Clearview South February 2014 - Issue 147 | Page 10

INDUSTRYNEWS SPECIALLY DESIGNED HOUSE FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN VICTIMS Plastics manufacturer Hahn Plastics has launched an innovative social media campaign after designing a brand new flat pack house in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. The Manchester-based firm, which specialises in recycled plastic products, designed and built the Hahn Eco House after seeing the devastating affect of November’s Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The unique product was the brainchild of a Hahn team member, who had already been considering the idea of rapid response housing for disaster victims when the typhoon struck. Hahn Plastics is known for its range of recycled plastic garden and park products as well as industrial solutions. In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the team launched a brand new project, designing and developing a flat pack house, which can be built with no specialist tools in just a few hours. The principle behind the house is to replace flimsier shacks, which are often made from tin and timber and easily destroyed during natural disasters with something that is sturdier, offers shelter and can be quickly erected in the aftermath of events such as hurricanes and typhoons. IT’S TIME TO DOWN TOOLS HAND-ARM Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is continuing to plague employees, across a wide range of industries, who regularly use power tools and other vibrating equipment for long periods of time, despite there being plenty of precautions to reduce the risks according to workplace equipment supplier Slingsby. HAVS, which is also known as Vibration White Finger or dead finger, is usually a permanent condition that is caused by the extended use of tools and machinery such as power drills, chainsaws and other hand-held or hand-guided equipment. Symptoms can include poor circulation, which can result in the fingers turning white, a tingling sensation and numbness. The Medical Research Council estimates that as many as 300,000 employees in the UK suffer from HAVS and more than one million people are exposed to vibrations above safe levels set by the Health & Safety Executive’s Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. This legislation states that employers must protect employees from vibration exposure and take action to lower the risks of HAVS exposure through an appropriate and continual monitoring system. Lee Wright, Marketing Director at Slingsby, which supplies more than 35,000 workplace products across all industries, says: “Anyone who ignores the symptoms is risking their long-term health.” BOOSTED BROCHURE FOR RETAIL INSTALLERS Glazerite Windows Limited has launched its own enhanced version of the NEW VEKA retail brochure with additional information and images as well as all hardware tailored specifically to the Glazerite product range. The trade fabricator has also introduced three new categories to its existing range of VEKAbased product brochures, bringing the total now to six. In the 24-page retail brochure, Glazerite has added a number of product revisions and up-to-date images, including several specific to Glazerite installations, plus additional pages on the extensive range of styles and colours of hardware offered to its customers. There is also 10 FEB 2014 an entire spread on the importance of security in the home along with a clear and detailed breakdown of how this can be achieved with Glazerite windows and doors. One notable absence however is any reference to Glazerite, so continuing the fabricator’s philosophy of allowing installers to project their own quality and professionalism alongside the global reputation of the VEKA systems. Glazerite Director Jason Thompson explained: “Our installers want to sell themselves, not us, so we are more than happy to remain transparent and let them do that.” Visit www.glazeritewindows.co.uk To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com