Brandenburg Industrial Services, one of the US’ largest and best-known demolition companies, is to collect a health and safety award from the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration in honour of its work tearing down Xcel Energy’s old High Bridge power plant at 501 Shepard Road in St. Paul.
Full story here.
After more than four years with William Verry Limited, Geoff Taylor, Pre-Construction Director, has decided to take up a new position as Chief Executive of The General Group, which includes the successful General Demolition company. The appointment will take effect from 2nd February 2009.
Craig Jones, Chief Executive of The Verry Group says: “We are obviously disappointed to lose Geoff. However, we are immensely grateful for the way in which Geoff has led the front end of the business, securing many significant projects with the team over the years. He leaves Verry with a great legacy of award-winning schemes and projects on site with a value in excess of £130m which gives us real security for the challenges of 2009 and beyond. I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to maintain a Non-Executive position with us and all at Verry Construction join me in wishing Geoff every success for the future.”
Colin McLoughlin, Chairman of The General Group, commented: “I am delighted that Geoff is joining us at this time to take the General Group into the next phase of our growth plan. I have been impressed with how Verry has developed under Geoff’s direction and look forward to him taking the group forward to support the existing core businesses of General Demolition and General Recycling. Geoff will continue to expand and develop the General Group’s commitment to delivering environmentally-friendly solutions for demolition and construction waste, alternative fuels and many other fascinating opportunities within this buoyant and vital sector.”
Never has the expression “putting the cart before the horse” been quite so apt as this story from the Evening Courier newspaper in Halifax in the North of England.
The story tells of permission being granted to demolish the Savile Park Junior and Infant School in the city. Nothing unusual there, you might think…aside from the fcat that the demolition was completed three months ago!
Full story here.
Here’s a new video showing the demolition of the PricewaterhouseCoopers building close to the famous London Bridge landmark.
As President-Elect Barack Obama puts the finishing touches to his inauguration speech, US magazine Construction & Demolition Recycler is reporting on a new bill that is making its way through the House of Representatives that could significantly boost construction and demolition waste recycling initiatives.
Click here for further details.
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of the UK’s Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) has expressed fears that a rise on construction and demolition accidents could be an unforeseen side-effect of the recession that is currently gripping the world’s economy.
Speaking on the union’s regular blog, Ritchie says: “…My union, UCATT, fears the recession could actually make construction sites more dangerous in the medium term. Much of the industry has a macho culture that only pays lip service to health and safety. When times are tight, safety is first to be cut. With thousands of construction workers losing their jobs, those still employed are even less likely to refuse to perform a dangerous task, for fear of being given their cards and told there are plenty of others who will work without complaint…”
No details available on this as yet but worthy of posting anyway.
Our friends at TopSkips bring us the unlikely yet true story that UK local authorities are using anti-terror laws to combat the increasing problem of fly-tipping.
According to TopSkips, a recent survey showed that 77 councils admitted using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) to crack down on domestic waste, littering or fly-tipping offences.
Full story here.
Back in October, we brought you video footage of what happens when a dozer operator gets angry.
And now comes news of a civil engineer who sought revenge on his estranged wife with the use of a JCB backhoe loader.
UK trade magazine Contract Journal has the full details.
The iconic Astoria music venue in the heart of London’s theatre-land has played host to some of the biggest and most notorious bands in the music business. In its 30-year history, the Astoria’s 2,000 capacity venue played host to everyone from the Beach Boys and David Bowie to today’s stars such as Amy Winehouse, Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys.
But as preparation for London’s controversial Crossrail project gathers pace, the venue hosted its last-ever gig last night. Even as concert goers were queuing, amid TV and radio journalists capturing the moment for posterity, scaffolding was being put in place to facilitate the demolition works that could begin as soon as this weekend.
Bizarrely, in the middle of all this, a certain demolition journalist who was there purely to watch the bands was being interviewed by a music journalist for BBC Radio who was there to see the demolition.
