WET News

JUNE 2015 WET NEWS 3 O ptimise, one of the contractors working with Thames Water, is collaborating with people risk specialist Cognisco to assess engineers in cable strike avoidance techniques to ensure they can meet and demonstrate competence, con dence and project safety compliance standards set by the water utility. The development is to meet Thames Water's aim of reducing the risk of underground cable strikes and improving safety standards for engineers working on the waterways upgrade project by mandating they undertake a cable avoidance evaluation assessment. It is estimated that around 60,000 underground cable strikes occur every year, which can cause serious injury or death and cost businesses millions of pounds in associated damages and compensation costs. To reduce cable strike risks, Thames Water is requiring all engineers to complete a cable avoidance assessment to demonstrate competence and con dence about cable strike avoidance. Cognisco's Cable Avoidance Evaluation o- ers a new approach to traditional cable strike avoidance training based on the latest behavioural training and assessment techniques. This assessment uses situational judgement questions based on realistic scenarios that utilities workers encounter daily and measures the knowledge, competence and con dence of workers in all aspects of the role. The results reveal what people know, as well as their behaviour and D etailed engineering and structural investigations into the condition of tidal ‚ ood defences in London and the Thames estuary are being carried out by TEAM2100, which includes engineering and programme management rm CH2MHill, construction partner Balfour Beatty and other specialist contractors. The work is being carried out as part of the Environment Agency's (EA) ten-year programme to refurbish and replace tidal ‚ ood defences in London and the Thames estuary. The work will be largely Optimise calls in Cognisco for cable strike safety Œ As water utility insists on cable strike safety compliance on its waterways upgrade project, contractor Optimises puts sta• through behavioural assessment. attitude towards risk, and highlight any knowledge gaps and speci c training needs so they can be addressed. More than 1,030 individuals from 28 di- erent companies working through joint venture Optimise have participated in the Cable Avoidance Evaluation. Nick Gilbert, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality manager at Optimise, said: "The industry has worked hard to reduce the number of strikes in recent years and the introduction of the Cognisco behavioural assessment really made us refocus on the 'risk' of people and develop improved brie ngs and training to ensure our people have the right balance of competence and con dence. This, combined with other initiatives, has led to a year on year reduction of service strikes and I am convinced that the assessment has contributed to this success." #Exciting deal- @ kiergroup to buy @ Mouchel. Implementing change will be where the value lies. Will they #managechange? ableandhow Kier's £265M takeover of Mouchel has largely been welcomed Kier #KIE buying Mouchel, no longer basket case, for £265M cash, rights issue 5 for every 7 KIE shrs at 858p. smarkus WET News is registered at Stationers' Hall. Origination by Faversham House and TR Clash Ltd. Printed by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE. Copyright 2015. Faversham House. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. Every e• ort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in WET News. However, Faversham House will not be liable for any inaccuracies. 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Editor Maureen Gaines: maureen.gaines@fav-house.com Ad sales Deborah Lilley: deborah. lilley@fav-house.com Classifi ed sales Eva Ellis: eva.ellis@fav-house.com Team administrator Clare Klos: clare.klos @fav-house.com Production controller Sharon Miller: sharon.miller@fav-house.com Publisher Angela Himus: angela.himus@fav-house.com Published by Faversham House Ltd, Faversham House, Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ Call: 01342 332000 Publisher's note: This issue includes editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. 1yr: UK £104 Overseas (airmail) £118/$213 2yr: UK £181 Overseas (airmail) £209/$377 Call: 020 8955 7045 Email: fhcustomerservices@ abacusmedia.com Search WET News' archives for more jobs, news, features, products and services, events and training courses. www.wwtonline.co.uk Average circulation Jan-Dec 2014: 6,110 If you wish to make a complaint about the editorial content of this issue please contact the editor. The strong just got stronger! Long running speculation proven correct in this good looking acquisition. DavidMantle1 In wastewater collection, information can be the biggest innovation of all. With monitoring and control solutions from Sulzer, you have the tools to see events in your pumps and pumping stations – and to influence them in real time. Our easy-to-use solutions are as simple or as comprehensive as you like, ranging from all-in-one units to modular systems with expandable functions. Working on site or from a PC or smartphone, you can use them to save energy, save time and prolong the lifetime of your pumps and network. Game-Changing Collection Insights For more innovation in wastewater collection, visit www.sulzer.com TEAM2100 inspects tidal defences Reality check Around 60,000 under- ground cable strikes occur every year Cable strikes can cost businesses millions of pounds in associated damages and compensation Damage can be caused when a cable is cut through by a sharp object; or crushed by a heavy object or powerful machine HSE advice suggests excavating alongside the service rather than above it Insulated tools should be used when digging near electricity cables complete by March 2016. The defences include. The EA said many of the defences, which include the Thames Barrier and 350km of ‚ ood walls and embankments, smaller barriers, pumping stations and ‚ ood gates, are more than 30 years old, and in some cases 100-plus years old. The investigations will provide information about the condition of individual defences as well as about the system as a whole. TEAM2100 is carrying out the rst part of the EA's Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. After digesting May Gurney, Kier Group agrees to buy Mouchel. @GarryWhite smarkus #Exciting times: @ kiergroup Construction & maintenance contractor #Kier buying infrastructure group #Mouchel @ £265m. MacArthurGreen Great news for @ Mouchel & @kiergroup today both clients of ours and great companies to work with #construction #solar RE4construction

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