Health & Safety Management for Yorkshire Water
Providing dedicated on-site Health & Safety management throughout a two-year programme of complex drainage infrastructure replacement works within a live operational wastewater treatment facility.
Health & Safety Project Overview
John Green Training & Consultancy Ltd was appointed by Gradon Construction Ltd to provide dedicated Health & Safety management and support during the replacement and repair of corroded drainage pipework, chambers and manholes at Yorkshire Water's treatment centre York.
Gradon Construction Ltd is a specialist civil engineering and construction contractor with extensive experience delivering infrastructure projects across the utilities and water sectors. For more information about their work, visit www.gradonconstruction.com.
Due to the high-risk nature of the works, our consultant maintained a continuous on-site presence throughout the two-year project, working closely with Yorkshire Water, the Principal Contractor and the project team to ensure all activities were planned, coordinated and carried out safely.
The project involved extensive works on live wastewater infrastructure within an operational treatment facility, requiring robust planning, effective communication and strict adherence to safe systems of work.
The Health & Safety Challenge
Working within a live wastewater treatment works presented numerous significant Health & Safety challenges.
The works involved confined spaces, deep excavations, live sewage systems, hazardous gases, acidic effluent with pH levels as low as 1, contaminated ground and the need to maintain the continuous operation of the treatment process throughout the construction programme.
A key element of the project was the coordination of lockout and isolation procedures with Yorkshire Water. Before any chamber, manhole or pipework could be entered or repaired, systems had to be safely isolated, emptied and verified as safe. Once repairs were complete, the infrastructure could only be recommissioned following inspection, approval and controlled refilling, with careful management of the associated flooding and drowning risks.
The project also required continuous coordination between Yorkshire Water's operational teams, the Principal Contractor, subcontractors and Health & Safety personnel to ensure work activities could proceed safely without disrupting essential site operations.
Our Consultancy Role
John Green Training & Consultancy Ltd provided comprehensive Health &Safety management throughout the duration of the project, including:
Providing a dedicated daily on-site Health & Safety presence for the full two-year construction programme.
Liaising continuously with Yorkshire Water, the Principal Contractor and Gradon Construction management to coordinate high-risk works.
Monitoring compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), site procedures and permit-to-work systems.
Coordinating lockout, isolation and safe recommissioning procedures for live wastewater systems in collaboration with Yorkshire Water.
Verifying that chambers and drainage systems were emptied, isolated and declared safe before work commenced.
Overseeing confined space operations, atmospheric gas monitoring and emergency rescue arrangements.
Reviewing and monitoring Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) and ensuring safe systems of work were implemented.
Delivering daily site inspections, toolbox talks, pre-start briefings and Health & Safety audits.
Monitoring the use of specialist PPE and control measures for exposure to hazardous substances and corrosive effluent.
Supporting effective communication between all project stakeholders to proactively manage risks as the works progressed.
The Health & Safety Outcome
The project was successfully delivered with dedicated Health & Safety management throughout every stage of the works.
Through close collaboration with Yorkshire Water, the Principal Contractor and the wider project team, high-risk activities were safely coordinated while maintaining the continuous operation of the treatment works.
The combination of proactive planning, daily supervision and effective communication ensured that confined space operations, live system isolations, excavation works and wastewater infrastructure repairs were completed safely and in accordance with statutory requirements, client procedures and industry best practice.
Health & Safety Services Provided
Dedicated On-Site Health & Safety Management
CDM 2015 Compliance Support
Site Safety Inspections and Audits
RAMS Review and Monitoring
Permit-to-Work Coordination
Confined Space Safety Management
Lockout and Isolation Coordination
Emergency Planning and Rescue Procedures
Client, Contractor and Stakeholder Liaison
Health & Safety Consultancy
Why This Project Matters
This project demonstrates our ability to provide professional Health & Safety management on complex, high-risk infrastructure projects within live operational utility environments.
Our continuous site presence, collaborative approach and extensive experience in managing confined spaces, live process isolations and hazardous working environments enabled the project to be delivered safely while protecting the workforce, maintaining operational continuity and ensuring compliance with CDM 2015 and Yorkshire Water's stringent Health & Safety standards.
Sector: Water & Utilities
Client: Yorkshire Water
Contractor: Gradon Construction Ltd
Duration: Approximately 2 Years