Institution of Occupational Safety and Health: It’s time to get tough on asbestos

A timely reminder on the devastation that asbestos can create. Stronger measures on asbestos management are needed to save lives, according to the global body for health and safety professionals, IOSH. A lack of consistency in managing asbestos among duty holders and a lack of...

Sweden: Energy Innovation Project

Joined up working promotes success. Swedish project for a fossil free and  electrified vegetation maintenance in solar parks receives government funding. Husqvarna, Alight and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have joined forces on a  project that aims to develop and validate autonomous electrified cutting of vegetation in solar parks...

Australia: Building Codes – dates for adoption

WOBO thanks the Australian Building Codes Board for the update and links to professional development. NCC 2022 preview and adoption dates We would like practitioners to be aware of important dates for the release of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, which include: 9 May...

Australia: Building Confidence Report

WOBO recognises the developments taking place in Australia. Best practice model guidance responds to the BCR The ABCB have released a series of best practice model guidance publications in response to the Building Confidence Report (BCR) recommendations. This model guidance has been endorsed by Building Ministers....

UK: New code of practice for external wall fire risk assessment published

Risk Assessment is key to future Fire Safety. The code, PAS 9980:2022 Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing blocks of flats – Code of practice, has been developed to support the changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,...

UK: Construction of Canary Wharf skyscraper halted over fire safety concerns

WOBO thanks SHP for the Canary Wharf update. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) raised concerns that the skyscraper’s design meant residents would not have the adequate means of escape should an emergency occur. The developer claims its schemes were all built in line with safety...

Fire Safety: Can we do more to learn from major fires in other countries?

WOBO thanks IFSEC GLOBAL for the link to Ron Alalouff’s article. We are all aware of the action that the UK government has taken in response to the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017 in which 72 people died – the highest death toll...

IFSEC GLOBAL: “38% of businesses do not have suitable fire risk assessments in place”, according to new research

Fire Safety Risk Assessments must be appropriate! According to the nationally representative survey of 250 business owners, over a third of businesses (38%) do not have suitable fire risk assessments in place and more than 80% of businesses do not have written regulations against false...

Dubai Executive Council issues Dubai’s new Building Code

WOBO thanks ICC for the update. In order to maintain current administrative provisions within its building regulatory system, Dubai recently released an updated Dubai Building Code (DBC). The code was officially approved in October 2020, with its publication / implementation in December 2021. The objective...

Australia: Complete Building Confidence Report released

Australian report issued! The Australian Building Codes Board released a series of best practice model guidance publications in response to recommendations contained in the Building Confidence Report. The report was commissioned shortly after a number of significant building fires and was to advise on a...

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