Note 17 - Business Segments (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues:
           
Power
  $ 494.7     $ 505.0  
Plant Services
    295.1       257.8  
E&I
    459.4       518.6  
E&C
    163.1       178.3  
F&M
    105.3       83.6  
Corporate
           
Total revenues
  $ 1,517.6     $ 1,543.3  
Gross profit:
               
Power
  $ 27.0     $ (29.5 )
Plant Services
    23.0       23.3  
E&I
    37.7       48.4  
E&C
    15.3       6.3  
F&M
    16.5       12.1  
Corporate
    0.4       1.0  
Total gross profit
  $ 119.9     $ 61.6  
                 
Gross profit percentage:
               
Power
    5.5 %     (5.8 )%
Plant Services
    7.8       9.0  
E&I
    8.2       9.3  
E&C
    9.4       3.5  
F&M
    15.7       14.5  
Corporate
 
NM
   
NM
 
Total gross profit percentage
    7.9 %     4.0 %
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
               
Power
  $ 9.7     $ 11.6  
Plant Services
    2.5       2.1  
E&I
    18.4       18.2  
E&C
    12.1       12.7  
F&M
    9.2       7.7  
Investment in Westinghouse
    0.2       0.1  
Corporate
    17.4       18.5  
Total selling, general and administrative expense
  $ 69.5     $ 70.9  
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated entities:
               
Power
  $ 17.6     $ (41.2 )
Plant Services
    20.5       21.2  
E&I
    19.6       30.8  
E&C
    4.6       (5.0 )
F&M
    8.5       4.2  
Investment in Westinghouse
    14.6       (23.0 )
Corporate
    (17.0 )     (16.8 )
Total income (loss) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated entities
  $ 68.4     $ (29.8 )
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]
   
November 30,
2011
   
August 31,
2011
 
Assets
           
Power
  $ 2,061.4     $ 2,129.0  
Plant Services
    293.4       270.2  
E&I
    1,056.0       1,060.9  
E&C
    412.6       482.9  
F&M
    686.4       710.0  
Investment in Westinghouse
    1,236.5       1,266.4  
Corporate
    441.5       404.3  
Total segment assets
    6,187.8       6,323.7  
Elimination of investment in consolidated subsidiaries
    (468.4 )     (368.3 )
Elimination of intercompany receivables
    (477.9 )     (468.4 )
Income taxes not allocated to segments
           
Total consolidated assets
  $ 5,241.5     $ 5,487.0