NEWS
Global Asbestos Awareness Week – 25% of UK tradespeople encounter asbestos every week
New research has found that 25% of UK tradespeople are exposed to asbestos every single week.
Global Asbestos Awareness
Week (1st-7th April), an event aimed at bringing more attention to the dangers of asbestos, ElectricalDirect surveyed trade workers from across the nation to see how often they encounter it, and the impact this has on their health.
The study found that 72% of tradespeople have come across asbestos – the fibre-like material once used for insulation – in their working lives. This has serious consequences, with 44% having had symptoms of an asbestos- related disease, or knowing a colleague who has. Tradespeople are amongst the most at-risk workers of asbestos- related diseases, and across all industries, the majority are
British Garden Centres showcase the sector’s challenges at the House of Lords
British Garden Centres, the UK’s largest family-run group of garden centres was invited to give evidence by the government at the House of Lords’ Horticultural Sector Committee last week.
Boyd Douglas-Davies, PR, Communication and Plants Director at the family-run group was invited to represent British Garden Centres and set out the challenges that the retail horticulture sector is facing. Boyd addressed the Lords Horticulture inquiry about garden retail and the worker shortage, the impending peat legislation and how net zero will affect the industry.
Douglas-Davies highlighted to those present how vital the horticultural industry was, contributing £ 29 billion
PEOPLE NEWS
WAREHOUSE MANAGER CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AT NEWSOME TOOLS
Earlier this month Warehouse Manager Stephen Owens celebrated 40 years of outstanding service at J Newsome Tools. Steve joined the company in the spring of 1983 as a trainee and has made his way up the ranks as well as overseeing three complete company relocations over the years. On reaching this milestone Managing Director Martin Newsome said: “Steve has made an invaluable contribution to our companies success for which I am very grateful. We all wish him many more years of good health and look forward to him clocking up another 40 years.” Pictured is Martin Newsome presenting Steve with a gift to mark the occasion at the company’s Harleston Street warehouse in Sheffield. Congratulations on 40 years of service Steve and the team at Newsome Tools thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
BUILDING SUPERSTORE STRENGTHENS ITS TRADE TEAM
Building Superstore, part of the UK’s largest online only builders’ merchant CMO Group PLC, has expanded its customer service team with the appointment of Graham Turner to the role of business development manager. With over 30 years’ experience in the builders’ merchant industry, Turner
6 DIY WEEK APRIL 2023
brings with him extensive knowledge of the plumbing and heating market, as well as wider technical expertise to help customers find the solutions they need for a variety of different jobs. As the latest member of the established customer service team, Turner’s appointment further strengthens Building Superstore as the ‘go-to’ supplier for building materials and supplies.
www.diyweek.net
NEW NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER AT BURG-WÄCHTER
Burg-Wächter, Germany’s security specialist, has appointed Darren Nicholson as National Account Manager. With over 30 years’ experience in the DIY trade, via both retail and sales roles in national DIY, grocers,
high street and builder’s merchants, Nicholson, who has previously worked for Bostik, Graham & Brown and Gorilla Glue, brings a wealth of expertise to the Burg-Wächter team. Nicholson said: “Burg-Wächter is a well-respected brand within the security industry and this is a great opportunity for me to join a professional and enthusiastic company.”
than just money,” Douglas- Davies said. “It also has vital benefits to our environmental policies and its’ value to our health and wellbeing is beyond measure. This is what we should be talking about beyond the pound value.”
Douglas-Davies also went on to address the committee outlining how Post-Brexit plant import paperwork had cost an additional £15,000 per week. Plants waiting to be inspected on lorries can spend 24-48 hours in the dark which is not good for their health and puts biosecurity at risk.
to the UK economy in 2019, and forecasted to grow to approximately £42 billion in 2030. “The value of horticulture to our world is worth far more
The Horticultural Sector Committee invites the public, particularly those working in the industry to provide their views on the future of the sector as part of its inquiry.
exposed to the potentially lethal material on a regular basis. Three in five (60%) find it every year, over a third (35%) say every month, and one in 12 (8%) come face to face with asbestos every day. Tragically, one in 20 (5%) know someone who has died of such a condition, and every week, 20 tradespeople deaths are attributed to asbestos. Some trades are more likely to be exposed than others, and so
should be particularly cautious. Almost every carpenter (95%) questioned had some history with asbestos, and bricklayers (88%) are a close second. To read ElectricalDirect’s full Asbestos and the Trades report, including what to do if you encounter asbestos at work, and the treatment options for those who spot symptoms, visit:https://
www.electricaldirect.co.uk/blog/ asbestos-and-the-trades-2022
Energy Specialist hits carbon reduction milestone equivalent to taking 10K cars off the road
An energy specialist working in the technology sector has saved more than 47,000 carbon tonnes through the use of Pilot Group’s Energy Management System (EMS) technology after identifying that said savings could be made. The carbon reductions made by Phoebe Baker are the equivalent of taking more than 10,200 cars off the road, while the energy savings she has made are enough to power more than 86,200 houses for an entire year. Baker, an Account Manager at sustainable technology expert Pilot Group, throughout her fledgling four-year career at the company has overseen the installation of more than 500 EMS systems, resulting in huge carbon and energy savings.
Coinciding with the carbon reductions, Baker has helped UK companies save some £8 million on their energy bills having helped them save more than 250,000,000 kWh in energy. With Pilot Group aiming to save UK companies £1.2 million in energy costs by June this year alone, Baker’s work and experience will be crucial in achieving this target.
As well as being influential in the company’s EMS growth, Baker’s expertise have seen her become an active spokesperson for Pilot Group, appearing regularly on expert webinars and at roundtables to discuss the advances in energy management and sustainability.
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