Site Clearance and Top Soil Removal Method of Statement

This method of statement outlines the procedure and methodology for site clearance works and topsoil stripping including removal/demolition of existing buildings, road signage and trees which interfere with the new road alignment.

Site Clearance & Topsoil Stripping

All personnel entering the site shall have received a site safety induction and have attended a job toolbox talk.

A permit to dig form shall be issued by the Site Engineer relating to the area where Site Clearance and topsoil stripping is to be carried out.

The Section Engineer will consult relevant documentation for details of known services and will ensure that the required protections are in place prior to issuing a Permit to Dig.

Access to site shall be via approved access points (Refer to Figure for site access points).

Clearance of all shrub shall be completed using a 360deg excavator or similar.

The surplus vegetation shall be stockpiled in appropriate piles throughout the site (at locations in accordance with environmental mitigation shown in relevant construction method statement). Where appropriate this may involve the use of a dump truck or similar.

Surplus vegetation shall then be disposed of appropriately.

All works will be executed within the permanent fencing boundary.

Goal post protection system to be installed around any overhead lines which cross works areas prior to any works in these areas.

Site clearance will also take place along the proposed fencing, with works undertaken from within the permanent boundary fencing.

Openings between the landowners adjacent to the works will be fenced and left stock proof by the end of each working day unless otherwise agreed with the Landowner.

Potential Ecological / Environmental Impacts

Surface & groundwater contamination during construction.

Potential Increase in run-off volumes to Turlough during construction.

Pollution from Surface Water run-off during Construction.

Direct Loss of Habitats/Flora species during Construction.

Indirect Loss of Habitats impacts during Construction.

Impact on Mammals during Construction (Other than bats).

Impact on Protected Mammals during Construction (Bats).

Impact on Birds during Construction.

Mitigation to avoid Ecological and Environmental Impacts:

Construction works carried out in the vicinity of the turloughs will be monitored by a suitably qualified ecologist.

To reduce potential increases in flows into the drainage system and downstream turloughs during construction, the period of exposure of bare areas and uncontrolled runoff from new hard standing areas will be limited.

Early covering/seeding/planting of exposed surfaces will be undertaken.

Material stockpiles will be kept to a minimum size, covered and located at least 10m from the drainage system and 100m from turloughs.

To prevent contaminated or silt-laden runoff from entering the turloughs, a range of temporary measures will be implemented, such as silt fences, cut-off ditches, silt traps, straw bales, entrapment matting and drainage to vegetated areas.

Runoff will be controlled and, if required, directed to settlement ponds or sumps.

Any temporary attenuation and treatment facilities will be designed and implemented in accordance with CIRIA C697 (2007).

All temporary treatment systems will be regularly inspected and maintained.

The extent of construction activities will be controlled to limit vegetation removal and the exposure and/or compaction of soils. Land surrounding the immediate construction area will be fenced off, or otherwise demarcated, to prevent inadvertent intrusion from construction plant.

Construction works will be avoided during prolonged periods of very heavy rainfall adjacent to the turlough.

Refueling of machinery shall be carried out off-site, or when on-site not within 100m of turlough habitat.

All fuels, oils, greases, hydraulic fluids and chemical storage areas will be stored in bunded compounds/areas on impermeable bases at least 10m from the proposed drainage system and 100m from the turlough.

No machinery to enter Turlough habitats, no temporary access or haul routes are located in Turlough habitats and no temporary storage areas, plant or other obstacles are located within Turlough habitats.

Monitoring of turbidity (suspended solids) levels in turlough will be undertaken on a monthly basis for a minimum of 6 months prior to construction and will include monitoring during the winter season when turlough water levels are most likely to be present. Monitoring will also be undertaken on a weekly basis during construction for turbidity (suspended solids). In the event of suspended solids concentrations that are higher than the 95th %ile of those monitored during the preconstruction monitoring period, a review of the Sediment and Erosion Control measures and plan will be implemented and additional sediment control measures put in place as required. Daily visual inspections of turlough will also be undertaken during the construction phase to confirm the absence of sediment from construction works.

Erosion and Sediment Control Plan shall be implemented to prevent sediment or pollutants from reaching the turloughs.

Invasive Species Management Plan will be implemented in full.

Invasive species may have spread or changed distribution since the previous habitat surveys, therefore, the Invasive Species Management Plan will include re-survey (preconstruction) of the working area as per applicable guidelines. This survey will include accurate 1:5,000 scale mapping for the precise location of invasive species. The pre-construction surveys will be undertaken by suitable experts with competence in identifying these species and ability to separate them from other species.

Seasonal restrictions on vegetation removal will be imposed for breeding birds. This will avoid greatest impacts to both Hedgehog and Pygmy Shrew which are likely during the peak breeding season for these species.

Two hedgehog nest boxes will be placed in existing hedges to be retained, within dense vegetation on the side of the hedge facing away from the roadway. These shall be placed at intact hedges where risk of Hedgehog road crossings collisions is reduced, or (preferably) in the base of dense hedgerow at distance from the roadway (subject to permission of local landowners).

Vegetation (e.g. hedgerows, woodland, trees, scrub and grassland) will not be removed between March and August inclusive, to avoid impacts on nesting birds and breeding small mammals. Although the Wildlife Acts provide an exemption from this seasonal restriction for road construction, there is no exemption provided for intentional nest destruction.

Where the construction program does not allow this seasonal restriction to be observed, vegetated areas will be inspected by a suitably qualified ecologist for the presence of breeding birds prior to clearance. Where nests are found, the appointed ecologist will recommend whether a licence is required for vegetation removal. Areas found not to contain nests must be cleared within 3 days of the survey, or further surveys will be required to be undertaken.

All mitigation contained within the Environmental Assessment Report shall be implemented in full.

Specific Identified Residual Risks for Civil Works

The following is a list of identified particular risks associated with above works:

Underground Services

Plant and Equipment

Biological Substances

Manual Handling

Below are detailed risk assessments for risks identified above.

Existing / Underground Services

Work near significant existing services i.e. Electrical, Water Mains or Telecom etc.

Control Measure:

Detailed Method Statements and Risk Assessments to be carried out for all activities which have potential to impact on existing or underground services.

Request temporary outages on services.

Worker Briefings to be carried out.

Adhere to Codes of Practice for avoiding dangers from under ground services.

Trial holing in advance.

Permit to Dig system to be implemented.

Use of Catscan equipment

Use of trained plant operators

Use of Banksman

Request temporary outages on affected utilities –

Heavy Plant and Equipment

Working adjacent to Heavy Plant and machinery including excavation plant and lifting appliances.

Hazards may include:

Noise

Operated by untrained individual

Incorrect use

Speeding

Poor maintenance

Unsupervised reversing

Overloading

Risks:

Struck by site transport

Falls from vehicles

Splashed by fuel during refueling

Tipping or overturning of vehicles

Contact with moving parts of machinery

Struck by matter dropped while in lift.

Control Measures:

Detailed Method Statements and Risk Assessments to be carried out for all activities to address the movement and use of heavy equipment.

Worker Briefings to be carried out

Plant to be operated by Competent Personnel

Plant to be in good order and inspected prior to commencement of any works on site

Auxiliary devices and visual aids on plant as highlighted in Construction Regulations

Carry out plant checks and record on plant checklists

Vehicle Banksmen to be utilized where required

Segregate traffic from public and workforce where possible

Implement work exclusion zones where appropriate

Implement Traffic Management Plans

Ensure all personnel wear appropriate PPE and high visibility clothing

Biological Substances

Works which put person at work at risk from Biological substances i.e.

– Leptospirosis /Weil’s Disease

– Contact with contaminated ground or objects or materials

– Working on existing streams and drains, particularly foul drains.

Control Measures:

Detailed Method Statements and Risk Assessments to be carried out for all activities where biological substances are envisaged including contaminated ground and dealing with asbestos gaskets.

Areas of potential contaminated ground to be tested and areas segregated

COSHH Assessments to be carried out and briefed to workers

MSDS Sheets to be available for construction chemicals in use

Ensure adequate assessment of PPE requirements for surfacing operations

All operatives engaged in sewer tie in works to wear appropriate PPE which will include gloves and disposable overalls

All operatives to be briefed and trained

Adequate washing facilities to provided

Ensure adequate ventilation is provided to avoid Asphyxiation

Adequate awareness of protection against Weil’s disease

Manual Handling

Fractures, Strains, Sprains. Cuts, Lacerations, Abrasions

Injury through aggravation of previous/existing medical condition

Control Measures:

Use of mechanical assistance wherever possible, e.g. forklift, plant, lifting appliance etc.

Reduce loads by making them smaller or lighter.

Ensure the working environment is suitable i.e. Access ways are unimpeded and properly lighted.

Working platforms should be non-slip and kept clean

Ensure that the individual is lifting correctly, maintains good posture, and lifts with knees bent and back kept straight.

All loads should be assessed individually for size and weight, but generally loads greater than 25kg should be handled by more than one person or mechanical means employed.

Operatives must wear appropriate gloves and other clothing to reduce the risk of injury.

Ensure that all previously experienced back complaints are brought to the attention of management, in order that allowances may be made in ascertaining the safest method of manual handling.