Average house price fell by -2.3% in November (-0.4% in October) Annual rate of growth dropped to +4.7% (from +8.2 Rate of annual growth slowed in all but one region (the North East) in November Similar story across NI, Wales and Scotland Source: Halifax House Price Index December 2022


Norbord Europe fined £2.1m for worker’s horrific death


Norbord has been fined £2.15m for health and safety failings leading to the death of an employee.


Perth Sheriff Court heard that George Laird and three colleagues were involved in maintenance work on a wood drier, during which a high-pressure hose was used to remove hot ash from within a hot gas duct above a combustion chamber.


Laird, 64, who was in the area below the combustion chamber, was enveloped by hot water, steam and ash and sustained burns over 90% of his body. He died the next day. Debbie Carroll, Assistant


Procurator Fiscal and Head of the Health and Safety Investigation Unit, said: “This was a lengthy and complex case. The detailed evidence against Norbord Europe


Limited over the four-week trial allowed the jury to come to a unanimous verdict. The tragic death of George Laird could have been prevented had suitable and sufficient measures been put in place.”


“Substantially more” required of Autumn Statement says CPA


While welcoming the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s inclusion of economic growth as one of his key priorities of the Autumn Statement, the Construction Products Association (CPA) believes that more could be done more quickly. CPA Economics Director Professor


Noble Francis, said: “While the additional funding for energy efficiency from 2025 is welcome news, this funding is for further years after the current £6.6 billion finishes and clearly delivery in 2030 still signifies a longer-term goal for Government rather than a quick win. The detail of delivery for energy efficiency is crucial given previous flops in Government policy, and the CPA will closely follow further details as they emerge. Retrofitting our existing housing stock is crucial both for growth in the sector and to meet our net zero targets. “The commitment to infrastructure projects at both a


local and national level will be welcome news to the industry, given some calls to reduce HS2 to Birmingham to help avoid tax increases. However, the announcement that funding for infrastructure would be “maintained in cash terms” in times of double-digit construction cost inflation means that we will see less activity down on the ground, particularly for financial constrained councils. Levelling Up through investment in infrastructure is a crucial way in which the construction industry can support wider economic growth, as well as its own, so it is vital that it is fully funded.”


MKM Newark welcomes immigration minister


How the building materials’ supply chain is evolving to support energy and environmental objectives in construction - and responding to the net zero carbon challenge - was the focus of a constituency fact-finding visit by Robert Jenrick MP, arranged by the Builders Merchants Federation. The MP for Newark visited MKM’s branch in the town, which opened 18 months ago, to see how the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant is tackling carbon emissions and paving the way to greater sustainability, both across its network and


the solutions it provides its customers.


Robert Jenrick, who was appointed as Immigration Minister last month, was welcomed by Kate Tinsley (MKM Chief Executive) and Bill Burroughs (MKM Branch Director). Despite the rain,


Mr Jenrick was given the opportunity to see the extensive range of sustainable products available to MKM customers across its 100 branches nationwide. He also heard how merchants are managing in the face of higher raw material, energy, labour and transport costs and the impact on local customers.


December 2022 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


BMF announces risk specialist for All Industry Conference


Professor Kevin Fong, the latest speaker announced for the BMF All Industry Conference 2023, specialises in risk, decision- making and innovation. Fong is a Consultant in Anaesthesia at London’s University College Hospital (UCL) and part of their Emergency Response and Major Incident Planning Team. He was seconded to NHS England as National Clinical Advisor in Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response for Covid 19.


Fong also worked as an academic and completed training rotations at America’s leading Space Centers, before founding the Centre for Altitude, Space and Extreme Environment (CASE) Medicine at UCL, which looks at the parallels that exist between critical illness and the physiology of extreme environments. From space travel to


emergency medical response, Kevin has combined insights into planning, human reactions and behaviours, engineering, and psychology to understand risk and decision making. His broad range of interests and experiences means he can address how teams work and operate. He considers how those that work every day under pressure, under stress and with high-risk deal with it to make the right calls, and quickly learn from mistakes.


Fong holds degrees in astrophysics, medicine and engineering and is also a science and medical broadcaster and writer. He is a regular contributor to programmes on the past, present, and future of space travel and has presented numerous editions of BBC 2’s Horizon including Back from the Dead and How to Avoid Mistakes in Surgery.


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