News Safety

AGS Guidance on Safe Ground Investigations in Light of COVID-19

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COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which is commonly spread through coughing and sneezing, through close personal contact or touching an object or surface (fomite) that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth without having first cleaned your hands.

The AGS Safety group has developed this guidance in anticipation of a general return to site to carry out geotechnical, contaminated land and other ground investigation activities.  It will be reviewed and revised in the coming weeks in line with government and industry advice.  Readers are encouraged to make comments, offer suggestions and send in photographs of site work that can be added to the document.

 Any suggestions for modifications to equipment need to have been fully risk assessed for any risks they introduce. For instance, screens fitted to rigs reduce the ability to hear each other and Perspex scratches very easily and also goes opaque quite rapidly, reducing visibility. Likewise lifting “extensions” can introduce additional manual handling risks.

 This guidance is based on UK Government and CLC advice. The Government issued generic guidance on 11 May 2020: Working safely during COVID-19 in construction and other outdoor work: Guidance for employers, employees and the self-employed.  Other restrictions and advice may apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland however this guidance is intended to apply throughout the UK.  The Construction Leadership Council (CLC), on 19 May 2020, issued Site Operating Procedures (SOP) version 4 based on this Government guidance.  The key premise of this guidance is to stick as close as possible to the CLC v4 guidance as possible noting the CLC reminder to comply with the latest Government advice on Coronavirus (Covid-19) at all times.

The guidance can be downloaded here.

If you have any comments or suggestions for the guidance, please email ags@ags.org.uk.

News

AGS Magazine: May 2020

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the May 2020 issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click here.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
FIDIC Emerald Book and Geotechnical Baseline Reports – Page 4
20 Years of SiLC – Page 6
AGS Members versus COVID-19 – Page 9
The Geotechnical Asset Owners Forum – Page 12
We’re going on a bear hunt… Safe access onto GI sites – Page 14
Q&A with Mark Beastall of SOCOTEC – Page 22

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

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AGS Magazine: March/April 2020

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the March/April 2020 issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click here.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
Update from the AGS regarding COVID-19 – Page 4
Are traditional sampling techniques really that bad? – Page 6
A Candid Look at Responses to SiLC Membership Questionnaire 2019 – Page 12
AGS Guide to Occupational Stress – Page 16
Q&A with Chaido Doulala-Rigby (Yuli) of Tensar International – Page 22

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

News

Update from the AGS regarding COVID-19

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With the ongoing situation of COVID-19, the AGS would like to remind AGS members of the current guidance. Businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible; if someone becomes unwell in the workplace with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they should be sent home and advised to follow the advice to stay at home for 14 days and employees should be reminded to wash their hands for 20 seconds more frequently.

The AGS are continually reviewing the situation and the decision has been made to postpone all AGS 2020 events; AGS Annual Conference (which was due to take place on 2nd April), Laboratories, Instrumentation and Monitoring Conference (which was due to take place on 15th July) and Data Management (which was due to take place on 23rd September, but has now been moved to 22nd September 2021). Further details about all three conferences will be released in due course.

For those who attend AGS Working Group meetings, we will be using remote and conferencing technologies to hold these meetings until further notice and details of these will be circulated with the meeting notification as usual.

The AGS Secretariat are currently working remotely, but we are checking our voicemail twice daily and aim to get back to you as soon as we can. We can also be contacted by email ags@ags.org.uk.

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Important Notice: AGS Annual Conference 2020 Postponed

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The AGS have taken the decision to postpone the AGS Annual Conference to later on this year.

After much discussion, The AGS have decided to postpone due to the current spread of COVID-19. This will help to reduce the risk to all involved, and we wanted to give you as much advance warning as possible.

The AGS are looking to hold the conference later in the year and further details will be announced in due course.

News

AGS Magazine – February 2020

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the February 2020 issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click here.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
AGS Annual Conference 2020 – Page 4
On Stoney Ground: Re-Visited – Page 8
AGS Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them: Conference Review – Page 12
Health and Safety – Lego style – Page 14
Emergency rescue from a trial pit: Are you prepared? – Page 16
Q&A with Phil Crowcroft of ERM – Page 20

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

News Loss Prevention

AGS LPWG Input to NEC4 Professional Services Contract

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The Loss Prevention Working Group has been in communication with the NEC4 drafting committee regarding the extent of professional indemnity insurance cover required under the Professional Services Contract.  NEC are to provide additional guidance on how to complete Contract Data for the insurances within the published guidance notes. At present, guidance on this insurance in Volume 2 simply recommends that the advice of an insurance specialist be obtained. NEC now propose to add the following.

When insurance cover is restricted for certain work required under the contract, for example advice in relation to land affected by contamination where an aggregate limit has been imposed, the compiler should include the entry “….. in respect of each claim without limit to the number of claims, but subject to an aggregate limit of …. In respect of claims relating to …”. The same approach should be followed where other restrictions are placed on the cover which Consultants are able to obtain for services under the contract.

This will allow consultants to be covered by their usual policies which usually limit cover relating to contamination to be in the annual aggregate.

Neil Parry, Director at Geotechnical Engineering on behalf of the AGS Loss Prevention Working Group

News

AGS Magazine: December 2019 / January 2020

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the December 2019 / January 2020 issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click here.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
New AGS Members in 2019 – Page 4
AGS Safety in Mind Conference – Review – Page 6
Mindfulness & Meditation – Page 10
Collateral Warranties: Reliance and Limiting Liability – Page 14
Q&A with Neil Parry of Geotechnical Engineering – Page 18
Standards Update: November 2019 – Page 22

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

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AGS Magazine: November 2019

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the November issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click here.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
AGS Video Competition – Page 4
Loss Prevention Alert 69: Objectives and scope – Page 5
“Easy” Safety Conversations – Page 6
The Value in Ground Engineering – Page 10
Q&A with Dr Claire Stone of i2 Analytical – Page 14
Working Group Focus: Data Management – Page 17

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

News

AGS Magazine: September/October 2019

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the September/October issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click HERE.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
2020 AGS Sponsorship Packages – Page 4
AGS Commercial Risks & How to Manage Them Conference 2020 – Page 6
Reducing risk and preventing claims on complex brownfield residential sites – Page 8
Manual Handling Operations – Have you assessed your risk? – Page 14
Safety and technical concerns of using a DCP – Page 18
AGS Guide to Working on Rail Infrastructure – Page 24
Q&A with Adam Latimer of Ian Farmer Associates – Page 28
Working Group Focus: Loss Prevention – Page 31

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.

News

Major fair payment and mental health initiative launches

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The AGS is supporting a major new payment and mental health survey which has been launched by 27 bodies in the UK construction industry, to understand how poor payment practices are impacting mental health and business wellbeing.

The survey is being run by leading engineering services trade bodies ECA and BESA, in association with the Prompt Payment Directory.

The survey can be completed here – www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PLV22QP

The survey is open until 5pm Thursday 10th October 2019.

The overall data will be shared with survey supporters. (Individual data is strictly confidential and anonymised).

News

AGS Magazine: August 2019

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The Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists are pleased to announce the August issue of their publication; AGS Magazine. To view the magazine click HERE.

This free, publication focuses on geotechnics, engineering geology and geoenvironmental engineering as well as the work and achievements of the AGS.

There are a number of excellent articles in this month’s issue including;
Geotechnica 2019: Summary and Review – Page 4
Safety in Mind – A conference from the AGS Health & Safety Working Group – Page 6
AGS Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them Conference – Page 8
An Insight into the SiLC Exam – Page 12
Is your materials management compliant? – Page 14
Q&A with Zita Mansi of Beale & Co – Page 16
Working Group Focus: Laboratories – Page 19

Advertising opportunities are available within future issues of the publication. To view rates and opportunities please view our media pack by clicking HERE.

If you have a news story, article, case study or event which you’d like to tell our editorial team about please email ags@ags.org.uk. Articles should act as opinion pieces and not directly advertise a company. Please note that the publication of editorial and advertising content is subject to the discretion of the editorial board.