Article Report Loss Prevention

AGS Loss Prevention Working Group Update

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Hugh Mallett, Leader of the Loss Prevention Working Group, has provided an update on the top issues the Loss Prevention Working Group discussed at a recent meeting which took place in September 2019.

Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them Conferences

The first AGS Commercial Risks and How to Manage Them Conference took place on 3rd July at One Moorgate Place in London. Due to the success of the half-day conference, the conference is being repeated in Manchester on Wednesday 22nd January 2020 at the Manchester Conference Centre. The CPD conference is aimed at both junior and experienced ground engineers, who are interested in improving their knowledge and skills within this sector. For information on speaker line-up, sponsorship packages and ticket prices, please visit the AGS website.

PI Insurance Premiums

There are concerns within the Loss Prevention Working Group regarding the significant increase of PI insurance premiums in the last year. This issue is confirmed to be commercially driven, rather than risk driven. However, the group are looking to discuss this issue further and draft an article on the topic to advise AGS members.

AGS Data Format

There is an ongoing discussion between the AGS Loss Prevention Working Group and the AGS Data Management Working Group about the issue regarding ownership of AGS Data. The issue first arose at the AGS Members’ Day in 2018 following a presentation given and the two groups are still looking for a conclusion to the issue. Once the issue has been concluded, the AGS will look to push out the information to the AGS members.

New Leader for 2020

After becoming the Leader of the Loss Prevention Working Group in 2014, Hugh Mallett has decided to step down from the role in 2020. Therefore, the role will be up for election next year and further details will be circulated in early 2020. If you are interested in the role, but have any questions, please contact ags@ags.org.uk.

Alternatively, if you wish to join the AGS Loss Prevention Working Group, please contact the AGS Secretariat at ags@ags.org.uk.

Article Report Laboratories

AGS Laboratories Working Group Update

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Mark Beastall of Socotec, the recently elected new leader of the Laboratories Working Group, has provided an update on the top issues the Laboratories Working Group discussed at a recent meeting which took place in May 2019.

Validation of a suitable calibration procedure for the Filter Paper used in the BRE4/93 Soil Suction Test
Dimitris Xirouchakis has written a new procedure for the calibration of Filter Papers. This method has been sent to the members of the Laboratories Working Group to trial at their laboratories. The group are looking to discuss the outcomes of trialling this method at their next meeting.

The transition from BS1377 to BS EN17892 & BS EN 13286 (Earthworks testing)
Although a number of laboratories have now been granted accreditation to the BS EN methods, the industry outside of the laboratories seems very slow in the take up; i.e. not appearing in specification / testing instruction. The Laboratories Working Group are concerned about this and are trying to push out information to industry groups that BS1377 methods in their current form will soon be obsolete.

Increasing member participation
The core members of the Laboratories Working Group are all of the opinion that the participant numbers are far too low and attendance at the meetings rarely reaches double figures. It is essential for the future of this Working Group that numbers increase and that a broader (not just labs) attend these meetings to ensure the group are capturing the wider Geo-Environmental sector. The Laboratories Working Group are looking for new participants from AGS members who have a direct interest and influence on specifying / scheduling testing as well as AGS members with laboratories. The Laboratories Working Group are concerned that they are not getting a full picture of issues that AGS members are coming across and as such points of discussion and content of meetings can be limited.

If you do wish to join the AGS Laboratories Working Group, please contact the AGS Secretariat at ags@ags.org.uk.

Article Report Contaminated Land

AGS Contaminated Land Working Group Update

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Vivien Dent of RSK, the leader of the Contaminated Land Working Group, has provided an update on the top issues the Contaminated Land Working Group discussed in their recent meeting which took place in May 2019.

Updating the AGS Asbestos in Ground Investigation Guidance
This document was issued as interim guidance in February 2013. Since this time, there have been several publications and guidance documents published. The guidance is therefore possibly out of date and is being revised. The aim of the guidance is for people to know how to work safely when they encounter asbestos. The AGS Asbestos in Ground Investigation Guidance is currently in final draft and is being peer reviewed by the AGS Contaminated Land WG, along with the AGS Safety WG and AGS Laboratories WG.

AGS Guidelines to Good Practice in Geoenvironmental Ground Investigation
An opinion piece by Chris Swainston of Soils Limited on AGS Guidelines to Ground Practice in Geoenvironmental Ground Investigation was featured in the May 2019 issue of the AGS Magazine and can be viewed on the AGS website. The Contaminated Land WG are considering the possibility of creating a ‘road map’ of documents. The AGS aim to promote good practice – as Chris mentioned in his article – if you stacked the relevant documents on top of each other, the guidance alone would probably reach to your waist. As there is so much information out there – how do you know what is relevant? It is important that AGS members know which guidance to follow and where to find the guidance.

ERES Code Review
A working group has been established to review ERES Codes. The ERES Codes are being reviewed as it is important to have consistent data. For example, so there are not two or more codes for the same determinant.

Next CLWG Meeting
In their next meeting, which is taking place in July, the Contaminated Land Working Group will be looking at the Environment Agency’s online guidance; Land Contamination: Risk Management (LCRM) which is an update to the Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination (CLR11), with the aim of providing feedback to the Environment Agency on behalf of the AGS.
Feedback on issues

The Contaminated Land Working Group would like AGS members to feedback to the group about any issues they are struggling with and if there are any issues which they would like to group to investigate. If you do have any issues for the Contaminated Land Working Group to discuss, please email ags@ags.org.uk.

Article Report Geotechnical

AGS Geotechnical Working Group Update

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Stephen West of Ramboll, the Leader of the Geotechnical Working Group, has provided an update on the top issues the Geotechnical Working Group are discussing following the group’s first two meetings of 2019.

Developing tools to aid members in the delivery of excellence in Ground Investigation
The Geotechnical Working Group are working on the final draft of a ‘thought piece’ on the risks involved with inadequately planned and designed GI for members and project stakeholders. The group are also looking to produce an information pack to assist AGS members liaising on this issue with non-specialist project stakeholders and professional bodies.
Whilst overall value of PI related claims is dropping the proportion of these relevant to the Geotechnical Industry still remains the same. Many of these are due to inadequate allowance for specialist geotechnical input at the right stage of projects, if at all. We are looking to help our members convince regular clients and project partners why getting them ‘round the table’ is best value in the long term and protects the interests of all.

Promotion of early stage career development and training for Geotechnical Engineers and Engineering Geologists in the Construction Industry
The Geotechnical Working Group are focusing on the promotion of early stage career development and training for Geotechnical Engineers and Engineering Geologists in the Construction Industry by setting up a sub-working group to explore this issue which will include representatives from key Universities.
Budget constraints and the demands of programme mean that many of the ‘hands on’ training in terms of dealing with and investigating/testing geological materials is not being provided during many University courses. We are looking to help members target the right training at new graduates to deliver our business requirements as efficiently as possible.

Engagement with the update process of the Geotechnical Suite of Eurocodes
The Geotechnical Working Group are also involved in the update process of the Geotechnical Suite of Eurocodes and sub-working groups are being primed to review relevant parts of 02 and 03 editions of BS EN1997 starting in May.
As an Industry, we must take our part in commenting and advising the Eurocode drafting committees to ensure that these codes align with suitable practice in terms of design/interpretation/investigation for geotechnical elements.

What impact do these issues have on AGS Members and what should the AGS do about these issues?
In simple terms, all of these issues can cost our members in terms of lost income, lost project opportunity, and industry reputation and often these losses are not directly down to our members actions or decisions. We are endeavouring to raise suitable consideration of Geotechnical Engineering issues up the agenda of all construction projects, not just the larger value infrastructure and commercial schemes.
The AGS can look to use the weight of expertise in our working groups to interact with other institutions, large public clients, and government to ‘fight our corner’ on these issues.

Additional topics being discussed by the Geotechnical Working Group
Other issues providing significant discussion within our group have included: suitable consideration of health and safety in ground investigation proposals, it is clear that CDM regulations are not being followed by many who procure ground investigation; inconsistency of terminology for common laboratory tests and resultant parameters, this is of particular importance when National scale projects use terminology different to that set out in relevant codes; suitable use of pile and anchor load testing to actually investigate the load carrying capacity of the ground these foundation elements are located within, “don’t be afraid to fail your test piles and anchors!”.

Article Report Safety

AGS Safety Working Group Update

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The first AGS Safety Working Group meeting of 2019 took place on Wednesday 23rd January 2019 and the Leader of the AGS Safety Working Group, Adam Latimer of Ian Farmer Associates, has provided an update on the top issues the Safety Working Group are currently discussing.

AGS Health & Safety Conference – 21st November 2019

The AGS will be holding a conference on Health, Safety & Environmental topics on 21st November 2019 at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. The conference will include key note speakers and break-out workshops. The speaker line-up will be announced in the AGS Magazine and on the AGS website in due course. Details of the sponsorship packages can be viewed on the AGS website.

New and Updated Health and Safety Guidance

The Safety Working Group have recently published a number of guidance documents including Guidance on Slope Climbing Rigs, Manual Handling and Unexploded Ordnance. The Safety Working Group are also progressing with guidance documents on track mats and tracked plant, the H&S Risk Assessment for Ground Investigation and minimum levels of training and competence. There are plans to develop a range of topics centred around health and well-being. The creation of bespoke and clear guidance for ground engineers is a key aim of the Safety Working Group. H&S legislation can be a mine field to navigate and these concise and succinct publications offer some clarity for our members. Compliance with Health & Safety legislation is of critical importance in everything our members do and as such the AGS offers our members free and unbiased guidance on the main issues affecting our industry. AGS Guidance can be downloaded from the AGS website.

AGS Safety Articles

The AGS Safety Working Group are working to produce a number of articles on trial pitting, PAS 128 (now published), track plant, occupational health and heat stress for future issues of the AGS Magazine. Despite the guidance being free to download from the website, the AGS magazine offers an invaluable mechanism to promote the work of the AGS SWG and provide the guidance to a wider audience. The AGS is always looking at ways to raise awareness within our industry and up-to-date guidance and magazine articles are an excellent vehicle to convey our message. The AGS continues to work collaboratively with all our members and other trade association groups to improve our industry.

Possibility of a Health, Safety and Environment Awareness Workshop to Undergraduates

The AGS Safety Working Group are in the early stages of investigating the possibility of a Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness Workshop to Undergraduates. Work is ongoing to establish the current level of understanding on university geosciences courses and whether a workshop would be beneficial.

Feedback

The Safety Working Group always welcomes new members and any feedback from the membership on hot topics that they wish to raise and encourage, any near misses and incidents to be shared to the wider industry, so we can strive to making our industry safer. Please send any feedback to ags@ags.org.uk.

 

Article Report Executive

AGS Senate: June 2018 Meeting Update

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The Senate, which meets four times a year, is made up of the current Officers, Working Group Leaders and elected representatives of the AGS. The duties of the Senate are to represent the entire membership of the AGS throughout the wider industry and to ensure that the AGS fulfils its purpose, including its legal and financial obligations. The Senate arranges the appointment of AGS representatives and approves various items of business (such as the Business Plan and proposed expenditure).

The Senate meeting held on 28th June 2018 in London followed a standard format to deal with AGS business and Neil Parry, the AGS Chair has provided an update on the items discussed. A significant number of items are discussed in Senate. During this meeting the topics included:

• The success of Members’ Day and the decision to hold next year’s meeting at the same venue.
• The planning of this year’s Ground Risk Conference on 12th September.
• The sending of a joint letter with the BDS to the President of the ICE regarding the shortage of Reservoir Panel Engineers.

Each of the Working Groups presented their reports to the Senate Members for comment. This ensures each of the groups can work together on various issues and prevents duplication. It is important that the groups provide a useful service to the AGS membership and their output is subject to the correct level of scrutiny.

Other items covered in the Senate meeting, which are usually on the agenda, included the Chairman’s Report, Financial Review, Membership, Meetings Programme, Strategy, forthcoming/new AGS Guides (such as the recently published AGS Guide to The Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing), representation on BSI and working together with other organisations.

Election to the AGS Senate, in addition to the Officers and Working Group Leaders is open to Practitioners, Affiliates, Graduate Members and Student Members. Voting is held for a number of these posts each year at the Annual General Meeting.

This article was featured in the July/August 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine which can be viewed here.

Article Report Laboratories

AGS Laboratories Working Group: July 2018 Meeting Update

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The third AGS Laboratories Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 12th July 2018 at Geotechnica and the Laboratories Leader, Dimitris Xirouchakis of Structural Soils, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Laboratories Working Group are discussing.

Educating clients about geotechnical testing requirements, primarily, and less so about geoenvironmental testing
This issue impacts on testing quality and consequently, data quality. For instance, it was mentioned in the last meeting that geoenvironmental laboratories used to have many problems with unsuitable sample containers or sampling conditions. The UKAS requirement to report such samples as deviating has decreased the number of unsuitable samples submitted for analysis. The Laboratories Working Group are looking to contribute with a short article in the AGS Magazine on this topic.

Data quality at large; participation in Proficiency Testing and training of technicians
Clearly, samples that do not conform to testing standards are responsible for project delays, may yield low-quality results, and may create legal problems in the future. Laboratory accreditation is important as is the requirement for the labs to produce high-quality data, consistently. Participation in proficiency testing ensures that the laboratories perform testing under statistically controlled conditions.
AGS should continue educating members and non-members, especially university graduates and junior practitioners, by publishing guides and asking members to give presentations to universities or public forums. The AGS should continue to press for laboratory accreditation and high data quality.

Keeping members updated on standard development
The AGS will continue to keep Members updated on standard development.

The Laboratories Working Group are looking to increase participation, as many AGS Members have laboratories, these companies are encouraged to join the Laboratories Working Group. If you wish to attend AGS Laboratories Working Group meetings, please contact the AGS Secretariat by emailing ags@ags.org.uk.

This article was featured in the July/August 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine which can be viewed here.

Report Geotechnical

AGS Geotechnical Working Group: April 2018 Meeting Update

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The second AGS Geotechnical Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 20th April and the Geotechnical Stand-In Leader, Stephen West of Ramboll, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Geotechnical Working Group are discussing.

Improving design and execution quality of Ground Investigation
The Geotechnical Working Group are looking to improve the design and executive quality of Ground Investigation. The group are currently reaching out to client bodies to inform a short term sub-group on this issue. This issue is an important issue to the AGS as technical quality of investigation has been identified as one of the key risks in the industry and decisions made based on poor quality information generally result in a poor value project. The impact of this issue on the Members of the AGS include reduced profitability, higher insurance premiums and more time spent on defence of claims. The Geotechnical Working Group are hoping to encourage improvements in Ground Investigation design quality.

Enhancing appreciation of geotechnical issues in the construction industry supply chain
The second issue that the Geotechnical Working Group are reviewing is enhancing appreciation of geotechnical issues in the construction industry supply chain. The group are looking to generate advice notes for non-geotechnical engineering groups and engaging with bodies such as ISTRUCTE, RIBA, and NHBC etc. The group believe this issue is important to the AGS are raising the reputation and important of geotechnical across the construction supply chain will help encourage more new blood into AGS Member organisations. The impact of this issue on Members of the AGS is the reduced pool of suitable recruits to meet needs for industry growth. The group are looking to improve this issue by engaging with non-ground engineering focused industry organisations.

Ensuring Eurocode 7 update considers working practice experience
The third issue that the Geotechnical Working Group are working on is ensuring that the Eurocode 7 Update considers working practice experience. Members of the Geotechnical Working Group have been tasked with the reviewing and providing feedback on key sections of Eurocode 7.

Additional Topics being discussed by the Geotechnical Working Group
There is a great deal of interest in this year’s AGS Ground Risk Conference which is being held on 12th September 2018 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London. This is seen as being a great opportunity to help encourage change.
The issue of the use of trial pit infiltration tests has been discussed a lot. From a technical perspective, this is seen as a questionable test driven by local authorities as opposed to actual ground parameter testing and a better way should be sought.

This update was featured in the May/June issue of the AGS Magazine which can be viewed here.

Report Contaminated Land

AGS Contaminated Land Working Group: May 2018 Meeting Update

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The AGS Contaminated Land Working Group met for the second time this year on Wednesday 16th May in London. With 24 representatives in attendance the meeting provided a number of geoenvironmental talking points for the group.

Here Vivien Dent, Associate Technical Director at RSK and Contaminated Land Working Group Leader provides a short summary on the top three topics of discussion;

ANTHROPOGENIC SOILS
The Contaminated Land Working Group are currently putting together a guidance note on the description of anthropogenic soils. This guidance will cover materials in the ground which fall outside the British Standard soil descriptions, which will allow a third party to understand what the material is and its implications for contaminant content and source, permeability, gas generation potential etc.

AGS ASBESTOS IN SOIL GUIDANCE
After a discussion, the group have agreed to update the AGS Asbestos in soil guidance note. The update is in its early stages and will possibly signpost other documents and will incorporate some guidance on testing.

GROUND RISK: WHY TAKE THE CHANCE? A LESSONS LEARNT CONFERENCE
This upcoming AGS ground risk conference is a big focus for the group as the afternoon half will focus on geoenvironmental topics. Presentations from Working Group members include Ground Gas Risk – The Risk from Incorrect Characterisation (Gavin Allsopp, NHBC) and Waste Classification for Soils – An AGS Practitioners’ Guide (Bridget Plimmer and Mike Plimmer, Golder Associates and Geotechnical and Environmental Associates).

The event is taking place at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London on Wednesday 12th September and will see Dr Jacqueline Skipper (Senior Partner and Senior Geologist at the Geotechnical Consulting Group) provide a keynote presentation to open the conference. Jacqueline was awarded the Geological Society Engineering Group Award and in 2017 was elected to receive the 18th Glossop Medal and deliver the prestigious 18th Glossop Lecture.

Delegates wishing to register for the event should email ags@ags.org.uk before Tuesday 4th September.

This update was featured in the May/June issue of the AGS Magazine which can be viewed here.

Report Data Management

AGS Data Management Working Group: March 2018 Meeting Update

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The first AGS Data Management Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 7th March 2018 and the Data Management Leader, Jackie Bland of Geotechnics, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Data Management Working Group are discussing.

5 Year Plan
The Data Management Working Group have been discussing their five year plan, in order to know what the Group will be doing during the next five years. The plan was drafted in this meeting.

AGSi / Ground Modelling
Transferring ground models is a holy grail for the Data Management Working Group and the topic has been discussed on and off for the last five years. The sub-group working on this issue has been recently reassembled to continue their good works.

ERES Code Approval
Environmental / Contaminant codes are the key to AGS Data transfer for geoenvironmental laboratories – if there is no code available for a specific contaminant, then no data can be transferred. The AGS Laboratories Working Group and AGS Contaminated Land Working Groups have been informed of this issue and have agreed to take over the process of authorising the codes. However, guidelines will need to be drafted before this can happen.

Report Loss Prevention

AGS Loss Prevention Working Group: January 2018 Meeting Update

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The first AGS Loss Prevention Working Group meeting of 2018 took place on 23rd January 2018 and the Loss Prevention Leader, Hugh Mallett of BuroHappold, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Loss Prevention Working Group are discussing.

Loss Prevention Guidance (formerly known as the “Tool Kit”)
All the former toolkit papers have now been reviewed, checked and re-drafted. The papers that had become no longer relevant to current practice have been archived. All the other 23 papers will all be re-issued as the “AGS Loss Prevention Guidance – 2017” at AGS Members’ Day on 11th April 2018. (The 2017 date refers to the date the laws and legal citations were checked). The Loss Prevention Guidance is important to the AGS as the Guidance provides a substantial body of advice to members on matters ranging from the basis upon which members are appointed to provide their professional services, the potential for professional liability and how this can be managed, through to the risks of working alone and the implications of the Freedom of Information Act. The Guidance provides essential information for all members and their staff. Knowing that the legal aspects have all been checked for current relevance and up-dated should increase the confidence of member’s employees in dealing with these matters. AGS Members should always aware that specific matters can always be discussed via the AGS legal advice line managed by BLM Solicitors.

Loss Prevention Alerts on the Case of MT Hojgaard AS v E.ON (LPA 65), Construction Act Payment Provisions (LPA 66) and Japanese Knotweed (LPA 67)
These Loss Prevention Alerts have been developed and prepared over the last year. All three LPA’s were published on the AGS website in January and February 2018. The three new Loss Prevention Alerts respond to recent issues that have been raised with or on behalf of the Working Group. They provide members with an explanation of the issues that gave rise to concern and advice as to how to mitigate potential risks. The LPA’s can be downloaded here.

The Shortage of Reservoir Panel Engineers
A Position Paper highlighting the issue of the shortage of reservoir Panel Engineers has been drafted and discussed at AGS Senate. This is not solely an AGS matter of concern and it is proposed for the AGS Chairman to discuss the paper and the issues it raises to the President of the ICE. The shortage of registered Panel Engineers was identified by a member of the Loss Prevention Working Group as a looming problem due to the increased required for inspection of reservoirs, the decreasing number of persons qualified to do so and the difficulties of entry onto the register for young engineers. The position paper to be discussed with the ICE is very much a plea for action to address this gap between the requirements of the regulations and the ability of the wider industry to deliver people with the necessary skills and experience to fulfil those responsibilities.

Report Safety

AGS Safety Working Group: November 2017 Meeting Update

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The final AGS Safety Working Group meeting of 2017 took place on 14th November 2017 in London and the Safety Leader, Adam Latimer of Ian Farmer Associates, has provided an update on the top three current issues the Safety Working Group are discussing.

Trial Pitting Guidance
Trial Pitting has been a staple tool used within the ground investigation industry to obtain good material descriptions, samples and test data. However, with numerous changes in legislation (e.g. working at height regulations), we need to ask ourselves whether the current methodology is still fit for purpose or whether we need to totally rethink trial pitting across the industry. The AGS Guidance on Trial Pitting is regularly reviewed by the Safety group and is one of the most popular downloads by AGS Members. The group are also working on the publication of an article specifically on trial pitting, which will be in a future issue of the AGS Magazine. The AGS Guidance for the Safe Excavation of Trial Pits can be downloaded here.

Safety Alerts/Near Misses
As an industry the reporting of safety alerts, near misses and accidents remains low compared to other industries. This vital information will allow both the AGS and wider industry to continue to improve in respect of H&S performance and awareness. We actively encourage AGS Members to report any safety alerts and near misses to the AGS so we can share learnings across the wider audience. As an industry, we all need to work collaboratively to improve H&S awareness.

Increasing Participation in the Safety Working Group
The Safety Working Group are a small and dynamic team, but they would like to increase member participation in the group, which is vital to maintain a fresh and vibrant approach to H&S topics. The Safety Working Group produces numerous guidance documents which are free to download to Members which can be viewed here. If you wish to be part of the AGS Safety Working Group, please contact the AGS Secretariat by emailing ags@ags.org.uk.