This month

Quick-hitch warning follows four tragedies

HSE has issued a safety alert to users of excavators fitted with quick-hitch devices, following a number of serious incidents, including four deaths since December 2006. A quick-hitch is a latching device that enables attachments to be connected to the dipper arm of the plant and changed quickly. There are many types of quick hitch but the common cause of the four fatal incidents was a missing retaining pin or bar. www.hse.gov.uk/construction/quickhitch.htm

Get wired into energy ratings

Did you know that from 2009, existing buildings will be measured in terms of energy performance and may have to display energy rating certificates? If not, help is at hand in the form of a free guide from those nice people at Mitsubishi Electric. It will fill you in on the certification process and flags up likely future legislation, too. Go to the tools and resources section of www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/aircon

Save the planet over the phone

Wondering about environmental rules and regulations, but don’t have access to the internet? NetRegs, a government website, has launched a service providing free environmental information over the phone. It is being trialled in the South East until 14 March, when there are plans to roll it out nationally. The service can also send out special factsheets to help business owners. 0845 601 22 33

How to handle a hand-over

If you’re handing over a building, you might like to get your hands on BSRIA’s new guide, Handover, O&M Manuals and Project Feedback, BG1/2007. There is guidance and tools to help you get all the elements right, from operation and maintenance manuals to energy certificates to post-occupation feedback. Priced at £60 (£30 for BSRIA members), the guide comes with a CD containing MS Word versions of the tables and pro-formas. www.bsria.co.uk/bookshop

Source

Construction Manager