UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (UXO) RISK MANAGEMENT - WHY ARTIOS?
BACKGROUND
Artios provides impartial risk assessments and mitigation plans that enable our clients to make informed decisions about Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) contamination. To ensure our impartiality, we do not provide on-site mitigations but instead, offer third party assurance, peer reviews and consultancy services.
SOURCES OF LAND BASED UXO CONTAMINATION
Sources of UXO contamination in the UK have come mainly from the World Wars (training, defence and enemy bombing raids), but also from post-war military training right up to the present day.
Several cities in the UK such as London, Coventry and Liverpool were severely affected by German bombing during WWII. Also, various defensive actions took place, such as anti-aircraft artillery fire, mine laying along beaches and airfields, and armed defences like pillboxes and coastal batteries. Military training has also taken place across large portions of the UK, with portions of this estate sold off by the MOD into private ownership.
CONSEQUENCES
Explosive ordnance is generally designed to kill and maim people or destroy infrastructure. This ranges from aerial delivered German munitions, to items of explosive ordnance like, grenades, rockets, and mortars. All of these items, whether large or small, have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries in the unlikely event of an inadvertent initiation (explosion).
OUR SERVICES
Artios uses a team of highly qualified UXO risk mitigation experts who rigorously follow industry best practice and have decades of experience in explosive ordnance disposal. Our team follows a proven desktop research process that benefits from access to extensive archives including historical maps, bomb density reports, UXO geospatial databases and internet sources that are not all available in the public domain.
All services are delivered using an Integrated Management System which is fully ISO 9001 and 14001 certified and is accredited to Cyber Essentials Plus. We are also fully indemnified to provide these services, with insurance certificates available upon request.
STAGE 1: PRELIMINARY UXO RISK ASSESSMENTS
Wartime bomb-density mapping gathering associated UXO contamination geo-data from multiple sources.
Despite the intensity of the German ‘Blitzkrieg’ over the UK during WWII, most parts of the country suffered only minimal bombing and some, none at all. This means that, for most sites, a Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment based on systematic research using existing data sets, can often rule out the need for further actions to mitigate any risks.
Artios’ Preliminary UXO Risk Assessments are designed and structured in accordance with Stage 1 for Risk Management Strategy outlined in the industry standard CIRIA C681 UXO - A Guide for the Construction Industry. This level of assessment is the first step in a cost-effective approach that recognises that, for the majority of sites in the UK, this quick and straight-forward assessment will determine that no further actions are required
STAGE 2: DETAILED UXO RISK ASSESSMENTS
Detailed and focused mapping with potential UXO contamination from wartime and modern military use clearly plotted.
A Detailed UXO Risk Assessment (DRA) is designed and structured as per the Stages 2 & 3 of the Risk Management Strategy outlined in the industry standard CIRIA C681 UXO - A Guide for the Construction Industry. In accordance with this industry best practice, we recommend that a DRA is undertaken when a Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment has determined a requirement for a more detailed assessment of the UXO risk, to ensure that it is being managed to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
STAGE 3: RISK MITIGATION PLAN
As part of our Detailed UXO Risk Assessments, we provide a transparent and navigable mitigation plan. This covers both the Health and Safety as a consequence of initiation (explosion), and that of Business Interruption. Different portions of a site may require different mitigations depending on the likelihood of encounter, the nature of the expected UXO contamination and the types of work that are going to be conducted. Artios, therefore, routinely provide our clients with maps featuring coloured coded zones to enable them to make good decisions about managing UXO risk.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
INDEPENDENT PEER REVIEW OF RISK ASSESSMENTS
At this site there was a 66% reduction in intrusive surveys after detailed research and considered analysis.
UXO Risk Management can be costly in time and money and needs to be reliable. Artios can complete an independent peer review of risk assessments and provide impartial advice as to whether the recommended mitigations are appropriate. This is particularly pertinent when organisations are considering contracting the same provider that carried out the Detailed UXO Risk Assessment to implement on-site mitigations. Our independent peer reviews give confidence that the specified mitigations are actually required.
UXO RISK MANAGEMENT: CLIENT REPRESENTATION & ASSURANCE.
If on-site UXO mitigations are being applied, Artios can also provide external Quality Assurance as a client representative. This gives you the assurance that the UXO mitigations that have been procured are being delivered to the standard required. Our provision of external Quality Assurance can start with a desk-top review of the UXO mitigation company’s systems and procedures; followed by on-site visits to check that implementation is compliant with industry standards and your company requirements.
Artios also advises and assists clients with formulating Statements of Requirement prior to procuring UXO mitigation services, by carefully defining risk parameters and ensuring Value for Money.
