Chief Executive`s Diary Gardening for the Kids

December 2010
Issue 22
Chief Executive’s Diary
“Off to Work we Go” (L-R) Kevin Corley,
Farrans Utilities, Seamus Devlin, Lagan
Construction, Gary Curran, NI Water,
Claire Brown and Kristofer Reins from The
NI Hospice, get to work on the Hospice
grounds.
Gardening
for the Kids
It is not often that construction site
staff trade in their laptops, smart
phones, white boards and Blackberries
for garden rakes, paint brushes and
power hoses but that is exactly what
happened when Farrans people
volunteered to work for a day at the
Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice
in Belfast. They were joined by
representatives from NI Water and
fellow contractor Lagan Construction,
from the multi million pound Water
Mains Rehabilitation contract.
The event at the Children’s Hospice
was organised as a team building
exercise to help kick start the new
project.
Commenting on the success of the day,
Contracts Manager Gerard McGirr said:
“This was a step away from usual
team building events and it proved to
be a huge success. As well as giving
everyone the chance to get to know
one another, it was an excellent
opportunity to contribute to a very
worthwhile cause.
“The Children’s Hospice relies entirely
on volunteers to help maintain their
grounds to keep them attractive for
families using the facility. We may not
win any awards for our painting skills,
but when the day was over, everyone
felt that it had been very worthwhile
and we left together with a very
positive sense of achievement.”
The Northern Ireland Children’s
Hospice cares for children and young
people with life-limiting and lifethreatening conditions, and supports
their families and those close to them.
Care is provided across Northern
Ireland. There are over 750 life-limited
children and young people living
in Northern Ireland. Life-limiting
conditions include conditions such
as Muscular Dystrophy and genetic
disorders such as Batten’s Disease,
and life-threatening conditions such
as cancer and heart disease. These
children have very complex needs
often requiring 24 hour care and many
will die before reaching adulthood.
This has been a very
eventful first year in my
new role, one that has
not been without its
challenges but has been
enjoyable and
productive nonetheless.
There are three themes
that I would like to
reflect on; health &
safety, financial
performance and the
challenges ahead.
Health & Safety:
The safety of our people (i.e. you!)
remains my number one priority. A
worrying trend started to develop
in the early part of the year, with
an increase in both the frequency
and severity of accidents in the
company, the first reversal of a
downward trend in a couple of
years.
In consultation with the Board,
whilst we always seek
improvements, I did not believe
that the general health and safety
procedures in the Company were
at fault here, rather perhaps that
complacency can set in and that
what we do need to do, from time
to time, is to rejuvenate the system
and introduce new initiatives, such
as the recent ‘preventing accidents
day’, the Chief Executive Safety
Alerts, commission random
internal audits at locations across
the business, hold more regular
meetings between the Company
health and safety practitioners,
chaired by me, and so on. We have
also encouraged the reporting of
safety observations and near
misses; we can only improve when
we are honest with ourselves and
report things so that we can do
something about it.
The accident statistics have
improved again in the latter part
of the year, and well done to all of
you for that, and I want to
personally thank Jim Leitch for the
assistance and guidance that he
gives me. What senior
management want is to ensure
that everyone working at one of
our locations returns home safely
at the end of their day’s work. You
all play a part in that; please don’t
walk past an unsafe act, be your
brother’s keeper, try and be a part
of a cultural change towards safety
and common sense. You have my
personal authorisation to stop
work at any time if you feel that
you are being asked to do
something which is unsafe.
Financial performance:
We are currently experiencing the
worst recession in living memory in
our business. Against this
backdrop, to be able, with some
confidence, to predict that we will
significantly outperform the 2010
profit budget is particularly
pleasing. The Materials business is
suffering most in the current
climate, both the economic version
and with the particularly harsh
winters. However, whilst it has
been a very challenging year in the
division, there are positives as we
continue to outperform our peers,
the sale of Irish Cement through
our products does provide huge
benefits within CRH higher up the
chain, the benefits from the major
restructuring that Graham and his
senior management team
implemented in 2008 and 2009 are
now being felt and there are a
number of initiatives looking
forward that give me confidence
that the division will once again be
the profit maker that it was until
recently. There are too many
names to mention but I do want to
extend my particular thanks and
appreciation to Graham, his senior
management team and to all the
people across the Materials
division for the work and effort
that they are putting into the
business in very difficult
circumstances.
Our ‘new’ division, CUBIS,
continues to outperform its budget
across all three of its operations
and is looking forward to 2011
with optimism. Under Michael’s
leadership, the business is really
integrating well into the
Northstone group, and it is very
pleasing for me to see the
management team of Andrew
Wright, Patricia Burns, Colman
Cooney, Derek Williamson, Graeme
Pringle, Andy Hobbis, Charlie
Dunne, Joe Brankin and all their
very strong back up teams, thrive
within the new company structure,
shepherded of course by Michael.
Farrans has once again produced
an outstanding performance,
producing results that, on a like for
like basis across the United
Kingdom, rank it at the top of the
ladder. Most encouragingly, the
results over the last six years are
extremely consistent in what is a
very cyclical business, and this is
generating great support and
confidence for the business as
Eamonn navigates the challenges
ahead. Again, they are too
numerous to mention all the senior
managers, but it is a significant
factor in the strength of
Northstone to have such a
professional and competent
company within the group, a
standard bearer for construction,
and also a key customer for group
products and a facilitator for the
use of our products with architects,
engineers and joint venture
partners.
Challenges:
The downturn is likely to last for
several years yet. Although we
lobby very strongly, through the
CEF, the QPA, the CBI and the
Northern Ireland Manufacturing
Group, for increased Government
capital spend and for incentives to
encourage private sector
investment, I have to confess that I
have no confidence in our
Government to make the tough
but unpopular decisions that are
necessary to facilitate this, at least
in the short term. However, I see
this as an opportunity. The
decisions that we make now to set
our strategy for the future will be
absolutely vital to the future
growth and prosperity of
Northstone and all our people.
I am convinced that we have the
right Board and the best people in
the industry to both sustain the
business and take it forward. The
most encouraging thing to me is
the commitment and loyalty of our
people. In the current Northstone
emerging manager development
programme that I initiated, an
initiative that I hope to evolve in
the future, I have been very
impressed with the input and
feedback received to date, and I
look forward to engaging with
them further in the first quarter of
2011, and with other development
groups in the future, to hear their
views on how Northstone should
meet the challenges ahead, which I
have no doubt that we will!
So on that positive note, I wish
you all a happy, peaceful and
safe Christmas and New Year
with all your families.
December 2010
IN THIS ISSUE: Reducing Energy Costs p2, Farrans Win Bangor Leisure Centre Project p9, The Road to the Isles p10.
page 2
Kickstarting a Career
in Construction
In today’s current economic climate it is
always difficult for students in any discipline
to obtain the necessary work experience to
complement their studies. However, Farrans
people are renowned for helping students in
obtaining work experience and developing
their potential.
One such recent example is James
Currie, who commenced a period
of work experience at the Farrans
Lisburn Institute site while studying
for a Higher National Diploma in
Construction. In total he worked
100 days with Farrans and the
good news is that he completed his
Diploma with twelve distinctions.
His results were such that he was
admitted directly onto Year 2 of a
Building Surveying degree course at
the University of Ulster in September
2010.
James, who lives in Finaghy in
Belfast, told Northlink a little of what
his period of work experience was
like;
CUBIS
Remembers
Phil Hunt
“I was involved in lots of very varied
work. One minute I could be helping
the site engineer to take levels and
the next could be walking around
the site with a set of plans to check
a particular floor finish or that an
opening was in the correct place. In
hindsight, I am amazed at how much
I learnt with Farrans over the 100
days. A combination of obtaining
good grades in my Higher National
Diploma and my Farrans placement
resulted in me being awarded the
Dunlop Trophy for Excellence in
Professional Development from the
South Education Regional College.”
Everyone at CUBIS
Industries in Liverpool was
greatly saddened to learn
of the recent sudden death
of Phil Hunt, a much liked
member of the Fabrication
Team in the factory.
Northlink acknowledges the
efforts of Contracts Manager,
John Cooper and Site Manager,
George McClure as well as the
rest of the site team at Lisburn
Institute in kickstarting another
career in our industry.
Phil died unexpectedly at home in
St. Helens, Merseyside, at 42 years
of age.
Like all the best ideas there is always a
story behind it and no little ingenuity,
as Gregg explained;
Phil had worked for CUBIS for
over four years and despite being
a quiet figure, was known for his
dry sense of humour and kind
manner.
One of his passions was
motorbikes and before coming to
CUBIS had worked in the industry
for a number of years supplying
plastic fairings to various teams,
including Carl Fogarty Racing.
Mark Devereux, Production
Manager, said Phil will be sadly
missed by all his colleagues and
many friends in the factory.
“From a work point of view just
three words sum Phil up perfectly;
reliable, conscientious and hardworking,” he said.
Andy Hobbis, Director of Site
Operations said: “Phil was a huge
asset to the Liverpool workforce,
as a worker and a great character.
“It sounds something of a cliché,
but it is true, Phil will be missed
not only by his fellow employees
but by CUBIS as a whole.”
The thoughts of everyone at
Northstone are with Phil’s
widow and family at this time.
REDUCING
ENERGY COSTS
WITH GREGG
Gregg Simpson, a maintenance
fitter with Northstone
Materials at Toome, has won
the most recent Northstone
Energy Saving and Efficiency
Suggestion Scheme. His idea
was to reduce the size of the
water pump at our Sandy Bay
Lough Sand Site from an 8 inch
diameter unit requiring a 75kw
motor to a 5 inch pump driven
by a 11kw motor.
Gregg’s suggestion has
meant a reduction in
the pump running cost
from £6.67 per hour
to £0.98 per hour.
“At Sandy Bay we have had ongoing
problems with the water pump and
it was also producing water volumes
and pressure that we did not really
need for the process. I knew we had
a 5 inch pump at our Gregg’s Pit at
Lough Fea which was not in use, so I
suggested that we install it at Sandy
Bay on a trial basis. My line manager,
William Stewart, agreed with the idea
and after a modification to this pump,
it was installed at Sandy Bay. I am
delighted to say that the smaller pump
does everything we require”.
Readers may be interested to know
that this year, Gregg celebrated 40
years of service with the Company. He
commenced his apprenticeship as a
fitter in the garage at Toome in 1971.
“I remember my first task very clearly”
said Gregg. “It was to make brackets
to support the lean to roof at the tile
plant. I was really the nipper in the
garage in my early years. However,
in 1971 there was a lot of activity
and excitement as the Company
had bought Hutchinson’s Sand Site
at Toome. I was then involved in
the assembly of the Linetex sand
classifying plant at this new depot”.
Gregg lives just outside Magherafelt
with his wife Roberta. The couple
have two children, Clare and Stephen.
Northlink congratulates Gregg
not only on his energy saving idea
but also on his forty years of loyal
service to the Company.
December 2010
page 3
Safety Success
Story at Farrans
MORE ABOUT
CRH
Further Recognition for Farrans
(L-R) Pauric Corrigan (National Irish
Safety Organisation), Brian Hill
(Farrans), Mary O’Rourke TD and
Tom Stephenson (Northern Ireland
Safety Group).
Every year the Christmas edition of
Northlink invariably reports on the
awards and accolades presented to
the Farrans Health and Safety Team
and this year is no exception.
The ground breaking team of Alex
Anderson, Robin Kirkpatrick, Ricki Guy,
Brian Hill and Wendy Armstrong have
again excelled themselves in collecting
three awards which reflect their
superior performance this year under
the leadership of Safety Director, Kevin
Corley.
In May, the team won a British Safety
Council International Safety Award and
this was followed in August by a Royal
Society for the Prevention of Accidents
(ROSPA) Gold Award. In October, the
team received a National Irish Safety
Organisation/Northern Ireland Safety
Group award with distinction for
superior performance in the operation
of health and safety management
practice.
The impressive preheater tower at the
Ozarow Cement Plant in Poland.
The news this Christmas from
Belgard Castle is that CRH
plc continues to address the
trading challenges within
the global economy and that
it is well placed to pursue
acquisition opportunities as
and when they arise.
This included the announcement on
11 November 2010 of the decision
by CRH to sell selected insulation
businesses to the Kingspan Group plc.
In announcing the decision, Myles Lee,
Chief Executive of CRH commented:
“The divestment reflects the decision
by the Group to exit its insulation
business segment where the Group
does not see potential for CRH to
gain a market leadership position in
Europe”.
At the same time, CRH plc has decided
to acquire an additional 50% of
builders’ merchant and DIY specialist,
Bauking, in a deal worth €12.6 million,
to add to the 48% share of Bauking
acquired in 2005.
Bauking is the leading operator
in northern Germany and has 128
branches which last year generated
earnings of €35 million from sales of
€747 million. The purchase of the
additional 50% of Bauking is expected
to be completed before the end of the
year and greatly strengthens CRH’s
existing position in Germany, which
is the largest construction market in
Europe.
This year, in addition to the Bauking
deal, CRH plc has spent over €300
million on acquisitions and investment
opportunities. Within our own Europe
Materials Division these include the
following:Great Britain
The purchase of the assets of Dan
Morrissey Concrete UK, a cement
import terminal in Swansea in South
Wales to facilitate the export of
cement from Drogheda.
Portugal
The CRH Secil joint venture acquired
the Alves Quarry close to the Porto and
Amaranta markets in north Portugal.
The quarry has 20 million tonnes of
high quality reserves.
Poland
Grupa Ozarow has commenced
installation of an alternative fuel
feeding system to increase the usage
of refuse derived fuels at its cement
plant in Ozarow. This will maximise
alternative fuel usage and reduce kiln
fuel costs.
India
My Home Industries has recently
commenced the construction of a 60
MW captive power plant adjacent to
its cement works at Mellacheruvu in
Andra Pradesh. The power supply in
this region is unreliable and the new
coal based thermal power plant will
provide security of supply and yield
significant power cost savings.
More about CRH next time.
Kevin Corley spoke to Northlink
recently in glowing terms of the work
of his health and safety department;
“Make no mistake, these awards
mean a lot and the competition to
obtain them increases significantly
year on year. I feel this is because
they are adjudicated by our peers
from all industrial sectors. I believe
we do well because our system
is based on a planned regime of
audits and inspections, coupled
with practical operating procedures,
employee involvement and effective
management of our sub contractors.
The awards also give prospective
clients reassurance that when they
choose Farrans as their preferred
tenderer they know we can deliver on
health and safety.
All in the health and safety
department deserve great credit
for their achievements in 2010.”
Northstone host J P
Corry staff visit to
Toome - extreme
left Stephen
Kelly, Brian Watt
(second from right)
and Keith Wood
(extreme right).
Delivering Product Knowledge to
Builders Merchant Partners
In August of this year Northstone Materials Sales Director,
Keith Wood along with Regional Sales Manager Ken Anderson,
organised two roof tile product knowledge training sessions
at Toome for staff from J.P.Corry – Builders Merchants, which
has 17 branches throughout Ireland.
Keith gave Northlink an insight into his decision to hold the sessions;
“Builders merchants are key partners of ours when it comes to
disseminating roof tile product information to contractors, the self
builder or DIY enthusiasts. It is therefore critical that their managers
and customer facing staff have as much information as possible about
the features and benefits of our roof tiles.”
One session was led by Ken Anderson, with the other delivered by
Richard Wilson and Stephen Kelly, our Area Sales Managers, who
provided an in depth presentation of our roof tile portfolio. This was
followed by a guided tour of the tile factory hosted by Northstone
Technical Director, Brian Watt, which allowed an appreciation of the
commitment we have to producing roof tiles of the highest quality.
“The sessions also enabled us to further develop our relationships
with J.P. Corry staff who, in a way, are really working on our behalf
and deserve every support,” said Keith. “I know from the questions
from J.P. Corry people at the end of each session that they learnt
much about our products and why their customers should make the
right choice and buy Northstone roof tiles”.
Northlink understands that Keith and Ken are planning more builders
merchant product knowledge sessions in the coming months.
page 4
Thinking Lean at
Roscommon
Ray Burke and Aoife
Quinn review the
completed LEAN Ideas
Cards at Roscommon.
CUBIS Industries in Roscommon
commenced a grant aided Lean
Start process on 3rd November
2010 to build on the efficiency
changes of recent years as it was
recognised that improvements
must be continually made in any
manufacturing environment to
remain competitive in today’s
rapidly changing marketplace. In
this most recent initiative, CUBIS
are working in partnership with
Tony Corrigan from the WCM
Centre in Cork, the Engineers of
Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
It involves the delivery of an
intensive 7 week Lean Start
Programme at the factory which
shall provide the basis for
continuous improvement.
During the initial weeks of the process,
both Process and Value Stream
mapping has taken place while at the
same time commencing the tracking
of Key Performance Indicators to
monitor performance in a number
of areas and identifying waste in the
process. Everyone is involved in the
Programme at Roscommon and in this
regard an Ideas Card is issued each
week to allow the identification and
recording of unproductive issues and
also possible improvements which
could be implemented in daily work
routines. The ideas listed on the cards
to date have been many and varied
with each being thoroughly assessed
against the big questions, of ‘whether
we are adding value or adding cost
in our daily routine’ and ‘whether
we could spend our time in a more
productive way’. Such Lean tools are a
means of helping secure employment
into the future at the Roscommon
factory and this Lean Start process is
only the initial step on our journey
towards continuous improvement in all
activities undertaken there.
The key to making Lean a success
is that each and every employee,
customer and supplier has a part to
play in the Lean process at Roscommon
and that small improvements
suggested by everyone far outweigh
any large improvement put forward
by a few experts. Lean methodology
at Roscommon will not only aid how
we cope with a dramatically changing
economic climate but also enable us
to significantly increase our global
market share.
Colman Cooney, Director of Site
Operations at Roscommon, who has
long been an advocate of the benefits
of Lean manufacturing, told Northlink
something of what the process will
mean for his team ‘Lean processes will
allow everyone at Roscommon to focus
on the key aspects of their individual
roles by taking away obstacles and
peripheral issues which can lead to
frustrations and inefficiencies. In
essence, it will help us become better
at what we do and create more
opportunities for the development of
the business and our product portfolio
which has to be a good thing for us
all. At CUBIS we hope to encourage
further creativity, innovation and
problem solving from everyone at
Roscommon and ultimately become
an Injection Moulding Centre of
Excellence within the CRH Group’.
Philip Takes
The Chair
Philip Shields, a director of
contracts with the Northstone
Materials Division, is currently
the Chairman of the Northern
Ireland Branch of the Chartered
Institution of Highways and
Transportation (CIHT). This
professional body concerns
itself specifically with the
planning, design, construction,
maintenance and operation
of and land based transport
systems and infrastructure.
Philip was elected by the CIHT
in April 2010 and will hold the
office for one year.
Top Marks for Farrans (L-R) Conor
McGimpsey and Jennifer Allen
(Farrans ) with Roy Adair, John
McMillen and Peter Dixon (Business
in the Community).
FARRANS GO PLATINUM
The environmental credentials
of Farrans are well known
throughout the Province and
this year, the division achieved
platinum status in the Arena
Network Environmental
Management Survey as organised
by Business in the Community,
the Belfast based charitable
organisation which works with
local companies to enhance their
performance and contribution to
society.
The Survey consists of 18 questions
and is split into three sections:
environmental management (worth
35% of the marks); environmental
performance (worth 60%); and
assurance (worth 5%). Participants
are asked to complete an online
questionnaire and their responses
are reviewed and scored accordingly.
The Survey process and scores are
independently verified. A total of 143
organisations took part in the 2010
Survey.
in recognition of their achievements.
Farrans was one of nineteen entrants
which achieved platinum status.
The Farrans Safety, Health,
Environmental and Quality (SHEQ)
Manager, Alex Anderson, told
Northlink something of what the
Arena Network accolade means for his
business;
“This type of award is vital for
Farrans in a number of ways in that it
confirms that we are compliant with
environmental legislation, it confirms
that we adopt best practice techniques
in environmental management and
also allows us to score highly in our
pre tender questionnaires and related
quality submissions. However, best of
all, it shows that our people do not pay
lip service to environmental issues and
address them professionally like every
other aspect of our business which
further develops our corporate image.”
Each organisation is ranked and placed
in one of five quintiles with those
organisations which score 90% or
more being awarded platinum status
It is well known that the unique
properties of platinum are appreciated
by watchmakers as, compared to
gold, it neither tarnishes or wears
– in fact just like the Alex Anderson
environmental team in Dunmurry.
The CIHT offers routes to professional
qualifications to achieve Chartered
and Incorporated Engineer status and
is dedicated to providing support and
networking opportunities to members
by way of a calendar of technical
seminars, conferences and social
events.
I was delighted to have David Parr
from Farrans along to deliver a
presentation to the Branch on the
M80 Motorway project at one of our
technical evening meetings at which
the membership learnt much about
managing a major civil engineering
contract.
Philip provided Northlink with an
appreciation of his busy year in office
to date;
I have to say that my year of office has
passed very quickly and will culminate
with an annual dinner in March 2011.”
“In May I led a study tour to Central
Scotland and our Farrans colleagues
facilitated visits to the Arecleoch Wind
Farm, M80 Motorway and Edinburgh
Trams projects. I know those on the
tour were impressed by the technical
capability of our construction division
and I am grateful to Farrans for
their assistance in this regard. I was
also involved in the planning and
organisation of the CIHT Presidential
Conference in September 2010.
Readers may be interested to know
that other past chairmen of the
CIHT, who worked for Northstone in
years gone by, include Ken Cheevers,
Ronnie McIntyre and Ronnie McKee.
Philip is continuing this tradition in
holding office in a highly respected
professional body which indicates
the esteem with which he is held by
his peers and reflects well on our
Company.
December 2010
page 5
A Christmas
Story with
a Happy
Ending
Northstone continues to support
the work of the Simon Community
through our Simon Safety
Challenge. The donations from
the Challenge this year have been
directed to extending three of the
Community’s current programmes.
These are as follows:• Education and community outreach
aimed at the prevention of
homelessness.
• The private rented sector bond
scheme aimed at assisting people to
move out of homelessness.
• Harm reduction aimed at assisting
people who are dependent on
alcohol and/or drugs.
Sadly homelessness is an increasing
problem in Northern Ireland with
almost 19,000 cases reported over
the last year. However, the Simon
Community, with the help of
Northstone, has been able to support
an increasing number of these people.
People in fact, just like Christine. Here
is Christine’s story;
“The first night I arrived in the Simon
Community project, I was given what I
then realised we all take for granted.
As I laid my head on the pillow and
pulled the duvet over me, I felt secure.
I finally had a door I could lock and
somewhere I could sleep. For three
nights before that I had ‘slept’ in a
bus shelter, with a blue tarpaulin
sheet sheltering me from the rain,
wondering how my life had ended up
like this.
I had lost absolutely everything.
You see, I was a ‘normal’ middle class,
professional lady, with four beautiful
children, a successful husband, a
detached house and two cars. On the
outside I had it all. But I had a secret, I
was living with alcoholism.
I was never aggressive or violent; no
one ever knew that I had a problem.
There were no severe arguments in
our home. But, within time alcoholism
took its toll on my family and through
my behaviour I lost the trust of my
husband. Ultimately, I lost my job and
my husband asked me to leave.
Within a couple of months at the
Simon Community, I started to visit a
Harm Reduction Worker called Eoin.
Thanks to Eoin, I was never judged. I
was given the chance and time to work
through my addiction.
I can’t emphasise the importance of
how helpful this was for me. It was
priceless.
My children’s unconditional love meant
they never gave up on me and because
of this, I never gave up.
I have been dry for over a year, and my
husband has accepted me back into
family life.
Before all this happened, if a letter had
arrived through my door from Simon
Community, I know I would never have
thought any of this would happen to
me. But it did.
The Simon Community has given my
children what every child should have,
their Mummy and their routine. I have
been given another chance and this
Christmas will be a happy one in our
home.”
Another New Name on the
Farrans Client Listing
Abberton Team on Parade (L-R). Amanda Hedge - Ecology Project Manager, Kay Silver –
Senior Project Manager Abberton Scheme, Conleth Greene – Contracts Manager, Stuart
Hockley – Design Coordinator, Laura Gallagher – Engineer (all Farrans), Robert Constable
CDM-C Montgomery Watson and John Hartley – Acceptance Engineer.
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In years gone by
when Kenny Dalglish, the
famed Celtic, Liverpool and
Scotland striker was prince of
Anfield he was ably supported
by such illustrious stars as Ian
Rush and Emlyn Hughes. In
2010 however, Kenny is leading
the line for the Bethesda
Care Home and Hospice fund
raising campaign supported by
Farrans own Liam O’Hagan and
Matthew Murphy.
Bethesda Care Home and Hospice is
in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. It
employs 50 staff who provide a much
needed caring service to those who are
terminally ill and who require specialist
palliative care. Bethesda in Hebrew
means “house of mercy” and certainly
the Stornoway facility provides a
relaxed homely atmosphere where
patients and their families can come to
terms with the turmoil they often feel.
In recent years, Bethesda recognised
the need to build a new extension to
Farrans Utilities have recently
been awarded The Abberton
Scheme - Project 03 Pipelines
Project from Essex and Suffolk
Water Limited. This marks the
first success for Farrans in the
English utility market.
Conleth Greene, Contracts Manager,
has successfully guided Farrans Utilities
through the Prequalification and
Tender Stages and landed the £23M
Scheme. The Project consists of the
construction of approximately 30kms
of 1200mm diameter and 3kms of
1000mm diameter welded steel pipes in
two sections: one from Kirkling Green
to Wixoe (just south of Newmarket)
and the other from Wormingford to
Abberton (near Colchester, Essex).
Works are predominately across open
Kenny Poses for the
Camera (L-R) Liam
O’Hagan, Kenny Dalglish
and Matthew Murphy.
provide the level of service that was
required by the local community. A
total of £1.2m was raised to construct
the extension but costs then escalated
to £2m resulting in a very significant
shortfall.
Farrans are involved in the joint
venture known as FMP, which is
constructing five schools in the
Western Isles. The Farrans partners are
H + J Martin and the Patton Group,
both from Northern Ireland.
FMP immediately identified the need
of Bethesda and showed their support
by donating to the charity and thereby
assisting the local community on the
Isle of Lewis.
Our two Farrans men attended a
recent fundraising event and were
only too pleased to stand shoulder
to shoulder with Kenny to help raise
funds for the care of the terminally ill
on the Isle of Lewis.
country and include construction and
commissioning of a 2.5 megalitre
break pressure tank at Wormingford
and an outlet structure at Abberton
reservoir. There are several trenchless
crossings along the route including
one of 1500mm x 150m at the A12
and the Network Rail Colchester to
London line at the Stanway Tunnel.
The Project is Lot 3 of the overall
Abberton Scheme which will increase
the storage capacity of the reservoir
from 26,000 to 40,000 megalitres,
and will secure water supply to the
greater Essex and East London areas
for the next 50 years. The Project
will get underway on the ground in
January 2011 and continue to March
2012. Northlink wishes Conleth and
his team success with the Project and
their new client.
page 6
s
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AC
Wish
If the reports are correct,
Liverpool will soon become a
second home for Northstone
people what with the ongoing
development of our CUBIS
business in Kirkby and Farrans
Healthcare about to start their
first contract on Merseyside.
From a football perspective the city
of Liverpool is either red or blue
and our ever imaginative
commercial team in Healthcare
under the creative eye of director
John Wilson, have just put a
sponsorship proposal to
Northstone Chief Executive, Mark
Lowry. John’s team believes that
the distinctive Healthcare logo
emblazoned on the famous shirts
and on the Anfield hoardings at
pitch side would do much for the
fortunes of the team in the red
strip that plays there.
The rumour from Dunmurry is that
Mark has critically reviewed the
proposal for all of two minutes
and the view is that there is always
next year for another Healthcare
Christmas Wish.
FROM OUR CAMBRIDGE
CORRESPONDENT
Andrew Butcher, our Northlink
correspondent in the Farrans
office at Ely Road, Cambridge
sends Christmas greetings and the
following report in respect of his
region.
“We have continued to secure
works under the Norfolk Framework
Agreement with three projects
starting in the second half of this year.
They are Dereham High School and
Wymondham Infant School extensions
as well as North Walsham High School
new “Community Hub Building” at
£4.45m (see images above and below).
All three are currently on programme
and due for completion in September
2011. The project team working in
the wilds of a very wintery North
Norfolk are Carl Studd, Phil Browne,
Jacob Adams, Ray Gambell and James
Clark. Next year will be the last year
of the current four year Framework
agreement, which is unlikely to
yield any further projects due to
Government spending cuts to the
Schools Building Programme.
The second phase of the Suffolk Fire
and Rescue PFI Fire Stations has been
completed and handed over on time
with the last two stations, due for
completion next year, starting ahead
of programme. Ipswich East is the
largest station in the programme, with
six appliance bays and crew facilities
to match the station, is designed to
service the busy A14 corridor running
from the port of Felixstowe and out to
the North of Ipswich. Sudbury is the
last refurbishment project. Originally
built in the 1960’s the station is
undergoing a major refit with the
existing appliance bay roof being
raised some 600mm to accommodate
new roller shutter doors. All this whilst
maintaining an operational station
is giving Keith Dorling (Contracts
Manager) and Paul Darrington (Site
Manager) a few headaches.
The second half of this year has
seen an increased level of tender
enquiries and opportunities which is
encouraging in the current economic
climate. Improved presentation and
quality of information now going
into Pre Qualification Questionnaires
has greatly raised our level of
tendering opportunities. All credit to
Jason Denly for his inventiveness in
responding to this lengthy process,
Jason has now been heading up our
commercial department for the last 2
years.
Finally we would like to extend a
warm welcome to all our colleagues in
Farrans Utilities and Healthcare who
have invaded the Cambridge Regional
Office in recent months after securing
prestigious projects. Farrans Utilities
will be starting the 16 kilometre
Abberton Reservoir pipeline in the
new year whilst Farrans Healthcare
have started the new Perinatal Unit at
Addenbrookes Hospital.
We look forward to working with
them both and building on the
success of these projects for the
future growth of the Farrans England
Division.”
Healthcare Commercial Team work on
the Edge Lane design proposal. Left to
Right: Mark Beacom, Kieran McElmeel,
Gerry Higgins.
Farrans Take Healthcare
Expertise To Merseyside
Farrans, along with joint venture
partner, Heron Brothers, have
been nominated as preferred
constructor on a £85 million
framework project to build five
new mental health facilities on
Merseyside. The Client is the
National Health Service (NHS) in
conjunction with their private
partner, Liverpool and Sefton
Health Partnership. The Farrans
commercial team of Mark Beacom,
Ronald Sullivan and Glenn Gilmore
are currently hard at work on the
design development of the first
£18 million scheme at Walton with
a view to agreeing a guaranteed
maximum price (GMP) by the end
of February 2011.
The overall framework project is
known as TIME (To Improve Mental
health Environments). The first scheme
at Walton has a gross floor area of
6200m2 and the accommodation
includes the following:
• 85 individual bedrooms with ensuite
facilities;
• activity and quiet spaces on and off
the inpatient ward,
• clinical treatment and therapeutic
areas,
• decoration, artwork and fittings,
• family and visitor friendly areas,
• disabled facilities and easily
accessible outdoor spaces,
• learning and office accommodation.
The Farrans commercial team are also
taking the second scheme at Edge
Lane, which is of similar size and value
to Walton, through the planning stage
towards agreement of the guaranteed
maximum price in April 2011.
The Farrans Heron Joint Venture (FHJV)
was formed specifically to tender for
the Merseyside framework. It brings
together the overall expertise of the
Farrans Healthcare division and the
mental health facility construction
experience of Heron Brothers. John
Wilson, from Farrans, is the director of
the FHJV.
Glenn Gilmore, the Farrans Design
Manager, explained the design
function on the project for Northlink;
“My current role is as Design Manager,
which is a refreshing change to my
previous site management roles. As
part of the framework agreement,
our role is to manage the Design
Team from concept stage through
design development to financial
close, at which point the Design
Team will be novated to ourselves
similar to a Design and Build contract.
Individually, my main roles include
managing the release and flow of
design information between all
parties, liaison and development of
the design with the Client and FM
provider, reviewing design information
on the basis on buildability, quality
and performance with a close liaison
with our commercial team to ensure
cost plan parameters are not exceeded.
From Farrans our Commercial Team
is led by Mark Beacom, who is ably
assisted by Ronald Sullivan.
The benefit of this sort of contract
is that we are able to advise and
influence the Design Team on
buildability and product performance
from an early stage which will not
only help us when we start on site,
but will also offer the Client better
value for money. Another advantage
of being at the table so early is that
we are able to engage with the supply
chain sooner, which allows us to offer
innovative and sustainable building
techniques which cannot always be
easily adopted into the design with
more traditional contracts.
From the announcement in August
that we were preferred constructor
on the scheme, we quickly realised
that the Design Team couldn’t be
managed from the departure lounge
of the airport or a desk in Dunmurry,
and we have since opened a JV office
in Dale Street in Liverpool where I am
currently based on a full time basis.
One benefit of this is that I can finally
catch a couple of games at Anfield!”
Northlink congratulates all at
Farrans Healthcare on their success
in winning a significant contract in
a new market area.
December 2010
page 7
“Niamh gets ready to dig
at Camlachie”
Niamh
starts
to dig in
Glasgow
Winning Ways in Health and Safety at Roscommon reaps rewards
L to R - David Carr, Aoife Quinn, Ray Burke, Joe Beirne, Colman
Cooney, Michael Donlon, Eithne Tarmey, Charlie Dunne
Roscommon rises to the
health and safety challenge
The former Carson Industries
location in Roscommon, which
is now an integral part of
CUBIS Industries and the wider
Northstone family, have just
celebrated 551 working days since
their last lost time accident.
Charlie Dunne, the location’s
Production Manager, has played
a pivotal role in transforming the
safety performance at Roscommon
since adding the brief of health and
safety manager to his responsibilities
in 2008. In essence, Charlie was
the driving force behind the
development and implementation
of many safe operating procedures
together with an extensive training
regime for all employees which has
produced superior health and safety
performance.
Charlie explained his strategy for
success which has made Roscommon
one of the best performing locations
in Northstone in relation to health and
safety.
“The first thing we did was to
recommence our monthly works health
and safety committee meetings which
allowed all levels of employee at the
plant to come together to discuss and
resolve health and safety issues. The
committee also became the place
to discuss our plans for health and
safety improvements. This meant
that invariably they were a success”
said Charlie. “One of the critical
decisions we made was to introduce a
system of accountability which meant
that all employees must adhere to
the health and safety rules and be
held accountable for their area of
responsibility”.
Colman Cooney, the Director of
Operations at Roscommon, is a
committed supporter of Charlie and
his work.
“Charlie encouraged me to continually
measure our safety performance,
communicate the results and celebrate
our successes. This served to motivate
everyone and create peer pressure.
Charlie is not only our health and
safety enforcer at Roscommon but
more importantly, he is our catalyst to
improving performance in this critical
area of our business.”
Praise indeed for Charlie and his
winning ways in health and safety
at Roscommon.
Site Team get started on Skainos (L-R:
Neil McStravick, Ted Mulholland and Ken
Meaklim)
Robert’s
Skainos
Project Gets
Underway
Robert McAlister, the Farrans
Project Director on the recently
awarded Skainos Project
has just started work on
his new east Belfast site as
Northlink goes to print. The
development will feature
social and affordable housing,
community facilities, retail
and commercial space, a day
nursery and café as well as a
new church worship facility.
The £21 million Skainos Project is
located on the lower Newtownards
Road and is funded by the European
Union’s Peace III Programme, the
The Farrans Joint Venture Project
with partner I + H Brown from
Perth on the East End
Regeneration Route in Glasgow
continues apace. An integral
part of the Project is the
Camlachie Burn Overflow Works,
a scheme designed to relieve
flooding. As the Camlachie Burn
catchment area has become
more and more urbanised the
open water path has become
extensively culverted which has
changed its natural state. This
has led to repeated flooding
over the years causing damage
to both domestic and commercial
properties.
of 6 segments and a keystone piece.
Each segment is lifted and rotated
into position using a ‘bird wing’
erector arm. The machine then
pushes itself off the previously
installed tunnel ring using 10
hydraulic rams to propel itself
further into the ground. The
excavated material is taken from the
face by a series of conveyor belts
which load it into a locomotive skip
for removal back to the shaft pit
bottom. The material is then lifted
out of the shaft and stockpiled for
removal off site. The total amount
of material expected to be excavated
from the tunnel is approximately
10,000m3.
Construction of the overflow consists
of 150 metres of open cut works, 900
metres of 2.74 metres diameter
tunnel, 90 metres of 1.5 metre
diameter pipe jacked tunnel and 6
shafts, with the largest shaft being
10.3 metres in diameter and 16
metres deep. The tunnel invert
ranges in depth from 15 meters
below ground level to just over 6
metres. The Project completion date
for the tunnel works is programmed
for August 2011.
Site Agent, Michael Watson, outlined
the technical challenges which lie
ahead for Niamh;
In the time honoured tradition, the
tunnel machine has been christened
for good luck. At Camlachie, the
Herringconnect open face back actor
machine is named “Niamh” after the
daughter of John Gillespie who is a
director of sub contractor, Fineturret.
Niamh is an Irish name which means
bright and radiant.
The tunnel is 8 metres long with a 20
metre gantry attached to the rear
which facilitates the removal of the
excavated material and the bringing
in of the tunnel segments. The
tunnel rings are built 8 metres back
from the excavated face and consist
International Fund for Ireland and
the East Belfast Methodist Mission
as well as the Department for
Social Development. It is due to be
completed in July 2012.
Robert told Northlink something of his
new contract:
“Skainos Limited was formed as the
special purpose vehicle to undertake
the Skainos Project to construct 3
to 4 storey residential, community
and commercial units in the heart
of the lower Newtownards Road
between the Templemore Avenue
and Dee Street junctions. The board
of Skainos Limited is drawn from the
Trustees of the Methodist Church in
Ireland, East Belfast Mission, Oaklee
Housing Association and East Belfast
“The pipejacked section of the
tunnel will consist of two 1.5 metre
diameter pipes, each 45 metres in
length, which will be installed
underneath an existing disused
railway tunnel in the London Road
Area. The route of the tunnel will
bring us through various geological
materials including soft clay, boulder
clay, sands, gravel and sandstone. As
on all Farrans sites, health and safety
is of paramount importance and as
you can imagine, working in a
tunnel brings its own specific hazards
and risks. We have detailed risk
assessments and method statements
in place to address these as well as a
trained rescue team on site who are
ready to enter the tunnel in the
event of an emergency.
Northlink wishes Michael and his
team every success at Camlachie as
he continues the Farrans tradition of
successfully delivering technically
demanding projects.
Community. Our role is to work
with all stakeholders to help bring
about physical, economic, social
and community renewal through
the construction of a new built
environment” said Robert.
“The high quality, energy efficient
housing which Farrans will construct
will also make a positive impact
on waiting lists in one of the most
disadvantaged areas in Belfast”.
Robert’s site management team on
the Skainos Project is John Cooper
(Contract Manager), Ken Meaklim
(Project Manager), Neil McStravick
(Design Manager), Ted Mulholland
(Mechanical and Electrical Coordinator) and Brian Mullan and
Richard McCullough (Site Engineers).
page 8
International Visitors
Flock to CUBIS Website
What do Beijing, Brisbane,
Bangkok, Baku and Belfast all
have in common? All are cities
that highlight the international
appeal of CUBIS Industries based on
recorded visits to the new website
and have undoubtedly potential for
sales and marketing opportunities.
Since the website launch in October
2010, visitors from 95 different
countries have found their way to
www.cubisindustries.com, which
features an extensive product portfolio
as well as information on the company
structure, people and capability.
One frequently visited area is the
Industry Sector Guide, which utilises
3D illustration to demonstrate typical
applications for CUBIS’ products. This
section will be of particular interest
to colleagues in Farrans who will be
able to see how CUBIS products can be
successfully used on their projects, such
as Streets Ahead and Edinburgh Trams.
Meanwhile, fans of Darren Molyneux,
who is rapidly becoming a Northstone
cult hero, and was featured in the last
edition of Northlink, are advised to
check his section for his latest exploits.
Andrew Wright, Sales and Marketing
Director of CUBIS said: “We are hearing
lots of positive comments about the
website and the visitor traffic statistics
are very impressive for a new website.”
“Increasingly we are discovering that
potential customers find out about our
products from the internet and if our
international visitors to the website
translate into business then we have
a lot to be encouraged about. We
have many exciting new features
to be added in the coming months
and visitors are advised to sign up to
the mailing list to keep abreast of
developments,” he said.
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Team Farrans and Client Representatives
Celebrate Triple Award Success – holding the awards are (L-R) Neal Lynch
(Belfast Model School for Girls) , Clifford Spence (Overall Winner – Belfast Sewers) and
John McReynolds (Belfast Sewers).
It is no idle boast when Farrans
is referred to as the “Contractor
of Choice” as evidenced by their
recent success at the Construction
Employers Federation (CEF)
Construction Excellence Awards
ceremony in October.
These awards demonstrate the quality
of product and service delivered during
the construction process with the
judges relying heavily on the feedback
and commendations received from
clients and their project managers on
relevant contracts.
The team will be exhibiting access
chambers, surface covers and other
access products from the CUBIS
portfolio at Traffex 2011 at the end
of March 2011. The venue is the
NEC in Birmingham. In 2010, Traffex
attracted over 12,000 attendees and
467 exhibitors.
In May, the CUBIS Sales and
Marketing people travel to Cologne
to display their portfolio at the
ANGA Cable Show which is the
international trade fair for the
cable, broadband and satellite
communications industries. Last
year some 395 exhibitors took
The Belfast Model School for Girls
project involved the complete
design and reconstruction of the
existing school in North Belfast and
accommodates 900 pupils. It provides
a new school floor area of 15,000 m2
and 890 m2 of community provision.
The comments by the judges were as
follows:-
Infrastructure:
Education Award - Belfast Model
School for Girls
“Constructed to the highest level of
build quality, this £23.5m school was
built on time and on budget. It is the
perfect illustration of the high level of
educational and community provision
delivered under the Belfast Schools
Strategic Partnership Arrangement –
this is truly a school for the community
and for the future”.
Infrastructure:
Utilities Award - Belfast Sewers
The Belfast Sewers Joint Venture
Project required the construction of a
For the second consecutive year,
Farrans won three awards at the event.
These were as follows:-
CUBIS ON TOUR IN 2011
The ever resourceful CUBIS Sales
and Marketing team are now
preparing for a busy 2011 with
three major trade exhibitions
already confirmed in their
itinerary.
Overall Award:
Most Outstanding Entry - Belfast
Sewers
display space at the Show.
The CUBIS team will then be back at
their base in Liverpool for just a few
weeks before travelling south to the
Railtex Exhibition at Earls Court in
London in mid June 2011. Railtex is
firmly established in the rail industries
calendar as the only showcase event
in the United Kingdom for their
supply chain to exhibit technological
innovation in their products and
services.
In 2010, CUBIS exhibited at Intrarail in
Birmingham, Intertraffic in Amsterdam
and Pullutex in Lyon and will be
hoping to build on these successes over
the next twelve months.
“The large number of markets that
CUBIS is currently involved in means
that every year we must exhibit our
products in different countries and
in different industrial sectors,“ said
Sales and Marketing Director, Andrew
Wright.
“Exhibitions are a great way for
people to see our products up close
and understand the technological
advantages they have in areas such
as speed of installation, low product
weight and flexibility over
6 mile tunnel at depths of between 10
metres and 32 metres below ground
level in challenging ground conditions.
This included a 36 metre deep and 36
metre diameter shaft that houses the
pumping station. The comments by
the judges were as follows:“This is an outstanding Civil
Engineering Infrastructure Project,
completed on time in very difficult
conditions. It will bring significant
social, economic and environmental
benefits to the city of Belfast by
minimising urban flooding and
preventing pollution of the River
Lagan. Its scale would certainly grace
any international awards competition”.
Northlink understands that Eamonn
Sweeney, the Farrans Managing
Director, was particularly proud of
his people and their achievements in
winning the awards and rumour has it
he has already targeted another triple
award success next year.
traditional and competing products.
We would like to extend a warm
welcome to anyone in Northstone
who is interested in visiting our
stand at an exhibition in 2011.” said
Andrew.
Andrew Wright and his team at work
on an exhibition stand promoting the
technological advantages of the CUBIS
product range.
December 2010
page 9
Northstone People learn
more about their Health
Earlier this year, Chief Executive
Mark Lowry and his board of
directors decided for the fourth
successive year to offer health
assessments to all Northstone
employees. Local charity, the
Chest, Heart and Stroke Association
of Northern Ireland were again the
provider.
Statistics show that heart and
circulatory disease is the Province’s
biggest killer claiming nearly 5,000
people each year, which is a third of all
deaths.
A total of 420 Northstone employees
across the Company accepted Mark’s
offer of a health assessment. This
entailed attending a thirty minute
session with a nurse from the
Association and undergoing a series
of health tests, obtaining advice on a
healthier lifestyle and discussing any
specific health issues. The tests included
body mass index, blood pressure and
cholesterol level which are all risk
factors in heart attacks and strokes.
Each participant also received a brief
written report on their assessment.
The feedback received by Northlink
following the assessments has been
very positive with many colleagues
learning more about their health
status with others deciding to eat
a little less over the forthcoming
Christmas period and beyond.
Mark was very positive about the
value of the assessments when he
spoke to Northlink recently;
“Most of us tend to neglect our own
health for various reasons and do not
visit our doctor often enough. The
assessments provided by the Chest,
Heart and Stroke Association deliver
a timely reminder about how we
can reduce the risk of cardiac and
stroke related problems. At the same
time, the assessments allow us the
opportunity to support the good work
of the Association in preventing and
alleviating chest, heart and stroke
illnesses in the wider community.”
MATTEST Team in Dublin Support Health Assessments: Back row (L-R)
Mick Bain, Ricky McCormick, Barry Gilroy, Sean Lynch and Barry Fitzsimons. Seated:
Peter Robinson and Nurse Maureen McCourt.
Farrans Win
Bangor Leisure
Centre Project
In August this year, Farrans
were awarded the contract to
construct the new Bangor
Leisure Centre for North
Down Borough Council. The
new £30 million complex is
situated at the town’s Valentine Playing Fields.
site offices and brought together
an excellent team of Farrans
people to deliver this demanding
project. So far the work on site
has included major earth moving
and deep excavations with the first
major concrete pour to the diving
pool slab also completed. We have
another large pour planned for
before Christmas.”
Site Manager Paul McClements
gave Northlink an update on the
progress to date at his latest site;
The Leisure Centre will certainly
provide residents of Bangor and
the surrounding area with first
rate facilities as Paul continued;
“We have now established the
“The Centre will incorporate both
Left-right: John Ferguson, Felim
Blaney, Walter Robinson, Colin
McNamee, Mark McCormick, Paul
McClements, David Henry, Walker
Smyth, Julie McGuigan, Sarah
Wilson, David Grattan.
wet and dry facilities. It includes a
4.8 metre deep diving pool and an
Olympic standard 50 metre long
swimming pool both of which have
moveable floors allowing the
depths to vary depending on the
required use or competition
standard. There is also a leisure
pool which will include the latest
facilities such as a wave machine,
flumes, pirate ship and water
features.
500 people as well as squash
courts with viewing facilities.
There will also be a gym, health
club, café and kids area with
crèche facilities. Function and
conference rooms are also
housed in the building.
The dry side of the facilities include
an 8 court sports centre with
retractable spectator seating for
Paul’s team are due to complete
the Bangor Leisure Centre in
June 2012.
Our project also requires
external works which include
synthetic 3G pitches, extensive
car parking and landscaping.”
page 10
“FUTURE
PROOFING
THE CUBIS
WORKFORCE”
The CUBIS factory in Liverpool
has just successfully completed
a comprehensive training
programme to develop the key
skills of production employees.
Charlie Gibson, the factory’s
Process Improvement Specialist,
who was the champion behind
the planning and delivery of the
training, refers to it as “future
proofing the CUBIS workforce”.
Charlie undertook a training needs
analysis of the Liverpool workforce
in early 2008 and this identified
the need for both short vocational
courses and more detailed National
Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)
programmes in all areas of the
business. His next step was to
partner with a local training provider,
Sysco, to deliver the training which
was identified. This included key
skills in literacy and numeracy. Sysco
were also able to assist with accessing
government funding to assist with
the cost of the training.
The outcomes of Charlie’s training
programme are impressive to say the
least as all relevant employees now
have appropriate NVQ’s in a range of
skills from specialist plant operations
and team leading to management
and occupational health and safety.
Charlie is justifiably very proud of the
achievement of the guys at Liverpool
as he explained to Northlink recently;
“We achieved a 100% success rate
in all the awards we applied for
even though there were the usual
time pressures and production
requirements in the factory. In
tandem with the vocational training
we also delivered English language
skills to our Polish colleagues
with three achieving a level 3
qualification. I feel the training and
the awards have helped to develop
the team spirit on the shop floor. I
personally gained a lot of satisfaction
in my role as mentor because I was
able to see them all develop their
knowledge and experience which
also has to be a good thing for
CUBIS.”
Northlink congratulates Charlie on
his commitment to the development
of the skills of his work colleagues.
NVQ Successes in Liverpool (L-R)
Stephen Conway (Occupational
Health and Safety), Ian Goodwin
(Management) and Dave Foster (Team
Leading).
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Farrans have recently taken the
Road to the Isles with joint
venture partners, H + J Martin
and the Patton Group to
construct five schools on the
Western Isles, which were
formerly known as the Outer
Hebrides. The joint venture is
known as FMP.
The Western Isles are on the outer
edge of Europe in the far north
west of Scotland. They have a
unique culture and traditions with
most of the communities still using
the Scottish Gaelic language. With
only 26,370 inhabitants and 9
people per square kilometre, the
Western Isles are one of the least
populated areas in Scotland. From
the tip of Lewis in the north to
Barra in the south is around 240
kilometres.
managed by specific site teams
made up of staff seconded from
the partners in each case. In this
way, FMP on the Western Isles is a
truly collaborative approach
drawing on the key strengths of
each of the partners and their
people.
The Farrans staff working on the
project are as listed below:Nicolson Institute
- Jerome Curran, Spencer Williams,
Matthew Murphy and Liam
O’Hagan
Sir E. Scott, All Through School
- Mel McMahon and Gavin
Connolly
Balivanich Primary
- Morris Gilmore
The overall Western Isles Schools
Project is worth £60m and went
live in July 2010 with the enabling
works on four of the schools
commencing almost immediately
to take advantage of the summer
months. The schools in the Project
are as follows:-
Farrans are also providing the
following project support staff:-
• Balivanich Primary, Benbecula
• Westside Primary, Barvas, Lewis
• Point Primary, Bayble, Lewis
• The Nicolson Institute,
Stornoway, Lewis
• Sir E. Scott, All Through School,
Tarbert, Lewis
Quantity Surveying
- Brian Maguire (Nicholson
Institute)
The schools at Balivanich, Westside
and Point, have a twelve month
construction period while those at
Nicholson Institute and Tarbert will
be two years in duration.
Unlike previous school projects
delivered by the FMP joint venture,
the Western Isles schools are being
Nicholson Site Team brave the elements
to pose for the camera ( L-R)
Chris Maguire, Brian Maguire, Mark
MacKenzie, Spencer Williams, Matty
Murphy, Norman Preston, Aaron Coffey,
Joanna MacDonald and Liam O’Hagan.
Overall Operations Manager
- Warren Wright
Design Management
- Steven Allen (Primary Schools)
Estate Wide Health and Safety
- Ricky Guy
Northlink readers may be
interested to know that FMP have
set up a facebook page to upload
progress photographs on the
Project. Why not “LIKE” the
Project and the full name of the
page is FMP Western Iles Project.
Liam O’Hagan, the site engineer at
the Nicolson Institute School has
provided Northlink with an insight
into life on the island of Lewis.
“Since first arriving on Lewis my
initial thought of what island life
would have been like has changed.
The team has been treated like
locals by everyone on the island.
Everyone has been more than
happy to provide us with
information and making us all feel
welcome. As a result of this
Jerome Curran (Project Manager) is
part of the local rugby team.
Norman Preston (Finishing
Manager for sub contractor
Pentland and Matheson) is part of
a local darts team and Chris
Maguire (Site Engineer) is part of
the local running club.
Some of the boys have also put
together a football team, which
will be taking part in a charity
football game. The Sir E. Scott site
team has taken part in ‘Movember’
to attempt to grow moustaches in
order to raise money for The
Prostate Cancer Charity. There is
also is plenty to do on the island to
keep us busy outside of working
hours, from various bars and
restaurants to a cinema and
bowling alley. The local leisure
centre is next door to the site at
Nicolson, and many of us make
good use of the facilities. Getting
to the island is also a lot easier
than we first envisaged. It involves
a flight to Glasgow then another
flight to Stornoway.
The Nicolson Institute site is
proceeding to programme. All of
the sub contractors on the job to
date have been locally sourced
which clearly indicates that FMP
are actively promoting the use of
local trades and giving something
back to the community.”
Mark visits Nicolson Institute and meets
the management team ( L-R) Warren
Wright, Jerome Curran and Mark Lowry.
December 2010
page 11
Employees at the Northstone Materials Tile Factory in Toome show their support for
the Preventing Accidents Initiative: (L-R) Back Row: Philip Weir, Sean Kearney, Robert
Nichol, Willie Wylie, Robert Crossett. Front Row: Richard McDermott, Brian Watt,
Alan Smyth, Stevie Kidd, Seorais Downey, Noel Davidson, Ken Logan ( Health and
Safety Executive)
Preventing Accidents
The Right Choice To Make
The Northstone contribution to
the European Week of Safety
and Health in 2010 was to hold
a Preventing Accidents Day on
27 October 2010.
The event was organised to
address the deterioration in our
accident rate in 2010 and was
supported by the Health and
Safety Executive. The underlying
concept was that every employee
and sub contractor at Northstone
can choose to make a personal
commitment to prevent accidents.
This means that we accept and
implement our personal
responsibilities for our own health
and safety as well as the health
and safety of work colleagues, sub
contractors and members of the
public.
A relevant tool box talk was
delivered in advance of the Day
with posters also distributed to all
sites and work locations. On the
27 October 2010, a director or
manager visited each workplace
and engaged at least four
employees or sub contractors in a
conversation about how the
contribution they can make will
prevent accidents.
This information from the three
Northstone divisions has now been
collated and passed to our Health
and Safety Directors to review and
use to improve health and safety
standards in their respective areas
of operation to prevent accidents.
In the Materials Division many
suggestions were received from
our people as Health and Safety
Director, Brian Watt explains;
“I have reviewed the suggestions
made as to how we prevent
accidents in the Materials Division.
Each of them has merit as they
have been obtained by involving
our people in the management of
health and safety at their
workplaces. The suggestions
included improving the control of
customers and visitors at our
quarries, enhancing the
communication between the
weighbridge and loading shovel
drivers, better specification of
personal protective equipment for
specific tasks and ideas for
improving access for several
maintenance tasks.”
Northstone Chief Executive, Mark
Lowry, was also supportive of the
benefits accruing from the
Preventing Accidents Day;
“I think it is always good that each
of us takes time to think about
how we can make a contribution
to prevent accidents. This may be
something as simple as making
sure we know the main elements
of risk assessments or reporting
unsafe conditions more quickly.
What I want is for every
Northstone employee and sub
contractor to play a part and be
actively involved in health and
safety at their respective work
places. The Preventing Accidents
Day on 27 October 2010 is an
excellent way to start this process.
I look forward to reviewing each
and every health and safety
improvement suggestion made on
the Day as nothing is more
important at Northstone that we
cannot take time to do it safely.
Well done to all for making the
Preventing Accidents Day such a
success”.
Launch of CRH
Transport Safety
Campaign
Accident statistics within our
industrial sector generally and
CRH plc in particular, show that
transport is the primary cause
of fatal accidents. The key
hazards in this regard are as
follows:• people being run over by a vehicle
• vehicles running over an open edge
• vehicles colliding
• people being trapped under a vehicle body
• vehicles making contact with overhead power lines
CRH Europe Materials have
decided to implement a Transport
Safety Campaign to manage these
hazards and thereby reduce the
risk of a fatality.
The Campaign launch event was
held at Dunmurry on 12 November
2010 with CRH Country Manager
for Ireland, Jim Mintern, and Mark
Lowry, the Northstone Chief
Executive, delivering presentations.
Jim explained the Campaign
objectives, the degree of risk
represented by transport in our
workplaces and the required
Campaign outcomes.
Mark then identified the three
activity areas which will be
focussed on in the Campaign
within Northstone. These are as
follows:1) Off Site
- public roads and customer sites
2) On Site
- contract works
3) On Site
- quarries, depots and factories
During the presentation, Mark
reaffirmed his commitment to
improve transport safety standards
at Northstone;
“At Northstone we are committed
to delivering improved transport
safety by clearly identifying
transport hazards and
Launching the Transport Campaign
at Dunmurry: (L-R) Kevin Corley
(Farrans), Mark Lowry (Northstone),
David Smyth (Materials), Michael
Wightman (CUBIS), Jim Mintern
(CRH Country Manager, Ireland),
Joe Brankin (CUBIS), David Luke
(Materials), Wendy Armstrong
(Farrans), Alex Anderson (Farrans)
and Gordon Ellis(MATTEST)
implementing effective control
measures” he said.
The roll out of the Transport Safety
Campaign at Northstone will be as
follows:• In January 2011, each division will deliver two awareness sessions in keeping with the activity areas which are relevant to them.
• All sessions will refer to the 16 CRH Rules and 11 Fundamentals for Fatality Elimination.
• The learning of the attendees at the sessions will be assessed by the divisional health and safety managers and advisers during audits and inspections.
Mark closed the launch event by
indicating his desire that as many
Northstone people as possible
participate in the Campaign to
make it a success;
“I expect as many employees and
sub contractors as possible to play
a full and active part in the
delivery of the CRH Transport
Safety Campaign to ensure it
achieves its objectives. The
outcome of the Campaign is quite
simple. There should be reduced
risk of transport related accidents
to the lowest possible level in all
activity areas in Northstone. We
must build a philosophy across our
Company that one such accident is
one too many. I commend the
forthcoming Transport Safety
Campaign to all Northstone people
and expect your full support.”
This photograph depicts the aftermath
of a potentially fatal accident when a
forward tipping dumper overturned.
The driver survived. The CRH Transport
Campaign seeks to eradicate such
accidents.
page 12
The SAFETY FACTOR
At Northstone we all work in an every changing operating environment however, the one thing in our
Company which will remain constant is that health
and safety is the top priority at every level and at
each and every site, depot, factory or office.
Sadly, 2010 has not been a good year for accidents in the wider CRH
family across the world with eight fatalities in CRH Group subsidiaries,
joint ventures or associates in the year to date. The most recent of these
being in October when a sub contractor was killed in a work related
accident on a bridge construction project in the United States.
At Northstone, as our Chief Executive has stated elsewhere in Northlink,
we did not start 2010 well in terms of our health and safety performance.
However, this has now been addressed and we detail below our statistics
for the year to 30 November 2010:
Lost Time
Accidents
Days
Accident
LostFrequency Target
Contractors Health and Safety Rules.
• 325,230 hours worked by the Farrans England Division without a lost time accident.
• 428,260 hours worked in Farrans Utilities without a lost time accident.
CUBIS
• achieving 551 working days at the CUBIS Roscommon factory without a lost time accident.
These achievements are highly
commendable and all involved
deserve great credit. However, as
the fatalities in CRH this year
indicate, we are all just one step
away from an accident because of
the nature of the work we
undertake. Many hours of
discussion and effort are spent by
the Northstone Safety Directors and
Accident
Severity
Target
11 months
to
30/11/2010
14
93
0.28 0.30
1.90
2.50
11 months
to
30/11/2009
21
113
0.31
0.36
1.70
6.00
The Northstone commitment to
health and safety training has
continued in 2010 with some
15,194 safety training hours
delivered to direct employees and
sub contractors so far this year.
This has been complemented by
management receiving over 200
health and safety observations
from employees as to how we
could continue to improve our
performance.
There have been many health and
safety highlights this year at
Northstone and some of these are
listed below in no particular order:Northstone Materials
• all 26 production locations, including quarries, sand sites, the tile factory and concrete plants achieving zero lost time accidents.
Farrans Construction
• three prestigious health and safety awards for superior performance.
• the development of excellent health and safety documentation
in particular, version 2 of the Farrans Employee Health and Safety Handbook and the Sub their respective teams preventing
accidents and as such they deserve
our full support. Our approach in
2011 has to be:“One Accident at Northstone is
One Too Many”
as we owe it to our work
colleagues, ourselves and most
importantly our families, to do our
utmost to prevent accidents.
It only remains for Northlink to
wish its readers an enjoyable
Christmas and a safe New Year.
Farrans Undertake Riverside Rescue
for Telford Beacon
The Dundee Central
Waterfront project got under
way at the start of May and
forms part of the multimillion pound transformation
of Dundee’s Waterfront.
Farrans are delighted to be
back on the Waterfront after
previously working on the
West Marketgait realignment
back in 2005, our team this
time is led by Paul Shephard
and Patrick Murray.
The project involved rescuing a
mini lighthouse, known as the
Telford Beacon, and returning it
to the waterside. Initial
investigation works commenced
around the Beacon, which is a 6
metre high sandstone structure,
shortly after Farrans arrived on
site. It is a ‘B’ listed structure and
has stood on the same spot for
the past 180 years. Although not
built by Thomas Telford, the
Beacon took his name when the
dock was originally constructed
in the 1800’s. Over time, the
Telford Beacon became land
locked as the harbour around it
developed. In 1930’s, even
though the dock was declared
surplus to requirements by the Port
authorities in Dundee and was
filled in to be replaced by the
Empress Ballroom, Telford’s Beacon
survived. It also stood proud
during the upheaval created by the
construction of the Tay road bridge
in the 1960’s.
Alvar Kenwell, the Farrans
Regional Director in Scotland,
takes up the story of how Farrans
rescued the Telford Beacon;
“Historic Scotland was consulted
and gave permission for works to
start in order to relocate the
Beacon. A detailed condition
survey and temporary works design
were coordinated by the Farrans
site team and a lifting frame and a
scaffold system placed around the
beacon to support the structure.
Pockets of the existing sandstone
foundation stone were carefully
removed and the beacon
supported on sacrificial bottle jacks
which were cast into a reinforced
concrete transport slab under the
beacon. On Tuesday the 23rd
November the beacon was lifted as
a complete structure using a 200
tonne mobile crane and
transported to its new permanent
location, next to the Tay Road
Bridge abutment at the Quayside.
As the beacon had previously been
leaning to one side it was
necessary to set it on another set
of bottle jacks and level it up prior
to casting the new infill
foundation around it.”
The Telford Beacon is an
important local monument for
the whole of the Dundee area
and is a reminder of the city’s
past. It now takes pride of place
in its new waterside location and
will remain there throughout the
redevelopment project that will
transform Dundee’s waterfront
over the next 15 years thanks to
one of Farrans more unusual
rescue acts.
Farrans commence
the Telford Beacon
rescue act.