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Flashing hi-vis vests to improve site safety

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Flashing hi-ves vests are being developed to warn workers of potential dangers on sites.

The SmartVest contains strips of LED lights which flash different colours to warn workers of particular hazards.

The vests have been developed by software specialist 3Squared and link-up to its site management system.

Workers will be alerted with flashing lights to dangers like oncoming trains on rail sites.

Lights will also warn operatives when they enter a dangerous site zone as mapped out on the 3Squared ‘SmartSafe’ virtual zone management platform.

Tim Jones, Managing Director of 3Squared, said: “The SmartVest concept innovatively and creatively takes an established product with existing safety benefits into the 21st Century.

“We are very excited about what this could mean for construction and infrastructure workers in terms of enhancing their safety on site.”

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Necessity of Rock Salt in the winter and Profitable Handling Practices

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Each winter the demand for de-icing products spikes significantly as winter is harsher each year.

Two of the most common de-icing products are brown and white gritting rock salt. Both products are effective in managing the buildup of ice on roads and pavements and both can be easily spread. In fact, in a short amount of time these rock salts can cover quite a large area. Also, both are cost efficient and effective.

Salt works by lowering the melting point of ice. When salt mixes with any moisture or water, a saline solution is created (salty water). This saline solution will freeze at a lower point than fresh water, making it more difficult for ice to form.

Brown Rock Gritting Salt

Brown rock salt is just as effective as white rock salt in preventing formation of ice on surfaces. It is preferred by many as it provides better traction. It is very useful for gritting driveways, paths, car parks and roads in the winter time. As the brown salt thaws the ice its large particles provide traction under foot, this helps ensure pathways are safe to walk on. One advantage of brown rock salt is that you can clearly see which surfaces are safe to walk on, therefore preventing a serious injury from occurring as a result of wintery weather. Some will say that brown rock salt has its disadvantages. It does have the potential to leave stains on some surfaces and has a visible residue once melted. Some look at this left over gritty residue as an advantage.

White Rock Salt

White rock salt is known to have higher concentrations of sodium bicarbonate than brown rock salt, which allows it to dissolve snow in a shorter period of time. Once the snow dissolves it lowers the waters freezing point which makes it difficult for ice to form. It also becomes almost invisible to the naked eye once it melts, therefore it does not affect the aesthetics of a surface or leave a gritty residue behind.

Proven to be Effective and Cost-Efficient

Many wonder if they purchase rock salt for concrete or for melting ice or for other uses as well and have an amount left over at the end of the season if it can be used for the next season. The answer is yes, which makes it even more cost-efficient. Rock salt has been forming in the ground for hundreds of millions of years, therefore it is sustainable. However, it does need to be stored in a dry area and in a closed bag/container if possible. This is to prevent the salt from dissolving. The salts also contain an anti-caking agent which is added and works by preventing it from clumping together even if it should become exposed to some moisture.

The wintery roads, walkways, car parks, and paths are best maintained by either brown rock salt grit or white rock salt. They are proven to be effective and can be stored for later use giving the added benefit of being cost-effective.

Author Biography:
As the winters become harsher, Kim McPherson researches way to maintain safety while outdoors. She enjoys sharing this information with her readers in hopes of keeping them safe as well.

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Fresh wave of invoice fraud hits contractor

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Main contractor Speller Metcalfe has been hit by a fresh wave of con-artists attempting to trick clients into sending payments to fraudster bank accounts.

In the last week swindlers have written to two housing association clients telling them to amend the firm’s bank details for payments.

The builder has issued a warning so that other firms do not fall foul of the latest out-break of attacks.

The industry was hit by a major case of what is known as mandate fraud several years ago when the Olympic Delivery Authority was conned out of £2.3m.

A spokesman for Speller Metcalfe warned that the latest attempts are becoming more sophisticated, using company logos and project names to make them seem convincing.

Speller Metcalfe and another external partner firm were victims of a similar attack last summer.

The spokesman said: “The first letter sent to a client in Cheltenham contained a few errors but was passable insofar as our client had changed the bank details to those of the fraudulent request and was about to pay out.

“It was only when Speller Metcalfe chased payment and the client confirmed they would send payment to the new bank details that the fraud was identified.”

He said that the second attack proved more sophisticated. A letter was received by a Birmingham-based client attached to an email, which would have read almost perfectly to someone external to Speller Metcalfe.

It came with a fake letterhead, professional approach and tone and forged signature.

Follow-up phone calls were even made to make sure they had received the letter and to confirm the change of account details.

Luckily for Speller Metcalfe, a sharp-minded purchase ledger clerk working for the client flagged up an error in the address on the letter with the finance director – just before the exchange of a significant sum.

The director then called Speller Metcalfe’s accounts team and confirmed existing account details. No money was lost and the incident was investigated by the police.

Andrew James, Partner & Head of Construction and Engineering at Harrison Clark Rickerbys solicitors, said: “Unfortunately this type of fraud and also more sophisticated cybercrime is on the increase, and clients and contractors need to be vigilant.

“For the paying party this can be a real issue because it can still remain liable to pay the original debt, and effectively it could have to pay twice in the knowledge that it will face a difficult claim against the fraudsters.

“In practice, companies do not often change bank accounts, and therefore if you receive such a notification, however genuine it may appear, always get specific confirmation from a current director of the receiving party – preferably both by telephone and in writing – that you are authorised to pay into the new account.”

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Double Listing for Clugston

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Clugston, the privately owned group of companies with interests in construction, facilities management, logistics and property development is pleased to announce it has been included onto two of the UK’s ‘top performing’ lists – Yorkshire’s Fastest 50 and The London Stock Exchange’s ‘1000 companies to Inspire Britain’. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Continue Reading