Case Study: UK Atomic Energy Authority

Client

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Challenge

UKAEA required the services of an experienced and qualified Principal Designer with knowledge of asbestos and the public sector to help deliver the following services for this contract:

Preparation of H&S strategies
Undertaking risk assessments
Liaision with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with mandatory regulations.
Undertaking site inspections to ensure that policies and procedures were being properly implemented
Reviewing contractor documentation
Interfacing with clients/design teams on a project basis.

Solution

As Principal Designer, we were required to:

Develop the initial brief
Plan/manage/monitor pre-construction phase co-ordination
Help UKAEA identify/obtain/collate pre-construction information
Provide pre-construction information to Designers/Principal Contractor/Contractors
Co-ordinate significant H&S issues with the design team through to resolution
Ensure Designers co-operate with each other and comply with CDM 2015
Attend design review meetings
Support the Principal Contractor in seeking/obtaining responses to Designers’ H&S queries
Agree a format for and compile the statutory H&S file for formal handover at project completion
Communicate progress and raise awareness of potential H&S issues
Arbitrate on Client/Principal Contractor CDM and construction H&S disputes
Undertake on-site CDM compliance inspections, reporting to the Client

During the two-week mobilisation, we:

i. Assigned fully competent employees to this contract with the following qualifications:

NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.
NEBOSH Construction Certificate.
General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
Building Surveying Degree

ii. Arranged a site visit with UKAEA to gain access to the secure site and enable us to gather the information required to compile the PCI document. We liaised with key stakeholders and issued the PCI to relevant parties.

iii. Obtained/reviewed the Principal Contractor’s Construction Phase Health & Safety Plan to ensure it was adequately developed prior to the works starting.

iv. Confirmed with UKAEA any hazards present in proposed work areas, confirmed via asbestos register. We developed site-specific risk RAMS for the site visit (including photographs).

On work commencement, we:

i. Carried out site meetings with UKAEA/key stakeholders fortnightly and reported back on progress and H&S performance for the works.

ii. Liaised with all key stakeholders to ensure a smooth project delivery

iii. Advised on a range of issues:

Dealing with deleterious materials, e.g. asbestos
Health issues
Noise and vibration problems
Stresses and strains.

Success

KPIs included delivery of the PCI to the Principal Contractor (4 weeks prior to commencement), and completion of a site safety inspection within 48hrs of issue. Both KPIs were achieved.

We also delivered:

Cost savings – Inspectas delivered multi–disciplinary roles under 1 banner, making savings in professional fees
Environmental / sustainability benefits through electronic reporting
Efficiencies / innovations. We continue to develop a central H&S File, supporting client access to project information.