Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN

WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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One man has died after apparently being overcome with fumes while working on a drainage system in Portmarnock, north Dublin. A second man is critically injured and in hospital. The two, who were employees of a drain-clearing and service firm were working on a sewerage pipe carrying out routine maintenece at Drumnigh Wood when the incident occurred. Three firefighters who attended the scene also became ill and were taken to hospital as a precaution. One suffered a facial injury while recovering the first fatality. A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Authority confirmed the fatality and said an investigation is underway.

In order to progress the geobore S coring it was necessary to lower the height of the top of the 200mm casing below the drilling table by using the rotary head to 'drill-in' the casing. To do this the geobore S casing had to be removed from inside of the 200mm casing requiring splitting of the joint at the drill head rod to the geobore S drive head. To enable the casing to be reset to the correct height above the ground using the rotary drill head it was necessary to break out the geobor S drill string thus enabling the 200mm casing drive head to be attached to the 200mm casing. During this process the geobor S drill string unscrewed inside the casing. The top section of the geobor S drill casing was withdrawn from the 200mm casing and moved to the side of the drill rig using the drill head carriage. To break the drill string at the required joint, a stillson wrench was attached to the

geobor S drive head and braced against the drill rig mast with approximately a 70mm overlap. Having positioned the wrench, the assistant driller was in the process of leaving the area and closing the interlocking gate when the rotation lever on the control panel was accidentally activated by the lead driller when he tripped and fell against it. This action caused the drill string and wrench to rotate hitting the employee in the head. Findings The following contributing factors have been identified: The ground was rough (ploughed field) and whilst walk ways had been established and boards laid, the conditions underfoot were less than ideal. 200mm casing lengths taken to the drill site were 1.5m long, two of which had been installed. The 200mm casing when installed was unable to be advanced passed the drill table. Attaching the stillson wrench to the geobor S drive head with the rotary head off centre is an insecure method of break out when the stillson wrench is braced against the drill rig mast with the intention of breaking the geobor S drill string by rotating the rotary drill head. Activation of the control lever caused the drill string to rotate which in turn caused the unrestrained geobor S casing to “kick out” allowing the wrench to slip off the drill mast. During the incident investigation it was found that the drill rig and interlocking guard operated as designed however, it has been established that the automatic “slow rotation” feature (guard open) allows one rotation of the rotary head at

Health Safety and Environmental

Alerts June Newsletter

Grontmij would like to thank all the clients and contractors (listed on the back page of this report)

who regularly send us safety alerts/updates which we use to compile this newsletter; this however in

no way implies that any of these companies were involved in any of the events reported.

Recent incident relating to the use of a mobile ground investigation drilling rig

Confined space fatality

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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51rpm before slowing down to 7rpm. Note. The current European Standard EN16228-1:2014 states reduced rotation speed range should be 30 rpm to 0 rpm. Lessons Learnt Greater attention should be paid to the ground conditions thus, ensuring that the potential for a slip, trip or fall is reduced to a minimum. There needs to be a better understanding of what to do when “change” occurs and how to ensure that the risk is properly managed e.g. by following industry best practice and company guidelines. Breaking out a drill pipe using the methodology as applied in this case is bad practice. A drill string should not be broken out without being connected at the top and retained at the bottom by the breakout clamp or inside the borehole and/or casing. Reliance should not be placed on the manufactures equipment settings and should be checked for accuracy before the equipment is taken into use for the first time. Equipment settings should then be checked according to the manufacturers equipment inspection and service schedule or after any potential failure or actual damage. During the removal of a blank plated and end load flange adaptor from a 300mm pipeline the fitting was ejected, striking the operative, resulting in fractures to both legs.

Although the investigation is still continuing, initial findings indicate a potential cause to be a build up of air pressure within the pipe. With immediate effect the following measures must be implemented: All blank plates used to seal pipe ends (whether for testing or hygiene reasons) must have a purge valve/tap fitted at six o’clock or as close to it as possible. End plates may only be removed once the valve/tap has been opened and all pressure released. Works area sufficiently sized to allow an exclusion zone at the front of the fitted blank plate until the pipe has been checked for pressure and depressurised (away from line of fire). Design of blank plates to form part of ‘temporary works’ and installation designed for support and/or selection of end load fitting All method statements, risk assessments and inspection & test plans must be updated to reflect the additional measures above

When something on site is not as expected, we need to consider whether existing controls are adequate – that’s change management. This could be as a result of the weather changing, someone not reporting for duty, the wrong material being delivered to site, or an operation that cannot be completed as described in the method statement. It seems obvious that a square peg doesn’t fit into a round hole; yet it is human nature to try to make do with tools and equipment even if they are not the correct ones. We should never compromise or improvise with tools and equipment. The weather can change the conditions on site rapidly. Plant that was suitable in dry conditions may struggle in wet. Access routes may have to be diverted or closed. The first steps to manage change is to stop and reassess.

RIDDOR injury

Management of change

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Exposure to the effects of the sun can be very damaging and expose individuals to an increased level of risk which could result in an incident taking place. To reduce this possibility, it is vitally important that all employees understand the potential for an injury or illness to occur and what action to be taken to prevent it happening. Many of the activities employees undertake on a daily basis expose them to the effects of the sun and increased temperature. Whether individuals are working in a sand filtration bed at a water treatment works, a primary settlement tank at a waste water treatment works or taking meter readings out in the network, the effects of hot weather can put them at risk. The possibility of contracting skin cancer is well known but the immediate effects of sun stroke or skin burns is not taken so seriously. Individuals who drive are also at risk, as an increase in temperature can have the effect of making them less responsive and suffer from drowsiness. It is essential that employees are reminded to take the necessary precautions against the effects of the hot weather and that this does not compromise the wearing or misuse of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the type of work they undertake. Action required

Managers must brief their staff to highlight the risks associated with exposure to the sun, what actions they should take and reinforce the appropriate use of PPE.

Managers must ensure water is provided and emphasise to their staff the need to increase the amount of fluids drunk.

Managers also need to programme work tasks to reduce, where possible, the need to undertake strenuous activities during the hottest period of the day 11.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs.

In addition the need to take regular short breaks out of direct sunlight should be encouraged. It is essential that all employees take a responsible attitude towards maintaining their health and safety at work and do not expose themselves to the risk of physical injury due to the effects of the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It’s also the easiest to avoid. 90 per cent of all skin cancer deaths could be prevented if sun exposure is controlled. To raise the awareness of occupational cancer, and ensure individuals are not exposed to harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun follow a few simple steps in order to prevent them putting your health at risk. What to look for The ABCD of melanoma (below) will help you remember what to look out for – the example photographs show abnormal moles and melanomas, but remember not all will look exactly like these, so if you notice any changes or unusual marks that have lasted more than a few weeks you must consult your doctor.

A = Asymmetry, when half of the mole does not match the other half.

C = Colour, when the colour of the mole varies throughout.

B = Border, when the borders of the mole are irregular/ragged.

D = Diameter, if the diameter is larger than a pencil eraser – 6mm.

Working outdoors in hot weather

Stay safe in the sun

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Simple Guidelines

Cover up – Keep your top on and wear a hat if appropriate.

Protect – Use sun protection every day. Apply a high factor/UV-A protection to all exposed areas (face, neck and arms).

Keep Hydrated – Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Check – Check skin regularly for unusual moles/spots. (if in any doubt – seek medical assistance).

Remember nothing we do is so important that we cannot take the time to consider OUR health

The Work at Height Regulations apply to any work where a fall could give rise to personal injury. The regulations require a hierarchical approach when planning work at height using the avoid, prevent and arrest model. Avoid – avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so. Remember that you are working at height when looking down an excavation or an open manhole. Prevent – prevent any person falling a distance that is liable to cause injury. This could be by covering a void or erecting edge protection. Arrest – arrest a fall with equipment to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall. Air bags do not prevent a fall but limit the extent of injuries if a fall occurs. Risk assessing work at height does not need to be complicated. In the planning stages, work at height must be identified. Most situations are easily identifiable, such as excavations, ladders, scaffolding and manhole entries. Once identified, you must consider how many people will be affected and measures required to protect them. This also includes the general public who may gain access to site. You must limit the number of employees exposed to the hazard by segregating the activity with secondary protection and limiting access to essential staff only. The principle of protection requires those planning works to give collective protective measures priority over individual. For instance, a guard rail protects all; a harness only protects the individual. Competence Anyone engaged in work at height should have the necessary skills, experience and understanding to carry out the task safely. For simple activities such as climbing down a ladder, the operative should have basic skills to enable them to spot any defects and the confidence to report to their supervisor. For more complex tasks, such as erecting scaffolding used for access or a working platform, a specific industry recognised qualification is required such as PASMA or CISRS. When erecting edge protection, there is a legal requirement for the competent person to be familiar and experienced with the equipment or system chosen. Inspection and Testing Work equipment that is covered by The Work At Height Regulations must be visually inspected on a daily basis. You must complete recorded inspections in conjunction with your company’s planned preventative maintenance regime which will include before use, after installation or assembly, after exceptional circumstances and on a regular basis – not less than every seven days. It is good practice to record all visual inspections. These could be recorded in a site diary. Edge protection is specifically defined in regulation and must have at least one recorded inspection every week. The first recorded inspection should take place immediately after assembly. If the edge protection assembly is altered, then another written inspection should be completed.

Edge protection and access

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Certain equipment must be tested by a trained and authorised person at repeated intervals. For instance a lanyard must be tested every 6 months and be accompanied by proof of that test. Your company’s procedure will give guidance on the frequency of testing required for particular equipment. Practical Examples of Good and Bad Practice

In the picture above a timber hop-up has been created by laying scaffold boards across the pipework. This system of work is dangerous. Temporary platforms must be;

Of robust construction and design and capable of supporting the intended load.

Supported from underneath.

Inspected before use and at least every seven days if left in position.

Erected to prevent anyone slipping or falling.

The photo above left shows a poorly guarded and protected shaft in a busy highway. The guard rail is not sufficient to stop the public gaining access, nor is there adequate protection to the workforce from the potential fall or collision with traffic. Shortly after this photo was taken a motorbike crashed though the rails and fell down the shaft. The photo above right shows a shaft within site hoardings, protected with a rigid cover. Risk assessments must include edge protection, access and egress and the security of any excavation or shaft during the working day. It also a legal requirement to assess the risks to the public passing our works or intruders to site. Signage

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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must be erected to warn of a deep excavation or shaft; however where reasonably practicable all holes should be covered when not being worked on or in.

The photo above left shows a deep excavation without toe boards and a ladder leant at an unsuitable angle, untied against the back wall. The picture above right shows a complete edge protection system with bespoke ladder access. The sheets are purposely left high to act as a rigid toe board and increased edge protection. Edge protection should be erected before excavation begins. In some circumstances the protection system is fitted as a component of the trench support. Installation of this type of system may not be complete until the excavation is complete. Temporary edge protection must be in place until the final system is completed. Which ever system is chosen there are basic minimum standards;

A top rail at least 950mm above the ground.

An intermediate rail that leaves no gap greater than 470mm.

A suitable toe board – (there is no fixed measurement but industry standard is 100mm or greater)

No lateral gaps except at ladder points.

Whenever a rail is removed other measures must be implemented to prevent a fall.

The photo above left shows an unsuitable access point – the ladder is too long and untied, the access to the ladder exposes the user to danger and the fact that an operative is on top of the pipe highlights poor planning. There is also no edge protection. Ladders are extensively used as means of excavation access and egress. The use of ladders is so common- place that the importance of their installation and regular inspection is sometimes overlooked. Ladders must be tied off and extend

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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above the platform sufficiently, in the absence of another hand-hold. Where possible, ladders should be at 90 degrees to the entry point in order to step directly onto a rung. It is not sufficient to lean a ladder against the sheets, box or side of excavation. Ladder platforms should be used wherever possible.

In the photo above left, a hole has been covered using a lightweight, conspicuously marked cover. In the background of the photo are two skips that are moved around by fork lift truck. The fact that the area is trafficked by heavy site vehicles may indicate that a light weight covering is not sufficient. Furthermore, light weight systems are easily removed and by-passed. Holes must be protected and the risk assessment should identify the suitable system. It may be due to the nature of the void and surrounding activity that coverings and guard rails are used. Whichever system or systems are chosen, they must not be easily by-passed. The system shown above right is bolted down which makes it difficult to remove but also time consuming to replace. Daily inspections should take place to check all coverings, especially where works require their removal.

The diagram above shows the acceptable angles of a battered excavation, dependant on ground condition. There is a common misconception that battering an excavation is ‘easier’ than installing trench support. This is incorrect. Battering an excavation requires as much planning as any other method of trench support.

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Furthermore, if carried out correctly, the footprint of a 2m deep, 1m wide battered excavation could be as much as 6m wide. Access and egress can become compromised very easily when battering an excavation. Common practice is to walk down the steps that have been cut into the ground. Very quickly, these steps become slippery and degrade at the edges. A battered excavation is work at height and all of the controls discussed in this advisory note apply. The excavation requires full edge protection and toe boards. Access points must be designated and have hand rails such as lay-flat stair cases. Electricity can be a hidden danger that cannot be seen until an incident occurs. Unless apparatus can be proven to be effectively isolated it must be assumed as ‘live’. Contact with electricity can result in electric shock, severe burns and life changing injuries, even death. Incident information An IP has recently suffered significant burns to his hands, arms, chest, neck, face and eyes working on a live electrical panel. As a result of his injuries he was airlifted to hospital. This incident remains under investigation. Action required

No one may work on any electrical system unless it has been correctly isolated

No one may work on an electrical system unless they have received the right level of training and are signed off as competent to do so. This includes low voltage systems and equipment.

Isolation must be in accordance with the Electrical Safety Rules.

Isolation must be proven and any potentially live circuit must be tested to prove dead at the point of isolation and work before it can be worked on.

Isolations must be performed securely; this means locking off must occur using padlocks and be accompanied by clear signs (Caution Do Not Operate) identifying who has isolated the circuit and their contact details. Work must always be left in a safe condition; all live systems must be secured sufficiently to prevent unauthorized access.

An incident involving a Genie Z135/70 Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) occurred at a steel site in Port Talbot - the Genie Z135/70 MEWP is a standard civils machine and not a road-rail vehicle. Whilst attempting to slew the basket of the MEWP at full reach, the basket started to tilt towards the ground unexpectedly. The operator was unable to correct this movement from the basket controls. Ground staff were also unable to correct the tilt on the basket from the ground controls and the basket could not be recovered to

ground level. The operator had to be rescued from the basket by another MEWP.

Access for a site investigation on third party land required removal of a height limit bar to allow vehicle access. The removal of the bar was initially seen as a simple manual handling task, however the bar was found to be stuck and a large hammer was used to try to release it. The bar suddenly came free at one end, causing it to fall and strike one of the site team which resulted in a muscle injury to his arm.

Safe electrical working

Genie Z135/70 mobile elevating work platform boom failure

Arm injury due to falling sign

gng

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Related factors Key related factors included:

The task was undertaken prior to a site induction

No PPE was being worn at time of incident.

Removal of the bar was identified as a two-person task although at time of incident only one operative was in attendance.

The Risk Assessment was not reconsidered when it became evident that the bar was stuck and the task changed from a straight-forward manual handling task to a more complicated task.

Lessons learnt

Tasks, however minor, should be carried out under the same controls as main site activities and should not be started without relevant inductions, briefings or before putting on appropriate PPE.

The importance of effective risk assessment for perceived lower- risk activities.

We all need to Stop and Think when tasks change or unanticipated tasks arise. A recent near miss occurred when a lifting bar attached to a power float partially failed whilst being lifted. Fortunately it was lowered to the ground safely. General implications Any item of plant could have retro fitted unrated or untested lifting points. In addition, lashing points could be mistaken for lifting points or lifting points may only be rated for lifting when empty (e.g. bowsers intended only for lifting onto transport when empty). Site and safe workplace actions

Before lifting any item of plant, the crane supervisor and slinger signallers must ensure it has been assessed for lifting and appears their schedule of common lifts. It not, the AP must complete the assessment, placing the details of the piece of plant on the schedule and ensure the lifting team is briefed on it.

Lifting points must be clearly marked as lifting points with the weight of the plant known and marked.

Operators/manufacturer’s instructions should be consulted to verify lifting points and weights.

The actual lifting points must be checked by the slinger signaller for any visible possible damage or wear before each lift. Check the welds for cracks and corrosion.

Also check that there are no loose items or debris on the plant before it is lifted.

Lifting points for plant

gng

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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An incident occurred where sewerage was discharged in to a nearby Beck, a tributary to Shire Brook, which leads to the River Rother. The discharge occurred from a dry well which had filled with sewerage and eventually overflowed into the beck. At approximately 10.00pm on 23-05-15 the first dry well alarm alerted the ROCC of liquid build up. The Site Representative raised the alarm to the dedicated out of hours crew via voicemail. A second 50% Dry Well Alarm was subsequently raised and on this notification, the Site Representative attended site to manage the incident.

The site team notified the Environment Agency (EA) immediately of the incident and the control measures that had been put in place. The EA officer attended site later that morning. It became apparent that the cause of the sewerage flooding the dry well was due to a non-return valve (NRV) failing, which then in turn, forced a crack in a gate valve to fail catastrophically. The failure of the gate valve allowed the volume of the rising main to flow back to the dry well, which overflowed, beating pumps and tankers. The status of the NRV and the gate valve was known. The Existing PS was handed over to the Site Representative with known defects, but a clear

commitment / understanding that these were to be attended to under emergency contracts. At a subsequent meeting, it was decided to leave the defective assets in operation as the leak into the Dry Well had stopped and they were both to be decommissioned in the very near future. Immediately following the incident and before any further works were carried out on this scheme, the immediate repairs/replacement of the failed parts were undertaken to remove the risk of this incident occurring again. Learning Points

Unsuitable handover of a failing asset with appropriate information detailing potential / likelihood for failure and suitable and achievable mitigation measures. When accepting a scheme with failing assets, full consideration and assessment of the risks needs to be calculated and communicated.

Tanker availability, agreements and suitability for the failure mode were not adequate. Risks of pollution incidents need to be fully assessed at the start of the scheme and appropriate contingency planning agreed in the event of an incident.

The initial response time from the call out team was unsuitable. It was assumed that all control measures were in place for a leaking valve. The Call Out personnel were expected to attend to confirm the controls were working. The Call out team failed to respond to first call. Call out procedure to be reviewed and all personnel need to be aware of their duties under the procedure and the potential hazard.

An incident occurred at Scalby Mills Pumping Station Scarborough. Ultra-sonic level transducers on the chamber were lifted to allow the installation of kick plates. This disengaged the wet well level monitoring and pump control system which resulted in a loss of control to the pumps. The pumps then tripped and could not restart due to air locking. This led to an unplanned discharge to the sea. On the day of the incident 2 no. separate work activities were being undertaken at Scalby Mills’s pumping station: The first activity involved a planned shutdown of two pumps (T2 and T3) to allow modifications to discharge pipework. RAMS were in place, but a detailed Process Impact Plan was not produced. YW’s control centre (ROCC) was informed of the work and were told to ignore alarms on T2 and T3.

Environmental Reports

Pollution Incident

Unplanned discharge of effluent

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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The second activity related to work on hand railing by an access metalwork subcontractor. A general RAMS was in place for this activity. Similar work had been undertaken previously so a specific written and signed up task briefing was not undertaken on this particular day. After completing the planned hand railing work, the subcontractor commenced unplanned work to the kickplates around the ultra-sonics. In undertaking this work the ultra-sonics were lifted, which caused pumps T1 and T4 to trip. YW control centre did not take any action as they thought they had been advised to ignore all alarms. Actions All work must be properly planned with RAMS. These must address any risks to the environment.

Ensure clear and specific instructions are given to YW control centre.

A Process Impact Plan (PIP) must be prepared & approved by YW and MGJV for all intrusive work.

Any deviation from the Process Impact Plan requires prior authorisation. The work must be stopped until the PIP is re-approved.

All persons involved in the activities shall be briefed and made aware of any possible impact on processes and plant.

All work shall be adequately supervised and monitored.

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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Listed below are the Clients and Contractors who regularly contribute to this report.

Aecom May Gurney

Anglian Water Morgan Sindall

Balfour Beatty MVB

Barhale WSP National Grid

Black & Veach Network Rail

Carillion NMC Nomenca

Coast to Coast (C2C) North Midland Construction

Costain Northumbria Water

Environment Agency Plowman Craven

Forkers Ltd Scottish & Southern Energy

Galiford Try Scottish Power Utilities

Gammon Construction Scottish Water Solutions

GBM Severn Trent Water

Halcrow Group Speedy

Health & Safety Executive Thames Water

Highways Agency Structural Safety Ltd

J Brown Construction The Construction Plant Hire Association

Jacobs United Utilities

Magnox Ltd Wessex Water

Morrison Construction Yorkshire Water

Health Safety & Environmental Alerts

Grontmij Ltd, Grove House, Mansion Gate Drive, Leeds, LS7 4DN WWW.grontmij.co.uk 0113 2620000

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