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AUGUST 2013 PRO INSTALLER
PRO BUSINESS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
Campaign to attract young people into joinery
The ‘Wow I made that!’ campaign set up by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) to attract young people into the joinery industry has won the 2013 ‘Electronic Communication of the Year Award’ at the Trade Association Forum awards.
The BWF’s campaign was established to provide information, advice and guidance to young school leavers interested in a career in woodwork and joinery. After research among employers, schools, pupils and parents, BWF decided that Facebook and Twitter would be the two most accessible social media platforms to reach young people and the people who influence their career options. These channels are supplemented with a range of quality videos via YouTube, which tell the story from
‘we are facing a significant skills shortage’
the point of view of young apprentices who have just started out in their careers. Dave Campbell, Manager of the BWF’s training arm, the Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum), said: “As an industry,
we are facing a significant skills shortage in the future, and we do need to find new ways to reach out and engage with the next generation of talented people who we want to bring into joinery manufacturing. We felt the best way to reach these young people was through social media.”
www.bwf.org.uk/training/apprenticeships
Working Effectively Outdoors
When working outdoors the weather can have an effect on an individual’s effectiveness and this is not readily managed using just engineering controls. In these circumstances some of the most effective ways of managing these environments is by introducing some simple administrative controls for example:
Cold environments
• Ensure the personal protective equipment issued is appropriate • Provision of mobile facilities for warming up, and encourage the drinking of warm fluids such as soup or hot chocolate • Introduce more frequent rest breaks • Can work be delayed and undertaken at warmer times of the year without compromising on safety • Educate workers about recognising the early symptoms of cold stress. • Encourage the removal of personal protective equipment when resting to help encourage heat loss. • Educate workers about recognising the early symptoms of heat stress and some public service workers. You should take particular care if you have: • fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans; • red or fair hair and light coloured eyes; • a large number of moles.
Report reveals the power of small businesses in the local economy
Extensive new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that 58 per cent more of the money spent by local authorities with small firms is re-spent in the local economy compared to that spent with large businesses in the same area.
In an exclusive report the FSB and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies surveyed local authorities across the UK and found that in the last year they spent a total of £8.7 billion buying goods and services in their local area.
The findings highlight how doing business locally is better value for money as small local firms generated £746 million more for the local economy compared to large local businesses – even though more than £500 million less was spent with them. The research shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business (SME) 63p was re-spent in the local area compared to 40p in every £1 spent with a larger business. John Allan, National Chairman, FSB, said: “This report shows the power and strength of small firms to create jobs and growth in the local economy if they are given the help to do so. While our members do win contracts, many are still deterred by the process. We had a good re-
What can you do to protect yourself?
• Keep your top on (ordinary clothing made from close woven fabric, such as long sleeved workshirt and jeans stops most UV) • Wear a hat with a brim or a flap that covers the ears and the back of the neck. • Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunch time. • Use a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on any exposed skin. • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. • Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots. See a doctor promptly if you find anything that is changing in shape, size or colour, itching or bleeding.
Working in the sun What is the problem?
Too much sunlight is harmful to your skin. A tan is a sign that the skin has been damaged. The damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight.
What are the harmful effects?
In the short term, even mild reddening of the skin from sun exposure is a sign of damage. Sunburn can blister the skin and make it peel. Longer term problems can arise. Too much sun speeds up ageing of the skin, making it leathery, mottled and wrinkled. The most serious effect is an increased chance of developing skin cancer.
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