opinion
Why less is often more when it comes to decommissioning surveys by Richard Vann
When conducting a decommissioning survey, more information doesn’t always equal better outcomes. Richard Vann, Managing Director at RVA, advocates for a “less is more” approach, highlighting how prioritising quality over quantity can transform project safety, efficiency and cost control for the better. What is a decommissioning survey and why does it matter? When a power plant, chemical facility, or other complex industrial site reaches the end of its 84 | DemolitionHUB Magazine
operational life, you need clear insights before dismantling begins. A decommissioning survey tells you what’s safe, what could present risks and which materials, residues and structural quirks the site holds. Ultimately, the role of this process is to gather data needed to make the decommissioning exercise safe, compliant, efficient and costeffective. At this stage the instinct might be to gather every piece of information possible. This paints a more comprehensive picture and improves project outcomes, right? In reality, it can have the opposite effect. Gathering too much, or the wrong kind of data, can overwhelm decision making, obscure real safety issues, waste resources and complicate an already complex scope of work. Taking a “less is more” approach – focusing surveys on complete, accurate and genuinely relevant information – is therefore crucial. And it lets contractors and engineers approach each phase with confidence, knowing they’re armed with exactly what they need, when they need it. In other words,
it’s about aiming for precision, rather than overload. But what does this look like in practice? Prioritising the HSE regime The primary goal of a decommissioning survey is to establish a stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) regime. Gathering a flood of data on irrelevant risks won’t help here. Instead, you should identify the exact hazards that matter most to the plant in question and target them in the survey. By zeroing in on specific HSE issues impacting the project, contractors can develop safe systems and best practices for subsequent work packages, ensuring safety is woven into the project’s fabric from the start. From project managers to on-the-ground engineers, limiting guesswork translates into safer outcomes for everyone. Exposing information gaps A targeted survey exposes information gaps that could lead to liabilities if overlooked. But don’t rely solely on data. To uncover DemolitionHub.com