Challenge champions go the extra mile for Mental Health Awareness Week

Supporters of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity are really going the extra mile this week in the ultimate test of mental and physical endurance for Mental Health Awareness Week. On Thursday 12 May the charity has 60 cyclists competing in their three day ‘On Yer Bike’ event which covers 210 miles of fantastic scenery from Leitrim to Killarney in Ireland. But the fantastic scenery also comes with a lot of hills! And talking of hills, at the same time, the charity also has 50 people competing in their epic ‘4 Peaks’ challenge, taking on the highest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in a 48-hour window. They’ll be scaling Ben Nevis, Scotland (1,345m), Helvellyn, Lake District, England (950m), Snowdon, Wales (1,085m) and Carrauntoohil in Ireland (1,038m). These events were originally planned for 2020 but were cancelled due to COVID-19. So, anticipation and nerves are at an all time high as participants get ready to don cycling hats and walking boots. Bill Hill CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity says, “Having to reschedule was obviously very disappointing, but the opportunity to hold these events during Mental Health Awareness week was simply too good to miss. All of the participants are from construction, and we know that many have very personal motivations as to why they are taking part. Some have had their own issues with mental health and sadly, others have even lost friends and colleagues to suicide. This is the ultimate test of both physical and mental stamina and the amount of support that people are receiving is truly amazing.” Stephen Gallagher, Property Manager at the Gallagher Group was the inspiration behind the ‘On yer Bike’ challenge and adds, "The Gallagher Group have been big supporters of the Lighthouse Club for many years, so when we discussed the idea, admittedly over a few beers, I had to take part! The Lighthouse Club Charity does a huge amount of work to support our construction workers and we need to make sure that they can continue their important work. Taking part during Mental Health Week will be very poignant as so many in the industry are battling with their own mental health journeys. As I cycle, that is what will motivate me and if the sun could shine as well, that would be perfect!" Logan Price, an Assistant Site Manager with O'Halloran & O'Brien, who is taking part in the '4 Peaks' challenge says " As a result of my own mental health issues, I became motivated to embark on a personal challenge in order to raise money for mental health awareness specifically for those who are working in the construction sector. I know the subject of mental health in construction largely continues to remain an unspoken topic and this needs to change, I’ve had a huge amount of support from everyone, both with my own mental health and in supporting me on this challenge. I've been training hard so I'm ready to go!" The two events will culminate in Killarney on Saturday 14th May with a celebration of everyone’s personal achievements and some very weary legs.

Counterfeiters target C.K Tools

C.K Tools is warning the electrical trade to watch out for fake versions of its top-selling Cable Cutter (3963), after being targeted by counterfeiters. Carl Kammerling International, the parent company of C.K Tools, was alerted when a loyal customer questioned the quality of a recent purchase, sourced through an independent seller. Having been at the forefront of hand tool manufacturing for more than 100 years, C.K Tools is asking all trade professionals to be vigilant and double check any cable cutter before purchase, to ensure they get the quality product they are used to. Although the printed packaging is reasonably convincing the fake is easy to identify – the handles are a brighter red than the genuine C.K Tools item and have a grey collar at the top. Additionally, it has ‘CR-V’ forged on the head, does not have a black finish and the blade geometry is poorly designed. Tom Meyerratken, Managing Director at Carl Kammerling International, says: “Whilst imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we are concerned that trade professionals across the country are being cheated by these poor-quality rip-offs. “The counterfeits have been traced to a single distributor in the south of England and at the time of writing legal action is in process, but it’s not known if they have made their way to other parts of the country. Therefore, in the immediate future please do double check the cutter handles and head as per our guidance before completing any purchase.”

Signify launches Philips Pacific LED gen5 waterproof luminaire

Signify has announced the launch of the latest generation of the Pacific LED gen5 waterproof luminaire, a solution designed for optimal performance in the most demanding environments such as industry and parking areas. With potential stresses like humidity, extreme temperatures and chemical fumes, the Pacific LED gen5 is designed for optimal performance. Furthermore, with the option to integrate into the interact wireless connected lighting system, enabling light management solutions, the Pacific LED gen5 can provide even greater energy savings, enhance employee safety and productivity. Meant to light up in tough conditions Pacific LED gen5 is suitable for a wide range of (heavy) industrial applications. The luminaires have a robust and compact product architecture, with high water and dust protection (IP66), combined with a high degree of mechanical protection (IK08). Designed for use in industry and parking areas, the luminaire can manage potential stresses like humidity, high temperatures, and chemical fumes to ensure industrial operations can be carried out in a safe manner. Industry: Due to its robust architecture, and compliance with industry regulations, Pacific LED gen5 is the ideal choice for several industrial application areas, such as warehouses and distribution centres, food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing, discrete manufacturing, and chemicals and heavy industry. The luminaire is designed to withstand the worst that heavy industry can throw at it - from dust to oily vapours. Private and public parking: Excellent visibility is key; good light helps people drive safely and gives them a feeling of safety and security. To avoid driver confusion and enhance safety, homogenous, high-quality lighting should be used to avoid lighting hotspots or striping. It should enable drivers to find a vacant space easily, park smoothly, and find the exit. But it should provide a bright space without creating disturbing effects or compromising operations or energy consumption. The Pacific gen5 meets this for under cover parking projects. Designed for the circular economy The Pacific LED gen5 is designed to meet the evolving needs beyond rated service life from start to finish – including service and repair, upgrades and replacements. The luminaire is designed around five principles of Signify’s Lighting for Circularity: recyclable, serviceable, energy-efficiency, connectable and upgradable, ensuring a long lifetime with high efficacy. Energy efficiency The Pacific LED portfolio is proven to be highly energy-efficient and offers luminaires with a long lifetime: up to 160lm/W and a lifetime up to 100,000 hours L80. With integration to the Interact Industry system, the luminaire opens up additional opportunities for optimised efficiency, energy saving, connectivity, productivity and safety. This, combined with hassle-free installation and maintenance, ensures you enjoy an attractive total cost of ownership (TCO). Simon Greenwood, Sales Director, Trade and Specification, Signify UK&I, comments: “The Pacific LED gen5 is an innovative and best-in-class LED luminaire. We are excited to launch a lighting system that ticks all the right boxes and meets the demands and potential stresses like humidity, extreme temperatures and chemical fumes from industrial use and use in open spaces like under cover parking lots. In addition, the Pacific LED gen5 is also designed with a circular approach, which means these are fully serviceable luminaires and can be upgraded to extend their overall lifecycle - making the luminaire future proof in every aspect. “To make the Pacific LED gen5 even more complete, the luminaire allows for integration with Interact, that opens additional opportunities for optimised efficiency, energy savings, improved light management, productivity, and safety – all while meeting the greenest of environmental targets.”

JTL marks Mental Health Awareness Week

JTL is lending its full support to Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May 2022). The not-for-profit charity is this week sharing the free and easily-accessible resources and guidance that is on offer to all learners and employers who work with the organisation as well as those working in the sector. Earlier this year, JTL launched the Tune Up channel that provides a collection of videos online covering a range of topics including mental health as well as offering tools and guidance for staying healthy. In April this year, the DfE published the results of an in-depth research study conducted with IPSOS Mori on the experience of learners during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included 4,240 online and 5,703 telephone survey interviews with learners. The research revealed that during what was a very disruptive period, the overall satisfaction with teaching, training and support was high. However, health and wellbeing issues were reported by some of those that took part. Diane Thompson, Diversity, Safeguarding & Inclusion Advisor at JTL comments: “The spotlight on mental health and the lack of resources dealing with it have become ever more critical therefore it’s great to have a week dedicated to raising awareness. Supporting our young apprentices and looking after their mental wellbeing throughout their time with JTL, and the companies we place them with during training, is a vital part of what we offer. “This is one of the reasons why we partnered with the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) to offer a range of welfare support services to all our learners and employers working within the electrical sector; and the wider building services industries.” The EIC offers a range of free and confidential support services for those who may be struggling with personal or work-related challenges, whether financial, legal, emotional or health related. Support is available in the form of telephone counselling, legal and debt advice, scholarships and financial grants. Diane concludes: “We have an ‘open-door’ policy at JTL and we actively encourage any of our learners suffering from anxiety, stress or depression to come and talk to us.”

Charities awarded funding to fight fuel poverty

Charitable organisations have been given funds to help thousands of people in a ‘heat or eat’ dilemma, as part of almost £1 million granted in the past three years by the country’s largest electricity distributor. A total of 16 projects will share nearly £300,000 of funding, under the fifth round of UK Power Networks’ Power Partners scheme, to offer energy advice and practical support to people who include young carers, refugees, vulnerable tenants, the disabled and those with mental health issues. Power Partners was launched by UK Power Networks in 2019 to help local communities’ energy needs and refocused to respond to fuel poverty. The electricity distributor delivers safe and reliable supplies for more than eight million homes and businesses in London, the East and the South East of England, through a network of 188,000 km of power lines. Since the fund was launched 52 groups have received up to £20,000 each for their projects, supporting people taking steps to reduce their energy bills, maximising their income and applying for grants, or helping organisations make community spaces more energy efficient through insulation, heating or lighting upgrades. Giulia Privitera, Social Sustainability Strategy and Programme Manager for UK Power Networks, says: “There are many people currently experiencing fuel poverty whose situation has been made worse by the pandemic, increased energy price cap and the cost of living crisis. “Many are facing real financial difficulties keeping hard-to-heat homes warm, so we focused this round of Power Partners on targeted support to tackle fuel poverty through the community charities and organisations who can provide it in the most innovative way and engage with those most in need. We aim to reach as many people as possible living in vulnerable circumstances, on low income and in low energy efficiency properties. “We work hard with our partners to improve our fuel poverty programme each year to maximise its impact on hard-to-reach communities. We look at what has changed for our customers so that we can continue to adapt and make a real, long lasting difference to people’s lives.”

81% of UK electricians experience mental health problems due to work

81% of UK electricians experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study has found. The research was commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May) by IronmongeryDirect and the results have been published in its annual industry report. Unfortunately, 89% of electricians say they don't feel comfortable talking to others about their mental health, with finances (31%) being their main cause of anxiety. Across all trades, almost two-thirds (64%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, every month, and sadly, one in eight (13%) feel symptoms every single day. Finances remain the number one cause of stress, with over a third (34%) saying that money worries play on their mind. In fact, the top five reasons are the same as last year, with customer tensions (24%) taking second spot once again. The most significant change from 2021 is the impact of customer abuse, with almost a fifth (18%) saying they struggle with insults or threats, which is treble the figure from the previous report (6%). Unfortunately, despite the benefits of doing so, more than four in five (85%) tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their feelings. Just one in six (16%) have spoken to friends or family about their mental health, which is considerably fewer than last year (42%). Furthermore, one in six (16%) worry what their colleagues would think if they told them what they were going through, and more than a quarter (28%) feel they can’t take time off work for mental health reasons. Plumbers are the most likely tradespeople to feel stressed or anxious on a daily basis (27%), but overall, mental health problems are most common amongst plasterers. More than nine in 10 (92%) say they experience issues at least once a year. As part of its campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Basildon Mind, the mental health charity, and is donating over £3,000 to support with its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, says: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We urge employers to create work cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, comments: “It’s an unfortunate truth that mental health issues are common across our industry, and it’s awful to see that so many tradespeople experience problems on a regular basis. “It’s particularly worrying to see that the number of people talking to others about their mental health has dropped significantly from last year. As difficult as it can be to discuss your feelings, talking about them with someone else, whether that’s a colleague or family member, can really help to begin addressing the issues.”

A new lease of life for former 17th Century public house

Estimated to have been built in the 17th Century, the former Anchor Inn pub in Market Place, Bolsover, had been in a state of disrepair when it was acquired by a local couple in 2019. With work to transform the premises into a new bistro, bar, bed and breakfast and beauty spa severely disrupted during the pandemic, it is now enjoying a new lease of life, as well as a new name, as Sanctuary Garden. The building required major structural renovation which included replacement of many of the roof supports and almost all of the internal floors. During the painstaking restoration work to showcase as many of the original features of the premises as possible, the original solid wood Kingpost roof support was uncovered - a beautiful piece of architecture that had been hidden for many decades. Having invested so much time, passion and money into the project, of paramount importance to the couple was to ensure the safety of the overall premises and this is where ESP’s expertise in fire protection systems came into play. Working with the contractor responsible for the renovation project, Russ Cutts, Managing Director of RT Electrical, ESP was called on to supply the whole package of support, from the creation of the fire design scheme, supplying of the appropriate products, as well as commission of the fire alarm system once installed. It was agreed that ESP’s MAGDUO two-wire fire alarm system was the ideal solution for the premises. Its adaptability, speed of installation and cost-effectiveness, makes MAGDUO an ideal fire alarm solution for a range of small to medium sized projects such as restaurants, retail outlets, schools, offices, apartments and hotels and was a good fit for Sanctuary Garden. The 8-zone control panel was selected along with five combined smoke and heat detectors, 15 combined smoke and heat detectors with sounder, six resettable surface call points and a fire panel isolator switch. Two-Wire fire alarm systems are based on standard conventional system technology. Unlike standard conventional four wired systems where the detectors, call points and alarm devices for each zone are wired on separate circuits, MAGDUO utilises intelligent Two-Wire technology, which allows all devices to be wired on the same set of two-core zone cables back to the control panel, enabling it to use a single circuit per zone both for detection and to power the sounders. This advanced technology can reduce both installation and material costs. ESP’s fire commissioning service was also included in the overall project. This means that a qualified engineer will confirm that the system has reached the relevant British Standard, and they will issue a certificate on completion of the project prior to system handover. Commenting on the project, contractor, Russ Cutts says: “I have worked with the team at ESP for around 10 years now on a range of different sizes and complexity of projects and utilising products from across the different categories – fire protection, CCTV and emergency lighting. When it came to this project, I knew I could rely on them for excellent service and the right fire protection solutions for our requirements. It was great to have one company able to supply the whole package – from design, selection and install of the MAGDUO fire system and then to undertake the commissioning of the system once it was installed. Installation of the equipment was very straightforward, and the programming was very easy. The added benefit is that there is scope to build on the system installed with additional devices as and when required.”

Patol wins national award for fire innovation

Patol has won a prestigious category in an inaugural awards scheme designed to promote and celebrate best practice in the UK fire Industry. The ‘Fire & Security Matters Awards’ were staged at the CBS Arena, home to Coventry City FC and Wasps, on 28 April 2022. More than 400 guests from many of the biggest names in fire and security attended the event, with awards presented in 13 categories following a gala dinner. ‘Fire Innovation’ was one of the most fiercely contested categories, with 47 entrants competing for an award which recognised a product or solution which represents true innovation in either active or passive fire protection. Patol won with FibreSense, a fibre optic distributed temperature sensing solution developed to provide cost effective fire detection for a range of environments, including tunnels, conveyor systems, escalators, power generation facilities, car parks and warehouses. FibreSense can provide protection of up to 10km per channel with controllers available in 2km, 5km or 10km versions, with one, two or four sensing channels. Iain Cumner, Patol Sales Director, received the award from host Alastair McGowan who regaled the guests with impressions from his extensive repertoire. Iain comments: “We were naturally delighted to win, particularly given such stiff competition in this category. It is a real honour to be recognised by the industry and I’d like to thank the whole team at Patol who contributed to this success. It was great to see so many people in one room given the trials and tribulations of the last two years. It has been a challenging time for all of us, so it was especially pleasing to see such a thriving industry that continues to meet the challenges of protecting people and property from the threat of fire. Awards such as these are important in promoting the best that the industry has to offer and I congratulate all of the winners on their success.”

Versatile and unobtrusive matt finish enclosures – the AB range from BCL

BCL’s AB series enclosures are ideal for providing a neat finish and protecting electronic or electrical systems in offices, commercial premises, and domestic residences. These lidded enclosures are manufactured from robust high-quality ABS with a matt finish. The lids of the AB range enclosures are retained with four self-tapping screws which can be inserted from either side. The screws are then hidden with the matching plastic covers provided. Six different sizes are available: AB77, AB78 and AB88 measure 178mm long x 122mm wide and are respectively 36mm, 55mm and 74mm deep. These three boxes have internal stand offs in both halves and also PCB slots. The three larger models are AB99, AB910 and AB1010. These enclosures are all 240mm long x 190mm wide, with depths of 40mm, 65mm and 90mm respectively, with stand offs in both halves. Standard colours are black or white and are available on short lead times from BCL’s UK facility. Other RAL colours are available on request. Customisation services including drilling or punching of custom cut-outs to suit individual applications and screen printing are available.

The prestigious Apprentice of the Year Awards return!

The ECA and Edmundson Electrical have launched the prestigious Apprentice of the Year Award after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Award aims to showcase the very best talent across ECA’s member businesses and is widely recognised as a premier training award in the electrotechnical and engineering services industry. The winner will receive an array of prizes including a £1,500 cash prize, a state-of-the-art toolkit and a unique study trip overseas hosted by a major electrical industry manufacturing company. There are also great prizes for two runners-up, including a £750 cash prize, a state-of-the-art toolkit and a certificate of commendation. Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs at ECA, comments: “The finalists will need not only to have good technical skills but to act as role models for others in the industry. The electrotechnical apprenticeship remains the most popular and most demanding craft-level apprenticeship in the UK. “After a tough two years, it is more important than ever that we celebrate our apprentices, the amazing work they are doing, and the exciting career options available to them once they complete their training.” Prizes will also be awarded to the winning apprentices’ employers, including a one-year BSI subscription (for businesses with turnover below £6.5mn), Electrical OM software, raised company profile and press coverage, and two VIP tickets to the ECA Industry Awards in 2023. Employers of the two runners up will win Electrical OM software and increased company profile and press coverage. Past winners of the ECA Edmundson Award have gone on to a range of careers, including running their own companies in the UK and taking high profile jobs internationally. The Award has also boosted the profile of ECA member companies that enter their apprentices, by highlighting their support for future industry talent. Eligible applicants must have passed their AM2 since April 2020 and have completed their apprenticeship. The entry deadline is Friday 10 June 2022.