Demolition gone wrong….again

August 12, 2009 General, Video

Yet another video of demolition failing to go to plan.

Volvo Construction Equipment’s Phil Jones very kindly sent us this video. Quite why the photographer found the idea of a building collapsing on an excavator operator funny is something of a mystery, although, as the film progresses, the gravity of the situation does eventually begin to sink in.

Thankfully, the operator survived (no thanks to the photographer) but these photos (also supplied by Phil at Volvo) of the damaged excavator highlight two key points:

  • US contractors have a lot to learn when it comes to speccing a machine for demolition duties; a mesh guard on the cab window just won’t cut it
  • Despite this, a Volvo can can take one hell of a wallop!

Business Directory welcomes Building Health…

August 12, 2009 General

Occupational health monitoring company Building Health Ltd is latest to join Directory.

The Demolition News Business Directory continues to grow; and we’re delighted to welcome the latest addition: Building Health Ltd.

Building Health has been a keen supporter of Demolition News since its inception; and managing director Nichola Elvy has even been a guest on a couple of our audio podcasts. Furthermore, at a time when NFDC president David Darsey is putting occupational health at the very heart of his presidency, there has never been a batter time to consult with Nichola (and her new senior occupation health nurse, Jane).

Raising your web profile podcast series…

August 12, 2009 Audio, General

Demolitionnews.com produces podcast series to help you raise your company’s online presence.

In recognition of the growing importance of the Internet in helping to promote demolition businesses, demolitionnews.com has created a series of podcasts containing some simple, easy-to-follow, and quick to implement tips and tricks to help enhance your company’s digital presence.

We have broken these down into six episodes that you can listen to individually (below). Alternatively, you can skip to the end and simply download the script that we created (and almost stuck to) for these podcasts:

Episode 1 – Introduction
Listen!

Episode 2 – Getting Started
Listen!

Episode 3 – What to write about
Listen!

Episode 4 – How often should you write
Listen!

Episode 5 – Attracting traffic
Listen!

Episode 6 – Adding audio and video
Listen!

raising-your-companys-web-profile

Breaking down the walls in Singapore…

August 12, 2009 General

Asia’s first Brokk 400 has been put to the test on a fascinating contract in Singapore.

Singapore has started building a large hotel and casino complex and the project is expected to be completed in record time. The entire complex is built on reclaimed land and the soft ground conditions create major challenges for the foundation. Thick diaphragm walls had to be demolished after the foundation was laid.

This tough job – in confined space and under a tight time schedule – was an excellent job to test the first Brokk 400 in Asia.

Click here to read the full, fascinating story.

CPCS consultation starts to look like Durcaell bunny…

August 12, 2009 General

In a bizarre piece of deja vu, the CPCS consultation programme has reared its head…again.

The CPCS scheme was revised in April 2008. But ever since then, its negotiation and implementation has moved with all the haste and urgency of wind erosion.

And just when the industry thought the matter had been laid to rest, ConstructionSkills (via the National Federation of Demolition Contractors) has now announced that the scheme will be the subject of a new round of industry-specific consultation meetings, a fact that is set to make it the longest running saga since Coronation Street.

Further details can be found here.

Summer 2009 edition of Demolition & Dismantling out now…

August 12, 2009 General, Publications

Complete Drilling Services enters administration…

August 12, 2009 General, News

London-based Complete Drilling Services has gone into administration.

The ongoing recession and credit crunch has claimed another victim. UK trade magazine Construction News is reporting that concrete cutting and controlled demolition company Complete Drilling Services called in the receivers at the end of July.

Complete Drilling Services was founded in 1991 and started by offering concrete cutting services to the construction industry. It then branched out into demolition, construction and structural steel installation, creating four divisions under the name CDS London.

Read the full story here.

Video from operator’s viewpoint…

August 12, 2009 General, Video

New video gives unique insight into demolition job from the machine operator’s perspective.

Here at Demolition News, we regularly scour YouTube, Metacafe and Vimeo to bring you the very best and the very latest demolition videos. But time and again, we come back to the work being done in the US by Stephen SetteDucati Photography, a video company that has a real knack for producing interesting and unusual footage of demolition works.

Take this latest video for example, shot unusually from the operator’s cab of a Testa Corp. Komatsu 1250 excavator. Enjoy:

Free redundancy advice line…

August 11, 2009 General, News

Employment law specialist Peninsula offers demolition contractors free redundancy advice.

It is a sad indictment of the parlous state of the UK economy that our latest free offer involves advice on the subject of redundancy law. However, employment law specialist Peninsula is offering demolition contractors some free advice on this tricky subject.

Simply call 0844 892 2772.

Coleman & Co high reach in action….

August 11, 2009 General, Video

New video showing Coleman & Co’s high reach excavator in action.

We received this video of Coleman & Co’s high reach excavator at work on the demolition of the North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke on Trent just this morning. It comes courtesy of John Woodward of C&D Consultancy, who shot the video on his very smart Flip video camera.

Thanks John.