Note 17 - Business Segments (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Revenues:
           
Power
  $ 383.8     $ 494.7  
Plant Services
    350.1       295.1  
E&I
    404.1       459.4  
F&M
    145.2       105.3  
E&C
    86.0       163.1  
Corporate
    —       —  
Total revenues
  $ 1,369.2     $ 1,517.6  
Gross profit:
               
Power
  $ 24.9     $ 27.0  
Plant Services
    30.9       23.0  
E&I
    33.6       37.7  
F&M
    25.8       16.5  
E&C
    (0.4 )     15.3  
Corporate
    0.1       0.4  
Total gross profit
  $ 114.9     $ 119.9  
                 
Gross profit percentage:
               
Power
    6.5 %     5.5 %
Plant Services
    8.8       7.8  
E&I
    8.3       8.2  
F&M
    17.8       15.7  
E&C
    (0.5 )     9.4  
Corporate
 
NM
   
NM
 
Total gross profit percentage
    8.4 %     7.9 %
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
               
Power
  $ 10.4     $ 9.7  
Plant Services
    2.8       2.5  
E&I
    17.5       18.4  
F&M
    9.9       9.2  
E&C
    3.8       12.1  
Investment in Westinghouse
    0.1       0.2  
Corporate
    19.2       17.4  
Total selling, general and administrative expense
  $ 63.7     $ 69.5  
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated entities:
               
Power
  $ 14.6     $ 17.6  
Plant Services
    28.2       20.5  
E&I
    16.3       19.6  
F&M
    15.8       8.5  
E&C
    (4.8 )     4.6  
Investment in Westinghouse
    57.8       14.6  
Corporate
    (18.2 )     (17.0 )
Total income (loss) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated entities
  $ 109.7     $ 68.4  
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]
   
November 30,
2012
   
August 31,
2012
 
Assets
           
Power
  $ 1,920.5     $ 2,009.0  
Plant Services
    379.8       346.5  
E&I
    1,145.6       1,129.6  
F&M
    684.5       695.4  
E&C
    565.4       586.7  
Investment in Westinghouse
    1,187.4       1,216.9  
Corporate
    213.6       245.9  
Total segment assets
    6,096.8       6,230.0  
Elimination of investment in consolidated subsidiaries
    (587.2 )     (587.3 )
Elimination of intercompany receivables
    (717.0 )     (635.2 )
Income taxes not allocated to segments
    —       —  
Total consolidated assets
  $ 4,792.6     $ 5,007.5