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The purpose of this paper to develop a novel strategic approach to handle corrective maintenance procedure in the event of a breakdown/disruption of service. A proposal to minimize the recovery time and the breakdown cost in the system in construction plant is presented.

The past plant breakdown records of a construction organization are considered for the analysis. From the previous breakdown records, a high level metric using Pareto analysis and the cause effect analysis is used to identify the main breakdown main codes (BMC) and the subsequent breakdown sub codes (BSC). Prioritized BMC and BSCs are used to formulate dedicated breakdown maintenance teams, which act swiftly in the event of the breakdown with the modified methods.

The study was conducted, on four different types of heavy lifting/earth moving/material handling system equipment, which are used to load/unload/haul and transport construction materials. Failure due to tyre puncture and allied problems contribute to maximum failure. A strategy plan to minimize this type of failure is proposed. With the identification of the most contributing BMCs and BSCs, it is further proposed to develop an “overall breakdown maintenance management”.

The collected data pertains to the construction plant located in a particular region, namely the Middle East, and hence the proposed solution is dedicated/relatively applicable to similar plant from the same region. A more robust model can be suggested considering the work environment in the other regions.

The proposed methodology is highly adaptable by similar industries operating in the Middle East region.

Construction plant and equipment contribute to the success of construction organizations, by providing enhanced output, reduced manpower requirement, ease of work and timely completion of the project. Delays in completion of projects generally have both social and economical impact on the contractors and the buyers. The proposed model will bring down the lead‐time of the project and enable the contractors to crash down their project completion time.

Numerous studies on preventive maintenance models and procedures are available for a system and in particular to construction plant maintenance in the literature. This model attempts to handle the issues of unpredictable breakdowns in the construction plant to minimise the breakdown time. The proposed model is a novel approach which enables a quick recovery of the construction plant, attributed from the breakdown parameters derived from the previous history of the work records/environment.

The Finance Act 1994 introduced the most significant changes to the law on capital allowances and property for nearly a decade. Focuses on these changes and examines their impact on property owners, investors and property professionals, and gives guidelines for dealing with the new time limits for notification on plant and machinery. In addition, provides a brief examination of the new legislation in relation to enterprise zone buildings.

Industrial profitability in Britain has suffered badly in recent years—and is still suffering—from the effects of rapid inflation coupled with rigorous price controls. This in turn has led to widespread liquidity problems aggravated by increasing capital needs to meet the ever mounting costs of stock and plant replacement. The survival and growth of firms depend on the ability of management to adapt to the changing business environment. Under today's conditions an acquaintance with the various forms of assistance to industry offered by the Government, and their implications, is essential for those concerned with the financial aspect of management. Intelligently used, these incentives can increase the profitability, after tax, of investment in fixed assets, as well as reinforcing the cash flow needed to finance them. The available fiscal incentives fall into two main classes: those given by way of “capital allowances” on fixed assets in taxing profits; and the range of government grants and other help available to firms operating in, or moving into, the “areas for expansion”.

This book is a policy proposal aimed at the democratic left. It is concerned with gradual but radical reform of the socio‐economic system. An integrated policy of industrial and economic democracy, which centres around the establishment of a new sector of employee‐controlled enterprises, is presented. The proposal would retain the mix‐ed economy, but transform it into a much better “mixture”, with increased employee‐power in all sectors. While there is much of enduring value in our liberal western way of life, gross inequalities of wealth and power persist in our society.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of discrepancy in the valuation process adopted by valuers in the study area with a view to provide solution.

The study is based on both structured questionnaire and content analysis of valuation reports. In total, 185 (41 percent) structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to practicing estate surveying firms; out of 450 firms in Lagos, 173 were retrieved and used for analysis. However, the content analysis was based on 54 valuation reports on plants and equipment to investigate the extent of compliance to valuation process, standard and best practices among practitioners.

The findings from the study show that most of the practitioners lack the expertise to carry out plant and machinery (P&M) valuation, and there is evidence of poor application of methodology and lack of adherence to standards.

The findings from this study will reinforce the need for specialization and enforcement of standard in plant and equipment valuation practice, which will enthrone consistency, uniformity and reliability.

This study is the first to deal with methodology lapses in plant and equipment valuation in the study area. Ashaolu (2016) worked on the inter-disciplinary nature of plant and equipment valuation, whereas Otegbulu and Babawale (2011) worked on valuer’s perception or potential sources of inaccuracy in P&M valuation in Nigeria.

The criticality of mechanical plant to construction activity is well accepted within the literature; however, the supply chain mechanisms by which that demand is satisfied, are much less documented or understood. The purpose of this paper is to address this theoretical gap by: describing Construction Plant Supply Chain (CPSC) evolvement; identifying with present sector difficulties; discussing solutions to those difficulties; and considering the role of innovation within CPSC (historically and for the future).

A mixed‐method research, i.e. qualitative and preliminary, including literature review, case study inquiry of an established multi‐purpose CPSC player, and open question survey of a limited sample of CPSC stakeholders has been employed in this study. Inductive data analysis via textual interrogation is undertaken.

In reaction to market forces and business challenges, CPSC evolution demonstrated innovative change from former contractor‐held plant fleets to predominantly private sector “external” supply chains. Of late, CPSC challenges have intensified, given its intrinsic relationship to a depressed UK (and global) economy, dependency on capital investment, and the need for sustained demand. Suggestions to encounter present challenges have been made and a difficult medium‐term future signified.

As a preliminary study, generalisation of findings should be viewed in a limited context; however, given the dearth of research in this subject, the findings make novel contribution to the CPSC literature while signposting fertile avenues for future and more comprehensive research.

No previous research in this specific field has been identified.

This paper aims to consider opposing influences on workplace plant and machinery health and safety (PMH&S) innovations, highlight examples of these to model PMH&S innovations’ effectiveness at the workplace, develop guidance for improvement of same and for construction of health and safety (H&S) performance.

This study is a qualitative meta-analysis of data distributed among a sample of published research in the field, and it uses inductive reasoning based on informal, qualitative and interpretative analysis.

Nearly all PMH&S innovations (positive influences) originate from original equipment manufacturers and specialist companies throughout the supply chain. Negative influences that can counter these potential H&S benefits result mainly from human (in) action(s) at the workplace. These are classified (and analysed) in terms of “error”, “indifference” and “lack of training”. “Tolerant” H&S management is another negative influence found among these classifications.

The study draws from a targeted meta-sample of research in the field, a model of positive and negative influences on PMH&S innovations that emphasises workers’ (in) action(s).

The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic strategic approach to handle corrective maintenance onto the failures/breakdowns of construction equipment. For the maintenance crew/team, a breakdown code management is proposed, which will provide focused and unambiguous approach to manage any kind of breakdowns in construction equipments.

The past breakdown records of a construction organization in the UAE are considered for analysis. From the failure data, through cause effect analysis (CEA) tools, the components and the breakdown codes namely breakdown main codes (BMC) and breakdown sub-codes (BSC) are formulated. With Pareto analysis, the critical codes are identified and validated through failure modes and effects analyses (FMEA) tools for the critical effect on the affected components. From this identified BSC's further closer failure identification codes namely breakdown symptom codes (BSyC) and breakdown reason codes (BRC) are identified through fault tree analysis (FTA) tools. The approach to modified breakdown maintenance management (MB2M) with breakdown maintenance protocol (BMP) is envisaged.

The study was conducted on four different types of heavy lifting/earth moving/material handling system of equipment and further focused with two earth moving equipment namely dumpers and wheel loaders. Failure analysis is performed and the failure ratio and the component contribution to the failures are identified. Based on the information, the preliminary codes namely BMC and BSC are identified through CEA tools and the BMC and BSC are identified to find the most contributing codes to the maximum number of failures through Pareto analysis. Further the critical sub-codes are further verified through FMEA tools on the severity levels of the sub components due to these codes. The FTA methods are used to identify the closer reasoning and relations of these codes and the further codes namely BSyC and BRC are identified which are the exact cause of the failures. The management of breakdowns is further proposed through MB2M which includes BMP which provides all resources for the breakdowns.

The failure data collected are only pertaining to the Middle East region and applicable to similar regions for similar plant mix in construction companies. The sample equipment is only part representative of the construction equipment. A more robust model can be suggested in the future covering all aspects and for other regions as well.

The proposed methodology and model approach is highly adaptable to similar industries operating in the Middle East countries.

Many authors have studied the preventive maintenance models and procedures and proposals have been proposed. On the breakdown maintenance management of construction equipment, very few studies have been proposed mostly on the cost analysis. This model attempts to provide a code management solution to manage the unpredictable failures in construction equipment through failure data analysis on a construction organization.

Quantifiable data produced in a national report by the Environment Agency of England and Wales entitled Water Pollution Incidents in England and Wales 1997 and published by the Stationery Office in 1998, identifies over 3,723 substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales in 1997. Within the generic sector classed as “Industry” the construction industry was the most frequent polluter responsible for 22 percent of all substantiated water‐related pollution incidents in that sector. The report also identified that a significant number (28 percent) of all substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales are directly attributable to mineral‐based fuels and oils, many of which are used extensively within the construction industry. This paper seeks to locate the possible causes and effects for some of that oil‐based pollution, discusses the issues and identifies a unique and radical client‐motivated solution within the UK to reduce and mitigate the undesirable impacts upon the environment. Evidence produced by the oil industry shows the enormous amount of one particularly aggressive pollutant – hydraulic oil – which remains annually, unaccounted for. Hydraulic oil is used in most tracked earthmoving machinery; the sort of machinery most closely associated with construction work carried out near to watercourses. Biodegradable hydraulic oil is much more considerate to the environment, but is more expensive and not usually installed in new plant and machinery. The paper argues that on a life cycle basis the use of biodegradable oil is viable and feasible and that there are many external factors that make its usage desirable.

Explores the treatment of capital expenditure under the pre‐1990 Budget capital allowances regime, and its division into initial allowance, writing down allowance, and balancing allowance. Examines the scope for change as a result of the Budget. Concludes that the potential for tax savings under the capital allowances provisions may increase if the Chancellor extends relief to buildings outside the enterprise zones in response to current debate.