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HAUC
HAUC

Guidance Bulletin 48

Home Front in the Garden or Avoidable Contract Cost! The Lifting of Specialist Modular Materials

Many Local Authorities, over the past few years, have undertaken streetscape regeneration schemes in their town centres. These schemes have led to an increase in the number of non-standard modular resurfacing materials being used such as natural stone paving, bespoke modular blocks and specialist slabs and pavers. These are often bedded on specialist mortars and can be difficult to remove and even more difficult to replace if lost or removed as spoil. The replacement of these materials if negligently disposed of by works promoter or their supply chain, there is an unrecoverable cost to the works promoter which can mount up to thousands of pounds.

To reduce the risk of losing these materials through theft from site for unique home patios, water features etc and to minimise the substantial time and effort put in by others to either recover or source replacements, not to mention the often very high costs of these materials, The following guidance should be followed:-

DO NOT start work if large numbers of existing modules are broken without referring to your supervisor

  • DO NOT break or damage more modules than required to enable the remainder to be levered up without damage
  • DO NOT use mini digger buckets to lift modules
  • DO NOT use excavator mounted breakers or other hydraulic breakers without checking with your supervisor
  • DO NOT place modules in a position where they will be covered by other spoil material
  • DO NOT place lifted modules against private property or outside of the works area

DO undertake a site survey before commencing works to identify existing broken modules ideally supported by a photograph 

  • DO contact your supervisor if you identify excessive numbers of existing broken modules they will then contact the Local Authority to organise replacements or a site meeting
  • DO remove all slabs or modules by hand and where possible stack on a pallet or separate from the rest of the excavated material ready for removal from site (where appropriate)
  • DO arrange for lifted materials to be removed from site if you believe that they will be either lost or damaged or possibly used as a weapon or missile. This removal should be undertaken by the appropriate lifting equipment or undertaken within lifting and handling guidelines
  • DO make sure that materials removed from site are returned to the depot, stacked on a pallet and labelled with the location, job number and date of the works to which they relate

HAUC(UK) thanks Morrison Water Services in their help in the creation of this guidance.

Morrison Water Services logo

IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR FURTHER ADVICE

DO HIGHWAYS THE RIGHTWAYS