Here at Demolition News, we pride ourselves on having our fingers on the pulse of the industry; of being fully informed of all that is going on in the great wide world of demolition. So quite how this one passed us by, we’re not entirely sure (although we’re going to blame the fact that Kocurek’s new website was under construction).

The Ipswich-based excavator modifier has supplied India’s first high reach, demolition spec excavator in the shape of a new Volvo EC460BLC complete with 26 metre high reach front end and the familiar Kocurek modular joint.

The machine was commissioned over Christmas 2008 and went to work on its first job carrying out a prestigious job to demolish part of Mumbai International Airport and was sub-contracted from M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

Read the full story here.

Riverseide Environmental's Huw Kellett

What is Anthrax
Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivores (plant eating animals). Humans contract it as a result of contact with infected animals or animal products, or from materials infected with Bacillus anthracis spores (the causing organism).

In humans, the disease takes one of three forms, depending on the route of infection. Cutaneous anthrax, which accounts for more than 95% of cases world-wide, results from infection through breaks in the skin; intestinal anthrax results from ingestion of spores, usually in infected meat; and pulmonary anthrax results from inhalation of spores.

Cutaneous Anthrax Explained
Cutaneous anthrax usually occurs through contamination of a cut or abrasion, although in some countries biting flies may also transmit the disease. The first sign of an athrax infection is a small painless inflamed swelling like a pimple or boil.

Intestinal Anthrax Explained
Intestinal anthrax is similar to cutaneous anthrax but occurs on the surface lining of the intestines where the cells absorb nutrients. As in cutaneous anthrax, the organisms probably invade the lining through a pre-existing cut. Generally disease develops when the organisms spread from the lining lesion to the lymphatic system. This form of the disease is extremely rare Britain.

Pulmonary Anthrax Explained
In pulmonary anthrax, inhaled spores multiply to cause disease that affects the entire body instead of a specific organ. This is an occupational disease encountered in industries in which the workers are exposed to high levels of spores in dust, particularly in the leather and woollen industries.
Gastrointestinal and pulmonary anthrax, although exceedingly rare, are both more dangerous than the cutaneous form because they are usually identified too late for treatment to be effective.

Anthrax in construction and demolition
Animal hair has been used as an ingredient in internal plasters for centuries. The best hair was obtained fresh from the tanners yard. Controls for the prevention of anthrax have existed since 1919; however, there is no guarantee that hair in plaster used before 1900 was not contaminated in the construction industry.

In reality, the risk of developing an anthrax relating infection is low so long as suitable and sufficient risk assessments and management plans are adhered to. A risk assessment is required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH regulations) and should include but not be limited to:
• Cover cuts and abrasions
• Keep hands clean
• Wear suitable personal protective equipment (e.g. disposable gloves, overalls and dust masks)
• Prohibit smoking and consumption of food and drink
• Ensure plaster is handled and disposed of in accordance with local and statutory controls and dust generation is minimised
• Personnel informed of the risk and the risk management system.

Riverside can recommend a range of procedures designed to effectively reduce the risk of anthrax related infections. For free advice, guidance and to arrange testing of plaster please contact us on 0870 950 0161 or email info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk.

It’s been 9 months since the introduction of compulsory Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP) for Demolition projects valued at over £300,000. As expected, the EA and local authorities have seen many contractors struggle with implementing SWMP’s and have shown leniency to help get waste management plans in place.

This has been a useful and necessary arrangement for many but with the year marker around the corner, there will no doubt be a shift in focus that will see enforcement authorities moving towards prosecution and away from support.
A scary thought when you consider SWMPs are still a headache for contractors as they consider:
• What paperwork needs to be filled out?
• What percentages of waste needs to be recycled?
• How to sustain waste segregation?
• What needs reporting?
• And the rest…
But as time-consuming and complex as an SWMP can seem, you need to dedicate resources to it’s completion as any company that doesn’t comply with SWMP regulations faces a fine of up to £50,000 – proportionate to the value of your project.

The good news is that, like most things, SWMPs can be outsourced to a waste management company. This allows the client to simply keep updated while saving resources and getting on with his/her work on-site.

As with anything you outsource, there are benefits to handing over an SWMP to experts. A waste management company will have the knowledge and contacts to ensure your projects stays within budget, hits ‘green’ targets and potentially earns you as much as possible from recyclate.

It’s still early days in the SWMP world so there are only a few companies that specialise in SWMP completion, one is TopTriangle Waste Management. Like others; TopTriangle Ltd will take care of any SWMP compliance worries and ensure you avoid steep fines while regulating the waste that is produced. Unlike others, they’ve been in the waste management industry for 5 years now, helping their clients cut down the amount going to landfill and reducing illegal waste activity.

All in all, if you’re appointed with the responsibility of managing on-site waste, you must have sufficient authority to make sure others comply with the SWMP plus time to put the plan together, see it through and analyse after project completion.

If you need some free info on SWMP’s, what they involve; how to set one up and the things that are often forgotten or overlooked; check out this handy and free Site Waste Management Plan Guide. It’s in plain English, is straight forward and provides the information you need to know.

Mark Attwood is CEO of TopTriangle Ltd, one of the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative waste and hire services companies. Mark has been featured on the UK’s most popular radio station, BBC Radio 2 numerous times, including the Jeremy Vine Show and Chris Evans Show. He has been profiled in the Daily Telegraph and was voted for the “Crains’ 40 under 40 Award” in 2008 as one of the most successful business people under the age of 40. He created the world’s first ever fully online skip hire service TopSkips.com in 2003 and is also the publisher and creator of the UK Skip Hire Trade Monthly, “The Skip” magazine, as featured on BBC TV.