Mitre 10 In Trade Magazine - April 2014

APRIL 2014

CUSTOMER PROFILE: MITRE 10 MEGA MARLBOROUGH’S APPROACH TO TRADE MANAGING ASBESTOS GOING GREEN WITH OFFICE BUILDINGS KNOW MORE ABOUT PERSONAL GUARANTEES PREVENTING WORKPLACE BULLYING

SEE INSIDE FOR CHANCES TO WIN GREAT PRODUCTS Offers open to account holders only Call 0800 M10 TRADE to find out more All prices and offers in this publication are valid from Tuesday April 1st – Wednesday April 30th 2014 from participating stores.

FOREWORD Looking after your employees It doesn’t matter what sort of equipment you have in your tool box, or how large your fleet of work vehicles may be; your biggest single asset should be your employees.

Well-respected employees can make a massive difference to the efficiency of a business and, in turn, that can all add to your bottom line and increase your profits.

But, more than that, treating your employees right can generate loyalty, and that can go a long way, especially if times get tough, work becomes scarce or you need that little bit extra put in to get a project completed on time.

This month’s article from Site Safe NZ focuses on workplace bullying and, while it may seem an uncommon and somewhat trivial issue on the surface, it can actually fracture a successful business right down the middle and lead to all sorts of ongoing issues from poor performance to unsafe practices.

To find out more about what’s being done to counter workplace bullying, check out this month’s article on page 14…and remember, your employess are vital to the way your business works. Treat them well, and they’ll repay you with their loyalty.

Andrew Cochrane, General Manager Trade Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Ltd

CONTENTS 2

4

9

PROFILE

Like a tradesperson with all the appropriate tools for the job, Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough’s Trade Manager Andre Archer says it’s about having the right people in the right places to get the right result.

Builders Steve Koller and Steve Sharpe both agree with the approach, which is why they’re loyal Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough trade customers.

BRANZ

As demolitions ramp up in Christchurch and Auckland, there will be plenty of situations where asbestos is encountered. Asbestos is a health hazard, and the onus is on contractors to check for asbestos and to have a plan in place to deal with it if found.

Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough’s winning recipe

Beware of asbestos

MBIE

Being aware of mobile plant dangers

With nearly 40% of construction deaths related to mobile plant accidents, WorkSafe New Zealand got in front of more than 150 rebuild workers recently to raise awareness about the hazards. Two factsheets on mobile plant safety have also recently been released.

11

NZ GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

Global green building project launched

12

LEGAL

Most business owners have signed personal guarantees at some point in their career, often this occurs to secure a bank loan. Business owners may also have obtained the benefit of personal guarantees, when their customers open credit accounts for the supply of goods in advance of payment. It’s an area worth knowing a bit more about.

Know more about personal guarantees

A major global project which will help to define the health and productivity benefits of green office buildings has been formerly launched by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

Cover: Corey Broughton (Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough) and builder Steve Koller.

Volume 7, Issue 10 April 2014 Mitre 10 In Trade magazine is published 12 times a year in association with Mitre 10.

Managing Editor

Scott Wilson Phone: 021 725 061 Email: editor@M10magazine.co.nz

Contributors

Adrienne Jervis tSamuel Moore – Meredith Connell BRANZ Site Safe NZ MBIE NZ Green Building Council WorkSafe NZ Jacqui Leslie Photography

Printer

Nicholson Print Solutions

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16

21

SITE SAFE Preventing workplace bullying

WorkSafe NZ recently released ‘Preventing and responding to workplace bullying’, a guideline that provides support and guidance for businesses and individuals about a widespread workplace hazard.

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Stuff to win, points to earn Don’t miss the back page

Enquiries

ReFocus Media Ltd P O Box 21081 Flagstaff Hamilton 3256 Email: Info@refocusmedia.co.nz MMS Publishing reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising material. No part of In Trade magazine may be published without the express permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in In Trade magazine are not necessarily those of Mitre 10 or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the suggestions of the contributors or conclusions that may be drawn from them. Although the publisher has made every effort to ensure accuracy, the reader remains responsible for the correct use and selection of any tools, materials and systems followed, as well as the following of any laws or codes that may apply.

1

PROFILE

Brent Dillon, Corey Broughton and Andre Archer

Right people, right attitude; right result Andre Archer, Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough’s Trade Manager, believes in having the right people in the right places. Four new staff with specialist experience have joined the trade team, including a dedicated timber buyer. Rep Corey Broughton has returned after extended leave to team up with Trade Sales Rep Brent Dillon. Both have an excellent relationship with trade customers and an understanding of that side of the business.

Marlborough store presented a good challenge for Andre who was casting around for something different.

Andre says the building trade is all he and Brent know. Andre began his trade career in Hawkes Bay driving a truck for a nationwide building supplies merchant, before moving on to a rep’s role with them. After moving to Nelson, he worked as a project manager for a well-known group housing company.

More recently he worked in the quotations department of an independent timber merchants cooperative, quoting for a group of five stores in the Nelson area.

Recently, Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough has experienced an upsurge of trade customer-based events and trade breakfasts.

In late February, the store held a VIP trade night, which was an invitation-only event for trade customers and their partners.

The store closed from 6pm-9.30pm to cater exclusively for invitees keen to take advantage of the 20% discount store-wide.

Another exclusive event was held on March 27 with a ladies’ night charity evening. Proceeds from the gold coin entry were donated to the RSPCA. Over the course of the evening the women were treated to a range of activities and wine tasting.

Being appointed Trade Manager of Mitre 10 MEGA 2

“In my previous job I was stuck in an office and didn’t interact with builders. This role is a lot more social.”

Drawing on his experience, Andre’s initial focus was to check the store’s stock levels and assess the suitability of the products for the local trade market. Changes were implemented when it was discovered that a lot of product was not applicable.

“We believe we’ve got a good range now,” says Andre. “We’re also focusing on ongoing staff training.”

PROFILE Corey Broughton and Steve Koller

They’re currently working on a large 36m shed, with a house to follow on the same site. Working remotely, sometimes up to three hours from town, means it’s vital to have the right product on site and in good condition.

“We don’t want it bent or twisted when it arrives. If we don’t get what we want it can be a long day,” says Steve. “This is why we’ve stuck with Mitre 10. The reps know what they’re doing and we receive quality stuff. Service is crucial to us and Mitre 10 are very accommodating. We’re stoked with their service.”

Steve, who has been in the industry for nine years, has a younger aged crew between 24-30 years. They’re savvy with modern technology and find the Mitre 10 website useful for pricing, ordering and quoting.

“Ladies are a very important part of a trade business as they’re usually the ones doing the books and paying the bills,” says Andre.

Customer support Local builder, Steve Koller, has been a Mitre 10 trade customer for more than four years. A busy tradesman with a crew of five, Steve and his team recently completed extensive work on a medical centre in Renwick. The job involved gutting, renovating and extending an old villa.

Steve and his crew do a lot of work in town as well as in the Marlborough Sounds where they’ve built numerous pole sheds.

Brent Dillon and builder Steve Sharpe

Marlborough builder, Steve Sharpe, has been in the trade 18 years. Steve moved from Queenstown to Picton three years ago where he is working full-time building his own house and doing odd jobs. Steve specialises in middle to top end architectural homes, as well as landscaping, including decks and one-off outdoor areas. He’s been a Mitre 10 customer for two years.

Steve says when he first arrived in Picton he found sales rep Corey Broughton easy to get along with.

“I had to hit a new market and Corey was especially helpful.”

Being a one-man band, Steve strives to be competitive.

“How you price a house makes or breaks you in this business,” he says. “Merchants play a key role.”

Steve enjoys the personal relationship he has with Andre and Brent at Mitre 10 MEGA Marlborough.

“They really look after me. The store’s service is fantastic. I’m very happy with it. You say what you want and the product just arrives. The trade team have a whole new attitude. They’re very positive, support builders and have a great culture.”

Brent Dillon and builder Steve Sharpe (on site)

3

BRANZ

Is that asbestos?

By Alide Elkink, Freelance Technical Writer, Wellington Produced by BUILD magazine As demolitions ramp up in Christchurch and Auckland, there will be plenty of situations where asbestos is encountered. The onus is on contractors to check for asbestos and to have a plan in place to deal with it if found.

The Canterbury earthquakes left many houses badly damaged, requiring either demolition or major repairs. As many of these dwellings contain asbestos, this has created a significant health risk to construction workers and the public in Christchurch.

Asbestos exposure may also be a risk in Auckland as the housing shortage will require a major building programme that may include the demolition of many existing houses to make way for new higher-density housing.

Health risks from asbestos Asbestos is a health hazard if it is friable – easily crumbled – as airborne fibres can be inhaled and become embedded in the lungs. The inflammation and subsequent scarring of the lung tissue by the asbestos fibres can result in diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. It may take more than 20 years before an asbestos- related disease develops.

Undamaged, non-friable asbestos presents little risk to health.

However, when it is damaged as a result of age, weathering, 4

abrasion, water-blasting, chemical or algal attack or the effects of fire, it is likely to become friable and then become a health risk.

Who is at risk?

Asbestos-containing building materials are likely to have been damaged in the earthquakes and will certainly be damaged during demolition. This means that demolition and construction workers are at significant risk of exposure to asbestos fibres.

Specialist asbestos removal contractors must hold a certificate of competence that demonstrates they have the knowledge, skills and experience to remove asbestos safely. Most regular contractors, however, are unlikely to have the appropriate knowledge of how to deal with asbestos safely.

Who is responsible for safety?

Although the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

BRANZ

places the responsibility for the safety of employees with the employer, demolition and construction workers must be aware of the dangers of asbestos and know how to manage any risk to themselves and to others.

Six roofing, guttering, downpipes and rainwater heads, asbestos-cement soffit linings, external wall claddings such as asbestos-cement sheets and shingles, imitation brick and stone claddings, and stucco plaster over asbestos-cement sheet.

Conduct a survey

Interior finishes and materials may include stippled and textured ceilings, suspended ceiling tiles, the backing to vinyl and linoleum sheet and tile flooring, the lining board behind a gas heater or a fuse board, hot water pipe and cylinder lagging, and insulation.

Before a contractor begins work on a house, they should carry out a simple survey to satisfy themselves that they are not at risk of exposure to asbestos. Several questions need asking.

How old? What materials are used?

The first indicator as to whether asbestos is likely to be present or not is the age of the house. Asbestos and asbestoscontaining materials (ACMs) were very widely used in the building industry from the late 1930s until around 1990.

Many materials in buildings built or renovated during this period are likely to contain asbestos (see Figure 1). External materials containing asbestos may include corrugated Super

Flues, metal flue joint and wood burner seals and night-store heaters may all contain asbestos. Asbestos was also sometimes added to plasterboard and plasterboard jointing compound, and lathe and plaster skim coats have been found to contain asbestos.

More detailed survey may be needed If the answer is ‘no’ to both these questions: ‘Was the building built or renovated between 1940 and 1990?’ and ‘Is there any 5

BRANZ

other evidence of asbestos?’, no further assessment is required and repair or demolition work can begin.

Be systematic when carrying out the building survey and document all results on the checklist (see Table 1).

If the answer is ‘yes’ to either question, a more detailed survey should be carried out.

Take a sample for testing

Carry out a more detailed survey A more detailed survey should include: • drawing a simple floor plan • identifying all rooms and spaces on the plan • working through a checklist to identify locations in the house where there may be asbestos • recording all locations where asbestos might be present on the floor plan.

Key points for asbestos: • If you think asbestos is present, act as if it is.

• Do not assume that a material does not contain asbestos.

• If asbestos is found in one part of a building, it is likely to be in similar materials in other parts of the building.

The only way to positively know whether a material contains asbestos is to have samples tested at an IANZ-accredited asbestos-testing laboratory.

Samples must be taken by a person competent to work in asbestos-hazard conditions without risk to their own or others’ health and safety. They should know the: • types and applications of ACMs • hazards of asbestos exposure • correct use, maintenance and storage of personal protective equipment (PPE) • safe use of plant and equipment to be used.

When taking samples, it’s important to: • be methodical • take several samples in each location • identify and record the location of each sample • store samples from different locations separately.

By carrying out a survey and treating any suspected material as if it contains asbestos, the contractor minimises any exposure risk to themselves and to others.

CHECKLIST FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL LOCATION CEILING INTERIOR LININGS

CHECK Are ceilings stippled/textured?

Are there suspended ceiling tiles?

Are walls sprayed/textured?

FLOORING

Is flooring vinyl sheet or tiles?

INSULATION

Is there insulation in the walls or ceiling that may contain asbestos?

Does the wood burner or flue have seals that may be asbestos?

HEATING

FUSE/METER BOARD ROOF SOFFITS

Is there a night-store heater?

Is there a gas heater with suspected asbestos-containing lining board behind?

Is there a fuse board with suspected asbestos-containing lining board behind?

Is the roofing corrugated asbestos-cement?

Do gutters/downpipes/rainwater heads appear to be asbestos-based?

Are the soffits a sheet cement-fibreboard material?

Is the cladding a sheet or shingle cement board?

EXTERIOR CLADDING

Is the cladding imitation brick/stone?

Is the cladding stucco over asbestos-cement sheet?

6

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THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE FOR A QUALITY CEILING FINISH Here’s why you should choose GIB® products and systems for your next ceiling project.

A superior finish with 13mm GIB® plasterboard • Easily installed at 600mm • U se less battens, screws and glue compared to fixing battens at 450mm centres • Save up to 3 hours labour on the average job • Helps achieve a better quality, flatter finish

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If you need more information about these products and systems, call the GIB® Helpline on 0800 100 442.

8

WORKSAFE

Rebuild inspectors to target unsafe use of site vehicles and machinery With nearly 40% of construction deaths related to mobile plant accidents, WorkSafe New Zealand got in front of more than 250 rebuild workers recently to raise awareness about the hazards.

“Our inspectors are starting a series of planned assessments on sites across the rebuild focusing on this issue,” says WorkSafe New Zealand’s Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety Programme Director Kathryn Heiler.

Presenters from Roading New Zealand, Downer, Fulton Hogan and WorkSafe New Zealand focused on helping construction workers understand the risks involved with working alongside moving machinery and vehicles on site, also known as mobile plant.

“Our inspectors are starting a series of planned assessments on sites across the rebuild focusing on this issue,” says WorkSafe New Zealand’s Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety Programme Director Kathryn Heiler.

“This two-hour session was an opportunity to hear from the industry about the issues they’re facing, to share lessons from past incidents and to look at international best practice,” Ms Heiler says.

“It was also a chance for WorkSafe New Zealand to share some insights from its recent mobile plant assessments across New Zealand showing the good, the bag and the ugly.

“With construction activity in the rebuild due to peak later this year we cannot afford to be complacent about the hazards from mobile plant. We all have a role to play; industry, workers and the regulator.”

Statistics show that between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2013, 38% of the deaths in the construction industry were related to mobile plant.

WorkSafe New Zealand has also just released two factsheets on mobile plant safety – one on traffic management and the other on hazards involving quick hitches.

“These factsheets will be useful to all those working on sites where mobile plant is present. They provide clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the plant operator, the site supervisor and other workers,” Ms Heiler says.

“With construction activity in the rebuild due to peak later this year we cannot afford to be complacent about the hazards from mobile plant. ” 9

ZGBC N Global green building project boosts health benefits A major global project which will help to define the health and productivity benefits of green office buildings has been formerly launched by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

The topic is rising up the global real estate sector’s agenda as organisations begin to understand the business benefits of greener, healthier buildings. With 85% of a company’s costs spent on salaries and benefits, even modest improvements to staff health and productivity can have a dramatic impact on organizational profitability.

Studies have found: • Up to 11% gains in productivity from improved ventilation • Up to 23% gains in productivity from improved lighting design

on building occupants. If we are better able to demonstrate this link through developing a common metrics and research methodology this will significantly strengthen the business case for green buildings.

With the support of Green Building Councils and their members from around the world, and a steering group of experts in this field (see notes to editors), the final report is expected in Autumn 2014.

The project builds upon WorldGBC’s report The Business Case for Green Building which summarised the existing research into the health benefits of sustainable buildings. Published in March 2013, the report acknowledged that more work was needed to build the evidence base and translate academic research into information that could be used to inform business decisions.

Visit http://www.worldgbc.org/business-case/ to read WorldGBC’s report The Business Case for Green Building.

• Significant improvement in employee recruitment and retention as a result of green retrofits.

However, challenges remain in attempting to robustly measure health and productivity outcomes, and attaching financial value to them. The WorldGBC’s project aims to establish a common way of capturing these benefits, and to provide best practice guidance on the type of green building features – such as daylighting, ventilation and indoor office environments – that enhance them. This can then be used to better inform investment decisions.

“While there is a growing body of research that firmly supports the connections between sustainable buildings and improved health, productivity and learning outcomes of those who occupy them, this evidence is yet to inform investment decisions in the same way as traditional financial metrics. This project aims to identify the metrics that will support investment in greener buildings,” said Jane Henley, CEO of WorldGBC. Alex Cutler, CEO of the New Zealand Green Building Council said, “The commercial property sector is increasingly realising that to maximise value and performance, our buildings need to be designed with the environment and particularly with people in mind.

There is a clear link between the quality and design of the indoor environment and the health, wellbeing and productivity 10

About New Zealand Green Building Council ncil (NZGBC) The New Zealand Green Building Cou n dedicated is a not-for-profit, industry organisatio adoption of to accelerating the development and green building. best practice industry market based k and live in Our vision is that New Zealanders wor ironmentally healthy, efficient, productive and env the future. sustainable buildings today and into n that aims to NZGBC is a membership organisatio e and position support our members stay up to dat e for a driv the in themselves as market leaders sustainable built environment. estar, NZGBC operates the Green Star, Hom sustainable for s em NABERSNZ and BASE rating syst provide and buildings. We advocate best practice the building training and education for all areas of industry value chain.

LEGAL

10 Commandments of Personal Guarantees

by Samuel Moore

Most business owners have signed personal guarantees at some point in their career, often this occurs to secure a bank loan. Business owners may also have obtained the benefit of personal guarantees, when their customers open credit accounts for the supply of goods in advance of payment. It’s an area worth knowing a bit more about.

How does it work?

So, what is a personal guarantee?

1. All obligation and unlimited guarantees

A personal guarantee is a secondary undertaking, it is usually an undertaking that you will personally ensure the financial obligations of your company to another company (for example, a bank or a supplier of inventory). This undertaking acts as a reassurance to the company who receives it. If your company defaults, then the personal guarantee is triggered and you will be personally liable for the debt/loss.

Often guarantees do not relate to a single transaction. Instead they can relate to all obligations owed between the two parties. For instance, if you guarantee your business partner’s bank loan you will often unwittingly also be guaranteeing his credit card and other financial arrangements with the bank. You may be able to exclude this liability if you are aware of this and ask the right questions!

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If you sign a personal guarantee, and it is successfully enforced, you may lose your home/assets and there is a risk of bankruptcy. Most people know this risk. However, some are often surprised to find out that the reach of the personal guarantee can be far more damaging than they anticipated.

On the other hand, if you (or your company) are relying on the benefit of a personal guarantee then it is also a good idea to be aware of how they work.

As a start, you should be familiar with the following 10 realities of personal guarantees:

LEGAL 2. Interest clauses

Clauses are often slipped into guarantee documents that require you to pay interest on the debt if default occurs. Often the rates of interest are so high that they can double the debt owed, whether you knew that interest was accruing or not.

3. Associated collection cost clauses Further clauses are commonly found in guarantee documents that require you to pay all associated collection fees if default occurs. This can mean a great deal of things including: service agent fees, expert fees and legal fees. You may have to pay these even if they were unnecessary and/or excessive!

4. Trust property Trust property can in some cases be accessed as the law of trusts has changed significantly in recent years. Despite being historically protected, the family home may no longer be safely held in trust when the chips are down.

5. Release of guarantees Often people are personal guarantors when they think they have been released from the guarantee. Written confirmation of a release should always be obtained. For instance, if your former business partner/spouse agrees to have your personal guarantees released, you may find they failed to do this. Your lack of involvement with the business for many years will make no difference at all.

6. Others agreeing to “cover you” for losses If someone agrees to cover you for losses arising under a personal guarantee (i.e. they offer you an indemnity, undertaking or other assurance) then you might believe you are protected from loss. However, it doesn’t change the contract that you have with the creditor. You will still have to deal with the creditor’s claim (usually by paying a lawyer) and you may also have to claim against the former business partner/ spouse (usually by paying a lawyer). Even if you are successful with someone who said they would “cover you”, you can lose money overall.

7. Personal capacity When a person signs a personal guarantee, they do so in their personal capacity, not as a representative of the business.

This is not always clearly demonstrated within the guarantee document. For instance, when you sign terms of trade, you usually sign as Director of a company. If those terms have a personal guarantee, it is preferable that it is in a separate document with a separate place to sign. That is not always what happens. Terms of trade in many cases includes a personal guarantee from the signatory.

8. Undue Influence & family members If a relationship of trust and confidence can be presumed between the business and the person acting as guarantor,

and if the guarantor has no personal financial interest in the underlying matter, creditors will have to take certain steps to be sure there can be no later claim of “undue influence” which would make the guarantee unenforceable. For example, a business owner might ask their spouse to sign a personal guarantee to obtain a bank loan. The bank can assume a relationship of trust and confidence exists so they should ensure that the spouse is fully aware of the risks they are taking on and advise them to seek independent legal advice.

9. Variation without consent If you materially change any part of the contract that underlies the personal guarantee (i.e. not the guarantee document but the loan or credit account that the guarantee supports) and you do not get consent from the personal guarantor then the guarantee may not be enforceable. Material changes may be as simple as a change in the interest rate on a loan. Again some personal guarantee documents get around this by having you agree to any future changes of the underlying contract!

10. Standard guarantees For the reasons already outlined above, there is no such thing as a ‘run of the mill’ or standard guarantee. We all sign documents and assume there are some sort of standard terms, however, this is not the case with personal guarantees. Carefully read and examine the actual guarantee document and/or have a suitably experienced professional review it for you.

Conclusion Clever business owners recognise that the law of personal guarantees is not as straightforward as most people think and can have grave consequences. They are also aware that the law changes every year, so they ensure that their documentation and understanding of personal guarantees remains up to date.

Meredith Connell regularly provides advice on all aspects of personal guarantees. If you have any queries regarding this article or a personal guarantee, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Samuel Moore Samuel Moore is a solicitor in Meredith Connell’s commercial group with broad experience advising on health and safety law and acting for clients in a range of dispute resolution and commercial litigation matters.

Samuel can be contacted on (09) 336 7500 or by email at samuel.moore@meredithconnell.co.nz

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SITE SAFETY

Robust planning leads to a stress and bully free site.

Poor planning can lead to bullying and intimidating a worker to act unsafe, just to get the job done.

WorkSafe NZ recently released “Preventing and responding to workplace bullying”, a guideline that provides support and guidance for businesses and individuals about a widespread workplace hazard.

Most employers would not openly support bullying, and they will likely have policies against such behaviour. However the industry’s culture appears to drive bullying behaviour. There is a culture that tells workers to “harden up” and that unsafe acts are expected.

Not only does bullying affect people physically and mentally, it can disrupt workplaces and reduce productivity through: • • • • • • •

impaired performance increased absence low morale more mistakes and accidents loss of company reputation resignations and difficulty recruiting poor service.

What leads people to use bullying tactics on site?

Construction projects can be stressful as time and budget are often tight.

Site Safe has identified that workers knowingly violate safety rules because of pressure from their boss or their peers to take ‘shortcuts’.

It is easy to tell workers to “be safe” but when they and their employers are under pressure to meet a deadline, workers understand the unwritten rules which say “just get the job done”. It’s at that point when unsafe behaviour arises as there is often a view that “safety slows you down”. Anyone who is thought to be standing in the way is bullied.

Quality planning is the answer A well thought out plan that incorporates health and safety from the beginning will improve a company’s safety performance by generating: • • • • •

good contractor and employee relationships effective communication better problem solving improved project planning and productivity monitored accountabilities.

Safe workers have higher morale and are more productive: through helping to identify and solve problems, increasing planning and communication, and giving better effort and quality.

When projects expect and understand hazards and plan for them, safety and productivity will follow.

Site Safe supports, promotes and inspires a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction. Contact Site Safe to chat with a Safety Advisor about creating a health and safety system and culture on your site – 0800 SITE SAFE, comments@sitesafe.org.nz or www.sitesafe.org.nz.

Head to WorkSafe NZ website for more information about their bullying in the workplace guidelines http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/ tools-resources/bullying-prevention-tools.

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PRODUCT

Hitachi Launches 5.0AH ENERGY Technology Hitachi’s new 5.0Ah Energy Li-ion battery marks the next step forward in cordless tool development, delivering up to double the work of conventional 3.0Ah Li-Ion batteries.

Hitachi continues to be a market leader in cordless lithiumIon battery technology, and 5.0Ah Energy is just the latest step in providing tradies with a comprehensive range of heavy duty cordless power tools all powered by a battery system they can trust not to let them down.

This should satisfy the needs of even the most demanding tradie to have cordless power tools that will last longer than ever before and do as much work as the traditional corded tool.

Hitachi’s comprehensive three-year tool warranty provides peace of mind, while an ever expanding range of tools hitting the market ensures you can keep your tool kit topped up with the latest gear and innovations as they become available.

Being fully compatible with all ‘Slide Type’ Hitachi 18V cordless tools, the 5.0Ah Energy system consists of more than 40 cordless tools, plus has the ability to retro-fit into older Hitachi models. Delivering up to double the work of conventional batteries and capable of around 1500 battery recharges, 5.0Ah energy is like running your tools on a high performance energy drink. To make this point, Hitachi has teamed up with V Energy Drinks to launch Hitachi 5.0Ah Energy in NZ. Simply purchase a qualifying 18V Cordless Tool Kit, plus a Hitachi 18V Bare Tool and get a free 18V 5.0Ah Energy battery to power up your tool kit - plus a free V Energy Drink to power up yourself.

www.hitachipowertools.co.nz 16

WIN A CANON IXUS COMPACT

CAMERA

Email your answer to m10trade@mitre10.co.nz with the words ‘April camera comp’ in the subject line and you’ll go in the draw to win.

You must include your answer, your name, company name, physical address, daytime phone number and the name of the store you hold an account with.

All entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday May 7th, 2014.

Conditions of entry: You may enter only once/ Prize(s) are as outlined. Prize(s) are non-

refundable, non-transferrable and not redeemable for cash. The winner(s) will be notified by phone or email. Employees of ReFocus Media Ltd Ltd, Mitre 10 (NZ) Ltd, suppliers of goods to Mitre 10 and their immediate families and agencies are not eligible to enter. By entering this contest, you consent to the use of your name in all matters related to this contest, including any advertising or publicity without further compensation. Results of this promotion will be published in a later issue of Mitre 10 In Trade magazine. Prices that may be quoted in this promotion were accurate recommended retail prices at the time of publication. ReFocus Media Ltd and Mitre 10 (NZ) Ltd accept no responsibility for any loss or damage incurred from the use of these products.

Answer the following question and go in the draw to win a Canon IXUS 16.1 Megalpixel camera.

QUESTION: How many “realities of personal guarantees” should you be familiar with?

THIS PUBLICATION IS RECOGNISED

BY THE BUILDING AND HOUSING GROUP AS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE SKILLS MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONER SCHEME. If you are a Licensed Building Practitioner, cut out and safely retain this panel with your skills maintenance literature for future reference and audit confirmation.

Ref. In Trade Vol 7, Issue 10 April 2014

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17

Double the work of a 3.0Ah battery

*

Hitachi’s NEW 5.0Ah ENERGY battery technology delivers more energy and more runtime!

!

E E R F Purchase any Hitachi 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah kit plus any qualifying bare tool and receive a bonus 5.0Ah ENERGY battery!

Visit in-store or www.hitachipowertools.co.nz/promotions for full details, promotion valid 1/04/2014 – 30/06/2014

*Results may vary, dependent on application and conditions