News in Brief – February 2006

BCSA Health and Safety Manager Peter Walker has been awarded the Presidents Distinguished Service Award by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The award was presented on 20 December 2005 by President of IOSH Neil Budworth who said that only a few such awards are made each year and then only at the Presidents discretion.

Metals Forum Chairman Derek Tordoff has written to Department of Trade and Industry minister Alun Michael highlighting areas of Government policy that affect the industry, including sustainability, regulations, regionalisation and rising energy costs. Mr Tordoff called for sensible consultation between industry and government on the form, content and implementation of new regulations and asked for a meeting with the minister in June to discuss the areas of concern and to enable Mr Michael to visit metals companies.

Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister for Wales, formally opened the new manufacturing facilities at Rowecord Engineering Ltd at a ceremony in Newport in December. The event marks the completion of £2.5m of investment by Rowecord.

The Department of Trade and Industry has released its analysis of changes to be made to the Construction Act following its review and consultation on the adjudication and payment sections of the Act. Further consultation will start in Spring before final conclusions are reached in Summer 2006.

A new technique to combat corrosion in suspension bridge cables called the Cohestrands system has been awarded the Grand Prize in the 2005 Vinci Innovation Awards. The system encloses bundles of seven wires in a continuous polyethylene sheath to prevent water ingress.