Welcome
Welcome to the first bulletin since Akeva started business in September 2007.  I would firstly like to wish all our customers a very happy and prosperous new year and thank those who have remained with me through these changes.

As the Christmas break is quickly becoming a blur in our pasts and we are all working towards securing new business or continuing with existing business, I would just like to remind you of the need to keep the safety message going.

2006 / 07 was not a good period for construction with 77 fatal injuries which is a rise from 59 in 2005 / 06.  As of yet there are no figures from April 2007 onwards.

New Legislation for 2008
The only changes to legislation coming up in April 2008 that will affect any of our customers will be the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act which coincides with the new guidance on Directors Duties developed by the Institute of Directors. 

More details of the Act will be explained on the course we are running in Epping on the 26th February which you should have all received notice of.

Recent Change in Legislation
As you are all aware, the Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Regulations were updated and brought onto the statute books in April 2007.  The aims of the new legislation were to improve the level of health and safety performance in the construction industry by clarifying responsibilities of each duty holder and focusing on effective planning and risk management.

There were a few changes to the Regulations since they first came out in 1994 particularly in the responsibilities of the Duty Holders and the changing of the Planning Supervisor to a CDM Co-ordinator.  CDM 2007 also now covers ALL construction projects whether notifiable or non-notifiable.

We have also found that the remaining parts of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 have been placed in with CDM 2007.  This part of the CDM Regs explains in more detail the requirements for keeping a safe site.

A number of companies we at Akeva work with are dealing with CDM 2007 and are already realizing the changes and some of the problems.  If anyone is unaware of the requirements please do not hesitate to contact me at the above number or on my mobile (07988 516230).