August 31, 2010 – 2:50 pm
HSS has released an enhanced version of its LiveHire web-based hire management system that incorporates online estimated times of arrival (ETA) and electronic proof of delivery.
In addition to placing real-time off hires, making online payments and seeing financial statements (as well as bespoke KPI reports), HSS’ LiveHire customers can view live ETAs and get instant electronic proof of delivery/collection. These can include photographs of the equipment and the information is available to those working on site and in head offices to provide visibility of all hire activity.
The system uses fully integrated vehicle tracking and PDA systems for the delivery drivers to constantly update the ETA, allowing customers to organise their workforce and maximise site productivity. In addition, the PDA electronically captures signatures as proof of delivery/collection and enables photographs of the equipment’s condition to be taken and made instantly available on LiveHire.
HSS’ CEO Chris Davies said: “Our customers love HSS LiveHire. They tell us it’s already made their life easier… and now we’ve made it even better with the online ETAs and electronic proof of delivery.”
LiveHire forms part of HSS’ strategy to help customers manage ‘the true cost of hire’, which is influenced not only by the hire rate but also the length of hire, the number of pieces hired and the overall administration cost.
August 31, 2010 – 2:50 pm
Following an overhaul of the available training, the British Abrasives Federation (BAF) is rolling out a new list of approved training schemes.
The move follows the setting up of a group to pool information on accident investigations which found the majority were caused by poorly trained operators and products being incorrectly mounted or used. The group found confusion about the responsibilities of users and distributors of abrasives and inadequate training from specialist providers.
On finding much of the available training to be inadequate, the Federation devised a standard stipulating the content and delivery to which all abrasives safety training programmes should adhere and has introduced an accreditation scheme. Training companies meeting the latest criteria can be found on the BAF website - http://www.thebaf.org.uk/BAF_Training_Accredited_trainers_1.htm
The Federation is to inform its database of around 15,000 customers and more than a million users of their obligations and provide a list of competent training companies.
BAF chairman Dr Bill Gilmour, said: “Unless purchasers of abrasives are given the correct information as to their obligations to train not only operators and users but also specifiers and buyers, then the incidence of accidents is unlikely to reduce.”
August 27, 2010 – 10:17 pm
Citroën has enhanced the pre-bodied plant carriers in its ‘Ready to Run’ range and increased the maximum payload from 1,600kg to 1,680kg. The vehicle is based on a 3.5t Relay chassis cab to which bodybuilder KFS adds a galvanised steel drop frame rear chassis to reduce the main deck height to 530mm.
Three versions are available including two flat decks with 1,580mm between wheel arches. These have flat bed lengths of 3.0m, 4.0m and 4.6m in standard form while with the beaver tail version the options are 3.2m or 3.7m.
A third, wide-track version has 1,820mm between wheel arches and comes in flat deck or beaver tail configurations.
The all-aluminium bodies feature quick-release drop-sides which double as loading ramps. Priced from just £19,460 (ex VAT and delivery) while the options list includes a light bar, a 1.5t electric winch and a full-width storage locker.
August 26, 2010 – 5:24 pm
Demolition company Deltatrax, which trades as BDS Specialists in Demolition, has been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,073.28 costs after oil leaked into the Swanspool brook in Northamptonshire.
Northampton magistrates were told that while Deltatrax was demolishing a building at a former pie factory in Chester Road, Wellingborough, a member of the public reported seeing oil floating in the brook. Environment Agency (EA) officer Chris Willis traced the spill back to a discharge pipe at the rear of the demolition site which was locked as it was a Sunday.
The following day the officer found evidence of an oil spill around an oil storage tank that appeared contain red diesel and which was situated in a partly demolished building. Willis went back to the discharge point and found thick oil seeping through an earth bank that had been containing some of the oil.
In court the EA said: “The risk of pollution was foreseeable as oil was being stored in a tank which had no secondary containment, was not bunded or secure.” While Deltatrax pleaded guilty to the charge, its solicitor said that the firm replaced the tank once the deficiencies were brought to its attention.
After the hearing Willis said: “Oil in the water can harm wildlife, affect fish and taint drinking water at very low concentrations. This pollution was avoidable and continued even after it was brought to the attention of the company.”
August 26, 2010 – 5:24 pm
Demand for paperless invoicing has doubled since 2008, according to Speedy.
The business has sent almost half a million electronic invoices to customers since it introduced the paperless system two years ago. Electronic invoices can be in Euros or Sterling enabling customers throughout the UK and Ireland to use the service.
Speedy said the rise in popularity of electronic invoicing is due to customers’ increasing awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of switching from traditional paper systems. The electronic service also allows customers to view the delivery status of their orders via the internet, which has reduced the number of delivery enquiries.
A trial is currently underway of an upgraded system that includes electronic ordering and will enable customers to track orders and payment for equipment.
Speedy’s IT director James Fleming said: “Paperless invoicing is not only greener, but more efficient for both our customers and our business. An increasing number of companies are providing electronic services to cut back on resources used and save time which can be spent on more valuable areas.”
August 25, 2010 – 10:02 am
Tipper gear manufacturer Edbro has introduced an inclinometer that can monitor the body tipping angle of both rigid trucks and trailers to an accurately of 0.1° to help reduce the risk of accidents during tipping operations.
Having automatically compensated for sloping ground, the system displays the tipping angle in the cab and if a pre-set danger point is reached a warning is sounded both inside and outside the vehicle. The system will then prevent further tipping, forcing the driver to lower the body and find safer ground conditions.
The inclinometer can be specified when a new body is being fitted or retrofitted in a few hours.
Edbro’s sales and marketing director Peter Smith said: “Judging tipping angles is never easy, especially when the vehicle is positioned on uneven ground. The inclinometer aids the driver by giving accurate data on the angle of the rear of the chassis whilst tipping, improving safety and reducing the guesswork.”
August 25, 2010 – 10:02 am
Aggreko, the temporary power and temperature control hire specialist, has reported a 15% increase in turnover and a 22% increase in trading profit in the six months to 30 June 2010.
Group revenue (excluding fuel pass through) rose by 15.1% to £546.5m while the trading profit excluding property and plant sales, increased to £131.2m from £107m in the same period for 2009.
The biggest gains were seen in the international local business that includes contracts such as the Vancouver Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup, which increased by 50% in local currencies or 86% at constant currency. Still the biggest earner was international power projects which grew revenue by 7.7% (12.4% at constant currency) to £219m while Europe declined by 2.8% to £76.4m which almost halved profit from the region to stand at £2.4m.
Capital expenditure was accelerated in the half to £103.6m (£97.4m in 2009) and the full year spend is expected to be around £265m (£149.7m). The company also reduced net debt by £16m to £159.5m taking its gearing down to 23% from 58% at the same point last year.
Looking forward the company is optimistic with orders for international power up by a half compared with last year, higher volumes of equipment on rent, a sharp improvement in temperature control rentals and rates beginning to strengthen in many areas.
August 24, 2010 – 5:57 am
Poor communication and teamwork, and inadequate supervision contributed to an incident where a 4t load dropped from a crane narrowly missing a footpath, and lead to London Tower Crane Hire & Sales receiving an £18,000 fine with £15,837.45 costs at Hertford Magistrates’ Court.
The incident happened on 3 November 2007 when the hook broke off a tower crane and its load crashed 36m to the ground beside part of the campus regularly used by students of Hertfordshire Regional College in Turnford. HSE Inspector Norman Macritchie said: “Maintenance staff had indentified safety-critical faults in the crane yet simple controls needed to prevent use of defective equipment were not implemented.”
The falling load demolished the site boundary fence and damaged a college building. “It was a matter of good fortune that no-one was injured in this entirely avoidable incident,” said Macritchie
London Tower Crane Hire & Sales of Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, owned and operated the crane and admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 5(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
Macritchie said the case has important lessons for all those operating lifting equipment - especially tower cranes - and that those undertaking lifting operations have absolute duties to plan, supervise and carry them out safely.
August 24, 2010 – 5:57 am
Van, truck and company car drivers working in utilities and construction sectors tend to have some of the highest number of penalty points on their licences, according to a survey by fleet software company CFC Solutions. It broke down the percentage of drivers with and without points for key industry sectors, based on the users of its Licence Link licence checking software.
More than 7% of drivers in the utilities sector have five or more points on their licence (second only to consultants at 8.3%) while the level for drivers in the construction industry was 3% which is the fifth highest. Conversely, more than 86% of drivers in the transport sector have no points on their licence at all, making them the fifth lowest risk despite their high road usage.
CFC managing director Neville Briggs said: “Those with no points are low risk, of course, while those with five or more points represent a much higher risk - they are serial offenders in road safety terms. Drivers who fall into higher risk groups may require some kind of remedial action such as additional training and also need a much closer eye keeping on them.”
He was surprised to see the utilities industries among the higher risk drivers as there is a strong corporate safety culture in most utility companies, and was pleased to see the transport sector among the lowest risk drivers. While van and truck drivers often suffer from a poor public image, Briggs said: “the figures show that these drivers, who after all are driving professionals and often highly trained, are among the safest on the road.”
Briggs reminded employers that companies have a legal duty of care to ensure their drivers are safe on the road and have valid licences that are regularly checked. “Only last week, one of our Licence Link users found that one of its company car drivers actually had a drink driving ban through a standard check that was run using the software,” he said.
August 20, 2010 – 4:04 pm
A lack of demand will continue to hold down the turnover and profit of construction and real estate Privately Held Businesses (PHBs) in the UK despite recent positive signs.
A shortage of orders remains the greatest constraint, according to a report from financial and business advisers, Grant Thornton UK LLP. Research from the latest annual International Business Report (IBR) reveals a more positive sentiment this year than last among UK construction and real estate PHBs (unlisted companies including family businesses, entrepreneurial and SMEs). According to the report, a percentage balance* of +13% are optimistic on the outlook of the UK’s economy over the next 12 months compared to -20% in 2009. Expectations of turnover/revenue and profits have also improved this year, with 37% anticipating an increase in profits compared to 32% in 2009. In addition 43% expect turnover/revenue to increase in 2010 compared to 34% last year.
Despite the optimism, a shortage of orders remains the greatest constraint for construction and real estate PHBs over the next 12 months, the same constraint topping the list a year ago. Although a slight decrease from 2009, 51% cited this as the greatest constraint compared to 52% last year. However, apparent constraints over financing have not led to an appetite for growth through acquisition or a public listing. According to the report, 84% of construction and real estate businesses have no plans to grow through acquisition in the next three years. Similarly, a high number, 68% do not anticipate a change in the ownership of their business in the next three years and more still, 81%, do not anticipate that their business will undergo a public listing over the same period.
Kathryn Hiddleston, head of construction at Grant Thornton says, “Optimism in the sector has seen a slight increase from 2009 as construction and real estate PHBs show signs of recovering from the very difficult conditions seen last year. However, recovery in the sector will be very dependent on access to finance becoming more available and there is a lot of pressure on the banks to ensure this is the case.
“Despite the optimism, the majority of construction and real estate PHBs still cite a shortage of orders as the greatest constraint, which may worsen if any announcements in the up-coming Comprehensive Spending Review prove detrimental to the sector.
“What also might be worrying for the industry are signs of a decline in property prices which won’t be helped by a lowered economic growth forecast in the UK and inflation staying higher than previously forecast.”