Raising awareness of prostate cancer proves to be an itchy and ugly business.

When I was approached by those fine gentlemen at SCG Supplies to grow a moustache for the month of November to help raise awareness of prostate cancer, I didn’t think twice. My facial hair grows of its own accord, meaning that this campaign would require little or no effort from me whatsoever.

How wrong I was.

A mere nineteen days in and my top lip looks like a breeding ground for a uniquely ugly breed of ginger/grey caterpillar that seems intent on storing at least half of MY food intake in its folds and creases; my wife’s usual look of pity has become one on contempt; my children laugh…openly; and even the family dog seems to be keeping his distance. Furthermore, the ‘tache merely serves to underline the crookedness of my nose.

So with less than two weeks remaining on what has proved to be a traumatic campaign, please show your support here.

And if you have a spare shaving razor about the place that you won’t be using on 1 December, please let me know.

A new time-lapse video captures the step-by-step demolition of Wigan swimming pool.

In light of yesterday’s Reunion Arena horror show, here’s a timely video showing how the roof of a sporting arena can be brought down slowly, in a controlled manner and with minimal risk to life and limb.

Video provides insight into pre and post-demolition process on Drexel Shaft implosion.

Memorial Coliseum – Will they, won’t they demolish?

Corpus Christi City Council took a step toward demolishing Memorial Coliseum but simultaneously will enter eight weeks of negotiations with the National Swim Center Corp. to redevelop the building into an Olympic swim center.

The compromise, approved 6-3 by the council, came after more than three hours of emotional debate in which some council members raised their voices at times and choked back tears.

The council’s action Tuesday comes three weeks after it voted Oct. 27 to end negotiations with Brass Real Estate, the latest developer proposing reuse of the deteriorating building.

“If we don’t move forward now, future councils are still going to be dealing with this,” Councilman John Marez said. “Do we want this issue resolved? Yes. This is what we believe is the best. … If we go forward (with the swim center) and it doesn’t work, I have no problem saying, ‘Let’s demolish and move forward.’”

Read more here.

Anti-demolition protesters injured in Philippines capital.

At least 11 people were injured when residents of a Muslim community in Pasay City, Manila pelted a demolition team with stones, bottles and even human waste in a desperate bid to prevent their houses from being torn down Wednesday morning.

However, Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman said three residents, including a 7-year-old child, were killed when policemen tasked to protect the demolition team fired their guns into the air.

His claim was immediately disputed by Pasay police chief, Senior Supt. Raul Petrasanta who said his men only fired warning shots.

“There were a few people injured but no one died,” Petrasanta told reporters.

Read the full story here.

Demolition of illegal Delhi stadium highlights Indian planning shortcomings.

In recent months, we have reported on a couple of Indian demolition contracts that call into question the country’s planning and building control systems. First, we reported on the demolition of a hospital building before a demolition license had even been granted; and then we reported on the demolition of a pair of relatively new nightclubs that contravened building regulations.

And now comes news that an open air stadium in Delhi is to be demolished….because the owner never had permission to build it in the first place.

Delhi High Court has ordered the demolition of an open-air stadium, built illegally in Ajmal Khan Park. The high court ruled that there couldn’t be illegal constructions in any public park. The court also restrained the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from building a full-fledged indoor stadium. The court said: “L-G is not an architect nor an engineer. You are answerable to the public at large. How can you use an ornamental park (Ajmal Khan park) for constructing a stadium when the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has clearly stated that no construction is permissible?”

Read the full story here.

More than a week since it was imploded, Owensboro’s Big E remains partially upright.

Demolition crews continue to take apart what is left of Owensboro’s Executive Inn after it was imploded over a week ago.

Really? You don’t say!!

More here.

Reunion Arena roof collapse caught on camera.

When you allocate three days to a specific demolition task and actually complete it in just eight hours, it is generally not a good sign. And that was certainly the case on the roof of Dallas’ famous Reunion Arena.

As the following video dramatically shows, the contractor chose to break out the reinforced concrete legs supporting the arena’s vast steel-frame roof using an excavator equipped with a hydraulic hammer. The action really starts one minute and 20 seconds into this video but most demolition professionals will spot the payoff within the first few seconds.

All we can say is that the only reunion likely to transpire from this is the one between the excavator operator and his maker.

SFfC Plant Safety Group provide quick hitch safety guidance

Following the failure of a previous guidance to stem the tide of fatalities, accidents and injuries, the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group met earlier this week and has now issued guidance on safe use of excavator quick hitches.

The Safety Notice clarifies other issues concerning safe use of quick hitches, recognising that employers have their own safe systems of work for the use of quick hitches. It is recommended that all employers use the Safety Notice as a check list to review their own procedures.

A full Best Practice Guidance will be published in February 2010 but, in the meantime, the Forum has issued an interim guidance for operator that can be viewed here.

Our thanks to PP Construction for the heads-up on this.

Delivery of Hitachi high reach to Belgian customer marks major milestone for Kocurek.

Kocurek Excavators, the UK-based modifier and manufacturer, may not have invented the high reach demolition machine but it’s fair to say that it has done more to pioneer this revolutionary concept than any other company.

So it is fitting that the company should also be the first to pass the milestone of having produced 50 telescopic high reach units on base machines in the 65 to 120 tonne operating weight class. It is equally fitting that the machine in question – an Hitachi ZX870LCH-3 – is destined for Martens Kabelrecycling NV in Belgium, a long-time Kocurek customer.

The new unit is scheduled for delivery early in 2010 and we hope to have more details closer to that time,