AGS Magazine - May/June 2018

May / June 2018

Sustainable remediation The role of the geotechnical specialist according to the recently adopted BS ISO 18504:2017

A GUIDE TO LOSS PREVENTION

RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR GROUND INVESTIGATION

AGS Members’ Day 2018 Overview

Hugh Mallett explains the new guidance on liabilities and exposure

Comprehensive guidance to completing Risk Assessments on GI sites

Neil Parry takes a look back at the event and provides an overview of the content

ABOUT THE AGS

Chair’s Foreword The first staging of an AGS Members’ Day outside London on 11th April was a huge success. This was mainly due to the excellent quality of presentations and the six months of hard work of those behind the scenes to provide the best possible event. I was really pleased at the number of Members who providing excellent feedback, praising the event and location, with some constructive suggestions of what we need to work on for our next event. The main presentations are available on the AGS website.

Lynne Llewellyn. Updates on the current work of the AGS, including details of the new Loss Prevention Guidance, are also enclosed. The Loss Prevention Guidance document embodies what the AGS provides for its members, with a myriad of documents covering legal and financial matters, with the content checked by a practicing barrister.

As we move into summer hopefully we will all see better weather and a buoyant market for our members. We are currently looking at the I was also very happy to see direction the AGS is taking, as a that Chris Hoskins, a longbusiness serving our members standing member of the Loss and as a body providing Prevention Working Group, was guidance and influence made an Honorary Member in within the geotechnical and recognition of his contribution geoenvironmental sectors. to the AGS. It was a privilege We would be interested in your to be able to read out Chris’s feedback on the magazine commendation, prepared by and our future plans. Please Hugh Mallet, the Working contact ags@ags.org.uk if you Group Leader. have any comments.

This month’s magazine, in addition to covering the events at Members’ Day, Neil Parry has an interesting article on AGS Chair Nuclear Magnetic Resonance from Fugro and a profile of one of our Senate Members

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) is a non-profit making trade association established to improve the profile and quality of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering.

The membership comprises of UK organisations and individuals having a common interest in the business of ground investigation, geotechnics, geoenvironmental engineering, engineering geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and other related disciplines.

EDITORIAL BOARD Neil Parry, AGS Chairman Ciaran Jennings, Forum Court Associates Caroline Kratz, Forum Court Associates Chris Swainston, Soils Limited Stephen West, Ramboll Calum Spires, Equipe Group Julian Lovell, Equipe Group EDITORIAL STORY If you have a news story or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about, please contact the AGS on 020 8658 8212 or ags@ags.org.uk. Please note that articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. The AGS is under no obligation to feature articles and events received.

CONTACT US Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists Forum Court, Office 205 Devonshire House Business Centre, 29-31 Elmfield Road Bromley, Kent, BR1 1LT

 ags@ags.org.uk  020 8658 8212  Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists  @agsgeotech www.ags.org.uk

Inside this month’s issue

FEATURE PAGE 18



AGS Members’ Day 2018 - Overview

COVER STORY PAGE 16  Paul Nathanail of LQM Ltd takes a look at the recently adopted BS ISO 18504:2017 Sustainable remediation.

The AGS Members’ Day 2018 was recently held at the National Motorcycle Museum and was a great success.

Current AGS Chair Neil Parry takes a look back at the event and provides an overview on the content discussed during the presentations, both from the AGS Working Groups, and also our invited guest speakers.

AGS GUIDE TO LOSS PREVENTION PAGE 12  Hugh Mallett explains the new guidance on legal liabilities and associated financial exposure.

Q & A: LYNNE LLEWELLYN PAGE 26  The AGS Magazine conducts a Q & A with Structural Soils’ Lynne Llewellyn.

RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR GROUND INVESTIGATION PAGE 30  Comprehensive guidance to completing Risk Assessments for your GI sites.

MORE INSIDE

PAGE 4-11 

News in Short: Incl. Geotechnica 2018 Preview

PAGE 36 

Working Group Focus: Contaminated Land & Geotechnical

PAGE 40 

Training Courses

May / June 2018

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News in Short New Leader for AGS Business Practice Working Group Andrew Milne, Managing Director of Geotechnical Engineering and new Leader of the AGS Business Practice Working Group, gives an overview on his aims and ambitions for his upcoming term.

I’m delighted to have been chosen by the membership of the AGS as the new Leader of the Business Practice Working Group (BPWG).

Thank you for your vote of confidence in me.

I am taking over the Leadership from John Talbot, who ran the BPWG for several years.

During his tenure, the BPWG initiated some key changes to the way the AGS runs, which have hopefully set it up for the years ahead. I have been working with John enterprise, it needs to thrive and Whilst the AGS for some of this time, and survive. Over the medium and have witnessed his hard is a ‘not for profit’ long term, it needs to bring in work and dedication to the as much money as it spends, organisation, like any wellbeing of the AGS and commercial enterprise, and a little bit more ‘for the its membership. Well done, rainy day’. it needs to thrive and John. Please don’t go away – In the most recent update of survive. we still need you! the AGS Byelaws in 2015, we The BPWG is primarily concerned confirmed that there are three with the business practice of the AGS itself. As ‘Purposes’ or ‘Aims’ of the AGS, namely: Leader of the BPWG, I report in to the Chairman (a) to promote and enhance quality and of the AGS (in the Executive Council), and also safe practice within the geotechnical and geoto the AGS Senate. Whilst the AGS is a ‘not environmental industry; for profit’ organisation, like any commercial

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with ‘everyone’ in the industry, and encourage them to be In order to achieve members of the AGS, at all any of these Aims, levels. And once we are in we have to be in touch touch with these people, we with as many people need to keep their attention as possible within the by provide guidance, (c) to give benefit to all of wider geotechnical and useful and interesting its participants. content, opportunities for geo-environmental participation, and ‘benefit’ In order to achieve any of industry. in all senses. The AGS these Aims, we have to be in Administrator (Forum Court touch with as many people as Associates Limited) has possible within the wider geotechnical and georeorganised itself to this purpose, for which we environmental industry. The decision taken at are grateful. the time of updating the Byelaws was that we (b) to provide opportunities for participation in its activities to all those in the wider geotechnical and geoenvironmental industry;

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wanted to be a ‘big-hearted’ organisation, open The Business Plan for the AGS is set by the to ‘everyone’ in the industry, at all levels, rather Executive Council, and is approved by the than a ‘small-minded’ organisation, open only Senate. From this Business Plan, the to a smaller ‘Elite’. There are BPWG draw up the Marketing arguments for both stances; In consequence, Plan for the AGS. It identifies we chose the former – you actions to be taken by certain the dominant task can’t be both!

AGS members, and by the

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of the BPWG over the next few years is to get in touch with ‘everyone’ in the industry...

In refreshing the Byelaws, we were very mindful to uphold the high standards required of being a ‘Practitioner Member’, and, furthermore, demanded that all levels of member, from Student Member to Honorary Member, confirmed (every year) that they ‘fully support the objectives and aims of the AGS, and agree to abide by its Code of Business Conduct’.

In consequence, the dominant task of the BPWG over the next few years is to get in touch

Administrator.

In due course, when the AGS is in touch with many more people in the industry, and the number and range of Members (at all levels) has increased significantly, the intention is to review the subscription model. All organisations need to evolve and stay up-to-date and relevant. This exercise will not be straightforward, and all points of view will need to be listened to before decisions are made. Watch this space.

The top three AGS publications for May 2018 1. AGS Guide: The Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing 2. LPA 67 – Japanese Knotweed – Professionals should know the law and their responsibilities 3. AGS Guide to Ground Investigation Reports To download the publications for free; click here.

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Coal Authority calls for full consideration of legacy iss

T

he Coal Authority has recently called for local authority planners, surveyors, developers and geotechnical and engineering consultants to ensure coal mining legacy issues are considered in light of their findings from a recent subsidence event in north-east England

subsidence. It has since carried out further extensive ground investigations, including underground camera and laser void surveys, to identify the root cause of the subsidence, and installed 300 survey points above and below the ground to monitor for ground and property movement.

The government body, which manages the effects of past coal mining across Britain, said it had issued the information to share its early recommendations.

The Coal Authority’s ground investigations revealed coal mine workings at a depth in excess of 30 metres. These dated back around 120 years and had not been recorded on the historical mining plans held for the former colliery for this specific area.

Initial ground investigations were undertaken at a housing development in North Tyneside by the Coal Authority in July 2016, after it was contacted by the National House Building Council in relation to an extensive area of

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The ground investigations proved this specific area had been extensively worked with extraction rates at over 70%, however the plans

elliptical subsidence zone footprint of around 150 metres x 70 metres.

Coal Authority engineers have designed a solution to stabilise the ground, and work to drill and grout the voids will be completed by the end of the month. Ground monitoring will continue after the works are complete to ensure the ground is stable for redevelopment.

Simon Reed, Chief Operating Officer, Coal Authority, said: “We have released our initial recommendations to ensure there is awareness of the risks posed by historical coal mining legacy, in light of our findings from this recent subsidence event.

“In this instance, given the depth and age of the workings, and knowledge about risks of subsidence at the time, we cannot criticise the developer’s approach taken at the time with respect to these mining circumstances, but we must now build on this new knowledge to address these risks better moving forward.

l sues

“This was an area of unrecorded mine workings and caution must be adopted in assuming that the absence of a record means the absence of mining. Although our historic plans did not, in this case, reveal the coal had showed an area of solid coal. Recorded workings they are a vital part of any site workings adjacent to this area had typical assessment prior to development therefore, extraction rates of between 45% and 50%. in future we may ask for more This high level of extraction information, or for more works This, together resulted in narrow residual to take place, to reduce supporting coal pillars and with a fractured the likelihood of a similar wide extraction rooms in the subsidence event happening sandstone layer above High Main coal seam, leading the coal seam, resulted again.” to significantly increased (or in an underground The Coal Authority excessive) compression on expects to release further collapse... the remaining coal pillars and information in the form of roof instability. This, together a Technical Guidance Note with a fractured sandstone layer above the coal seam, resulted in an underground collapse later this year, after works are completed and following a period of monitoring. and subsequent movement at the surface that affected 35 properties on an estate and had an

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May / June 2018

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Geotechnica 2018: Preview The UK’s largest geotechnical conference and exhibition is expecting unprecedented contractor attendance in 2018. With major upcoming infrastructure projects being discussed at this year’s conference, geotechnical contractors are likely to be flocking to Geotechnica 2018.

The team behind Geotechnica 2018 have revealed the conference topics and the first keynote speakers for this year’s geotechnical conference. Held on the 11th and 12th July 2018 at the Warwickshire Event Centre, this year’s conference talks will centre around two key themes: Upcoming large UK infrastructure projects; and future leaders within the geotechnical industry.

This year the conference will discuss projects whose ground investigation contracts will form the backbone of the industry for years to come, whilst also giving a platform to younger engineers to discuss fresh ideas, new approaches and areas of concern for the ever-expanding and evolving geotechnical industry.

Speakers include: HS2’s Head of Geotechnics, Nick Sartain; Associate Director at Arup, Jane Collins; iSMART Project member, Dr Tom Dijkstra;

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2017’s Cooling Prize Winner, Arup’s Fransesc Mirada; and Aecom’s Ground Engineering Rising Star Award candidate, Giannis Kallika.

of engaging with talented and acclaimed young engineers who are likely to be heading up these large projects in the future, means that Geotechnica is a must-attend event for the UK’s geotechnical contractors.”

“This year, Geotechnica will offer a truly unique opportunity for attendees Geotechnica These talks to hear from 2018 will also will be a chance individuals feature a for geotechnical representing full product organisations and service contractors and involved in exhibition. consultants to some of the A number of hear directly from UK’s more companies those responsible significant will be for the continuing infrastructure debuting new projects. We products, development of are aiming services and large UK-based for the rigs, including infrastructure conference to Gold Sponsors projects. take a glimpse for the 2018 into the future and event – look at some of the challenges Casagrande UK, and Dando involved in these projects Drilling International who will as they relate to ground be launching their new cable engineering and some of the percussion rig, the Dando solutions we as an industry Duke. can and should be able to offer.” says Calum Spires, Head There will also be two AGS Working Group meetings Organiser of the Geotechnica taking place at the event, with event. the AGS Contaminated Land “These talks will be a WG and AGS Laboratories WG chance for geotechnical both meeting on Thursday 12th contractors and consultants July. to hear directly from those The event is entirely free to responsible for the continuing attend and Visitor Registration development of large UKis now open at www. based infrastructure projects.

This, coupled with the prospect geotechnica.co.uk.

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HOSTED BY

FREE TO ATTEND

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11 - 12 JULY 2018

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C o m m u n i c a t e with industry leading practitioners, academia, suppliers and manufacturers.

P r o m o t e your specialist services, latest products and innovations.

N e t w o r k with peers, suppliers, manufacturers, new potential clients and customers.

L e a r n about different approaches, techniques & what is going on within and around the industry, as well as discovering new business opportunities.

PLUS: Conference presentations from HS2’s Head of Geotechnics, Nick Sartain & Arup’s Jane Collins regarding upcoming works on the UK’s major infrastructure projects & the new Dando Duke cable percussion rig launch!

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How do you register?

Simply head online to www.geotechnica.co.uk to register for your free Visitor’s Pass now.

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May / June 2018

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AGS Awards 2018 This year’s AGS Awards took place during the Annual General Meeting at AGS Members’ Day 2018 on Wednesday 11th April at the National Motorcycle Museum, in Birmingham.

A select number of AGS Working Group Members, who were nominated by their Working Group Leaders, were presented with awards and commendations by Neil Parry, AGS Chairman, to thank them for their contribution and dedication to the AGS over the past year.

AGS Award Winners 2018

AGS Commendations 2018

AGS Senate Award Chris Danilewicz of CH2M

AGS Contaminated Land Working Group Commendations Mike Plimmer of Geotechnical & Environmental Associates and Bridget Plimmer of Golder Associates

AGS Business Practice Working Group Award Sally Hudson of Coffey Geotechnics AGS Contaminated Land Working Group Award Chris Swainston of Soils Limited AGS Data Management Working Group Award Neil Chadwick of Arup AGS Laboratories Working Group Award Dr John Powell of Geolabs

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AGS Safety Working Group Commendation Henry Chapman of Harrison Group Environmental AGS Data Management Working Group Commendation Tony Daly of Amageo

Ground Risk: Why Take the Chance? A Lessons Learnt Conference The AGS are pleased to announce that their upcoming ground risk conference is taking place on Wednesday 12th September at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London.

Ground Risk: Why Take the Chance? A Lessons Learnt Conference, is a full day seminar which will be divided into geotechnical and geoenvironmental halves. The event will examine a number of ground risks associated with ground engineering as well as focusing on industry lessons learnt.

Speakers for the event include: Keynote Presentation Dr Jacqueline Skipper, Senior Partner and Senior Geologist at the Geotechnical Consulting Group Managing Risk for a Deep Basement Excavation Dr Andrew Smith, Coffey The Application of Advanced Continuous Surface Wave Data to Managing Ground Risk Chris Milne, Ground Stiffness Surveys

Investigation and Treatment of Chalk Solution Features – Changing Risk Profile with Additional Information Allan Bell, Hydrock Creosote-Tar Seepage Portslade Beach George Flower, Arcadis Identifying and Minimising Risk through a Value Engineered Geotechnical Solution & 36hrs Inside Queen Street Tunnel, Glasgow Natalie Bews and Eric Downey, Structural Soils An Overview of Legal Developments under Part IIA and Contaminated Land Stephen Tromans, QC, 39 Essex Chambers Ground Gas Risk – The Risk from Incorrect Characterisation Gavin Allsopp, NHBC Waste Classification for Soils – An AGS Practitioners’ Guide Mike Plimmer, Geotechnical and Environmental Associates Tickets for the event are priced at £140 for AGS Members and £210 for non-AGS Members.

Prices exclude VAT. A discount of 15% will be applied for two or more delegates from the same company.

To confirm your attendance please request a registration from ags@ags.org.uk and return it by Tuesday 4th September. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For further information on the event and sponsorship opportunities email ags@ags.org. uk

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Guide to Loss Prevention AGS offer guidance on legal liabilities and associated financial exposure

T

he AGS Loss Prevention Guidance 2017 was published on Members Day at the National Motorcycle Museum in April and is available free to all AGS members https:// www.ags.org.uk/item/lossprevention-guidance-2017.

clear to “ ItthewasGroup that

radical action was required to either ensure that the advice was current and relevant...

The Guidance is a series of documents providing members with an invaluable body of advice on many of the particular issues that affect our potential legal liabilities and associated financial exposure.

The Guidance was originally published as a series of Papers over a period of several years dating back to 2000 and known then as the Loss Prevention Tool Kit. This has only ever been available in hard copy, originally in its own hard back folder – a few of which may still exist no doubt on dusty shelves.

Over the last couple of years the Loss Prevention Working Group grew increasingly concerned; 1. that the information in the Tool Kit was no longer readily accessible to most member

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companies, 2. that most practitioners were completely unaware of its existence and the advice it contained and

3. perhaps most importantly, that there was clearly a potential for some of the advice and cases cited to have been superseded by more recent law, regulation, judgement or commercial practice.

It was clear to the Group that radical action was required to either ensure that the advice was current and relevant or to consign it all to the dustbin of history. The brave decision was taken to bite the bullet and see whether we could resuscitate this sleeping giant.

The main challenge was to ensure that the legal basis and cases quoted were current and this challenge was met through the efforts of Zita Mansi of BLM (our legal advisors, provider of the AGS Legal Helpline and hosts of the LPWG) who managed to recruit a practicing barrister (Dominic Ruck-Keen) to review all of the original text at a cost within our (meagre) budget. Dominic’s review carried out in 2017



Summary of the Loss Prevention Guidance Papers No.

Title

Summary description

001

Limiting and Excluding Professional

The consultant generally owes their client in contract and tort a

Liability

duty to use reasonable care, skill and diligence in the work they carry out. This paper describes means by which consultants may limit liability in both tort and contract.

002

The Doctrine of Vicarious Liability

The effect of vicarious liability is to render one party liable to another by the tort of a third party. This paper describes that liability in tort is not the same as that in contract and the distinction between employees and contractors.

003

The Criminal Liability of Firms for the

Companies and partnerships can act only through their staff -

Acts of their Directors and Employees

their directors/partners and employees. This paper sets out to what extent firms are responsible in criminal law for the acts of their staff.

004

The Liability of the Individual within the

Because of the rule of vicarious liability where an employee is

Contracting or Consulting Firm

negligent so causing loss, the party suffering loss will normally sue the employee's employer. This paper describes how the individual can also be sued and recommends sensible precautions for employees.

005

Liability for Independent Contractors

Generally, companies are not liable in tort for the acts of their independent contractors. However, some important exceptions to this rule are described in this paper.

006

Different Legal Structures/Forms for a

This paper describes the various legal forms a consulting or

Consulting or Contracting Undertaking

contracting organisation are likely to take and how this can affect the liability of its owners, managers and employees, as well as the organisation’s liability in its own right.

007

Understanding “Fitness for Purpose” and

This paper describes the essential differences between Fitness

“Skill and Care” Obligations

for Purpose” and “Skill and Care” Obligations, the associated risks and implications for insuring against those risks.

008

The Law of Limitation

This paper describes how the law of limitation is designed to protect possible defendants from proceedings relating to old claims.

009

The Bare Agreement

Parties to a contract for professional services may agree what the professional is to do but with no other terms defined. This paper describes the issues around a contract based upon implied terms.

010

The Basics of Contract

A contract is a bundle of promises that the parties to the contract make to each other. This paper describes the Agreement, Consideration, legal relations and other basic provisions of a contract.

011

The Contracts (Rights of Third |Parties)

This paper describes the provisions of the Act and how a third

Act

party may enforce a contractual term in a contract. Risks are described and recommendations to mitigate those risks presented.

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(hence the date in the title of the document) enabled the LPWG to conclude one of three outcomes: i.

The original legal basis remains current and thus confirmed to remain relevant to the issue described. No substantive legal edit required;

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Members are encouraged to disseminate the advice contained in the Loss Prevention Guidance amongst their colleagues.

ii.

The original legal basis relied upon has been superseded by more recent law or judgement. The Guidance has been amended accordingly and the relevant new legal basis is cited; iii.

The original legal basis has been completely superseded or replaced such that the advice provided is no longer relevant.

The document has been withdrawn from the current edition of the Guidance (although the AGS retains a copy for reference).

The next task was to bring the twenty three papers together into a consistent and readable format that would encourage Members to read, digest and use the information. Because of the range of age of the original tool kit papers, they were presented in a myriad of styles, fonts and format (including some only available in Word Perfect). The LPWG has now turned this disparate series of papers into a coherent and readable whole. After a final review by AGS Senate and a lot of diligent editing by willing, or press ganged “volunteers” the Loss Prevention Guidance was ready for publication at Member’s Day. We are determined not to let this 2017 Guidance suffer the fate of the Tool Kit and become a potential liability rather that the asset it undoubtedly is. Accordingly it will be subject to formal review at five yearly intervals by the LPWG (including specialist legal review).

The Working Group will endeavour to ensure that any issues arising that affect the advice

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in any of the papers in the Guidance are addressed. This could be by the publication of an article in the Newsletter, by the preparation of a Loss Prevention Alert, and/ or by the amendment or withdrawal of the relevant paper in the Guidance. In addition to this formal review, AGS members are encouraged to provide comment, advice or suggestions for additional papers relevant to the Guidance which should be addressed to: The Secretary Loss Prevention Working Group at ags@ags.org.uk A brief summary of each of the Papers is presented following the Introduction of the Guidance and this will assist and guide all practitioners to Papers of relevance or interest and this is presented below. Members are encouraged to disseminate the advice contained in the Loss Prevention Guidance amongst their colleagues. Many of the issues addressed are relevant to staff mainly concerned with the commercial aspects of our business, to technical staff at a senior level dealing with clients and contracts etc. and also to staff approaching Chartership where awareness of the commercial and legal liabilities are an important part of demonstrating professional competence.

For further help on contract and liability issues Members are reminded that they can contact Berrymans Lace Mawer (020 7638 2811), quote the ‘AGS legal advice line’ and ask for Zita Mansi or Michael Salau.

The AGS Loss Prevention Guidance 2017 can be downloaded here.

Article contributed by Hugh Mallett Technical Director, BuroHappold Engineering

Summary of the Loss Prevention Guidance Papers cont.

No.

Title

Summary description

012

Common Contract Breaches Committed

Some of the common types of breach of contract committed

by Consultants

by consultants are described. An overview is presented of the contractual obligations often set out in consultants' appointments and the ramifications of breach.

013

Consultants Undertaking Ground

This paper describes the issues faced by consultants in

Investigation Contracting

undertaking ground investigation contracting services within the scope of their services. The risks and strategies to mitigate those risks are set out.

014

Obligations in Tort

This paper describes how, in addition to contractual obligations the law of torts may also impose obligations to persons who are not parties to the agreement. The tort of negligence, usually the most important to the ground engineering specialist, is described.

015

Conflicts between a duty of

Specialists owe a duty of confidentiality to their client. Conflicts of

Confidentiality owed to a Client and

interest can arise where the regulatory authorities (for example,

a Legal or Moral duty to assist the

the Environment Agency) ask for information about or relating to

Authorities

the client’s affairs. This paper describes some of the difficulties in this conflict and advises how they may be reconciled.

016

Professional Indemnity Insurance

This paper presents a checklist of issues that a consultant

Checklist

undertaking professional services should consider when

Business Liability Insurance

This paper provides an introduction to various business

procuring professional indemnity insurance.

017

insurances, other than professional indemnity insurance which are often taken out by smaller companies, consultants and contractors.

018

Controlling the Risks of Working Alone

This paper presents advice to member organisations employing people who will at times be working alone.

019

Disclaimers in Reports

Ground engineering specialists producing reports often insert disclaimers intended to limit the scope of liability. This paper discusses the legal effect of disclaimers and provides relevant advice.

020

Alternative Dispute Resolutions

This paper describes Alternative Dispute Resolution and the traditional forms of dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration.

021

Adjudication

This paper describes the nature of adjudication, adjudication pursuant to the HGCRA and the 10 pre-conditions to adjudication under the HGCRA .

022

Sources of Advice for Expert Witnesses

This paper provides a brief description of sources of advice for environmental and ground engineering specialists acting as Expert Witnesses

023

Freedom of Information Act

This paper provides information on the Freedom of Information Act, its implications and how it can affect AGS members and their clients.

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Sustainable Remediation The role of the geotechnical specialist

L

et’s get some harsh truths out of the way first. Remediation is not necessarily sustainable. Excavation and disposal (ok, ok – dig ‘n’ dump) is sometimes the most sustainable option.

Remediation is usually an enabling part, not the main purpose, of a project. And finally, choosing the sustainable remediation option is neither difficult nor costly.

July 2017 saw the publication of the first international standard on sustainable remediation. In September this was adopted as a British Standard: BS ISO 18504:2017. This short and even readable document begins once the risk assessment has concluded that

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remediation is necessary. Risk reduction objectives and overall constraints need to be established. The conceptual site model is then used as the basis for short listing technically feasible remediation strategies that will eliminate and/or control unacceptable risks in a safe and timely manner given constraints such as space, budget or other activities. Of those shortlisted strategies, the remediation strategy that is judged to be the most sustainable is the one that reduces the risks whilst optimising the environmental, social and economic value of the work.

In practice choosing the most sustainable of, say four, short listed strategies can be a simple

affair. Each of the candidates is compared with every other for their relative performance in terms of environmental, social and economic effect – be that positive or negative.

Often a clear winner emerges at this point – job done!

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Each of the candidates is compared with every other for their relative performance in terms of environmental, social and economic effect – be that positive or negative.

Occasionally there is no clear winner and a deeper consideration of effects is needed. In this case a set of site specific factors, or indicators, that delve deeper in to the environmental, social and economic dimensions are chosen to compare the effect of each strategy. Again simple qualitative comparisons will often identify a clear preferred strategy. Only in very rare circumstances will recourse to a much more sophisticated, costlier, fully quantitative comparison – perhaps based on Life Cycle Analysis approaches – be necessary.

BS ISO 18504:2017 seeks to improve the

process of choosing a preferred remediation strategy. Once one has been selected, it can still be value engineered to reduce costs and ‘greened’ to reduce environmental impact.

The best way to test out BS ISO 18504:2017 is perhaps to consider a recent remediation project you have been involved in and see how consideration of the social, environmental and economic effects could have been taken in to account. It’s not that hard or time consuming.

Article contributed by Paul Nathanail Managing Director of Land Quality Management Ltd and Chair of ISO Working Group on Sustainable Remediation

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AGS Members’ Day 2018:

An overview from Neil Parry, AGS Chair

T

This was described as the his year’s Members’ We asked our “elimination and/or control Day was held in members for their of unacceptable risks in a the new venue of the National Motorcycle feedback and from the safe and timely manner Museum, where the answers we have been whilst optimising the environmental, social and successful AGS Geotechnical given so far it seems economic value of the work”.

Data Conference had been that most people found held in September 2017. We Geocentrix’s Andrew the venue to be a good asked our members for Bond gave an update on their feedback and from the one. the second generation answers we have been given of Eurocodes and how so far it seems that most people geotechnical design will be integrated into found the venue to be a good one. We will them in the runup to the publication in 2020. consider all of the comments before deciding on next year’s venue, which may again be Scott O’Neill-Gwilliams of Aecom provided outside London. some interesting and stimulating examples

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of the remediation of mineworkings and Guy The presentations were well received Lane of BLM gave a thought and included a variety provoking insight into the legal of geotechnical, The presentations issues associated with the geoenvironmental and legal use of AGS data. were well received topics. Paul Nathanial of LQM and included a variety provided an entertaining An interesting case study view on how to work of geotechnical, was provided by Chaido with the new standard on geoenvironmental and (Yuli) Doulala-Rigby (Tensar sustainable remediation.

International) which

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legal topics.

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highlighted the potential issues that may arise from ground data when it is used in construction. This case study was used to stimulate a lively panel discussion chaired by Claire Smith of Ground Engineering Magazine.

This in turn generated some interesting debate from the audience which could have continued well beyond the time that was allocated.

working groups were presented, and Chris One of several Hoskins, a long-standing highlights was the member of the Loss publication of the Prevention Working Group substantial collection of was made an Honorary papers in the AGS Loss Member.

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Prevention Guidance document, which is free to AGS Members.

All of the Working Group Leaders succinctly delivered their updates on what they have been doing over the year and what they plan in the future, making the most of the short amount of time available to them. One of several highlights was the publication of the substantial collection of papers in the AGS Loss Prevention Guidance document, which is free to AGS Members. This can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Awards to those that have provided exceptional service to the AGS and the

98% of our members rated the day as excellent or good. Delegates were happy with the networking opportunities provided and would recommend attending the event to others. There was praise for the quality of the presentations and the catering was also marked highly, so it seems that just about everyone had a good time.

The success of the day was primarily down to the hard work of Caroline and the other people in Forum Court Associates who are the AGS’ secretariat. I’m sure they will do an equally good job for the upcoming AGS Ground Risk: Why take the chance? conference on the 12th September.

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Porosity and permeability values: Filling the gaps with NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Balazs Rigler of Fugro discusses the group’s efforts to improve the efficiency and accuracy of hydrological analyses for nearshore and onshore foundation engineering in soft geology.

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he hydrological properties of sandy, chalk or clay geology are of interest to designers of foundations, tunnels and other underground structures. Without a robust understanding of porosity and permeability it is not possible to fully predict soil behaviour under different loading and groundwater regimes and it is harder to determine depth of weathering and risk of dissolution in chalk. But by the very nature of their diffusive relationship with water, these ground types present a range of physical and interpretative challenges in deriving accurate data on porosity, permeability and associated characteristics.

significant progress with a downhole technique more usually associated with mining, and offshore oil and gas prospecting – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

A first important point to make is that NMR does not employ any radioactive source material, as its name might seem to suggest.

Using the same principle applied in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for medical scanning, NMR logging analyses the spin of hydrogen nuclei under the influence of magnetic forces.

Innovative Though well-established in the oil and gas and mining sectors, NMR’s application for engineering and land geotechnical projects is quite innovative. Fugro has implemented the technology as part of its borehole geophysics offering because it can provide valuable hydrogeological insight for near-surface site characterisation projects.

To date, engineers requiring porosity and permeability data have mostly relied on outputs from core The NMR technique effectively It is effective in air, analyses and packer testing logs both porosity and techniques, which are limited water or drilling mud permeability and can by factors including core and is less sensitive to distinguish between mobile, loss, low sample density, capillary-bound and clayvariations in borehole feasibility and cost. No single bound water. It is effective in conditions than other method has been effective in air, water or drilling mud and techniques. isolation, progress rates are is less sensitive to variations slow and investigation of soft in borehole conditions than ground such as clays, is particularly other techniques. problematic.

The technique can be used in uncased or To address these challenges, Fugro is making plastic/fibreglass cased holes (minimum

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Fig 1: An example of logging equipment for NMR (Vista Clara)

ground conditions including soft superficial sediments, clays, carbonates (limestone and chalk), sandstone and other sedimentary rocks. The method can provide unique information in certain geologies where parameters derived from other downhole techniques could be fundamentally flawed due to borehole conditions, complexity of data processing and (sometimes empirical) interpretational procedures.

Though they are of most interest in terms of hydrological properties, sandy soils can be the most difficult to core and are often imperfectly recovered, hence NMR provides an immediate fix for this type of problem.

Fig 2: Schematic drawing of the sensitivity zone (red shell) of a NMR sonde. [Walsh 2013]

Lithology In addition, parameters derived from NMR measurements are independent of variations in lithology and do not rely upon empirical or lithology specific ‘corrections’. This is an important advantage for designers needing accurate, robust and reliable data on the saturated water volume and hydraulic properties of the ground for the foundations of river bridges, tunnels and other structures.

Using NMR data, formation porosity variations can be = ~75 mm) even when Clay volume accurately measured and grouted, eliminating the of formation can there is great potential to risk of borehole collapse, also be determined estimate or derive hydraulic which often prevents the permeability to provide with a high level of deployment of methods information. Porosity and reliant on a radioactive confidence... permeability as engineering source, such as neutron parameters are typically porosity. provided as a continuous wireline geophysical Crucially, the NMR technique samples the log, thus avoiding the need for guesswork ground formation away from the borehole wall or interpolation in the event of limited core and, unlike conventional downhole methods, recovery or low packer test sample density. is unaffected by borehole fluid, borehole Clay volume of formation can also be wall geometry, mud cake or drilling induced determined with a high level of confidence disturbance of the near borehole formation. with some support from natural gamma log NMR is thus well-suited to a wide variety of data.

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Fig 3: Interpretation of NMR data acquired in clayey/sandy formation – permeability is calculated using well established formulae.

SDR (Schlumberger-Doll-Research)

SOE (Squared Mean of Echoes)

kSDR = a * Ø 4 * T2 ( lm ) 2

kSOE = a * ∑ SE 2

NMR measurements and deliverables can be summarised as: • • • • • •

Calculation of total water content Porosity (if water saturated) independent of rock matrix Pore space distribution Distribution of clay bound/capillary bound/mobile water Permeability/hydraulic conductivity Moisture content in the unsaturated zone – dry density can be derived with support from gamma-gamma density logging

Transition

optimised based upon borehole diameter and geology to investigate concentric shells around the borehole; this allows discrete evaluation of the ground outside the zone disturbed by drilling. The specific measured zone lies within a 200 mm to 400 mm diameter of the sensitive shell (see Fig 2).

NMR logging works in continuous or stationary mode and, unless very large diameter washouts are present, borehole conditions have no effect on the measurements. The presence of such wash-outs can easily be determined by standard caliper downhole measurements.

NMR’s transition to onshore geotechnical applications and smaller diameter boreholes has only been possible with the recent introduction of appropriate slim hole tools.

The set-up is relatively low cost and portable, with a very wide range of probe sizes. The typical tool diameter for slim hole operations is 60 mm and maximum logging depth is ~1500 metres.

The downhole sensor characteristics can be

With the plastic/fibreglass sleeve ensuring

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Fig 4: Example NMR dataset with thin sandy strings in low permeability material Data from NMR logging in an environment dominated by silts and clayey silts, but with some thin sand stringers. Note the large detected increase in the amount of mobile (large pore) water at ~9 metres.

Below 9 metres there is a small but substantial fraction of mobile water which likely reflects the presence of very thin sand lens of the order of cm.

data can be successfully gathered from a borehole without risk of collapse, the technique is saving time and money for over-water work, particularly where extra boreholes and jack-up platform/vessel time may be needed to use conventional techniques.

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NMR is the only method which provides direct and lithology-independent information about water, moisture content and permeability as a continuous log.

NMR is the only method which provides direct and lithology-independent information about water, moisture content and permeability as a continuous log.

The lateral investigation depth of the method is based on the well-defined cylinder about the borehole, with a minimum and maximum diameter from the borehole axis as a function of the magnet and coil array geometry and frequency of B1. High frequency tools have better signal-to-noise ratios but are sensitive closer to the tool, while low frequency tools yield data further away from the borehole.

Thus, tool selection can be designed in a way that the readings are not influenced by the fluid in the borehole, the mudcake or the strongly altered, disturbed formation close to the borehole.

This greatly facilitates the collection of guaranteed porosity data readings along the full length of the borehole, even in unstable geology.

Permeability and hydraulic data NMR also provides time and cost advantages when it comes to capturing hydraulic permeability data.

There is a limit to the retrieval of permeability data using other types of discrete tests, often leading to the additional need for comparatively expensive pumping tests.

With conventional methods, unless transit

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target strata into bound (clay or capillary) and free/mobile water content.

Maximised value With insightful early planning with the client and designers, value from NMR can be maximised by clever selection of complementary downhole investigation techniques to facilitate measurement of permeability and other required hydrogeological data.

Fig 5: Example of NMR data from chalk (in the UK)

In a recent Fugro project, an NMR approach afforded greater surety of data capture across the target strata (chalk) than would have been possible using traditional (neutron porosity) radioactive source based methods.

As well as the clear HSE benefits, the method provided valuable and comprehensive hydrogeological data critical to facilitate a robust characterisation of risk to foundation design within the Through the use chalk.

is estimated, permeability will require additional in situ of different size logging based on packer testing and/or injection probes and frequencies, Borehole CCTV or an optical televiewer, for example, are testing which involves NMR logging captures often chosen to assess water complicated hardware and all required data using inflow into a borehole, and heavy equipment. This type one set-up, to save time outflow via fractures and of test only takes point joints. As a minimum, both and cost. measurements, while NMR methods need clear water provides a continuous log the to be effective since image full length of the borehole. In order to capture permeability and hydraulic transit data, several quality suffers in murky water – to achieve this is often a challenging and time consuming distinct surveys will be necessary involving operation in soft sedimentary geology. separate hardware assemblies. Through the use of different size probes and frequencies, For a current bridge foundation project, Fugro NMR logging captures all required data using has used NMR combined with an acoustic one set-up, to save time and cost. televiewer to overcome the problem of

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Improvement in the accuracy of permeability data is a particular focus of Fugro’s advancements in the use of NMR for civil engineering.

Calculation of porosity is straightforward, derived by separating the water content of the

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‘milky’ water within the borehole due to chalk geology. Use of a conventional borehole CCTV system would have involved flushing out the cloudy water and leaving the borehole to stand for anything between 24 and 72 hours to achieve the right conditions for optical inspection. This approach would mean taking

to engineering properties and other important values.

With further work and evaluation, Fugro anticipates it could contribute much to characterise chalk and engineering properties wholly based on porosity, water content, clay content, acoustic and gamma density data.

As well as being of value for foundation design and tunnelling, the NMR method also offers potential for other applications such as water abstraction, flood alleviation schemes, grain size distribution, pit slope stability, open and closed fracture identification, tailings dams, mining and environmental investigations.

Fig 6: Example NMR data from London Clay and soft sediments in London Data were acquired in East London and composite logs were made to compare results with spectral gamma and formation electrical conductivity logs. Logs demonstrate strong correlation and significant anomalies in gamma, water content, porosity and pore size distribution logs at shallow interval in the London Clay.

two or three extra days of jack-up time per borehole and would also increase the risk of borehole collapse and associated requirement for redrilling operations. Both factors would result in a significant increase in cost and time required for the site characterisation programme.

Conclusion Current advances in downhole NMR are especially exciting for near surface investigations for infrastructure development.

As discussed, the technique is effective whatever the water volume of the ground formation in the saturated zone, or whether its representation is clay bound, capillary bound or mobile water. NMR offers the potential to derive accurate, robust and reliable data on porosity and its relationship with permeability in order to provide information directly related

But technical progress like this, enhancing the site investigation (SI) industry’s capability to clarify risk for developers with benefits for programme efficiency, needs early collaboration to fully realise the benefits.

The expansion and upgrade of modern infrastructure, from city to coast, does not enjoy geographical and geological freedom; invariably its location will interact with less than ideal ground, complicated by historical use or adjacent development. Yet insufficient SI continues to rank as a major contributing factor to civil engineering and construction project overruns.

Risk and cost management in infrastructure development relies fundamentally on a robust, integrated and well planned SI and its power to create a fully evolved ground model specific to the development site. Only with this can ground risk be confidently characterised, taking full advantage of advanced and cutting edge methods such as NMR, in order to safely and successfully realise vital infrastructure development in challenging places.

Article contributed by Balazs Rigler Wireline Services Manager Fugro

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Q & A with...

Lynne Llewellyn

BSc (Hons) CGeol FGS Job Title: National Technical Manager Company: Structural Soils Ltd Brief Biography: I have over 15 years experience working within the ground investigation industry, much of which has been gained with various contracting and consulting firms primarily as a geotechnical engineer.

I currently work for Structural Soils Ltd (an RSK company) employed as their National Technical Manager.

My experience gained within the industry has been wide and varied, beginning as a lab technician and culminating in my present role of overseeing all technical aspects of ground engineering for Structural Soils Ltd.

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What or who inspired you to join the geotechnical industry?

gaining valuable experience I first became interested in from the many varied roles Geology whilst doing my required from me by my A-Levels. My teacher at this employers. time was very enthusiastic During my about Geology working career which made During my I have been an impression working career I inspired on me (and have been inspired by many of course, I dedicated by many dedicated quite liked hardworking the prospect hardworking of field trips professionals within professionals within the abroad). From the industry... industry who A-Levels, I continuously went on to study strive to improve quality Geology at Cardiff University. and actively encourage Initially finding employment improvement and innovation. as a Geologist proved quite What does a typical day difficult as no one was entail? prepared to employ me with no work experience, so I began As National Technical Manager my career as a laboratory at Structural Soils Ltd my role technician on minimum is varied and can differ from wage. In retrospect, I am one day to the next. glad I did this as it provided me with a good grounding My main role is to assist the and understanding of the Technical Engineering Director geotechnical testing side of to oversee, co-ordinate and the industry. I then became implement the technical a site engineer (invaluable output of the company experience) for some years. nationally. Therefore my working day can be filled with As time progressed, I became anything from training and involved in larger schemes mentoring staff to designing

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Lynne Llewellyn mentoring Structural Soils employees.

and implementing changes in procedures. Another day I can be giving tendering advice or reporting on a ground investigation. I also work closely with other technical specialists within the RSK group.

Are there any projects which you’re particularly proud to have been a part of?

Recently Structural Soils were asked to help the BBC DIY SOS Team who had a project in

The building they Swansea for Recently previously the ‘The Roots Structural Soils operated Foundation’, from was a charity were asked to help very small, who provides the BBC DIY SOS dilapidated support Team who had a and not fit for young project in Swansea for purpose adults in care for the ‘The Roots with the new or leaving build on the care. They Foundation’... same site was successfully potentially applied to the BBC’s underlain by coal seams or Children In Need fund and the workings.

BBC DIY SOS granted their wish for a new property worth Structural Soils Ltd gladly took £1,000,000. up the challenge, without

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DIY SOS - Structural Soils assisted on the ground investigation for The Roots Foundation

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no two projects charge, to Every day is a or days are undertake 3 new challenge the same and rotary ‘open therefore the hole’ boreholes that is why I love challenges to prove or being part of the keep coming disprove the geotechnical which is what presence industry, no two makes me get of the coal projects or days are out of bed in seams and the morning. investigate the same... the possibility What AGS of unrecorded old Working Groups are you a mine workings to satisfy Coal Member of and what are Authority requirements.

your current focuses?

I was part of the Structural Soils team who oversaw the drilling operations and all for such a worthwhile cause.

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?

Every day is a new challenge that is why I love being part of the geotechnical industry,

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I have been a member of the Senate Committee since 2014 and am also the AGS’s representative on the BSi 526/Geotechnics Committee.

As a member of the senate, I recently formed part of a task group set by the committee to update the ‘AGS Guide to Geotechnical Testing’ as this document had not been

updated since 1998. I have also helped to review documents for the Loss Prevention Guidance document issued in 2017.

The BSi 526/Geotechnics Committee is responsible for planning, programming and coordinating standards in the area of geotechnics and on this committee I represent the AGS. The committee also provides UK input to CEN/TC 250/SC 7 Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design, Eurocodes related documents and mirrors the CEN/TC 288 Execution of Special Geotechnical Works.

I ensure that the AGS has a voice on this committee and report developments back to the Senate.

What do you enjoy most about being an AGS Member?

Being a member of the AGS is rewarding as it puts you in touch with the industry in which you work in everyday allowing new perspectives and ideas to grow. At the AGS I enjoy the fact that new friendships are formed with likeminded individuals from different sectors within the industry.

to give this advice to our own organisations and in turn the Clients we undertake work for driving the industry forward.

What do you find beneficial about being an AGS Member?

Why do you feel the AGS is important to the industry?

Being an AGS member is beneficial for me as an individual as it assists with my own continuous professional development. In turn, I can help promote the AGS within the industry to ensure the latest industry standards, guidance and perspectives are being considered. The goal is for the individual AGS members

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The goal is for the individual AGS members to give this advice to our own organisations and in turn the Clients we undertake work for...

The AGS with so many member companies within the industry is important as it brings together the professional and dedicated members of various firms with specialist knowledge of both geotechnical and geoenvironmental specialism’s giving them a platform for discussing industry standards and best practice. The AGS

data format is also an invaluable part of the AGS work.

What changes would you like to see implemented in the geotechnical industry?

Within the AGS meetings and the wider industry there are always ‘hot’ topics regarding certain aspects of our work which we could change to improve technical output, quality including reducing H&S incidences. By being a member of the AGS I hope to continue to support these initiatives and spread the word.

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AGS Guide to...

HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMEN FOR GROUND INVESTIGATION

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a ‘catch all’ by requiring for odern health and The purpose of all other significant risks safety practice this procedure is that ‘suitable and sufficient identifies Risk to ensure that the risk assessment of health and Assessment as the basis for safety risks shall be made to risk management. Managers, assessment system enable appropriate control designers, etc. are required to is understood and measures to be put in place’. identify the threats to their utilised... workers’ (and others’) health The purpose of this and safety, and then to take procedure is to ensure that the risk appropriate steps to ensure protection. That is assessment system is understood and utilised what is meant by doing everything reasonably to a suitable and sufficient standard in all practicable to ensure the health, safety and operations. welfare of employees and anyone else who may be affected by the work being carried out How to Complete the Risk Assessment as detailed in the Health and Safety at Work Form etc Act 1974.

Ideally the risk assessment will be produced Many individual Regulations require risk concurrently with the relevant method assessments to be carried out including statements. The Risk Assessment is more those covering noise, ionising radiation, likely to be activity based and may apply to hazardous substances and manual handling. more than one method statement. The Risk The Management of Health and Safety at Assessment consists of three parts: A, B & C. Work Regulations 1999 (as amended ) act as

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required over and above those stated.

Complete the titles alongside the box so that these additions can be identified.

Guidance It is important that the information given within the ‘Scope’ section is adequate and accurate in relation to the task and the associated requirements. This ensures that there is no ambiguity with regard to the extent of the assessment and what it does or does not cover.

Part B: The Assessment Instruction

NT Part A: Front Page Information Instruction The Contractor must carry out risk assessments.

Ensure that all boxes on the front sheet are completed. This is essential to ensure that all revisions to the document can be tracked, that there is an auditable trail for each task that has been assessed and that competent staff have been involved in the assessment process.

Complete the scope of the operation, its location and likely duration, and ensure that other pertinent factors are described. This can be continued on subsequent sheets if necessary and can refer to other documents.

Specific control measures to be considered (as required by law) should be identified in the tick boxes. These areas will require specific assessments of their own to be completed.

The boxes left blank are for additional controls

Identify hazards, those who could be affected and the possible outcome (severity) and, where possible, eliminate them. For those remaining hazards the risks are identified as acceptable or unacceptable in terms of their potential for harm. Use your own competent judgement, knowledge and information to hand to decide whether a risk is acceptable or unacceptable. For unacceptable risks specify the control measures necessary to eliminate the hazard or render it an acceptable risk.

Guidance There are six categories of risk to consider: •

Accident Risks – which can lead to physical injuries • Physical Risks – such as noise, vibration, excessive heat, radiation • Chemical Risks – the wide range of hazardous substances • Biological Risks – such as the organism which causes Weil’s Disease • Ergonomic Risks – such as from manual handling • Work Organisation Risks – such as stress or excessive working hours If the risk can be alleviated further with relatively little effort, then control measures

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should also be implemented for these risks.

Control Measures and the ‘General Principles of Prevention’ Guidance

6. Consider overall policy – with good design, procurement, site planning and specific method statements 7. Protect everyone with the controls, rather than individuals with PPE 8. Consult, instruct and train employees The priority for all risks is to identify them as early as possible, seek to design them out or lower, and address the residual risks as early as possible in the development of the health and safety plan.

When risks have been assessed, the output is the selection of appropriate control measures. In addition to meeting specific legal requirements (such as restricting noise exposure to below the Second Action Level, or installing an intermediate rail on a scaffold lift), the measures should follow the following general Apply control principles:

“ measures to each

Apply control measures to each initial risk requiring action and the residual potential for harm so as to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

1. Avoid risks (e.g. design initial risk requiring out the use of a hazardous action and the residual material) The listing of control potential for harm so as measures should be carried 2. Combat risks at source to reduce the risk to an out in parallel with Method (e.g. wet cutting reduces Statement production until dust) acceptable level. the initial risks have been 3. Adapt the work to the reduced to acceptable levels. individual (design of the At the end of this process, risks with any workplace, choice of equipment, of work residual potential for harm are the “Site Risks” methods, etc.) to be transferred to the Site Safety Plan (SSP) 4. Keep up-to-date (e.g. some new tools generate lower vibration) The various sheets should be sequentially 5. Use less hazardous substitutes (e.g. waternumbered as appropriate. Use as many sheets based paint)

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from the weather) having been utilised as the focus Once the whole for a tool box talk on the Risk Assessment task at hand prior to work document is complete Part C: The Site Safety starting. It is imperative that and signed off for use, Plan (SSP) those briefing the SSP (i.e. the RAMS Register the “Responsible Manager) Instruction ensure that the information should be updated as Once the Risk Assessment and detail contained within necessary... for a particular activity the document is understood has been completed out and by those operatives approved, prepare the SSP. completing the works and that a copy of the SSP is displayed at all times with regular The SSP must be used to identify the key site reviews and amendments taking place as risks (derived from Part B), their potential for necessary. harm (taken from the ‘Initial Risk’ column), necessary site Control Measures, Training Once the whole Risk Assessment document / Certification required, Permits required is complete and signed off for use, the RAMS and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Register should be updated as necessary to deemed necessary (all to be listed). This is an indicate that the process is complete. essential summary of the information needed Guidance by operational staff to appreciate the residual risks involved in their task and the associated The SSP should only contain the most controls in place to ensure their health and important aspects of the task and should not safety. therefore be a complete copy of the initial risk as are necessary to record all the hazards, risks and controls.

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The SSP MUST NOT be used to re-issue / re-write the risk assessment or associated method statement in detail – it should summarise the most important key issues that are essential to the operatives completing the works.

It is imperative that any Permits which have been drawn up as a part of the process (e.g.

Permit to Dig) and as a result have become part of the operation control measures, are clearly identified and their contents discussed during the briefing to ensure that the operatives are aware of specific risk controls.

Prior to issue, the completed SSP must be signed off by the author and the person(s) designated to approve the document.

It must then be available and if possible displayed at the workplace (and protected

assessment itself. Other pertinent information may be added such as: •

References to the applicable Risk Assessment(s) and Method Statement(s) (RAMS) • Drawing(s) and Sketch(es) which may be applicable • First Aid Contact Details • Manager Responsible / Supervisor / Foreman The association of any Permits that may be required and operated during the task will help staff appreciate the level of risk associated with the works. The importance of permit and associated controls compliance should be reinforced and linked back to the SSP for completeness. Wherever any doubt is shown, the whole operation (including the RAMS, SSP’s and any permits) must be worked

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through again with the operation not taking place until full understanding is demonstrated.

As previously stated, each completed SSP must form the basis of a toolbox talk briefing session to all operatives and supervisors prior to commencing the particular operation.

Toolbox talks are part of ‘training’ and should be recorded.

Monitoring and Review Instruction

the associated assessment.

All reviews and / or revisions to the document must be logged and any changes made communicated to the workforce.

Risk Assessment Use and Format Guidance The Risk Assessment system and the associated method statement can be used for all scenarios for which the company must complete assessments. The way in which the system is used remains the same but the specifics of the content will alter.

Once a task is being carried out, it must be monitored to ensure that the assessment, its controls and associated systems are adequate and fit The risk for purpose. How, when and assessment must by whom this is done will be reviewed regularly, depend upon the nature of and immediately if the task in hand.

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Each risk assessment should document the following:

• Identification of the hazard, the potential for harm arising there is any substantive • Evaluation of the risk, The risk assessment must change in the system of describing the likelihood and be reviewed regularly, and work... severity of harm immediately if there is any • Identification of any substantive change in the ‘Safety Critical’ workers system of work, environment involved in the activity or personnel. Such a review should also take place following an accident or incident • Selection of appropriate controls, to prevent on site to ensure that the documentation is or minimise exposure to the risk suitable and sufficient. Review dates should be • Methods for implementing and maintaining recorded, even if the assessment otherwise the controls selected remains unchanged, and changes recorded on • Monitoring requirements, to check that the the RAMS with appropriate revision number. controls are implemented and that they are effective in protecting against the risk Guidance • Record keeping requirements, including Risk assessments may be reviewed and/ maintaining the documented risk or revised whenever the competent person assessment itself and reviewing it feels it is necessary. This could be due to an periodically incident, as a result of suggestions from staff When reviewing assessments completed for improvement, following a specified date or by third parties such as sub-contractors or owing to changes to procedures, equipment, suppliers, the same basic information should location, personnel or the environment. The be available through their own assessment task itself should also be subject to ongoing procedure. Use the form as a method of crossmonitoring and review arrangements as checking the level of detail they have provided significant changes may result in the review of and consider what elements would have been

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included should your company have completed the exercise. In any case – the assessment must be (in the eyes of the writer and reviewer) ‘suitable and sufficient’.

Generic (‘Pro-forma’) Assessments Guidance The use of generic assessments has become widespread. These assessments are a useful tool if used as a starting point in the assessment process and may be appropriate for low risk, repetitive tasks. It is imperative that, before each task takes place, if a generic assessment is being used in the initial stages, that it is reviewed against the specifics of the task in hand. Should the review reveal no requirements for amendment or updating, this fact should be recorded and the assessment signed before use.

•

Other employees working in the vicinity of the work If generic assessments are used more than once or appear on a regular • The Principal Contractor basis as a part of a standard (if not your company) Each significant submission from working Sub-contractors should be risk assessment parties such as contractors, required to demonstrate should be converted for example, this fact should their arrangements in be brought to the attention into a SSP, which communicating their own of the management. No work risk assessments. Each should be used to should proceed before the significant risk assessment communicate to site assessment is agreed as should be converted into a operatives through a being suitable and sufficient SSP, which should be used tool box talk. for the task in hand. to communicate to site operatives through a tool Communication box talk. Feedback on risk assessments and their adequacy should be encouraged from all Guidance parties associated with it.

Risk Assessments or relevant parts, must Although every effort has been made to check be communicated effectively and in a the accuracy of the information and validity comprehensible manner to those likely to be of the guidance given in this document, affected by the work, including: neither the members of the Safety Working • Other contractors, or employers, whose Group, nor the AGS accept any responsibility employees may be affected by the work for mis-statements contained herein or • Employees and supervisors engaged in the misunderstanding arising herefrom. work

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AGS Working Group Focus

Contaminated Land Overview content and source, permeability, gas generation potential etc.

The AGS Contaminated Land Working Group met for the second time this year on Wednesday 16th May in London. With 24 representatives in attendance the meeting provided a number of geoenvironmental talking points for the group.

Here Vivien Dent, Associate Technical Director at RSK and Contaminated Land Working Group Leader provides a short summary on the top three topics of discussion;

1. Anthropogenic soils The Contaminated Land Working Group are currently putting together a guidance note on the description of anthropogenic soils. This guidance will cover materials in the ground which fall outside the British Standard soil descriptions, which will allow a third party to understand what the material is and its implications for contaminant

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Environmental Associates).

The event is taking place at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London on Wednesday 2. AGS Asbestos in Soil 12th September Guidance and will see This guidance After a Dr Jacqueline will cover discussion, Skipper the group materials in the (Senior have agreed ground which fall Partner to update and Senior outside the British the AGS Geologist Standard soil Asbestos in at the descriptions... soil guidance Geotechnical note. The update Consulting is in its early stages Group) provide a keynote and will possibly signpost presentation to open the other documents and will conference. Jacqueline was incorporate some guidance on awarded the Geological Society testing.

Engineering Group Award and in 2017 was elected to receive 3. Ground Risk: Why take the 18th Glossop Medal and the chance? A ‘Lessons deliver the prestigious 18th Learnt’ Conference Glossop Lecture.

This upcoming AGS ground Delegates wishing to register risk conference is a big for the event should email focus for the group as the ags@ags.org.uk before afternoon half will focus Tuesday 4th September. on geoenvironmental topics. Presentations from If you wish to attend AGS Working Group members Contaminated Land Working include Ground Gas Risk Group meetings, please - The Risk from Incorrect contact the AGS Secretariat by Characterisation (Gavin emailing ags@ags.org.uk.

Allsopp, NHBC) and Waste Classification for Soils – An AGS Practitioners’ Guide (Mike Plimmer, Geotechnical and

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Geotechnical Overview reduced profitability, higher insurance premiums and more time spent on defence of claims.

The Geotechnical Working Group are hoping to encourage improvements in Ground Investigation design quality.

The second AGS Geotechnical Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 20th April and the Geotechnical Acting Leader, Stephen West of Ramboll, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Geotechnical Working Group are discussing.

1. Improving design and execution quality of Ground Investigation The Geotechnical Working Group are looking to improve the design and executive quality of Ground Investigation. The group are currently reaching out to client bodies to inform a short term sub-group on this issue. This issue is an important issue to the AGS as technical quality of investigation has been identified as one of the key risks in the industry and decisions made based on poor quality information generally result in a poor value project.

The impact of this issue on the Members of the AGS include

2. Enhancing appreciation of geotechnical issues in the construction industry supply chain The second issue that the Geotechnical Working Group are reviewing is enhancing appreciation of geotechnical issues in the construction industry supply chain. The group are looking to generate advice notes for non-geotechnical engineering groups and engaging with bodies such as ISTRUCTE, RIBA, and NHBC etc.

The group believes this issue is important to the AGS. There is a need to raise the reputation and importance of geotechnical issues across the construction supply chain. This will help to encourage new blood into AGS Member organisations.

Currently the impact of this issue in AGS Members is that there is a reduced pool of suitable recruits to meet needs for industry growth. The group are looking to improve this issue by engaging with non-ground engineering focused industry

organisations.

3. Ensuring Eurocode 7 update considers working practice experience The third issue that the Geotechnical Working Group are working on is ensuring that the Eurocode 7 Update considers working practice experience.

Members of the Geotechnical Working Group have been tasked with the reviewing and providing feedback on key sections of Eurocode 7.

4. Additional Topics There is a great deal of interest in this year’s AGS Ground Risk Conference which is being held on 12th September 2018 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London. This is seen as being a great opportunity to help encourage change.

The issue of the use of trial pit infiltration tests has been discussed a lot. From a technical perspective, this is seen as a questionable test driven by local authorities as opposed to actual ground parameter testing and a better way should be sought.

If you wish to attend AGS Geotechnical Working Group meetings, please contact the AGS Secretariat by emailing ags@ags.org.uk.

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Upcoming Events Engineering in Chalk Conference The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) with support from the Engineering Group of the Geological Society (EGGS) will be hosting a major two-day international conference on Engineering in Chalk on 17th and 18th September 2018 at Imperial College in London.

The conference aims to bring together the knowledge and experience of industry and academia by presenting research and case histories to provide a definitive up to date perspective on engineering in Chalk.

Visit the event website for more information. To register for tickets, please click here.

Land Site Characterisation Seminar - Fugro Fugro are holding a seminar, which will consider how ground surveys can help you to reduce uncertainty and manage construction risk; It will provide advice on how to commission an effective investigation, highlight technical innovations and provide an overview of investigation methods.

• • •

ground investigation rationale, doing the right things in the right order investigation methods – geophysics, drilling and sampling, CPT, laboratory testing, monitoring getting more from the data – delivering information via online portals for instant shared access, building robust ground models based on multiple data streams.

The events are free and are aimed at infrastructure developers, consultants and contractors.

27th June, Maple House, 150 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6TB, 28th June, Avonmouth House, 6 Avonmouth Street, London, SE1 6NX For more information and to book contact Amy Bennett A.bennett@fugro.com or Simon Brightwell s.brightwell@fugro.com 38

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SoBRA Annual Summer Workshop Monday 18th June at Camden Town Hall, London SoBRA are pleased to announce that their 2018 Summer Workshop event will this year focus upon fine tuning water environment DQRA. Topics will include understanding NAPL Transmissivity, the application of source zone depletion in models, when to use biodegradation and many other topics. The day will be a combination of both presentations plus lively workshops.

Early Careers Event Tuesday 19th June at the Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London

SoBRA are pleased to be working alongside the Contaminated Land Group of the Geological Society and RemSoc to provide a forum for early career professionals looking to develop their understanding of brownfield risk assessment.

The event will cover fundamental ways to improve risk assessment within the context of geological knowledge and remedial needs. The day will also include a presentation on chartership and accreditation and the opportunity to take part in practical workshops.

For registration and further information please click here: https://sobra.org.uk/events/

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Training Courses

Asbestos from Soil Training Did you know that CIRIA now offers both open and in-house training on asbestos from soil awareness and for non-licensed work for asbestos in the ground?

For further information visit www.ciria.org

Asbestos Awareness & Non Licensable Work Training CL:AIRE is currently delivering in house CAR-SOIL, Asbestos Awareness & Non Licensable Work training for groundworkers for those companies that wish to upskill their work force in working with asbestos in soil, construction and demolition materials in a cost effective way. In addition, for those who may only have a small number of staff who need training, do get in touch and CL:AIRE would be happy to try and bring companies together to make the training more cost effective by providing training in your region.

If this is of interest, please enquire through the CL:AIRE Help desk and specify which course you are interested in, the location and any specific requirements you have: https://www.claire.co.uk/ help-desk

Revised Training: Specialist Geotechnical Heath and Safety Courses Equipe Training and their health and safety training partners RPA Safety Services are delighted to announce their collection of specialist IOSH health and safety courses for the geotechnical market have been revised and renewed for 2018.

These courses are approved and certified by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and meet the requirements of UK Health and Safety regulations for working on geotechnical and land drilling sites. Upcoming courses include: • 25th - 27th July 2018 - IOSH Safe Supervision of Geotechnical Sites • 19th July 2018 - IOSH Working Safely (on Geotechnical Sites) • 20th July 2018 - IOSH Avoiding Danger from Underground Services Places on these courses can be booked online here, or via contacting Equipe on +44 (0)1295 670990 or info@equipegroup.com 40

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How to become a Member of the AGS

AGS Members all share a commitment to quality in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental industry. This has become widely recognised by clients, governmental bodies and other associations that touch issues to do with the ground.

We welcome both companies and individuals who want to be recognised for their quality of practice to join our growing membership of over 130 Members. We shape our industry, continually improve practice and collaborate on issues that affect us all; from clients, all the way through to the people who use the land and the buildings we help develop.

To become a Member of the AGS, please visit http://www.ags.org.uk/about/become-a-member and submit your application online. Please note that all membership applications are reviewed by the Membership Committee 6 weeks in advance of each quarterly Senate meeting.

The deadline for the next round of completed applications is 14th August 2018.

AGS Chemical and Legal Helplines All Members of the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are entitled to free chemical and contractual advice through the use of Loss Prevention Committee Members, Marquis & Lord and BLM Solicitors.

For advice on chemical safety and best practice, Marquis & Lord will provide 30 minutes of free advice to all AGS Members.

Additionally, if you’re an AGS Member and are looking for legal advice, please speak to Michael Salau, Guy Lane or Zita Mansi at BLM Solicitors where the first 15 minutes of legal advice will be free of charge.

CHEMICAL SAFETY HELPLINE

LEGAL HELPLINE

Marquis & Lord Tel: 0800 083 4610 www.marquisandlord.com

BLM Solicitors Telephone: 020 7638 2811 www.blmlaw.com

Disclaimer The articles included in this magazine are the opinions of the authors and are not intended to be a complete or comprehensive statement of the law, nor do they constitute legal or specialist advice.

They are intended only to highlight current issues from date of publication that may be of interest.

Neither the writer, nor the AGS, assumes any responsibility for any loss that may arise from accessing, or reliance on the material and all liability is disclaimed accordingly. Professional advice should be taken before applying the content of the articles to particular circumstances.

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Advertising and Rates An online advertising campaign within the AGS Magazine will help to build and increase industry awareness of your company’s profile, initiatives and offerings.

The AGS can help build a package to suit your needs and budget; whether it’s a series of adverts across multiple issues, a combination of event sponsorship and advertising, or a single advertorial.

How to Advertise in the AGS Magazine The AGS Magazine is a free email publication which looks at a range of topical issues, insights and concerns, whilst publishing new guidance notes, working group activities and information on upcoming industry seminars.

With 6 issues each year, our subscribers include industry professionals such as practitioners, chartered specialists, senior decision makers and managing directors.

To receive a media pack or to discuss advertising rates, please contact Caroline Kratz on 0208 658 8212 or email ags@ags.org.uk

Adversiting Requirements

Advert Sizes and Rates

All adverts should be sent in a PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD (Photoshop) or EPS (Illustrator) format.

 FULL PAGE W: 210mm H: 297mm RATE: £400  HALF PAGE W: 210mm H: 145mm RATE: £250  QUARTER PAGE

company name address contact number email

W: 105mm H: 145mm RATE: £160

logo

 DIRECTORY Company name, address, contact number, email and one logo.

RATE: £50

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All advertising artwork must be supplied in 114 dpi resolution.

Magazine

Artwork must be delivered to the AGS using the agreed artwork specification size listed left.

Artwork should be emailed to ags@ags.org. uk no later than 10 days prior to publication.

Directory i2 Analytical Ltd 7 Woodshots Meadow, Croxley Park, Watford, Herts, WD18 8YS  +44 (0)1923 225 404  reception@i2analytical.com

ADVERTISE HERE FOR JUST £50

AGS Dates for Your Diary

Upcoming AGS Events AGS Ground Risk Conference London’s Cavendish Conference Centre Wednesday 12th September 2018 For more information, contact ags@ags.org.uk

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