Probation for contractor caught up in kickback investigation.

The owner of a demolition company, who pleaded guilty to offering union officials gifts and payments, was sentenced Thursday to two years’ probation.

Gerald Diodati, 60, is banned from working for any labor organizations throughout the two years and must perform 200 hours of community service each year for the duration of his sentence. He was also undergo mental health treatment.

U.S. District Judge William E. Smith waived any fines, saying that Diodati had already endured financial hardships due to the dive his reputation took at being involved in the conspiracy. Diodati, an estimator for Hemphill Construction and owner of Rhode Island Demolition, was the last of three men sentenced Thursday for their roles in a kickback scheme.

Read more here.

Another contractor falls foul of asbestos regulations.

Clifton Farm & Excavating Co. of Perryville, Missouri is facing penalties over asbestos violations from a demolition job that took place back in June. The Missouri Air Conservation Commission voted to seek legal action after the demolition company failed to respond to the commission’s attempts to settle the case. The demolition company was cited for failing to obtain an asbestos inspection and failing to provide notice of a demolition job.

Clifton Farms demolished two Perryville homes for the Bank of Missouri earlier this year. On June 15, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted an inspection and discovered the lack of demolition notice and asbestos inspection. When a single home is demolished, neither the asbestos inspection nor demolition notice is needed. But when two adjacent homes are demolished, both requirements apply.

Read more here.

Western Australia prosecutions serve as timely reminder on demolition licenses.

Four successful prosecutions in the courts in a week have prompted a reminder from WorkSafe WA on the importance of demolition licences.

Timber company Gunns Limited was fined $10,000 and two demolition workers were each fined $500. In June this year, Gunns received several quotes to demolish a 135 metre long and 24 metre wide shed at their Yarloop premises. The company accepted the quote provided without ensuring that the contractors held the necessary licence.

In the other case, Sean Mooney was given a quote for demolition of a building in Harvey. The quote stated that the job would require a Class 2 demolition licence. Mooney obtained a building licence for the demolition work from the Shire of Harvey, then proceeded to carry out the demolition work himself with the help of friends. He was fined $500.

Agreement clears the way for major demolition to make way for new O’Hare runway.

City officials have authorized a $16 million settlement to suburban Bensenville, removing one of the last legal impediments to Mayor Daley’s massive O’Hare Airport expansion project. The deal that will open the door for the demolition of hundreds of abandoned Bensenville homes was sealed with Chicago’s offer to pay Bensenville $16 million as compensation for village-owned properties.

The city has also agreed to health and safety protections for Bensenville residents during the demolition and construction process. That includes traffic and landscaping plans and demolition controls, including temporary fencing. Chicago will repair and replace Bensenville’s stormwater and wastewater infrastructure if it’s damaged during demolition.

Read the full story here.

Armoury Group appoints new operations director to drive company forward.

With 27 years of experience under his belt, Keith McDowall brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to his new role at the company. With the majority of his experience gained from working with high calibre companies such as Multiplex, Barrett and Willmott Dixon, Keith has worked on a variety of large scale construction and demolition projects including: the construction of the new Wembley Stadium (now hosting an unprecedented volume of matches and concerts) and the multi-million pound demolitions of Spinningfields, Manchester and the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow.

At Armoury, Keith will primarily be responsible for the delivery of key projects including strategic planning and programming, as well as co-ordinating supply chain and sub-contractor partners and providing project safety leadership.

Tony McLean, Managing Director of Armoury Group comments, “This appointment marks a significant shift change for Armoury as the company looks to build on its strong nationwide reputation. Importantly Keith comes from a construction background as opposed to simply demolition. His holistic approach means he understands the complexity of structures, which enables him to provide a detailed analysis of each de-construction. He has presented Armoury with a more rounded approach to demolition and with his in-depth technical knowledge and 360o skill set he is an outstanding asset to our team.”

Bored at work? Unable to sleep? Then try our demolition publication bookshelf for size.

When we’re not messing about with videos and other online “stuff”, the team here at Demolition News Towers is busily producing or contributing to a multitude of demolition-related magazines, the majority of which we generally make available online.

However, until now, it’s been virtually impossible to find all these publications in a single location. But thanks to the techno-geeks at online publication specialists Issuu, we have now been able to create a virtual bookshelf containing some of our latest handiwork, which you can view and download below.

We will shortly be attemnpting to upload some (very) old back issues of Demolition & Dismantling to provide a nostalgic look back at the industry of yesteryear.

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.