad range of experience learning different aspects of demolition works and understanding sustainability through the circular economy.

The project is a Grade II* nine-storey listed office building and works were undertaken while occupied by the existing tenant.

Clifford Devlin believes that placing the returning citizens onto apprenticeships is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. One of its

returning citizens who it recruited last year said: “Since early March when I started working with Clifford Devlin my life has changed for the good.”

Alison Renville, New Futures Network, said:

“Clifford Devlin has been exceptional in its drive and commitment to reduce reoffending through giving employment opportunities to people released from custody. Clifford Devlin’s belief in social justice is evident in all that they have done to support people into the workplace, giving people that vital second chance to live a better life. I am truly grateful to Clifford Devlin and the team for their time, energy and belief in rehabilitation.”

Putting community at the heart of everything Anglian does

Anglian Waste Recycling Group has built an enviable reputation since its establishment in 2007. Its headquarters in Norfolk now cover nine acres and operations have grown rapidly over the last 15 years. Originally operating as demolition and asbestos specialists, Anglian has since built multiple divisions to support the work on a range of projects, including waste and metal recycling, scaffolding and earthworks.

Anglian also focuses on supporting other local businesses and taking care of its local area, whether that is offering support through team sponsorships, charity events, providing much needed equipment or volunteering with litter picks.

Anglian proudly supports the local East Anglian Children’s Hospice, The Nook with its annual Christmas tree recycling collections and is a Platinum Member of the Priscilla Bacon Lodge 500 Club, meaning that it is committed to raising £10,000 for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice by the end of 2023.

The team made a massive impact at the Royal Norfolk Show this year, where they exhibited with a 10 m

tower allowing visitors spectacular panoramic views of the Royal Norfolk Showground and all the events taking place, with more than 6,000 guests making the trip to the top of the tower. The whole construction took four men a total of three days to erect, but the hard work was completely worth it just to see the astonished faces of the public on approach.

Anglian Waste Recycling has been working alongside several local schools to provide waste and recycling collections. Field Sales Executive, Matt “Darcy” Raven has also been leading educational assemblies at Cawston Church of England Primary Academy and the school has recently run a recycling poster competition for its students, with the winning posters set to decorate their brand-new bin and recycling storage centre. The winners from years one and six are pictured with Darcy Raven.

Anglian’s Director Toni Storer also sits on the board of Transforming Local Communities (TLC). The business hosts one of the UK’s most successful litter picking groups, Taverham and Drayton Litter Pickers,

and they also secure sponsorships from businesses to allow the group to simultaneously tackle social and environmental issues. To date the business has been able to contribute towards:

• 65+ sponsored litter picks

• 385+ community volunteers

• 3,700+ kg of rubbish collected

• 1,000+ full bin bags of rubbish

• 1,300+ volunteer hours

• 950+ glass bottles recycled to raise funds for our local village hall

• 50+ Green Blue Peter badges achieved by young people, giving them free access to 200 UK attractions

TLC has recently set up a networking group for socially responsible businesses to come together and litter pick while meeting other likeminded businesses. Pick’N’Mix is an exciting new concept that they hope to see spread around the UK. Additional grant funding will support them to further grow the community litter picks and provide additional support to new and existing litter picking groups across the UK. The TLC Directors continue to use their knowledge and skills to help other

Anglian recycling poster competition winners with ‘Darcy’ Raven at Cawston Church of England Primary Academy

organisers to better recruit to their events and make a bigger difference in their local area.

The funds raised from the litter picking, grants, donations and other fundraising activities go to support social enterprise

Safe at Home, which provides free CCTV and installations to those experiencing post separation abuse. Post-separation abuse is a type of domestic violence that occurs after a couple has separated or divorced. It can take many forms, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse and stalking/harassment.

Safe at Home receives referrals from professionals working with medium to high-risk individuals across Norfolk – including police, children’s services, social housing providers, domestic abuse services, etc. All those referred to Safe at Home are living in immediate fear of their safety.

By providing security equipment the enterprise can help to:

• Deter abuse

• Increase reporting of abuse

• Capture evidence that can be used to secure convictions

• Provide security to those living in fear

• Protect the wider community through increased reporting on DBS checks and Claire’s Law checks

In August 2021, an incident saw many women in our local area afraid to walk alone. As a result, Safe at Home used some of the sponsorship money raised to fund 13 self defence classes, which were attended by 154 women and girls. They have also supported local food banks when they were struggling with donations and can provide CCTV cameras for those experiencing post separation abuse.

Toni Storer, Director said: “We also focus our efforts on local businesses and taking care of our local area, whether that is offering support through sponsorships or volunteering with litter picks, supporting local events and charities.”

It really is “All in a day’s work” for Anglian.

www.transforminglocal communities.org.uk

Anglian Demolition scaffolding at the Royal Norfolk Show 2023

Anglian Managing Director Lee Storer and Director Toni Storer with Bullseye (Office Security)

Colemans: Putting CSR at the heart of its family values

by Mark Coleman, CEO

Colemans

For Colemans, specialist contractors offering demolition, cutting, remediation and engineering services, CSR has always played an important role in the company ethos. For many companies CSR is a box-ticking exercise. For others, it is a way to drive competitive advantage or boost engagement among employees. At Colemans, it is much more than that.

Colemans was built on family values by my grandparents starting in 1962. As we celebrate our 60th year as a family business in Birmingham, we continue those same family values to this day. We put people first

and that includes the communities in which we work.

We believe in supporting physical and mental wellbeing and in providing opportunities for all. That starts within the organisation, supporting our own people so that they can support clients, but it extends to local communities too. It is born from our Irish roots – a culture where that sense of community remains incredibly important.

Long-standing partnerships

As part of this, we believe it is vital to build lasting relationships with good causes and local initiatives.

Our longest partnership is with an organisation called SIFA Fireside, building on a relationship that started back in the 1960s when my grandmother Norah Coleman lived in Stechford, next door to SIFA’s founder, Sister Sabina.

Today, SIFA Fireside is the main day centre facility supporting people experiencing homelessness in Birmingham and we continue to provide fundraising and employability services. In October 2022 we were delighted to be able to donate £60,000 as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations.

This is not the only organisation we have supported over a long period of time, whether through fundraising, volunteering, employability services, contractor services or a combination of all.

Stechford Foodbank is another organisation with strong links to my grandparents and it is now providing food parcels to an increasing number of people in the local community. We have helped Birmingham BMX Club sponsorship support, engineering and groundworks expertise, as they look to build a world standard track in nearby Perry Barr. And we have been involved with Rectory Amateur Boxing Club in Sutton Coldfield for many years, another organisation doing great work to give young people focus and structure in a safe sporting environment.

We won’t stop there. Just recently we have committed to sponsor two local football clubs, Haunchwood Avengers, and Rubery Juniors. We will continue to seek opportunities to help make a difference.

It is all part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities in which we work. You can find out more about some of these partnerships in Mark’s Demolition Diaries at coleman-group.co.uk/supportingour-local-communities.

Physical and mental wellbeing

Another key aspect of our CSR strategy is supporting the wellbeing of people and the planet. I am proud

Mark Coleman at Stechford foodbank

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to say that we focus on physical and mental wellbeing across the entire organisation, whether that means developing safer methods of demolition or taking steps to support mental health. We have developed a structured programme of training and development together with wellbeing, reward and recruitment initiatives that give our teams the platform to succeed. We firmly believe that putting people first is the key to a happier, more engaged workforce, delivering better service for clients.

A major study of mental health among self-employed construction workers and those working in small firms by Mates in Mind in 2022 showed that two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide every day (over 700 a year) and 48% have taken time off work due to unmanageable stress. I am passionate about removing the stigma from mental health in our industry and we have recently signed up as a Silver Supporter of DEMOLISTEN, the mental health charity for the demolition industry from Demolition Hub and Mates In Mind.

Not forgetting our responsibility to support the wellbeing of our planet too. We have built a strategy to reduce the environmental impact of our activities, incorporating a holistic approach across plant, travel, recycling and more. This includes using electric-powered plant, new methodologies that reduce water usage, increased use of digital resources to minimise travel and a continued commitment to recycling across all sites and offices.

We are proud members of the SME Climate Hub, a global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build more resilient businesses. We have committed to halve our own emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 as part of the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. Our actions will be audited every year under the SME Climate Hub initiative.

Looking forwards

Ultimately, this is all about meeting our responsibilities as a responsible contractor. Whether supporting communities, protecting the planet or promoting physical and mental wellbeing, we believe it is important to take positive steps to reduce the impact of our operations and support those around us – and we remain focused on achieving that. More than that, we believe in collaboration across the industry to help achieve wider goals. This includes industry-wide initiatives such as DEMOLISTEN and working groups like the European Demolition Association (EDA) and

National

Let’s work together to meet our CSR objectives and deliver improvements for all.

Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC).

Colemans has been involved with Rectory Amateur Boxing Club in Sutton Coldfield for many years

Colemans repaired the starting ramp at Birmingham BMX Club

Two local football clubs are sponsored by Colemans

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Hughes and Salvidge, Helping Hands initiative

by Luke Gould, Sales and Marketing Executive, Hughes and Salvidge

As Hughes and Salvidge reaches its 60th anniversary and continues to grow, so does our responsibility to promote social value in the communities in which we operate. As such, our Helping Hands initiative covers five main pillars of social value: charity, community, wellness,

development and sustainability, giving the company project-specific and annual objectives.

Focusing on these five key elements ensures that Hughes and Salvidge is always conscious of the impact it is having on our local communities and the wider world,

helping keep that impact as positive as possible.

Building and maintaining positive relationships with local schools is a vital and rewarding part of Hughes and Salvidge’s work. Our staff regularly deliver presentations on site safety as well as attend careers days for various age groups to educate young people on what they could expect from a career in our industry and inform them of potential entry routes that may be open to them.

We have been fortunate enough

Left to right: Lewis Smith, Hughes and Salvidge Project Manager; Chris Atwell, Portsmouth City Councillor; and Curtis Bunyan, Hughes and Salvidge Site Manager outside Cottage Grove Primary School.

to make some fantastic partnerships across the country, none more so than with Portsmouth City Council. Most recently this collaboration saw us provide more than £6,000 of support to Cottage Grove Primary School in Portsmouth, covering a multitude of works.

• Supplied and installed new closeboard fencing to secure boundary,

• Repainted picket fence at school entrance,

• Removed old ply panels, secured timber fencing then installed new ply sheets painted white for the kids to decorate,

• Provided two 12-yard skips for waste removal,

• Removed planters around the reception playground. Hughes and Salvidge also completed a project at The Cedar School in Southampton, which works with children with complex special educational needs and physical difficulties. The school was one of 261 schools nationwide to win a share of £2.4bn government funding as part of its Priority School Building Programme aimed at rebuilding schools “in need of urgent repair”.

Among other issues, the previous building suffered from leakages, was contaminated with asbestos and its windows were in dire need of replacement.

The children enjoyed having the machines close by and regularly watched the works taking place from behind the site boundary. Our site team were even treated to personalised gingerbread biscuits complete with hard hats and hi-vis vests to help keep their strength up.

The children are now able to enjoy more playground space next to their new school buildings. Other new facilities include a hydrotherapy pool and support therapy, sensory and physiotherapy areas as well as classrooms with group rooms, support areas for the children and a learning resource centre.

Many of our larger decommissioning projects are on structures which have stood

as pillars in their area supporting individuals and families and contributing massively to local economies. The people employed in these places, whether it’s a power plant or a factory, have extensive knowledge and can be truly invaluable when it comes to enacting our demolition plans, so it is quite common for those employees to be retained in an advisory capacity. We

also endeavour to use labour from within 25 miles of any given project in addition to our core team.

It goes without saying that the safety of all those in the area surrounding our sites is a priority. We ensure lit hoarding is installed with secure gates to create a safe site perimeter and regularly include viewing panels so the community can see the works being undertaken.

Tear down the wall

Bridging the gap for alternative education students in the construction industry

by Lloyd Graham, Senior Social Sustainability Partner, Keltbray

Keltbray, a UK-leading specialist construction engineering and infrastructure services company, recently provided work experience opportunities for alternative education students. The students were from New River College Secondary school, a school for 11 to 16-year-olds with social, emotional, and mental health challenges often excluded from mainstream education. Pupils are taught in small

form groups, with a greater focus on vocational courses.

Raising awareness both internally and externally of supporting students who have barriers to education, placing an emphasis on reintegrating them into mainstream education or the workforce is highly important. The objective of the work experience programme was to bridge the gap and provide opportunities for students from

diverse backgrounds. This includes raising awareness of individuals who encounter students who may not fit the status quo and need additional support.

The work experience programme

We aimed to introduce the students from New River College to the construction industry and develop their soft skills, such as work etiquette, attitudes, and behaviours.

Students on a guided site walk at 2 Aldermanbury Square

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The work experience programme is tailored around the students, ensuring not to adopt a one size fits all approach.

The programme spanned a week and included various activities and site visits. The students had the opportunity to visit construction sites and gain insights into various aspects of the industry, including structural engineering, training and development and the wider construction industry. The programme also focused on social value and the positive impact that alternative education students can have in the construction sector.

Site visits and learning opportunities

During the work experience programme, the students from New River College visited construction sites at Aldermanbury Square and met the project team at Salisbury Square. They learned about the role of a project manager from Steve Pallister, Senior Project Manager at Salisbury Square, who shared valuable insights and experiences. The students also had the opportunity to meet a staff member who had a child in alternative education provision and this real-life case study provided inspiration and motivation for the students.

Additionally, a visit to Derwent’s offices allowed the students to understand the role of the client (developer) and the collaborative work between Keltbray and its partners.

Challenges and personal barriers

Throughout the work experience week, the students from New River College faced several challenges. These challenges included managing personal barriers to employment, such as anxiety and other individual obstacles. The programme aimed to address these challenges by providing support and guidance to help students overcome their barriers and develop the necessary skills and confidence for future success.

Social sustainability and key drivers

Keltbray’s Social Value team has demonstrated the company’s commitment to improving opportunities for communities through work experience for alternative education students and working with rehabilitated offenders to get them back into employment.

The programme addresses the broader discussion points on NEET individuals (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and highlights the potential for positive outcomes for ex-offenders as well.

By actively engaging with our communities and providing opportunities, Keltbray aims to contribute to social value and bridge the gap for individuals from difficult backgrounds.

At Keltbray, social value is created when our people and businesses make a conscious and concerted effort, and where the effects of their actions generate social change by contributing to the long-term wellbeing and resilience of

individuals, the company and wider society.

Our Social Value team’s work experience programme for alternative education students highlights our commitment to corporate social responsibility and social sustainability. By providing these students with exposure to the construction industry and addressing personal barriers, Keltbray aims to bridge the gap and create opportunities for individuals who face challenges in accessing mainstream education or employment. The programme not only equips students with valuable skills but also instils confidence and opens doors for a successful future.

Keltbray’s efforts in supporting alternative education students from New River College contribute to a more inclusive and diverse workforce within the construction industry.

Our social value review can be found in our annual report, which highlights how we deliver social value and our initiatives.

Students from New River College engaging with a spokesperson from Derwent London

McGee: building a legacy of positive impact

by Marc Byrne, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, McGee

London construction projects are often substantial and can significantly affect workers and residents. To address this, we work closely with local authorities, complying with their Codes of Construction Practice and legislative regulations. However, we aim to go beyond that and set ourselves as the industry’s best regarding CSR. Our clients, local authorities and the communities we serve expect us to be proactive and make a positive difference.

We understand that no two projects are the same, each bringing unique challenges. Therefore, as part of our due diligence, we delve deep into the areas where we’ll be working. We reach out to key stakeholders, from residents’ associations to community centres and places of worship, to understand their perspectives and motivations. This knowledge helps us craft Community Liaison Plans that truly deliver social value to the local area.

Twenty years ago, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was uncommon in the UK’s construction industry. The focus was solely on completing projects with little thought about their impact on people and communities. However, times have changed and we have wholeheartedly embraced CSR at McGee. We aim to minimise our impact and leave a positive mark on the lives of those around us.

Over the years, I have witnessed the incredible transformation of our industry and it fills me with pride to be a part of it. We no longer confine ourselves within our site boundaries; instead, we strive to be good neighbours and active contributors to the broader communities where we work.

At McGee, we work on two tiers of community engagement. The first revolves around our corporate charity of the year. Since we are an employee-owned company, we allow our employees to decide on the charity partner through a vote. This year, we’ve joined forces with London Youth to encourage the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers. Through various programmes, London Youth provides opportunities and support to thousands of young people across London. We organise fundraising events throughout the year, encouraging all employees to participate.

The second level of engagement focuses on local projects, where we work closely with clients to positively impact the community. For instance, we collaborated with our St John’s Wood Square client to prepare the local adventure playground for summer. Our site office staff and operatives worked hard to sand down play equipment, lay fresh bark, paint walls, trim trees and give the pond a makeover. Similarly, at

Laying fresh bark at the St John’s Wood adventure play hub

Marc Bryne, McGee’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility

our 1 Golden Lane Development, we helped the Barbican Wildlife Garden by installing a sustainable rainwater irrigation system. This garden is regarded as an important site for nature conservation. These local community projects not only benefit the community but also have a positive impact on our workforce. The sense of fulfilment and improved relations they foster go beyond the time and resources invested.

Engaging the next generation of professionals in the construction industry is increasingly important. With the growing shortage of skilled workers, we recognised the need to inspire young minds to consider careers in construction. Our Training and Development team work closely with the local educational establishments across all our sites, from schools to colleges, promoting the industry’s opportunities. We participate in local career fairs, organise employment workshops and warmly welcome students to our sites, providing them with a first-hand glimpse of the possibilities that lie ahead.

At McGee, we strive to not only reduce the negative impacts often associated with construction but also to create a positive and lasting impact on the neighbourhoods and people we work with daily. This approach not only enhances our business reputation but also benefits our clients and the industry we represent. Most significantly, it positively impacts the communities in which we operate, be it in economic, environmental or social terms.

The St John’s Wood Square community team and McGee site staff who worked to revitalise the local adventure play hub

McGee site operatives laying bricks at the St John’s Wood adventure play hub

Loading branches at St John’s Wood

Sanding the play equipment at St John’s Wood

Number 8 Group: Socially responsible resourcing

by Pete Hart, Managing Director

Number 8 Group

If we read the headlines it is fair to say humanity has given itself a decent kicking over the past 5 to 10 years. Global intolerance and a general lack of empathy fed by a surge in social media appear to be leading us down rabbit holes with unpredictable destinations. However, at the same time our communities and businesses are rapidly transitioning away from historically narrow attitudes and prejudice by demanding a far more inclusive approach to how and who opportunity is apportioned. The term Corporate Social Responsibility is slowly losing its tick box status and actually being accepted as a hugely positive addition to traditional business practice.

It’s fair to say that the demolition

sector has never been considered overtly progressive and this is somewhat understandable based on its traditional roots and the nature of the work. Confidence has been established and maintained by sticking to a “what we know” baseline, which has seen the sector evolve into a sophisticated and highly technical industry, earning credibility alongside its construction counterpart. Now to ensure its place in a modern business ecosystem, it must continue its evolution to reflect current attitudes towards inclusivity, diversity and social responsibility.

The reality facing all sectors of the economy is that global influences have eroded established resource pools, so diversifying into uncharted catchment streams is not only

socially responsible, it’s becoming essential for long term survival.

Providing opportunities for women, military service leavers, ex-offenders and the disabled is just the start of a journey the demolition sector needs to commit to and support across its businesses if it is going to continue to attract enough new starters to sustain and retain a growing talent pool. This is not a free ride and will require a significant shift away from traditional cultures and in some cases a comprehensive support structure to ensure all parties accept and understand the challenges some individuals will encounter as they navigate their own uncertainties.

There is growing evidence that, given sufficient support and awareness these motivated and

success hungry individuals can establish themselves alongside the traditional workforce. Seeing a disabled worker competently carry out duties appropriate to their physical capabilities can only be inspirational. Witnessing a once troubled ex-offender turn their lives around and become a contributor to society can only provide a positive message to all employees. The idea that CSR is limited to a policy document that never sees the light of day, is not only redundant, it is commercially regressive.

Resourcing into demolition comes in many forms. For many demolition contractors there has always been a beneficial relationship with agency suppliers to provide the flexibility they require to manage constantly changing project demands. This is

where the pressure of a shrinking traditional resource pool is being felt the most. Demand exceeding supply has forced rates to almost unsustainable levels and showing no signs of easing. Going forward it will be critical for all agency suppliers to expand their catchment and equally as important that their client contractors provide that much needed soft landing for new starters who require it.

We live in uncertain, troubled times but there is still an opportunity to provide a positive impact on our communities and enhance your business at the same time.

Number 8 Resourcing Ltd has been an ISP member of the NFDC since 2013 as a supplier of temporary demolition labour. It is currently heavily engaged with

multiple prisons to provide inhouse CCDO training and work opportunities for ex-offenders transitioning into a sustainable life after they are released. It is very keen to expand its current activity levels but requires the support and commitment of client partners to achieve this and take a positive step towards expanding the demolition talent pool.

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Giving something back. Mental health support for the demolition industry

At Global News Media, we know what we are doing with PR, promotion and advertising and after some 10 years on the media side of demolition, we know this sector too.

Our founder Ben Chambers is a salesman at heart and uses his ability to promote demolition in the UK across all the Demolition Hub channels.

We are the positive, informative and advertising savvy brand and we make no bones about having benefitted from creating the world’s number one demolition industry platform. We certainly all enjoy being immersed in it.

We have supported Mates in Mind from day one, mainly as our principal charity at our annual British Demolition Awards, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the construction mental health charity.

With the trust in place, Ben Chambers took it upon himself to create a joint venture fundraiser with Mates in Mind to specifically to raise money for mental health in demolition.

DEMOLISTENis our offering to the industry. All funds raised go to Mates in Mind to help the UK’s demolition industry and those working in it with poor mental health. Hopefully we will save lives.

Thanks to those who already support us. For more information go to: www.demolisten.co.uk.

Delivering social value is more than a corporate responsibility

by Jonathan Cox, Marketing Director

This philosophy was created at the beginning of 2020 and drives us to make a positive impact wherever we can in each of five areas: Health and Safety, Quality, Environmental, People and Community.

Health and Safety

Health and safety can be seen as a tick box, something that you just do to ensure your team goes home safely at the end of the day. The reality is that there is far greater societal benefit to a strong approach to this vital area.

We invest significantly in training our staff in technical and behavioural safety as well as providing PPE, as you would expect.

Beyond that we have a number of trained Mental Health First Aiders and provide support services to any staff in need.

We believe that this effort not only benefits the workforce but wider society. A supported worker is going to be better placed in their home life and more able to contribute to society at large.

When you look up responsibility in the dictionary you are met with words such as obligation, blame and accountable.

The implication is that you are compelled to do something, not that you choose to just because it’s good or something you want to do to advance society. And that is exactly how CSR is often viewed.

The CIPD defines CSR as being “…about the ethics which drive an organisation’s activities and how it operates so that it’s viable over the long term.” The implication being that any company that ignores the systems on which it depends will ultimately fail.

It is all about advancing societal goals for the good of all. This, of course, includes the benefit of the company itself.

At Rye, we see delivering social value as something we should do, but also something that we want to do – because we recognise the opportunity we have to make a difference.

We care about demolition, we care about developing sustainable communities for the future, protecting the environment and creating opportunities for people.

I’m not going to pretend that there isn’t commercial benefit in pursuing the initiatives we’re involved in, but it goes beyond that. If commerciality is the only driver, then any efforts are likely to lack authenticity and energy.

In the coming paragraphs I’m going to outline our approach at Rye, which is firmly embedded in our Sustainable Standard philosophy.

It’s also an important topic to address to challenge perceptions and allay fears, as evidenced through a school visit I recently carried out where the biggest reason for not considering a career in demolition was the risk of injury, illness or death.

Quality

Our various accreditations and commitment to innovation are two ways in which we drive continual improvement and delivery of quality works. There may not appear to be an obvious link to CSR here, but imagine developments where the preparatory work is not to a high standard or communities are impacted by poor practice during the course of a demolition.

The impact of noise, dust, vibration and other pollutants or

at Rye Group

the poor management of waste will also contribute to community disruption, the erosion of goodwill and pervasion of negative industry perceptions.

Environmental

As a carbon emitting industry that deals with large quantities of waste, this is an area in which we can truly make a difference and deliver social value. As we have spoken about before, we have transitioned away from diesel to HVO in our plant, machinery and road vehicles, reducing emissions by around 90%. This has a benefit to the environment more widely, but also air quality around the sites at which we work.

A relentless focus on reuse and recycling is also something that benefits not only our clients, but society and the environment. There are many initiatives that we are pursuing to further reduce our environmental impact.

People

If CSR is about anything, it has to be about the impact we have on people; how we can improve the lives of our existing workforce, their families and people outside the industry.

One major way in which we look to support people is through our recruitment and development. We have always employed apprentices and have had several that have progressed through the business, picking up their cards on the way and learning different disciplines.

Another angle is the employment of ex-forces personnel and exoffenders. Transitioning to civilian life is a difficult stage for service personnel and many do not find work that takes advantage of their unique skillset. The same goes for ex-offenders who are often overlooked rather than viewed as people with a point to prove and a contribution to make.

By embracing these areas we are creating a perfect storm of benefit – for us as a company, for the individuals involved and

wider society that will benefit from productive members with a positive future.

Community

This is the most often considered area of CSR. Getting involved in community groups, school trips and charity work.

As with many demolition and construction companies, we look to engage with the communities in which we work and often support local groups by refurbishing their facilities or decorating a building. We support food banks and visit schools to talk about careers in the industry.

Beyond involving ourselves with the communities in which we work, we are also keen to support initiatives further afield that align with our work, especially

environmental initiatives and mental health charities.

This year we are also going to be supporting the charity DEBRA, that seeks to combat epidermolysis bullosa, as well as other local charities.

There are many ways in which we can deliver social value and deliver on our corporate social responsibilities, and we believe we do so. More importantly though, the initiatives we have are aligned with our business and seek to support the systems on which we depend as an organisation and as society as a whole.

We are privileged to be in a position to make a difference and would encourage other organisations to also think of authentic and relevant ways to deliver social value in a way that supports society’s goals.

Demolition Hub on site

Job name: Royal Albion Hotel emergency demolition due to fire

Location: Brighton seafront, East Sussex

Expected duration: Two to three weeks

Equipment used: Hitachi Zaxis ZX470LCH high reach, Zaxis 350, et al

Client: Brighton and Hove City Council

Snapshots of Ben and the Demolition Hub team’s activities between issues

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

Named after the 12th century bowed bridge, Stratford upon Bow has a wealth of historical importance dating as far back as Roman times, when the river and the settlements around it played a major role in the Romans’ dominance of southern Britain.

While the visible signs of the Roman Empire have long gone, along with many of the later historical elements of the area, companies working in this location are often subject to undertaking archaeological test pits within the scope of their contracts.

Essex-based Northeast Demolition recently found itself involved with one of these projects, less than 30 m from Roman Road, which runs through the heart of Bow.

The original project involved the strip out and demolition of a former nursing home, which was built in the 1980s and was being undertaken for one of the company’s regular clients. The three-storey building was built from modern materials of brick and block with a timber roof structure and contained very little in the way of asbestos. The tight site gave issues with bringing machinery and trucks in and out but once the setup was in position and tree protection implemented, the site team led by experienced Site Manager Mick Davies was able to bring the building down to the slab in a matter of weeks.

Mick explained: “We ensured the local residents weren’t bothered by dust and noise throughout the work. But the demolition and crushing work went off without a hitch. What did surprise us was the depth of the concrete strip footings, almost two metres in depth, totally clean of steel and no piles. They must have had a deal on the material when the building was built.”

With the first lot of material crushed and stockpiled ready for installation as a piling mat, the teams set about work on the rear of the

All roads lead to Rome

by Paul Argent

substructure using a new LiuGong 933E excavator (right), which both operator Kevin Bundock and Contracts Manager Ross Harris think is a very powerful and productive machine. Wielding a large JCB breaker, the LiuGong was being used to break out the large sections of concrete and load them onto a fleet of eight-wheeled tippers for onward processing. Ross said: “We would usually do this on site but have a big

lack of space here at the moment.”

This lack of space is down to an ongoing archaeological dig being undertaken towards the rear of the site. Conducted by a team of archaeologists from PreConstruct Archaeology, the dig is being undertaken as the planning consents called for a series of trial holes to be undertaken as the building was demolished. Ross said: “We allow for a machine, supervisor and operator for set period of time to undertake any work like this. We’ve worked in this area for too long not to include a sum for these works and have learned from experience that there can often be something found.”

What the team at Northeast couldn’t have expected was the number of Roman finds within the ground at just 500 to 800 mm below the surface. “We had dug a couple of trial holes as directed along the site boundary,” Ross said, “and it was clear that PCA’s resident archaeologist had found something of interest.”

What had been found immediately was signs of a Roman ditch. This was surprising given that the majority of the site had been built on in the 80s over what was Victorian terraced houses, hence the deep footings. The exposure of the ditch

case study

was quickly followed by a number of post holes and the most exciting find, a small number of cremation urns containing burned Roman remains. Neil said: “The nursing home was probably one of the last buildings to be built without archaeology being put into the planning laws. Nowadays anywhere within London requires the input of an archaeological team from the outset. Firstly, a desk-based task to understand the viability of a project moving onto costing and implementing the potential work to be carried out on site. This is an area some contractors ignore at their peril as depending on the location, it can be of high archaeological importance.”

The team from PCA was working alongside the Northeast team on site for over four weeks and while the programme for the developer was impacted, Northeast worked diligently to undertake any stripping works the team has required while still attempting to remove the large concrete footings.

Ross said: “We have had to leave a number of the large strips in place until PCA have finished. We have been lucky that the front of the site hasn’t been affected and we are able to install a piling mat to keep this side of the project pushing along. PCA will have finished by Christmas, giving us a small window after the break to complete the removal of the remaining concrete and piling mat works.”

While the impact of the archaeological dig hasn’t financially hampered the Northeast team, it should be noted that some contractors aren’t quite as savvy as this.

Ross said: “It’s always worth accounting for a small amount of archaeological work on a price. PCA have been very good to work with and realise we are there to help not hinder them and have worked alongside us allowing us to carry on as far as we can with our work.”

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Liebherr and Leica Geosystems expand range of semi-automatic machine control systems for crawler excavators

The transformation of the construction industry continues apace with construction sites becoming increasingly digital and networked. Driver assistance systems are gaining importance, supporting machine operators in carrying out their activities by means of the latest technologies and real time information. Quality, efficiency and safety can all be significantly increased, while planning and implementation times are reduced.

Leica Geosystems’ machine control systems are already available in different versions for Liebherr mobile and crawler excavators. They include the 2D passive and 3D passive machine control system for Generation 6 and 8, as well as the 2D “3D-ready” semi-automatic and the 3D semi-automatic for Generation 6.

The availability of semi-automatic machine control systems, both 2D “3D-ready” and 3D, has been extended to Generation 8 crawler excavators; they are now available for the R 922, R 924, R 926, R 928, R 930, R 934, R 938 and R 945 models.

The respective equipment variants are available from Liebherr ex works. All machine control components from Leica Geosystems are optimally installed during the production process and the customer receives a pre-calibrated

machine. Downtimes due to subsequent installation can thus be avoided.

Depending on the situation and requirements on the construction site, Liebherr offers the right machine control system for every application. Whereas with a passive system, machine operators have to follow the indications on the display in the cab and operate the machine themselves to complete the job, the semi-automatic machine control system provides active support with a semi-automated removal mode. The machine operator must only control the machine’s stick movements and speed via the joystick. The system automatically adjusts the correct movement of all the equipment to create the target profile.

Productivity can be significantly increased by using a semi-automatic machine control system. Work can also be carried out much more precisely over a longer period, reducing time-consuming and costintensive reworking. Generation 8 machines with a passive machine control system can be retrofitted with a semi-automatic system by means of a corresponding software package at the customer’s request, provided that they are equipped with a Master 5 Premium.

Both 2D and 3D machine control

systems from Leica Geosystems provide the machine operator with information about the height and inclination of the machine as well as the corresponding position via the display in the operator’s cab.

While a 2D machine control system is designed for working from flat and sloping surfaces, a 3D machine control system uses reference models and GNSS to guide the machine operator. Through 3D GNSS positioning in conjunction with 3D model data, all information on excavation and removal as well as the machine’s position on the construction site is visible in real time.

“Quality, efficiency and safety can all be significantly increased, while planning and implementation times are reduced”

With the 2D “3D-ready” variant, work can be done immediately in 2D, either passively or semiautomatically depending on the purchased option. A 2D control can be subsequently upgraded to a fullyfledged 3D machine control system at any time.

Machine control systems are becoming increasingly important for a wide variety of construction projects. They offer significant added value to machine operators, companies and the environment and enable the operators to use their machines even more productively and precisely. The consistent use of sensors and software provides the operator with real-time information, which in turn enables work processes to be optimised in terms of time and costs thanks to various automation functions. Waiting times for surveyors are shortened and the need for control measurements on the construction site is reduced. This increases safety on the construction site as fewer people are needed in the direct vicinity of the machine. In addition, the operator’s workload is reduced, which prevents driver fatigue and his or her associated susceptibility to errors.

Leica Geosystems’ semi-automatic machine control system is now available for selected Liebherr Generation 8 crawler excavators

Antennas with GNSS technology determine the exact position of the machine on the construction site

The Leica MCP80 control unit shows the operator both the machine’s position and all information on excavation and removal

DEVELON appoints Andreas M Lohner in dual roles

As of 1 March 2023, Andreas Lohner took over the function of Sales Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) as well as Eastern Europe. Now, with effect from 1 June, he has also been appointed as Managing Director DEVELON Germany, part of the newly founded company, HD Hyundai Infracore Deutschland GmbH, based in Mannheim. With these decisions, DEVELON is sending out clear signals and investing consistently and continuously in Germany as a major business location.

Andreas Lohner can already look back on a very successful career in the construction machinery industry. Born in Franconia, he was responsible for a number of management functions in the areas of sales, marketing and digital business at the Wacker Neuson Group for over a decade. Among other things, he was Managing Director of Wacker Neuson Sales Germany for many years and is familiar with hybrid sales networks (dealer sales, direct sales with own branches and e-business). Most recently, he was responsible for global corporate marketing and digital business, including training centres, for Wacker Neuson, Kramer and Weidemann.

Prior to that, Andreas Lohner gained more than ten years of extensive management experience as a member of the leadership

circle in a renowned management consultancy in the successful realisation of growth and change projects in renowned family-owned companies and in the upper medium-sized business sector.

Gilles Bendaoud, Vice President Sales for DEVELON Europe said: “We are delighted to have Andreas Lohner, a proven industry expert, at DEVELON. He brings an excellent track record and shares our passion for digitally driven innovation. At the same time, we would like to thank Hans-Joachim Erdmann, who was in charge of the DACH region on a transitional basis last year.”

Andreas Lohner is looking forward to the creative task: “DEVELON, formerly best known

as DOOSAN, has an excellent reputation with its solutions in the industry with many real fans. And when I think of our innovations that will reach market maturity in the coming years, the customers will be thrilled. Like, for example, our innovations with the patented transparent wheel loader bucket – simply a brilliant solution that significantly increases work safety.

“Together with our dealers, we will also strike out in new directions while maintaining a balance between continuity and partnership-based exchange at eye level, always with our customers at the centre of all our considerations, so that added value is created.”

Andreas M Lohner, Managing Director DEVELON Germany and Sales Manager DACH and Eastern Europe

Structural Testing

Swantest can provide a wide range of test solutions for all aspects of a project. This can include structural tests on the superstructure, substructure and geotechnical tests on the substrate of any project. Our range of structural tests include:

Load Capacity Tests: Used for determining the load capacity of various structures, fixings and materials. We can load test structural slabs, marine structures, lift beams, pile foundations and more.

Anchor Tests: We can carry out pull tests and shear tests on all types of bolts, fixings and fasteners. From small fixings supporting a few kilograms up to large diameter bolts supporting significant loads.

Geotechnical Tests: In-situ site tests for verifying pile mats, formation layers, subgrades and other materials. These include; Plate bearing tests, CBR tests, shear vane tests, dynamic cone penetrometer test and light drop weight tests.

Balcony and Barrier Tests: Various types of horizontal load tests to check and verify the safe use of; Balcony handrails, balustrades, insert panels, sports ground barriers, bridge parapets, edge protection systems and more.

For more information call us on 0370 950 7707 Website: www.swantest.co.uk Email: info@swantest.co.uk 52-54 St. John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4HF

Cawarden takes part in circular plasterboard case study with Loughborough University, ENVA and British Gypsum

Cawarden has recently completed demolition and site clearance works at Loughborough University’s Sir Arnold Hall Building. As part of the pre-demolition works, all plasterboard removed during the internal strip out was sent to ENVA to be treated using a novel purification to produce high-purity gypsum (> 96%) – something that is not currently possible from refurbishment and demolition plasterboard waste recycling. By producing high-purity gypsum, new circular plasterboards with 35% recycled content will be manufactured.

The initiative is part of an EU Horizon 2020 project, ICEBERG, which aims to improve the economic viability and market potential of end-of-life building

materials. It provides designers, manufacturers, builders and recyclers with advanced smart and technological CE solutions leading to more efficient, competitive processes, higher traceability, market acceptance and higher levels of material circularity.

Gypsum is the main constituent of plasterboard and although it can be recycled indefinitely, the amount of recycled gypsum from refurbishment and demolition plasterboard waste that can be incorporated into new plasterboards is limited by the presence of impurities introduced by additives, lining paper and paint.

Through the ICEBERG project, Loughborough University has developed a novel purification treatment based on acid leaching in

collaboration with ENVA. This allows for an increase in the recycled content of new plasterboards from the current 10%, which uses only recycled gypsum from “clean” construction plasterboard offcuts, to 35%.

British Gypsum will manufacture new circular plasterboards containing the ICEBERG purified gypsum from the plasterboard recovered and recycled from the Sir Arnold Hall Building by ENVA. The new plasterboards will undergo assessment and performance testing as part of the case study and then be installed in a development on the Loughborough University campus.

Jonathan Groves, Quality Director at Cawarden, said: “As a matter of best practice, we already segregate all recyclable waste from

our projects, including plasterboard, and we achieve an average recycling rate of 98% on our projects. It has been pleasing to take part in this trial that will deliver new technologies to create new circular plasterboards from old. We will be avidly following the results of the circular plasterboard case study, which we hope is a great success.”

Professor Mohamed Osmani, Loughborough University’s project leader, said: “Working closely with ENVA and British Gypsum in the EU-funded ICEBERG project, Loughborough University has developed novel purification treatments at laboratory level based on acid leaching to attain high recycled gypsum content to be used in new circular plasterboards.

“The optimum laboratoryscale gypsum waste purification process led to a recycled gypsum product with consistent high purity levels (above 96%). The gypsum purification process developed at laboratory scale has been validated for commercial application through pilot-scale trials. Additionally, the environmental impacts of the process wastewater have been optimised through the valorisation of precipitated impurities and treated water.

“Cawarden was involved in the pre-demolition audit and dismantling and segregating demolition plasterboard at Loughborough University’s Sir Arnold Hall Building. A semiindustrial gypsum purification plant designed to upscale the laboratory scale purification process of gypsum waste has been completed to be implemented at ENVA’s site by processing 40 tonnes of demolition plasterboard in summer 2023. The resulting ENVA’s purified gypsum waste will be sent to British Gypsum (now Saint-Gobain) to manufacture 1,000m2 circular plasterboard, which will be installed in a building at Loughborough University in January 2024.”

Cable processors warned to inform EA or risk losing RPS 276

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) is warning metal recyclers and wider waste operators that accept non-WEEE cables, they must notify the Environment Agency (EA) if they are using or intend to use the recently issued Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 276. If they do not, there is a danger the RPS could be pulled prematurely. This affects sites operating under the T9 exemption as well as permitted sites.

BMRA is aware that only around eight companies have notified the EA to date and, if the RPS were to be withdrawn, operators would have to vary their existing permits, or apply for a new permit, or stop accepting hazardous waste cable.

Howard Bluck, BMRA’s Technical Director said: “If you are processing non-WEEE cables, then you are likely to be dealing with a hazardous waste. The rationale behind RPS 276 is to enable operators, whose permits do not include the relevant EWC

codes for hazardous cables, to continue operating lawfully. Unless companies can demonstrate the cables they are processing are nonhazardous, they are likely to be in breach of their permit conditions and risk the EA taking enforcement action if they haven’t notified the EA they are using the RPS.

“Notifying the EA is a very simple process. Simply email WasteTreatment@environmentagency.gov.uk to tell them who you are, your site address and the maximum quantities of cable that you will store (at any one time) and treat (in any one day). Although your permit will need amending at some stage to include the hazardous waste codes, you will be able to continue processing these cables in the meantime.”

For more information on RPS 276 and the specific terms of the reduced reporting requirement for consigning movements of hazardous non-WEEE cable please visit: www.gov.uk and search “hazardous waste cable”.

Cawarden Highly Commended for SME of the Year

Derby-based specialist contractor, Cawarden, has been highly commended at an industry awards ceremony in Nottingham.

In its first year of entry, the company was presented with the SME of the Year 2023 Highly Commended trophy by Maz Patel, Managing Director of Scope Group, at the Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards.

Rodgers Leask, Morrison Design and Excelsior Land were also shortlisted, but it was Cawarden’s work and ethos that shone through while Kori Construction took the top spot for the category.

Jonathan Groves, Quality Director at Cawarden said: “We’re all over the moon with this award. The recognition represents exceptional business growth over the past 12 months and all the hard work and dedication from everyone on-site and in the office who goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional projects for our clients across the UK. Safety, quality, service and sustainability are always at the heart of everything we do. Thank you to Andrew Carpenter and all the team at Constructing Excellence for organising such a fantastic evening and ceremony in Nottingham to celebrate the best of the sector.”

SMEs are the backbone of the industry and are recognised by Constructing Excellence for their dominance of and contribution to the supply chain.

Cawarden was also delighted to be in attendance as a sponsor for the Civils Project of the Year award. Andrew Pickering, representative of Cawarden, announced the winning project, Colliery Way with the award presented to Balfour Beatty plc and

Nottinghamshire County Council. Each award is judged by panels of industry experts with a two-stage process involving written entries and interviews.

The Midlands Awards evening took place on Thursday 29 June at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham and was hosted by Pamela Aculey – the award-winning author, entrepreneur and CEO of Just Like Me Books.

The Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards is an event that celebrates excellence and innovation in the construction industry and honours the outstanding achievements of companies, professionals and projects shaping the East Midlands region. The awards recognise the remarkable contributions made by architects, engineers, contractors, developers, and other key players in the construction sector.

During the course of the night, an incredible amount of money was raised for Children with Cancer

– a charity that plays a vital role in funding ground-breaking research into understanding – and ultimately conquering – childhood cancers.

Left to right: Awards host, Pamela Aculey, with Emma Attwood, Dave Smith, Andrew Pickering, Aira Suarez and Jonathan Groves from Cawarden, and Maz Patel from Scope Group

Doosan Bobcat appoints Gary Hornbacher as EMEA President

Doosan Bobcat, a global leader in compact equipment, has announced the appointment of Gary Hornbacher as the company’s new President for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. He will be based in Dobris, Czech Republic, where the company has consolidated its manufacturing facility, R&D centre, training institute and EMEA headquarters onto one campus spanning 120,000 m2

Gary Hornbacher has served in diverse roles during his 36year tenure with Doosan Bobcat. He brings extensive experience in sales and marketing, product management, strategy and total quality management. His most recent position before coming to EMEA was as Vice President of Channel Development and Training at Doosan Bobcat North America.

Scott Park, CEO and Vice Chairman of Doosan Bobcat said: “We are excited to welcome Gary Hornbacher as the new President of Doosan Bobcat EMEA. Gary’s previous experience as Senior Vice President Commercial in the EMEA region coupled with his diverse background with Bobcat positions him to effectively drive forward our strategic vision and motto – we empower people to accomplish more.”

In this role, Gary Hornbacher will focus on a people-first culture by creating a collaborative environment

where people can thrive and by leveraging individuals’ talents to accomplish amazing achievements.

Gary Hornbacher said: “I am thrilled to join the dynamic Bobcat EMEA region and I look forward to again serving alongside our team.”

Gary Hornbacher’s loyalty to the company has remained strong through the years, which he attributed to three key areas: “First, Bobcat has an enduring focus on solving our customers’ toughest challenges, whether that be through innovating new technologies or partnering with our dealers to exceed customers’ expectations.

“Next, those who work at Bobcat are proud to be associated with a brand as strong and reputable as Bobcat, and we reinforce that passion by investing in our people through employee coaching and continuous development.

“And last but not least, Bobcat is a strong community partner dedicated to improving the places in which we live, work and call home. It’s heartwarming to work for a company that provides employees the opportunity to contribute to their communities through company-sponsored volunteer efforts and philanthropic donations.”

Gary Hornbacher assumed his role as Doosan Bobcat EMEA President on 1 July 2023 and will report to Scott Park, CEO and Vice Chairman of Doosan Bobcat.

“We reinforce that passion by investing in our people through employee coaching and continuous development”

THE CRUSHER BUCKET FOR YOUR EXCAVATOR

Jaw crusher for excavators. When installed on your excavator, it crushes any type of inert material.

Agg-Pro appointed exclusive distributor of Jonsson crushing and screening equipment in GB

Agg-Pro has become an official distributor of Jonsson, the Swedish manufacturer of mobile crushing and screening plants, as it continues to expand its extensive portfolio of heavy-duty machinery.

Jonsson, part of Metso, has been developing world renowned crushing equipment for more than 40 years and is one of the largest manufacturers of mobile products in crushing and screening. It is also regarded as an expert in developing sustainable solutions that cater for a global market.

Mikael Delbrant, Sales and Marketing Director at Jonsson said: “At Jonsson we are constantly evolving and developing our offering, so we can continue to exceed our customers’ expectations, not only in terms of the superior quality we have become synonymous with, but in minimising our environmental impact.

“Like ourselves, Agg-Pro strive to be the best at what they do. With both the equipment they supply and the aftersales service they provide, the same motivation applies in leaving no stone unturned to keep their customers happy.

“We’re really excited to have Agg-Pro as an official distributor of Jonsson in the region.”

Charlie Eastwood, Heavy Line

Sales Director at Agg-Pro said:

“Jonsson is a very prestigious brand and we are delighted to be working with them to sell their full portfolio.

“Jonsson products are very well suited to the bigger quarries, thanks to their heavy-duty build, high tonnage capabilities and sustainable setup. They also offer a cost-effective solution thanks to their innovative chassis design, which allows the heavy components of the machine to be hydraulically split into smaller parts and easily transported to other locations, to be reassembled.”

Jonsson crushers are within the 70-180-t range, making them ideal mobile solutions for customers with open quarries or mines in highcapacity, heavy-duty applications.

The mobile units are all electric, powered by an onboard generator or plugged into the mains, offering sustainable solutions for bigger quarries that are keen to lower their carbon footprint or lower the cost of energy. All of the machines come with onboard telematics, which record data during operation and can be viewed via a laptop or mobile phone and sent to head office for monitoring.

Established in 1996, Agg-Pro provides a personal, customer focused approach to the supply of equipment for the quarrying and recycling industries and the company is currently experiencing an exciting period of growth.

Its head office in Tamworth includes a 3,700 m3 premises that incorporates a factory for refurbishments and employs 34 people. The company is proud of its reputation for excellent customer service and builds long-standing and collaborative partnerships with its customers.

“Jonsson is a very prestigious brand and we are delighted to be working with them to sell their full portfolio”

A software platform developed specifically for Asbestos Abatement, Demolition & Subcontractors

FieldFlō is a comprehensive asbestos abatement, demolition and subcontractor platform helping companies run their business from a single interface. With our list of automated features you are able to track your projects and assets in real time.

www.FieldFlo.com

90,000 data points reveal the shocking truth behind construction waste compliance

Qflow, the climate-focused construction tech company, has released a comprehensive report analysing the state of waste management in the construction industry. This industry-first report analyses over 90,000 legally required Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs) from June 2018 to April 2023, revealing a concerning average waste compliance rate of just 64%, meaning that one in three legally required fields go unchecked.

The UK Construction Industry Annual Waste Report 2023 highlights that these omissions leave an incomplete picture of how waste is handled, where it is sent to and what type of waste it is. This lack of data makes it impossible to accurately quantify the cost involved and the physical waste produced in the process and the resulting impact on our planet.

The Environment Agency is increasing its efforts to manage waste crime. Failure to produce complete documentation can result in a fixed penalty notice of £300 or prosecution and even imprisonment. If all the non-compliant WTNs analysed in this report incurred a fixed penalty charge, the resulting fines would exceed £13m.

Brittany Harris, co-founder and CEO of Qflow, said: “When we started this analysis, we knew it was going to highlight some pretty shocking practices, but I wasn’t prepared for this level of non-compliance. As an industry, construction consumes over 40% of the world’s raw resources and accounts for over 40% of landfill waste. Without good data

Qflow founders Jade Cohen and Brittany Harris

on what’s happening to all this waste, we don’t have a chance of reducing it or improving material reuse and recycling. We hope that with the insights shared today, and by helping the industry get better data far more easily, we can work together with the regulators, industry bodies, developers and contractors to really transform construction from a linear and wasteful industry to one that is circular and low carbon.”

The report also uncovers the significant carbon footprint of waste management in construction. The average emissions associated with waste transport per project equates to over nine tonnes of CO2e, or more than 6,000 miles of travel. The current average carbon emissions associated with waste management during construction is 190 tonnes of CO2e per £1m of project spend.

Other key findings include:

• 93% of WTNs had missing facility permits/ exemptions

• 83% of WTNs had missing carrier licences.

• 7% had a missing EWC code (a six-digit code used to identify waste as listed in the European Waste Catalogue).

Edward Green, Sustainability Director at Grosvenor Property UK said: “Qflow’s waste report strikingly details the flaws in the construction waste sector, which have become apparent to us since we began to use their platform. There are so many holes in the chain of custody that it’s hard for any developer, no matter how responsible, to reliably report on what is happening to 100% of its

construction waste. It is of paramount importance that the entire industry takes responsibility and ownership of its waste cycle. Material circularity in the built environment can only be achieved when true accountability is taken for the waste from construction sites.”

Powerday becomes first business in London to place order on two new electric skip loaders

In 2022, Powerday was the first business in the UK to test a Volvo fully electric skip loader and subsequently became the first business in London to place an order for not just one but two of these electric skip loaders.

After a number of successful trials, Powerday became the first business in London to secure an order for two Volvo electric skip loaders. Each vehicle will save over 30 tonnes in CO2 emissions per year.

The CO2 emissions saving per year is a remarkable accomplishment. This commitment to using electric vehicles demonstrates the dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Chris Donnelly, Sales Director, Volvo Truck says: “I would like to thank Powerday for the support they have given us recently. Some may recall that Powerday conducted trials last year when we first launched our fully electric skip loader demonstrator for Volvo Truck & Bus Centre South & East, installing infrastructure at their own cost I might add in order for the trial to take place. This showed immediate commitment and we were very grateful.

“The data received from Powerday was staggering. We had predicted returns of course from our Electric Range Simulator, however, the performance was far better than expected. The stop-start traffic in London helps us produce a huge amount of regenerated power back into the battery which meant that Powerday could not have enough drivers’ hours to deplete that battery in London in one shift. For Powerday it meant that two days’ worth of work was possible on one charge. The proof? Well they ordered two and I

cannot wait to see them on the road in September.

“We would like to thank Powerday for the business partnership we have and the faith shown in Guili Chemello, Transport Solutions Executive. We congratulate them on their bold environmental targets and look forward to supporting them on their road to net zero.”

Edward Crossan, CEO, Powerday says: “In line with our net-zero roadmap, adopting these electric skip loaders into our fleet shows our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to cleaner air and environment in London. As the pioneers in London’s waste management industry, we proudly stand as the first company to embrace the future of sustainability. By investing in electric skip loaders, we lead the charge towards cleaner, greener solutions. With each vehicle saving over 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, we not only manage waste but also commit to preserving London’s environment.”

The London based recycling and waste management company has been measuring its Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2020. It has set this net zero target, relative to a 2021 baseline, with interim goals of a 20% reduction in 2023, 35% by 2026 and 50% by 2030. The commitment has been registered with SME Climate Hub so as to count towards the UN Race to Net Zero.

Powerday set out its net zero target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions in its Sustainability Manifesto 2023. The annual report, published each spring, outlines the company’s targets for the year, and reports on progress for the previous year, under five sustainability pillars: employees, community, carbon management, clients, and procurement.

“How’s your year been?” At this year’s Plantworx that question was the central theme of many a conversation.

As one of the great gatherings of our sector, the show was not only an ideal time to take stock of the year so far, but also consider where we are heading.

For many, the answer to the question was a mixed bag. Yes, confidence is continuing to grow, orders continue to come in and businesses are looking to increase investment – but there are still lingering concerns over the economy.

When you consider the challenges we have all faced over recent years, this is not a bad place to be. It’s only when you look back that you really see just how uncertain and turbulent a time we’ve been through.

Current concerns over the economy are never to be dismissed, but they must be viewed in context. Our sector knows all too well that the greenlighting of projects is closely linked to how the country is faring – and we also know that

Taking stock

by Terry Lloyd

times always change for the better eventually.

This year’s Plantworx was once again an exciting showcase for what our sector has to offer, brimming with new assets with the potential to improve operations and efficiency; units that will cut energy costs; innovations that will expand the range of services a company can offer and the continuing emergence of sustainable technology all point towards a positive future.

Speaking to SMEs at the show, it was evident that everyone was ready to get stuck in. They saw how assets could enhance their businesses and were looking ahead to when they could add them to their fleet and get them to work on sites – and on the Paragon stand we were delighted to talk to them about how we could help make this happen.

There are also positive noises for the sector coming from Westminster. The question of housing is once again rising to the top of the political agenda, with calls from all sides on the need to increase supply and create the homes the country requires.

While we are used to hearing such calls, especially as an election approaches, when you dig into the official data there is real cause to believe that things are starting to improve. In the latest set of figures from the Office for National Statistics we see that construction output increased 1.6% in the first quarter of the year. Against the backdrop of lingering economic uncertainty, it is a clear sign that there is real potential out there for new business.

Resilience has always been at the core of our sector. Even when things are bad, we start planning for the future. While the economy may continue to be an issue of concern, orders for new assets are the positive sign we need that current worries are only temporary. In fact, now is the time to get ahead of the game.

If you saw a new asset at Plantworx and thought “That’s exactly what we need,” then it is time to start planning how to add it to your fleet. When we all get together for next year’s shows, the answer to “How’s your year been?” could very well be “Couldn’t be better. Thank goodness we got that order in on time.”

Never has there been more of a focus on health and as a sector, health and safety is always a top priority. There has been a lot of focus so far this year on health. In May, we had Mental Health Awareness Week and April was Stress Awareness Month. June saw a week dedicated to Men’s Health. These initiatives are important and the overall aims of dedicating months, weeks and days is to heighten the awareness of people and support those who are experiencing challenges.

At O’Donovan, we have been holding our own events to mark these campaigns, which has seen lorries decked out in green ribbons, team talks and chats and also resources widely shared to

Your health is your wealth

by Jacqueline O’Donovan

support the team. We already have a comprehensive wellbeing strategy in place that provides training to the team, teaching them techniques and practical skills, enabling them to handle day-to-day challenges and this has definitely helped them over the course of the pandemic and the resumption of normality.

There are still worrying statistics, despite the continued focus. According to Mates in Mind, (the mental health charity that focuses on construction as well as other industries), two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide every working day. In 2021/22, 27% of all ill health within the sector was due to stress, depression and anxiety. They also state that almost half of construction workers find

it hard to talk about their mental health and over two thirds believe there’s a stigma that stops them from talking about their own mental health. So, it continues to be important that we mark and support these awareness days and months to keep the subject of mental health high on the agenda in order to normalise the topic and help remove the stigma.

But what about the safety element in health and safety? We must continue to prioritise and provide a culture of safety that protects and empowers our workforce while building a sustainable and successful sector. In May, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a reminder around safety measures in the waste sector, referencing two incidents under the heading Guidance to prevent waste

and recycling workplace accidents. It said: “The start of 2023 has seen a series of accidents in various parts of the waste and recycling sector, all are currently under investigation.”

According to the Waste Statistics in Great Britain 2022 report published by the HSE late last year, the waste sector’s fatal injury rate of 4.61 per 100,000 workers is around 11 times the all-industry rate of 0.41 and worryingly, six deaths in the sector have been recorded since the start of 2023.

In the construction sector, according to the HSE, the industry has one of the highest rates, in fact the third highest rate of fatal injury and work-related ill health compared to other sectors at 1.63 per 100,000 workers. In 2019/2020, there were 40 fatal injuries to workers in the construction industry. It goes without saying that every job comes with at least some level of risk, however, some industries like construction and demolition are far more prone to dangers than others. Most businesses work hard to mitigate the associated risks by implementing strong health and safety measures. But there are those who don’t go far enough and ultimately employees, passers-by and the business itself, can be affected without strong management and health and safety processes in place.

Research in 2022 by Unite, one of the UK’s leading unions, discovered what it described as a “frightening decline in unannounced construction inspections” being carried out by the HSE. The research found that the HSE’s unannounced inspections of construction sites had declined by 31% in less than a decade, with the biggest regional decline in Wales, where inspections

had dropped by 57%, south-east England was down 51% and London down 46%. HSE also significantly reduced the number of enforcement notices that it had issued to employers to improve safety conditions after an on-site inspection with notices down by almost 49%.

There will always be rogue operators that do not comply with guidelines but surely with the threat of inspections diminishing, health and safety figures will only suffer further with no consequences to face. With the welfare of construction workers at risk, construction and demolition companies must leave no room for complacency and it is crucial that all sites execute and adhere to proper health and safety protocol. We need to ensure our supply chain works to the highest standards and this involves regular risk assessments, analysis of any hazards present and the necessary steps to minimise or eradicate these dangers.

Health and safety should not just be about having policies and procedures or filling in forms

and crossing off assessment lists. It is our responsibility as employers to ensure that we are providing a safe working environment for our teams to operate in. We need to educate our teams while promoting a culture of safety and support them when it comes to their mental wellbeing to help break the stigma and encourage open conversations.

“With the welfare of construction workers at risk, construction and demolition companies must leave no room for complacency”

Why is it always a struggle to get the right candidate for the job? The construction sector is one of the largest in the UK, employing over 9% of the workforce* and the number of employees is steadily rising since the 2020 low (despite fluctuations)**. Even under the economic challenges, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicts that almost 225,000 extra workers will be required to meet UK construction demand by 2027 along with slow growth in construction output, returning in 2024.

The economic strain is affecting the whole supply chain within the wider construction industry; everyone is seeing the affects and the skills gap is hampering this further, particularly in the demolition sector. So how are we going to keep up with future demand?

The industry skills gap

by Richard Dolman

The demolition industry needs to step up its game and lead the way in developing and attracting new talent. The construction industry has long been at the forefront of training initiatives, graduate and management programmes, offering great careers for those in professional positions. It’s time the demolition sector caught up. We can offer all of these training opportunities alongside reward schemes and recognitions to ensure we get the best people working in our industry. For some time the IDE, National Demolition Training Group and National Federation of Demolition Contractors have been championing this through such initiatives as the trailblazer apprentice course, the foundation degree and various CCDO programmes. This is all fantastic and goes someway in pushing things forward. For me the next question and challenge is, where are the industry professionals coming from? Where is the yearly influx of graduates chomping at the bit to become the next demolition engineer?

This is a gap that needs filling and one that may take some time to fix. The fix though, will take a concerted effort from the whole sector. We can all do our bit by championing our profession at every opportunity and through the available initiatives such as the Foundation Degree or Masters degree in Demolition Management – a first for the industry and a fantastic opportunity to get people truly involved and passionate about what the industry has to offer – this could outline a lifelong career path for the next budding engineer.

*UK Government statistics

**Statistica

“CITB predicts that almost 225,000 extra workers will be required to meet UK construction demand by 2027”