All employers have a responsibility under the HSaW act 1974 and the MHSW regulations 1999 to ensure so far as reasonably practical the health and safety of their employees and that of other persons whom are affected by their work activity and therefore more frequently are requiring at least desktop studies to be carried out to assess the risk from UXO’s on site and take actions to negate and reduce this risk.
Once a risk from UXO’s has been confirmed clients are faced with high fees to provided UXO awareness to their employees and further escalating costs to provide an onsite specialist providing cover whilst ground excavations are taking place.
There is no available data regarding the amount of UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) incidents on Construction sites within the UK.
To place the potential risk posed by UXO to the Construction industry into context with other more commonly considered Construction risks, estimates have been obtained from UXO specialists. We can base figures on the two largest UXO companies working at the time regarding the UXO hazards on the UK construction sites. (please note these figures would be significantly higher if data from other UXB companies had been available/ included).
In the period 2006 to 2008(i), it is estimated that about 15,000 items of ordnance ranging from high explosive aerial delivered German bombs to smaller items like mortar rounds or grenades (excluding small arms ammunition) had been removed from UK construction sites. The number of small arms ammunition ran in to the high tens of thousands*
So having Specialist Watching Brief Consultants on site helps provided a safer enviroment for all involved.
i, The document was produced in 2009 and had used the previous 2 years data available – not just the highest figuring years (with the recent increase in Construction these figures would grow even higher).*Data taken from the CIRIA C681 – UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE a guide for the construction industry (Ciria C681)
Alongside Their DEODS Training our consultants will hold CSCS Cards as a minimum (usually with SSSTS / SMSTS or both as well). Further more we can supply High Risk Confined space trained personnel if there is a requirement on your site.
