CSCS Cards and Insurance

Did you know that not having a CSCS card that is relative to your occupational area within the Construction Industry, could affect any claim that you make, for any injury incurred at work, against any Insurance policy that you may have in place. The reasoning behind this possibility is: Being in possession of a current CSCS… Read More »

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) cuts “will kill”

UCATT, the Construction Union, says more workers within the Industry will be killed and injured as a result of the cuts being imposed on the HSE. It has been revealed that the safety watch dog is considering axing unannounced site safety inspections by a third. In March of 2011, the Government announced that automatic inspections… Read More »

Should You Be Classified As An Employee?

Over half the current workforce in the Construction Industry are self-employed although legally, up to 300,000 should be classified as employees, according to HM Revenue and Customs. They get no holiday pay, sick or redundancy pay, won`t get job seekers` allowance if laid off or even a full state pension, and their bosses escape paying… Read More »

Asbestos, The Hidden Killer

Danger Points – Any building built or renovated before 2000 could contain asbestos. – On average each week approximately eight joiners, six electricians and four plumbers die from asbestos related diseases. – Last year over 2,000 people died of mesothelioma, the lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and death rates are continuing to rise. –… Read More »

Clarifying the Construction Skills Levy

Construction Skills, the awarding body for the Industry, operate a levy and grand system that allows funding for up skilling of individuals within the Industry. Each operative who is engaged with a Company who are registered to the Levy scheme can be partly funded for the acquisition of 5 separate accreditations which can include 2… Read More »

Minimum Wage To Rise In October

The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations for this year`s national minimum wage (NMW) rates. The following rates will come into effect on 1 October 2011. For Adults: £6.08 an hour (15p increase) For 18-20 year olds: £4.98 an hour (6p increase) For 16-17 year olds: £3.68 an hour (4p increase) For apprentices:… Read More »

One Year to the Olympics: Are You Qualified?

The Olympics 2012 project has one year left to run. The eternal flame will be lit and the games will commence. In the intervening time, though, there’s still a lot of work to be done. And after the games have finished there’ll be a lot more, with a planned £135m worth of regeneration and changeover… Read More »