The prliminary assessment and formulation of a plan was the most important element of this Site Investigation.

Due to the majority of the site being open and easily accessible by the public, specific planning and practices had to be taken into account before any site works started. This involved an initial site walkover, confirming exact positions for each of the boreholes, as well as the specific vehicle access routes for each one. This was coordinated with site security, as several bollards and barriers had to be opened for the rigs to gain access to borehole areas.

During the site walkover, many services were noted very close to the proposed borehole locations. This meant that a setting out engineer was required, so all the services and drains were sprayed out near each of the proposed borehole locations, giving a sprayed out ‘safe’ box where a borehole could be drilled.

In addition to this, a desk-based look into the UXO risk on-site (pre site works) showed there was a high risk on-site. This meant that UXO supervision was booked for all of the boreholes undertaken, in order to minimise risk.

A thorough Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) was also completed and issued before site works, in order to confirm the risk assessment and method statement for all of the works being undertaken. The risk  assessment included:

• Site Access and Egress and security of the site
• Underground services
• Contaminated Ground
• Slips, trips and falls
• Hazardous substances
• Noise and vibration
• Plant and machinery for construction of boreholes
• Traffic management and transport
• Waste
• Unexploded ordinance
• Asbestos

With the detailed and thorough RAMS, along with the planning and pre-investigation work, the site works could go ahead.

 

Ground & Water was tasked with investigating the ground conditions on an area spanning the 506-acre Olympic Park. The challenge was to sink 18 boreholes, while ensuring the safety of the public, the integrity of buried services that cris-cross the site – all while working on land where there was a high risk of UXO. Measures included fencing set up for each of the boreholes; traffic management/marshalling of moving vehicles through the public area; management of locations and safety; along with accordance and communication with the existing site security.