Robert Collard shares his views.

Chaired jointly by Lord Blunkett and Lord Pickles, The Parliamentary Review has become a staple in the political calendar. Bringing together views from across the political spectrum, The Review is a template for best practice across a multitude of sectors. Industry leaders celebrate their success, share their concerns and look to the future to consider how external factors ranging from Brexit to the domestic skills gap may affect the road ahead.

Robert Collard, Managing Director of R Collard Ltd is proud to be part of the Parliamentary Review. “Throughout the company’s 25-year history we’ve worked hard to continually diversify and remain at the forefront of technical excellence in our sector. It is therefore an honour to be included in this year’s Parliamentary Review as a Best Practice Representative in the business services section.”

When he isn’t flying around a British Touring Car Championship track or working with the same company as a brand ambassador, Robert Collard continues to develop and grow R Collard Ltd, a leading Hampshire-based demolition, enabling and waste recycling company with a turnover of £35 million, fixed assets in excess of £20 million and with a continuing annual spend of £5 million of reinvestment in the latest equipment and technology. Robert is also chairman of the London and Southern Counties region of the NFDC – the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, and discusses in this year’s Review the challenges and ambitions of his firm and the sector as a whole.

Daniel Yossman, the executive director of The Review, has already commented that the upcoming Review should certainly be one of the most interesting and insightful ever. “It is always a privilege to work with such extraordinary organisations and for them to be able to share their individual success stories will always ensure that The Parliamentary Review remains essential reading.”

R Collard’s article can be viewed here.

ACDE Europe picks up Taguchi demolition attachment agency.

The ranks of demolition attachment suppliers is about to be swelled with the news that Netherlands-based ACDE Europe has been awarded European import rights for the Guzzilla range from Japanese manufacturer Taguchi.

Although it is entering a mature and highly competitive market, ACDE claims that the Guzzilla line-up stands out for its wide jaw opening and light weight characteristics. Furthermore, the timing of the venture coincides neatly with the Bauma exhibition at which ACDE will unveil its Beilite hydraulic breaker line for the European market.

Visitors to Bauma can check out these new products on Stand C5.318.

OilQuick system “rains” supreme in Derby.

Cawarden Demolition has joined the growing ranks of the OilQuick owners’ club. And so, when the company was about to put its new OilQuick-equipped Komatsu excavator to work on a former school in Derby, we despatched the Demolition TV camera crew to capture the action.

So crank up the sound, find the biggest screen you have available, and enjoy:

Controlled blast fells Texan tower block.

The Building of the Southwest in downtown Midland, Texas was demolished by controlled implosion yesterday.

More details to follow as we receive them:

Brown and Mason conducts another successful implosion.

Brown and Mason successfully brought down the two remaining boiler houses at Tilbury Power Station yesterday.

The explosive demolition was the 14th at the the site, which closed its doors in 2013. Owners RWE had planned to turn it into the Tilbury Energy Centre, but the redevelopment was “frozen” in October 2018 to consider other options.

It’s cards on the table time in our second training-specific audio show.

Regular readers will know that we recently launched a new audio podcast called Training Talk which – as the name suggests – focuses upon the subject of demolition training. Some might also recall that the launch episode was actually the first in a two-part interview with Howard Button and Lesley Ransome of the National Demolition Training Group.

Well that first episode has proved to be the most popular launch episode of all our various audio shows; and so we are striking while the iron is hot to bring you the second part (although you can still catch Part 1 here).

In this latest episode, we discuss the sheer volume of competence cards, how well they’re recognised by clients and across the industry, how they are being used as the basis for training in Europe and the US, the future of online and blended training, and a whole to more besides.

If you’d like to take this episode with you on the train, in the car or with you when you walk the dog, just search for Demolition News Radio on your device’s podcast player. Alternatively, you can just the play button below.

Oh, and just so you know, episode features an interview with Dr Terry Quarmby on the Foundation Degree Course currently being run by the Institute of Demolition Engineers. So be sure to check back soon:

New NFDC president joins board of Construction Industry Training Board.

Newly-elected president of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors – Holly Price – has barely got her feet under the presidential desk but she has already been appointed to another role as a trustee of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Price is one of two women appointed as CITB trustees by Skills Minister Anne Milton MP. Keltbray’s Holly Price is joined by the Principal and CEO of Barking & Dagenham College, Yvonne Kelly as members of the CITB board.

Price started her career in the demolition industry at 17, training to be an engineer. She went on to become Europe’s only female explosives engineer in the sector. Since 2007, Price has been the training and development director at Keltbray Group, playing a crucial role in getting the right people and skills in the right place at the right time. Last Friday, she was appointed President of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

“I am thrilled Holly Price and Yvonne Kelly are joining the Construction Industry Training Board,” says Skills Minister, Anne Milton. “They will not only bring their wealth of experience and knowledge to the CITB, but will also help boost diversity in the construction industry. I wish them all the best and look forward to them building on the success of the Board.”

Milton’s views are echoed by Peter Lauener, Chair of the CITB Board. “British construction is growing and changing rapidly and it’s vital that CITB’s Board reflects the diversity we want to see in our industry. Both Holly and Yvonne are vastly experienced and passionate about construction careers and play a pivotal role in delivering skills and training within their individual capacities,” he concludes. “Change is gathering pace at CITB and the board plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the organisation. I look forward to working with them to ensure the smooth implementation of our Vision 2020 programme of change, to deliver a CITB that meets British construction’s needs now and in the future.”

Demolition workers exposed to toxic substance.

Three people are suffering serious medical symptoms related to a chemical exposure in Henrietta, New York on Monday morning.

While workers were doing demolition work on site, they were exposed to a dangerous chemical after hitting a pipe. The chemical to which the workers were exposed is methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). MDI is used to make more dense polyurethane foam insulation.

“There were 3 to 4 large tanks of this material,” said Mark Cholach, assistant fire chief with the Henrietta Fire District. “The tanks had been cleaned out. They were in the process demolishing those tanks and the associated pipes that ran from the tanks to the building. It appears during the demo of one of those pipes, the chemical came out and was exposed to the patients.”

Firefighters have subsequently identified the workers affected by Monday’s chemical exposure incident in Henrietta.

Andrew Cobin, 31, is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. Firefighters say his condition is improving. Steve Fousse, 19, is also at Strong in guarded condition. Matthew Roberts, 45, was also taken to the hospital after Monday’s incident. He has since been discharged. Tim McCarty, 58, and Byron Lewis, 27, were treated at the scene.

New film captures progress of major Seattle project.

As the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct continues, WSDOT has released a time-lapse video showing the rapid progress made on removing the Columbia Street ramp.

Demolition man and machine fall down lift shaft in Milwaukee.

A man killed when the machine he was operating plunged down an elevator shaft on Milwaukee’s west side has been identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office as Anthony D. Azarian, 32. In a bitter irony, Azarian’s uncle, Anthony A. Azarian, 40, was killed in 2000 when a trench collapsed at a demolition site in Caledonia.

Azarian was employed with Azarian Wrecking of Racine, which is involved in remodelling work at the historic CH Coakley Co. building here the accident was reported shortly before 2 pm last Monday, according to a medical examiner’s report.

According to the report, Azarian was operating a forklift with a work crew removing bricks from a walled-off elevator shaft on the seventh floor.

The forklift was equipped with a bucket he was using to remove some of the bricks, which investigators believed caused the forklift to list forward and fall about 80 feet to the bottom of the shaft, according to the report.

The accident is under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to the report.

Azarian Wrecking is a family-owned company that was created almost 60 years ago.