01.01.06
Safety is more than skin deep
Although safety is very much part of the rail sector’s DNA, there are still areas in which technology could be used to reduce accidents further and improve project efficiencies. So says Bob Tallentire, managing director of Adien, the utility detection and mapping specialist.
“One of the most overlooked phases of project management is the crucial pre-planning phase. This is where important preparation work can be carried out to reduce overall project costs whilst improving safety. One such area is the utility service plan review process, which can have a huge impact on safe digging practices and the overall cost of the project.
“With the development of service location devices such as ground probing radar in conjunction with radio frequency equipment, there is no longer an excuse for construction teams to encounter unexpected drainage pipes, telecoms cables or any other buried utility.
“We are not only a ground probing radar company. It is only through the dual confirmation of the line and depth of utilities using more than one piece of equipment that we can offer the accuracies that we do to our clients. Providing such equipment on site is not cheap. Each of the Adien surveying vehicles costs £100,000 to equip and put onto site.
“We are very fortunate to be owned by PipeHawk plc who specialise in ground probing radar (GPR) technology. Recently, a leading research, development and training institute in the US undertook some independent trials of GPR equipment. They found that the PipeHawk II which we use is head and shoulders above other equipment in the market place.
“We have a unique relationship with PipeHawk in that they will develop equipment especially for our use with clients. Recently, a client requested that we provide accurate information on a railway platform environment. PipeHawk adapted the PipeHawk technology specifically for them.
“Our clients use us for a variety of reasons. Some are focused solely on health and safety issues and want to provide all information possible to their staff about buried utilities before they break ground. Clearly, accidents such as cutting through buried power cables can cause significant project delays, and, more importantly, put crew members’ lives at risk. And with the growing awareness of corporate manslaughter cases in the rail industry, negligence is no excuse it if can be proven that pre-project surveys would have identified hidden, potentially dangerous services.
“Others see us an intrinsic part of the design process, adding value with their design team to decisions about where and how best to divert utilities at minimum cost and disruption to all concerned parties. Our recent work with tie, the organisation responsible for the Edinburgh Tram project has shown that careful planning can ensure project teams can locate buried services without the need to dig time-consuming and costly trial holes. This example, while creating a safe working environment, has also reduced significantly the anticipated costs associated with this type of high density urban project. The same rules can be applied to major civil engineering projects in the rail sector.”
“As well as finding the utilities and marking line and depth, Adien’s surveying department used their Leica GPS Total Stations to collect both the data and other topographical information to produce the drawings required by the client. The information Adien were able to produce has reduced significantly the anticipated costs associated with this type of high density urban project. Utility diversion costs which were estimated at £70m are likely to be reduced by at least 10% now that accurate utility information is available
“Independent research has shown that, by following best practice, our clients will improve safety and improve profitability, which may have something to do with the five fold increase in Adien’s activity in the last five years.”
Adien are fully ISO 9001:2000 accredited and are also Link-up approved for trackside work.
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