HD Detailed Groundworks Audit

Evidence the Risk Hierarchy has been applied to both temporary and permanent works associated with excavations.

Ground information collated and readily available (e.g. Ground investigation report, trial holes, detection surveys, etc.).

Evidence SSoW considers information from planning and preparation work and required mitigation.

Competent Services/Utilities Coordinator appointed to manage process and control works where services could be present.

Evidence all appropriate and available record information has been gathered, made readily available to the workforce with the information confirmed and full mark up undertaken.

SSoW & daily briefing materials recognise potential of uncontrolled contact with underground services or utilities and mitigation measures have been adopted?

Calibrated cat & genny (or similar) used before, and continuously during excavation by trained, fully competent operators?

Permit to Dig in place, understood and any specific unusual or complex aspects actioned?

Evidence overhead services considered, impact assessed and mitigation in place, (avoidance, diversion, isolation).

Evidence of controls for O/H services (e.g. barriers, goalposts, warning notices) and permit to dig conditions applied?

"Has TWC made and recorded an assessment of excavation constraints:<br>- Ground conditions, contamination, risk of deterioration over time<br>- Underground structures or water courses<br>- Location, avoidance and protection or support of existing services<br>- Stability of adjacent structures

Safe angle of repose evaluated, including potential local variations?

All identified materials & equipment available before commencement?

Relevant persons/equipment users briefed on TW support schemes, safe use of equipment, precautions and inspection frequencies?

Suitable and sufficient barriers and signage, managed and maintained to prevent unauthorised access into excavation work areas?

Suitable access and egress identified, including for emergencies?

Suitable edge protection provided and maintained to prevent loose materials or falls from height?

Materials stored at least 1.5m away from excavation edges?

Vehicle and plant movements restricted close to excavations to prevent excess loading, risk of collapse and / or uncontrolled entry?

Evidence of ongoing monitoring / review by competent persons?

Vehicles or plant producing exhaust fumes located away from excavation edges.

Detection equipment available in the event of changed circumstances?

Emergency plan in place, reviewed for local changes or work content, and briefed to all site personnel?

Is dust removed at source using appropriate vacuum extraction where identified as a specific hazard? If vacuum extraction is not practicable, are dampening down arrangements in place and used?

When neither vacuum extraction or dampening down techniques are possible, are Exclusion Zones established and maintained and appropriate RPE provided and used properly?

Health surveillance carried out for LOR persons using vibrating equipment above 2.5m/s2? (Contractors require a mutually agreed action plan)

Has all vibrating equipment established, clearly labelled EAV (Exposure Action value) and ELV (Exposure Limit values), or if labelling missing, is there evidence that user understands EAV and ELV implications and is not exceeding user times?

Is there a system in place, and is it being managed, to ensure individuals do not exceed the ELV?

Is there evidence that the workforce have received and understood information relating to HAVS and the safe use of vibrating equipment?

Is there evidence equipment producing the lowest vibration levels of vibration, has been selected and used?

Manual Handling Assessments completed for all relevant activities?

Were mechanical alternatives considered and used where practicable?

Is an Appointed Services Coordinator (formally trained or having demonstrated appropriate knowledge and experience) in post to control all works where U/G and O/H services may be present?

Have sufficient personnel been trained and tested in the use of detection equipment deployed for the location of apparatus?

Do those involved in excavation works hold a current qualification including location and avoidance of underground services?

Services/Apparatus owner has been consulted and up to date record information, for the works area, has been provided.

Permit to Work system in place and operating for all critical service work, issued by competent person with knowledge of the site?

Most suitable means of detection determined from record information (GPR, Radio Detection: cat and genny, etc.)?

Is equipment, both provided and in use, calibrated (if required) and within test date?

Evidence operators understand the full operating scope of their equipment?

Evidence all recognised sources contacted for record information and a physical response related to the works area received?

Up to date records directly available to work team and evidence they are regularly referred to?

Evidence of information up-dates sought from utility owners and provided to work team when working over a prolonged period?

Services information confirmed on site and understandable physical mark-up completed and maintained to prevent deterioration?

For OH apparatus, clear identification/signage/marking in place and maintained (goal posts, bunting etc.).

Provision and proper use of flame resistant PPE and insulated tools appropriate to rating, type and location of anticipated services?

Evidence of continual monitoring (Cat & Genny) during excavation, confirmation of data, review & recording of 'as found' information?

Evidence personnel make visual inspection for damage, deterioration prior to entering excavations or working around OH equipment.

Evidence all Plant is, or will be, included in Pre-mobilisation inspection / check process (review physical records on site)?

Are Persons conducting pre-mobilisation, competent and knowledgeable on specific plant items (e.g. mechanical qualification and/or relevant training or ticket)?

Plant / Heavy Vehicles clearly identified as approved for use? (Prominently displayed stickers, labels or similar)

Evidence that all statutory and business required inspections are completed (and where required recorded) whilst plant and equipment is in use and under the control of the project.

Evidence that operators undertake all required 'pre-use checks' before operating plant and equipment.

Evidence that a defects resolution process is in place, operating and understood by all personnel involved.

Confirmation that plant and equipment subject to Prohibition notices are quarantined and not in use and that all category B defects identified have been repaired or arrangements made to be repaired.

Plant Operator training records available and up to date with evidence they have been assessed for competency? (CPCS is preferred training)

All relevant licences for used and stored equipment up to date, particular for specific High Risk Equipment?

Rigorous checks conducted to ensure training, competence and knowledge of those operating recognised/listed High Risk Equipment?

Are all Powered Hand Tools checked by users in line with manufacturers instructions, prior to use?

Evidence that all guards and safety devices provided with the tool are comfirmed as working and used as directed?

Segregation / appropriate barricading maintained between Plant, Equipment and Pedestrians?

Required signage in place and it's meaning clear for workshop entry / restricted areas / areas requiring specific control measures?

Specified Exclusion zones or Permits in place and being maintained?

Do Heavy Vehicles / Plant have adequate positive means of warning others of their presence or close operation?

Are those responsible for directing or controlling Plant & Equipment trained and competent, with suitable means of communications (e.g. Radios)?

Evidence ground stability and bearing pressure verified by a competent engineer (Geotech) for plant loadings and buried services with any controls or outworking incorporated into the Safe System of Work.

Outrigger supports in place and appropriate for the work being undertaken (in line with Manufacturers / Operators manual)?

Are keys removed and all available on-board vehicle immobilisation systems applied to vehicles when left unattended?

Appropriate provision to prevent uncontrolled movement of vehicles in event of a braking or immobilisation system failure in vehicle parking / storage areas? (e.g. baulk timber or wheel stops, earth berms etc)?

Where provision detailed above cannot be provided are vehicles physically restrained by means of chocking or wheel restraints?

Provision of regulation walkways, guardrails , effective barricading?

Physical barriers at crossing points and clear guidance on Right of Way?

Traffic Management Plan outlines clearly pedestrian areas and vehicle speed requirements.

Evidence of an effective Traffic Management Plan in place, risk based, regularly reviewed, updated and implemented?

Programme is in place to manage driver / operator behaviour and the resulting consequences?

Evidence Fatigue Management has been considered and functional plans are in place where a need for control has been identified?

Evidence journey management has been considered and functional plans in place where a need has been identified.

Have a TWC and deputy TWC been formally appointed and are these individuals suitable trained and competent having the relevant experience?

Has the scope of the appointments been clearly defined and is this fully understood by those carrying out the roles?

Do the TWC and deputy have the capacity to undertake the roles they are appointed to?

If no TWC appointment has been made does the individual retaining these responsibilities have the necessary training, competency and experience?

Evidence of register recording all required information - Does this reflect all current TW schemes on the project?

Does register take into account all foreseeable TW schemes?

Evidence identified TWs control measures have been or are being effectively progressed?

Evidence TW designer competencies checked by TWC or other competent individual? (as defined under regs)

Sufficient TWS formally appointed? - Individuals trained & competent, with experience relevant to their schemes they will inspect?

Is a TWS identified for every item of TW’s?

Evidence the residual risks from TW’s designs effectively communicated to those involved in the TW scheme?

Are all TW on site constructed in line with the design and / or manufacturer's instructions.

Evidence that adequately demonstrates the competency of those involved in the erection, use, maintenance and removal of TW and it is specific to the TW systems they are required to work on.

Evidence that both the erection and removal of TWs is covered in relevant SSoW.

Is there evidence of robust routine inspections being undertaken and recorded for all items of TW’s?

Where subcontractors undertake inspections on behalf of LOR, evidence to verify the competence of their TWS?

Evidence LOR TWC or TWS undertakes sufficient independent checks to maintain confidence in Contractors?

Are permits to access, load and unload TW being completed and are works managed inline with permit conditions?

If the project is a JV, has a JV specific TW procedure been developed and approved by the LOR Project Leader?

Have all external parties been engaged additionally are agreements in place and is sufficient information available to properly inform the TW’s design?

Have all managers and supervisors where required, received the relevant level of training in respect of TWs?

Do subcontract documents clearly define the TW’s requirements associated with that work package

Have work packages been let in sufficient time to allow the TW’s design / checking process to take place?

Is there visibility of an effective, up to date, accessible and manageable recording / filing system for TW?

Approvals have been granted for the traffic management to undertaken.

Traffic Control Plan(TCP) has been developed / approved by the Local Authority and issued out to the TM team for relevant works

Traffic Management Plan(TMP) has been developed / approved by the Local Authority and issued out to the TM team for relevant works

All TM team have been briefed and signed on to the generic TM method statement, of which a copy is readily available with the TM teams

Dynamic Risk Assessments has been undertaken and all members of the TM team have been briefed and signed onto it.

Planned Traffic Management falls within requirements.

The Project Manager / Project Leader has formally appoint a competent Traffic Safety and Control Officer (TSCO) as required by Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.

The Project Manager / Project Leader will formally appoint a competent site boundary coordinator.

All TM team hold relevant tickets on their person for the task that they are performing.

An M6 supervisor should be “available” not necessarily on site, however they should be close enough to site to be able to visit as and when required.

An M7 / 12D Manager is within the team and is able to be readily contacted by members of the team / clients for advice

Traffic Management Pre-delivery worksheet has been completed and all issues actioned prior to leaving depot.

Following set up Traffic Management Worksheet has been completed and all issues actioned prior to commissioning traffic changes.

Where traffic lights are used 12D checklist has been completed and all issues actioned prior to commissioning traffic changes.

Ongoing review / weekly checks are completed by onsite teams and by sites every 24 hours with all action rectified within a specified time

Traffic Management design has been set up as per TMP or the dynamic risk assessment (in line with the CoP)

All non relevant permanent signage has been covered up

All signage has sufficient clips and sandbags and is not in the publics way (refer to TBT; Traffic Management Worksheet and CoP)

Sufficient clearances have been achieved from any aerial lines for any systems that need to be raised - intelligent signage (VMS)

Safety zones have been correctly established as per Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice; which is documented in the dynamic RA and TMP (if required)

Protection methods identified in the dynamic RA & generic method statement are being used - i.e. vehicle buffers for set up & site clearance

All TM vehicles have chevrons and working orange flashing lights

Specific PPE is worn and working.