Deconstruct UK Limited has launched a series of e-books to demonstrate their capabilities in the demolition and asbestos removal markets.

The Demolition and Asbestos Case Studies e-book can be viewed here:

For further information on our Asbestos Removal, Demolition and Deconstruction services, please call us now on 020 7734 6655 or visit www.deconstructuk.com

Deconstruct UK Limited has launched a series of e-books to demonstrate their capabilities in the demolition and asbestos removal markets.

The Demolition and Dangerous Structures Case Studies e-book can be viewed here:

For further information on our Asbestos Removal, Demolition and Deconstruction services, please call us now on

020 7734 6655 or visit www.deconstructuk.com

Just over four years ago, there was just one single topic of conversation on the lips of UK demolition contractors – The introduction of the Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) directive; a formalised way in which to plan and track the demolition waste stream and, thereby, minimise waste to landfill.

Of course, anyone that knows anything about demolition realised at the time that this was a paper-based cure for a non-existent malady. Demolition contractors – particularly those in the UK – send waste to landfill with all the enthusiasm with which an 11-year old girl sends her favourite gymkhana pony to the local glue factory.

But like it does with every unnecessary, onerous and burdensome item of legislation heaped upon its shoulders, the UK demolition industry embraced SWMPs. Individual companies formed working groups and committees to ensure that they fully understood the new directive and its likely implications; the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and the Institute of Demolition Engineers dedicated great swathes of their seminar and committee time to ensuring that members did not fall foul of this latest red tape trap. And a number of consultants and training providers enjoyed a pre-recession spike in their profits, talking companies and their employees through the legal minefield with which each new item of legislation is accessorised.

Yet it now looks as though all of that was for nothing.

The UK government – which is currently enjoying the same level of national popularity as the song “Blue Moon” enjoys in the red half of Manchester – is doing its level best to court business and, of course, the vote of the business community. But, unlike previous governments, it is not in a position to buy those votes with reduced taxes and increased grant funding.

Faced with a level of national debt that would normally cause Bono to arrange a benefit concert, the government has instead turned its attention to the removal of bureaucracy and administrative burdens as part of its Red Tape Challenge. And one of the key items of red tape in the government’s sights appears to be Site Waste Management Plans.

Although it has yet to be confirmed, it seems that the SWMPs are destined for the legislative scrap heap sooner rather than later, along with a host of 52 other less-than-useful rules, regulations and directives.

Of course, few in the UK demolition business will mourn the passing of Site Waste Management Plans; most were following the same rules prior to the introduction of SWMPs and will continue to do so long after this additional paper trail has been swept away.

But most will also curse the bitter irony of the time, effort and money wasted on a directive that was introduced to minimise waste.

Source: Demolition News

Deconstruct UK specialise in all aspects of deconstruction, dismantling and demolition works, including asbestos management and asbestos abatement. These core specialism’s enable Deconstruct to advise clients fully on all aspects of risk management including costs and programme implications.

For further information about Deconstruct (UK) Limited and a full description of all our services, please visit our main website: www.deconstructuk.com or give us a call on 020 7734 6655

Additionally, you can subscribe to our new industry blog Deconstruct UK which brings together expert knowledge and experience for subscribers and allows comments to be posted via debates and updates.

The blog can be found at www.deconstruct-asbestos-removal.co.uk, subscribe here to keep updated on asbestos management and removal topics.

Contact Details:

Deconstruct (UK) Limited T: 0207 734 6655

Silver House F: 0207 734 6626

31-35 Beak Street

London

W1F 9DP

enquiries@deconstructuk.com

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012, updating previous asbestos regulations to take account of the European Commission’s view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).

In practice, the changes are fairly limited. They mean that some types of non-licensed work with asbestos now have additional requirements, i.e. notification of work, medical surveillance and record keeping. All other requirements remain unchanged.

What has stayed the same and what has chnged?

Notifiable non-licensed work

All non-licensed work needs to be carried out with the appropriate controls in place. But for notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW), employers also have additional requirements to:

1. notify work with asbestos to the relevant enforcing authority;
2. ensure medical examinations are carried out; and
3. maintain registers of work (health records).

Is my work NNLW?

online NNLW notification form

———–

(Source: ARCA Website)

Subscribe here to the Deconstruct blog to keep updated on asbestos removal and asbestos management topics.

If you have an asbestos removal project that requires immediate attention within the London areas, Deconstruct offer an ‘immediate response’ service.  Contact us today.  Asbestos Removal London Case Study examples can be viewed here.

Contact Details:

Deconstruct (UK) Limited
Silver House
31-35 Beak Street
London
W1F 9DP

T: 0207 734 6655
F: 0207 734 6626
E: enquiries@deconstructuk.comuk.com

The HSE has announced the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 will come into force on 6 April 2012, these will update previous asbestos regulations in order to take account of the European Commission’s view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).

In summary, the changes are fairly limited and mean that some types of non-licensed work with asbestos now have additional requirements, i.e. notification of work, medical surveillance and detailed record keeping. All other requirements will remain unchanged, e.g. relating to licensed work with asbestos, duty to manage, risk assessment, the asbestos control limit, control measures and training requirements.

Deconstruct welcome these changes and continue to promote best practice across all their asbestos projects.

Further information will be published on the 6^th April 2012 by the HSE via their website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm

The Deconstruct Team

Client: Blenheim House Construction

Location: St Anne’s Court, London W1

Contractor: Deconstruct UK Ltd

Completion Date: September 2011

Sector: Construction

Removal of asbestos containing materials from former recording studios, prior to conversion into a hotel.

About the project:

Deconstruct were contracted to demolish the adjoining office building at Carlisle Street and strip the St Anne’s Court building back to shell and core.
Asbestos was present throughout both properties and had to be completely removed prior to demolition and strip out. The majority of the asbestos was asbestos insulation board (AIB) located behind the acoustic panelling within the basement recording studios.

Project challenges:

With the asbestos insulation board being located behind the acoustic panelling, it was necessary to incorporate the removal of the panelling within the asbestos removal operation.
Deconstruct asbestos removal teams had to deconstruct 6 layers of acoustic boarding and panelling to access and remove the asbestos. The fixings and fittings that secured the acoustic panelling, passed through the asbestos and had to be carefully removed, to avoid uncontrolled damage to the asbestos. A considerable amount of contaminated waste was generated from these works. The waste needed to be carefully transferred from the basement working area, to ground floor level, for collection on a ‘wait and load’ basis.
The waste transfer process was was a very labour intensive operation.

Download the asbestos removal case study for the construction sector here.

Our Services:
Deconstruction Services
Demolition Services
Enabling Works
Asbestos Removal Services
Ground Works Services
Piling Services
Steelwork Installations
Builders Works
Emergency Dangerous Structures
Temporary Works
Asbestos Surveying

For further information on our Asbestos Removal and Deconstruction services, please email enquiries@deconstructuk.com or call us now on 020 7734 6655

Client: Ayerst Environmental Ltd

Location: Private Hospital in Essex

Contractor: Deconstruct UK Ltd

Completion Date: July 2011

Sector: Healthcare Estates

To carry out a full decontamination of the boiler room at a Private Hospital

About the project:

Deconstruct were appointed to carry out a full decontamination of the main boiler house that served the entire hospital.
Asbestos had been removed from the boiler house previously, but works had been carried out to a very poor standard so residual contamination remained. The Deconstruct team had to carefully clean around all plant, pipework and electrical switch gear to enable the hospitals engineers to work safely within the boilerhouse, without the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres.

Project challenges:

The work area contained many pipes and cables that all had to be cleaned. Careful separation and cleaning of the cables, a slow and labour intensive process was necessary. All walls and pipework
were thoroughly cleaned using hand tools. The boilerhouse was located directly beneath the administrative heart of the hospital. The work was co-ordinated and planned to use the single point of access directly onto the rear of the boilerhouse, thereby keeping our works well away from hospital staff and the public. The works were carried out during a designated shut down period. This meant that works were completed within a strict timescale to enable subsequent maintenance work to be undertaken to enable the boiler house to be re-commissioned before the end of the summer break.

Download the asbestos removal case study for private hospitals here.

Our Services:
Deconstruction Services
Demolition Services
Enabling Works
Asbestos Removal Services
Ground Works Services
Piling Services
Steelwork Installations
Builders Works
Emergency Dangerous Structures
Temporary Works
Asbestos Surveying

For further information on our Asbestos Removal and Deconstruction services, please email enquiries@deconstructuk.com or call us now on 020 7734 6655

Client: Boutique Hotel

Location: London W1

Contractor: Deconstruct UK Ltd

Completion Date: September 2011

Sector: Hotels

Asbestos surveying and removal from within the ceiling voids of the guest accommodation areas at a boutique hotel

About the project:

Prior to the installation of a new air conditioning system, Deconstruct were invited to visit the hotel and advise the hotel owner on their responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos Regulations.
A refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey was recommended and subsequently carried out within the areas that the new air conditioning was to be installed. Asbestos insulation board was identified to various locations within the ceiling void and Deconstruct’s experienced team of operatives then safely removed this.

Project challenges:

Throughout the asbestos survey and removal process the hotel remained open although the areas in which our teams worked were vacated.
The asbestos survey was completed and the findings promptly reported. Notification to remove the asbestos was submitted to the Health & Safety Executive and the works duly completed to enable the air conditioning to be installed without the risk of disturbing asbestos. The works were planned and carried out in a manner that ensured there was no contact with hotel guests at any time.

Download the asbestos removal case study for the hotels sector here

Our Services:
Deconstruction Services
Demolition Services
Enabling Works
Asbestos Removal Services
Ground Works Services
Piling Services
Steelwork Installations
Builders Works
Emergency Dangerous Structures
Temporary Works
Asbestos Surveying

For further information on our Asbestos Removal and Deconstruction services, please email enquiries@deconstructuk.com or call us now on 020 7734 6655

Yesterday’s landmark ruling in the UK Supreme Court as to where the liability rests for those who contract the deadly asbestos-related disease Mesothelioma, should serve as a wake up call to all employers with asbestos management responsibilities.

This ruling states that insurance liability was ‘triggered’ when an employee was first exposed, not when symptoms of the disease were first identified.  One of the Judges, Lord Clarke said “The negligent exposure of an employee to asbestos during the [insurance] policy period has sufficient causal link with subsequently arising mesothelioma to trigger the insurer’s obligation.”

This ruling should also be seriously considered by companies who work in the specialist field of asbestos removal and remediation, the importance of accurate record keeping, meticulous records of personal air sampling and effective safety management.

The on cost to those employers who do not take their responsibilities seriously will be significant and far reaching, not only do they face the risk of prosecution but may also be declined future employers liability insurance cover.  Insurers can pursue to recover the cost of any compensation it has paid out, if they believe that there were failings to meet legal responsibilities for the health and safety of employees and these failings led to the claim.

Employer’s liability insurance, a mandatory requirement in the UK under the Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, in its simplest terms, without this insurance you cannot trade or employ any person.

Perhaps it’s time you took the time to review your current health and safety arrangements now to safeguard your company’s future.

Marc Smith
SHEQ Director
Deconstruct UK Limited
marc.smith@deconstructuk.com
020 7734 6655

www.deconstructuk.com
www.deconstructuk-asbestos-removal.com

Deconstruct (UK) Limited, the provider of specialist demolition and site enablement contracting services, has been awarded with a RoSPA ‘Gold’ Award, just days after being selected as a finalist at the Construction News Specialists Awards 2012.

The prestigious Occupational Health and Safety Gold Award will be officially presented at this year’s Safety & Health Expo on May 15, 16 and 17, 2012 in the Kings Suite of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel. This is the second time Deconstruct have scooped the award, despite record numbers of entries.

Marc Smith SHEQ Director, Deconstruct UK said “Once again we are delighted to be awarded with the Gold Award from RoSPA. It reflects the hard work of all employees at Deconstruct and shows we expertly maintain the highest standards of Occupational Health and Safety Management processes for our employees and clients alike”.

He went on to say “We feel it is vital for specialist contracting services to be recognised in this manner and as such, this promotes best practice across the industry”.

David Rawlins, awards manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), a safety charity with a 95-year history, said: “The RoSPA Awards programme provides well-deserved recognition for the winners and spurs on other organisations to raise their standards of accident and ill health prevention. We congratulate Deconstruct (UK) Limited on its success and encourage it, and all our other winners, to remain committed to safety and health, an approach that is well recognised to be good for workers and the bottom line.”

About Deconstruct (UK) Limited

Deconstruct UK specialise in all aspects of deconstruction, dismantling and demolition works, including asbestos management and asbestos abatement. These core specialism’s enable Deconstruct to advise clients fully on all aspects of risk management including costs and programme implications.

Deconstruct (UK) Services include:

• Demolition Services
• Enabling Works
• Asbestos Removal Services
• Groundworks Services
• Piling Services
• Steelwork Installations
• Builders Works
• Emergency Dangerous Structures – Disaster Recovery Facilities Management Programmes
• Temporary Works

For further information about Deconstruct (UK) Limited and a full description of all services, please visit the group website: www.deconstructuk.com or call through on 020 7734 6655

Alternatively, visit our specialist asbestos removal services website at www.deconstructuk-asbestos-removal.com

The Deconstruct blog can be found at www.deconstruct-asbestos-removal.co.uk, subscribe here to keep updated on asbestos management and removal topics.

Contact Details:

Deconstruct (UK) Limited

Silver House

31-35 Beak Street

London

W1F 9DP

T: 0207 734 6655

F: 0207 734 6626

E: enquiries@deconstructuk.comuk.com

For interviews or comments, please contact our PR agency:

SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited) 0870 199 4044

Email: info@simplymarcomms.co.uk